Constructive arrangement for the opening of a beverage can

Abstract

The can (L) comprises an end wall ( 10 ) having a first wall portion and a second wall portion ( 11, 12 ), which are broken in order to form a pouring opening (A 1 ) and a vent opening (A 2 ), and an actuation tab ( 30 ) pivoted in the end wall ( 10 ) and having a pressing end portion ( 31 ) and an extracting end portion ( 32 ). The first and the second wall portions ( 11, 12 ) are ruptured by the pressing end portion ( 31 ) and by the extracting end portion ( 32 ), upon the pivoting movement of the actuation tab ( 30 ) by applying a manual upward force to its extracting end portion ( 32 ). The actuation tab ( 30 ) further comprises a grip portion ( 33 ) having a hinge end ( 33 a ), affixed to the extracting end portion ( 32 ), and a free end ( 33 b ), the grip portion ( 33 ) being manually, angularly and upwardly displaced, around its hinge end ( 33 a ), from a retracted inoperative condition, in which it remains contained between the end wall ( 10 ) and the plane of an adjacent peripheral edge ( 21 ) of the can (L), and an operative condition, in which it has its free end ( 33 b ) projecting upwardly from the plane of said peripheral edge ( 21 ) of the can (L).

1 . A constructive arrangement for the opening of a beverage can, comprising: an end wall ( 10 ) surrounded by an adjacent peripheral edge ( 21 ) of the can (L) and incorporating a first wall portion ( 11 ) and a second wall portion ( 12 ), which are spaced from each other and breakable in order to form a pouring opening (A 1 ) and a vent opening (A 2 ), respectively; an actuation tab ( 30 ), affixed to an external central region ( 13 ) of the end wall ( 10 ) by means of a retaining element ( 40 ) and having a pressing end portion ( 31 ), positioned on the first wall portion ( 11 ), and an extracting end portion ( 32 ), positioned on the second wall portion ( 12 ) and affixed to the latter, the first and the second wall portions ( 11 ,  12 ) being ruptured, respectively, by the pressing end portion ( 31 ) and by the extracting end portion ( 32 ), upon the angular displacement of the actuation tab ( 30 ) by applying a manual upward force to its extracting end portion ( 32 ), said constructive arrangement being characterized in that the actuation tab ( 30 ) further comprises a grip portion ( 33 ), having a hinge end ( 33   a ) affixed to the extracting end portion ( 32 ), and a free end ( 33   b ), the grip portion ( 33 ) being angularly and upwardly displaced, around its hinge end ( 33   a ) and by application of a manual force in its free end ( 33   b ), from a retracted inoperative condition, in which it remains contained within the contour of the end wall ( 10 ), between the latter and the plane of the adjacent peripheral edge ( 21 ) of the can (L), and an operative condition, of manual grasp, for applying the upward force for the angular displacement of the actuation tab ( 30 ) and in which it has its free end ( 33   b ) projecting upwardly from the plane of said peripheral edge ( 21 ) of the can (L). 
     
     
         2 . The constructive arrangement, according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the actuation tab ( 30 ) comprises a fixing median portion ( 30   a ) surrounding the retaining element ( 40 ) and which remains retained, jointly with the latter, to the end wall ( 10 ) of the can (L), when the remaining part of the actuation tab ( 30 ) is detached from the can (L) after the opening of the latter. 
     
     
         3 . The constructive arrangement, according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the fixing median portion ( 30   a ) is incorporated to the pressing end portion ( 31 ) of the actuation tab ( 30 ) by a rupture region (R), the fixing median portion ( 30   a ) and the retention element ( 40 ) remaining retained to the end wall ( 10 ) of the can (L) after the rupture of the rupture region (R) as a result of continuous manual displacement of the actuation tab ( 30 ), after the formation of the pouring and vent openings (A 1 , A 2 ). 
     
     
         4 . The constructive arrangement, according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the rupture region (R) has a thickness reduced in relation to the thickness of the pressing end portion ( 31 ) and the fixing median portion ( 30   a ). 
     
     
         5 . The constructive arrangement, according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the grip portion ( 33 ) takes the form of an extension of the extracting end portion ( 32 ) of the actuation tab ( 30 ). 
     
     
         6 . The constructive arrangement, according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the grip portion ( 33 ) is formed in a single piece with the pressing end portion ( 31 ) and the extracting end portion ( 32 ) of the actuation tab ( 30 ). 
     
     
         7 . The constructive arrangement, according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the grip portion ( 33 ) is an axial extension of the extracting end portion ( 32 ) and remains positioned on both the extracting end portion ( 32 ) and the pressing end portion ( 31 ) when in its retracted inoperative condition.