Beverage can ends having a gas charging port

Abstract

A beverage can end includes a filling port in the end itself. An activating gas that interacts with the beverage may be charged through the filling port. If the end has a vent opening, such as sometimes used in a recloseable end, the vent opening may be used for charging the activating gas.

1 . A beverage can end suitable for enabling gas charging therethrough, the end comprising:
 a metal beverage can end shell including a peripheral curl and a center panel, the center panel including a pour opening therein; and
 a filling port adapted for receiving a gas charge through the can end; 
 wherein the beverage can end is adapted for receiving an activating gas charge through the filling port to augment the beverage. 
   
     
     
         2 . The beverage can end of  claim 1  wherein the beverage can end is recloseable, the end further comprising:
 a recloseable closure including (i) a contact surface adapted for engagement by a user's finger and (ii) a seal; 
 wherein actuation of the contact surface of the closure by a user breaks the seal to create a closure open-position during which beverage is capable of flowing through the pour opening. 
 
     
     
         3 . The beverage can end of  claim 2  wherein the seal includes an upper sealing surface and a lower sealing surface, the upper sealing surface is opposite the lower sealing surface and forms a seal about the pour opening in the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage can end of  claim 2  wherein the filling port is a through hole in the closure and wherein the closure includes a pin that seals the through hole while the closure is in a closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage can end of  claim 4  wherein the pin is spaced apart from the through hole when the closure is in the open position such that the filling port is a vent aperture that vents internal pressure upon actuation of the closure from a fully closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage can of  claim 5  wherein the pin and/or through hole after initial opening indicates tamper evidence. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage can end of  claim 2  wherein the filling port is a through hole in the center panel, and the filling port is covered by the closure. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage can of  claim 1  wherein the filling port is a rivet formed in the center panel, the rivet affixing a tab to the center panel and the filling port includes a fitting. 
     
     
         9 . The recloseable beverage can end of any of the preceding claims wherein the activating gas a nitrous oxide. 
     
     
         10 . A method for charging a beverage can with a gas comprising the steps of:
 in a beverage container package that includes a metal can body and a metal beverage can end including a peripheral curl and a center panel, the center panel including a pour opening therein; charging the container package with an activating gas through a filling port in the can end.   
     
     
         11 . The method for charging a beverage can of  claim 10  wherein the can end includes a recloseable closure and the filling port is in the recloseable closure, and wherein the charging step includes inserting a charging apparatus in the filling port, removing the charging apparatus from the filling port after the inserting step, and sealing the filling port after the removing step. 
     
     
         12 . The method for charging a beverage can of a  claim 10  wherein the filling port is in can end center panel, and wherein the charging step includes inserting a charging apparatus in the filling port and removing the charging apparatus from the filling port after the inserting step. 
     
     
         13 . A method for charging a beverage can of a  claim 12  wherein the charging step includes sealing the filling port after the removing step. 
     
     
         14 . A beverage can end comprising:
 a beverage can end shell including a peripheral curl and a center panel, the center panel including an aperture therein, the can end shell formed of a 5000 series aluminum alloy having a thickness of between 0.007 inches and 0.011 inches;   a pour opening and actuation means for opening the pour opening;   a filling port;   a gas charging fitting located in the filling port and adapted for receiving a gas charging apparatus to inject gas therethrough and then form a seal.   
     
     
         15 . The beverage can end of  claim 14  wherein the pour activation means includes a score in the center panel and a tab attached to the center panel by a rivet, and wherein the filling port is an aperture through the rivet. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage can end of  claim 14  wherein the pour activation means includes a score in the center panel and a tab attached to the center panel by a rivet, and wherein the filling port is an aperture in the center panel at a position that is spaced apart from the rivet. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage can end of  claim 14  wherein the pour activation means includes a resealable closure. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage can end of  17  wherein the filling port is a through hole in the closure and wherein the closure includes a pin that seals the through hole while the closure is in a closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage can end of  claim 4  wherein the pin is spaced apart from the through hole when the closure is in the open position such that the filling port is a vent aperture that vents internal pressure upon actuation of the closure from a fully closed position. 
     
     
         20 . The beverage can of  claim 5  wherein the pin and/or through hole after initial opening indicates tamper evidence. 
     
     
         21 . The beverage can end of  claim 14  wherein the shell thickness is between 0.007 inches and 0.009 inches.