초록 ▼

An all-metal beverage can with a pour spout is disclosed. The can includes a can body for containing a beverage and a closure member. The closure contains a metal pour spout and a cap covering the pour spout. The pour spout and cap are in a recessed condition within the can body prior to opening th

An all-metal beverage can with a pour spout is disclosed. The can includes a can body for containing a beverage and a closure member. The closure contains a metal pour spout and a cap covering the pour spout. The pour spout and cap are in a recessed condition within the can body prior to opening the can, allowing the can to be shipped and stacked in the normal fashion. The closure further comprises a first layer forming the pour spout, a second layer forming the cap, and a scored area formed in the second layer. The cap separates from the closure by the user grasping the cap and breaking of the scored area (e.g. , by twisting) and then removing the cap from the pour spout. When the container is opened, the pour spout is extendable from the can body to facilitate pouring of the beverage. In one possible embodiment, the pour spout is threaded. The cap threads onto the pour spout, enabling a resealing of the can.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A beverage can with a pour spout, comprising: a can body for containing a beverage; and a closure affixed to the can body comprising a pour spout and a cap covering the pour spout, the pour spout and cap nesting within the can body prior to opening the can, the closure made from a mult

We claim: 1. A beverage can with a pour spout, comprising: a can body for containing a beverage; and a closure affixed to the can body comprising a pour spout and a cap covering the pour spout, the pour spout and cap nesting within the can body prior to opening the can, the closure made from a multi-layer structure and further comprising: a first layer of the multi-layer structure forming the pour spout; a second layer of the multi-layer structure forming the cap; and a scored area formed in the second layer, wherein the cap separates from the closure by breaking of the scored area and removing the cap from the pour spout; the cap and pour spout having complimentary thread structures allowing the cap to be installed over the pour spout and close the container. 2. The can of claim 1, wherein when the container is opened the pour spout is extendable from the can body to facilitate pouring of the beverage from the can body. 3. The beverage can of claim 1, wherein the first layer is a relatively thinner layer and the second layer is a relatively thicker layer, and wherein the second layer has a plurality of voids extending around the pour spout. 4. The beverage can of claim 1, further comprising a pad covering the scored area. 5. The beverage can of claim 2, wherein the pour spout further comprises a set of threads on the external surface of the pour spout and wherein the cap is adapted to thread onto the pour spout after separation from the closure enabling resealing of the beverage can. 6. The beverage can of claim 1, wherein the action of twisting the cap causing a rupture in the score pattern allowing the cap to be removed from the pour spout. 7. The beverage can of claim 1, wherein the first and second layers are made from an aluminum alloy, and wherein the second layer is a thicker gauge relative to the first layer. 8. A beverage can with a pour spout, comprising: a can body for containing a beverage; and a closure for the can body having a pour spout and a cap covering the pour spout, the pour spout and cap nesting within the can body prior to opening the can, wherein the closure comprises a layered construction comprising a first layer forming the pour spout and a second layer forming the cap, the second layer having a relatively thicker gauge than the first layer and the second layer having a plurality of voids formed therein, the first and second layers extending substantially over the entire area of the closure in the region between the edge of the closure and the pour spout; and wherein a score pattern is formed in the second layer in an area surrounding the pour spout and cap, the action of twisting the cap causing a rupture in the score pattern allowing the cap to be separated from the second layer and removed from the pour spout. 9. The can of claim 8, wherein the pour spout further comprises a set of threads on the external surface of the pour spout and wherein the cap is adapted to thread onto the pour spout after separation from the closure enabling resealing of the beverage can. 10. The beverage can of claim 8, further comprising a pad covering the scored area. 11. The beverage can of claim 8, wherein said first and second layers are made from an aluminum alloy. 12. The beverage can of claim 11, wherein the can body comprises a rim and wherein the first and second layers are seamed onto the rim of the can body. 13. The beverage can of claim 8, wherein the voids are formed in a regular pattern in the closure. 14. The beverage can of claim 13, wherein the regular pattern comprises a pattern of elongate voids. 15. The beverage can of claim 13, wherein the voids are arranged in a manner to facilitate extension of the pour spout from the beverage can after opening of the beverage can. 16. The beverage can of claim 14, wherein the elongate voids have a major axis and are arranged such that the major axis forms an acute angle to a line extending from the center of the closure in a radial direction and intersecting the major axis. 17. A method of manufacturing a beverage can with a re-sealable spout from an end closure and a can body, comprising the steps of: a) forming the end closure from a multi-layer structure comprising a first layer of material and a second layer of material; wherein a spout is formed in the first layer of material and a cap covering the spout is formed in the second layer of material; and b) affixing the closure to the can body. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of forming a scored area in the second layer in the vicinity of the cap whereby the scored area is fractured by twisting the cap, enabling the cap to be removed from pour spout and allowing access to the contents of the beverage can. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the affixing of the closure to the can body forms a rim to the can body, and wherein the second layer further comprises a plurality of void features formed therein and spaced in a region between the rim of the can body and the pour spout. 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second layers are made from an aluminum alloy. 21. The method of claim 17, wherein the closure nests within the can body when the closure is in a closed condition, and wherein the closure is extendable from the can body such that the pour spout extends substantially beyond the can body, facilitating pouring the beverage from the beverage can through the pour spout. 22. An end for a beverage can forming a closure on a can body, comprising a multi-layer structure comprising a first layer forming a pour spout and a second layer forming a cap, the multi-layer structure forming the body of the end and substantially completely filling the space within a rim of the can body; and a score pattern formed in the second layer in an area surrounding the pour spout and cap, the action of twisting the cap causing a rupture in the score pattern allowing the cap to be separated from the second layer and removed from the pour spout. 23. The end of claim 22, wherein the second layer has a relatively thicker gauge than the first layer and the second layer having a plurality of voids formed therein. 24. The end of claim 22, wherein the end has a substantially convex shape wherein the pour spout and cap are at or below the level of the rim of the can body when the end is affixed to the can body. 25. The end of claim 22, wherein the end is made from an aluminum alloy. 26. The end of claim 22, wherein the second layer further comprises a plurality of void features formed therein and spaced in a region between the rim of the can body and the pour spout. 27. A beverage can comprising: a can body and an end affixed to said can body; wherein the end comprises a pour spout and a cap covering the pour spout, and wherein the end is formed as a multi-layer structure comprising a first inner layer forming the pour spout and a second outer layer forming the cap, the cap removable from the pour spout to allow pouring of the contents from the can body and closing off the pour spout to reseal the beverage can. 28. The beverage can of claim 27, wherein the end is in a substantially concave position when affixed to the can body, and wherein the end is moveable from the substantially concave position to a substantially convex position to facilitate pouring of the contents of the beverage can. 29. The beverage can of claim 27, wherein the first and second layers comprise aluminum alloys.