The present invention relates to a closing element for temporarily closing off a drinking or pouring opening of a can, wherein the can comprises a press-in tab for opening the drinking or pouring opening via a press-in tip of the press-in tab.

Numerous embodiments of cans are known for storing liquid substances, in particular a carbonated or non-carbonated beverage, or solid substances, for example scatterable or pourable particles. The cans generally consist of a substantially cylindrical container made of metal (in particular tin). A press-in tab is provided on one of the end walls of the container. The press-in tab can be rotatably fastened to the end wall and is also swivellable with respect thereto in such a way that a bottom tip of the press-in tab, also referred to as the press-in tip, can press against a part of the end wall. This part is partially surrounded by a weakened tear line, so that pressing-in by means of the press- in tip of the press-in tab allows the part in question to be partially torn off from the remainder of the end wall and to be bent over downwards. This creates in the end wall a drinking or pouring opening along which the contents of the can may be dispensed.

Cans of this type have the advantage of being able to be opened by hand, without external auxiliary means, and, moreover, there are no loose components after opening, since both the press-in tab and the bent-over part of the end wall remain fastened to the can. However, a drawback of the known can is the fact that the can may no longer be closed once it has been opened. After all, die bent-over part of the end wall is bent downwards and can no longer be bent back in such a way that the drinking or pouring opening is closed off again. If, for example, the consumer wishes to consume just a part of the contents of the can, the remainder of the contents is left behind in the opened can, as a result of which ageing phenomena, for example, such as loss of carbonate in a carbonated beverage, can occur. A further drawback is the fact that when the cans are used outdoors, for example, foreign objects such as insects can enter the can; this is of course undesirable.

There are numerous solutions for being able to temporarily close off a can again once it has been opened. It is for example possible to rotate the press-in tab, which is often rotatable with respect to the end wall with the aid of a pin, in such a way, for example through 180°, that the part of the press-in tab that is grasped by the user will cover the drinking or pouring opening. In this way, the contents of the can may be protected to a certain degree because the access to the can via the opening is screened off somewhat. However, it is then not possible to produce a liquid-tight closure of the drinking or pouring opening, let alone for the seal to also be gas-tight, hi the case of carbonated beverages in particular, in which the pressure within the can may become elevated, it has been found to be possible to produce a good seal. This means that in known cans the contents can leak out of the can and/or that carbonate can escape in the case of a carbonated beverage, as a result of which the quality of the beverage deteriorates.

US document US 6 347 720 Bl discloses a solution wherein the press- in tab is provided at its tip positioned opposite the press-in tip with a separate support leg. If, after having opened and subsequently having used the can, the press-in tab is now rotated through half a turn so that a closing part is rotated over the drinking or pouring opening, the support leg is secured against a stop (resting member) provided on the end wall in such a way that the press-in tip rests tight against the upper side of the closing part. In this way, it is possible to ensure that the closing part can be pushed more effectively against the circumferential edge along the drinking or pouring opening. This is said to allow a liquid and even gas-tight seal to be produced between the closing part and the can.

However, a drawback of the known solution is the fact that the design of the (standard) can has to be adapted as a result of the fact that the press-in tab has to be provided with a support leg and a closing part and the end wall of the can has to be provided with a stop. This means that the known solution cannot be applied to the current standard cans. A further drawback is the fact that the downward pressure exerted by the press-in tab has to be reasonably great in order to allow a good, air-tight closure, certainly when the can contains a carbonated substance and the pressure within the can may therefore become fairly high.

A further drawback is the fact that the closure (closing cap), which is secured in the drinking or pouring opening, has to be detached each time the consumer wishes to take a swig from the can. Not only is this awkward; the frequent securing and detaching of the closure can cause damage thereto or excessive wear thereof.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved closing element in which at least some of the drawbacks of the prior art are at least partially overcome.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a closing element having good closing properties.

It is furthermore an object of the invention to provide a closing element which is suitable to be applied to existing designs of cans without thereby necessitating essential adaptations of the design.

According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objects is achieved in a closing element for temporarily closing off a drinking or pouring opening of a can of the sort mentioned in the preamble, the closing element comprising:

- a covering element which is formed to be able to completely cover the drinking or pouring opening;

- a flexible closing part which is provided on the covering element for clamping the covering element to the circumferential edge of the drinking or pouring opening in the operative position;

- preferably at least one positioning element which protrudes from a tip of the covering element and is preferably embodied to rest in the operative position below the aforementioned circumferential edge for positioning the covering element with respect to the drinking or pouring opening; - a clamping element which is provided at the upper side of the covering element and is configured to place the press-in tip of the press-in tab thereon for securing the covering element with the closing part to the circumferential edge in the operative position.

As a result of the fact that the press-in tab can exert a force on the covering element, the covering element remains effectively secured in the drinking or pouring opening and is prevented from becoming unexpectedly detached from the can. In addition, certainly in combination with the closing-off by the flexible closing part, the risk of leakage is relatively low. In specific embodiments, the closing element comprises two components which are swivellable with respect to each other. In embodiments of this type, the covering element can comprise a first closing component which can be fastened to the can and a second closing component which is swivellable with respect to the first closing component. The first closing component can in this case be embodied to remain permanently fastened to the can during use. Swivelling the second closing component up and down allows a beverage opening provided in the first component to be opened or closed.

In a specific embodiment, the covering element comprises:

- a first closing component provided with the aforementioned flexible closing part for clamping the closing component against the drinking or pouring opening and also with a beverage opening which can be positioned before the drinking or pouring opening; - a second closing component provided with a closing protrusion which can be slid into the beverage opening;

- at least one swivelling element between the first and second closing components so as to be able to swivel the second closing component with respect to the first closing component between a closed position, in which the closing protrusion is slid into the beverage opening and closes off the beverage opening, and an opened position, in which the closing protrusion leaves the beverage opening substantially clear.

In a specific embodiment, the clamping element comprises a face which extends in the operative position at an angle (α) (with respect to the covering element or, in the fitted position, with respect to the end wall of the can) and against which the press-in tip of the press-in tab can be placed. Preferably, this causes the height of the aforementioned face to increase from a position close to the pin of the press tab to a position more remote from this pin. In this way, the tip can effectively secure the closing element. The aforementioned angle (α) may vary but in a preferred embodiment the angle is between 10 and 40 degrees, preferably 20 degrees.

The positioning element is provided in specific embodiments on the flexible closing part. The flexible closing part can in this case be placed for example against the side of the edge of the drinking or pouring opening, while the positioning element can be placed below the aforementioned edge. This allows the covering element to be secured in an appropriate position with respect to the can.

A positioning element of this type can comprise a ridge extending in the operative position at least partially along the edge of the drinking or pouring opening. A ridge of this type, also known as an anti-release ridge, can be singly or multiply embodied (for example in the form of a number of lamellae provided one below another) and ensures that a certain resistance has to be overcome in order to remove the covering element from the drinking or pouring opening.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the closing element comprises:

- a covering element which is formed to be able to completely cover the drinking or pouring opening; - a flexible closing part which is provided on the covering element for clamping the covering element to the circumferential edge of the drinking or pouring opening in the operative position;

- at least one positioning element which protrudes from a tip of the covering element and is embodied to rest in the operative position below the aforementioned circumferential edge for positioning the covering element with respect to the drinking or pouring opening;

- a clamping element which is provided at the upper side of the covering element and is configured to place the press-in tip of the press-in tab thereon for securing the covering element with the closing part to the circumferential edge in the operative position, the clamping element being formed by a notch in the covering element.

The positioning element allows the closing element to be already secured at one tip to the can, while afterwards the press-in tip of the press-in tab can keep the remainder of the closing element pushed into the opening. The distance between the positioning element and the location of the recess is in this case such that the closing element is pressed robustly against the circumferential walls of the opening as a consequence of a "leverage effect". Preferably, instead of one single positioning element, two or more positioning elements arranged next to one another are used so that the closing element can be attached in a stable manner against the circumferential edge of the opening.

According to one embodiment of the invention, an upright edge is attached in the notch, the upright edge being embodied to place (and preferably to clamp) the press-in tip of the press-in tab thereafter. The upright edge is preferably embodied obliquely to form a sort of hook preventing the press-in tip from being able to slide over the upright edge. This preserves the position that the press-in tab is in when the press-in tab is pressed by the closing element against the circumferential edge of the can.

In one embodiment of the invention, the one or more closing parts have a shape corresponding substantially to the shape of the drinking or pouring opening. The closing parts can also be somewhat oversized with respect to the drinking or pouring opening, for improving the sealing quality of the closing element.

In one embodiment, the closing part comprises various side flanges arranged one below another. The side flanges can form a sort of concertina or lamellar structure, wherein one or more of the tips of the side flanges (lamellae) can be pushed over the circumferential edge of the drinking or pouring opening. As described hereinbefore, the flanges can be made of flexible material and are formed to be somewhat laterally oversized with respect to the drinking or pouring opening so that one or more flanges have to be pressed over the circumferential edge of the opening in order to be able to fit the closing element. After fitting of the closing element, the circumferential edge is located between two neighbouring flanges or between a flange and the remainder of the covering element so that a good air-tight closure can be produced. The number of side flanges may vary as a function of inter alia the material used, the dimensions and/or shape of the drinking or pouring opening and of the desired degree of clamping of the closing element in the opening. If the contents of the can are for example a carbonated beverage, a considerable pressure can be produced in the can. The number of side flanges is then selected so as to be relatively high, for example three or more. If the contents of the can are a non-carbonated beverage or comprise a substance containing solid particles, for example, a lower number of side flanges is sufficient.

According to one embodiment, the closing part extending downwards from the covering element forms an open cavity, that is to say a cavity which is openly connected to the contents of the can. The closing part can in this case be embodied so as to be sufficiently flexible or at least laterally bendable that it is pressed laterally outwards when a build-up of pressure takes place in the cavity (for example as a consequence of the presence of a carbonated liquid in the can) so that the clamping to the circumferential edge of the drinking or pouring opening can generally be increased.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the closing element comprises a gripping part with which the covering element can be gripped by hand. The gripping part has the advantage of allowing the closing element to be removed simply and rapidly from the drinking or pouring opening again, even in cases in which the closing element has been robustly clamped to the circumferential edge of the opening.

In embodiments of the invention, the positioning element is embodied to keep the aforementioned tip of the covering element pressed into the drinking or pouring opening, while the notch is formed to keep a different part of the covering element pressed into the drinking or pouring opening. The positioning element and the notch therefore interact to press the closing element and to keep it pressed against the drinking or pouring opening robustly and in a substantially uniform manner.

In a further embodiment, the outer circumference of the closing part has a decreasing diameter in the direction transverse to the body portion. In the embodiments in which the closing part has a number of side flanges, these side flanges extend downwards less and less far laterally. In these embodiments, it is relatively simple to introduce the closing element into the opening. In addition, the closing element can then be pressed further or less far into the opening, depending on the desired degree of clamping. If the closing element is pressed further into the opening, the clamping is for example greater than when the closing element is pressed less far into the opening. A balance must be sought between a clamping force which is as high as possible, in order to obtain an appropriate degree of sealing, and a clamping force which is as low as possible, in order to be able to easily remove the closing element from the opening after use.

According to another aspect of the invention, a closing element is provided for temporarily closing off a drinking or pouring opening of a can, wherein the can comprises a press-in tab for opening the drinking or pouring opening via a press-in tip of the press-in tab, the closing element comprising:

- a covering element which is formed to be able to completely cover the drinking or pouring opening;

- a flexible closing part which is provided on the covering element and rests in the operative position against the circumferential edge of the drinking or pouring opening for closing off the drinking or pouring opening;

- at least one positioning element which protrudes from a tip of the covering element and is embodied to rest in the operative position below the aforementioned circumferential edge for positioning the covering element with respect to the drinking or pouring opening; the covering element being made of pliable material which has in the starting position an at least partially spherical shape and which has in the operative position a less spherical shape or flat shape for securing the covering element with the closing part to the circumferential edge in the operative position.

In the starting position, the covering element has a spherical shape so that the dimensions of the covering element are relatively small, viewed from above. This means that the covering element can be placed relatively easily in the pouring or drinking opening. Once the covering element has been placed in the opening, the user presses against the spherical part of the covering element, so that the covering element assumes a less spherical or even flat shape. This causes the dimensions of the covering element to increase, viewed from above, so that the covering element, or more specifically the closing element, is pressed robustly against the edge of the opening. This ensures improved closing-off of the opening.

In specific embodiments, the covering element is pressed in by hand in order to effect the aforementioned clamping of the closing element. In other embodiments, the pressing-in takes place by utilizing the press-in tab provided on the can as standard. As a consequence of the stresses in the covering element, the covering element tends to automatically return to the "spherical" state (i.e. the starting state). A tip of the press-in tab that is placed in the notch of the covering element can prevent this return to the "spherical" state, so that provided that the press-in tab remains in the notch, the covering element maintains the relatively flat shape and thus remains robustly fixed in the pouring or drinking opening.

In another embodiment, the closing part comprises a circumferential element comprising a vertical part and a horizontal part, the vertical and horizontal parts of the circumferential element lying in the operative position against respectively the side and the top of the circumferential edge. This can ensure that the closing part can close off the drinking or pouring opening both from the side and from the top, so that a particularly good seal can be produced.

The closing element is preferably a separate component, that is to say independent of the can itself. The closing element can for example be fastened to the can prior to use, for example in an embodiment in which the closing element is provided with two hook- shaped elements provided on either side of the body part. The closing element can be slid over the press-in tab and be secured with the aid of the hook-shaped elements. Once the can has been opened or just before the can is opened, the closing element can be removed from the press-in tab again by sliding the closing element off the tab.

In some situations, it may be less easy to slide the closing element over the press-in tab. Special equipment is necessary to correctly position the closing element with respect to the pull tab and subsequently to slide it over the pull tab. A further drawback of the fastening of the closing element to the pull tab is the fact that the user has to perform additional operations and, moreover, a substrate is necessary in order to be able to place the can thereon in order to keep the can upright. For example, after transportation, the closing element has to be slid from the pull tab, the can has to be kept upright and the closing element has subsequently to be slid into the drinking or pouring opening. If the opening has to be opened again, the can has to be kept upright again, the closing element has to be pulled out of the opening and subsequently be slid onto the pull tab.

It is an object of the invention to provide a closing element which is easy to fasten to the can. According to one aspect of the invention, this object is achieved in a closing element for temporarily closing off a drinking or pouring opening of a can, wherein the can comprises a press-in tab for opening the drinking or pouring opening via a press-in tip of the press-in tab, and also a circumferential slot provided in an end wall of the can, the closing element comprising:

- a covering element which is formed to be able to completely cover the drinking or pouring opening;

- a flexible closing part which is provided on the covering element and rests in the operative position against the circumferential edge of the drinking or pouring opening for closing off the drinking or pouring opening;

- at least one positioning element which protrudes from a tip of the covering element and is embodied to rest in the operative position below the aforementioned circumferential edge for positioning the covering element with respect to the drinking or pouring opening. - a fastening tab which is fastened to or formed on the covering element and is formed to be clamped in the circumferential slot for detachably fastening the covering element to the can.

Fastening the closing element to the slot, which is present in a can as standard, now eliminates the need for exact positioning of the pull tab for attaching the closing element to equipment. Furthermore, the closing element can remain connected to the can via the tab not only in the transportation phase but also in the use phase, so that the closing element can easily be attached in the opening or can be removed therefrom. It is even possible to carry out the opening and closing of the opening using one hand. Furthermore, the risk of the closing element becoming lost and/or the closing element becoming soiled, for example as a result of the closing element falling to the ground, has decreased because the closing element can remain permanently connected to the can.

In one embodiment, the tab is formed to be attached in use along at least 50 %, preferably at least 70 %, of the circumference of the circumferential slot. This can bring about good securing of the tab in the slot. According to a further embodiment, the tab is formed to be rotatable in the fastened position about the imaginary longitudinal axis of the can and is configured to be rotated about the covering element between a position opposite the drinking or pouring opening and a position remote from the drinking or pouring opening.

According to another aspect of the invention, a can is provided for containing a beverage or another substance, wherein the can comprises a press-in tab for opening via a press-in tip thereof a drinking or pouring opening provided in an end wall, the can being provided with one or more of the closing elements described in the present document that can be removably attached to the opening.

Further advantages, characteristics and details will be clarified based on the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof. The description refers to the appended figures, in which:

Fig. Ia is a schematic view of a can provided with an embodiment of a closing element according to the invention;

Fig. Ib is a schematic view of the can from Ia, the closing element being detached from the press-in tab and the can being opened in a known manner using the press-in tab;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of the closing element according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a view from below of the embodiment from Fig. 2;

Fig.4 is a side view of the embodiment of the closing element; Fig. 5 is a rear view of the embodiment of the closing element;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the embodiment of the closing element;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal cross section of a preferred embodiment of the closing element;

Fig. 8 is a perspective side view of the embodiment of the closing element;

Fig. 9 is a detailed cross section of the upper side of a can and also of an embodiment of the closing element;

Fig. 10 is the detailed cross section of Fig. 9, in the operative position in which the closing element is secured to the can;

Fig. 1 IA is a side view of another embodiment of the closing element before it is secured to a can;

Fig. HB is a side view of the embodiment from Figure HA, in the operative position in which the closing element is secured to the can;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a closing element according to the invention;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the embodiment from Figure 12, in the use position;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a hingeably embodied closing element, in the folded-open position;

Fig. 15 is a view from below of the closing element shown in Figure 14; Fig. 16 is a side view of the embodiment from Figures 14 and 15;

Fig. 17a is a perspective view of a beverage can to which a closing element 70 of the embodiment from Figures 14-16 is attached, in the opened position; and Fig. 17b is a perspective view of a beverage can provided with a closing element 70 according to the embodiment from Fig. 14-16, in the closed position.

With reference to Fig. Ia and Ib, a standard beverage can 8 comprises a substantially cylindrical container in which a beverage can be stored. The can has a bottom and a top end wall, means being provided in a known manner in the top end wall 30 to create an opening along which the liquid can be removed from the container. For this purpose, the end wall 30 comprises a pull tab 29, also referred to in the present document as a push-in tab, which tab is connected to a connecting element 34. The connecting element 34 is in turn coupled to the end wall 30 of the can via a pin 33 or a similar component. In a known manner, the press-in tab 29 can be rotated upwards (Pi, Fig. Ib) so that a press-in tip 35 of the press-in tab 29 is swivelled downwards (Figure 10). The press-in tip 35 can therefore be pressed in a known manner against a part 41 of the end wall 30 along which a tear line (not shown) is provided. If sufficient force is exerted, the aforementioned part 41 of the end wall 30 tears off so that the press- in tip 35 can displace the part 41 in question of the end wall downwards, for example until the part 41 hangs downwards roughly perpendicularly to the remainder of the end wall 30. The tear line is formed in such a way that a substantially rounded-off drinking or pouring opening 31 can then be created. It is clear that numerous shapes of the drinking or pouring opening are possible but the opening will in most cases have a rounded-off shape in order to increase drinking comfort. Fig. Ia shows that an embodiment of a closing element 1 according to the invention is attached to the tip 36 opposite the aforementioned press-in tip 35 of the press-in tab 29. After the drinking opening has been opened in the manner described hereinbefore, the closing element 1 can be removed from the press-in tab and be attached in the drinking or pouring opening 31, as will be explained hereinafter.

With reference to Fig. 2-10, the closing element 1 comprises a covering element 11, a flexible closing part 20 attached to the underside thereof, two positioning protrusions 14, 15 attached to the front, and a recess or notch 12 provided at the upper side of the covering element 11. The covering element 11 is in this case shaped in such a way as to more than overlap the drinking or pouring opening 31 in the operative position. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, the covering element 11 is roughly the shape of the opening 31 (somewhat oversized), but it is clear that other shapes of the covering element are also possible provided, that is, that the element can close off the entire opening 31 in the operative position.

The flexible closing part 20 provided at the underside of the covering element 11 has relatively small dimensions, since the outer circumference of the closing part 20 must be substantially equal or must at least be merely less large than the inner circumference of the circumferential edge 40 around the opening 31 in order to allow a well-fitting seal. As is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4-10, the closing part is provided in the embodiment shown with three lateral flanges 47, 48, 49. The flanges form in the embodiment shown radial ridges (also referred to as lamellae) which can be pressed in as a consequence of the fact that the closing part is made of flexible material.

The front tip of the closing element 1, that is to say the tip lying next to the press-in tab 29 during use, has two flat lips or positioning elements 14, 15. In the embodiment shown (cf. Fig. 4, for example), the lips 14, 15 are bevelled somewhat at their tip in order to facilitate the introduction of the positioning elements 14, 15 into the drinking or pouring opening 31.

In order to be able to securely grip the closing element 1 in a simple manner, a gripping component 25, the function of which will become clear hereinafter, is provided at the tip opposite the positioning elements 14, 15.

The figures also show that two hook-shaped elements 44, 45 are attached to the inner side of the closing part 20. The hook-shaped elements are shaped in such a way that the entire closing element 1 can be slid over the aforementioned tip 36 of the press-in tab 29 to fasten the closing element to the can. Sliding the closing element back allows it to be removed again just as easily from the press-in tab 29.

Fig. 9 and 10 illustrate in greater detail the functioning of the closing element. First of all, the user places the positioning elements 14, 15 below the circumferential edge 40 of the drinking or pouring opening 31 and slides them into the can (direction P ₂ , Fig. 9). The closing element 1 can now, as it were, hinge about the two positioning elements 14, 15. Hinging the closing element downwards (direction P ₃ ; Fig. 9) allows the closing element to be attached in the opening 31. In this regard, care should be taken to ensure that the press-in tip 35 of the press-in tab 29 (which tip 35 has in an earlier stage bent the part 41 of the end wall 30 downwards) is attached in the recess 12. More particularly, the press-in tip 35 is placed in such a way it can become stuck after an upright edge 13. Preferably (although this is not essential), the press-in tip 35 is placed after the upright edge 13 in a clamping manner. The construction of the press- in tip in combination with the upright edge 13 ensures that the covering element is kept pressed downwards. After all, if the closing element 1 is pressed into the opening, the closing element can otherwise tend to move upwards, for example as a consequence of the flexible properties of the flexible closing part 20. This is of course an undesirable situation because it reduces the strength of the sealing properties of the closing element. The fact that the press-in tab 29 keeps, in combination with the aforementioned positioning elements 14, 15, the closing element pressed downwards ensures that the closing element remains clamped against the circumferential edge 40 of the end wall. This allows the good closing properties of the closing element to be preserved even in cases in which the pressure within the can greatly exceeds the external pressure as a consequence of the presence of a carbonated beverage in the can.

The flexible closing element 20 can be formed by forming at the underside of the closing element 11 a non-flexible wall against which flexible material, for example rubber, is attached (to the circumferential outer side thereof). However, in the illustrated embodiment, the entire closing part 20 is made of flexible material. This means that the closing part 20 can to a certain degree be displaced (for example bent) in the radial direction. This benefits the closing properties of the closing part 20 because the closing part is in such cases pressed with more force against the circumferential edge 40 of the end wall.

The sealing properties are further promoted as a result of the fact that a cavity 43 has been formed at the underside of the closing element. This cavity 43 is delimited by the covering element 11 and the closing part 20. If the pressure within the can, and thus within the upright cavity 43 openly connected to the contents of the can, now becomes relatively high, the flexible closing part 20 tends to move radially. This means improved clamping of the flexible closing part 20 against the circumferential edge 40 of the end wall 30 of the can.

In the embodiment shown, the closing part 20 is embodied in such a way that the radial width of the flanges decreases from the top down. This gives the closing part a conical shape, as it were, so that the closing part can easily be attached in a drinking opening 31. The closing element 1 can now be pushed further or less far into the opening, depending on the desired degree of sealing. In the state represented in Fig. 10, the closing element 1 is pushed into the opening over the maximum distance, that is to say the circumferential edge of the end wall 30 is located between the circumferential edge 29 of the covering element 11 and the top side flange 47. However, it is also possible to push the closing element 1 less far into the opening, so that the circumferential edge 40 is located between the first and second flanges 47, 48 or between the second and third flanges 48, 49, for example. The sealing quality will of course generally be less good in the latter state than in the former state. However, in the latter state, the closing element 1 is easier to remove again. Another advantage of the use of a conical arrangement of the flanges is the fact that any variation in the dimensions of the opening 30 can be accommodated. After all, not all manufacturers make the drinking opening 31 the same size. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle between the normal to the covering element 11 and the line joining together the tip of the side flanges 47, 48, 49 (angle β) is between 0° (in which the side flanges 47, 49 therefore extend equally far radially) and 45°, preferably between 5 and 30°.

From the state represented in Fig. 10, the closing element 1 can easily be removed by firstly fetching the tip 35 of the press tab 29 from after the upright edge 13, for example by rotating the press tab about the pin 33 with which the overall entity consisting of the tab and connecting element 34 is fastened to the end wall 30. After the press-in tab has been slid aside, the user can grasp the gripping part 25 and swivel the closing element upwards. After use, it is possible to fasten the closing element 1 to the press tab 29, again with the aid of the aforementioned hook-shaped elements 44, 45.

As previously discussed, the material of the closing part 20 is flexible, so that it allows a defined degree of clamping to be effected between the closing element and the end wall 30 of the can. The material used for the closing part 20 may be rubber or a similar flexible material. Otherwise, the closing element is preferably made of plastics material. Preferably, the closing element is produced from injection-moulded components, so that the element can be produced relatively inexpensively.

Figure HA shows a further embodiment of a closing element 50 according to the invention. In this embodiment, the closing element has a generally spherical shape in its longitudinal direction. Although the spherical side of the closing element can be provided at the underside of the closing element, it is preferable to direct the spherical side upwards, as is illustrated in Figure 1 IA. If the closing element 50 is now attached in the drinking opening 31 and the aforementioned press-in tip 35 (not shown in the figures) of the press-in tab 29 exerts a downward force on the spherical upper side of the closing element, the press-in tab forces the closing element 50 into a flatter or even entirely flat state, as is illustrated in Figure HB. As a consequence of this, the front 51 and back 52 of the closing element 50 will be displaced in the outward direction and the total length of the closing element increases (over a distance of 2*d, as is illustrated in Figure 1 IB). This means that the closing element is pressed even more robustly against the circumferential edge of the drinking opening 31, allowing a better seal between the closing element and the can to be produced.

Depending on the shape (that is to say the sphericity) of the closing element, the pressing-in of the closing element can also cause the dimensions to increase in directions other than in the longitudinal direction. In a further embodiment, the shape of the sphericity of the closing element is such that the closing element becomes larger in substantially all directions during the outward pressing-in, so that the closing element is pressed on more robustly over the entire circumferential edge 40.

The embodiments in which the closing element is at least partially spherical can be provided with a number of side flanges, such as the side flanges 47-49 of the embodiments described hereinbefore in connection with Figures 4-10. However, in the embodiment shown in Figures HA and HB, a circumferential edge 53 is provided that is made up of a vertical edge part 55 and a horizontal edge part 54. In the operative position, that is to say when the closing element is attached in the drinking opening 31, the horizontal edge part 54 lies against the upper side of the circumferential edge 40 around the drinking opening. In addition to the closure as a consequence of the fact that the vertical part 55 is pushed against the edge of the drinking opening 31, a supplementary closure occurs as a result of the fact that the horizontal part 54 is pushed against the upper side of the end wall 30 of the can.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. A closing element is shown that is provided, in a similar manner to that described in connection with Figures 9 and 10, with a closing part with which the closing element can close off the opening 31 provided in an upper wall 30 of a can. Before the can is opened, for example during transporting thereof, the closing element 60 is not fastened to the pull tab 29, for example using the aforementioned hook-shaped elements 20, 21, but the element is fastened to the can in an alternative manner. The closing element 60 differs from the embodiment described hereinbefore (Figures 9 and 10) in that it is provided with a fastening tab 65 for detachably fastening the closing element to the can. The fastening tab is for example made of plastics material or metal and is either formed on the closing element itself (for example by (injection-)moulding the tab to the closing element) or fastened to the closing element 60. The tab 65 has a shape corresponding substantially to the shape of the slot 68 which is normally formed between the upright wall 8 and the end wall 30 of the can. The slot 68 may be U-shaped in transverse cross section, but can also assume a different shape. In a preferred embodiment, the shape of the fastening tab 65 is adapted to the shape of the slot in such a way as to allow the tab to be clamped in the slot, for example by securing the tab in the slot. Furthermore, it is preferable to embody the tab in such a way that the tab is sunk into the slot in the fastened position so that the cans remain stackable.

The tab 65 has two tab parts which are coupled to the closing element 60 and which extend upwards with respect to the remainder of the tab so that the closing element 60 extends at a level above the level of the remainder of the tab. This form ensures more grip when pressing the closing element 60 onto the can and/or when the closing element is picked up from the can, as will be discussed hereinafter.

After the tab has been fastened to the can, for example by clamping the tab in the slot, the can may be transported to the end user. When the end user wishes to open the can, he creates a drinking opening 31 by pulling on the pull tab 29 in the known manner. When the closing element is now positioned opposite the drinking opening, the closing element can be pressed downwards, without having to detach the tab from the can, and be secured in the opening in order to be able to close off the can. Afterwards, the can may be opened again, the fact that the closing element is connected to the tab 65 fastened to the can preventing the closing element from soon becoming last or from falling to the ground. A further advantage of the use of the tab 65 is the fact that the closing element can be placed more easily directly opposite the drinking opening 31, even when the closing element is positioned obliquely, for example; this makes it easier to close off the drinking opening.

Furthermore, the fastening is preferably such as to allow the fastening tab 65 and the closing element 60 formed thereon to be rotated in the fastened position about the imaginary longitudinal axis of the can. This allows the closing element 60 to be rotated until the closing element 60 is located precisely opposite the pouring or drinking opening 31 so that the closing element can easily be fastened to the can by exerting a downward force thereon, while the closing element 60 can also be rotated away in order to offer the user free access to the opening 31.

Although a notch 12, in which a tip 35 of the pull tab 29 can be placed in the above- described manner in order to keep the closing element pressed into the drinking opening 31, is provided in the illustrated embodiment of the closing element, other embodiments are also possible in which the closing element is not provided with a notch of this type.

A further preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 14-17. The closing element 70 comprises in this embodiment substantially two components which are hingeable with respect to each other. The first component 71, also referred to as the stationary component, can be fastened to the can, for example by securing the lower part to the edge of the drinking opening of the can. The second component 72, also referred to as the swivellable component, can be swivelled up and down with respect to the stationary component in order respectively to open and to close the drinking opening.

The first component 71 comprises a plate-shaped unit 75 (which is somewhat wider than the drinking opening 31 in the can so that the plate-shaped unit can cover and thus close off the drinking opening with a certain degree of oversize). A wide drinking opening 78 is formed in the plate-shaped unit 75. The drinking opening 78 is surrounded by an upright wall 87. The upright wall 87 is embodied so as to be relatively thin at the side of the drinking opening 78, whereas the wall 87 comprises a thickening 88 at the side rims and at an opposing side thereof. The outer side of the wall 87 and the thickening 88 pertaining thereto define a circumferential shape substantially corresponding to the shape and dimensions of the aforementioned opening 31 in the beverage can 8. The upright wall 87 is also embodied with a peripheral edge 95 which can be slid during use below the edge 40 around the drinking opening 31 in the end wall 30. This edge 95 is a positioning element with which the first component 71 can be positioned with respect to the opening 31 in the beverage can. The edge forms an anti-release ridge which can come to rest at one or more locations below the edge of the can to counteract detachment of the component 71 from the can. Figure 17a, in which the closing component is illustrated in the opened state, clearly shows that the first component 71 with the aforementioned wall 87 can be attached in a clamping manner in the opening 31 of the can. In the attached position, the drinking opening 78 ensures that a beverage may flow out of the can via the corresponding opening 31 in the beverage can.

A second component 72 is fastened to the aforementioned first component 71 so as to be able to swivel with the aid of swivelling elements (hinges) 73, 74. This swivellable component 72 comprises a plate-shaped element which is designed so as to be able to be swivelled on top of the first element 71. A gripping lip 79 is provided at one side to facilitate back-and-forth swivelling. At a position corresponding to the aforementioned drinking opening 78 with the upright wall 87 attached therearound, a closing protrusion, formed by an upright wall 97 for example, is attached to the plate-shaped element 72. In this case, the upright wall 97 has dimensions such that the outer circumference thereof is just slightly smaller than the inner circumference of the opening 78 so that the upright wall 97 can be slid into the opening 78 in a clamping manner. The upright wall 97 functions in this case as a fastening element for fastening the second element 72 to the first element 71. A number of intermediate walls 88, 89, 90, which extend within the fastening element, are provided to provide the fastening element with an appropriate degree of rigidity. A peripheral edge 98 is attached in the side of the upright wall 97, along the outer circumference thereof. The distance between the edge 98 and the plate-shaped element is selected in such a way as to be just slightly greater than the height of the upright wall 87 in the first component 71. If the second component is swivelled with respect to the first component in such a way that the upright wall 97 is slid into the opening 78, the edge 98 can be slid through sufficiently far to allow the edge to come to rest after the upper side of the upright wall 85 of the first component 71. In this position, such as is illustrated for example in Figure 17b, the second component 72 is locked with respect to the first component 71.

Figures 17a and 17b illustrate, as previously stated, the situation in which the closing element 70 is attached to a can. It is shown that the press-in tip 35 of the press-in tab 29 of the can has come to rest on a clamping element 80 of the first component 71. The clamping element 80 is in this case designed in such a way that a tip of the press tab presses during use against the upper surface thereof so that sufficient counterpressure is exerted on the first component 71 to secure the first component in the drinking opening 31 of the can.

The upper surface of the clamping element 80 is attached at an angle (α, Figure 16) in the embodiment shown. In the fitted position, the upper surface extends obliquely (with respect to the end face of the can) so that the press-in tab can provide a counterpressure to the pressure exerted from the interior of the can, for example in carbonated beverages, on the closing element. Furthermore, this embodiment of the upper surface allows the closing element (which closing element is preferably made of flexible, for example resilient, material, such as rubber or plastics material) to be kept more effectively in the desired shape. This angle is in specific embodiments between about 10 and 40 degrees. The angle may not become too large because otherwise the closing element cannot be slid through in a sufficiently simple manner below the press-in tab in order to secure the closing element to the circumferential edge of the drinking opening. Furthermore, if the angle is too high, the press-in tab can become excessively deformed or damaged. The edge 21 provided at the tip of the clamping element 80 ensures that the first component 71 cannot be pressed too far into the drinking opening 31. The clamping element 80 is embodied in a reinforced manner at the underside. In the embodiment shown, a notch 90, in which two reinforcing walls 91, 92 and a reinforcing element 93 connecting the two reinforcing walls 91, 92 are attached, is provided at the underside of the clamping element 80.

The embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 13 inclusive relate to closing elements which completely close off the drinking opening 31 of the can in the fitted position and clear this opening again in the disassembled position. A closing element of this type has to be removed from the can each time the consumer wishes to take a swig from a can once it has been closed off. In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 15-17, the closing element does not have to be removed from the can each time. In the fitted position of the first component 71, the drinking opening 31 can be accessed via the opening 78 when the second component 72 is opened, whereas the drinking opening 78 is closed off in the closed position of the second element 72. This allows the can to be opened and closed again more easily without the entire closing element having to be removed from the can. This benefits the ease of use and can, moreover, reduce the risk of damage to and/or wear of the closing element.

It will be clear that various components of the various embodiments are mutually exchangeable. Thus, for example, it is possible, by analogy with the embodiment illustrated in Figures 11a and 1 Ib, to make the swivellable closing element according to the embodiment from Figures 15-17 from a material which is sufficiently pliable that an at least partially spherical shape is provided in the starting position and a less spherical shape or flat shape is provided in the operative position so that the covering element, or at least the first component 71 thereof, can be secured more robustly to the edge of the drinking opening 31 of the can. In this case, the aforementioned edges 95 around the upright wall 87 of the first component 71 may be superfluous in certain embodiments. Furthermore, it is also possible to fasten the first component 71 to the can in a different manner, for example by a fastening tab fastened to the first component, for example by analogy with the embodiment illustrated in Figures 12 and 13.

In still other embodiments (not shown in the figures), the closing element is wholly or partially integrated with the can. In specific embodiments, at least a first closing component is for example formed during manufacture of the can itself. The metal part of the end wall of the can, which in the aforementioned embodiments is bent inwards by the press-in tab, may be omitted in these embodiments. The tear line and the press-in tab are also no longer necessary in these embodiments.

The present invention is not restricted to the preferred embodiment thereof described in the present document. On the contrary, the rights applied for are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which a broad range of adaptations and modifications are conceivable.