HK1080439B - Plastic lid for a can - Google Patents

Description

Plastic lid for a can

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a plastic lid for sealing cans, said cans being made of sheet metal and such cans comprising a tubular body having a lower skirt (lower skirt) attached or connected to a bottom wall, the upper edge of which supports a seat for supporting and retaining a press-fittable lid, either directly through a deformed portion of the tubular body or through an annular upper wall portion in the form of a structural ring. In particular, the present invention relates to providing a plastic lid for a can of the type considered above, said can being used to contain products for progressive consumption, such as certain food products.

Technical Field

For extended periods of time, such as certain food products, it is necessary to preserve the product hermetically and provide the consumer with a clear visual indication that the container holding the product on the market has not been tampered with. Since many of these products are consumed progressively, the lid, which serves as an opening to the interior of the can, must be reclosed as many times as necessary after the container is first opened in order to ensure the hermeticity of the reclosed can and protect the remainder of the contents of the can during the progressive consumption of the stored product.

There are many cans known in the prior art having a press-fit lid, wherein the lid is press-fitted within a circumferential structural ring which is located within the upper rim of the can body and is double-seamed to said upper rim. This constructive form allows the tightness of the contents to be ensured by fitting the lid in a seat for supporting and fixing the lid, which may be provided in the structural ring defining the annular upper wall of the can, or in the tubular body of the can.

In this type of seal, the seal indicating whether it is hit or not is generally formed by a sheet of metal aluminium, which is double-seamed to the upper edge of the can body together with the structural ring, and which also ensures tightness. The inner seal is also only visible after the lid has been detached, and it also requires a means to cut it along its periphery, which always leaves a cut edge near the upper opening of the can, resulting in frequent incidents of wounds on the user's fingers. In addition to the inconveniences described above, these known press-fit lids require the user to use a lever-type device to remove the lid from the seat defined in the structural ring. It is not possible for a user to disassemble such a cover by hand only.

A solution is also known from brazilian patent application PI 0003727-3, in which the plastic cover comprises a sealing portion, which is removably supported and retained in the seat, and a pair of generally semicircular handles, which are arranged along the upper edge of the sealing portion, to which the ends are connected. After disconnecting the disconnectable means connecting the intermediate region of the handle and the sealing portion of the plastic lid, the handle can be moved along its mid-line from a non-operative position coplanar with said upper edge to a raised operative position. In this prior art construction, the plastic lid also comprises a manually breakable sealing strip, which is arranged along the upper end of the tubular body and has a lower portion, which is supported and locked under the double bead of the annular upper wall, and an upper portion, which is connected to the handle and to the sealing portion by breakable connection means.

Although it eliminates the drawbacks of the existing lids for cans containing products of progressive consumption, this existing solution of the application still has some inconveniences. One of said inconveniences relates to the questionable reliability of the closure strip fixing, since if it is slightly forced upwards it is displaced, sliding out from the upper double seam of the can.

Another inconvenience of said prior art lids derives from the fact that, when the lid is pulled axially by means of the respective handle, it opens abruptly, which, when opened, causes the stored product to pop out improperly.

Two further aspects that can be improved relate to a device with which the lid can be extracted by the handle and to the durability of the sealing band around the upper edge of the tubular body of the can, which usually requires the use of a cutting device to remove it.

Disclosure of Invention

A general object of the present invention is to provide a reclosable plastic lid for a can of the type considered herein, which lid has a simple structure and low cost, has means for facilitating the opening of the lid and a reliable seal capable of clearly indicating a breakage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plastic lid as defined above which can be safely and conveniently handled by the consumer.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are obtained by providing a plastic lid for a can comprising a tubular body having a lower end and an upper end, said upper end being attached by means of a double seam an annular upper wall, said upper wall defining internally a seat for sealingly bearing the lid, the one-piece lid comprising: a sealing portion, said sealing portion being removably supported and retained within the seat and said sealing portion being provided with an upper edge defined by a peripheral flange which is well-joined to said sealing portion; a closure portion having a lower skirt disposed around a portion of the upper end of the tubular body and an upper ring supported on a peripheral extension of the upper end of the tubular body, the upper ring being joined externally to the lower skirt and being joined internally by radial bridges to an upper edge of the sealing portion, the closure portion having a break in its peripheral extension extending over the width of the upper ring and over at least a portion of the height of the lower skirt, the upper edge being disposed in a plane substantially coincident with or lower relative to a plane containing the upper ring, the sealing portion including a gripping tab extending radially outwardly and axially downwardly through the break in the closure portion, the gripping tab being manually operable only after a portion of the closure portion has been broken, the radial bridges are broken when a certain pulling force is applied to separate the sealing portion from the sealing portion upon first opening of the cap.

Drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plastic closure constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, including a closure portion;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the closure of FIG. 1 after the closure portions have been separated;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the plastic closure of FIG. 1;

fig. 4 is a partial radial cross-sectional view of the lid of fig. 1-3 mounted on the upper end of a can, taken along line IV-IV of fig. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but taken along line V-V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative construction of the plastic closure of the present invention, including a closure portion;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the cap of FIG. 6 with the closure portion separated;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the plastic lid of FIG. 6;

fig. 9 is a partial radial cross-sectional view of the lid of fig. 6-8 mounted to the upper end of a can, taken along line IX-IX of fig. 8; and

fig. 10 is a view similar to fig. 8 but taken along line X-X of fig. 8.

Detailed Description

According to the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 10, the lid is suitable for a can made of sheet metal comprising a tubular body 10 having a lower end 11 attached to a bottom wall 12, and having an upper end 13 attached by double seaming to an annular upper wall 14, the upper wall 14 forming internally a seat 15 for sealing and supporting a lid 20.

The annular upper wall 14 can take the form of a structural ring, as shown in figures 4, 5, 9 and 10, or even an annular plate in large-size cans, such as 18-litre cans. The configuration of the annular upper wall 14 and of the seat 15 can be obtained in different ways, as long as it enables the cap 20 to be hermetically and reliably fitted to the upper part of the can. In figures 4, 5, 9 and 10, the annular upper wall 14 and the seat 15 are made as described and claimed in brazilian patent PI9408643-5 of the same applicant, issued in brazil and in other countries (for example in the US, US5899352 and in europe, EP 0706486). Therefore, it is not necessary to describe the existing structure in detail in this specification.

According to the invention and as shown in the drawings, the cover 20 is preferably made of transparent or opaque plastic material and comprises a sealing portion 21 of suitable structure to be removably supported and retained in the seat 15, said sealing portion 21 comprising an upper edge 21b, which in the embodiment shown is formed by a peripheral flange 21a, which is perfectly coupled to the sealing portion 21. In the single piece with the sealing portion 21, the lid 20 further comprises a closure portion 25, the closure portion 25 having a lower skirt 25a, which is normally closely disposed along the peripheral extension of the upper end 13 of the tubular body 10, and an upper ring 25b, which is supported on the peripheral extension of the upper end of the tubular body 10. The upper ring 25b is externally connected to the lower skirt 25a and internally connected to the upper rim 21b of the sealing portion 21 by means of radial bridges 26 which can be manually broken.

According to the invention, the radial bridges 26 are broken when the closure portion 25 is separated from the sealing portion 21 by a certain pulling force during the first opening of the lid 20.

The seal portion 25 has, in its peripheral extension, a discontinuity 25c extending over the width of the upper ring 25b and over at least part of the height of the lower skirt 25a, said discontinuity 25c defining a peripheral space between the mutually facing edges of the upper ring 25b and of the said parts of the lower skirt 25a on either side thereof.

According to the invention, the sealing portion 21 comprises a gripping tab 27 extending radially outwards and axially downwards along said interruption 25c of the seal portion 25, for example substantially flush with the corresponding portion of said seal portion 25.

In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 1 to 5, the gripping tab 27 extends through the entire respective radial extension of the upper ring 25b and through a portion of the axial extension of the lower skirt 25a, in the configuration illustrated in fig. 6 to 10, the gripping tab 27 occupies the entire respective radial extension of the upper ring 25b and extends axially downwards beyond the axial extension of the lower skirt 25 a.

According to the invention, the closure portion 25 comprises at least one breakable lock 28 which connects the gripping tab 27 at least to a portion of the portion defined by the upper ring 25b and the lower skirt 25a of the closure portion 25. The gripping tab 27 can only be operated by hand after a portion of the closure portion 25 has been broken, for example, after the breakable locks 28 have been broken.

In the construction shown in figures 1 to 5, the gripping tab 27 is laterally connected to the upper ring 25b by two or more breakable locks 28 in the form of annular bridges, the locks 28 being manually breakable when the lid 20 is opened for the first time.

The radial bridges 26 and the breakable locks 28 are broken in the construction proposed by the invention and shown in figures 1 to 5, so that the sealing portion 21 and the closing portion 25 are separated when the cap is opened for the first time by lifting the gripping tab 27 by hand.

In the arrangement shown in figures 6 to 10, the lower skirt 25a is connected to the end of a closure bridge 25d which extends circumferentially over the break 25c of the closure portion 25 and over the gripping tab 27. the closure bridge 25d has a first end 25e which is connected to the lower skirt 25a by connecting means 25f, the connecting means 25f being adapted to break when said first end 25e is forced away from the lower skirt 25a, for example by being pulled radially outwardly, thereby providing access for a person's hand to the gripping tab 27. in the embodiment shown, the first end 25e of the closure bridge 25d is arranged to overlie the lower skirt 25a and is connected to the lower skirt 25a by two connecting means 25f which are circumferentially spaced from one another.

In the construction shown in figures 6 to 10, the gripping tab 27 is connected to the underside of the closure bridge 25d by a breakable lock 28 in the form of one or more axial bridges which are broken by hand when the cap is first opened.

The provision of the gripping tab 27 allows the sealing portion 21 to be easily removed from the resting position in the seat 15 and the can to be opened controllably and progressively, i.e. first in the region adjacent to the gripping tab 27 and then in the rest of the seat, which prevents the stored product from inadvertently flowing out of the can.

According to the invention, the gripping tab 27 may be large and at least partially hollow, forming a handle, as shown in figures 6 to 10.

In the construction illustrated in figures 1 to 3 and 5, the gripping tab 27 is large, consisting of the corresponding portions of the upper ring 25b and of the lower skirt 25a, remaining substantially flush with said portion of the sealing portion 21, and maintaining a gap 29 with said portion along the entire extension of said portion.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3 and 5, the gripping tab 27 is preferably defined in a break portion 24 of the lower skirt 25a, which is kept separate from the rest of the lower skirt 25a, and is only superiorly associated with the upper ring 25 b. With this construction, the interruption portion 24 of the lower skirt 25a can be a "U" -shaped piece, which maintains said gap 29 with the periphery of the relative extension of the gripping tab 27, and is kept separated from the rest of the lower skirt 25a by means of a pair of axial cuts 23, which in the example shown extend radially inwards, up to a certain width of the upper ring 25b, so that, after the first opening of the lid, the closing portion 25 can be broken in the region of the interruption portion 24, thus completely and easily separating from the tubular body 10.

In order to be loosely and fittable, internally or externally, with the lower end 11 of another tubular body 10 stacked on top of the first, the upper ring 25b can be associated, in one constructive form, with an upper circumferential rib 25g, which is continuous or segmented and projects beyond the upper end 13 of the tubular body 10.

If the upper circumferential rib 25g has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the lower end 11 of the tubular body 10, it is fitted in the circumferential groove 12a of the bottom wall 12 in the lower end 11 of another tubular body stacked on the first tubular body.

In the construction of the lid 20, in which the upper edge 21b of the sealing portion 21 is arranged in a plane substantially coinciding with the plane containing the upper ring 25b, as shown in figures 1 to 5, the radial bridges 26 are arranged substantially horizontally and flush with said portion. In the constructions shown in figures 6 to 10, the upper edge 21b of the sealing portion 21 is arranged in a lower plane with respect to the plane containing the upper ring 25b, and the radial bridges 26 are arranged substantially vertically between said portions. Although the invention has been described in relation to two possible embodiments of a tank in one constructive form, it should be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims of the present patent application.

Claims (16)

1. A plastic lid for a can comprising a tubular body (10) having a lower end (11) and an upper end (13) to which is attached, by means of double seaming, an annular upper wall (14) defining internally a seat (15) for sealingly bearing a lid (20), characterized in that the one-piece lid comprises: a sealing portion (21) which is removably supported and retained in the seat (15) and which is provided with an upper edge (21b), the upper edge (21b) being defined by a peripheral flange (21a) which is well joined to the sealing portion (21); a closure portion (25) having a lower skirt (25a) disposed around a portion of the upper end (13) of the tubular body (10) and an upper ring (25b) supported on a peripheral extension of the upper end (13) of the tubular body (10), said upper ring being joined externally to the lower skirt (25a) and being joined internally, by means of radial bridges (26), to the upper edge (21b) of the sealing portion (21), the closure portion (25) having, in its peripheral extension, a break (25c) extending over the width of the upper ring (25b) and over at least a portion of the height of the lower skirt (25a), said upper edge (21b) being disposed in a plane substantially coinciding with the plane containing the upper ring (25b) or in a lower plane with respect to the plane containing the upper ring (25b), said sealing portion (21) comprises a snap tab (27) extending radially outwards and axially downwards through said interruption (25c) of the closure portion (25), said snap tab (27) being manually operable only after a portion of the closure portion (25) has been broken, said radial bridge (26) being broken when a certain pulling force is applied to separate the closure portion (25) from the sealing portion (21) upon first opening of the cap.

2. A plastic lid for a can according to claim 1, wherein: the lower skirt (25a) is tightly arranged around the circumferential extension of the upper end (13) of the tubular body (10).

3. A plastic lid for a can according to claim 2, wherein: the closure portion (25) comprises at least one breakable lock (28) connecting the gripping tab (27) to at least one of the portions defined by the upper ring (25b) and the lower skirt (25a) of the closure portion (25).

4. A plastic lid for a can according to claim 2, wherein: the lower skirt (25a) is associated with the end of a closure bridge (25d) extending circumferentially over the interruption (25c) of the closure portion (25) and over the gripping tab (27), a first end (25e) of said ends of the closure bridge (25d) being connected to the lower skirt (25a) by connecting means (25f), the connecting means (25f) being adapted to break when said first end (25e) is forced away from the lower skirt (25a), thereby opening access to the gripping tab (27) by a person's hand.

5. A plastic lid for a can according to claim 4, wherein: the first end (25e) of the sealing bridge (25d) is arranged above the lower skirt (25a) and is connected to the lower skirt (25a) by two connecting means (25f) spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction.

6. A plastic lid for a can according to claim 1, wherein: the snap tab (27) remains substantially flush with the upper ring (25b) and the lower skirt (25a), maintaining a gap (29) with said portions along the entire extension thereof.

7. A plastic lid for a can according to claim 1, wherein: the gripping tab (27) is at least partially hollow to form a handle.

8. A plastic lid for a can according to claim 7, wherein: the snap tab (27) extends axially and downwardly beyond the lower skirt (25 a).

9. A plastic lid for a can according to claim 1, wherein: the locking piece (27) is large.

10. A plastic lid for a can according to claim 9, wherein: the snap tab (27) is defined in a break portion (24) of the lower skirt (25a), which is kept separate from the rest of the lower skirt (25a) and is only superiorly connected to the upper ring (25 b).

11. A plastic lid for a can according to claim 10, wherein: the interruption portion (24) of the lower skirt (25a) is defined by a "U" -shaped piece which maintains a gap (29) along the periphery of the extensions of the gripping tab (27), the gap (29) separating the gripping tab from the interruption portion (24), the interruption portion (24) being maintained separated from the rest of the lower skirt (25a) by means of a pair of axial cuts (23).

12. A plastic lid for a can according to claim 11, wherein: the axial cut-out (23) extends radially inwards, which extends over a certain width of the upper ring (25 b).

13. A plastic lid for a can according to any preceding claim, wherein: in order to fit loosely and telescopically with the lower end (11) of another tubular body (10) stacked on the first, the upper ring (25b) is connected to an upper circumferential rib (25g) which projects beyond the upper end (13) of the tubular body (10).

14. A plastic lid for a can according to claim 13, wherein: the upper circumferential rib (25g) is continuous.

15. A plastic lid for a can according to claim 13, wherein: an upper circumferential rib (25g) is fitted around the lower end (11) of the other tubular body (10) stacked on the first tubular body.

16. A plastic lid for a can according to claim 13, wherein: the upper circumferential rib (25g) is fitted in a circumferential groove (12a) provided inside the lower end (11) of another tubular body (10) stacked on the first one.