WO1998047776A1 - System for the closing and the opening of containers - Google Patents

Abstract

Invention relates to a system for the closing and the opening of containers comprising a false closure part (A) which covers a weakening line of the container closure and which cooperates with a raised area formed in the external face of said closure and of which the longitudinal axis extends in the diametral direction through out a part of the closure, said part (A) incorporating a hold element which is used as a pulling element to tear said weakening line and to open the container. The invention applies to containers for beverages, milk, juices, powders, granules, vegetables and other flowing materials enabling to close again sealingly the containers after each time they have been opened.

Description

 CLOSURE AND OPENING SYSTEM FOR BOATS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns a closing and opening system for boats containing liquids, such as beverages, milk, juices and others, as well as flowing solid materials, such as powders, granules, legumes and the like, in which the cover covering its upper end is provided with a line of weakening of a circular shape or another intended to be torn during the opening of the boat and thus provide a hole to pour the contents thereof. The invention also covers boat covers prepared to incorporate said closure system.

The closing and opening system of the invention is applicable to all boats of the aforementioned type already existing, whether metallic, for example aluminum or tin, or plastic or other appropriate material. In addition, the installation of the closing and opening system of the invention can be carried out without the need to modify the current filling and sealing equipment for boats. On the other hand, the closing and opening system of the invention is designed in such a way that it will guarantee the tightness of the boat when it is closed again after it has been opened.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is an abundant bibliography describing cans for drinks or other liquids in which their closing and opening system comprises a line of circular weakening or otherwise that delimits a part of the boat's lid, called a insert opening, which can be sunk or torn to expose an opening through which the contents of the boat can be poured.

In a known system of this class, rings are used that cause the sinking of the opening insert delimited by said line of weakness towards the inside of the container, which results in said insert establishing contact with the liquid, which, if the insert It presents dirt particles, it could be adulterated, affecting, in certain cases, the hygiene of the packaged product.

Likewise, in another known system solidarity rings of the opening insert are used, which are thrown after being torn off and thus no part of the insert enters inside the container. However, this system is becoming obsolete because, with a view to protecting the environment, users tend to avoid throwing the opening insert after opening the boat.

The applicant herself is the holder of an international patent application published under the number WO 96/14250, which describes opening systems for beer and refreshing beverages, including carbonated beverages, whose lid can be fitted with grip straps subject to different ways in the vicinity of the conventional insert that facilitates the opening of the hole of the lid of the boat, which can be closed by a protective sheet that also serves as an opening element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Based on the known background, the applicant has now designed a new system of closing and opening for boats in which a series of improvements have been incorporated that contribute to make it easier, cheaper and hygienic compared to other systems already known in the art previous, being, in addition, ensured the tightness of the boat even after repeated opening and closing operations. To this end, on the outer surface of the lid of the boat is formed an enhanced area whose axis extends diametrically along the entire or part of the lid, being adapted to said enhanced area a insert that covers the line of weakening practiced on the lid of the boat, and carrying this piece it uses a grip element that serves as a handle to tear said line of weakening and open the boat. Once the boat is opened, the piece it may be displaced in the longitudinal direction of said enhanced zone.

According to the invention, said raised area is formed by two parallel flat slats whose length is less than the diameter of said cover. These slats, which can be made of metal, plastic, or other appropriate material, are attached to the lid by welding, bonding, sealing or other suitable technique.

Also, according to the invention, said raised area is defined by a central band resulting from folding said cover along four folding lines.

According to another aspect of the invention, the insert is mounted on said flat slats, covers said weakening line and is divided into two parts, a narrower one corresponding to the area of said weakening line and a wider one which carries on its sides respective tabs that fit under the parallel external edges of said slats, the narrow part of said piece presenting a tongue that serves as a handle to tear the line of weakening, thus detaching the opening insert and opening the canister.

The insert mentioned in the preceding paragraph is fixed to the opening insert delimited by said weakening line and, after opening the canister, said insert can be moved, guided by said slats, in the sense of exposing the opening of pouring the contents of the boat. This opening can then be covered by moving the insert in the opposite direction until the opening insert is fitted in said opening, thus establishing a hermetic seal.

On the other hand, according to a further aspect of the invention, the insert that covers said weakening line is divided into two parts, a narrower one corresponding to the area of said weakening line and a wider one that fits with its sides below the parallel internal edges of said slats, being applied to the narrow part of said piece a ring that serves as a handle to tear said line of weakening, thus detaching the opening insert and opening the canister.

The insert mentioned in the preceding paragraph is fixed to the opening insert delimited by said weakening line, and once the latter is torn, the insert can move, guided by the slats, in the sense of freeing the pouring opening . The latter can be sealed again by moving the insert in the opposite direction until the insert fits into said opening.

According to another aspect of the invention, the insert is mounted on said central band of the boat lid, covers said weakening line and is divided into two parts, a narrower one corresponding to the area of said weakening line and a wider one which carries on its sides respective tabs that fit under the parallel edges of said central band, being fixed to the narrow part of said piece a tongue that serves as a handle to tear said line of weakening, thus detaching said opening insert and opening the boat The insert mentioned in the preceding paragraph is fixed with its narrow part to the opening insert delimited by said weakening line, and once the latter is torn, said insert can be moved, guided by said central band, in the sense of expose the pouring opening. The latter can be closed again by moving the insert in the opposite direction until the opening insert adhered to the latter fits into the pouring opening, thus establishing a hermetic seal. According to another aspect of the invention, the insert is formed by two parts, one wider and one more narrow which carries at its far end of the wide part a circular opening of greater diameter than that of the circle defined by said weakening line and which fits under the internal parallel edges of said flat slats, extending from the free end of said wide part a tongue that serves as a handle to tear said line of weakening, thus releasing said opening insert and opening the boat.

Before opening the boat, the wide part of the insert mentioned in the preceding paragraph is folded over the narrow part and fixed with a circular raised area to the opening insert delimited by said weakening line. To open the boat, the weakening line will be torn by pulling on the tongue that acts as a handle, thus exposing the pouring opening, and once the boat has been finished, the opening of the boat can be closed again. poured by folding the wide part over the narrow part of said insert and fitting the protrusion of said wide part into the circular opening formed in the narrow part of the insert. The starter tongue is attached to the opening plate of the boat lid in all cases by means of a riveted, welded, glued, sealed or similar joint. Although in the foregoing it has been said that the new closure of the boat, after its opening, can be carried out by adapting the part of the insert that has the detached opening insert attached to it, it is also possible, as an alternative, tear off this part of the insert and cover said opening by moving the other part of said piece until it is placed on top of said pouring hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other features of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in the which:

- Figure 1 shows three views a) in plan, b) in front elevation and c) in side elevation of a first embodiment of the closing and opening system according to the invention,

- Figure 2 shows three views a), b) and c) of the starter tab of the system of Figure 1,

- figure 3 shows two views a) and b) illustrating the way in which the starter tongue of figure 2 is attached to the opening plate of the lid of a boat,

- Figure 4 shows three views a) in plan, b) in front elevation and c) in side elevation of a second embodiment of the closing and opening system according to the invention, - Figure 5 shows three views a), b) and c ) of the starter tab used in the system of Figure 4,

- Figure 6 shows three views a) in plan, b) in front elevation and c) in side elevation of a third embodiment of the closing and opening system according to the invention,

- figure 7 shows a side elevation of the system of figure 6 as it would be applied to a boat,

- Figure 8 shows three views a) in plan, b) in front elevation and c) in side elevation of a variant of the closure system illustrated in Figure 3,

- Figures 9 and 9a are plan views from above and in front elevation, respectively, of a canister lid for the closure system illustrated in Figures 1 to 3,

- Figure 10 is a top plan view of a canister lid for the closure system illustrated in Figures 4 and 5,

- Figure 11 is a top plan view of a boat cover for the closure system illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, - Figures 10a and lia are front elevation views of the boat covers illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, respect tiva entity,

- Figure 12 shows two views a) and b) of a closure system such as that of Figures 1 to 3, but intended to be applied to a boat lid such as that of Figures 13 and 13a below,

- Figure 13 is a top plan view of a canister lid for the closure system illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, and

- Figure 13a is a front elevation view of the canister lid shown in Figure 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, a closure and opening system for boats according to the invention is illustrated, which is constituted by a closure insert designated as a whole. with A, which is divided into two parts, one wider 1 and another narrower 2 corresponding to the area occupied by a weakening line that delimits an opening insert whose start will give rise to the pouring hole V visible in figures 9a , 10, 11 and 13. Wide part 1 is intended to move along parallel guide slats L (visible in figures 9a, 10 and 11) or along a central raised guide strip F ( visible in figure 13). The narrow part 2, which can be attached to the wide part 1 or detach from it after the opening of the boat, has a slit 3 through which a starter tongue designated in conjunction with B and illustrated in the figure is introduced two.

This tongue B is constituted by a part 4 that is attached to the aforementioned opening insert of the canister lid, a strip 5 where said tongue B can bend, a grip part 6 destined to be caught with the fingers to pull the tongue B and a connection point 7 of the starter tongue B with the canister cover. This junction point can be constituted by a rivet or it can be a welded, sealed, glued joint, etc. In figure 3 a rivet is designated with 8 to connect the starter tab B with the canister lid, while with 9 the opening insert of said lid is designated. This insert is designed so that it can fit snugly into the pouring hole of the boat as many times as necessary and thus ensure the absolute tightness of said hole once it is closed with said insert.

As can be seen in the front elevation of the figure

1, the wide part 1 of the closure insert A has extreme tabs 10 intended to fit under the outer edges of the guide slats L illustrated in Figure 9a.

A second embodiment of the closure and opening system for boats according to the invention is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, reference numbers having already appeared in Figures 1 to 3 being used to designate parts corresponding to those described in relation to said figures 1 to 3. Therefore, it is not necessary to repeat the description of the elements identified with the letters A and B and with the numbers 1 to 7. It can only be noted here that the wide part 1 of the closure insert A has no tabs ends, such as the tabs 10 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, said wide part 1 being adapted to fit with its lateral sides under the internal edges of the guide slats L illustrated in Figure 10.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of the closure and opening system for boats of the invention, which comprises two bodies 11, 11 ', a strip 12 where the closure system is bent, a finger grip pin 13 , rings 14 and 15, a hole 16 through which the opening insert of the boat lid (this insert has not been illustrated in figures 6 and 7), and a junction point 17 between said opening insert and the closing system. In Fig. 7, the canister to which the closure system of this embodiment of the invention is applied is designated with BB. Figure 8 illustrates a variant of the closure shown in Figures 1 to 3, in which the starter tab B of Figures 2 and 3 has been replaced by a ring 18. The remaining reference numbers of Figure 8 have the same meanings than in figures 1 to 3, whereby the description of the elements identified with such numbers will not be repeated.

Figures 9 and 9a illustrate a boat lid 19 to which a closure system such as that illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 can be applied. In this layer 19 a pouring hole V is provided which, prior to the opening of the boat, It is closed by the opening insert 9 illustrated in Figure 3. The tabs 10 (see Figures 1 and 3) fit under the outer edges of the slats L shown in Figures 9 and 9a, whereby, once opened the canister, the closure insert A of Figures 1 to 3 can slide along said slats.

The guide slats L illustrated in Figures 9 and 9a can be made of metal, plastic or other suitable material and their fixation to the cover can be carried out by welding, bonding, sealing or otherwise suitable conventional.

Figures 10 and 10a illustrate a canister cover 19 to which the closure system illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 can be applied. In these figures 10 and 10a the same reference symbols as in Figures 9 and 9a are maintained to designate equivalent elements.

The lateral sides of the wide part 1 of the closure insert A illustrated in Figure 4 are fitted under the internal edges of the slats L of Figures 10 and 10a, which allows, once the canister is opened, the closure insert A can be slid along said slats.

Figures 11 and lia show a canister cover 19 to which the closure system illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 can be applied. In Figures 11 and lia the reference symbols appearing in Figures 9- are maintained again. -9a and 10-10a to designate equivalent elements.

The lateral sides of the body 11 of the closure system of Figures 6 and 7 fit under the internal lateral edges of the guide slats L of Figures 11 and Ha such that the ring 14 formed in the body

11 comes to coincide with the opening insert of the BB boat. Before opening the boat BB, the ring 15 of the closure system of Figures 6 and 7 is applied to the ring 14 of the same closure system, and when opening the boat by pulling on the pin 13, the body 11 is free to move along the guide slats L.

Figures 12, 13 and 13a illustrate the application of the closure system of Figure 3 to a canister lid 20 as illustrated in Figures 13 and 13a. In Figure 12 the same reference symbols used in Figures 1 to 3 are maintained to designate equivalent elements.

In the cover 20 of FIGS. 13 and 13a a central raised guide band F formed by folding said cover along four folding lines 21, 21 'and 22, 22' is formed. The tabs 10 of the closure system of the figure

12 fit under the parallel external edges of said central band F, in which the pouring hole V would be formed when opening the boat. Once the boat is opened, the closure insert A may be moved along said central band F, being guided by the latter.

Although in the previous paragraph there has been talk of an enhanced central band F, it is evident that said band could be sunk into the boat and that the system of the invention could work equally satisfactorily. The closing and opening system described can be applied, in its various variants, to the different types of existing cans for containing liquids, such as beverages, milk, juices and others, as well as flowing solid materials such as powders, granules, legumes and similar, having proven in practical tests that the use of this closure system does not add manufacturing difficulties and packaging or, consequently, means an increase in the price of the final product that reaches the market. On the other hand, the closure system of the invention offers the advantage that it can be used to hermetically cover the open discharge opening in the can lid, which is of particular importance with regard to boats whose contents are not poured at one time, but several times, as is the case, for example, with bottles of condemned milk. Likewise, the two parts that constitute the closure system of the invention, that is, the part that cooperates with the guide slats L or the central guide band F and the part that only remains attached to the boat until it is opened. , can be left together after opening the boat, or they can be separated from each other, starting the last part mentioned at the moment the boat is opened. In the latter case, the torn part could be used to insert collectible decorative motifs, promotional texts, etc. Finally, it should be noted that in the aforementioned practical tests it has been found that the closure system of the invention makes it possible to ensure that, after opening the canister, the pouring hole can be covered again in such a way that the risk is excluded that the remaining contents of the boat may receive some external contamination or leave the boat. This is due to the fact that the said opening insert establishes, in all embodiments of the invention, a hermetic seal with said pouring hole. Although in the foregoing the invention has been described with reference to those currently considered to be preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that it will be possible to introduce modifications of form and detail in the described closing and opening systems, without leaving out that of the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it would be entirely possible to apply the invention to boats that are not cylindrical with a straight circular section, but have a square, rectangular, elliptical or other straight section. Likewise, the opening insert 9, designed to ensure the tightness of the newly closed boat, could be of the type known as "easy open" total or partial. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the content of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Closing and opening system for boats containing liquids, such as beverages, milk, juices and others, as well as flowing solid materials, such as powders, granules, legumes and the like, in which the lid (19; 20) that covers the upper end of such boats (BB) is provided with a line of weakening of a circular shape or another intended to be torn during the opening of the boat, thus detaching from it an opening insert (9) and providing a hole (V) to pour the contents of the boat, said opening insert being designed so as to ensure the tightness of the boat when it is closed again after opening it, characterized in that it comprises a closure insert (A) that covers the weakening line practiced in the lid (19; 20) of the boat and cooperating with an enhanced area (L; F) that is formed on the outer face of the lid (19; 20) of the boat (BB) and whose longitudinal axis extends in the direction diametr at all or part of the cover (19; 20), said closure insert (A) incorporating a gripping element that serves as a handle to tear said weakening line and open the canister. 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said raised area is formed by two parallel flat slats (L) whose length is less than the diameter of said cover (19). 3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the slats (L) are made of metal, plastic or other suitable material and are joined to the cover (19) by welding, bonding, sealing or other suitable technique. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said raised area is defined by a central band (F) resulting from folding said cover (20) along four folding lines (21, 21 ', 22, 22'). 5. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said closure insert (A) is mounted on said flat slats (L), covers said line of weakening and is divided into two parts, a narrower part ( 2) corresponding to the area of said line of weakening and provided with a slit (3), and another wider part (1) that carries on its sides respective tabs (10) that fit under the external parallel edges of said slats (L), extending through said slit (3) a starter tongue (B) that serves as a handle to tear the weakening line in such a way that the opening insert (9) can be detached and the canister (BB) can be opened ). 6. System according to claim 5, characterized in that said starter tongue is finished off with a ring (18) that acts as a shooter. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said closure insert (A) is mounted inside said flat slats (L), covers said line of weakening and is divided into two parts, one more part narrow (2) corresponding to the area of said weakening line and provided with a slit (3), and another wider part (1) that fits with its lateral sides under the internal parallel edges of said slats (L), extending through said slit (3) a starter tab (B) topped by a ring that serves as a handle to tear said weakening opening such that the opening insert (9) is detached and the canister (BB) is opened . System according to claim 4, characterized in that said closure insert (A) is mounted on said central band (F) of the canister cover (20), BB, covers said weakening line and is divided into two parts , a narrower part (2) corresponding to the area of said line of weakening and provided with a slit (3), and another wider part (1) that has flanges on its sides respective (10) that fit under the parallel edges of said central band (F), extending through said slit (3) a starter tab (B) that serves as a handle to tear said weakening line in such a way that detach the opening insert (9) and open the boat (BB). 9. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the closure insert (A) is formed by two parts (11, 11 '), of which one (11) carries at its end away from the other part a ring (14) of greater diameter than that of the circle defined by said weakening line and fits under the internal parallel edges of said flat slats (L), while the other part (11 ') carries a pin (13 ) which serves as a handle for tearing said weakening line in such a way that said opening insert (9) is detached and the canister (BB) is opened, the part (11 ') being folded on the part (11) before opening the boat. System according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the starter tab (B) is fixed to the opening plate (9) of the lid (19; 20) of the canister (BB) by means of a joint riveted, welded, glued, sealed or similar. 11. Caps for boats prepared to be incorporated into the closing and opening system of the preceding claims.