Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
  • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
  • B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
  • B65D47/061—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages with telescopic, retractable or reversible spouts, tubes or nozzles
  • B65D47/063—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages with telescopic, retractable or reversible spouts, tubes or nozzles with flexible parts

Definitions

• the present invention relates to hermetic containers and in particular a container of the type containing a liquid or other fluent material comprising a neck retracted into the container before use and placed in the position of use by removing the container by means of a gripping element.
• the main object of the invention is to produce an airtight container of the retractable neck type which does not present a risk of contamination of the contents of the container or of contaminating contact when drinking or being sprayed outside the container. container during opening, and by simplifying the opening maneuver.
• Another object of the invention is to provide an airtight container of the retractable neck type, the opening of which is done automatically when the container is first used.
• Yet another object of the invention is to provide an airtight container of the metal box type comprising a retractable neck avoiding any risk of projection outside the container during opening.
• the object of the invention is therefore a container of the type with a retractable neck closed by a stopper comprising a gripping element for putting the neck in the pouring position, comprising a seal closing the passage between the container and the neck in the retracted position, integral with the latter and making the container hermetic before use, a means of opening a rigid lid, integral with the walls of the container and one end of which is fixed to the inner face of the lid, so that, when the element gripper is pulled so as to extract the retracted neck to put it in the position of use, at least part of the cover is retained by the cover opening means, thus opening the passage between the container and the neck and allowing the flow of the contents of the container after opening the cap.
• Another object of the invention is a metal container of the type containing a liquid such as a drink or other fluid material, comprising a neck retracted into the container before use, and closed by a stopper comprising a gripping element, said container being formed of a container body and a cover crimped onto the container body, the cover having an opening in which said neck is placed.
• the retractable neck is composed of a flange-shaped portion in contact with the upper part of the cover and situated at the edge of the opening, of a suction cup-shaped portion whose periphery is in hermetic contact with the inner face of the lid, and a cylindrical portion connecting the flange-shaped portion and said suction cup-shaped portion, so that the edge of the opening in the lid cannot come into contact with the contents of the container avoid any migration of metal atoms into the contents of the container.
• FIG. 1 schematically represents the upper part of the container according to a first embodiment of the invention in which the neck is in the position for pouring the contents of the container
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the upper part of the container according to a first embodiment of the invention in which the neck is in the retracted position, showing the cover fixed to the means opening of the lid
• FIG. 1 schematically represents the upper part of the container according to a first embodiment of the invention in which the neck is in the position for pouring the contents of the container
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the upper part of the container according to a first embodiment of the invention in which the neck is in the retracted position, showing the cover fixed to the means opening of the lid
• FIG. 1 schematically represents the upper part of the container according to a first embodiment of the invention in which the neck is in the position for pouring the contents of the container
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the upper part of the container according to a first embodiment of the invention in which the neck is in the retracted position,
• FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the upper part of the container according to a first embodiment of the invention in which the neck is in the pouring position, showing the lid torn in two parts
• Figure 4 is a sectional view of the upper part of the container and its lid and the neck in the retracted position ready to be fixed by force in the work erture of the lid, according to a second embodiment of the invention
• Figure 5 is a sectional view of the upper part of the container and its lid according to the second embodiment of the invention, in which the neck in the retracted position has been fixed in the cover
• FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the neck of the container in the retracted position with its stopper comprising the tongue, the end of which is attached to the container
• Figure 7 is a sectional view showing the neck in the retracted position as in Figure 4, but with the tongue detached from the wall of the container and forming a handle for exerting a pulling force on the neck.
• the hermetic container according to a first embodiment of the invention is advantageously a box of the type used to contain carbonated or non-carbonated drinks, fruit juices, etc.
• the container 10 shown on Figure 1 has a retractable neck. The neck is pulled into the pouring position (illustrated in FIG. 1) by pulling a handle 14 secured to a plug 16 screwed onto the neck 12.
• the container 10 When the container 10 is used for the first time, it is sealed, and it is only when the neck is pulled towards the outside of the container using the handle 14 that the cover is removed.
• the neck 12 is closed in its lower part by a cover 20 which therefore makes the container hermetic and prevents the liquid from be able to be poured out of the container.
• the cover 20 is fixed to one end of a rigid element 22, the other end of which is integral with the part upper 18 of the container.
• the element 22 although preferably in the form of a gallows, could have another shape and may not be rigid in so far as it will provide sufficient resistance during opening to allow tearing of the operculum.
• the point of attachment of the element 22 on the wall of the container could be located elsewhere in the upper part 18 or on other parts of the container than that illustrated in FIG. 2.
• the cover 20 has a zone of least resistance shown in section in FIG. 2, by the two narrowing 24.
• the zone of least resistance is in the form of a closed curve, and preferably circular since the neck is generally circular.
• the neck 12, driving the skirt 26 can therefore be put into the pouring position.
• the cover is then separated into two parts, a part 20-1 which remains integral with the neck 12, and a part 20-2 which remains fixed on the rigid element 22.
• the fixing of the cover to the rigid element 22 is in the immediate vicinity of the narrowing 24 marking the zone of least resistance where the cover will tear.
• This proximity of the point of narrowing relative to the end of the rigid element 22 allows the application of a large shear force when a force is exerted by pulling the handle 14 so as to put the neck 12 in pouring position, and consequently easier starting of the tearing of the cover.
• the container according to the first embodiment of the invention can be assembled in several pieces, by example by manufacturing the assembly formed by the upper wall or a part of the upper wall, the skirt, the cover, the rigid element and the neck in a single plastic part, and by fixing this assembly on the walls 18 of the container (or the part of the upper wall integral with the container) which may be made of metal as are conventional drink cans.
• the container is made in a single piece of plastic material obtained by molding (this is the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3).
• the skirt 26 must imperatively be made of flexible material so as to be unfolded to pass from the position where the neck is retracted to the position where it is operational for pouring the contents of the container.
• the commercial cans containing refreshing drinks have the disadvantage that the opening by depressing a tab can introduce stains or other contaminants into the liquid contained in the box. This is why the applicants' idea is to use a retractable neck device adapted to a metal box.
• a metal box is formed of a container body 30 of generally cylindrical shape on which is crimped a cover 32 having a circular opening preferably off-center (to facilitate the pouring of the contents of the container) in which is installed the retractable neck 34.
• the retractable neck 34 is pulled towards the outside of the container using a handle (not shown in the figure). The neck 34 then drives the skirt 36 into the pouring position as illustrated in the Figure 5. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the sealing of the container is no longer ensured by a cover, but directly by the cap.
• the retractable neck is fixed in the cover 32 before closing the container as illustrated in FIG. 4. Because the retractable neck, made in one piece, is made of plastic, it is forced into the cover from bottom to top, the introduction of the collar-shaped portion 38 being facilitated by its chamfered edge.
• the neck 34 includes, in addition to the collar-shaped portion 38 with a chamfered edge, a suction cup-shaped portion 40.
• the outer edge of the suction cup 40 is more higher than the flange 38 (see Figure 4).
• the flange 38 is positioned above the edge of the opening of the cover while the base 46 of the suction cup 40 abuts against a circular rim 48 of the cover.
• the cylindrical portion 44 of the neck located between the flange 38 and the base of the suction cup 46 traps a cylindrical portion 42 of the neck.
• the content of a metal can to which the invention applies is often a carbonated drink, causing pressure under the lid which can reach several bars. Consequently, because of this pressure, the suction cup-shaped portion 40 tends to exert a greater force against the cover 32, its edge remaining tightly pressed against said cover. However, the lowest part 46 of the flat suction cup portion is retained by the circular rim 48. Because of this pressure which keeps the suction cup portion 40 pressed against the cover 32, the liquid does not can penetrate between the cover and the suction cup portion and reach the flange 48 of the opening of the cover.
• a plug 16 which can be used both for the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 as for the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, is shown in Figure 6.
• the skirt 26 (or 36) and the neck 12 (or 34) are in the retracted position.
• the plug 16 is screwed onto the upper end of the neck 12 (or 34) by means of a thread (not shown). It should be noted that the plug could also be pressed in using a "clip" type closure.
• the plug 16 has a tongue 50, which can be molded at the same time as the plug during manufacture.
• the tongue is introduced into a loop 52.
• the end of the tongue 50 ends in a harpoon 54 extended by an element d anchor 56 connected to the harpoon 54 by a thinned portion.
• the anchoring element 56 is fixed to the wall of the container by gluing or any other equivalent means.
• the tongue When the container is used for the first time, the tongue is grasped by passing a finger below it, in the recess of the cap 16. Because the element 56 fixed to the container is connected to the harpoon 54 by a portion of lesser resistance, the tongue is easily detached from the element 56. The tongue then takes the form of a handle as illustrated in FIG. 7. The rear part 55 of the harpoon 54 is then retained by the loop 52. We therefore have indeed a handle which allows, while continuing to exert a tensile force, to remove the assembly of the skirt 26 (or 36) and the neck 12 (or 34) provided with its plug 16.
• the tongue is preferably produced in accordance with the representation given in FIGS. 6 and 7, it is possible to produce a tongue having a harpoon at each end, the plug then comprising two loops in which each end of the tongue when mounting.
• the retractable neck shown has the dimensions of a bottle neck, it may have a different diameter.
• the retractable neck can have a diameter corresponding to that of a glass, which makes it easy to drink the contents of the container according to the invention when there is no glass at its disposal.
• the container according to the invention is preferably used to contain liquid such as a drink or the like, but can also be used to contain a fluid material such as powder, granules, etc.
• the container according to the invention is hygienic in that there is no depression of a part which can be soiled in the liquid during opening. Unlike conventional beverage cans, there is no danger that the liquid will spill over the top of the container and introduce pathogenic germs. When drinking, the user is not likely to put his lips in soiled places. In addition, it is possible to retract the neck again after closing with the cap when the contents of the container are not poured in one go, without exposing oneself to the risk of contamination by dirt, dust or the like. this is the case of the boxes of the prior art, and thus of transporting the container without problem.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9460154

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1994
  • 1994-02-10 FR FR9401782A patent/FR2715915B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1995
  • 1995-02-09 WO PCT/FR1995/000155 patent/WO1995021776A2/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1995-02-09 EP EP95909003A patent/EP0742776A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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