EP0789659B1 - Receptacle for liquids - Google Patents

Receptacle for liquids Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0789659B1
EP0789659B1 EP95940858A EP95940858A EP0789659B1 EP 0789659 B1 EP0789659 B1 EP 0789659B1 EP 95940858 A EP95940858 A EP 95940858A EP 95940858 A EP95940858 A EP 95940858A EP 0789659 B1 EP0789659 B1 EP 0789659B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lid
cover film
receptacle
main body
cover
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP95940858A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0789659A1 (en
EP0789659A4 (en
Inventor
Masamichi Kaneko
Hidetoshi Konno
Junichi Satoyoshi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Original Assignee
Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA filed Critical Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Publication of EP0789659A1 publication Critical patent/EP0789659A1/en
Publication of EP0789659A4 publication Critical patent/EP0789659A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0789659B1 publication Critical patent/EP0789659B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/18—Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures
    • B65D51/185—Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures the outer closure being a foil membrane
    • 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
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0006—Upper closure
    • B65D2251/0031—Membrane
    • 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
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0037—Intermediate closure(s)
    • B65D2251/0056—Intermediate closure(s) of the 47-type
    • 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
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0068—Lower closure
    • B65D2251/0071—Lower closure of the 17-type
    • 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
    • B65D2517/00—Containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting, piercing or tearing of wall portions, e.g. preserving cans or tins
    • B65D2517/0001—Details
    • B65D2517/0098—Means for preventing dust contacting pouring opening, e.g. a cover over the tear panel

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a receptacle or container for holding contents and more particularly to a container or receptacle for containing milk, juice or other type of drink having a pour opening for permitting the contents to be discharged from the receptacle, see the precharacterizing part of claim 1.
  • a consumer after removing the pull tab, can drink the contents in the receptacle directly from the opening.
  • dust tends to deposit on the lid during transportation and storage.
  • the lid is formed of a plastic material, dust is particularly apt to deposit on the lid due to static electricity and the deposits once formed are hard to remove. In the presence of this dust, it is unsanitary to directly touch the opening with the mouth.
  • a film having oxygen barrier properties is used to prevent the deterioration of the contents. If such a film is used for each of the parts of the container or receptacle such as the upper lid and the pull tab attached to the upper lid, the receptacle production steps are inevitably complicated and so the production costs are increased.
  • a further receptacle such as a beverage container or the like is disclosed with a protective sealing means in the form a thin film on at least one end of the container.
  • the thin film prevents contamination of the top surface of the container by dirt or other foreign substances.
  • Materials of the sealing means are for example a thermoplastic resin, wherein a secure attachment of the sealing means to the container may be obtained by application of an adhesive.
  • a receptacle with the features of the precharacterising part of claim 1, wherein the upwardly extending flange includes a first portion disposed around a periphery of the lid and a second portion that divides an upwardly facing surface of the lid into two regions that are separated from one another and wherein a generally circular cover film is sealed to the first and second portions of the flange of the plastic lid to cover and seal the lid underlying the cover film and prevent dust and other material form being deposited on the lid, said cover film being made of a plastic material having oxygen barrier properties.
  • the lid may be used without a separate pull tab for opening the through opening and the upper surface of the lid is securely protected as the cover film is not only attached to the peripheral portion of the flange but also to that flange portion crossing the upwardly facing surface.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates in exploded perspective view an upper portion of a receptacle or container for holding consumable liquid such as milk, juice or other types of drinks.
  • the receptacle 1 includes a cylindrical receptacle main body 10 having an open upper end 11 which is closed by an upper lid 20 formed of a plastic material.
  • a cover film 50 is provided to cover the upper lid 20 so that the upper surface of the lid 20 is sealed.
  • the receptacle main body 10 is constructed from a laminated sheet which is formed of synthetic resins and which is shaped into a cylindrical shape.
  • the receptacle 1 also includes a bottom plate (not shown) which is formed of a similar material and which is attached to the lower end of the main body 10.
  • the sheet or material constituting the receptacle main body 10 is constructed, for example, to have an EVOH (an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer) layer possessing oxygen barrier properties. Other layers (e.g., an adhesive layer, etc.) are interposed between polyolefin (such as polyethylene) layers. This imparts oxygen barrier properties to the receptacle main body 10.
  • the sheet can be shaped into the desired shape of the main body by, for example, vacuum molding. It is, of course, to be understood that the material constituting the receptacle main body 10 can take other forms, such as a sheet using paper and a metal layer.
  • the upper lid 20 is in the form of an approximately circular plate having an outer periphery provided with an upwardly protruded or extending flange 21 arranged to surround the lid 20.
  • a through opening 23, shown by dotted outline in Fig. 1, is formed at a predetermined location in the upper lid 20.
  • the through hole 23 communicates with the interior of the main body 10 to permit the contents to be drunk or otherwise discharged from the receptacle main body 10.
  • the upper lid 20 is preferably formed by vacuum molding a plastic sheet made of a relatively inexpensive material having no oxygen barrier properties.
  • a pull tab 30 made of a resin film is covers the opening 23 in the upper lid 20 to close and seal the opening 23.
  • the pull tab 30 is secured to the upper surface of the upper lid 20.
  • the pull tab 30 is approximately elliptical or ovaloid in shape and has a predetermined cut line 31 to thereby form a handle portion 33, an opening-sealing portion 35 and a fixing portion 37.
  • the cover film 50 which is approximately circular in shape, is formed by punching out from a sheet having a barrier property similar to that of the sheet constituting the receptacle main body 10.
  • the cover film 50 has the same or substantially the same diameter as that of the upper lid 20 and is provided with an outwardly extending manually graspable tag portion 51 at a predetermined position on the outer periphery.
  • the tag portion 51 extends outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the upper lid 20, thereby facilitating grasping of the tag portion 51 and subsequent removal of the cover film 50.
  • the upper lid 20 is mounted on the opened end 11 of the receptacle main body 10 containing a drink.
  • the lower side of the flange 21 provided around the outer periphery of the upper lid 20 is thermally fuse-bonded to the upper side of the receptacle main body 10 to effect sealing.
  • the cover film 50 is mounted to cover the upper lid 20.
  • the lower side of the periphery of the cover film 50 can be thermally fuse-bonded to the upper side of the flange 21 of the lid 20 for effecting the necessary sealing.
  • the sealing may be effected by use of an adhesive.
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the upper portion of a thus prepared receptacle 1 for a drink.
  • this receptacle 1 since the entire upper lid 20 is covered and sealed with the cover film 50, dust and moisture are prevented from entering from outside on the upper lid 20. Therefore, the periphery of the opening 23 (see Fig. 1) for use in drinking is prevented from being fouled by dust and other potential contaminants.
  • the tag portion 51 of the cover film 50 is first grasped and pulled upward as shown by the dotted line configuration in Fig. 2. The cover film 50 is thus peeled off from the upper lid 20.
  • the handle portion 33 of the pull tab 30 is pulled upward to peel the opening-sealing portion 35 off from the upper lid 20 as shown by the dotted line configuration in Fig. 3. Further, the handle portion 33 of the pull tab 30 is caught by the flange 21 of the upper lid 20 as shown by the solid line in Fig. 3. Thus, the opening 23 in the lid 20 is in the opened state.
  • the pull tab used in this receptacle is not limited to the specific structure illustrated and described above. Pull tabs having various other structures such as a structure in which a sheet-like pull tab is applied may be employed. Also, when no barrier property is required for the receptacle 1, the cover film 50 may be formed of a relatively inexpensive material having no barrier properties. Further, the receptacle main body is not limited to a circular form as other shapes may be employed.
  • FIGs. 4 and 5 depict the features associated with the lid and the cover film. Although not specifically illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, is the same as the main body depicted in Figs 1-3. As seen with reference to Figs. 4 and 5, this embodiment of the invention employs an upper lid 20 formed of a plastic material and a cover film 50 provided on and sealed to the upper lid 20.
  • the upper lid 20 is provided with an upwardly extending flange 21 arranged to surround the lid 20, and an opening 23 for use in drinking or otherwise discharging the contents from the receptacle.
  • the flange 21 includes a portion 21' extending completely around the periphery of the lid 20 as well as another portion 21" that extends across the lid 20 from one point on the periphery of the lid 20 to another point on the periphery of the lid 20.
  • a portion of the upwardly extending flange 21 encircles the opening 23 that is provided in the lid 23 as seen in Fig. 5.
  • the upper lid 20 may be formed from a plastic sheet material made of a relatively inexpensive material having no barrier property.
  • a pull tab is not attached on the opening 23. Rather, the opening is left uncovered except for the cover film 50.
  • the cover film 50 may be formed from a sheet having a barrier middle layer and an easy peal outer layer.
  • the cover film 50 has an outwardly extending manually graspable tag portion 51 at a position located along the outer periphery of the cover film 50.
  • the tag portion 51 preferably extends beyond the outer periphery of the lid 20 and the flange 21.
  • the cover film 50 is thermally fuse-welded to the upper side of the flange 21 of the lid 20 along both the flange portion 21' encircling the outer periphery of the lid 20 as well as the flange portion 21" extending across the lid 20. Thus a continuous seal is formed and two weld or seals areas 52 are provided.
  • the cover film 50 prevents outside dust and moisture from being deposited on the lid 20. Further, the seal provided by the cover film 50 prevents the contents in the receptacle from leaking.
  • the tag portion 51 of the cover film 50 is first grasped and pulled upward.
  • the cover film 50 is thus peeled off from the upper lid 20 as well as the opening 23.
  • the contents in the receptacle can then be drunk directly from the receptacle or can otherwise be discharged from the receptacle.
  • Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention that is similar to the embodiment depicted in Figs. 4 and 5 except that instead of the tag portion 51, the cover film 50 is provided with a cut line 53 for easy peeling of the cover film 50. An individual can penetrate the cover film 50 at the cut line 53 and then remove the cover film 50 by peeling the cover film 50 off the upper lid 20.
  • the present invention provides significant advantages with respect to other known types of receptacles.
  • the upper lid is sealed and covered by the cover film, the upper surface of the lid is shielded from outside, thereby eliminating the possibility of dust and moisture being deposited on the lid.
  • the upper surface of the lid can be maintained clean and sanitary until the opening of the receptacle.
  • the cover film having a simple structure be formed of a material exhibiting barrier properties.
  • the production costs can be reduced.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
  • Containers Opened By Tearing Frangible Portions (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
EP95940858A 1994-11-29 1995-11-29 Receptacle for liquids Expired - Lifetime EP0789659B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP31904594 1994-11-29
JP31904594A JP3587477B2 (ja) 1994-11-29 1994-11-29 飲料用容器
JP319045/94 1994-11-29
PCT/US1995/015456 WO1996016871A1 (en) 1994-11-29 1995-11-29 Receptacle for liquids

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0789659A1 EP0789659A1 (en) 1997-08-20
EP0789659A4 EP0789659A4 (en) 1999-05-06
EP0789659B1 true EP0789659B1 (en) 2002-02-06

Family

ID=18105898

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95940858A Expired - Lifetime EP0789659B1 (en) 1994-11-29 1995-11-29 Receptacle for liquids

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0789659B1 (da)
JP (1) JP3587477B2 (da)
AU (1) AU4247196A (da)
DE (1) DE69525364T2 (da)
TW (1) TW304930B (da)
WO (1) WO1996016871A1 (da)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9720804D0 (en) * 1997-10-01 1997-12-03 Callewaert George Ring pull seal
IT1303939B1 (it) * 1997-10-29 2001-03-01 Lorenzo Francesconi Protezione igienica per lattine di bibite protezione igienica per lattine di bibite
GB2350353B (en) * 1999-05-26 2003-11-12 Polarcup Ltd Tamper evident container
WO2002030779A1 (es) * 2000-10-09 2002-04-18 Calero Armas Jose Reyes Proteccion sanitaria. productos envasados
GB0724665D0 (en) * 2007-12-19 2008-01-30 Paine Edward T Lid for a container for edible fluids
DE102015013958B3 (de) * 2015-10-29 2016-11-10 Unipress Etiketten & Schilder e.K. Bahnförmiges Vorprodukt zur Herstellung einer Folienkappe für einen Behälter, sowie Verfahren zur Herstellung und Verwendung derselben
CN113232978A (zh) * 2021-05-28 2021-08-10 余金龙 一种饮用卫生可靠性高的易拉罐

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3690506A (en) * 1971-04-26 1972-09-12 Container Corp Easy open container with pressure release and safety feature
GB1577739A (en) * 1976-04-09 1980-10-29 Metal Box Co Ltd Containers
EP0059635B1 (en) * 1981-03-02 1985-06-05 Toyo Seikan Kaisha Limited Easily openable vessel closure and process for preparation thereof
US4582216A (en) * 1984-06-22 1986-04-15 The Procter & Gamble Company Easy open-reclosable container with pouring lip/drain surface
US5007231A (en) * 1985-08-16 1991-04-16 Plm Ab Container
US4927048A (en) * 1986-04-14 1990-05-22 Howard Roy T Beverage can having a sanitary cover
US4708257A (en) * 1986-10-20 1987-11-24 Deline Douglas N Protective seal for a can
DE8713226U1 (de) * 1987-10-01 1987-11-12 Alcan Deutschland GmbH, 37075 Göttingen Dose od.dgl. Behälter
US5071017A (en) * 1991-02-15 1991-12-10 Stuli Iene Closure cap construction with slitted flexible diaphragm

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH08151045A (ja) 1996-06-11
EP0789659A1 (en) 1997-08-20
WO1996016871A1 (en) 1996-06-06
TW304930B (da) 1997-05-11
DE69525364T2 (de) 2002-06-27
EP0789659A4 (en) 1999-05-06
DE69525364D1 (de) 2002-03-21
AU4247196A (en) 1996-06-19
JP3587477B2 (ja) 2004-11-10

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