EP1265792A2

EP1265792A2 - Container comprising a turn-lock fastener

Info

Publication number: EP1265792A2
Application number: EP01915312A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hermann Götz; Bruno Ackermann; Dieter Folland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-03-08
Filing date: 2001-03-02
Publication date: 2002-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-02
Also published as: TR200401401T4; WO2001066431A3; EP1265792B1; MXPA02008563A; JP3672872B2; CA2401521A1; DE50102535D1; SK12662002A3; KR20020086619A; US6910598B2; PL363049A1; US20030155360A1; BR0108636A; AU2001242443B2; RU2252182C2; AU4244301A; CZ294290B6; DE20004152U1; ZA200206355B; ES2220740T3

Abstract

The invention to a container, especially a beverage container. The lid wall (2) is provided with a specified rupture line (6) which, when torn open, frees an opening (9) provided for drinking and pouring. A lid turn-lock fastener (10) comprises a wall (13), which spans the lid wall (2), and comprises means for tearing open the opening (9) provided for drinking and pouring. The lid turn-lock fastener is supported on the can when it is turned in order to tear open the opening (9) provided for drinking and pouring. The opening (9) provided for drinking and pouring extends between the rotational axis (4) and the circular periphery of the lid wall (2) and, in a radial direction, measures at least half of the radius length. The wall (13) of the lid turn-lock fastener (10) comprises an opening (15) which is left free, which, to a large extent, has the shape and size of the opening (9) provided for pouring, and which, by turning the lid turn-lock fastener (10), can be placed into a position in which it is located directly above said opening (9). The means used for tearing open comprise a projection (16) placed on the lid turn-lock fastener and comprise an inclined surface (5a) provided on the lid wall (2).

Description

Container with a screw cap

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a container for receiving flowable goods, in particular in the form of a beverage can, which is provided with a predetermined breaking line, which results in a drinking or pouring opening after being torn open.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Beverage cans usually have a horseshoe-shaped predetermined breaking line which delimits a wall area to which a tab (ring pull) is attached. If such a beverage can has been opened by actuating the tab, it can no longer be closed effectively, which in the case of carbonated drinks means that the contents of the can have to be used up quickly, otherwise the beverage tastes stale.

In order to remedy this deficiency, it is already known (DE 196 13 256 AI) to provide a cover-shaped closure element which has engagement elements with

Counter-engagement elements on a cylindrical wall of the box, the so-called core wall, in the manner of a

The bayonet joint work together to seal a drinking or pouring opening that is pressed into the can in an airtight manner. In order to produce this pouring opening, the closure element has arc-shaped pressure elements which engage in a bead of the lid wall of the can and, when the closure element is rotated, spread onto an obliquely increasing pressure surface of the bead, so as to break the predetermined breaking line tear that extends around the edge of the top wall of the can. A disadvantage of this design of the beverage can is the fact that the outline shape of the usual beverage cans is left, so that the stackability with conventional beverage cans is not given. In use, the closure element must also be removed from the beverage can to clear the pouring opening.

From EP 0 340 835 AI a can top cover is known which has two diagonally opposed, relatively small openings and two diagonally opposed, cylindrical pipe sockets and is placed on a can with two diagonally opposed, cap-like parts. Rising stop edges are also attached to the lid, with which the cap-like parts on the can are to be broken open. By placing the lid with the diagonally opposed openings over the break-open points of the can, the contents of the can can be poured out through one opening while air flows in through the other opening, as is known with cream jars. If the cylindrical pipe sockets are placed over the opening points, the openings can be closed with a moderate sealing effect. In this embodiment, the U crack of the cans is changed so that the stackability with conventional cans is not guaranteed. The closure is not suitable for closing carbonated drinks. Summary of the invention

An object of the invention is to provide a container with a screw cap, which can be designed to be stackable with standard containers of the same type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container with a twist lock, which is also suitable for sealing carbonated drinks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container with a screw cap, in which the drinking or pouring opening can be opened and closed by simply turning (without removing) the screw cap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container with a screw cap, in which a single pouring opening is sufficient to serve as a drinking opening due to its relative size.

According to the invention, a screw cap is provided which is rotatably attached to the container. The screw cap has a protrusion with which a pouring opening in the lid wall of the vessel can be opened by turning the screw cap. The

The lid screw cap also has a recessed opening which can be brought into overlap with the pouring opening m of the lid wall of the vessel in order to remove content from the vessel. The recessed opening in the screw cap can also be turned to a neutral position, after which wall parts of the screw cap cover and close the pouring opening in the lid wall. The container and the screw cap are provided with support devices so that the wall of the screw cap on the edge of the

The pouring opening in the lid wall is sufficiently large to also seal carbonated drinks.

In detail, the screw cap is placed on the can as a hood and held there by means of clips which engage behind the edge fold in standard tin cans. Three clips are sufficient, the indentations of which grip the edge fold and hold the twist lock without preventing its rotation. The hood shape of the Twist lock offers enough large grip areas for the hand, so that the twist lock can be comfortably gripped and rotated, whereby a large lever length is formed. To open the pouring opening, ie the area of the lid wall delimited by weakening notches, a projection is provided on the twist lock, which can be pressed in by pressing the twist lock m into the delimited area, so that the lid tears along a short piece of the lines of weakness. By turning the twist lock further, the projection can be moved over the area of the delimited area so that the top wall in this delimited area is continuously bent downwards and the crack continues along the weakening notches until the pouring opening is completed. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the recessed opening m in the lid twist lock comes to overlap with the pouring opening m in the lid wall of the container. The container is closed by turning back the screw cap. It is particularly advantageous that commercially available cans can be used, in which only the pull tab is not attached and is replaced by the screw cap. A further advantage is that the screw cap seals well in its closed position, so that carbonated drinks in the can can also be kept under a certain pressure.

Brief description of the drawing

The invention is described with reference to the drawing. It shows

1 shows a section through the upper part of a can with a twist-lock m in the extended position, 2 is an enlarged view of the lid wall of the can compared to FIG. 1,

Fig. 3 shows a section along the line III-III in FIG. 2,

Fig. 4 the view of a twist lock,

Fig. 5 schematic representations of the opening process of the can,

Fig. 6 a clip training,

Fig. 7 an enlarged detail, cut,

Fig. 8 shows a section through the upper part of a second embodiment of the can with a twist lock,

Fig. 9 is a top view of the can of FIG. 8;

Fig. 10 shows an enlarged detail from FIGS. 8, 11 to 13 opening and closing the can and FIGS. 14 to 16 opening and closing a variant of the can.

Description of the embodiments

Fig. 1 shows the upper end of a can, i.e. H. a rotationally symmetrical wall area 1, e.g. B. made of tinplate, which is e.g. is closed from aluminum, wherein an edge fold 3 is formed. The cover wall 2 has a circumferential groove 8 and a delimited area 5, which is slightly lowered relative to the plane of the cover wall 2 and is prepared for partial tearing open via weakening notches 6 as predetermined breaking lines (FIG. 2). On the top wall 2 there are also two locking points in the form of indentations 7a, 7b.

2, the weakening grooves 6 have arcuate sections 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d. The arcuate sections 6a and 6b run in large and

Whole along radial lines, the angle of which is just below 90 ° to each other. Section 6b is slightly longer than section 6a. Sections 6c and 6d run approximately concentrically to the central axis 4, the concentricity t not being fully maintained due to the tapering towards the longer section 6b.

In Fig. 1, a rotary lid closure 10 is shown as section I-I of Fig. 4, which consists of metal or plastic and has a circumferential ring wall 11 with a funnel-shaped extension 12 and a rotary sliding wall 13. The rotary sliding wall 13 has a recessed opening 15, which has the same shape as the bounded area 5 of the cover wall 2. Parts of the wall 13 in the area of the opening 15 are loop-shaped to form a bead-like projection 16, as best 5 can be seen. In the wall 13 there is a bead 17 as a projection, which engages in one or the other dent 7a, 7b in order to determine a defined opening and closing position for the entire can.

The twist lock 10 is placed like a lid on the can 1, with a number of clips 20, z. B. three resilient indentations, the edge fold 3 engages behind (Fig. 6). In addition, a projecting annular corrugation 21 engages in the groove 8 in order to guide the rotary sliding wall 13 in a resilient and thus close manner to the cover wall 2 when the rotary lock is rotated. The twist lock 10 is made particularly easy to grip by the ring wall 11 being corrugated or corrugated.

In order to achieve a pressure-tight closure, it is expedient to rubberize the front 16a of the bead-like projection 16 and the underside of the wall 13 at 13a or to provide it with another sealing coating. Furthermore, it is expedient to carry out a bead-like sealing application around the delimited area 5 outside the predetermined breaking line 6, so that the pressure on the screw cap 10 around the delimited area 5 greatest is.

In the starting position or delivery position of the can, the bead-like projection 16 is in overlap with the edge area 6a within the delimited area 5. In this starting position, the projection 17 engages in the dent 7a and thus fixes this starting position. By pressing with the thumb on the bead-like projection 16, the weakening notches 6 can be torn in the area 6a, as shown at the top left in FIG. 5. Then you grip around the edge 11, 12 of the twist lock 10 and turn it counterclockwise in Fig. 4. The bead 16 then increasingly bends the delimited region 5 downwards as a flap 5a, as outlined in the illustration of FIG. 5 at the top right and bottom left. As a result, the drinking or pouring opening 9 is formed, which occupies approximately the delimited area 5. By turning the screw cap 10 back, this opening 9 can be cleared, as shown at the bottom right in FIG. 5. In this position, the opening 9 and the recessed opening 15 of the screw cap 10 overlap, which allows the contents of the containers to be removed to the maximum. By turning counterclockwise, the overlapping position formed can be partially or completely canceled, so that the effective outlet opening is more or less large or closed, the latter when the bead 17 engages in the dent 7b.

In this closed position, the sealing coating 16a of the bead 16 comes into contact with the edge 2a of the opening 9, as shown at the bottom left in FIG. 5, and the coating 13a seals against the wall 2. FIG. 7 shows the interaction of the bead 16 with the delimited area 5 without using the thumb. The bounded area has three zones 5a, 5c and 5d with inclined surfaces and a plateau zone 5b. If the Twist-lock lid is rotated from the starting position, the bead 16 slides along the inclined surface 5a in the direction of the plateau surface 5b, as a result of which the pressure on the lid 2 increases and the line of weakness tears in the boundary region between 6c and 6a. This crack continues over the area 6a into the area 6d and passes through the area 6b into the area 6c, in which the line of weakness is interrupted, so that the separated part 5 sticks to the lid 2 and does not fall inside the container. The steeper the inclined surface of zone 5a, the greater the initial force that has to be applied in order to cause the line of weakness to tear. The inclined angle of the inclined surface is between 20 and 40 °.

The screw cap 10 is preferably dimensioned so that the can foot of a neighboring box in the upper

Edge opening of the lid 10 fits in, so that several cans can be stacked one above the other in mutual engagement.

8 to 13 show a second embodiment of the can with a twist lock. Parts corresponding to the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and reference is made to the description of the first embodiment in this regard.

The weakening notch 6 has a kidney-shaped outline with a bulge 6e, at which point the weakening notch is interrupted. The delimited area 5 of the lid wall 2 is broken out to form the drinking opening 9, but remains in the area 5e on the lid wall in order to be captive. The delimited area 5 is broken out in a manner similar to that of the first embodiment, but the inclined surface 5a is somewhat narrower and longer than the inclined surface of the first embodiment. The projection 16 of the rotary lid lock 10 is accordingly in the radial direction shorter and extends from the rotary sliding wall 13 only downwards, ie it is designed as a dent or corrugation which takes up a certain distance S1 (FIG. 13) from the recessed opening 15 which is attached to the rotary sliding wall 13 and is kidney-shaped or bean-shaped Outlines. The distance of the dent or bead 16 from the axis of rotation 4 is referred to as S2. The indentation of the kidney shape has a certain distance S4 to the axis of rotation 4 of the rotary lid closure 10 and a distance S3 to the edge of the lid wall 2. A sealing layer or a sealing bead is applied to this spacer strip around the field 5, which will be discussed in more detail in the discussion of FIGS. 14 to 16.

In the system of the invention, the closed half of the rotating sliding wall 13 covers the opening or the area 5, which could therefore occupy a maximum of half the area of the rotating sliding wall 13. Since the drinking opening 9 is desired with rounded edges, and since the wall cut-out is to remain hanging on the web 5e, the maximum size of the drinking opening 9 is correspondingly smaller. Since the drinking opening 9 is to be sealed, a sealing surface around the opening is required. The distances S1, S3 and S4 are therefore required. In the described embodiment, the openings 9 and 15 have almost reached their maximum size in practice. The openings 9 and 15 could only be enlarged somewhat by increasing the distance S2 of the projection 16 from the axis of rotation 4, as a result of which the outlines of the openings 9 and 15 can be made somewhat elongated. The radial width of the opening 9 or 15 is r - (S3 + S4) if r is the radius of the rotary sliding wall. This radial width should be at least r / 2 in order to have a sufficiently large drinking opening with standard beverage cans To achieve 65 mm diameter. The projection 16 should extend approximately tangentially to the predetermined breaking line 6 and cover the area 5 m approximately its center. This means that the direction of extension of the projection 16 is at an angle of approximately 30 ° to 60 ° to the radial beam when the ratios of FIGS. 8 to 13 are considered. A range of 0.3 to 0.6 r is preferred for the distance S2.

The screw cap 10 is clipped onto the upper end of the can in the same way as in the first embodiment. However, the circumferential ring wall 11 ends with a crimp 11a, as shown in FIG. 10. As can be seen from FIG. 9, the ring wall 11 can have a wave shape in order to be able to turn the rotating lid lock 10 with greater force. 11 to 13, the handling of the

Cover turn lock outlined. Fig. 11 shows the position of the screw cap 10 after assembly m the sales position. If the customer wants to open the can, he turns the rotating lid lock 10 to the left, as indicated by the arrow P1. The projection 16 travels over the oblique field 5a, the increasing pressure ensuring that the notch 6 tears. During this rotation Pl, the opening 15 reaches the delimited area 5 and finally completely covers it, as shown in FIG. 12. During this rotation according to the arrow P1, the wall area 5 pivots into the interior of the can 1, but remains attached to the cover wall 2, as shown at 5e. In the position of FIG. 12, the drinking opening 9 is opened to the maximum.

The twist lock can be closed again by turning part 10 to the right in accordance with arrow P2. The position of the rotary screw cap according to FIG. 13 is then reached. In this case, the projection 16 m comes to the edge of the open area 5 The angular position of the twist lock 10 deviates somewhat from the angular position m of the starting position in FIG. 11. A crescent-shaped region 2b is therefore visible from the cover wall 2, which was still covered in the position of FIG. 11. This crescent-shaped area 2b can be marked to indicate to the customer that the can has been opened or that an attempt has been made to open it.

The feature of the guarantee closure (tamper indication feature) can also be implemented in another way, for example by means of a seal which is glued to the cover wall 2 and the rotary sliding wall 13 in the region of the opening 15. When the rotating lid closure 10 is rotated, this seal must be torn, which indicates the unauthorized use of the can. The security feature can also be in the area of the edge

11a of the ring wall 11, since there is also a relative displacement to the can 1 when the closure 10 is turned.

In the case of containers, it can be expedient if the pouring opening has a round cross section, for example because one wants to insert a pouring tap or the like there. The variant according to FIGS. 14 to 16 shows such a circular access opening 15. The predetermined breaking lines 6 run approximately in a horseshoe shape and enclose a correspondingly designed area 5, around which a bead-starting sealing area 5f extends. When the closure 10 is turned to the left in accordance with arrow P1, the projection 16 moves over the inclined surface 5a and presses the wall area 5 downward, so that the predetermined breaking line 6 tears in, except for the area 5e which remains. In part 10, a projection 17 is provided, which engages in a corresponding dent in the cover wall 2, as is similarly shown at 7a in FIG. 2. In this angular position of the The twist-lid closure 10 covers the opening 15 as far as possible from the now open area 5, as shown in FIG. 15. The rotary sliding wall 13 presses against the sealing area 5f. It should be noted that the rotary sliding wall 13 is equipped as a result of resilient flexibility, in particular in the area of the annular groove 21, so that the sealing contact of the rotating sliding wall 13 on the sealing area 5f still functions when the lid wall 2 is lost as a result of the internal pressure loss when the can is opened backs off a bit, ie loses its original larger curvature.

Fig. 15 shows the open position of the container, which can be transferred by turning according to arrow P2 to the right m the closed position of Fig. 16. From this the container can be turned by turning the

Rotary lid lock 10 to the left are repeatedly opened according to arrow P3.

The box 1 can be developed further as a music box, m a microchip with a micro energy source and micro speaker is attached to the lid or lid roof lock, which takes effect when the box is opened or when the lid twist lock is opened and plays a melody, an advertising message or the like.

In addition to cans, the new screw cap can also be used for other forms of containers or vessels that have a rotationally symmetrical wall with a lid wall that has to be torn open to form a pouring opening.

The new twist lock is very easy to use. The hood-like design of the twist lock enables comfortable gripping without the risk of injury (ie without breaking off the fingernails, no cutting on the tear-open, as with previous containers). The twist lock also offers favorable leverage, because the grip point 11 is located further outside relative to the actuation point 6/16. Because of the simple construction, the additional costs of the lid twist lock are only slightly higher compared to the hitherto usual containers with a tear-open tab and are achievable by the

Advantages weighed. The can can be opened and closed repeatedly, it is leak-proof and seals against the loss of carbonated drinks. If the can is closed, there is no danger of swallowing insects that could have fallen into the opened container (exclusion of warranty claims).

Claims

Claims:

A container comprising: a rotationally symmetrical wall area (1); a top wall (2) which has a circular circumference with a radius length and is attached to the rotationally symmetrical wall region (1) along the circumference and is provided with a predetermined breaking line (6) which, after tearing open, opens a single drinking and pouring opening (9); a screw cap (10), the one

Cover wall (2) spanning wall (13) and means for tearing open the drinking and pouring opening (9);

Means (3, 20) for supporting the screw cap (10) when it is rotated about an axis of rotation (4) to tear open the drinking and pouring opening (9), characterized by the following features: the predetermined breaking point (6) surrounds a defined area ( 5) the cover wall (2), which extends between the axis of rotation (4) and the circular circumference of the cover wall (2), but with some distance (S4) from the axis of rotation (4) and some distance (S3) from the circular periphery ; the wall (13) of the rotary lid lock (10) has a recessed opening (15) which largely has the shape and size of the delimited area (5) of the lid wall (2) and by rotating the rotary lid lock (10) with this area (5 ) can be covered; the tear-open means comprise a projection (16) attached to the lid twist-lock and an inclined surface (5a) provided in the delimited area, which interact when the lid twist-lock is turned for the first time and tear open the drinking and pouring opening (9).

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance (S4) of the projection (16) from the axis of rotation (4) is in the range of 0.3 to 0.6 r radius length and that the radial dimension of the drinking and pouring opening (9) is at least half the radius length (r / 2).

3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rotationally symmetrical wall region (1) with the cover wall (2) via a

Edge fold (3) is connected and the lid twist lock (10) is hood-shaped and designed to grip around the edge fold (3), the supporting means being formed, and in that the lid twist lock has a grip area (11) which is larger relative to the axis of rotation (4)

Lever length is defined as the distance of the projection from the axis of rotation.

4. Container according to claim 3, characterized in that a number of clips (20) for gripping around the edge fold (3) are provided.

5. A container according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the handle area (11) of the rotary lid lock (10) is corrugated.

6. Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that cooperating locking means (7, 17) are attached to the lid wall and the lid twist lock to lock the lid twist lock m the complete open position or m the complete closed position.

7. Container according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the border of the bounded area (5) of the lid wall is provided with a sealing application (5f) or a coating.

8. Container according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the delimited area (5) has kidney-shaped outline.

9. Container according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the predetermined breaking line (6) is not completely closed, so that when opening the wall material (5e) of the delimited area (5) as a rag remains captive on the lid wall (2) ,

10. Container according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the rotary lid closure (10) has an annular corrugation (21) in order to press the rotary sliding wall (13) resiliently onto the lid wall (2).

11. Container according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that on the lid (2) or on the lid twist lock (10) a microchip with an energy source and micro speaker is attached, and can be activated by turning the lid twist lock or when opening the container.