EP1404586B1

EP1404586B1 - Lid

Info

Publication number: EP1404586B1
Application number: EP02747736A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wilhelmus Josephus M. H. Van Beerendonk
Original assignee: BERCO LUX BV
Current assignee: BERCO LUX BV
Priority date: 2001-07-12
Filing date: 2002-07-12
Publication date: 2005-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2022-07-12
Also published as: WO2003006332A8; DE60206759T2; WO2003006332A1; EP1404586A1; NL1018529C2; DE60206759D1; ATE307067T1

Abstract

A lid (10) for sealing an opening of a container bounded by a rim (4). The lid has a sealing wall (11) with a top side and a bottom side for sealing the opening of the container, and has a peripheral collar (15) extending around the sealing wall. The peripheral collar (15) has an outer engagement face (16), by means of which the peripheral collar can engage upon the inside of the rim of the container, by clamping or snapping onto said rim. Within the contour of the outer engagement face (16) the lid is provided with an annular element (17), which is removable from the top side of the lid, and which forms part of the peripheral collar (15), in such a way that when the annular element (17) is present the lid can engage upon the rim of the container with a first retaining force, and after removal of the annular element (17) can engage upon said rim with a second retaining force that is considerably less than the first retaining force.

Description

The present invention relates to a lid for sealing an opening of a container bounded by a rim, which lid has a sealing wall with a top side and a bottom side for sealing the opening of the container, and has a peripheral collar extending around the sealing wall, which peripheral collar has an outer engagement face, by means of which the peripheral collar can engage upon the inside of the rim of the container, by clamping or snapping onto said rim.

Such a lid is generally known, for example for sealing a container filled with a food, such as milk powder, baby food etc. In the case of a known container a sealing element of (metal) foil is provided, which sealing element hermetically seals the contents of the container from the outside world. In the case of this known container the rim of the container projects above the face of the sealing element.

A one-part plastic lid is placed over the foil sealing element. In this case the peripheral collar of the lid rests in a clamped manner against the inside of the rim of the container.

In order to open the container, the consumer can first pull the lid easily off the container by hand and then break or remove the foil. The lid can be used for reclosing the container.

A disadvantage of this known container is that the retaining force of the lid is limited, in order that the consumer can easily open the lid by hand. This means that it can happen that a lid comes off during transport and storage of the filled containers.

Another disadvantage of this known container is that no "tamper evident" function is present. The fact is that the lid can be removed from the container, the hermetic sealing element can be broken (in order to remove the contents from the container or otherwise), and the lid can be replaced, without this being easily apparent to the consumer at the time of purchase of the filled container.

FR-A-2 286 069, upon which the preamble of claim 1 is based, discloses a lid having a removable annular ring. The ring is inserted into a groove of the lid after the lid has been put onto the rim of the container.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved lid, which can be manufactured at a relatively high production speed. The invention further relates to a container provided with such a lid, and also a method for manufacturing a lid.

The invention provides a lid according to the preamble of claim 1, which is characterized in that the sealing wall and lid parts that are integral with it and form part of the peripheral collar of the lid, on the one hand, and the removable annular element, on the other hand, are manufactured by co-injection, in a suitable injection mould, from a first and a second thermoplastic material respectively, the first and second plastic material being selected in such a way that during the co-injection an easily breakable adhesion between the first and the second plastic material is produced. For example, the first plastic material is HDPE, and the second plastic material is PP.

The lid with the removable annular element can be snapped into, clamped in or fixed in another way in the rim of the container, for example by pressing the rim of the container (or part of said container) inwards after placing of the lid, so that said rim grips over the lid.

If the consumer wants to open the container, the removable annular element should first be removed, so that the retaining force of the lid is considerably reduced. The lid can then be taken off and subsequently replaced, since the second retaining force is sufficient to hold the lid in position during normal use of the container.

Removing (or at least detaching) the removable annular element further produces a clearly apparent indication that an attempt has been made to take the lid off the container, so that the envisaged "tamper evident" function has been obtained.

The first retaining force is preferably such that the lid cannot be taken off by hand, so that the removable annular element always has to be removed first. The second retaining force is then preferably such that the lid can easily be taken off by hand.

The engagement face of the peripheral collar preferably comprises a bottom annular engagement face part, which is formed by a bottom peripheral collar part that is integral with the sealing wall, and a top annular engagement face part is formed by the removable annular element. In this embodiment the removable annular element goes into a position, as it were, lying in between the part of the lid that is integral with the sealing wall and the rim of the container. The bottom peripheral collar part is retained after the removal of the removable annular element and at the time of reclosure of the container brings about the clamping or snapping fixing of the lid on the container.

The removable annular element is preferably provided with an integral pull tab for pulling away the annular element by hand, which pull tab at the time of production of the lid preferably is arranged in a position lying flat against the sealing wall and can then be grasped and bent upwards by the consumer. By pulling this pull tab, the consumer can tear away the removable annular element from the lid and dispose of it with the integral pull tab.

One or more breakable connections are preferably provided between the pull tab of the removable element and the sealing wall, in order to keep said pull tab in its position lying flat against the sealing wall. The breakable connections then break when the pull tab is grasped and bent over.

In a preferred embodiment the pull tab of the removable annular element is in the form of a loop with a central aperture, preferably a substantially U-shaped loop with two legs and a connecting member, the legs at their ends being integral with the removable annular element.

In order to facilitate the opening of the lid after the removal of the removable annular element, it is preferable to have a pull tab provided directly on the sealing wall.

If two pull tabs are provided, namely one for the removable annular element and one for the lid after removal of the removable annular element, it is preferable if the pull tab provided directly on the sealing wall lies within the contour of the aperture in the loop-shaped pull tab of the removable annular element. In this way, a person is, as it were, forced to grasp the outer pull tab first, and thus to remove the removable annular element, before an attempt is made to take the lid off the container by means of the inner pull tab.

The lid according to the invention and also further advantageous embodiments of said lid will be explained in greater detail with reference to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows in top view a lid according to the invention, fixed in the rim of the container;

Figures 2a, 2b show in cross section along the line II-II the lid of Figure 1 fixed in the rim of a container; and

Figure 3 shows a detail of an alternative embodiment of the lid according to the invention.

A cylindrical container 1 can be seen in Figures 1, 2a and 2b, in this example being a metal container 1 with a peripheral wall 2.

The container 1 is provided with a removable or breakable hermetic sealing element 3, in this example a (metal) foil.

The container 1 has a rim 4 extending above the face of the sealing element 3, in this example a flanged rim 4, where the sealing element 3 and the peripheral wall 2 engage with each other and are flanged.

The flanged rim 4 is conical, in such a way that the inner periphery is directed inwards at a slight angle.

A lid 10 is fitted over the sealing element 3. In this case the flanged rim 4 of the container 1 forms an undercut for the lid 10.

The lid 10 is designed, on the one hand, to permit reclosure of the container 1 after the removal or breaking of the sealing element 3. On the other hand, the lid 10 fulfils a "tamper evident" function, as will be explained further on.

The lid 10 has a sealing wall 11 with a top side 12 and a bottom side 13, which sealing wall 11 extends crosswise over the opening of the container 1 to be sealed. In this example a central recess 14 is provided in the sealing wall 11, but totally different shapes of the sealing wall 11 are, of course, also possible.

The lid 10 further comprises a peripheral collar 15, which extends around the sealing wall 11.

The peripheral collar 15 has an outer engagement face 16, by means of which the peripheral collar 15 engages upon the inside of the rim 4 of the container 1, by clamping or snapping onto said rim.

Within the contour of the outer engagement face 16, therefore also within the contour of the rim 4 of the container 1, the lid 10 is provided with an annular element 17, which is removable from the top side of the lid 10.

The annular element 17 forms part of the peripheral collar 15 of the lid 10, in such a way that when the annular element 17 is present the lid 10 can engage upon the rim 4 of the container 1 with a first retaining force, and after removal of the annular element 17 can engage upon said rim with a second retaining force that is considerably less than the first retaining force.

The first retaining force is preferably such that the lid 10 cannot be taken off by hand without removal of the removable annular element 17, and the second retaining force is such that the lid 10 can easily be taken off by hand.

The removable annular element 17 need not necessarily form a closed ring, and can, for example, be interrupted at one point, such as at 17a.

The engagement face 16 of the peripheral collar 15 comprises a bottom annular engagement face part 16a, which is formed by a bottom peripheral collar part 18, which is integral with the sealing wall 11, and a top engagement face part 16b, which is formed by the removable annular element 17.

The top engagement face part 16b has a greater height than the bottom engagement face part 16a. Furthermore, the top side of the annular element 17 is recessed relative to the rim 4 and to the sealing wall 11.

The bottom peripheral collar part 18 is annular and on the inner periphery connects to an annular upright wall part 19 of the peripheral collar 15.

The upright wall part 19 connects at the top side to the sealing wall 11.

The removable annular element 17 extends along the outer periphery of the upright wall part 19 of the peripheral collar 15.

The removable annular element 17 is provided with an integral pull tab 20, for pulling away the annular element by hand. During the manufacture of the lid 10 it is realised that the pull tab 20 lies flat against the top side of the sealing wall 11.

The pull tab 20 of the removable annular element 17 is in the form of a loop with a central aperture 21. In the preferred embodiment shown, the pull tab 20 is in the form of a substantially U-shaped loop with two

legs

22, 23 and a connecting member 24, the

legs

22, 23 at their ends being integral with the removable annular element 17.

In order to keep the pull tab 20 flat against the sealing wall 11, a breakable connection 25 is provided between the pull tab 20 of the removable annular element 17 and the sealing wall 11.

In a variant, the pull tab 20 has a gripping part 45, to be approached from underneath, as indicated by a dashed line in Figure 2a. Here said gripping part 45 projects above the recess 14. In a variant, the gripping part 45 is obtained by providing an undercut in that end of the pull tab and/or the part of the lid 10 present below it. Said gripping part 45 can advantageously be manufactured with a design of injection mould that is such that on opening of the mould and/or ejection of the lid 10 the pull tab 20 is at least partially pulled away from the sealing wall 11. This facilitates the subsequent handling of the pull tab 20.

The lid 10 further comprises a pull tab 30, which is provided in a pullproof manner on the sealing wall 11, for the purpose of taking the lid 10 off the rim 4 of the container 1, after the annular element 17 has been removed.

In this example the pull tab 30 is plate-shaped and lies flat against the top of the sealing wall 11.

In particular, the pull tab 30 of the sealing wall 11 lies within the contour of the aperture 21 in the loop-shaped pull tab 20 of the removable annular element 17.

In this example breakable connections 31 are provided between the two

pull tabs

20, 30.

The pull tab 30 of the sealing wall 11 is provided on the sealing wall 11 in a pullproof manner at 32 on one side, near the peripheral collar 15, and at another point is connected by way of a breakable connection 33 to the sealing wall 11.

At 32, one or more integral lugs or ribs 34, provided with undercuts, are formed on the sealing wall 11, which lugs or ribs are firmly embedded in the material of the pull tab 30.

At 35, a hinged zone is formed in the pull tab 30. Similar hinged zones 26 are provided in the

legs

22, 23 of the pull tab 20.

The sealing wall 11 and lid parts integral therewith, in this example the upright wall part 19 and the peripheral collar part 18, are made of a first thermoplastic material.

The removable annular element 17, the pull tab 20 of the removable annular element 17 and the pull tab 30 of the sealing wall 11 are made of a second thermoplastic material.

During the manufacture of the lid 10 use is made of the co-injection injection moulding technique, in the case of which the first and a second thermoplastic material are injected into a suitable injection mould.

In this case the first and second plastic materials are selected in such a way that during the co-injection an easily breakable adhesion between the first and the second plastic material is produced. For example, the first plastic material is PP, and the second plastic material is PE.

In this way, the entire lid 10, including the removable annular element and pull tabs, can be manufactured in a single mould at a relatively high production speed.

After the production, the lid 10 is placed by mechanical means on the container 1 with a suitable die, in which process a relatively great force can be exerted in a simple manner in order to clamp the lid 10 between the rim 4.

In a variant, the lid 10 is placed on the container 1, and the rim 4 is subsequently taken into its slanting position, so that the lid 10 is clamped down.

The first retaining force of the lid 10 then obtained is such that the lid 10 does not come off during transport of the container 1. The first retaining force can also be so great that the lid 10 is very difficult, if not impossible, to take off the container 1 by hand so long as the annular element 17 is present.

In the case of the lid 10 described, the consumer will more or less automatically remove the annular element 17 first, since the pull tab 20 lies in the form of a loop around the pull tab 30, and thus prevents anyone from first grasping the pull tab 30. Furthermore, the peripheral collar 15 in the embodiment shown lies recessed relative to the rim 4, so that the consumer cannot gain a grip on said peripheral collar 15 and cannot push a knife or the like behind it either.

When the pull tab 20 is grasped, it can be bent upwards. The connection 25 breaks in the process. As already mentioned, said connection 25 can also be omitted, or it can have already been broken during the production process. The connections 31 with the other pull tab 30 also break. Finally, the annular element 17 can be removed by means of the pull tab 20.

Now that the annular element 17 has been removed, the retaining force of the lid 10 is greatly reduced to the value of the second retaining force. Said second retaining force is sufficient to hold the lid 10 on the container 1 in the normal use situation. By subsequently grasping the pull tab 30, said pull tab can be bent upwards (about hinge zone 35), so that the connection 33 breaks. The pull tab 30 is, however, situated in a pullproof manner (at 32) on the sealing wall 11, so that the lid 10 can now be pulled off the container 1.

The presence of the annular element 17 therefore provides the effect that the first retaining force can be great. The annular element 17 also has a "tamper evident" function, since it is hardly possible to replace the annular element 17 after it has been removed, and the consumer can easily establish whether the annular element 17 is present. For example, the first and the second plastic material can be of a different colour, so that it is even more noticeable that the annular element 17 has been removed. For example, the first plastic material is transparent, and the second plastic material is brightly coloured, for example red.

In a variant, the annular element 17 has on its inner periphery projections, which fall into corresponding recesses, which further complicates the correct replacement of the annular element 17.

In Figure 3 a detail of an alternative design of the lid can be seen, with the container 1 and corresponding rim 4.

In the case of this embodiment the peripheral collar 40 comprises a substantially U-shaped section 41, which is integral with the sealing wall 42, which U-shaped section 41 bounds an annular groove 43, which is open at the top.

The removable annular element 44 extends in said groove 43 that is open at the top.

Otherwise, the lid can be identical to the lid 10 described earlier, and the lid can also be manufactured by co-injection.

After removal of the annular element 44, the retaining force of the lid is considerably reduced, to the value of the second retaining force.

It will be clear that the lid can also be of a different shape from the circular shape shown, for example square, rectangular, oval etc.

It will further be clear that in the case of the embodiment according to Figure 3 the U-shaped section 41 can be provided with an outer flanged edge, extending to the top or even over the outside of the rim 4 of the container.

Claims

Lid (10) for sealing an opening of a container (1) bounded by a rim (4), which lid has a sealing wall (11) with a top side and a bottom side for sealing the opening of the container, and has a peripheral collar (15; 40) extending around the sealing wall, which peripheral collar has an outer engagement face (16), by means of which the peripheral collar can engage upon the inside of the rim of the container, by clamping or snapping onto said rim, wherein within the contour of the outer engagement face (16) the lid (10) is provided with an annular element (17; 44), which is removable from the top side of the lid, and which forms part of the peripheral collar (15; 40) of the lid, in such a way that when the removable annular element (17; 44) is present the lid can engage upon the rim (4) of the container with a first retaining force, and after removal of the annular element can engage upon said rim with a second retaining force that is considerably less than the first retaining force, in which the sealing wall (11) and lid parts (18, 19) that are integral with it and the removable annular element (17 are manufactured from thermoplastic material, characterized in that the sealing wall (11) and lid parts (18, 19) that are integral with it and form part of the peripheral collar (15, 40) of the lid, on the one hand, and the removable annular element (17), on the other hand, are manufactured by co-injection from a first and a second thermoplastic material respectively, the first and second plastic material being selected such that an easily breakable adhesion between the first and the second thermoplastic material is produced.
Lid according to claim 1, in which the first retaining force is such that the lid (10) cannot be taken off by hand without removal of the removable annular element (17; 44), and in which the second retaining force is such that the lid can easily be taken off by hand.
Lid according to claim 1 or 2, in which the engagement face of the peripheral collar (17) comprises a bottom annular engagement face part (16a), formed by a bottom peripheral collar part (18) that is integral with the sealing wall (11), and a top annular engagement face part (16b), which is formed by the removable annular element (17).
Lid according to claim 3, in which the bottom peripheral collar part (18) is annular and on the inner periphery connects to an annular upright wall part (19) of the peripheral collar (15), in which the upright wall part (19) connects to the sealing wall (11), and in which the removable annular element (17) extends along the outer periphery of the upright wall part (19) of the peripheral collar (15) and forms the top engagement face part (16b).
Lid according to claim 1 or 2, in which the peripheral collar (40) comprises a substantially U-shaped section (41), which is integral with the sealing wall (42), which U-shaped section bounds an annular groove (43), which is open at the top, and in which the removable annular element (44) extends in that groove (43) that is open at the top.
Lid according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the second plastic material is softer than the first plastic material.
Lid according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the removable annular element (17) is provided with an integral pull tab (20) for pulling away the annular element (17) by hand.
Lid according to claim 7, in which the pull tab (20) of the removable annular element is movable between a position lying flat against the sealing wall (11) and a position pointing upwards from the sealing wall.
Lid according to claim 8, in which one or more breakable connections (25) is (are) provided between the pull tab (20) of the removable element (17) and the sealing wall (11).
Lid according to one or more of claims 7-9, in which the pull tab (20) of the removable annular element is in the form of a loop with a central aperture (21), preferably a substantially U-shaped loop with two legs (22, 23) and a connecting member (24), the legs at their ends being integral with the removable annular element (17).
Lid according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which a pull tab (30) is provided on the sealing wall (11), for taking the lid (10) off the rim of the container.
Lid according to claims 10 and 11, in which the pull tab (30) of the sealing wall lies within the contour of the aperture (21) in the loop-shaped lip (20) of the removable annular element (17).
Lid according to claim 12, in which breakable connections (31) are provided between the two pull tabs (20, 30).
. Lid according to one or more of claims 11-13, in which the pull tab (30) of the sealing wall is provided on the sealing wall (11) in a pullproof manner on one side (32), and at one or more other points is connected by way of breakable connections (33) to the sealing wall (11).
Lid according to claim 7, in which one or more integral lugs, provided with undercuts, are formed on the sealing wall, which lugs are embedded in the second plastic material of the pull tab (30) of the sealing wall.
Lid according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the removable annular element (17) is of a different colour from that of the sealing wall (11) and lid parts integral therewith.
A container provided with a lid according to one or more of the preceding claims.
Container according to claim 17, in which the rim of the container forms an undercut for the peripheral collar of the lid.
Container according to claim 17 or 18, in which the container is a metal container with a flanged rim.
. Container according to one or more of claims 17-19, in which the container is provided with a removable or breakable hermetic sealing element, for example a (metal) foil over which the lid is placed.
Method for manufacturing a lid according to claim 1, in which use is made of a suitable injection mould, into which the first and the second thermoplastic materials are injected.