EP1890944A2

EP1890944A2 - Closure for a container

Info

Publication number: EP1890944A2
Application number: EP06742454A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nis Buchwaldt-Nissen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-10
Filing date: 2006-06-09
Publication date: 2008-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2026-06-09
Also published as: DK1890944T3; WO2006131121A2; WO2006131121A3; EP1890944B1; DE602006020719D1; ATE501945T1

Abstract

The present application concerns a method and a lid for closing a container comprising an outer lid, where the outer lid creates a mechanical closure of the container volume. The outer lid comprises an inner lid placed against the edge of the container neck. It is the scope of the invention to achieve a lid which is tight and which is used for closure of a container in which food is contained. Another scope of the invention is to close a food-containing container by means of the lid without the food being polluted by not wanted chemicals. The lid is modified so that the volume between the outer and inner lid is full or partly closed from contact by the surroundings by closure means, where the actual pressure in the container deflects the inner lid downwards whereby the pressure in the volume between the inner and outer lid is reduced to the approximate same value as in the container whereby a central area of the inner lid is deflected downwards. An effective closure is hereby achieved. The pressure difference across the inner lid is minimal, which results in a nearly total decrease in molecular penetration of the inner lid. A downwards deflection of the midsection of the outer lid is achieved which mid section of the outer lid can be formed as an indication area which has to be deflected downwards for indicating that the container volume is not polluted by penetrating air.

Description

Closure for a container

The present application concerns a method and a lid for a container comprising an outer lid, which outer lid cooperates with fastening means, which fastening means are placed on a container neck, where the outer Kd consists of a collar which collar continues into a top section, where a mechanical closure of the container volume is created by the outer lid. The outer lid comprises an inner Hd on the inside which inner lid is placed against the edge of the container neck, which inner lid is made of a material comprising one or more layers.

WO 00/56622 relates to a lid and a method of opening the lid, which is used for closing a container having means on the inner side of screwing on to the neck of a container. Internally, the lid has an inner lid, which is secured in the lid by at least one securing means. The object of the invention is to provide a lid which is easy to open without using a great force or by using a tool, and which may simultaneously be disposed of without significant environmental impact. This is achieved by a lid whose collar has at least one projection which points radially toward the centre and which extends from the inner side of the collar, wherein, during unscrewing of the lid, the projection presses the edge of the inner lid at least at one point out of contact with the upper edge of the package neck. This ensures venting of the volume of the container with a relatively weak torque. By just affecting the inner lid at a single point in an upward direction, the force required for creating venting will be greatly reduced.

With an invention as described in WO 00/56622, the lid is secured by the use of the inner lid, and the pressure at the inner lid towards the container neck is an optimal closure towards the volume in the container. The volume, which occurs between the inner and the outer lid, is widely open towards the surrounding atmosphere. If a pressure reduction occurs in the container volume, then the inner Hd will be deflected without this deflection having any effect on the outer lid because the volume between the inner and outer Hd at least partly is vented towards the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere. WO 02/22495 relates to a closure system for closing a container, wherein the lid comprises an inner lid and an outer lid. The outer lid comprises a top and an annular side, wherein the sides of the lid have means for co-operating with projections on the container. The inner lid may form a face, the shape of which is adapted to the internal configuration of the outer lid and the edge of the container, wherein the inner lid comprises at least first and second polymer layers, and wherein a first polymer layer cooperates with the edge of the container, and where the first polymer layer has a flexibility to accommodate the irregularities of a container edge, and wherein the second polymer layer has a low friction against the outer lid allowing a relative movement between the outer lid and the inner lid, and wherein the second polymer layer has a great flexural rigidity.

Furthermore, WO 05/032966 concerns a lid for closing a container, where the container consists of a container volume ending with a neck, where the lid consists of an outer lid, where the outer lid includes an inner lid covering the opening in the container neck, where the outer lid and the inner lid are centrally coupled together, where the coupling forms a rotary connection. It is the purpose of the invention to provide an efficient fastening element between the outer lid and the inner lid that allows for rotation of the outer lid relative to the inner Hd with simultaneous transmission of down- wards directed forces between the inner lid and the outer lid. This may be achieved if a connecting element is fastened to the outer Hd, where the connecting element is secured rotatably, where the connecting element is fastened to the inner lid. It may hereby be achieved that freedom for a rotating movement between the outer lid and the inner Hd, which is suitable in connection with screwing off a Hd, as the outer Hd can be fastened to the container neck by means of a screw thread. By allowing a ro- tatable connection, it is thus permitted that the outer Hd is moving relatively to the inner Hd. The fastening between the inner Hd and the outer Hd has the advantage that during opening of the Hd, the fastening prevents the inner Hd from being strongly deformed by the prevailing sub-pressure in the container.

The not published Danish patent application PA 2005 00045 describes a method for production of a connection of the inner Hd towards the outer Hd in order to achieve a deflection of the outer Hd by deflection of the inner Hd because of reduced pressure in the volume beneath the inner Hd. Scope of the invention

It is the scope of the invention to achieve a lid which is tight and which is used for closure of a container in which food is contained. Another scope of the invention is to close a food-containing container by means of the lid without the food being polluted by not wanted chemicals.

Description of the invention

The scope of the invention can be achieved by a method as described in the opening paragraph. If the method is modified so that the volume between the outer and inner lid is closed from contact by the surroundings by closure means, where the actual pressure in the container deflects the inner Hd downwards whereby the pressure in the volume between the inner and outer lid is reduced to the approximate same value as in the container whereby a central area of the outer lid is deflected downwards.

A double closure is hereby achieved so that the inner Hd no longer is the only barrier against penetrating air from the surroundings. This is achieved because approximately the same pressure occurs in the volume in the container, and the volume between the outer and inner Hd. The pressure difference across the inner lid is minimal, which results in a nearly total decrease in molecular penetration of the inner lid. A downwards deflection of the midsection of the outer Hd is achieved which mid section of the outer Hd can be formed as an indication area which has to be deflected downwards for indicating that the container volume is not polluted by penetrating air. It is therefore important that the closure between the outer Hd and inner Hd gives an effective closure against penetrating air because a pressure increase in the volume between the inner and outer lid from the outside would indicate pollution of the contained food in the container.

The scope of the invention can also be achieved by a lid as described in the opening paragraph if at least the inner side of the outer lid in a circular outer area along the outside of the outer Hd is formed to generate or accommodate a sealing towards the inner Hd, which sealing prevents air from penetrating the volume between the inner and outer Hd. Hence a very efficient sealing is obtained without the use of PVC as sealing material. Using PVC is not optimum as PVC contains phthalate. By means of the present invention, the closure is made without using critical environmental chemicals at all. The closure is very efficient, as the volume above the inner lid forms a closure towards the surroundings. This means that the inner lid as such forms a sealing towards the content of the container, however, above the inner lid, there is only a limited atmosphere, which is completely isolated from the surroundings. This way only a very small amount of oxygen or other gas is able to penetrate the inner lid.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the inner lid might cover the entire opening of the container and form an isolated volume between the inner lid and the outer lid. Thus, it is achieved that the inner lid completely covers the container volume and as such forms a second kind of sealing towards whatever is inside the container. By isolating the volume of the container from the volume between the inner layer and the outer lid there is only a very limited risk of oxygen or other gases penetrating the inner lid and the outer lid. Furthermore, possible chemical residues such as paint or the like inside the outer Hd or the metal forming the outer lid will not pollute the contents of the container. The use of the inner Hd, which covers the entire container, is preferred, if the contents of the container are a foodstuff having to be con- served for a very long period.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention the inner Hd might have an opening for venting the volume between the inner lid and the outer Hd. This way it is achieved that the underpressure probably existing in the container volume acts directly on the inner side of the outer Hd. This allows for a test system, where a central part of the outer lid is held down by the low pressure existing in the container volume. Hence the low pressure can be detected from the outside, it is possible by manual or automatic testing to detect whether underpressure still is present in the container volume. A pressure increase indicates that the sealing is leaky or that bacterial activities are present in the foodstuff inside the volume.

According to some embodiments of the invention the collar comprises at least one projection. According to every embodiment the projection can lead to very easy opening of the Hd. The projection will in the opening process lift the inner lid and make a very small opening for venting the container volume. After the venting of the container volume it is very easy to unscrew the outer lid. The projection will also hold the inner lid in place, so if the container has to be closed again the inner Hd is still in the correct position for closing the lid.

The lid can comprise closing means between the outer lid and the inner lid where the closing means is placed at least in a circular area along the outer periphery of the outer lid, where the closing means has contact towards an inside area of the outer lid and towards the inner lid, where the closing means closes against penetrating air towards the volume between the inner and outer lid. An optimal closure between the surrounding atmosphere and the volume of the container can hereby be achieved. A high quality of the content of the container for a long period could hereby be achieved. Furthermore, a total or partly pressure equalization between the two volumes could be achieved.

The closing means between the outer Hd and the inner lid could be in the form of a ring of a material, which material must be accepted for contact with food, which material must comprise a good barrier against oxygen, which material must be compressible, and which closing material must remain tight for a very long period. It is hereby achieved that the sealing ring can make a very effective closure between the upper lid and the inner lid. When this sealing is tight, pressure equalization between the volume in the container and the volume between the upper and the inner layer will be achieved. Because the inner layer works partly as a diaphragm, which is deflected by the pressure difference, it is achieved that the pressure difference over the upper and lower side of the diaphragm is reduced to a level so that molecular penetration of the diaphragm is reduced to a very low level. If there is total pressure equalization, there will only be a very limited molecular transportation, and only small molecules will be able to penetrate the diaphragm. If the diaphragm contains a layer, which is tight even for oxygen, then only molecules smaller than oxygen will be able to penetrate the in- ner layer.

The closing means is preferably formed as a circular contact area, which area cooperates with an upper layer of the inner lid. It is hereby achieved that the closing means are generated by the form of the outer lid and by the design of the upper layer of the inner lid. The upper layer of the inner Hd must have a relatively low friction towards the outer lid because otherwise it will be very difficult to open the lid. If the surface inside the upper lid can cooperate with the outer layer of the inner lid, the pressure that could occur by screwing down the outer lid will make the closing that is formed be- tween the two components very effective. If there is a pressure difference even as high as 1 kg/cm², the area on which pressure is working, is minimal because it is simply the ring formed closed area between the two components, and only very limited amounts of air would be able to penetrate the opening that exists between two surfaces between which a high pressure is generated by screwing the outer lid tight.

The closing means could instead be formed as a circular contact area, which contact area is formed as a curvature, which curvature follows the curvature op the upper edge of the container neck. It is hereby achieved that the inner lid is forced to follow the curvature of the edge of the outer Hd, and when the outer lid has a curvature that is more or less equal to the curvature of the edge of the container, a very effective closing area is achieved where most of the top of the neck is used as closing area. In this way, the total way for an air molecule from the outside to penetrate the closure, and by help of the pressure difference being moved inside, in which way the molecule has to move is as long as possible, which result in a highly effective closure.

The closing means could be formed as a circular contact area, which contact area comprises an inside directed conical area, which conical area follows the curvature of the upper edge of the container neck, which upper edge comprises an inside directed conical area. It is hereby achieved that the forces that are acting from the outer Hd downwards are converted by the conical surface so that the forces are acting as well downwards but also outwards which assures a high closing pressure under the conical area. This will lead to a very effective tightening of the closure.

The closing means could be formed as a circular contact area, which contact area comprises an outside directed conical area, which conical area follows the curvature of the upper edge of the container neck, which upper edge comprises an outside directed conical area. It is hereby achieved that the closing takes place at the outside of the container neck, and the area on the top of the neck could be used for supplementary closing. Also, on the outside conical surface, the pressure will be acting very effectively and be converted here again in a downwards-acting force into axial acting force acting in a direction towards the center of the container neck.

The closing means is preferably formed as an O-ring, which O-ring cooperates with an upper layer of the inner lid, and which O-ring also is in contact with the inside of the outer Hd, which outer lid comprises a ring formed groove for accommodating the O- ring. It is hereby achieved that the O-ring is tightening the volume between the inner lid and the outer lid. The O-ring tightening is highly effective if the O-ring is subjected to a mechanical pressure. Also, the pressure difference acting on the O-ring will form a highly effective closing inside the groove because the O-ring will be pressed towards the wall of the groove where it is forming an extremely effective tightening.

The closing means can be formed as a lip sealing, which lip sealing cooperates with an upper layer of the inner lid, and which lip sealing is fixed to the inside of the outer lid. By using the lid sealing towards the inner layer, a high number of very thin and small lips could be in contact with the outer layer of the inner lid. This outer layer could be rigid and each single Hp will form a closure where the pressure difference and the Hp is simply helping in pressing the Hp by a higher pressure towards the inner lid. The number of lips could be relatively high starting from maybe 5 up to more than 100, then there will probably be formed a pressure difference between all the lips, but because of this very high number of lips, each single Hp only has to take care of a very small pressure difference. The use of Hp sealing will make the unscrewing of the outer Hd extremely easy.

The invention further comprises a Hd for closing a container, which Hd comprises a collar which continues into a top section that covers the container opening, which collar has projections that cooperate with fastening means which are placed on the container neck, where at least one closing means is fastened to the Hd, which fastening means are closing towards at least one of the inner or outer surfaces of the container neck. It is hereby achieved that the closing can be made directly between an outer and the side surface of the container neck. Hereby is the upper edge of the container neck out of contact with closing means. Because the upper edge of for example a glass container often is very inaccurate in its surface and also might have relatively big tolerances, an effective closure can be made towards the sidewalls of the container neck instead of the edge. The inner and outer surface of the container neck will probably be produced with a higher grade of quality than the upper edge. Both surfaces might be in touch with tooling during the molding process.

The closing means can be formed as an O-ring, which O-ring is in contact with the inside of the lid, which lid comprises a ring formed groove for accommodating the O- ring, where the groove is formed at least in the inner or the outer surface of the lid, where the O-ring closes towards at least one of the inner or outer surfaces of the container neck. The use of an O-ring as closure will give a very effective closing of the container. This O-ring could be placed inside the container neck where the O-ring as such because of its flexibility could keep itself in place inside a groove made in the lid. The diameter of a groove together with the diameter of the O-ring can be constructed so there is a small overlap with the inner diameter of the neck of the container so by inserting the lid, a small pressure will occur towards the O-ring. A pressure re- duction of the volume in the container will increase the acting pressure on the O-ring so the O-ring becomes more and more tight the higher it is loaded. Instead of placing the O-ring inside the container an outside closure could also be formed by placing an O-ring in a groove in the outside collar. Also here, the groove diameter and the O-ring diameter can be constructed so that a pressure on the O-ring when mounting the lid on the container neck will occur. Also, outside mounting of the O-ring will give a better sealing, the higher the pressure difference across the O-ring. It is possible to combine the O-ring sealing so that as well an O-ring is sealed outside as well as inside in the container neck. This could be the most effective seal if the container has to be sealed for several years.

The closing means can instead be formed as a lip sealing, which lip sealing is fixed to the inside of the lid where the lip seal is fastened at least in the inner or the outer surface of the lid, where the lip seal closes towards at least one of the inner or outer surfaces of the container neck. It is hereby achieved that the lip seal can accommodate relatively big tolerances. This means that even tolerances up to maybe a half millimeter can be accepted in the container neck by using a lip seal. The lip seal can be placed inside the container neck cooperating with the inner wall, or it can be placed on the outside and cooperate with the outer wall. Also by using a lip seal, the inner and outer seal can be combined to reach the optimal closure. Further the invention comprises a lid for closing a container comprising an outer lid, which outer lid comprises a collar which continues into a top section that covers the container opening, which collar has projections that cooperate with fastening means which are placed on the container neck, where the lid comprises an inner lid inside the outer Kd which inner lid has contact towards the upper edge of the container neck, where the inner lid covers the opening in the container where the inner lid is made of a one or more layered material, where the lid comprises closing means between the outer lid and the inner lid whereby the closing means at least in a circular outer area along the outside of the outer lid is in contact against the inside of the outer Hd, where the closing means are part of or placed at the upper surface of the inner lid, where the fastening means are formed as a lip seal, which comprises at least one lip, which Hp closes towards the outer Hd. It is hereby achieved that the lip sealing is placed or is a direct part of the inner Hd. This inner Hd could very easily be produced because the Hp seal could be produced as a plastic component, which is molded directly to the top layer of the inner Hd. Depending on how effective a seal that has to be achieved, an inner layer could in the simplest way be formed as a plastic molding where the same type of plastic is used for the Hd and for the Hp seal. A more complicated form for production would also be possible where an inner Hd which contains maybe a first soft layer for giving an optimal sealing towards the container neck and over that a layer which comprises an effective gas seal. A Hd as this can be placed in a molding machine, and a further molding of a third layer which layer also comprises the Hp seal can be molded afterwards. A Hp seal integrated in an inner layer could hereby be achieved in a very cheap and very effective way.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner Hd can be pre-formed into a shape that follows the inner contour of the outer Hd. This way a very efficient sealing is generated without the use of any extra components. By letting the inner Hd follow the contour of the inner side of the outer Hd, the sealing generates a circular radial closure having a certain area, where oxygen or other gasses from the outside have to penetrate through this area to get access to the volume between the outer Hd and the inner Hd. This area can have a width of some millimeters so the path by which oxygen or other gasses have to penetrate to reach the sealing is rather long. The inner lid can also be pre-formed into a shape that follows part of the contour of the upper edge of the container. Hence also the sealing between the inner lid and the neck of the container can be very efficient as the sealing has a direct contact area so that it is difficult for oxygen or other gasses to penetrate the sealing.

The outer lid is preferable formed with an upwards directed recess to accommodate the inner lid and the upper edge of the container, where the recess seen from the outside is formed with a first inward directed slope continuing into a flat area, which continues further in the direction towards the center and into an outward directed slope, which continues into the central area of the outer lid, where the inner Hd is pre-formed into a shape that follows the shape of the recess of the outer lid. By forming the outer lid in a way where the recess in the outer lid is designed in relation to the upper edge of the container, the very efficient sealing can be formed, when the inner lid at first follows the contour of the outer lid, and the contour of the inner lid in downwards di- rection partly has the same shape as the edge of the container. This can lead to a very efficient closure both for the volume between the inner and the outer lid and for the volume in the container.

Description of the drawing In the following, the invention is explained with reference to the accompanying drawing where

Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the corner of a first alternative embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 6 shows a sectional view of the sixth possible embodiment of the invention, Fig. 7 shows a sectional view of the seventh possible embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 8 shows a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 9 shows a sectional view of an alternative embodiment to fig. 8,

Fig. 10 shows a sectional view, which is a combination of figs. 8 and 9,

Fig. 11 shows a sectional view of an alternative embodiment, and Fig. 12 shows a sectional view of a preferred alternative embodiment.

Fig 13 shows a sectional view of the parts forming a possible embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 14 shows a sectional view of the assembled lid as shown in fig. 13. Fig. 15 shows a sectional view of the parts forming an alternative embodiment of the invention, Fig. 16 shows a sectional view of the assembled lid as shown in fig. 15.

Fig. 1 describes a possible way for forming the invention, where the figure shows a lid 2 placed on a container neck 12 which lid 2 consists of a collar 6, a top part 8 and a top plate 10. The container neck 12 has an upper neck 14, which cooperates by the underside of an inner lid 16 where the inner lid comprises two further layers 18,20. A projection 22 is fixed to the collar 6. Inside the outer lid below the section 8, a closing means 24 is shown. The volume of the container is shown as 26 while the volume be- tween the inner lid and the outer lid is shown as 28.

Suggesting that the container volume 26 contains food which because of a need for sterilization is filled into the container by a high temperature and that the lid afterwards is placed for closing the container where the lid in the same way is sterilized probably by heating. After closing the container volume, a pressure reduction will occur in the volume 26. This pressure reduction will deflect the inner Hd downwards so that the volume 28 over the inner lid and under the outer lid achieves a pressure reduction, which is mostly equal to the pressure reduction in the volume 26. This pressure reduction in the volume 26 can in a preferred embodiment of the invention acti- vate an indication area, which is created in a section 10 of the outer lid. This section will be deflected for indicating that a lower pressure is present in the volume 26. A condition for operation of this function is that the closing means 24 is air tight between the inner lid's upper layer 20 and the closing means 24, and that at the same time, a total closure occurs against the section 8 of the outer lid. The closing means 24 must be formed of a material, which material at first has to be a material that is accepted for contact with food, and secondly, the material shall give a good barrier against oxygen. Thirdly, the material must be compressible, and for the fourth, the closing material must remain tight for a very long period. Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 shows a lid 2, which comprises an outer Hd 4 with a collar 6, a top section 8 and a central section 10. The lid 2 further comprises an inner lid 13 which inner lid covers the upper edge 14 of the container neck 12. The inner lid 13 has a downward layer 16 which could be flexible in order to accommodate tolerances in the surface 14 which could be a glass surface. The inner lid 13 has an upper layer 20 which upper layer 20 cooperates by the closing means 24 which are formed by a contact area 9 formed in the under side of the outer Kd 4. By removing the outer lid 4, a protrusion 22 will interact with the inner lid 13 and make a lifting force on the inner Hd for venting the volume 26 in the container.

Fig. 3 describes a lid 2 comprising an outer Hd 4 which outer Hd 4 has a collar 6, a top section 8 and a central portion 10. The container neck 12 has an upper edge 14 which upper edge cooperates with an inner Hd 13. The inner lid has a downward surface 16 which is flexible and which is in contact with the upper edge 14. The inner Hd 13 has an upper surface 20 which is in contact with the outer lid 4 in the area below the section 8 where the outer Hd is generating a pressure at the inner Hd which pressure further presses the inner Hd towards the edge 14 of the container neck 12. A relative long and thereby relatively effective closure is hereby achieved. By opening the Hd, the protrusion 22 will interact with the inner layer and force the inner layer 13 to make a ventilation of the volume 26 inside the container.

Fig. 4 describes an alternative Hd 2 comprising an outer Hd 4 which outer lid has a collar 6, a top section 8 and a central area 10. The container neck 12 has an upper edge 32, which cooperates with the inner Hd 13. The inner Hd 13 has a downward surface 16 interacting with the surface 32 of the container neck 12. The surface 32 is formed as a conical surface, which is in contact with the inner Hd 13 where the inner Hd is under pressure by the surface 34 of the outer Hd. The inner lid 13 is hereby deflected and pressed into contact with the conical surface 32. To achieve a perfect result, the angle of the surface 32 and the inner surface 34 of the area of the outer Hd has to be equal. By screwing the outer Hd 4 tight, a pressure will occur downwards through the inner Hd 13 towards the neck of the container 12. These forces will also interact with the surface 32. The use of the conical area 32 together with the conical part 32 of the Hd 4 might result in a very effective cooperation between the two surfaces because it is easy to produce the well-defined conical surface 32 even on a glass container and also the surface 34 on the outer lid is easy by the correct design of a tool to produce this outer lid with a correct surface 34.

Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment to fig. 4 where the same numbering is used for the same components. Consequently, the general description is not repeated. The difference according to the description of fig. 4 is that the container neck 12 now has a conical surface 36, which is outwards directed. Also the outer lid 4 has a conical section 38 that interacts through the inner layer 13 for achieving an effective contact area under the part 38 of the outer Hd and along the conical surface 36.

Fig. 6 describes an alternative embodiment for the invention, and the figure differs from the previously described figures in that an O-ring 40 forms the closing means between the outer lid 4 and the inner lid 13. This O-ring 40 is placed in a groove 41 which groove is formed with surfaces that interact effectible with the O-ring, which grove 41 follows the edge 14 of the neck of the container 12. The closure made by the O-ring 40 is very effective because the pressure from the outer lid 4, which interacts against the O-ring 40, deflects the O-ring so that the contact area between the inner lid 13 and the O-ring 40 increases by increasing pressure from the outer lid 4. A pressure difference across the O-ring will force the O-ring to be pressed against the walls of the groove 41. Once again the increasing force by increasing pressure will result in a broader and better surface contact between the O-ring and the surface it interacts to. A very effective closure of the volume 28 between the outer layer 4 and the inner layer 13 is hereby achieved, and by unscrewing the outer Hd 4, there will be a relatively low friction between the O-ring and the upper surface 20 of the inner Hd 13 so the outer Hd can easily be removed and be lifted so high that the protrusion 22 interacts with the edge of the inner Hd 13, which leads to venting of the volume 26.

Fig. 7 shows an alternative embodiment where components described on previous drawings with the same numbers are not mentioned. The difference to what have been seen before is that a lip tightening 42 is placed between the outer Hd 4 and the inner Hd 13. The Hp tightening consists of a number of lips which number could be extremely high, where these lips are in contact with the surface 20 of the inner Hd 13. A pressure that interacts from the outside on the lips will press the lips into a better contact to- wards the lid 20. Depending on the number of lips, there will be a small pressure difference over each of the lips. Unscrewing of the outer lid 4 will be very easy because the friction between the lip tightening 42 and the upper surface of the inner lid 13 is very low.

Fig. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention. The figure shows a lid 102 comprising an outer lid 104. This outer Kd consists of a collar 106 and a top section 108. The lid 102 cooperates with a container neck 112 where the container has a volume 126. An O-ring 156 placed in a groove 150, which has an upper wall 152 and a bottom wall 154 forms the closure. The O-ring is pressed against the inner wall of the container neck 112. The O-ring will be under influence of a pressure difference which if there is a reduced pressure in the volume 126, the O-ring 156 will be deflected downwards by the pressure so that the O-ring will come in contact with the downwards wall 154 where the contact area is increasing by increasing pressure. The lid 102 will be very effective and easy to unscrew because only the friction between the O-ring and the inner wall 112 has to be overcome.

Fig. 9 shows an alternative embodiment to fig. 8 where fig. 9 differs in that an O-ring 164 is placed against the outside of the container neck 112. This O-ring is placed in a groove which groove has an upper surface 160, an outwards surface 158 and a downwards surface 162. This O-ring 164 will probably be under pressure towards the container neck 112, and a pressure difference will force the O-ring 164 upwards towards the surface 160, and in this way, a very effective sealing will be formed.

Fig. 10 shows an alternative embodiment to figs. 8 and 9 in that these two figures are combined so that there is an inside O-ring 150 and an outside O-ring 164. A more effective closure is hereby achieved because there is a double closure.

Fig. 11 shows an alternative to fig. 10 in that this closure is made by Hp closures 170,172. In this way, an upper and inner lip tightening are achieved which could be extremely effective if the number of lips is sufficiently high. It is obvious that the invention probably could be built by using only one of the lip closures 170 or 172. Fig. 12 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention described with reference to fig.7. Fig. 12 differs in that a lip tightening 42 is formed as an integrated part of the inner lid 13. The lip tightening can be formed as an integrated part of the upper layer 20 ofthe inner lid l3.

Fig. 13 shows a sectional view of a Hd 202 comprising an outer lid 204, which outer lid has a collar 206 on the outside, and where the outer lid has a recess 208 and a central part 210. The outer lid co-operates with a container neck 212. Between the outer lid 204 and the container neck 212, an inner lid 213 is placed. The inner lid 213 is in direct contact with the edge 214 of the container neck 212. A projection 222 is fixed to the collar 206. The recess 208 is formed of a first slope area 230, a circular flat area 234 and a second sloping area 232. The collar 206 ends in fastening means 236. The inner Hd 213 is formed with a first sloping area 238, a circular flat area 240 and a second sloping area 242. Inside the container the container neck 212 has a volume 226, and outside the container neck fastening means 250 are shown.

During operation, the inner lid 213 is placed inside the outer lid, where it is obvious that the contour of the recess 208 and the contour of the inner lid 213 are equal.

Fig. 14 shows the sealing between the outer Hd 204, the inner lid 213 and the container neck 212.

Fig. 15 shows a sectional view of a lid 302 comprising an outer lid 304, which outer Hd on the outside has a collar 306, and where the outer lid 304 has a recess 308 and a central part 310. The outer lid co-operates with a container neck 312. Between the outer Hd 304 and the container neck 312 an inner lid 313 is placed. The inner lid 313 is in direct contact with the edge 314 of the container neck 312. A projection 322 is fixed to the collar 306. The recess 308 is formed of a first slope area 330, a circular flat area 334 and second sloping area 332. The collar 306 ends in fastening means 326. The inner lid 313 is formed with a first sloping area 338, a circular flat area 340 and a second sloping area 342. The inner Hd 313 has an opening 344 for pressure equation. The container neck 312 has a volume 326 inside the container and outside the container neck fastening means 350 are shown. During operation the inner lid 313 is placed inside the outer lid, where it is obvious that the contour of the recess 308 and the contour of the inner lid 313 are equal.

Fig. 16 shows the sealing between the outer lid 304, the inner lid 313 and the con- tainer neck 312.

A preferred material for the inner lid 13, 213, 313 is polypropylene or polyethylene, where thermo plastic rubber might be added to achieve some flexibility of the inner lid. It is possible according to some embodiments of the invention to use a multilayer inner lid, where one of the layers is mostly tight as regards the penetration of oxygen. One possible material is EVOH (ethyl vinyl alcohol), but other materials are also use- able.

Claims

1. Method for closing a container by a lid (2, 202) which lid comprises an outer lid (4, 204,) which outer lid (4, 204) cooperates by fastening means (250) placed on a con- tainer neck (12, 212) where the outer lid (4, 204) comprises a collar (6, 206 ) that continues into a top section (8, 208) for forming a mechanical closure of the container volume (26, 226) by the outer lid (4, 204), where the lid (2, 202 ) further comprises an inner lid (13, 213) which inner Hd (13, 213) has contact towards the edge (14, 214) of the container neck (12, 212) where the inner lid (13, 213) is produced of a one or more layered material, characterized in that the volume (28, 228) between the inner (13, 213) and outer lid (4, 204) is closed for contact towards the surroundings where the actual pressure in the container (26, 226) deflects the inner lid (13, 213) downwards whereby the pressure in the volume (28, 228) between the inner (13, 213) and outer lid (4, 204) is reduced to approximately the same value as in the container (26, 226) whereby the central area of the outer lid (4, 204) is deflected downwards.

2. Lid (2, 202, 304) for closing a container comprising an outer lid (4, 204, 304) which outer Hd (4, 204, 304) comprises a collar (6, 206, 306) which continues into a top section (8,10, 208, 210, 310) that covers the container opening, which collar (6,206, 306) has projections that cooperates with fastening means (250, 350) which are placed on the container neck (12, 212,312), where the lid (2, 202, 302) comprises an inner Hd (13, 213, 313) inside the outer Hd (4, 204, 304) which inner (13, 213, 313) Hd has contact towards the upper edge (14, 214, 314) of the container neck (12, 212, 312) where the inner Hd (13, 213, 312) covers fully or partly the opening in the container where the inner Hd (13, 213, 313 ) is made of a one or more layered material, characterized in that the inner side of the outer Hd is at least in a circular outer area along the outside of the outer Hd (4, 204, 304) formed to generate or accommodate a sealing towards the inner Hd (13, 213, 313), which seal prevents air from penetrating the container volume(26,226,326) .

3. A Hd according to claim 2 characterized in that the inner Hd fully covers the opening of the container and forms an isolated volume (28, 228) between the inner lid (13, 213) and the outer Hd (4, 204).

4. A lid according to claim 2 characterized in that the inner lid has an opening (344) for venting volume (28, 328) between the inner lid (13, 313) and the outer lid (4, 304) in the container volume (26, 326).

5. A lid according to claim one of the claims 2-4, characterized in that the collar (6, 206, 306) comprises at least one projection (22, 222, 322).

6. A lid according to one of the claims 2-5, characterized in that the lid (2, 202, 302) comprises closing means (24, 224, 324) between the outer lid (4, 204, 304) and the inner lid (13, 213, 313) whereby the closing means (24,224, 324) at least in a circular outer area along the outside of the outer lid (4, 204, 304) is in contact against the inside of the outer lid (4, 204, 304) and towards the inner lid (13, 213, 313), where the closing means (24, 224, 324) are closing for penetrating air.

7. A lid according to claim 6, characterized in that the closing means (24) between the outer lid (4) and the inner Hd (13) is in the form of a ring of a material, which material must be accepted for contact with food, which material comprise a barrier against oxygen, which material is compressible, and which closing material remains tight for penetrating air for a very long period.

8. A lid according to claim 7, characterized in that the closing means (24) is formed as a circular contact area, which area co-operates with an upper layer of the inner lid (13).

9. A lid according to claim 8, characterized in that the closing means (24) is formed as a circular contact area, which contact area is formed as a curvature, which curvature follows the curvature op the upper edge of the container neck (14).

10. A lid according to claim 9, characterized in that the closing means (24) is formed as a circular contact area, which contact area comprises an inside directed conical area (34), which conical area (34) follows the curvature of the upper edge of the container neck (14), which upper edge comprises an inside directed conical area (32).

11. A lid according to claim 8, characterized in that the closing means (24) is formed as a circular contact area, which contact area comprises an outside directed conical area (38), which conical area (38) follows the curvature of the upper edge of the container neck (14), which upper edge comprises an outside directed conical area (36).

12. A lid according to claim 7, characterized in that the closing means (24) is formed as an O-ring (40), which O-ring (40) cooperates with an upper layer (20) of the inner lid (13), and which O-ring (40) also is in contact with the inside of the outer lid (4), which outer lid (4) comprises a ring formed groove (41) for accommodating the O- ring (40).

13. A lid according to claim 7, characterized in that the closing means (24) is formed as a lip sealing (42), which lip sealing (42) cooperates with an upper layer (20) of the inner Hd (13), and which lip sealing (42) is fixed to the inside of the outer Hd (4).

14. A method for closing a container by the use of a Hd (102), which lid (102) covers an opening in a container neck (112), which lid (102) cooperates by fastening means placed on a container neck (112) where the Hd (102) comprises a collar (106) that continues into a top section (108) for forming a mechanical closure of the container vol- ume (126) by the Hd (102), where closing means fastened to the Hd cooperates with at least one of the inner or outside surfaces of the container neck, where the closing means generates an effective sealing of a container volume.

15. Lid (102) for closing a container, which Hd (102) comprises a collar (106) which continues into a top section (108,110) that covers the container opening, which collar

(106) has projections that cooperates with fastening means which are placed on the container neck (112), characterized in that at least one closing means is fastened to the Hd (102), which fastening means are closing towards at least one of the inner or outer surfaces of the container neck (112).

16. A Hd according to claim 3, characterized in that the closing means (124) is formed as an O-ring (140), which O-ring (40) is in contact with the inside of the Hd (102), which lid (102) comprises a ring formed groove (141) for accommodating the O-ring (140), where the groove (141) is formed at least in the inner or the outer sur- face of the lid (102), where the O-ring closes towards at least one of the inner or outer surfaces of the container neck (112).

17. A lid according to claim 7, characterized in that the closing means (124) is formed as a lip sealing (142), which lip sealing (142) is fixed to the inside of the lid (104) where the lip sealing (142) is fastened at least in the inner or the outer surface of the lid (102), where the lip seal closes towards at least one of the inner or outer surfaces of the container neck (112).

18. Lid (2) for closing a container comprising an outer lid (4) which outer lid (4) comprises a collar (6) which continues into a top section (8,10) that covers the container opening, which collar (6) has projections that cooperates with fastening means which are placed on the container neck (12), where the lid (2) comprises an inner lid (13) inside the outer Hd (4) which inner (13) lid has contact towards the upper edge (14) of the container neck (12) where the inner lid (13) full or partly covers the opening in the container where the inner Hd (13) is made of a one or more layered material, characterized in that the lid (2) comprises closing means (42) between the outer Hd (4) and the inner Hd (13) whereby the closing means (42) at least in a circular outer area along the outside of the outer Hd (4) is in contact against the inside of the outer Hd (4) where the closing means (42) are part of or placed at the upper surface (20) of the inner Hd (13), where the fastening means (42) are formed as a Hp seal (42), which comprises at least one Hp, which lip closes towards the outer Hd (4).

19. A Hd according to one of the claims 4-7, characterized in that the inner Hd (213, 313) is preformed into a shape that follows the inner contour of the outer Hd (204,

304).

20. A Hd according to claim 17, characterized in that the inner Hd (213, 313) is preformed into a shape that follows the contour of the edge (214, 314) of the container (212, 312).

21. A Hd according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the outer Hd (204, 304) has an upwards directed recess (208,308) to accommodate the inner Hd (213, 313) and the upper edge of the container (214, 314), where the recess (208, 308) seen from the outside is formed with a first inward directed slope (230, 330), that continues into a flat area (234, 324), which continues further in the direction towards the center and into an outward directed slope (232, 332), which continues into the central area (210, 310) of the outer lid (204, 304), where the inner lid (213, 313) is pre-formed into a shape that follows the shape of the recess (208, 308) of the outer lid (204, 304).