EP1907291B1 - Gas-tight and liquid-tight closure for a container - Google Patents

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to create a reversible closure for containers that are impinged upon by an internal pressure. Said aim is achieved by a closure mechanism (200) comprising a moldable, expandable, planarly extending cover (205) which can be brought into at least two operating positions. The cover is configured for opening the container in a first operating position while undercutting the entire circumference of the opening of the container by means of a circumferential edge area (222) in a second operating position such that the undercutting zone (33) forms a sealing area on the cover and the undercut zone forms a complementary sealing area on the container in order to close the opening in a gas-tight and liquid-tight manner. The inventive closure mechanism further comprises an actuatable means (260) for applying a force to the cover so as to mold the cover in such a way that the same can be shaped from one of the two operating positions into the other operating position.

Description

The invention relates to a closure device for reversibly closing an opening on a container and an associated container for cooperating with such a closure device and to a corresponding method for reversibly closing the opening on the container.

Containers such as liquid containers are used in a variety of ways both in the private and in the commercial sector. The containers are usually provided with a closure, which must meet special requirements depending on the specific application. For example, due to its content, a container may be pressurized like a carbonated liquid, which entails corresponding requirements both on the container and on the closure. In the case of the beverage cans to be named as exemplary for these containers, there is the problem of making the closure gas-tight and liquid-tight. Due to the fact that the consumer at least partially removes the closure element from the opening before it is consumed, the closure element must be able to be moved outwards or inwards relative to the container, if necessary also be removable. However, the circumstance that there is a tendency for the closure element to be pressed upon containers subjected to internal pressure makes such a design of the closure element more difficult. In conventional beverage can closures, the closure element comprises a lid tongue, wherein the opening is the known drinking opening. The closure element is removed from the opening by breaking a line of weakness. The closure element is pressed during opening against the internal pressure in the container interior. This is achieved in the conventional closures by a lever system with high leverage. Ultimately, such a closure element, which is used in particular for conventional beverage cans, only an irreversible opening operation ready, the container is thus not resealable.

Other examples of closures are by DE 1532480 . US 3,080,993 and US 2,782,958 known.

In this respect, the object of the invention is to provide a reversible closure for internally pressurized containers, i. a closure that can be closed again.

The object is achieved in a surprisingly simple manner already by a closure device with the features of claim 1 and a container for interacting with such a closure device according to claim 19.

The closure device according to the invention comprises an elastically deformable cover which extends in a planar manner and which can be brought into at least two operating positions or situations, wherein in a first operating position of the cover it is aligned to open the container and in a second operating position the cover is provided with a peripheral edge portion undercut the opening of the container fully circumferentially, so that the undercut area on the lid and the undercut area on the container form complementary sealing surfaces for gas- and liquid-tight closing of the opening, and an actuatable means for applying a force to the lid for bending the lid such that this is deformable from one to another operating position, and a means for ventilating the container, which comprises a ventilation duct, which can be closed by a valve device, wherein the valve device is in verbi ndung stands with the actuating means to Aufhes a force on the lid.

The closure device according to the invention can in principle be used for all pressurized containers, irrespective of the container material, i. for example, for glass, plastic or metal sheet container. In addition, the closure device according to the invention is not limited to a particular container shape, for example, the device for barrel, can or bottle-shaped container is used. In principle, the closure device according to the invention can also be used on any shapes of the opening, for example in the case of circular or oval-shaped openings. Since the lid of the closure device is designed so that it undercuts an inner edge of the container in the fully adjustable operating position, a sealing of the container opening is provided, which improves with higher internal pressure, since at higher internal pressure of the undercut area on the container and the undercutting Area on the lid with higher force are pressed against each other. In this respect, the closure device according to the invention together with the associated container constitutes a self-sealing system.

In contrast to conventional reversible closure devices such as a screw cap or an insertable into a bottle neck cylindrical rubber part which is clamped at its end faces and is pressed by applying force on both faces due to the occurring volume forces in the shell region to the bottleneck, the closure device according to the invention offers at least the possibility a low overall height, so that in particular with appropriate design of the container whose stackability can be provided. This represents a significant advantage in the storage and transport of goods in the container.

Appropriate materials for the lid have the property on that they are elastically deformable, ie stretchable. This property can be provided for example by certain plastics. For example, the thermoplastics polypropene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) have the necessary elastic properties. In addition, can be used as a material for the lid and an elastomer use.

In order to keep the requirements on the material of the closure device or the lid with respect to its elasticity and elasticity low, it can be provided that the lid in the first operating position is at least partially axially insertable into the opening, so that the then necessary deformation by Bend must not be excessively strong to provide the described positive connection between the lid and the edge of the opening on the container. This insertion can be achieved for example by a purely translational movement of the lid in the opening, so that no deformation or bending force must be expended in this case for the achievement of the first operating position.

In order to make the operation of closing the opening on the container particularly easy for the user to perform, it can be provided that the cover executes a pure bending deformation without tilting or axial displacement to the container opening at the transition between two operating positions. For this embodiment, the user only has to apply the necessary force for the deformation of the lid, without additionally performing a rotary movement or a translational movement with the lid, which greatly facilitates handling.

It may be useful if in the first operating position of the lid this is free of forces, ie no external force acts on him. In this respect, in this case no potential energy is stored in the lid for elastic deformation of the lid when the external force ceases. Accordingly, a Starting from the first operating position of the lid, an elastic bending deformation is generated on the lid by applying the external force on the lid for setting the second operating position, which causes a restoring force, which counteracts external force.

It may be particularly advantageous if the design of the closure device according to the invention is such that with the removal of the external force on the lid, the potential energy introduced into the lid leads to a return of the lid in its first operating position, i. the lid is automatically returned to its first operating position corresponding shape, which facilitates the handling of the inventive closure device.

In another embodiment, however, it may also be provided that the cover is moved away from the sealing operating position by the application of an external force, e.g. a tensile force is transferred to the first operating position, wherein the lid is aligned with the opening of the container and can be removed, for example, from the opening.

Depending on the embodiment, it may be expedient if, for maintaining the sealing operating position of the lid (second operating position), the force agent permanently acts on the lid.

It may be expedient if the container for the design of the opening has an outwardly guided, circumferential curl. Such a curl can be produced, for example, in a simple manner if the container consists of a metal sheet. The curl can serve in particular for connection to the closure device according to the invention. Is the opening of the container in its limit by a section made of plastic or glass, can also be advantageously provided a material forming in the manner of the container to the outside bead around the opening as a connecting element to the closure device according to the invention. The specified features "curl" and "bead" in the container opening are to be regarded as equivalent in this regard. Both represent an approximately cylindrical configuration around the container opening, which is at least in an operating position of the lid in engagement with the closure device. The person skilled in the art will recognize here a large number of design options depending on the container material or the material of which the container area is made, which defines the opening and thus the undercut area on the container for providing the sealing surface for the lid.

In a particularly expedient embodiment, the lid may be pot-shaped in the first operating position with a bottom portion and a wall portion extending approximately normal to the container opening.

It may be expedient if the bottom portion of the pot-like lid in the first operating position thereof is concave to the container interior. This provides the possibility, by applying a force to the bottom for adjusting the undercut, to increase the area in the bottom area of the cover and also to store deformation energy that can be used to return the cover to the first operating position when the external force is removed on the lid.

In particular, for attachment to an above-mentioned curl or bead in the region of the opening of the container, the wall portion of the lid at the end remote from the lid bottom portion in an outwardly curved portion, which at the curl of the container opening is present or can be applied. The curved, abutting portions of the lid and container edge have the advantage that in a change in shape of the lid, a mutual Anschmiegung of these contact surfaces is ensured, and for example no entanglement of the contact surfaces or the like may occur. The lid is thus circumferentially guided in its spreading in the radial direction by the associated edge portion of the container.

In order to support the bending of the lid in the desired cover shape due to an external force effect, a guide means, in particular in the form of a disc may be provided which rests on the side facing away from the container of the lid and cooperates therewith. This guide disk is usually made of a dimensionally stable material and can thus prevent unwanted buckling or deformation of the lid when a high internal pressure occurs in the container.

To support the interaction of the lid and the guide plate, it is expedient if guide elements, in particular in the region of the transition between the wall section and bottom section or in the lower region of the wall section are arranged, which with contact surfaces on the guide disc to support the spreading of the lid interact. These guide elements may for example comprise axially extending ribs to the opening, which are expediently circumferentially spaced on the lid, so as not to hinder the spreading of the lid. In a particular embodiment, however, it can also be provided that a fully extending bead is provided on the lid in the lower region of the wall portion, which cooperates with a contact surface on the guide disc to support a spreading of the lid.

As means for applying the force around the lid as described deform, a variety of ways are available according to the invention. For example, a screw or a lever can be used to exert a force on the lid. In this case, the power means may be attached directly to the closure or separate from the closure on the container.

In a particularly expedient embodiment, an actuating element may be provided with a pivotable, eccentric lever which comprises a handle part and a cam head which, depending on the pivotal position of the lever, exerts a force on the cover in order to deform it. For this purpose, the pivot axis may extend through the cam head, wherein the axis may be fixed to the lid, for example by means of a flap attached to the lid wall portion and extending inwardly from a relatively rigid material. The pivot axis can be offset from the center axis of the lever or the cam head can not be rotationally shaped, so that from this one dependent on the pivotal position of the lever force is exerted on the lid.

A particularly simple design of the closure device according to the invention can be provided by the force means by a force substantially in the normal direction of the opening, i. is generated axially, which is transmitted via the guide disc on the lid.

The closure device according to the invention has a means for ventilating the container, so that, for example, before canceling the positive connection between the lid and the container, a pressure compensation can be performed. In this way it can be avoided that take place due to a high internal pressure during the dissolution of the positive connection between the lid and the container uncontrolled events, such as an unwanted escape of liquid due to strong gas evolution or explosive separation of the closure device according to the invention from the container.

With regard to the possibility for ventilation of the container, it may be expedient if the means for ventilating the container has a passage in the lid and a corresponding passage in the guide disc, wherein both passages form a ventilation channel for the container, which can be closed by an actuatable valve means is.

In order to avoid two actuating elements, one for the force means and one for the ventilation means, it may expediently be provided that the valve device is in operative connection with an actuating element for the force means. For example, in the case of an actuating lever described above, the cam head may have a groove which corresponds to the ventilation channel as a function of the pivoting position of the lever.

In order to avoid that depending on the embodiment, the closure device is lost when setting the first operating position of the lid, a fastening means may be provided, with which the closure device is fastened captive and independent of the operating position of the lid on the container. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the closure means may extend beyond a bead or bead on the container where it may be glued to the container or otherwise connected.

As already explained above, the closure device according to the invention can be used for a large number of containers. This applies in particular to cylindrical tin cans such as beverage cans, which are designed to cooperate with the closure device according to the invention. For example, the container may have a container body with a primary opening, which is closed by a primary closure, which in turn has an opening, which can be closed with the closure device according to the invention in a gas-tight and liquid-tight manner. Such a primary closure may be formed, for example, as a sheet metal panel, which is connected to the container body by means of folding, gluing and / or soldering, wherein an inner section of the mirror extending circumferentially around the opening forms a sealing surface represents for the overarching section of the lid. By way of example, this mirror can have around its opening a circumferentially extending reel which can be brought into engagement with the closure device. The closure device may be glued to the panel to prevent the closure device from being lost.

The method, the above object of the invention is based on a method for reversibly closing an opening on a container with a closure device which has a deformable, flat-extending lid, with the steps according to claim 27 solved. In this case, the lid is aligned outside of the container to the opening thereof and the lid then deformed such that it completely undercuts the opening of the container with a peripheral edge portion, so that the undercut area on the lid and the undercut area on the container complementary sealing surfaces for gas and Form liquid-tight closure of the opening.

Figuren 1a, b

den prinzipiellen Aufbau einer Getränkedose in einer Seitendarstellung,

Fig. 2a

in einer Prinzipdarstellung ein nicht beanspruchts Verschlusselement in einer ersten Betriebs- stellung,

Fig. 2b

das in Fig. 2a dargestellte Verschlusselement in einer zweiten Betriebsstellung,

Fig. 2c

ein weiteres nicht beanspruchtes Verschlussele- ment in einer Prinzipdarstellung,

Fig. 3a

in einer Schnittdarstellung eine weitere Aus- führungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verschluss- elementes in einer ersten Betriebsstellung,

Fig. 3b

das in Fig. 3a gezeigte Verschlusselement in einer zweiten Betriebsstellung,

Fig. 4

eine zu dem in den Figuren 3a und 3b gezeigten Verschlusselement abgewandelte Ausführungsform,

Fig. 5

eine dritte Ausführungsform des Verschlusselementes in einer Schnittdar- stellung,

Fig. 6a

eine vierte Ausführungsform des Verschlusselementes in einer Schnittdar- stellung in einer zweiten Betriebsstellung und

Fig. 6b

das in Fig. 6a dargestellte Verschlusselement in einer Situation zeigt, bei der das Ver- schlusselement von der Öffnung weggeklappt ist.

The invention will be elucidated below with reference to the accompanying drawings by describing some embodiments and further advantageous features

FIGS. 1a, b

the basic structure of a beverage can in a page presentation,

Fig. 2a

in a schematic representation of an unclaimed closure element in a first operating position,

Fig. 2b

this in Fig. 2a illustrated closure element in a second operating position,

Fig. 2c

another unclaimed closure element in a schematic representation,

Fig. 3a

3 shows a sectional view of a further embodiment of the closure element according to the invention in a first operating position,

Fig. 3b

this in Fig. 3a shown closure element in a second operating position,

Fig. 4

one to which in the FIGS. 3a and 3b shown closure element modified embodiment,

Fig. 5

A third embodiment of the closure element in a sectional view,

Fig. 6a

a fourth embodiment of the closure element in a sectional view in a second operating position and

Fig. 6b

this in Fig. 6a shown closure element in a situation in which the closure element is folded away from the opening.

The invention will be described below using the example of various designs of a closure element for a beverage can. Such a beverage can is in the FIGS. 1a , b shown in a schematic diagram. This includes a cylindrical Container body 10, which is composed of a bottom and a lateral surface. The container body 10 has an opening 20 with a diameter D1. For closing this primary opening, a primary closure in the form of a plate-shaped mirror 30 is provided, which itself has an opening 40. The mirror 30 and the container body 10 are connected to each other by means of a circumferential fold 31 liquid and gas-tight. The opening of the mirror 40 with the circular diameter D2 is now reversibly closed with a closure element 105 constructed according to the invention. In the described embodiment, the container body 10 and the mirror 30 are made of a metal sheet.

For ease of understanding, the structure of an embodiment of a closure member with respect to FIGS. 2a to c explained on the basis of the schematic diagrams given there. Evident is the primary opening closing mirror 30, wherein the mirror opening facing edge portions are designed in a Spiegelanrollung 32. For this purpose, the material properties of the mirror plate are adjusted so that such a curl 32 can be generated without breaking the material. The closure element 105 according to the invention is now inserted into the mirror opening in a first operating position. The closure element has in the in Fig. 2a shown in a pot-like shape with a bottom portion 110 and a wall portion 120, which merges at the end in a curved portion 130 which abuts the Spiegelanrollung 32. The closure element 105 is like the Anrollung 32 shown in section constructed rotationally symmetrical, ie the curl 32 forms a fully circumferential around the mirror opening extending attachment for the cup-shaped closure element 105. The corresponding dome-shaped bottom 110 has a concave curved surface with a radius r to the container interior on. The closure element extends axially into the mirror opening, inasmuch as the closure element has an areal extent in this area a diameter d1, which is ≤ the mirror opening diameter D2, see FIG. 1 , The closure element 105 is made of elastic polyethylene.

The process of adjusting the sealing operating position of the closure device shows Fig. 2b , For this purpose, in the direction of the arrow shown, a force F, which here extends axially to the mirror opening, applied. Under the influence of this force F, the deflection of the bottom portion 110 is always lower and disappears in the in Fig. 2b extreme case shown completely. As explained, the material of the closure element 105 is stretchable, insofar spreads the cup or pot in the bottom area to a diameter d2, which is greater than the diameter D2 of the mirror opening. In this respect, the closure element 105 undercuts the mirror 30 in its opening 40 in this operating position, see Fig. 1b , The wall section 120 of the closure element curves through the spread and conforms with the cover sealing surface 122 against the mirror sealing surface 33. Both sealing surfaces cooperate to liquid and gas-tight sealing of the mirror opening. If the container to be sealed is subjected to internal pressure, this leads to the pressing of the closure element 105 against the mirror 30, ie the closure is self-sealing.

If the externally acting force F is removed, the closure element 105 is automatically due to the elastic forces in the material of the sealing, in Fig. 2b shown operating position again in the in Fig. 2a shown non-sealing operating position recycled. This function can be provided as long as the deformation of the material remains within a range in which the material is elastic.

Fig. 2c shows in a schematic representation of another embodiment of a closure element, similar to that in the FIGS. 2a and b shown is constructed. insofar will be discussed below mainly on the differences. The closure element in turn has a pot-like cover 105, which is shown here in the non-sealing operating position. With respect to that Fig. 2b support described spreading of the lid 105, the closure element additionally comprises a guide device such as a guide plate 150 which extends over the radial extent of the lid up to the wall portion 120 and rests on the lid. The guide disc 150 has radially outwardly a slightly inclined to the axis of the opening extending contact surface 151, which cooperates with ribs 125 on the inner wall 120 of the lid 105. The ribs extend circumferentially slightly inclined to the axis of the wall portion 120 and are integrally formed therewith. The guide disk 150 is made of a dimensionally stable plastic such as a thermosetting plastic.

The outer force for adjusting the sealing operating position of the lid acts in this embodiment on the guide plate 150 on the cover 105. Since the contact surface 151 is formed parallel to the surface of the ribs 125 at a slight angle to the axis and the guide disc axially by the occurrence of external force F is moved, supports the system of guide plate and ribs 125, the spreading of the lid in the region of its bottom 110 (see Fig. 2b ). The guide means 150 also serves in the sealing operating position of the lid to prevent buckling of the lid due to a high internal pressure, which could otherwise result in leakage of the lid.

In the FIGS. 3a, 3b Another embodiment of a closure member is shown with an exemplary eccentric lever for applying the force to bend the lid in the sealing operating position. How to recognize that is in the FIGS. 3a, 3b illustrated closure element with regard to the guide device 250 and the lid 205 very similar or equal to the in Fig. 2c constructed closure element. First let's look at the illustration in Fig. 3a Referenced, showing the closure element in the non-sealing operating position. This comprises as essential components the cup-shaped cover 205, the guide plate 250 and a depending on the pivot position on the guide plate 250 acting eccentric lever 260th

In the in Fig. 3a shown operating position of the lid 205 surrounds this with a curved portion 230, the Spiegelanrollung 32. At the curved portion in turn is followed by a wall portion 220 in the form of an approximately cylindrical lateral surface. The wall portion has a tapered portion 223 and merges downwardly towards the lid bottom 210 into integrally formed ribs 225. The bottom section is in the in Fig. 3a shown non-sealing operating position substantially horizontally. A thickening in the middle area serves to support the guide device 250, which is disc-shaped and in the peripheral region has a radially outwardly extending flange 252 which cooperates with a contact surface 251 on the ribs 225 of the lid 205. Integrally formed on the curved portion 230 of the pot is a fastening strip 270 which extends on the outer surface of the mirror 30 parallel thereto and is glued thereto. The purpose of such a fastening strip is explained in detail below. The eccentric lever 260, which in Fig. 3a is shown in a pivoting position in which it exerts no force on the guide plate 250 and the bottom portion 210 of the lid 205 is attached with its lever axis 263 to a circular tab 264, which in turn is supported on the wall portion 220 of the lid 205. The eccentric lever 260 has a handle portion 261 and a cam head 262 formed asymmetrically with respect to the lever axis 263.

Fig. 3b now shows the in Fig. 3a shown arrangement with folded eccentric lever 260, so that the lid is transferred to its sealing operating position. As can be seen, increases when swinging the eccentric lever 260 in the in Fig. 3b shown pivot position, the force on the guide plate 250 and the cover 205 more and more, until the in Fig. 3b situation is reached, in which the peripheral region with maximum radial extent of the cam head comes to rest on the guide plate 250. Insofar go guide plate 250 and the wall portion 220 and the bottom portion 210 of the lid 205 continuously in the in Fig. 3b illustrated designs or layers over. In this case, the flange-like extension 252 moves downwards on the rib 225 of the cover and presses this area outwards, so that the cover is spread open in the lower wall area or in the floor area. Due to the axial force on the bottom of the lid this is also pressed down. The axial elongation occurs essentially in the tapered region 223, in that respect it can be avoided that the curved portion 230 of the lid gets out of engagement with the curl due to the axial force. The cover 205 then undercuts the mirror 30 in the wall region 220, so that the corresponding sealing surfaces 33 come to rest on the mirror and 222 on the cover. The guide disk is like the mounting tabs 264 made of a plastic compared to the cover 205 harder to ensure the necessary dimensional stability. In the described embodiment, the eccentric lever 260 is also made of the same material as the attachment tabs 264.

In the Fig. 3b shown sealing closure position can be by simply moving the lever 260 in the in Fig. 3a shown pivot position can be adjusted. In this operating position, the closure device can be easily removed from the container opening. For this purpose, the overlapping portion 230 of the lid is disengaged from the Spiegelanrollung. Since the lid is made of a soft elastic plastic is no great effort required for this.

Fig. 4 shows a variant of the invention in the FIGS. 3a and b shown trained closure element, which offers the possibility to perform a pressure equalization during the opening or closing of the container. For this purpose, the cover 205 has a vent hole 211, which corresponds to a corresponding vent hole 253 in the guide plate 250, so that ultimately a guided from the inside of the container to the outside ventilation duct is realized. In the in Fig. 4 shown pivot position of the lever 260, which corresponds to the sealing operating position of the closure, this ventilation duct is covered by the peripheral region of the cam head 262, so that this acting as a closure surface 266 peripheral region closes the ventilation duct. As shown in section in the figure, the cam head in the region of its peripheral surface on a groove which corresponds to the ventilation duct, when the lever of the in Fig. 4 shown closure position is pivoted into the open position.

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of a closure element. In contrast to the one shown so far, the closure element is not fastened to a curl of the mirror of the beverage can but to an annular insert 50 which has a circumferential flange 51 on which a peripheral bead 52 extends in the direction of approximately 90 ° to the flange surface, in which the closure element 205 engages. The curl of the mirror used in the previous embodiments is here replaced by the bead on the insert 50. This insert is glued in the overlapping area with the mirror 30. It goes without saying that this bonding can also be carried out on the outside of the mirror. Since the further construction of the in Fig. 5 The closure element shown hardly differs from the preceding, no further explanation is required Fig. 5 ,

In the Figures 6a and 6b a further embodiment of a closure element is shown, which has two special features, which will be discussed below. Fig. 6a shows the closure element in the sealing position of the lid. In the curved portion 230 of the lid 205, a retaining clip 231 is arranged on the outer circumference, which is formed corresponding to a Spiegelfalz. Both this retaining clip 231 and the fastening strip 270 already described above are formed integrally with the cover 205. After the pivoting of the lever is as described above, the closure element in a non-sealing operating position. In this operating position, the curved portion 230 of the lid 205 can now be brought out of engagement with the curl 32, see Fig. 6b , The fastening strip 270 is glued to the mirror 30 only at its radially outer end, in that respect the closure element 205 can be pivoted as a whole and fastened by means of the retaining clip 231 to the fold of the mirror 30. This process is reversible, ie after the release of the retaining clip 231 at the fold and the pivoting of the closure element 200 on the opening, the engagement of the curl 32 with the curved portion 230 of the lid, the lever for adjusting the operating position can be swung back at which the container is sealed liquid and gas tight.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

container body

20

fuselage opening

30

Mirror (panel)

31

fold

32

Spiegelanrollung

33

Mirror sealing surface

40

mirror opening

50

commitment

51

flange

52

bead

105

Closure element, cover

110

bottom section

120

wall section

122

Lid sealing surface

125

ribs

130

curved section

150

guide disc

151

contact surface

200

closure device

205

cover

210

bottom section

211

vent

220

wall section

222

Lid sealing surface

223

rejuvenating wall section

225

rib

230

curved section

231

clip

250

guide disc

251

contact surface

252

flange-like extension

253

vent

260

Cam lever

261

handle part

262

cam head

263

lever axis

264

fastening tabs

265

groove

266

closure surface

270

fastener strips

d1, d2

Bottom diameter of the lid

D1, D2

Opening diameter

r

radius

F

force vector

Claims (26)

1. Closure device (200) for reversibly closing an opening (40) on a container, said closure device comprising

   - a deformable, expansible and two-dimensionally extending lid (105, 205) that can be moved to at least two operating positions, said lid in a first operating position being oriented to the opening of the container and in a second operating position undercutting with a circumferential rim part said opening of the container over its entire circumference, so that the undercutting part at the lid and the undercut part at the container form complementary sealing surfaces (122, 222; 33) for closing the opening in a gas and fluid-tight fashion; and

   - an operable means (260) for applying a force (F) on the lid in order to deform the lid in such a manner that the lid is deformable from one of the two operating positions to the other, characterized by a means for ventilating the container, said means comprising a ventilation passage that can be closed by a valve device, said valve device being operatively connected with the operable means (260) in order to apply a force to the lid.
2. Closure device (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid (105, 205) in its first operating position axially extends into the opening (40), at least in sections.
3. Closure device (200) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lid (105, 205) at the transfer between the two operating positions performs a bending deformation without canting or axial displacement with respect to the opening of the container.
4. Closure device (200) according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lid (105, 205) in its first operating position is free of forces.
5. Closure device (200) according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, starting from a first operating position of the lid, an elastic bending deformation is caused on the lid (105, 205) by applying an external force to the lid, for adjusting a second stationary operating position of the lid.
6. Closure device (200) according to claim 5, characterized in that upon releasing said external force applied to the lid (105, 205) said elastic deformation of the lid leads causes the lid to be restored to its first operating position.
7. Closure device (200) according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that for maintaining the second operating position of the lid, said force-applying means acts permanently on the lid (05, 205).
8. Closure device (200) according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that for designing the opening (40) the rim of the container has an outwardly extended circumferential curled collar (32) or a cylindrical circumferential bead.
9. Closure device (200) according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the lid in its first operating position is pot-like and includes a bottom section (110) and a wall section (120) arranged approximately normal to the opening of the container.
10. Closure device (200) according to claim 9, characterized in that the bottom section (110) in the first operating position of the lid is concavely shaped toward the interior of the container.
11. Closure device (200) according to claim 8, 9 and 10, characterized in that the wall section (120) of the lid at the end remote from the bottom section of the lid merges into a curved section (130) that contacts the curled collar (32) or bead on the opening of the container.
12. Closure device (200) according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized by a guide disc (150, 250) that rests on the lid on its side directed away from the container, the guide disc cooperating with the lid (105,205).
13. Closure device (200) according to one of the claims 7 to 12, characterized by guide elements on the lid (105, 205), particularly in the transition area between wall section and bottom section, which guide elements cooperated with contact surfaces (151, 251) on the guide disc, to assist in the lid being spread open.
14. Closure device (200) according to claim 13, characterized in that the guide elements comprise ribs (225) that extend axially with respect to the opening and that are circumferentially spaced on the lid.
15. Closure device (200) according to one of the claims 1 to 14, characterized in that force-applying means includes as an actuating element a pivoting lever having a grip portion (261) and a cam head (262), which exerts a force on the lid independently of the pivoting position of the lever.
16. Closure device (200) according to claim 15, characterized in that the force-applying means produces a force substantially in the direction normal to the opening (40), said force being transmitted to the lid (105, 205) via the said guide disc (150, 250).
17. Closure device (200) according to one of the claims 1 to 16, characterized by fixing means (270) by which the closure device (200) is fixed to the container in a captive manner and independently of the operating position of the lid (205).
18. Closure device (200) according to one of the claims 1 and 15, characterized in that the cam head (262) includes a groove (265) that corresponds to the ventilation passage, in dependence of the pivoting position of the lever (260).
19. Container having an opening (40) for cooperating with a closure device (200) according to one of the claims 1 to 18.
20. Container according to claim 19, characterized by a container body (10) with a primary opening (20) that is closed by a primary closure, which in turn includes an opening (40) that can be closed by the closure device (105, 205) in a gas and fluid-tight manner.
21. Container according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the primary closure is designed as a mirror (panel) (30) which is connected to the container body (10) by folding, bonding or soldering, an inwardly positioned section of the mirror (30) which extends circumferentially around the opening forming a sealing surface (33) for the overlapping part of the lid.
22. Container according to one of the claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the mirror (30) includes around its opening (40) a circumferentially extending curled collar (40) that can be engaged with the closure device.
23. Container according to one of the claims 19 to 22, characterized in that the closure device (200) is connected to the container in a captive manner and independently of the operating position of the lid (205).
24. Process of reversibly closing an opening (40) on a container with a closure device (200) that comprises a deformable and two-dimensionally extending lid (105, 205), said process comprising the steps:

    - orienting the lid with respect to the opening of the container,

    - deforming the lid in such a manner that the lid with a circumferential rim part undercuts the container opening over the full circumference thereof so that the undercutting part on the lid and the undercut part on the container form complementary sealing surfaces (122, 222; 33) for closing the opening in gas and fluid-tight manner, wherein for opening the container an operating element is operated for applying a force on the lid, characterized in that the operating element is operatively connected to a valve device so that with the operation of said operating element said container is ventilated.
25. Process according to claim 24, characterized in that a force is applied which deforms the lid (105, 205) in order to bring the lid form a first operating situation to a different operating situation.
26. Process according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that after orienting the lid with respect to the opening of the container said lid (105, 250) is subject to a bending deformation without canting or axial displacement with respect to the container opening.

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