EP2897878A1

EP2897878A1 - Lid of a container

Info

Publication number: EP2897878A1
Application number: EP13763041.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christian Bratsch; Marc VON RETTBERG
Original assignee: Xolution GmbH
Current assignee: Xolution GmbH
Priority date: 2012-09-20
Filing date: 2013-09-13
Publication date: 2015-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2033-09-13
Also published as: ES2604782T3; EP2711307B1; US20150216340A1; CN103946122B; EP2897878B1; CA2883693C; ES2594875T3; PL2897878T3; US10213033B2; CN103946122A; EP2711307A1; WO2014044606A1; CA2883693A1; PL2711307T3

Abstract

The invention relates to the lid (100) of a container, in particular a beverage can, comprising at least one pour opening (103) which passes through the lid surface (101) and which can be reclosed by means of at least one closure element (120). The at least one closure element (120) can be moved from a closed position, in which the at least one pour opening (103) is closed, into an open position, in which the pour opening (103) is at least partly exposed, by means of an actuating element. At least one flat sealing element (130) is arranged between the lid surface (101) and the closure element (120), and at least one sealing region is arranged on the closure element (120), wherein the sealing region interacts with the at least one flat sealing element (130) when the pour opening (103) is closed, said at least one sealing region being designed as a sealing edge (121).

Description

COVER OF A CONTAINER

The invention relates to the lid of a container, in particular a beverage can, with at least one lid opening penetrating spout which is reclosable via at least one closure element, wherein the at least one closure element via an actuating element from a closed position in which the at least one pouring opening is closed , in an open position, wherein the pouring opening is at least partially exposed, is movable.

Containers of the type described above are produced, for example, as resealable beverage cans. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of such cans, a pouring opening is provided in the lid mirror, which, like the rest of the metal can, is usually made of aluminum or tinplate. This opening is closed by a closure element. This closure element is moved by an actuating element, for example by means of a flap or a (rotary) slide from a closed position to an open position, whereby the pouring opening is exposed for emptying the can and is closed again after the first opening.

An essential requirement for resealable beverage cans is their tightness even after repeated opening and closing of the pouring opening. Thus, for example, the AT 507 950 A1 and the AT 505,756 B1 of the Applicant can be taken from a closure element, which is made of plastic and has a ring-encircling gas and liquid-tight seal. However, such a closure element is expensive to manufacture because of its two-component construction (two different plastics - a bearing, hard component and a soft, sealing component in a single injection-molded component combined). In addition, this technology allows only limited design options of the closure part, because this particular requirements of the plastic injection molding process with respect to parting planes, sprue positions, wall thickness ratios, etc. must be followed. It would be cheaper to realize the sealing function not by a two-component structure, but by means of a more readily available and thus more economical flat sealing component of industrially established standard production processes or semi-finished products.

WO 201 1/124552 A1 discloses a container closure device in which a seal is arranged between a cover and a closure part. The contacting of Closure part and seal is flat. The disadvantage here is that high contact forces are necessary to securely seal the container.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a lid for a resealable container, which ensures a gas- and liquid-tight closure of the pouring even with repeated resealing and prolonged storage of the container and at the same time is inexpensive and easier to manufacture.

This object is achieved by a cover of the type mentioned in that at least one planar sealing element is disposed between the cover mirror and closure element, and at least one sealing region is provided on the closure element, which cooperates with the at least one flat sealing element when closing the pouring opening. Flat sealing elements, so-called "liners" are known, for example, from caps made of bottles. These are substantially flexible films that prevent the escape of liquid and / or gas, especially carbon dioxide from the bottle. The at least one sealing region is designed according to the invention as a sealing edge. As a result, the pressure exerted by the sealing area when sealing on the planar sealing element compared to the prior art due to the reduced contact surface increases, so that the sealing edge pushes into the planar sealing element and thus an improved sealing effect is achieved with lower forces.

In the present invention, at least one sealing area, in particular a sealing edge is preferably provided on the closure element, which is pressed in the closed position of the closure element to the flat sealing element, and in this way seals the pouring opening and prevents leakage of the contents of the beverage can.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one closure element and the flat sealing element are arranged on the underside of the lid mirror, wherein the at least one closure element cooperates with the flat sealing element when closing the pouring opening, and particularly preferably the at least one sealing region on the underside of the lid Lid mirror facing surface of the closure element is arranged.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the closure element is pivotable from the open position to the closed position and from the closed position to the open position. Due to the pivoting movement, the at least one sealing region, in particular, at least one sealing edge is pressed substantially normal against the flat sealing element when the closure element is moved in the closed position, so that a precisely defined sealing of the pouring opening is obtained.

In order to achieve a sufficient tightness of the re-sealed beverage can even when filled with carbonated beverages, encloses in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one sealing area the at least one pouring opening wholly when the closure element is in the closed position. In this case, the sealing region extends at a distance from the edges of the pouring opening, which is elliptical, for example. In a preferred embodiment, the sealing region, in particular a sealing edge, can have a uniform (substantially constant) distance from the edge of the pouring opening, if appropriate also in the case of further openings. Since the at least one sealing region is pressed against the surface of the planar sealing element when the closure element is in the closed position, the sealing element must be made of an at least partially elastic material. Particularly preferably, it is provided that the flat sealing element is designed as a film, in particular as a foam film or rubber film.

In a particularly simple variant of the invention, the planar sealing element completely covers the underside of the cover, wherein only the region of the pouring opening and possibly openings for the arrangement of an actuating element remain uncovered.

Alternatively, in a further embodiment of the invention, the flat film is smaller than the surface of the lid and thus covers its underside only partially, but the pouring opening is in turn completely surrounded by the flat sealing element.

In the production of the lid according to the invention is particularly preferably provided that the flat sealing element is applied by means of insertion, gluing, printing or casting on the underside of the lid of the container. Furthermore, the flat sealing element can be applied by compression molding on the underside of the lid, wherein the material of the flat sealing element preferably comprises a thermoplastic elastomer. The thickness of the planar sealing element may be in the range of 0.1 mm to 2 mm, preferably from 0.2 mm to 1 mm. In a further variant of the invention, the planar sealing element covers the cover mirror virtually entirely, but is not fixed to the cover over the entire surface, but only in small, spaced-apart areas.

A particularly cost-effective production of the lid according to the invention is given when the closure means and / or the actuator are made of plastic, wherein the production is simple and inexpensive by means of injection molding in large quantities.

In one development of the invention, the cover mirror may have a ventilation opening and the closure element may be provided with a passage opening aligned with the ventilation opening, wherein the ventilation opening and / or the passage opening can be closed and opened fluid-tight with a pin.

In a preferred, optional embodiment, the pin tapers conically in the direction of the ventilation opening. Thus, the ventilation opening or the passage opening can be sealed tight by pushing the pin.

The pin may be part of the actuating element or provided separately, for example as part of a pivotable tab.

The passage opening may comprise a sealing ring, in particular a hose section or an O-ring, for fluid-tight closing of the ventilation opening and / or the passage opening with the pin.

Alternatively or additionally, the pin may have on its outer side a sealing ring for fluid-tight closing of the ventilation opening and / or the passage opening with the pin, wherein the sealing ring preferably comprises a hose portion or an O-ring.

According to a development, the passage opening can have a holding region, in particular a rivet head, which prevents slipping out of the sealing ring; and / or the pin may have a holding region, in particular a rivet head, which prevents the sealing ring from slipping off. The lid according to the invention or one of its developments can be further developed such that the lid mirror may further comprise an actuator opening, wherein the flat sealing element is preferably formed integrally, and wherein the flat sealing element can surround both the pouring and the actuator opening and the pouring opening and the Actuator can be uncovered, and in the presence of a ventilation opening and the ventilation opening can be uncovered.

According to another embodiment, the sealing edge may be formed as part of the closure element (120), in particular, the sealing edge may be integrally formed with the closure element.

The sealing edge may have in cross-section a V-shape, a V-shape with a flattened tip, a V-shape with a rounded tip, a rounded shape, in particular a semicircular shape, or a rectangular shape. These shapes are advantageous in that the sealing edge pushes well into the planar sealing element when the closure element is moved to the closed position, whereby an effective seal is achieved, which is particularly relevant for carbonated drinks, for example.

The dimensioning of the sealing edge is preferably such that a maximum height of the sealing edge is in the range of 0.2 mm to 1 mm and / or a maximum width of the sealing edge in the range of 0.3 mm to 1 mm and / or in the case of V-shaped sealing edge, the V-shape has an angle of 30 ° to 120 ° and / or in the case of a V-shape with a flattened tip, the width of the flat area in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm and / or In the case of a V-shape with a rounded tip, the radius of curvature of the rounded tip is in the range of 0.05mm to 0.3mm; and / or wherein the sealing edge is pressed in the closed position by 0.1 mm to 1 mm in the flat sealing element.

If the cover mirror has an actuating element opening, in each case a sealing edge can be provided for the pouring opening and for the actuating element opening, which encloses and seals the respective opening in the closed position. Alternatively, both openings may be enclosed by a sealing edge.

According to another embodiment, the flat sealing element may additionally have a thickening on a peripheral edge of the planar sealing element, which is formed integrally with the flat sealing element, and with which an edge region of the lid opposite the container is sealed. The thickness / height of the planar sealing element can be in the range of 0.1 mm to 2 mm, the thickening being a height in the range of a factor of 1, 1 to 5 of the thickness of the flat area, ie the thickening by 10% to 400 % is higher.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to non-limiting exemplary embodiments with associated figures. Show in it

1 is a plan view of the lid according to the invention in a first embodiment,

Fig. 2a is a sectional view of the lid of Fig. 1 in the closed position of

Closure element,

2b is a sectional view of the lid of FIG. 1 in the open position of

Closure element,

3 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the lid according to the invention,

4a, b, c, a schematic representation of a pin according to the invention for sealing a ventilation opening, and

Fig. 5a, b a sealed opening in the closure member for receiving a pin.

Fig. 6a, b, c, d illustrates various embodiments of the sealing edge according to the invention.

Fig. 7a, b illustrates a flat sealing element with a bead at its edge.

In FIG. 1, a lid 100 according to the invention is shown in a view from above, with a lid mirror 101 and an edge region 102, wherein a pouring opening 103 is provided which allows emptying of the container (not shown) provided with the lid 100 according to the invention. Furthermore, in this embodiment, an opening 104 for the attachment of an actuating element is arranged substantially in the center of the lid mirror, with the aid of the exposure of the pouring opening 103 is carried out. On the underside of the lid mirror 101 is a flat sealing element acting liner 130 is arranged, whose edges are shown in dashed lines. As a liner 130, for example, an elastic film, a foam sheet or a multilayer film can be used. Alternatively, the liner 130 can be made by a molding process, such as injection molding or injection-compression molding. Another possibility is that the liner 130 is printed. Another embodiment is that the liner is provided as an insert, which is introduced into the lid. In this case, for example, a circumferential bead may be provided on the inner edge of the lid, which prevents the liner from falling out.

2a and 2b, the cover 100 is shown in each case in a sectional view, wherein in Fig. 2a, a closure element 120, which is arranged on the underside of the lid mirror 101, the pouring opening 103 closes. On the underside of the lid mirror 101, the planar sealing element 130 is arranged, wherein the region of the pouring opening 103 is recessed.

If now the pouring opening 103 is exposed by pivoting the closure element 120 into the interior of the container, as shown in Fig. 2b, the contents of the container can be removed via the pouring opening 103. The pivoting of the closure element 120 by means of an actuating element is described for example in the Applicant's AT 505.756 B1. When resealing the pouring opening 103, the closure element 120 is in turn pivoted into the closed position shown in FIG. 2a, wherein a sealing edge 121 is pressed on the underside of the lid facing surface of the closure member 120 in the flat sealing element 130 to obtain the required tightness ,

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, the flat sealing element 130 is arranged as a punched part in the region of pouring opening 103 and opening 104 for the confirmation element, as indicated in Fig. 1 by dashed lines, while the remaining areas at the bottom of the Cover mirror 101 remain uncovered by the flat sealing element 130.

In the embodiment of the lid 100 according to the invention shown in Fig. 3, however, the flat sealing member 130 covers the underside of the lid mirror 101 virtually entirely, only the pouring opening 103 and the opening 104 for the actuating element are free. In addition, a ventilation opening 105 is provided in the lid 101 above the pressure equalization between the inner and outer space of a container provided with the lid can take place before opening the pouring opening 103.

4 shows embodiments according to the invention of a pin 106 for closing the ventilation opening 105 in the cover mirror. This pin 106 may be part of the actuating element for actuating the closure element according to FIG. 2, for example. In Fig. 4a, an elastic sealing ring 107 is provided on the pin 106 which, in cooperation with the ventilation opening or a complementary passage opening in the closure element, can close the ventilation opening or the passage opening in a fluid-tight manner, ie tight for liquid and gas. The sealing ring may for example be a suitably cut tube section made of rubber or an O-ring made of elastic material. In Fig. 4b, a rivet head 108 is provided at the end of the pin 106 to prevent slipping of the sealing ring, in particular when opening the ventilation opening. In Fig. 4c, the pin 106 is conical, namely tapering towards the ventilation opening facing the end of the pin.

Fig. 5 shows a sealed passage opening 109 in the closure member 120 for receiving a pin. Here, a tight closure of the ventilation opening is achieved by the provision of a sealing ring 107 in the passage opening 109 of the closure element, wherein the passage opening 109 is aligned with the ventilation opening. By cooperating with a complementary pin (for example, with the pin 106 shown in Fig. 4), the passage opening 109 and the ventilation opening can be closed in a fluid-tight manner. In Fig. 5a, the sealing ring 107 (again preferably a tube portion or an O-ring) is inserted only in the opening 109. In Fig. 5b, a rivet head 108 is further provided for securing the ring against slipping on the closure element.

Fig. 6 illustrates various embodiments of the sealing edge of Fig. 2, wherein the sealing edge is integrally / integrally formed with the closure element. Fig. 6a shows a V-shaped sealing edge. Fig. 6b shows a V-shaped sealing edge with a flattened tip. Fig. 6c shows a V-shaped sealing edge with a rounded tip. Fig. 6d shows a semicircular sealing edge. The material of which the sealing edge is made harder than the material of which the flat sealing element (eg thermoplastic elastomer) is made, so that the sealing edge can press into the flat sealing element for sealing. The dimensioning of the sealing edge in these embodiments is such that a maximum height A of the sealing edge is in the range of 0.2 mm to 1 mm and / or a maximum width B of the sealing edge is in the range of 0.3 mm to 1 mm and / or in the case of a V-shaped sealing edge, the V-shape has an angle α of 30 ° to 120 ° and / or in the case of a V-shape with a flattened tip, the width C of the flat in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm and / or in the case of a V-shape with a rounded tip the radius of curvature R of the rounded tip is in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm. In this way, the sealing edge can be pressed in the closed position of the closure element by about 0.1 mm to 1 mm in the flat sealing element.

7 illustrates a planar sealing element 730, which additionally has a thickening (a bead) 731 on a peripheral edge, which is formed integrally with the flat sealing element and with which an edge region (102) of the cover is sealed against a container / beverage can , In this embodiment, the flat sealing element is annular. In the illustrated embodiment, the flat sealing element is attached from below to the lid mirror 101. The thickening / bead protrudes beyond the edge of the closure element when in contact with the flat area of the sealing element and additionally seals the edge of the closure element. The thickness / height H1 of the sheet-like sealing member may be in the range of 0.1 mm to 2 mm, wherein the thickening is a height H2 in the range of a factor of 1, 1 to 5 of the thickness of the flat portion, ie, 10% to 400 % is larger.

It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. In particular, further openings, such as ventilation openings may be provided in the lid, which are also sealed by the interaction of sealing edge of the closure element with the flat sealing element against leakage of the contents of the beverage can. Likewise, it can be provided that the pouring opening and / or ventilation opening is not sealed via a single sealing edge, but over a plurality of mutually parallel sealing edges. Finally, the closure element shown in the figures should not be considered as restrictive, it may not be pivotable substantially parallel to the lid mirror, for example, along an axis to move from a closed position to an open position and back again to become. Also, the sealing area can be realized differently on the closure element, in particular it can be formed as a raised area with a wide variety of cross-sectional geometries.

Claims

1 . Lid (100) of a container, in particular a beverage can with a lid mirror (101) and at least one pouring opening (103) which penetrates the lid mirror (101),

which can be reclosed via at least one closure element (120),

wherein the at least one closure element (120) via an actuating element (1 10) in a closed position in which the at least one pouring opening (103) is closed, and in an open position, wherein the pouring opening (103) at least partially exposed is, is movable,

wherein between cover mirror (101) and closure element (120) at least one planar sealing element (130) is arranged,

and at least one sealing region is provided on the closure element (120) which cooperates with the at least one planar sealing element (130) in the closed position of the closure element (120),

wherein the at least one sealing region is designed as a sealing edge (121).

2. Lid (100) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one closure element (120) and the flat sealing element (130) on the underside of the lid mirror (101) are arranged.

3. lid (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one sealing area on the underside of the lid (100) facing surface of the closure element (120) is arranged.

4. Lid (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the closure element (120) from the open position to the closed position and from the closed position to the open position is pivotable.

5. Lid (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one sealing area in the closed position of the closure element (120) enclosing the at least one pouring opening (103) entirely.

6. Lid (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the flat sealing element (130) is designed as a film, in particular as a foam film or rubber film, the Underside of the lid mirror (101) at least partially covered, wherein the material of the film preferably comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

7. Lid (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flat sealing element (130) by means of compression molding, gluing, printing or casting on the underside of the lid mirror (101) is applied.

8. Lid (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the closure element (120) and / or the actuating element (1 10) are made of plastic.

9. Lid (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cover mirror (101) has a ventilation opening (105) and the closure element (120) is provided with a with the ventilation opening (105) aligned passage opening (109) Ventilation opening and / or the passage opening with a pin (106) can be closed and opened fluid-tight.

10. Lid (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the lid mirror (101) further comprises an actuating element opening (104), wherein the flat sealing element is preferably formed integrally, and wherein the flat sealing element both the pouring opening (103) and the actuating element opening (104) encloses and the pouring opening and the actuator opening is uncovered, and in combination with claim 9, the ventilation opening is uncovered.

1 1. Lid (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the sealing edge (121) is formed as part of the closure element (120), in particular integrally formed with the closure element.

12. Lid (100) according to one of claims 1 to 1 1, wherein the sealing edge (121) in cross-section a V-shape, a V-shape with a flattened tip, a V-shape with rounded tip, a rounded shape, in particular a Semicircular shape, or has a rectangular shape.

13. Lid (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a maximum height (A) of the sealing edge in the range of 0.2 mm to 1 mm and / or a maximum width (B) of the sealing edge in the range of 0, 3 mm to 1 mm and / or in the case of a V-shaped sealing edge, the V-shape has an angle (a) of 30 ° to 120 ° and / or in the case of a V-shape with a flattened tip, the width of the flat (C ) in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm and / or in the case of a V-shape with a rounded tip, the radius of curvature of the rounded tip is in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm; and / or wherein the sealing edge is pressed in the closed position by 0.1 mm to 1 mm in the flat sealing element.

14. Lid (100) according to one of claims 1 to 13 in combination with claim 10, wherein in each case a sealing edge is provided for the pouring opening and for the actuating element opening, which encloses the respective opening in the closed position and seals.

15. Lid (100) according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the flat sealing element on a peripheral edge has a thickening with which an edge region (102) of the lid is sealed against the container.