FR2675467A1 - Partially opening lid for metal can - Google Patents

Abstract

The partially opening lid (2) according to the invention comprises a fixed section (6) in which an opening panel (8) is delimited by a line of weakness (10), a connecting zone (12) however remaining between the fixed section (6) and the opening panel (8), and an actuating device (14) of the opening panel, this actuating device (14) forming a lever and comprising an intermediate section (26) of fixing to the lid, a first end (16) forming a grasping element and a second end (18) forming a surface bearing on the opening panel. The opening panel (8) comprises two folding lines such that it can be received in a housing (28) of the fixed section (6) of the lid, and the actuating device comprises a device (30) for attachment to the edge of the can after opening.

Description

 The invention relates to a partially open lid for a metal or composite box.

 Such covers, especially when used for the manufacture of cans containing a drink, are crimped with the edge of the open end of a cylindrical can body.

 They generally have a fixed part and an opening panel delimited by a line of least resistance. An actuator makes it possible to break the connection between the opening panel and the fixed part of the cover so as to obtain a partial opening allowing the drink to be extracted from the box.

 In a first known type of cover with partial opening, the line of least resistance is a closed curve and the actuating member is fixed to the opening panel. When this first type of cover is opened, the opening panel and the actuating member are entirely separated from the fixed part of the cover.

 In general, this results in the user dropping or throwing the panel-actuator assembly onto the ground, which is a drawback for the environment, given the large number of boxes of this type used each Day.

In a second type of cover with partial opening, the line of least resistance is an open curve between the ends of which is provided a connection zone between the opening panel and the fixed part of the cover. The actuating member is then carried by the fixed part of the cover and when opening, the actuating member breaks, by leverage, the connection existing between the panel and the fixed part of the cover along the line of least resistance
This has the effect of tilting the opening panel around the connection zone, towards the inside of the box without any separation of the opening panel and the fixed part of the cover.

 This second type of cover therefore overcomes the drawback mentioned above.

 On the other hand, it turns out that with this second type of lid, by extracting the drink contained in the box, part of it flows along the outer wall of the panel which most often is soiled with dust or other pollutants which are entrained with the drink, which is not recommended from a hygienic point of view.

 To overcome these drawbacks, the object of the invention is to provide a cover with partial opening, the opening panel of which remains integral with the fixed part of the cover after opening, the drink flowing out of the box without contact with the panel. 'opening.

 To this end, the object of the invention is a cover with partial opening for a composite metal box, comprising a fixed part in which an opening panel is delimited by a line of least resistance, a connection zone remaining however between the fixed part and the opening panel and an actuating member of the opening panel, this actuating member forming a lever and comprising an intermediate portion for fixing to the cover, a first end forming a gripping element and a second end forming a surface for support on the opening panel, characterized in that the actuating member is fixed on the opening panel in a part of the latter which is distant from the connection zone which remains between the fixed part of the cover and the opening panel, and in that the opening panel comprises two substantially parallel fold lines, the first of which extends close to the connection zone and the second extends near the attachment zone of the actuating member between the latter and the connection zone, the fold lines extending on either side of a median plane passing through the first and second ends of the actuating member and being substantially perpendicular to said median plane.

According to other characteristics:
- The intermediate part for fixing the actuating member to the opening panel has a tongue extending from a free edge substantially perpendicular to said median plane and fixed on the opening panel, the tongue being connected to the second end of the actuator by a folding zone, the free edge of the tongue being connected to 1 actuator by at least one link of predetermined length, and in that the opening panel comprises a third fold line substantially parallel to the first two fold lines, extending on either side of said median plane and located under the folding region of the actuating member
- the opening panel has a diamond shape whose apex is occupied by the connection zone, the small axis of the diamond constituting the third fold line
- the second fold line consists of a fold forming a relief on the outside of the panel
- the second fold line consists of a thinning of the thickness of the panel
- the second fold line is formed by a part of the line of least resistance decreasing the dimension of the minor axis of the rhombus at each end thereof
- actuating eye is a flat member of elongated shape whose longitudinal axis is located in said median plane, the first end being constituted by a ring, the second end extending longitudinally away from the first end from a straight edge substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and shorter than the width of the opening panel, a connecting arm connecting each end part of the straight edge to a part of the periphery of the remote ring of the longitudinal axis, the actuating member comprising a fixing plate integrally formed with the second end
- The tongue is fixed to the panel between the second and third fold lines, the straight edge of the second end being substantially superimposed on the second fold line of the opening panel; ;
- The second end of the actuator has a triangular shape, the base of which is formed by said straight edge of the second end, the opposite vertex being in abutment on the panel near its end opposite to the connection zone
- at least one link of determined length is disposed between at least one free side of the tongue and at least one of the link arms
- the folding zone of the actuator is formed by a fold in relief towards the inside of the cover
- the actuator attachment zone is fixed to the opening panel by riveting or gluing
- The cover comprises> in its fixed part located opposite the opening panel with respect to the connection zone, a housing adapted to receive said opening panel;
- when the opening panel is received in the housing, a first part of the panel is folded around the connection zone so as to be received against the bottom of the housing, the second part of the panel being folded around the second line of folding so as to be superimposed on the first part of the panel
- A hooking member is arranged on the underside of the actuating member to hang the latter on the edge of the cover after opening.

 The invention also relates to a metal or composite box comprising a cover according to the invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, given by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings in which
- Figure 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a cover according to the invention, the cover being closed, and crimped on a cylindrical box that
- Figure 2 is a partial sectional view along line 2-2 of Figure i
- Figures 3 to 7 are views similar to that of Figure 2 showing different phases of the partial opening of the cover
- Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 showing a second embodiment of a cover according to the invention
- Figures 9 to 14 are partial sectional views along line 9-9 of Figure 8, showing different phases of the partial opening of the cover.

- Figure 15 is a view similar to that of Figure 9 showing a first method of fixing the actuator on the opening panel
- Figure 16 is a view similar to that of Figure 15 showing a second method of fixing the actuator on the opening panel
- Figures 17 to 19 are partial views showing different embodiments of a fold line of the opening panel.

 - Figure 20 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, showing a third embodiment of a cover according to the invention.

 - Figure 21 is a partial sectional view along line 21-21 of Figure 20.

 In Figure 1 there is shown a cover 2 having a circular edge 4 crimped on an edge delimiting the open end of a cylindrical, metallic or composite box.

 The cover 2 comprises a fixed part 6 and an opening panel 8 delimited by a line of least resistance 10 having the general shape of an open diamond, one of the vertices of which is occupied by a connecting zone 12.

 The connection zone 12 extends in a central part of the cover, perpendicular to a median plane X-X and on either side of it.

 As will be described later, the connection zone 12 constitutes a first fold line of the panel.

 An actuating member 14 is fixed to the panel 8 and has a first end constituted by a ring 16 extending on either side of the median plane X-X and above the fixed part of the cover.

 The actuating member 14 has a second end 18 extending from a straight edge 20 substantially perpendicular to the median plane X-X.

 The straight edge 20 is substantially superimposed on the minor axis of the rhombus delimited by the line of least resistance 10.

 The second end 18 has a triangular shape whose apex opposite the straight edge 20 is in abutment on the opening panel near the apex of the rhombus opposite the connecting zone 12.

Two link arms 22 connect each end zone of the edge 20 to a corresponding peripheral part of the ring 16 remote from the median plane X
X.

 The link arms 22 have in vertical section a section with inverted U, and extend to form the edges of the second end 18, their junction forming a spout 24 (see also FIG. 2).

 Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the second end 18 has a fixing plate 26 extending from the edge 20 to the spout 24 between the link arms 22.

 The fixing plate 26 and fixed by a rivet 28 (not shown in FIG. 2) on the opening panel 8.

 The cover comprises, in its fixed part located opposite the opening panel with respect to the connection zone 12, a housing 28 intended to receive, in the closed position, a hooking member 30 arranged on the underside of the actuator 14 (see also Figure 2), and in the open position, the panel 8 as will be described later.

 In Figure 2 there is shown schematically a box 34 having an opening provided with a cover 2 according to the invention whose edge 4 has been crimped with the edge of the opening of the box.

 The cover 2 and the actuating member 14 have been shown in a rest or storage position. In this position, the actuating member 14 is located below the upper edge of the assembly formed by the box 34 and the cover 2.

 In Figure 3 there is shown the box 34, the actuator 14 having been used to initiate the opening.

For the implementation of the actuating member 14, a pulling force was exerted on the ring 16
F1 having an axial component towards the outside of the box.

 Under the effect of this force F1, the actuating member 14 acts as a lever, its end 18 tilting around the edge 20 to break the connection between the opening panel and the fixed part 6 of the cover at the top of the rhombus. opposite to the connection zone 12 and tilt this end of the opening panel 8 towards the inside of the box, around a second fold line of the panel substantially parallel to the connection zone 12, situated on both sides other of axis XX near edge 20.

 The force F1 is exerted until the actuating member 14 is substantially perpendicular to the cover 2 (see Fig. 4).

 By then exerting on the panel a tensile force F2 parallel to the axis of the box 34 (see FIG. 5), this force is transmitted to the panel 8 via the fixing plate 26 which is fixed to the panel and continues the rupture of the line of least resistance 10 by tearing off the latter. This tearing is accompanied by an outward rotation of the box of the opening panel 8 around the connection zone 12. During this rotation the open panel 8 (see FIG. 5) swings towards the outside of the box, forming two folded parts one over the other around the second fold line 33 of the panel 8 formed substantially by the small axis of the rhombus (see FIG. 5).

 From this position, the actuating member 14 is folded down towards the edge of the cover located in the median plane X-X and opposite the line of least resistance 10 relative to the connection zone 12.

 The tilting is continued until the hooking member 30 of the actuating member 14 snaps onto the flange (see FIG. 6).

 During this movement, the opening panel 8 rocks around the connection zone 12 so as to come to be superimposed on the housing 28 of the cover.

 Then pressing on the end 18 of the actuating member 14 towards the inside of the box, the opening panel 8 is received in the housing 28, as shown in FIG. 7.

When the opening panel 8 is received in the housing, a first part of the panel is located against the bottom of the housing 28 and a second part of the panel is folded around the second fold line and is superimposed on the first part of sign -
To this end, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the housing 28 has a roughly trapezoidal shape, substantially symmetrical with respect to the connection zone 12 of the panel part included between the connection zone 12 and the minor axis. rhombus.

 In Fig.8, there is shown a second embodiment of a cover according to the invention.

 The same reference numerals have been used to designate the elements already described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

 In this second embodiment, the fixing plate 26 comprises a fixing tongue 32 extending from the straight edge 20 and having three free sides located between the arms 22. The fourth side of the tongue 32 consists of a fold 34 in relief towards the outside of the box (see Fig, 9), connecting the tongue 32 to the second end 18 of 1 actuating member.

 The fold 34 constitutes a folding zone of the fixing plate 26 intended, as will be described later, to generate a third fold line of the panel 8 during the actuation of member 14. The edge 20 is connected to the arms 22 by two links 36, of predetermined length.

 By using the actuating member 14, firstly the second end 18 of the actuating member 14 tears off a first part of the line of least resistance by rocking around the fold 34. During this rocking, the links 36 are stretched between the tongue 32 and the arms 22 until a maximum stretching which corresponds to an angular rotation of an angle i around the fold 34 (see FIG. 10).

 The angle 4 is between 30 and 40 and for example equal to 35 ".

 The tilting around the fold 34 causes the tilting of a part of the opening panel 8 around a third fold line superimposed on the fold 34 (see Fiv. 10).

 During the further implementation of the actuating member 14, the links 36 being stretched to the maximum, cause the displacement of the tilting axis towards the free edge 20 of the tongue 32 until the actuation 14 is in position perpendicular to the cover as shown in Figure 11.

 Consequently, the opening panel 8 folds along the second fold line.

 By then exerting an axial tensile force towards the outside on the actuating member 14, the tearing of the opening panel 8 which continues around the connecting zone 12 continues as shown in FIG. 12.

 As described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 actuating member 14 is then hung on the edge of the cover (see FIG. 13) and then the second end 18 of actuating member 14 is pressed to house the opening panel 8 in the housing 28 as shown in FIG. 14.

 FIG. 15 shows a first method of fixing the actuating member 14, in which two zones formed on the one hand by the tongue 32 and on the other hand by a part 52 of the member fixing plate actuator 14 extending from the fold 34, are bonded to the panel 8.

 It should however be noted that the bonding of the part 52 of the second end of the actuating member 14 is not compulsory.

 In Figure 16 there is shown schematically a second method of fixing the actuating member 14 on the opening panel 8, in which the tongue 32 is riveted to the opening panel.

 Figures 17 to 19 show different means facilitating rotation around the second fold line of the panel 8 during opening.

In FIG. 17, the second fold line is constituted by a fold 54 in relief towards the outside of the opening panel 8, the fold 54 being located near the free edge 20 of the fixing plate 26 and constituting the minor axis. rhombus
In Figure 18 there is shown the second fold line of the panel is constituted by a reduction in thickness of the cover arranged near the free edge 20 of the fixing plate 26 and extending along the minor axis of the rhombus delimiting the panel 8 .

 In FIG. 19, it can be seen that the line of least resistance 10 comprises> at the level of the minor axis of the rhombus delimiting the opening panel 8, parts 58 reducing the width of said minor axis, so as to favor the rotation of the opening panel 8 around the minor axis during opening, the latter thus constituting said second fold line of the panel 8.

 The Fiv 20 shows a top view of a third embodiment of a cover according to the invention used with a metal box with rectangular opening.

 The opening panel 8 has a triangular shape and the housing 28 has a trapezoidal shape adapted to receive the opening panel ture after opening (see also Fig, 21).

 The actuator 14 used is of the same type as that of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 to 14, that is to say such that the opening panel has three fold lines: the area of link 12, a fold line near the free edge 20 of the tongue 32 and a fold line located under the raised fold 34.

 It will be noted that the actuating member 14, in this third embodiment is entirely arranged above the opening panel 8.

 In other words, the ring 16 of the actuating member 14 is located opposite the housing 28 relative to the connection zone 12.

 It should be noted that, as in the third embodiment, the opening panel 8 may have, whatever its embodiment, a shape different from that of a rhombus, in which case the shape of the housing 28 must be adapted. , such a modification, the competence of the skilled person, entering the teachings of the present invention.

 It follows from the above description that the desired objectives are well achieved = in fact a cover according to the invention when open has a panel secured to the box and the drink, during its extraction, does not come into contact with the outer wall of the panel.

 Furthermore, although very elaborate and complete embodiments have been described, the invention also includes simpler variants which do not include, for example, the hook 30 or the housing 28.

Claims (16)

REVENDI CAT I ONS  1. Cover (2) with partial opening for a composite metal box, comprising a fixed part (6) in which an opening panel (8) is delimited by a line of least resistance (10), a connection zone (12) remaining however between the fixed part (6) and the opening panel (8), and an actuating member (14) of the opening panel, this actuating member (14) forming a lever and comprising an intermediate part ( 26) for fixing to the cover, a first end (16) forming a gripping element and a second end (18) forming a bearing surface on the opening panel, characterized in that the actuating member (14) is fixed on the opening panel (8) in a part of the latter which is distant from the connection zone (12) which remains between the fixed part (6) of the cover and the opening panel ure (8), and in that the opening panel (8) has two substantially parallel fold lines, the first of which is tends near the connection zone and the second extends near the actuator fixing zone (14) between the latter and the connection zone (12), the fold lines extending from one side and on the other side of a median plane (XX) passing through the first and second ends of the actuating member (14) and being substantially perpendicular to said median plane (XX).  2. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate fixing part (26) of the actuating member (14) on the opening panel (8) comprises a tongue (32) extending from a free edge (20) substantially perpendicular to said median plane (XX) and fixed to the opening panel (8), the tongue 32) being connected to the second end (18) of the actuating member by a folding zone (34), the free edge (20) of the tongue (32) being connected to the actuating member by at least one link (36) of predetermined length, and in that the opening panel has a third line fold substantially parallel to the first two fold lines, extending on either side of said median plane (XX) and located under the folding zone (34) of the actuator (14).  3. Lid according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the opening panel (8) has a diamond shape whose apex is occupied by the connecting zone (12), the minor axis of the diamond constituting the second line folding.  4. Cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second fold line of the opening panel (8) is constituted by a fold (54) forming a relief on the outer face of the panel.  5. Lid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second fold line consists of a reduction in the thickness of the panel.  6. Lid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second fold line consists of a part (58) of the line of least resistance (10) reducing the dimension of the minor axis of the rhombus at each end of it.  7. Cover according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating member 14 is a flat member of elongated shape whose longitudinal axis is located in said median plane (XX) the first end being constituted by a ring (16 ), the second end (18) extending longitudinally away from the first end from a straight edge (20) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and shorter than the width of the opening panel (8) a link arm (22) connecting each end part of the straight edge to a part of the periphery of the ring remote from the longitudinal axis, the actuating member (14) comprising a fixing plate (26) integral with the second end (18).  8. Cover according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the tongue (32) is fixed to the panel between the second and third fold lines, the straight edge (20) of the second end (18) being substantially superimposed on the second fold line of the opening panel.  9. Lid according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the second end (18) of the actuating member (14) has a triangular shape, the base of which is formed by said rectilinear edge (20) of second end, the opposite top being in abutment on the panel (8) near its end opposite to the connection zone (12).  10. Cover according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one link (36) is disposed between the tongue and at least one of the connecting arms.  11. Lid according to claim 10, characterized in that the folding zone (34) of the actuating member (14) is formed by a fold in relief towards the outside of the lid.  12. Cover according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the fixing zone of the actuating member (14) is fixed to the opening panel (8) by riveting or gluing.  13. Cover according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in its fixed part located opposite the opening panel with respect to the connection zone (12) a housing (28) adapted for receiving said opening panel (8).  14. Lid according to claim 13, characterized in that when the opening panel (8) is received in the housing (28), a first part of the panel is folded around the connection zone (12) so as to be received against the bottom of the housing, the second part of the panel being folded around the second fold line of the opening panel (8) so as to be superimposed on the first part of the panel.  15. Cover according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a hooking member (30) arranged on the underside of the actuating member (14) and intended to hang the latter on the edge of the cover after opening the panel (8).  16. Metal or composite box, characterized in that it comprises a cover according to any one of the preceding claims.