FR2774364A1 - CLOSING DEVICE FOR A TIN OF BEVERAGE, ESPECIALLY SOFT DRINK - Google Patents

Abstract

The closure for the sparkling beverage can comprises a cover (9) formed from an upper part (10) with an opening (12) with a sealable neck (13) projecting above it. A resiliently deformable compressible skirt (11) has an annular housing for receiving the can rim and a support surface extending along the skirt internal perimeter. A clamping ring (26,28) concentric with the skirt presses the support surface against the lateral wall of the can. The clamping ring has an internal face constituted by a cylindrical surface eccentric to the axis of symmetry and engaging with a corresponding cylindrical surface defining the external face of the skirt.

Description

Closing device for a beverage can, especially a beverage can

  The subject of the present invention is a closure device for a box of beverages, in particular of carbonated beverages, of the type comprising a cylindrical side wall closed at its base by a bottom and at its upper part by a non-removable cover which is provided with an at least partially separable cover with a peripheral rim and which is connected, from its periphery, to the upper end of said

  side wall by a portion flared radially outwards.

  Any user of such a beverage can, in particular of a can from which the lid is removed by tearing, who has not consumed all of its contents, has one day or another wished to close this can so sealed to prevent loss of the remaining liquid as a result of spilling the can and / or to keep the drink

  all its properties and qualities.

  Aware of this wish, some manufacturers have developed closure devices suitable for such boxes. These devices generally comprise (a) a cap formed on the one hand, of an upper element provided with an orifice and a closable neck protruding above this element from this orifice and on the other hand, an elastically deformable, compressible peripheral skirt provided with a first annular housing intended to receive the edge of the box and with a first continuous bearing surface extending on the internal periphery of said skirt, and (b) means for pressing said first bearing surface against the wall

  side or the flared part of said box.

  However, it appears that with these known devices, it is difficult to obtain a perfect seal, in particular when the boxes in question contain carbonated drinks which, even when slightly shaken, release a gas escaping from the closure device under the effect of its pressure; in addition, some of these devices

  known can only be used once because they cannot be dismantled.

  The object of the present invention therefore lies in the development of a device of simple design, easily adaptable to a non-reusable lid beverage can, ensuring a tight closure of the can once its lid is removed and

  which is also provided with means facilitating the consumption of the drink.

  To this end, the present invention provides a closure device which comprises the means (a) and (b) above and which is characterized in that said pressure means comprise a clamping ring concentric with said peripheral skirt around the 'axis of symmetry of the box, said clamping ring having a first inner face constituted by at least one cylindrical surface eccentric with respect to said axis of symmetry and cooperating with a corresponding cylindrical surface defining an outer face of the peripheral skirt. It will easily be understood that by driving said tightening ring in rotation, the cap being held immobilized, this ring will under the effect of the relative displacement of the eccentric cylindrical surfaces cause a pressure of the peripheral skirt of the cap against the box drink; insofar as this skirt is made of an elastically deformable and compressible material, it will achieve

the required seal.

  It should be noted that for the purpose of immobilizing the cap in rotation, the device according to the invention advantageously comprises blocking means to prevent

  any rotation of said cap relative to the box.

  These blocking means may simply comprise a protrusion originating on the upper element of the cap and extending below this element over a length sufficient to be able to penetrate into the orifice which is

  formed in the cover of the box after removal of said removable cover.

  Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the device according to the invention, the peripheral skirt of the cap comprises at least one additional annular housing offset axially and radially with respect to the first housing and intended to receive the edge of a can of beverage diameter different from that of the box whose rim

  is intended to be received in the first accommodation.

  Thanks to this arrangement, it is thus possible to use the device according to the invention on most beverage cans available on the market, since

  At present, there are essentially two different diameters.

  On the other hand, according to another embodiment of the device according to the invention, the peripheral skirt comprises at least one additional continuous bearing surface axially and radially offset with respect to the first bearing surface and the clamping ring comprises at least one additional internal face axially and radially offset with respect to the first internal face and constituted by at least one cylindrical surface eccentric with respect to the axis of symmetry of the base and cooperating with a corresponding cylindrical surface defining another external face of the

peripheral skirt.

  It will be noted that each inner face of the clamping ring is preferably constituted by several successive cylindrical surfaces which meet and eccentric each with respect to the axis of symmetry of the box, these surfaces having the same length

  angular, which ensures rapid and uniform tightening.

  It will also be noted that each bearing surface is preferably substantially parallel to the flared part of the box and arranged to be opposite this flared part. It is also advantageous for the upper element of the cap to have a concentric groove in the vicinity of its periphery; the purpose of this groove is to remove rigidity from this upper element and therefore to facilitate the positioning of the device on the box. According to yet another variant of the device according to the invention, each housing has a bearing surface extending over its entire internal periphery and which, under the effect of said pressure means, comes to bear against the internal face of the rim of the

  box; this measure further improves, if necessary, the sealing of the device.

  Finally, this device can also advantageously include means

  attachment capable of coming to bear elastically on the side wall of the box.

  Thanks to these means, the device-drink can assembly can be easily attached to any available support such as a bag or belt, which makes it very easy to transport. These attachment means preferably comprise a tab extending

  axially and integral with the clamping ring.

  Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge

  of the description below of a particular embodiment given by way of example

  nonlimiting, made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention, before it is placed on a beverage can, - Figure 2 is a front view of the device after its installation on the box, - Figure 3 is a top view of the device of Figure 2, - Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of Figure 3, - Figure 5 is a sectional view along line VV of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of zone VI of FIG. 4, that is to say a sectional view of the peripheral skirt of the cap of the device, before tightening the tightening ring, - Figure 7 shows the same view as Figure 6, but after tightening the tightening ring, and - Figure 8 shows the same view as Figure 7, but with a box of

  drink with a diameter larger than that of the box in Figure 7.

  The device according to the invention is intended to effect the closure in particular of a beverage can as shown in FIG. 1. This can is formed of a metal body usually made of aluminum, which has a generally cylindrical side wall 1, closed by a bottom 2 and by a slightly domed cover 3. The latter is provided with a tear-off cover 4 of substantially circular shape initially closed, but which can easily be removed by lifting a tab 5 which acts as a lever to tear said cover 4 and thus release an orifice for the flow of

the beverage.

  The cover 3 is also provided, along its periphery, with a rim 6 projecting above said cover. This rim 6, which has an outer annular lip 7, results from the crimping of a peripheral zone of said cover 3 with the upper end of the side wall 1, this crimping operation having the effect of giving the upper part of the wall lateral 1 the shape of a flared area 8

  radially outward from the periphery of the cover.

  Furthermore, the device according to the invention comprises in a manner known per se a cap 9 formed by an upper plate 10 and a peripheral skirt 11 and means

  of pressure of said skirt against the box.

  The plate 10 is circular in shape and its diameter is substantially equal to that of the cover 3. In addition, it is provided with a circular bore 12 positioned to come substantially opposite the orifice intended to be formed by removing the cover 4. This bore 12 is extended at its periphery by a neck 13 extending vertically above the plate 10, the free edge of this neck being of rounded shape. It will be added that this neck 13 is provided on its internal surface with a thread 14; the latter is intended to cooperate with a helical groove hollowed out in the cylindrical part 15 of a plug 16 intended to be screwed hermetically into said

neck 13.

  To immobilize the plate 10 in rotation, the latter is further provided with a protuberance 17 on its lower face and shaped to engage in the orifice intended to be formed in the cover 3 by tearing of the cover 4. The peripheral skirt 11 of the cover 9 comprises on the side of its internal face a first annular housing 18 shaped to receive the upper end (including the lip 7) of the rim 6 of the box and, axially below this housing 18 , a

  first bearing surface 19 extending over the entire periphery of the skirt.

  According to the invention, the skirt comprises, also on the side of its internal face, an additional annular housing 20 situated below the housing 18 while being offset axially and radially relative to the latter; in addition, said skirt comprises, axially below the housing 20, an additional bearing surface

  21 extending over the entire periphery of the internal face of the skirt.

  Note that the additional housing 20 is also shaped to receive the upper end (including the lip 7) of the flange 6 of a box, the diameter of the latter being greater than that of the box whose flange 6 is intended to come and stay

in housing 18.

  It will also be noted that the internal face of the housing 18 intended to cooperate with the lip 7 of the rim 6, is connected to the first bearing surface 19 by a radial shoulder 22 capable of being fitted under the lip 7; the same is true of the internal face of the housing 20 intended to cooperate with the lip 7, which is connected to the bearing surface 21 by a radial shoulder 23 also suitable for being fitted under the lip 7 of the

ledge 6.

  The cap 9 is made of an elastically deformable and compressible material, such as for example high density polyethylene. In order to remove rigidity from the plate 10, the latter is advantageously provided with a concentric groove 24 in the vicinity of its periphery, this groove facilitating, as will be seen below, the positioning of the

  device of the invention on the edge of the box.

  Furthermore, the bearing surfaces 19, 21 are preferably substantially parallel, at least over part of their height, to the flared part 8 of the box and arranged

  to be in front of this flared part.

  According to the invention, the abovementioned pressure means comprise a clamping ring 25. This ring 25 has an upper wall 26 in the form of a flat disc, provided with an opening 27 dimensioned to allow free passage to the neck 13. This upper wall 26, which is intended to come to bear on the plate 10, is connected by its periphery to an annular side wall 28 concentric with

  the skirt 11 around the axis of symmetry A-A of the box.

  As can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 5 to 8, this annular wall 28 of the clamping ring has a first inner face 29 originating on the underside of the upper wall 26 and extending axially until it reaches

  a level slightly below the shoulder 22.

  The annular wall 28 also comprises a second inner face 30 offset axially and radially with respect to the first inner face 29, this second face 30 extending axially substantially up to the height of the end.

  lower of the support surface 21.

  The first inner face 29 is formed by several (three in the embodiment shown in the drawings) successive cylindrical surfaces 31, 32, 33, of the same angular length, each eccentric with respect to the axis of symmetry A-A. These cylindrical surfaces cooperate respectively with three cylindrical surfaces 34, 35,

  36 corresponding defining a first external face of the skirt 11.

  In the same way, the second inner face 30 is constituted by several (for example three) successive cylindrical surfaces, of the same angular length, each eccentric with respect to the axis of symmetry AA, these cylindrical surfaces cooperating respectively with three corresponding surfaces defining a second external face of the skirt 11; we will specify that these three cylindrical surfaces have

  respectively the same center as surfaces 31, 32, 33.

  The device thus described is completed by a flexible tongue 37 connecting the upper part of the plug 16 to the upper wall 26 of the clamping ring. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the tongue 37 is fixed to the wall 26 by a stud 38 integral with the tongue, extending axially downward and whose free end

  lower ends with an enlarged part 39.

  This stud is forced into a notch 40 having a narrowing at its entrance. It will be noted that during the rotation of the clamping ring 25, this enlarged part

  39 can circulate in an enlarged area 41 of the groove 24 as shown in FIG. 5.

  The device according to the invention is finally completed by an elastic tab 42 extending axially and secured by its upper end to the side wall 28 of the clamping ring, this tab being intended to bear elastically against

the side wall 1 of the box.

  The operation of the device which has just been described is as follows.

  After tearing of the cover 4 by lifting the tongue 5, the user releases an opening in the lid 3 of the box, opening through which he consumes part of the drink contained in said box. To avoid any spillage of the remaining drink and to preserve the quality and properties of the latter, the user applies said device to the box. For this purpose, it has this device on the upper face (cover) 3 of this box, engages the protrusion 17 in the aforementioned opening made in the cover, then applies to the device a slight force directed axially from top to bottom to bring , thanks to the elasticity of the skirt 11, the shoulder 22 to slide axially along the lip 7 until it

  come and fit under this lip.

  Of course, depending on the diameter of the box used, the rim 6 of this box will take place either in the upper housing 18 (small diameter box), or in the

  lower housing 20 (large diameter box).

  The user then communicates to the clamping ring 25 a rotational movement, a movement which is not transmitted to the cap 9 since the latter is immobilized in rotation by the protrusion 17. Due to the rotational movement communicated to the ring 25, by the play of the eccentric cylindrical surfaces present on the internal faces of the side wall 28 of the ring and the external faces of the skirt 11, there is then a progressive tightening which results in a pressure of said side wall 28 on the skirt 11, which has the effect of pressing the bearing surface 19 against the flared part of the box; due to the elastic and compressible nature of the material constituting the skirt, this results in the desired seal between the interior of the box and the atmosphere

outside.

  It will be noted that each housing 18, 20 may comprise a bearing surface 43, 44 positioned to be pressed, under the effect of the tightening produced by the ring, against the

  inner face of the rim 6, which contributes, if necessary, to achieve this seal.

  The box-closing device assembly resulting can then for example be stored in a refrigerator awaiting further use. It can also be hung by means of the tab 42 for example on a belt or a bag or a strap of a

  any equipment such as that of a hiker, a skier, etc ...

  We will add that drinking is facilitated by the presence of the neck

  13, this operation being more comfortable because of the rounded edge of the neck.

  After complete use of the box, the device can be easily separated from the box

  vacuum by rotation in opposite direction of the clamping ring, then axial traction upwards.

Claims (11)

  1. Closing device for a beverage can, of the type comprising a cylindrical side wall (1) closed at its base by a bottom (2) and at its upper part by a non-removable cover (3) which is provided with a cover. at least partially separable (4) and a peripheral rim (6) and which is connected, from its periphery, to the upper end of said side wall by a portion flared radially outward (8), said device comprising : (a) a cap (9) formed on the one hand, of an upper element (10) provided with an orifice (12) and a closable neck (13) projecting above this element from of this orifice and on the other hand, of an elastically deformable, compressible peripheral skirt (11) and provided with a first annular housing (18) intended to receive the rim (6) of the box and with a first surface d continuous support (19) extending over the internal periphery of said skirt, and (b) pressing means on of said first bearing surface against the side wall or the flared part of said box, characterized in that said pressure means comprise a clamping ring (26, 28) concentric with said peripheral skirt (11) around the axis of symmetry AA of the box, said clamping ring having a first inner face (29) constituted by at least one cylindrical surface (31, 32, 33) eccentric with respect to said axis of symmetry and cooperating with a cylindrical surface (34, 35, 36) corresponding   defining an outer face of the peripheral skirt.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises   locking means to prevent any rotation of the cap (9) relative to the box.   3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said blocking means comprise a protrusion (17) originating on the upper element (10) of the cap and extending below this element over a length sufficient for penetrate the hole which is formed in the cover (3) of the box after   removal of said removable cover (4).   4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that   said peripheral skirt comprises at least one additional annular housing (20) offset axially and radially with respect to the first housing (18) and intended to receive the rim (6) of a beverage can of diameter different from that of the can   whose rim is intended to be received in the first housing.   5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said peripheral skirt (11) comprises at least one continuous support surface (21) additional axially and radially offset relative to the first support surface (19) and in that that said clamping ring has at least one additional internal face (30) axially and radially offset with respect to the first internal face (29) and constituted by at least one cylindrical surface eccentric with respect to the axis of symmetry of the base and cooperating with a corresponding cylindrical surface defining another face   outside of the peripheral skirt.   6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that   each inner face of the clamping ring is formed by several successive cylindrical surfaces (31, 32, 33) which meet and eccentric each with respect to   to the axis of symmetry of the box, these surfaces having the same angular length.   7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in   that each bearing surface (19, 21) is substantially parallel to the flared part (8)   of the box and arranged to be opposite this flared part.   8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in   that the upper element of the cap has a concentric groove (24) in the vicinity of its periphery.   9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in   that each housing has a bearing surface (43, 44) extending over its entire inner periphery and which, under the effect of said pressure means, is applied against   the inner face of the rim (6) of the box.   10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized   in that it further comprises hooking means capable of coming to bear   elastically on the side wall of the box.   11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that said attachment means comprise an elastic tab (42) extending axially and integral with the clamping ring.