FR2780385A1 - Metal cover for a drinks bottle - Google Patents

Abstract

The cover (10) has an opening panel that seals the outlet hole . The opening panel is formed from the lower face of a stopper (11) that is arranged in a slide way (12) and can be rotated and moved by sliding between a position where it closes the outlet hole and where the outlet hole is open. The slide way has two opposing edges, each of which forms a groove to guide the stopper. The cover is connected to the bottle by a sealed joint of food quality.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of

  the packaging and has for its object a metallic lid to be opened

  easy partial ture for beverage cans as well as a

  manufacturing die of such a metal cover.

  The present invention also relates to a

  beverage can with such a metal lid or

partial easy green.

  There are two main types of lids to

  easy partial opening for drink cans.

  The first of these types of covers includes,

  on the one hand, an unclosed line of least resistance,

  swam in said cover and which delimits a cover and, on the other hand, an opening ring forming a lever which is connected to the fixed part of the cover by means of a

rivet.

  The action on the opening ring, the fulcrum of which is connected to the fixed part of the cover by said

  rivet, causes tearing of the lid along the line

  less resistance, while pushing back the seal

inward of the tip.

  This type of cover has a number of advantages. These covers are perfectly inviolable and waterproof since the metallic continuity is preserved as long as the cover is not open and, after tearing of the line of least resistance and displacement of the cover,

  this seal remains firmly linked to the cover by means of

  diary of a portion located at the end of the line of least resistance, thus eliminating any risk of rejection

of said seal in the environment.

  Finally, the opening of a beverage can equipped with such a cover is easy if one disregards a

  relative difficulty in gripping the opening ring.

  This type of cover also has a certain

many disadvantages.

  Indeed, we sometimes see a break in the ri-

  vet during the gripping of the opening ring if

  although this does not act as a lever to push

  press the lid towards the inside of the box.

  In addition, it is essential for safety reasons to make this type of aluminum cover to benefit from a greater metal thickness

  than using steel, because the line of least resistance

  tance which is formed by an incision, generates a thick-

  extremely weak metal soror at the edges of

  the hole, which makes these edges very sharp if the cover

key is made of steel.

  Finally, this type of cover is not resealable, which makes it difficult to adapt to large-capacity boxes such as 50cl cans, and this type of cover poses a health problem because during opening,

  the cover is pushed towards the inside of the driving box.

  carrying with it the dirt and dust that may have

deposit on its surface.

  The second type of easy open partial lid for beverage cans has two openings, one large and one smaller, each closed from the inside of the

  cover by a lid integral with the rest of the cover.

  A deposit of plastic material of the "plastisol" type seals the closure between

the lids and the cover.

  To open a box fitted with such a cover, the user exerts vertical pressure on the cover closing the small opening in order to bring the contents to atmospheric pressure and thus release the internal pressure of the box, then exerts vertical pressure on the other cover, which releases the large opening and thus allows

  ingestion of the contents of the box.

  This second type of cover has the advantage

  to be very easy to open and to be devoid of inci-

  sion in the metal which authorizes the use of steel.

  In addition, each seal remains integral with the

  rest of the cover eliminating the risk of a serious rejection

  adorned with said seal in the environment.

  However, this second type of cover presents certain

some disadvantages.

  Indeed, inviolability is not completely

  assured because a syringe can be inserted between the operator

  cule and the rest of the cover and the handling of a box provided with such a cover if it is simple and easy, is not always understood by the consumer due to the presence

of two lids.

  Finally, this type of cover cannot be closed

  which makes it not very adaptable to large container

  nance. The invention aims to provide a cover

  with easy partial opening for beverage cans, including the.

  the opening is simple and easy and the opening operation of which does not cause dirt inside the box, while being reclosable and achievable in steel, this material being more economical and easier to collect for

  recycling due to its magnetic properties.

  The subject of the invention is therefore a metal cover.

  container with easy partial opening for beverage cans, of the type comprising a pouring orifice for the contents of the beverage can closed by an opening panel connected to the rest of the cover by a precarious connection, characterized in

  that the opening panel is formed by the underside

  of a plug mounted in a slide and movable in rotation and by sliding in said slide between

  a position for closing the orifice and a position for opening

  verture of this orifice, said slide comprising two

  opposite edges each forming a guide groove for the

  chon, and in that the precarious connection is constituted by a

  food grade seal.

  According to other characteristics of the invention: - the plug has a circular shape and has a central part forming a gripping member

  and a peripheral part in the shape of a crown, the di-

  mensions are compatible with those of the slide, - the peripheral crown comprises two diametrically opposite zones having a greater thickness

  to the rest of the crown to maintain, at these zo-

  nes, the plug slightly tightened in the slide, - the peripheral crown has a rolled edge, - the peripheral crown of the cap is provided

  on its inner face with a centering shoulder relative to

  port at the discharge orifice, - the central part of the plug is full,

  - the slide is oblong and the ex-

  hoppers of the opposite edges of this slide are connected together by a semicircle, one of the ends of said slide being located at the right of the discharge orifice, - the slide is straight and the ends

  opposite edges of this slide are connected between el-

  them by a semicircle, one of the ends of said slide

  sière being located to the right of the discharge orifice, - the slide is continuous and extends over all

around the lid.

  The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a metal cover with easy opening.

  partial for beverage cans, characterized in that it comprises

  carries the following successive steps: - a hollow is made in the cover, by stamping in one or more passes, comprising two opposite straight or curvilinear edges, - an orifice is cut in the bottom of the hollow part, - a plug is positioned on said orifice, - the upper edges of the hollow part are hammered to form a slide, the opposite edges of which each determine a guide groove and in which the plug is movable in rotation and by sliding between a position closing the orifice and an open position of said orifice,

  - and a quality sealant is deposited

  food tee at the junction between the plug and the edge of the orifice to form a precarious connection between

the cover and the cap.

  The invention also relates to a drink can

  having a cover as previously mentioned.

  Other features and advantages of the

  vention will appear during the description which follows

  vre and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of the first type of lid for beverage cans according to the prior art, - FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the second type of lid for beverage cans according to the state of the art, - FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of a first embodiment of a cover according to the invention, in the closed position, - FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, - Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line -5 of FIG. 3, - Fig. 6 is a schematic top view of the

  first embodiment of the cover in the inter-

  medial, - Fig. 7 is a sectional view along line 7-7 of FIG. 6, - Fig. 8 is a sectional view along line 8-8 of Fig.6, - Fig.9 is a schematic top view of the

  first embodiment of the cover in position or

  green, - Fig. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a cover according to the invention, in the closed position, - FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the cover, in the intermediate position, - FIG. 12 is a schematic view in cross section of a third embodiment of a cover according to the invention, in the closed position, - Fig. 13 is a schematic view in cross section of the third embodiment of the cover , in the intermediate position, - Fig. 14 is a schematic sectional view

  cross-section of a fourth embodiment of a cover

  key according to the invention, in the closed position, - Fig.15 is a schematic top view of a fifth embodiment of a cover according to the invention, in the closed position, - Fig.16 is a schematic top view of a sixth embodiment of a cover according to the invention, in the closed position, - Figs.17A to 17E are schematic views in cross section showing the different stages of the process for producing a lid for beverage cans,

according to the invention.

  As previously mentioned, Figs. 1 and 2

  represent the two main types of openable lid

  easy partial ture for beverage cans, according to prior art

  laughing. The first type of cover shown in FIG. 1 includes, on the one hand, a line of least resistance

  1, not closed, delimiting an opening panel 2 and, further

  on the other hand, an opening ring 3 forming a lever, the fulcrum of which is connected to the fixed part of the cover by

through a rivet 4.

  The action on the opening ring 3 causes the opening panel 2 to tear along the line of

  lower resistance 1, while pushing said opening panel

  verture 2 towards the inside of the beverage can.

  The second type of lid with easy opening according to the prior art, shown in FIG. 2, has two openings, respectively a small opening 5 and

a large opening 6.

  Each opening 5 and 6 is delimited by a

  line of least resistance, respectively 5a and 6a, form-

  mant two opening panels, respectively 7 and 8, which

  are precut on almost their entire periphery

  except a small portion, respectively 5b and 6b,

  which keeps said opening panels solid

of the cover.

  The sealing of the closure is obtained by a flexible joint, not shown, arranged inside the

  cover and which acts as a line of least resistance.

  To open a box with such a lid, the user exerts vertical pressure on the panel

  opening 7 in order to bring the contents to atmospheric pressure

  spherical and thus release the internal pressure of the box,

  then exerts vertical pressure on the opening panel

  ture 8, which releases the large opening 6, thus allowing

  if ingestion of the contents of the box.

  In general, the metal cover according to the invention shown in Figs. 3 to 16 and designated as a whole by the reference 10, comprises a plug 11 mounted in a slide 12 and movable in rotation and by sliding in said slide 12 between a closed position of a discharge orifice 13 formed in the

  cover 10 and an open position of said orifice 13.

  Referring now to Figs. 3 to 9, we will

  describe a first embodiment of the cover 10

form to the invention.

  In this embodiment, the slide 12 has an oblong shape and has in section the shape of a

  dovetail, as shown in Fig. 4.

  This slide 12 has two opposite edges, each forming a guide groove 14 and 15 of the stopper 11, when the beverage can is opened, as shown.

will see later.

  The ends of the opposite edges of the slide 12 formed by the two grooves 14 and 15 are interconnected by a semicircle, as shown in FIG. 3, and one of the ends of said slide 12 is located to the right of the discharge orifice 13, as shown in Fig.9. The underside of the plug 11 constitutes a panel for opening the discharge orifice 13 and this plug 11 is connected, in the closed position of

  the orifice 13, to the rest of the cover 10 by a pre-

  pair consisting of a quality seal 16

  food, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

  This seal 16 is deposited at the junction between the plug 11 and the edge of the orifice 13 and forms a continuous bead, as shown in the

  Figs. 4 and 5 which are respectively a section along the line

  gene 4-4 and along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

  The plug 11 has a circular shape and has a central portion 17 in relief forming a member

  grip and a peripheral part 18 in the form of a

  ronne whose dimensions are compatible with those of the slide 12 so as to allow the rotation of this plug 11 and the sliding of said plug 11 in this slide 12.

  The peripheral crown 18 of the plug 11 comprises

  carries two diametrically opposite zones 18a having a thickness greater than the rest of said ring 18 for

  maintain, at the level of these zones 18a, the plug 11 slightly

  Ger tightening in the grooves 14 and 15 of the slide 12.

  Thus, thanks to the presence of the two oppo-

  sies 18a formed on the crown 18, the plug 11 is

  maintained in the closed position of the discharge orifice-

  ment 13, as shown in FIG. 4.

  The plug 11 is made of metal or plastic.

  To open the can and release the ori-

  spill fice 13, the user grasps the central part

  trale 17 of the plug 11 and turns this plug 11 by one

  quarter turn which has the effect of breaking the seal

  cheity 16, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. After the plug 11 has been turned a quarter of a turn, the zones 18a of greater thickness are released from the grooves 14 and 15 of the slide 12, as shown in FIG. 8, while the zones of smaller thickness of the crown 18 are placed in said grooves 14 and 15,

as shown in Fig. 7.

  In this position, the user pushes on the plug 11 which slides in the slide 12 and releases the discharge orifice 13, as shown in the

  Fig. 9, thus allowing ingestion of the contents of the box-

  drink. To close the beverage can to seal

  the discharge opening 13, the user pushes the plug

  chon 11 in the opposite direction to bring it back above the ori-

  Fig. 13, as shown in FIG. 6, and turns the plug 11 a quarter of a turn so that the zones 18a of the peripheral ring 18 having a thickness greater than the rest of said ring 18, engage in the

  grooves 14 and 15 of the slide 12 and hold the stopper

  chon in slight tightening in this slide 12, as shown

felt in FIG. 4.

  According to a second embodiment shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the slide 12 also includes

  two opposite edges each forming a groove, respectively-

ment 14 and 15.

  Each groove 14 and 15 has the shape, in section

  transverse, a portion of a circle and the peri-crown

  spherical 18 of the cover 11 has a rolled edge 18b per-

  putting the rotation of the plug 11 and the sliding of said

plug 11 in the slide 12.

  In this case also, the peripheral crown

  18 has two opposite zones 18a of greater thickness.

  as much as the rest of said crown 18.

  In the closed position of the discharge orifice

  13, as shown in FIG. 10, the zones 18a of greater thickness are positioned in the grooves 14 and 15 holding this plug 11 in slight tightening in the

slide 12.

  The seal between the plug 11 and the edge of the discharge orifice 13 is ensured by a seal 16 of

food grade.

  After the plug 11 has been turned a quarter of a turn, as shown in FIG. 11, the zones of smaller thickness of the peripheral ring 18 are positioned in the grooves 14 and 15 of the slide 12 which allows

  the sliding of said plug 11 in the slide 12.

  According to a third embodiment represented

  tee in Figs. 12 and 13, the plug 11 has on its inner face, a shoulder 19 for centering with respect to

the discharge opening 13.

  According to a fourth embodiment represented

  tee in fig. 14, the central part 17 of the plug 11 is full.

  According to a fifth embodiment represented

  tee in fig. 15, the slide 12 is straight and the ex-

  hoppers of the opposite edges of this slide 12 are re-

  linked together by a semicircle. One end of

  the slide 12 is located to the right of the discharge orifice

ment 13.

  According to a sixth embodiment shown

  in Fig. 16, the slide 12 is continuous and the edges op-

  posed of this slide 12 are concentric. The slide

  12 therefore extends over the entire periphery of the cover 10.

  Tamper evident, very thin and therefore fragile, can be placed on the cap

11 and the cover 10.

  Referring now to Figs. 17A to 17E,

  we will describe the different stages of the manufacturing process

lid 10.

  First of all, a hollow part (Fig. 17A) is formed in the cover 10, by stamping in one or more passes, having two opposite rectilinear edges.

  or curvilinear, depending on the shape of the slide 12 to be obtained.

  Then, the cut-out orifice 13 is cut out in the bottom of the hollow part (Fig. 17B)

  and the plug 11 is positioned on said pouring orifice

ment 13 (Fig. 17C).

  The upper edges of the hollow part are hammered to form the slide 12 (Fig. 17D) whose opposite edges each determine a guide groove 14 and 15 and in which the plug is movable

  rotating and sliding between a closed position

  of the orifice 13 and an open position of said orifice

fice 13.

  To ensure the seal between the plug 11 and the edge of the discharge orifice 13, a food-grade sealant is deposited at the junction between the plug 11 and the edge of the orifice 13 to form a precarious connection between the cover 10 and the plug 11 (Fig.17E). The sealant is of the "plastisol" type which is a product formed from silicone-modified PVC giving a joint with a cellular structure or a product derived

  a liquid dispersion of PVC in a plasticizer.

  The lid according to the invention has the advantage of being simple and easy to open and is also reclosable and the opening operation does not involve

  dirt inside the drink can.

  This cover can be made of steel which is an economical material and easier to collect in order to

  recycling due to its magnetic properties.

  Finally, the cover has no elements

  detachable which meets environmental protection standards

  and the cap can be made in different

  colors to identify a drink.

Claims (11)

  1. Easy opening metal cover   tial for beverage cans, of the type comprising a pouring orifice (13) for the contents of the beverage can closed by an opening panel connected to the rest of the cover (10) by   a precarious connection, characterized in that the opening panel   verture is formed by the underside of a plug (11) mounted in a slide (12) and movable in rotation and   by sliding in said slide (12) between a position   opening of the orifice (13) and an open position   ture of this orifice (13), said slide (12) having two opposite edges each forming a groove (14,15) of   guide the plug (11), and in that the precarious connection.   consists of a quality seal (16) food.   2. Lid according to claim 1, character-   in that the plug (11) has a circular shape and has a central part (17) forming a   grip and a peripheral part (18) in the form of a   ronne whose dimensions are compatible with those of the slide (12).   3. Lid according to claim 2, character-   laughed in that the peripheral crown (18) comprises two diametrically opposite zones (18a) having a thickness greater than the rest of the crown (18) in order to maintain, at these zones (18a), the plug (11) in slight tightening in the slide (12).   4. Lid according to claim 2 or 3, ca-   characterized in that the peripheral crown (18) has a rolled edge (18b).   5. Lid according to any one of the claims.   cations 2 to 4, characterized in that the peripheral crown   that (18) of the plug (11) is provided on its inner face with a shoulder (19) for centering with respect to the orifice of spill (13).   6. Lid according to claim 2, character-   in that the central part (17) of the plug (11) is full.   7. Lid according to claim 1, character-   laughed in that the slide (12) is oblong and the ends of the opposite edges of said slide are interconnected by a semicircle, one end of said slide (12) being located at the right of the orifice spill (13).   8. Lid according to claim 1, character-   laughed in that the slide (12) is straight and the ex-   hoppers of the opposite edges of said slide (12) are re-   linked together by a semicircle, one end of   the slide (12) being located at the right of the opening of payment (13).   9. Lid according to claim 1, character-   laughed in that the slide (12) is continuous and extends   all around the lid (10).   10. Method of manufacturing a metal cover   lique (10) with easy partial opening for beverage cans,   according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it comprises the following successive stages:   - One carries out in the cover (10), by embou-   weaving in one or more passes, a hollow part comprising   carrying two opposite rectilinear or curvilinear edges, - an orifice (13) is cleaned by cutting in the bottom of the hollow part,   - a plug (11) is positioned on said ori-   fice (13), - hammering of the upper edges of the hollow part to form a slide (12) whose opposite edges each determine a guide groove (14, 15) and in which the plug (11) is movable in rotation and by sliding between a position for closing the orifice (13) and a position for opening said orifice (13), - and a food-grade sealant is deposited at the junction between the plug   (11) and the edge of the orifice (13) to form a precarious connection (16) between the cover (10) and the plug (11).   11. Beverage box, characterized in that it comprises a cover (10) according to any one of the res- dications 1 to 9.