GB2155897A

GB2155897A - Seals for liquid containers

Info

Publication number: GB2155897A
Application number: GB08507278A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Finlay Miller
Original assignee: Scottish and Newcastle Breweries PLC
Current assignee: Heineken UK Ltd
Priority date: 1984-03-20
Filing date: 1985-03-20
Publication date: 1985-10-02
Also published as: GB8407216D0; GB8507278D0

Abstract

A seal for use on containers eg beer kegs comprises a carrier strip 1 to which a number of seals 2 are attached and a filament 3 of thread, string or the like extending along the carrier strip and passing between the seals and the carrier strip. When a seal is applied to a container the filament is cut so that a length of the filament extends outwardly from beneath the seal, for easy removal. The seals may comprise self-adhesive paper discs, and following application to a keg valve they may be coated by a sprayed plastics sealing material. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Seal This invention relates to a seal in the form of a sealing disc for use on containers such as, for example, beer kegs.

Our co-pending European Patent Application No.

84300618.0 describes a tamperproof seal for containers. When such a seal is applied to beer kegs it is necessary to cover the valve member of the keg with an adhesive disc to prevent the sealing material from entering the valve member.

To allow easy removal of the seal it has previously been proposed that the adhesive disc has a tag extending from it which projects beyond the sealing material applied to the keg. The tag acts as a tear strip to allow the removal of the sealing material when required. However the production of plastics, paper or card adhesive discs which have this type of tag extending from them is more expensive and uses more material than the production of a plain circular disc without an extended tag. Moreover, extended tags are difficult to grasp and do not readily shear the sealing material.

According to the present invention there is provided a seal for containers which comprises a carrier strip to which a sealing member is attached and a filament of material which extends along the carrier strip and passes between the sealing member and the carrier strip, the arrangement being such that when the sealing member is removed from the carrier strip and applied to a container a first portion of the filament is positioned between the sealing member and the container and a second portion of the filament extends outwardly from the sealing member.

Preferably a plurality of sealing members are attached to the carrier strip and the filament extends along the carrier strip and passes between each sealing member and the carrier strip in turn, the filament being cut as each sealing member is applied to a container.

Preferably also, the length of the filament extending along the carrier strip between the sealing members is greater than the shortest distance between the sealing members on the carrier strip.

Preferably also, the sealing members are self adhesive circular discs.

Preferably also the filament is nylon string.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of applying a seal to a container comprising applying a seal having a filament extending from beneath it to the closure member of the container and spraying a sealing material onto the closure member so as to cover the seal and part of the filament, a length of filament extending beyond the sealing material.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a strip of sealing discs in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a strip of sealing discs in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, a strip of seals comprises a carrier strip or backing sheet 1, self adhesive sealing discs 2 and a length of nylon string 3.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the nylon string 3 is formed into loops 4 which are positioned between the adhesive face of the discs 2 and the backing sheet 1. Between each pair of discs 2 the string 3 forms a curve 5 which passes near the edge 6 of the backing sheet 1.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 2 the nylon string 3 passes across the width of the backing sheet 1 between the adhesive face of each disc 2 and the backing sheet 1 as shown at 7. A length 8 of the string 3 then runs along the edge 6 of the backing sheet 1 and then recrosses the backing sheet 1 below the next disc 2.

In use, at the same time as a disc 2 is applied to a keg valve member the string is cut at the mid point 9 of the loop 5 or length 8. Thus when the disc 2 adheres to the keg valve member two ends of the string 3 hang down, one either side of the valve member. When a sealing material is applied, as in our co-pending European Application No.

84300618.0 the ends of the string project beyond the edge of the sealing material in the same manner as the tabs disclosed therein. These ends can then be used to tear the plastic when the seal is to be broken.

The sealing discs 2 can be used on other types of containers and can also be used without the plastics material seal. In this case the string is used only to allows easy removal of the disc.

Modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

1. A seal for containers comprises a carrier strip to which a sealing member is attached and a fiiament of material which extends along the carrier strip and passes between the sealing member and the carrier strip, the arrangement being such that when the sealing member is removed from the carrier strip and applied to a container a first portion of the filament is positioned between the sealing member and the container and a second portion of the filament extends outwardly from the sealing member.

2. A seal for containers as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a plurality of sealing members are attached to the carrier strip and the filament extends along the carrier strip and passes between each sealing member and the carrier strip in turn, the filament being cut as each sealing member is applied to a container.

3. A seal for containers as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the length of the filament extending along the carrier strip between the sealing members is greater than the shortest distance between the sealing members on the carrier strip.

4. A seal for containers as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the sealing members are self adhesive circular discs.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Seal This invention relates to a seal in the form of a sealing disc for use on containers such as, for example, beer kegs. Our co-pending European Patent Application No. 84300618.0 describes a tamperproof seal for containers. When such a seal is applied to beer kegs it is necessary to cover the valve member of the keg with an adhesive disc to prevent the sealing material from entering the valve member. To allow easy removal of the seal it has previously been proposed that the adhesive disc has a tag extending from it which projects beyond the sealing material applied to the keg. The tag acts as a tear strip to allow the removal of the sealing material when required. However the production of plastics, paper or card adhesive discs which have this type of tag extending from them is more expensive and uses more material than the production of a plain circular disc without an extended tag. Moreover, extended tags are difficult to grasp and do not readily shear the sealing material. According to the present invention there is provided a seal for containers which comprises a carrier strip to which a sealing member is attached and a filament of material which extends along the carrier strip and passes between the sealing member and the carrier strip, the arrangement being such that when the sealing member is removed from the carrier strip and applied to a container a first portion of the filament is positioned between the sealing member and the container and a second portion of the filament extends outwardly from the sealing member. Preferably a plurality of sealing members are attached to the carrier strip and the filament extends along the carrier strip and passes between each sealing member and the carrier strip in turn, the filament being cut as each sealing member is applied to a container. Preferably also, the length of the filament extending along the carrier strip between the sealing members is greater than the shortest distance between the sealing members on the carrier strip. Preferably also, the sealing members are self adhesive circular discs. Preferably also the filament is nylon string. Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of applying a seal to a container comprising applying a seal having a filament extending from beneath it to the closure member of the container and spraying a sealing material onto the closure member so as to cover the seal and part of the filament, a length of filament extending beyond the sealing material. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a strip of sealing discs in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a strip of sealing discs in accordance with the present invention. Referring to the drawings, a strip of seals comprises a carrier strip or backing sheet 1, self adhesive sealing discs 2 and a length of nylon string 3. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the nylon string 3 is formed into loops 4 which are positioned between the adhesive face of the discs 2 and the backing sheet 1. Between each pair of discs 2 the string 3 forms a curve 5 which passes near the edge 6 of the backing sheet 1. In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 2 the nylon string 3 passes across the width of the backing sheet 1 between the adhesive face of each disc 2 and the backing sheet 1 as shown at 7. A length 8 of the string 3 then runs along the edge 6 of the backing sheet 1 and then recrosses the backing sheet 1 below the next disc 2. In use, at the same time as a disc 2 is applied to a keg valve member the string is cut at the mid point 9 of the loop 5 or length 8. Thus when the disc 2 adheres to the keg valve member two ends of the string 3 hang down, one either side of the valve member. When a sealing material is applied, as in our co-pending European Application No. 84300618.0 the ends of the string project beyond the edge of the sealing material in the same manner as the tabs disclosed therein. These ends can then be used to tear the plastic when the seal is to be broken. The sealing discs 2 can be used on other types of containers and can also be used without the plastics material seal. In this case the string is used only to allows easy removal of the disc. Modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. CLAIMS

5. A seal for containers as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the filament is nylon string.

6. A method of applying a seal to a container comprising applying a seal having a filament extending from beneath it to the closure member of the container and spraying a sealing material onto the closure member so as to cover the seal and part of the filament, a length of filament extending beyond the sealing material.

7. A seal for containers substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.