GB2305655A

GB2305655A - Device or closure for cutting a container seal membrane

Info

Publication number: GB2305655A
Application number: GB9519683A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis Clark
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-09-27
Filing date: 1995-09-27
Publication date: 1997-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 2015-09-27
Also published as: GB9519683D0; GB2305655B

Abstract

An opening device 10 is shaped to fit over a container mouth 16 that is sealed by a membrane 18, the device having means for cutting the membrane. The cutting means may be discrete cutters 28 spaced around the circumference of the device, or an annular cutter (not shown), and/or a central projection 30. Preferably, the device is rotated to cut around the edge of the membrane. The central projection may have barbs 32 or may have a screw thread (not shown) to retain the membrane after cutting. Alternatively, the cut membrane may be retained by lips (44, fig 5) on the discrete cutters. The device may be formed as part of a lid with means, e.g. screw thread 20, to close a container 12. The cutting means 28 may be on either the opposite or the same side of the lid to the closing means, and may also be movable between a non-cutting position prior to lid removal, and a cutting position following initial lid removal.

Description

OPENING DEVICE This invention concerns an opening device and particularly but not exclusively an opening device for containers with hermetic and/or tamper proof seals; and also a container incorporating such a device.

Hermetic and/or tamper proof seals are provided on a wide range of products and especially food products.

One such type of seal comprises a breakable membrane which extends across an opening of a container. The membrane may be made of e.g. metal foil or paper. Such seals are commonly found on products such as jars of coffee. Problems are often encountered when breaking such seals in providing a clean opening thereby allowing easy removal of a containers contents, and also avoiding the seal or at least parts thereof falling into the container. Also people with limited hand movement can find such seals difficult to break.

According to the present invention there is provided an opening device, the device being shaped to be locatable on a container which has a seal in the form of a membrane extending across an opening, with the device comprising cutting means which can cut the seal when the device is located on the container, so as to enable removal of the seal from the container.

The device is preferably arranged to cut the seal substantially around the edge thereof to permit removal of substantially the whole seal. The device is preferably arranged such that relative rotation between the device and seal causes cutting of the latter.

The cutting means preferably comprises a plurality of discrete cutters, which are desirably spaced from each other substantially around the circumference of a circle which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the seal.

The device is preferably formed so as to retain a seal thereon following cutting. A projection may be provided on the device to retain the seal thereon. The projection is preferably provided generally centrally on the device. The projection may provide a cutter shaped to pass through the seal, and following rotation thereof relative to the seal, to retain the seal on the device.

The projection may comprise a cutter with a generally elongate cutting edge extending from a stud member of a lesser length, such that in use the cutter passes through the seal forming an elongate incision, which incision subsequently extends around the stud member, and following relative rotation the seal cannot readily pass back over the cutting edge.

Alternatively, the projection may comprise a generally pointed member which may be provided with an external screw thread such that following incision of the member the seal engages on the thread during subsequent relative rotation.

As a further alternative, the cutting means may be shaped to retain the cut seal following cutting. The cutting means may comprise one or more lips under which the cut seal engages. Alternatively, or in addition, the cutting means may comprise one or more inwardly pointing generally radial cutting edges to cut the seal and under which the seal is retained following relative rotation therebetween.

Where a plurality of cutters are provided which retain the cut seal therebeneath, said cutters are preferably non-equispaced.

As an alternative to discrete cutters, the cutting means may comprise an annular cutter.

The device is preferably shaped to engage the top of a container. The device may be shaped to slidingly accept the top of a container, and the device may be provided with diverging side walls to ease location on a container.

The device may be provided on a lid for the container. The device may be provided on an opposite side of the lid to the side which engages the container to close same.

The cutting means and/or retaining means may be integrally formed with the remainder of the lid.

The lid may comprise a rim on said opposite side engageable with the top of the container to permit the seal to be cut. The cutting means and/or any retention projection are preferably arranged so as not to extend beyond the rim.

As an alternative, the device may be provided on the engagement side of the lid. Removable means may be provided to prevent cutting of the seal prior to initial removal of the lid. The removal means may comprise a packing member locatable to prevent the device engaging with the seal.

As a further alternative the cutting means may be arranged to be movable between a cutting and a non-cutting position. The cutting means may be arranged to move automatically from the non-cutting to the cutting position upon initial opening of a container incorporating the lid.

The device may be provided on a lid usable to close a container following initial opening, usually with the lid formed of a more durable material than at least the initial lid.

The invention also provides a container with a lid incorporating an opening device according to any of the fifteen paragraphs.

The part of the container immediately below the location of the seal may converge such that as the device is moved onto the container the cutting means is urged inwardly to retain the cut seal. Areas of weakness may be provided on the cutting means to aid inward movement thereof.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of a first embodiment of a cutting device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 with the device in use; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cutting device according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a side view of part of the device of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the part of the device shown in Fig. 4.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a lid 10 incorporating a cutting device according to the invention. The lid 10 is for a jar 12 suitable for packaging a product such as instant coffee. The jar 12 is provided with a screw thread 14 around its upper circular opening 16.

Following filling a foil seal 18 is provided across the opening 16 to provide a hermetic seal for the contents of the jar 12 and also as a security feature to provide confirmation that the product has not been tampered with.

The lower part of the lid 10, when located so as to close the jar 12, (but the upper part as shown in Figs. 1 and 2) is conventional in including an internal screw thread 20 engageable with the thread 14 and a waxed seal 22 at the closed end of the lid 10. An upstanding rim 24 is provided on the upper side of the lid 10 and is of a size to slidingly fit around the outside of the opening 16 as shown in Fig. 2. Extending upwardly from the top 26 of the lid 10 but not beyond the rim 24, are four cutters 28 and a seal retainer 30.

The cutters 28 comprise planar upstanding arcuate projections which are provided equispaced around the top 26 spaced from the rim 24 so as to be engageable with the seal 18 adjacent the edge of the opening 16 when the lid 10 is placed on the top of the jar 12 in an inverted position as shown in Fig. 2 The retainer 30 comprises a planar upstanding arcuate cutter 32 connected to the centre of the top 26 by a lug 34 which is considerably shorter than the cutter 32.

In use, the lid 10 can be used in a conventional manner on the jar 12 with the thread 20 engaging on the thread 14. When it is required to use the contents of the jar 12, the lid 10 is removed therefrom and inverted. The lid 10 is then placed on the jar 12 as shown in Fig. 2 and pressed down such that the cutters 28 break the seal 18 as does the cutter 32. The cutters 28 and 32 can be arranged to break the seal 18 simultaneously, or one arranged to initially break the seal 18. The lid 10 is then rotated a little over 900 which provides for full cutting of the seal 18 around the edge thereof by the cutters 28, with the cut seal 18 being retained on the lug 34 as the central cut in the seal 18 is no longer parallel to the cutter 32.

Following removal of the inverted lid 10 from the jar 12 the cut seal can readily be removed therefrom.

Figs. 3-5 show a further lid 40 similar to the lid 10. In this instance though there is no central seal retainer and the spaced cutters 42 are shaped to retain a cut seal thereon. An inwardly pointing radial cutting edge 44 is provided on each of the cutters 44 extending from a little below the top of the cutter 42 and ending before the bottom thereof so as to define a recess 46.

In use each of the cutting edges 44 makes a small radial incision in the seal, and following rotation of the lid 40 a cut seal will locate in the recesses 46 and be retained therein. The cutters 42 are not equispaced around the lid 40 such that a cut seal could only drop off the lid 40 if rotated through a full 3600.

There are thus described arrangements which readily permit a membrane seal to be broken and subsequently retained on the lid of a container. The arrangements are easy to use and could readily be used by persons with limited hand movement, as similar actions only are required as are used to open such a container in the first instance. Whilst providing a cutting of the seal, these arrangements are safely usable by young children. The arrangements provide for removal of a seal as a single component thereby preventing pieces of the seal falling into the jar.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, a removable over could be provided within the rim over the cutters which could be printed with instructions for using the cutter(s), contents details and/or advertising material and the like. If cutters incorporating retaining means are used, the retaining means could be used to retain promotional material prior to opening of the container, perhaps in the form of a disc, or a concertinered disc. Such discs presently require to be glued to the top of the lid.

The cutters may take a different form and need not have an arcuate profile. The cutters could for instance have a triangular or other profile. An alternative retainer could be provided other than that shown in Fig. 1. For example, a different shape projection extending above a recess could be provided.

Alternatively, a central projection with a screw thread could be provided onto which the seal would engage. As an alternative to discreet cutters a single annular cutter could be provided. The rim around the top of the lid could flare outwardly to ease location of same onto the top of a jar.

It is to be realised that arrangements according to the invention could be used on a wide variety of containers which need not necessarily have a circular lid. Also, whilst the above described embodiments show the opening device on the top side of a lid, the device could be provided on the underside such that further closing of a lid causes breaking and removal of a seal.

Means such as a polystyrene or other material packing device could be provided in a container upon initial packing which would require removal before the seal can be broken. In a further embodiment the device could be usable with a container with a diverging top such that as the device is moved downwardly onto the container the annular cutter or cutters are urged inwardly to hold the cut seal. Appropriate lines of weakness or other formations could be provided on the or each cutter to ease the inward movement thereof.

As a further alternative, a plurality of cutters may be provided, which are either inherently resilient or are resiliently mounted on the underside of the lid so as to be urged to be upstanding therefrom. During initial filling of a container the cutters are compressed flat beneath a wax seal. The seal is conventional aside from a plurality of openings therein corresponding to the cutters, but misaligned therewith when the cutters are compressed therebeneath.

When the lid of the container is opened, as is conventional initially the seal is held static against the container by compression, such that the lid will rotate relative to the seal so that the cutters become aligned with the openings. The cutters extend partially through the openings and extend further therethrough as the lid is further opened. As this happens the cutters will slide across the seal rather than break it. Once the lid has been removed from the container the cutters will extend fully through the openings such that when the lid is replaced on the container the seal will be cut in the manner described previously. As the outer edge of the wax seal is unaffected by the openings, the seal will still seal the container when the lid is replaced.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing Specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An opening device, the device being shaped to be locatable on a container which has a seal in the form of a membrane extending across an opening, with the device comprising cutting means which can cut the seal when the device is located on the container, so as to enable removal of the seal from the container.

2. A device according to Claim 1 which is arranged to cut the seal substantially around the edge thereof to permit removal of substantially the whole seal.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 which is arranged such that relative rotation between the device and seal causes cutting of the latter.

4. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the cutting means comprises a plurality of discrete cutters, which are spaced from each other substantially around the circumference of a circle which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the seal.

5. A device according to any preceding claim which is formed so as to retain a seal thereon following cutting.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein a projection is provided to retain the seal on the device.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the projection is provided generally centrally on the device.

8. A device according to claims 6 or 7 wherein the projection provides a cutter shaped to pass through the seal, and following rotation thereof relative to the seal, to retain the seal on the device.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the projection comprises a cutter with a generally elongate cutting edge extending from a stud member of a lesser length, such that in use the cutter passes through the seal forming an elongate incision, which incision subsequently extends around the stud member, and following relative rotation the seal cannot readily pass back over the cutting edge.

10. A device according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the projection comprises a generally pointed member which may be provided with an external screw thread such that following incision of the member the seal engages on the thread during subsequent relative rotation.

11. A device according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the cutting means is shaped to retain the cut seal following cutting.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein the cutting means comprises one or more lips under which the cut seal engages.

13. A device according to claim 11 or 12 wherein the cutting means comprises one or more inwardly pointing generally radial cutting edges to cut the seal and under which the seal is retained following relative rotation therebetween.

14. A device according to any of claims 11 to 13 wherein where a plurality of cutters are provided which retain the cut seal therebeneath.

15. A device according to claim 14 wherein said cutters are non-equispaced.

16. A device according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the cutting means comprises an annular cutter

17. A device according to claim 16 wherein the cutting means is shaped to retain the cut seal following cutting.

18. A device according to any preceding claim which is shaped to engage the top of a container.

19. A device according to claim 18 which is shaped to slidingly accept the top of a container, and the device is provided with diverging side walls to ease location on a container.

20. A device according to any preceding claim which is provided on a lid for the container.

21. A device according to claim 20 which is provided on an opposite side of the lid to the side which engages the container to close same.

22. A device according to claim 20 or 21 wherein the cutting means and/or retaining means is integrally formed with the remainder of the lid.

23. A device according to any of claims 20 to 22 wherein the lid comprises a rim on said opposite side engageable with the top of the container to permit the seal to be cut.

24. A device according to claim 23 wherein the cutting means and/or retaining means are arranged so as not to extend beyond the rim.

25. A device according to claim 22 which is provided on the engagement side of the lid.

26. A device according to claim 25 wherein removable means is provided to prevent cutting of the seal prior to initial removal of the lid.

27. A device according to claim 26 wherein the removable means comprises a packing member locatable to prevent the device engaging with the seal.

28. A device according to any of claims 20 to 27 wherein the cutting means is arranged to be movable between a cutting and a non-cutting position.

29. A device according to claim 28 wherein the cutting means is arranged to move automatically from the non-cutting to the cutting position upon initial opening of a container incorporating the lid.

30. A device according to any preceding claim which is provided on a lid usable to close a container following initial opening, usually with the lid formed of a more durable material than at least the initial lid.

31. A lid for a container incorporating an opening device according to any preceding claim.

32. A container with a lid incorporating an opening device according to any preceding claim.

33. A container according to claim 32 wherein the part of the container immediately below the location of the seal converges such that as the device is moved onto the container the cutting means is urged inwardly to retain the cut seal.

34. A container according to claim 33 wherein areas of weakness are provided on the cutting means to aid inward movement thereof.

35. An opening device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

36. A lid for a container as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

37. A container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

38. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.