MXPA00005806A - Container closure having a frangible seal - Google Patents

Abstract

A closure for sealing a product container. The closure includes a body, a frangible seal and a lid. The body includes a flange which projects downward from the seal and a skirt which projects upward from the seal. The flange is engagable with the interior surface of the container and the skirt retains a reclosable lid in its closed position. The frangible seal covers an opening in the body and has a tear strip which is defined by a pair of spaced-apart grooves. An integral finger grip is located at one end of the tear strip. The finger grip has a pair of upwardly-angled gripping tabs which are attached to the tear strip by a spacer. The lid is tethered to the skirt and includes a lifting tab. The tether and the lifting tab are located in respective notches in the upper edge of the skirt when the lid is closed.

Description

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINER WITH FRAGILE SEAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to closures for containers. In particular, the present invention relates to a container closure having fragile seals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the packaging of many products it is advisable to seal the containers. Containers, particularly those for groceries, are typically provided with fragile seals that protect the contents of containers during shipment and storage. Likewise, fragile seals can act to indicate to a user of a possible alteration of the product. Manufacturers want to provide these benefits and at the same time minimize the cost stamps add to containers and provide stamps that are easy to use. One type of brittle seal is a membrane that includes a groove or line of stripes that defines a portion of the seal that can be removed. The slot provides a line of weakness along which the seal breaks when removed from the container. Some fragile seals also include a detachment strip that surrounds the portion of the seal that can be removed. The release strip is integrally formed with the seal and is defined by a pair of spaced slots surrounding the seal. An integral release tab can be provided at one end of the release strip for removal from the container. One type of release tab includes a generally flat ring through which a user places a finger to apply a pulling force. This type of release tab can be uncomfortable to use since the ring is often too thin for the pulling force that is required. In addition, the ring-like detachment tabs are often difficult to hold initially due to their difficult location, which is typically flat against the outer surface of the seal. Another type of detachment tab is generally formed as a flat, flexible tab that projects either away from the outer surface of the seal or is flat against it. The flexible release flap can easily slide off the grip of a user since these tabs are often thin and narrow and have smooth gripping surfaces. To prevent them from slipping, serrations on one or both sides have sometimes been provided. Flexible release tabs that are flat against the seal can be difficult to hold initially. Another type of release tab includes a lever that is generally formed by a relatively large, rigid tab that acts as a lever to initially break the seal. After the seal is initially broken, the tongue is used to pull the seal or release strip along one or more slots. The manufacture of the lever-like release tabs is relatively expensive to manufacture due to the rigidity that is required to function as a lever. In addition, this type of detachment tab is typically at a short distance from the seal and may be difficult to hold initially. Typically, fragile seals are formed integrally with body portions in closure members that are separate from the containers. After the containers are filled with product, the closure members are fixed in the containers, which are then sealed. Current methods for securing closure members in containers result in the peripheral edges of the closures projecting beyond the outer surfaces of the containers. For example, metal closing members that close metal containers are folded inwardly to the walls of the container. The joints bent inward then roll out of the containers. Also, plastic and metal closures used to seal plastic or cardboard containers have flanges that fit the outer peripheries of the containers. These flanges project beyond the walls of the containers and can snag on the edges of similar containers or other items, making it inconvenient to ship, store and use the containers.

Some containers that have fragile seals are also provided with reclosable covers that are used to reseal the containers after the fragile seal has been removed. The caps that can be turned back to close allow a user to conveniently use the container to store the contents that have not been finished or that can be used outside the container and return thereto for future use. An example of the first type of content is a powder drink mix that can be mixed with water to make several liters of flavored beverage. Often, a user wants to use only a small portion of the mixture and return the rest to save it. An example of the second type of content are tennis balls. Typically, tennis balls are packed in resealable cans. The balls can be used more than once, and users often return them to the original container for storage until the next time they need them. Conventional resealable lids are often not fixed in the containers and are easy to place improperly. In addition, most reclosable covers have peripheral flanges that provide pressure adjustments to the rolled edges or flanges of the closures. The outer edges of these flanges can easily catch on other items which can cause the covers to open inadvertently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a closure for a container. The closure includes a body having an internal periphery and an outer periphery. A removable seal made of a thin and breakable material fits into the inner periphery of the body and covers an aperture so defined. The seal has a release strip that is at least partially defined by a pair of separate grooves in the seal and has a starting end. A detachment tab is located adjacent the starting end and includes a pair of release tabs that are substantially parallel to the seal and have a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal ends of the release tabs are connected to the release strip adjacent to each other and the distal ends of the release tabs project in a direction at least partially away from each other. Another aspect of the invention provides a body having a flange that can fit into the interior surface of a wall of a container. An outer skirt is located upwardly adjacent to the flange and fits into a removable cover. The lid is fixed on the outer skirt by a latch. The lid also has a localized pull tab opposite the lock. When the lid is in its closed position, the lifting tab and the latch are located in notches within the upper edge of the outer skirt. In another aspect of the invention, the flange and the outer skirt are offset by the thickness of a wall of a container in which the closure is to be fixed. The offset allows the outer periphery of the outer skirt to be at the level of the outer periphery of the container when the closure is fixed in the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For purposes of illustrating the invention, the drawings show a preferred form of the invention. However, it should be understood that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and means shown in the drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container closure according to the present invention showing the lid in an open position and the fragile strip partially separated from the seal; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container closure showing the lid in the closed position; Figure 3 is a top view of the closure for container; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the container closure taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a fragmented and enlarged cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the body of the container closure and the lid in its closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings, where like numerals indicate similar elements, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a closure for container that is designated generally by the numeral 10. The closure 10 includes a fragile seal 12 and a lid 14. Figure 1 shows the lid 14 in an open position and figure 2 shows lid 14 in its closed position. The closure 10 can be used with conventional containers such as a cylindrical can 16 used to pack groceries. However, the closure can be used with any container where you want to have a factory sealed container that can be closed once the seal has been broken. The seal 12 is preferably airtight and is designed to contain a vacuum that is applied to the container as part of a packaging process of the manufacturer. The closure 10 is preferably made of a plastic and comprises a body 18 in which the fragile seal 12 and the lid 14 are fixed. The body 18 includes an outer skirt 20 which engages and retains the lid 14 in its closed position and a flange 22 fixing the closure 10 on the can 16. In the embodiment shown, the outer periphery of the flange 22 is sized to fit snugly with the inner surface of the can 16. Typically an adhesive is used between the flange 22 and the can 16 to hold them together and provide a tight connection. The fragile seal 12 is fixed around its entire periphery at the upper end of the flange 22 and covers an opening defined by the internal periphery of the flange 22. The fragile seal 12 includes a release strip 24 defined by a pair of separating grooves. 26. The seal 12 and the release strip 24 are preferably integrally formed and are substantially of the same thickness. The slots 26 define lines of weakness along which the release strip 24 is separated from adjacent portions of the seal 12 when the seal is removed. When the release strip 24 is completely separated along the slots 26, the seal 12 is separated from the body 14 of the closure 10. The release strip 24 has a starting end 28 located at approximately the center of the seal 12. outer groove 26a runs continuously around the periphery of seal 12, and internal groove 26b ends without forming a complete circle. The end of the release strip 24 opposite the starting end 28 is attached to the seal 12 by the full thickness of the seal 12. Thus, when the release strip 24 separates along the lengths of both slots 26, the release strip 24 remains fixed on the portion of the seal 12 removed from the body 14. Figure 1 shows the release strip 24 partially separated from the seal 12. The release strip 24 has a release tab 30 located adjacent to its starting end. 28. The detachment tab 30 includes a pair of grip tongues 32 and a spacer 34. The grip tongues 32 and spacer 34 are preferably integrally formed with the release strip 24. The grip tongues 32 are preferably bent in the direction of rotation. angle generally upwards and outwards of the separator 34 in a V-shape. To begin to separate the release strip 24 from the seal 12, a user takes the to detachment tongue 30 between the index finger and the thumb of a hand. The grip tongues 32 are preferably made of a flexible plastic and are relatively thin to allow them to generally bend upwardly and toward each other when they are taken. The separator 34 separates the grip tongues 32 sufficiently from the seal 12 so that the grip tongues 32 can be held comfortably and firmly. The cover 14 has a cover 36 that covers an opening defined by the internal periphery of the outer skirt 20. An internal skirt 38 is fixed in the cover 36 and fits in the inner periphery of outer skirt 20 when the lid is in its closed position. The lid 14 is held in its closed position by a pressure adjustment between a projection 40 on the outer periphery of the inner skirt 38 and a closing flange 42 on the inner periphery of the outer skirt 20. Both the projection 40 and the closing flange 42 are continuous around the peripheries of the respective members. This provides a continuous interlock between the lid 14 and the body 18. Although a continuous retention means and retaining flange is preferred., other retaining means may be used such as an intermittent catch and tab, a slot and a tongue, friction fit, or the like.

The lid 14 is fixed to the body 18 by a flexible latch 44 which provides a hinge which allows the lid 14 to move easily between an open position and the closed position. The lock 44 is preferably integrally formed with the lid 14 and the body 18, but can be formed separately and fixed to the body 18 and the lid 14 by welding, adhesive or the like. A lifting tab 46 is fixed on the lid 14 diametrically opposite the lock 44. The lifting tab 46 is preferably integrally formed with the lid 14. When the lid 14 is in its closed position, the lifting tab 46 projects beyond the outer periphery of the outer skirt 20. The upper edge of the outer skirt 20 has a pair of notches 48. When the cover is closed, the notch 48a receives the lock 44 and the notch 48b receives the lifting tab 46. depths of the notches 48 correspond to the respective thicknesses of the lock 44 and the lifting tab 46 so that when the cover 14 is in its closed position, the upper edge of the outer skirt 20 is substantially at the level of the upper faces of the cover. lock 44 and the lifting tab 46. The upper edge of the cover 14 also has a chamfer 50 adjacent its internal periphery which guides the internal skirt 38 in the fa external donut when the lid 14 is closed. The chamfer 50 rests on a corresponding bevel 52 on the periphery of the cover 36 when the lid is in its closed position.

The factory sealed can 16 is typically distributed and sold with the fragile seal 12 intact and with the lid 14 in its closed position. Once a consumer buys the container, he initially opens it by first opening the lid 14 and then removing the fragile seal 12. When the consumer wants to close the container, he simply returns the lid 14 to its closed position. The closure 10 is designed in such a way that the lid 14 can be opened and closed many times after the container has been opened initially. In this way, the contents of the container can be used in increments or can be accessed again during a period while being substantially protected from the environment, for example, light, dust, smell and the like, even if the container is periodically opened . Although the closure 10 is shown closing an entire open end of the can 16, the closure 10 can be used to close smaller openings. For example, the closure 10 can be mounted within a circular opening in an upper wall of a container having a larger diameter than the closure 10. It is preferred that the closure 10 be formed as a single piece. However, the closure 10 can be made of two or more pieces joined by adhesive, welding, mechanical fasteners or the like. Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, Figure 3 is a plan view of the closure 10 and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3. Figures 3 and 4 show the cover 14 in an open position and the fragile seal 12 and the release strip 24 completely intact. The starting end 28 of the detachment strip 24 is defined by a connecting groove 54 connecting the adjacent ends of the spaced apart grooves 26. The spaced apart grooves 26 and the connecting groove 54 are generally V-shaped grooves in the upper surface of the seal 12. Although the V-shaped slots are shown, the slots 26, 54 may be of other shapes such as rectangular or U-shaped. Alternatively, the slots 26, 54 may be replaced by lines Striped. The depths of the grooves 26, 54 are selected based on the material used for the seal 12 and either the force required to detach the strip 24 from the seal 12 or the pressure inside the container, which predominates. The cover 36 of the lid 14 is generally dome-shaped inside the inner periphery of the inner skirt 38. However, the cover 36 can be of another form, such as flat, pyramidal or similar. The lock 44 is fixed at one end to the outer periphery of the cover 36 and at the other end to the outer skirt 20, opposite the seal 12. Although the lock 44 can be fixed elsewhere, those shown are preferred since they simplify the molding process wherein the closure 10 is manufactured as a single piece. Figure 4 illustrates the relationship between the closure 10 and the can 16. The outer peripheries of the outer skirt 20 and the flange 22 are offset by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the wall 56 of the can 16. This allows the outer periphery of the outer skirt 20 is substantially at the level of the outer face of the can 16 while the outer periphery of the flange 22 makes contact with the internal face of the can 16. A shoulder 58 is formed by an offset between the outer skirt 20 and the flange 22 and rests on the upper edge of the wall 56 of the can 16. The outer diameter of the flange 22 is chosen to provide a frictional fit between the flange 22 and the can 16. Alternatively, the adjustment may be a pressure adjustment, a mechanical interlock using serrations on the external surface of the flange 22 or the like. The contact surfaces between the flange 22 and the can 16 are preferably joined with an adhesive. The height of the flange 22 is generally selected based on the adhesive used and the binding strength that is required. Adhesive may also be applied between the shoulder 58 and the upper edge of the wall 56. Figure 5 is a fragmented and enlarged cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the body 18 of the container closure and the lid 14 of its closed position . When the lid 14 is in its closed position, the protrusion 48 on the outer periphery of the inner skirt 38 is located between the closure flange 50 on the outer skirt 20 and a rim 60 formed by the offset between the outer skirt 20 and the flange 22. The lower edge of the inner skirt 38 is in contact with the rim 60, which prevents the lid 14 from being pushed further into the body 18. The closing flange 50 retains the projection 40, thus preventing the lid 14 from opening inadvertently. The projection 40 gradually tapers from about the average height of the inner skirt 38 to its lower edge to assist a user in guiding the lid 14 within the body 18 and sliding the projection 40 over the closure flange 42. peripheral edge of the cover 36 generally coincides with the chamfer 50 adjacent the upper edge of the outer skirt 20. The surfaces of the bevel 52 and chamfer 50 are adjusted as tight as possible to prevent contaminants from entering the space between the inner skirt 38 and the outer skirt 20 above the closing flange 42 when the lid 14 is in its closed position. Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to an exemplary embodiment thereof, those skilled in the art should understand that prior and other changes, omissions and additions can be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of this. invention.

Claims (15)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A closure for a container comprising: a body having an internal periphery and an outer periphery, the internal periphery defining an opening; Y. a removable seal made of a thin and breakable material, which fits into the inner periphery of the body and covers the opening thus defined, the seal includes a detachment strip defined by a pair of grooves laterally spaced on the seal and has a starting end, and a localized detachment tab adjacent to the starting end of the release strip including a pair of release tabs that are substantially parallel to the seal and each having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal ends are connected to the seal in a position adjacent to each other and the distal ends projecting away from each other.

2. The closure according to claim 1, further characterized in that the grip tongues are separated from the seal by a separator, which is fixed at one end to the release strip and at the opposite end to the grip tabs.

3. The closure according to claim 1, further characterized in that the distal ends of the grip tongues are bent at an angle upwards and outwards from the strip to form a V.

4. - The closure according to claim 1 further comprising a lid that fits removably in the body and covers the fragile seal.

5. The closure according to claim 1, further characterized in that the body also comprises a flange projecting away from the seal to fit an internal periphery of a container, the release tab is located on one side of the seal opposite to the bridle

6. The closure according to claim 5, further characterized in that the flange has an upper end and further characterized in that the body also comprises an outer skirt having an internal periphery, an outer periphery and an upper edge, the outer skirt is connected to the upper end of the flange and projected away from it, the outer periphery of the outer skirt is offset from the outer periphery of the flange so that the outer periphery of the flange fits into an internal surface of a container and the periphery external external skirt is at the level of an external surface of the container.

7. The closure according to claim 6 further comprising a cover having a cover and an internal skirt, the cover has an outer periphery and the internal skirt has an internal periphery and an outer periphery, the cover covers removably the seal and the outer periphery of the inner skirt fit removably on the internal periphery of the outer skirt.

8. - The closure according to claim 7, further characterized in that the outer skirt comprises a closing flange around its internal periphery and the internal skirt also comprises a projection around its outer periphery, so that the cover is retained by an adjustment of pressure between the closing flange and the projection when the cover is in its closed position.

9. The closure according to claim 8, further characterized in that the removable cover also comprises a lock, which has a fixed first end on the outer periphery of the cover and a second fixed end on the outer periphery of the cover. outer skirt adjacent to the seal.

10. The closure according to claim 8, further characterized in that the lid also comprises a lifting tab that is fixed on the outer periphery of the cover substantially opposite the lock and projects beyond the outer periphery of the outer skirt. when the lid is in its closed position.

11. The closure according to claim 9, further characterized in that the latch is located in a first notch in the upper edge of the outer skirt when the lid is in its closed position so that the upper surface of the latch is substantial. at the level of the upper edge of the outer skirt.

12. The closure according to claim 10, further characterized in that the lifting tab is located in a second groove in the upper edge of the outer skirt when the lid is in its closed position so that the upper surface of the lifting tab is substantially flush with the upper edge of the outer skirt .

13. A closure for closing an open end of a container having a tubular side wall, comprising: a flange having an internal periphery, an outer periphery, an upper edge, and a lower edge, the outer periphery can be fastened to an internal surface of a side wall of a container; an outer skirt having an upper edge, a lower edge, an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the lower edge of the outer skirt is connected to the upper edge of the flange so that at least a portion of the lower edge of the outer skirt forms a shoulder for fitting an edge of a side wall of a container, the outer periphery of the outer skirt is offset outwardly from the outer periphery of the flange by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the side wall so that when the closure is installed in a container, the outer periphery of the outer skirt is substantially at the level of an external surface of the container; and a lid that fits removably on the inner periphery of the outer skirt.

14. A reclosable closure for a container, comprising: an outer skirt having an internal periphery, an outer periphery, a lower edge and an upper edge, the internal periphery defining an opening; a cover that fits removably on the outer skirt and includes a cover that is substantially coextensive with the opening, the cover has a peripheral edge, an outer face and an inner face, the peripheral edge is located adjacent to the upper edge of the outer skirt , the outer face is substantially at the level of the upper edge of the outer skirt in a portion of the cover adjacent to the outer skirt and the inner face is located substantially opposite to the outer face; a fixed lock at one end on the peripheral edge of the cover and at the opposite end on the outer skirt; and a fixed tab on the peripheral edge of the cover substantially opposite the lock and projecting away from the cover in substantially parallel relation to the plane defined by the upper edge of the skirt; further characterized in that the latch is located within a first notch in the upper edge of the outer skirt so that an upper surface of a portion of the latch in the notch is substantially flush with the upper edge of the outer skirt and the tongue is located within it. of a second groove in the upper edge of the outer skirt so that the upper surface of a portion of the tongue in the second groove is substantially flush with the upper edge of the outer skirt.

15. A container closure for closing an open end of a container having a tubular side wall, comprising: a fragile seal made of a thin and breakable material, having a removable part that is defined by an edge groove in the seal, the seal also has a detachment strip defined by a pair of spaced apart grooves, the detachment strip comprises a starting end defined by a connecting groove connecting the spaced apart grooves; and a detachment tab including a spacer and a pair of gripping tabs, the spacer is fixed to the release strip adjacent to the starting end and each gripping tab has a proximal and a distal end, the proximal ends are fixed at the end. separator opposite the release strip and the distal end projects up and out of the separator to form a V; a flange having an internal periphery and an outer periphery, which is fixed in the seal adjacent the edge groove in the seal and projects away from the seal, the flange to fit the internal surface of a container side wall; an outer skirt having an internal periphery, an outer periphery, an upper edge and a closing flange located at its internal periphery, the outer skirt is fixed on the flange and projects away from the seal in a substantially opposite direction of the flange, the outer periphery of the outer skirt is offset from the outer periphery of the flange by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a side wall of a container so that when the closure is fixed in the container, the outer periphery of the outer skirt is level of the external surface of the side wall; a removable cover having a cover and an internal skirt, the cover has an outer periphery and the internal skirt has an internal periphery, an outer periphery and a protrusion on its outer periphery, the cover removably covers a defined opening by the inner periphery of the outer skirt and the inner skirt fits removably on the inner periphery of the outer skirt, the projection to provide a pressure adjustment with the closure flange on the outer skirt when the cover is in its closed position and the the lid also includes a lifting tab that is fixed to the outer periphery of the cover and projects away from it; and a fixed lock at one end on the cover opposite the lifting tab and at the opposite end at the outer periphery of the outer skirt adjacent to the seal; further characterized in that the lifting tab and the lock are each retained in a respective notch in the upper edge of the outer skirt so that the upper surfaces of the lifting tab and the lock are substantially flush with the upper edge of the outer skirt.