OA20043A - Metallic can lid. - Google Patents

Abstract

A metallic can end having a reclosable opening, in particular for beverage cans and for storing foodstuffs and other liquid, pasty, powder, or solid products, having a microgap or weakening line provided in the metallic end surface and peripheral about the opening, having a sealing frame composed of plastic material connected to the fixed end surface and surrounding the opening region, having a closure unit composed of plastic material that is connected to the upwardly pivotable metal end region disposed within the microgap or weakening line, that is pivotably attached to the fixed end surface via a pivot bearing, and that is preferably provided with a tear-open member that is upwardly pivotably connected to the closure unit diametrically opposite the pivot bearing, wherein the sealing frame and the closure unit cooperate in a sealing marmer with one another, preferably via sealing and latching ribs and associated reception grooves, and the metallic can region disposed within the peripheral microgap or weakening line is received and held in the opening region of the end, wherein the sealing frame is connected to the fixed end surface and the closure unit is connected to the upwardly pivotable metallic end region, in each case with material continuity, in particular by a thermal process, using an adhesive agent that is preferably suitable for foodstuffs and/or has lubricating properties, and wherein the sealing edges are configured such that the radially innermost sealing edge still seals on the opening of the can end when the radially outer sealing edges have just been released.

Description

Metallic Can Lid

The présent invention relates to a metallic can lid having a reclosable opening, in particular for beverage cans and for containers for storing foodstuffs and other liquid, pasty, powdery and/or solid products.

A can end having a reclosable opening is known from EP 1 607 341 A1 in which an opening is introduced in the metallic can lid and the margin of this opening is beaded to create an anchorage possibility for a prefabricated plastic closure part. The plastic closure part includes a base partwhich is to be connected to the bead margin ofthe can opening and in which an opening closed by a fiat stopper is formed. The fiat stopper is connected to the opening margin via a plastic tear seam so that the fiat stopper connected to a tear tab can be released from the base plastic part via the tear tab by exertion of a pull and can be pivoted into an opening position. The opening can be temporarily closed again by pressing in the fiat stopper which is preferably conical at its lower side.

Reclosable can ends are furthermore described, for example, in DE 10 2010 013 531 A1, DE 10 2015 112 428 A1 and EP 2 354 022 B1.

It is the object ofthe invention to provide a reclosable can end that is particularly favorable in manufacture and that, on the one hand, is nevertheless particularly easy to actuate and, on the other hand, has good sealing properties.

This object is satisfied by a metallic can lid having the features of claim 1.

A microgap ensures a particularly simple opening of the can end, but a weakening line is also generally suitable. An effective closure and reclosing can be achieved via the sealing and latching ribs and via the associated réception grooves. It is particularly advantageous in this respect that the sealing frarrie is bonded to the fixed end surface and that the closure unit is bonded to the upwa 'dly pivotable metallic end région.

In accordance with the invention, the sealing and latching ribs form at least two, preferably three, sealing edges with the réception grooves, with the sealing edges being configured such that on the opening ofthe can end, the radially innermost sealing edge still seals when the radially outer sealing edge or both radially outer sealing edges hâve ό just been released. A so-called venting of a can closed by the can end can be achieved in this manner, that is a slow pressure drop before the complété opening ofthe can end.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the radially innermost sealing edge has a larger distance from the end surface than the other sealing edge or than the two other sealing edges. The innermost sealing edge thereby releases after the other sealing edge or after the two other sealing edges so that said venting is achieved.

In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment ofthe invention, at least the radially innermost sealing edge extends in a plane that is inclined with respect to the plane ofthe end région disposed within the microgap or the weakening line, with the two planes having the greatest distance from one another on the side remote from the pivot bearing. It can be achieved by this embodiment that the innermost sealing edge seals over its total periphery for so long until the outer sealing edge or the two outer sealing edges hâve been released.

In accordance with a further embodiment ofthe invention that is also claimed per se, the sealing and latching ribs, on the one hand, and the réception grooves, on the other hand, are configured such that they increasingly interlock with one another with an upwardly arching can end. It can hereby be ensured that the can end also remains closed on an increasing internai pressure in the san.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this idea ofthe invention, a latching rib provided at the sealing frame has an outwardly facing hook that coopérâtes with a correspondingly inwardly facing latch projection of a receiver of the closure unit. An increasing interlocking with upwarcily arching can ends is achieved by this embodiment.

In accordance with yet another emoodiment ofthe invention that is likewise also claimed per se, the tear-open member has an aperture into which a prolongation of the closure unit engages, with the prolongation being connected to the tear-open members so firmly, in particular bonded, that the prolongation is torn off from the closure unit on the upward pivoting of the tear-open member. An originality closure is created by this embodiment, that is a closure whose opening is -ecognizably irréversible.

In accordance with a particularly preferred further development of this idea ofthe invention, the aperture and the prolongation are provided in the région of the pivot bearing of the tear-open part. It is hereby achieved that the tearing off of the prolongation already takes place on the raising of the tear-open part so that every manipulation of the can end can be prevented.

An embodiment of the invention is represented in the drawing and will be described in the following. There are shown, scherr atically in each case

Fig. 1 a perspective view of a can end in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 a plan view of the upper side of the can end of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 a section in accordance with the line A-A in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 a section in accordance with the line B-B in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 detail C of Fig. 3 at an increased scale;

Fig. 6 detail D of Fig. 3 at an increased scale;

Fig. 7 a plan view of sealing frame of a can end in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 8 a section in accordance with the line A-A in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 a section in accordance with the line Ο-C in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10 detail B of Fig. 8 at an increased scale.

The can end 1 shown in the Figures comprises métal, in particular aluminum, and has a reclosable opening. An upwardly p votable end région 3 is provided beside a fixed end surface 2 for this purpose. The upv/ardly pivotable end région 3 is separated from the fixed end région 2 by a peripheral microgap 4 or by a weakening line (see in particular Fig. 6).

A sealing frame 5 that is composed of plastic material and that surrounds the opening région is connected to the fixed end surface 2, and indeed in particular by a so-called hot melt process using a bonding agent to ensure a firm connection to the aluminum of the £ end . A closure unit 6 that is likewise composed of plastic and that is pivotably attached via a pivot bearing 7 to the fixed erd surface 2 is furthermore connected to the upwardly pivotable metallic end région 3. The pivot bearing 7 and the closure unit 6 are in turn in particular connected to the fixed end surface 2 or to the upwardly pivotable end région 3 via a hot melt connection using a bonding agent.

The closure unit is connected at the side diametrically opposite the pivot bearing 7 to an upwardly pivotable tear-open member 8 that is arranged in parallel with the upper end side 9 in the non-upwardly pivoted state. The tear-open member 8 is formed as annular in a known manner and can be pivoted upwardly about a pivot bearing 11 by being engaged by a finger in an engagement end 10 opposite the end surface.

The sealing frame 5 and the closure unit 6 cooperate in a sealing manner via sealing and latching ribs 12, 13, 14 at the sealing frame 5 and via associated réception grooves 15, 16, 17 at the closure unit 6. Three sealing edges 18, 19, 20 are thereby formed by which the opening région of the can end is sealed. An imperviousness of the can end is thereby also ensured when using a microgap 4 between the upwardly pivotable end région 3 and the fixed end région 2.

As can in particular be seen in Fig. 6, the radially innermost sealing edge 18 is further remote from the end surface than the two other sealing edges 19 and 20. The innermost sealing edge 18 therefore still seals when the two outer sealing edges 19 and 20 hâve already just been released on the opening of the can end. A so-called venting of the can interior, that is a slow pressure drop prior to the complété opening, can take place in this manner.

As can in particular be seen in Figs. 9 and 10, the radially innermost sealing edge 18 extends in a plane I that is inclined with respect to the end plane II. The inclination here, for example, amounts to 1 to 2°, in particular to 1.5°. It is hereby ensured that the innermost sealing edge 18 still seals on the upward pivoting of the end région 3 over the total periphery of said sealing edge 18 when the two outer sealing edge 19, 20 hâve just released. It can hereby be prevented on the venting of the can interior that liquid moves from the can interior to the outside.

As can in particular be recognized m Figs. 5 and 6, the radially outermost sealing and latching rib 12 provided at the sealing frame 5 has an outwardly facing hook 21 that Z coopérâtes with a correspondingly inwardly facing latching projection 22 of the associated receiver 15 of the closure unit 6. It is hereby achieved that the sealing and latching rib 12 increasingly interlocks with the receiver 15 or its latching projection when the can end arches upwardly, for example due to a rising internai pressure in the can.

As can in particular be seen in Figs. 2 and 6, the tear-open member 8 has an aperture 23 into which a prolongation 24 of the closure unit 6 engages. The prolongation 24 is so firmly connected to the tear-open member 8, in particular bonded, that the prolongation 24 is torn off from the closure unit 6 on the upward pivoting of the tear-open member 8.

Such a firm connection can, for example, be achieved in that the prolongation 24 is initially melted after the injection molding of this plastic part such that it is firmly connected to the part of the tear-open member 8 forming the aperture 23. This can, for example, be achieved by a kind of soldering iron.

As can be recognized in Fig. 6, the aperture 23 and the prolongation 24 are provided in the région of the pivot bearing 11 cf the tear-open member 8. It is thereby achieved that a small raising of the tear-open member 8 is already suffîcient to tear off the prolongation 24.

in the embodiment shown, the inné r side of the can end is laminated by a plastic film 25 that covers the total inner can side Differing from this, the plastic film can also be formed as annular and can only extend a few tenths of a millimeter, in particular 3 to 4 tenths of a millimeter, at both sides beyond the microgap 4 or the weakening line. A different possibility comprises using a disk-shaped sealing film that extends a few tenths of a millimeter, for example 3 to 4 tenths of a millimeter, radially outwardly beyond the microgap 4 or the weakening line. The sealing film can be formed as a largely fiat disk in this case. Both the annular and the disk-shaped sealing films are preferably formed as stamped parts.

Whereas the sealing frame 5 and the closure unit 6 are always attached to the outer side of the can end 1 and are connected to the can end via a bonding agent, the inner end side can also, differing from the embodiment, be at least largely free of laminations and the like. The inner end side can, however, be provided with a lacquer layer, in particular suitable for use in foodstuffs, to prevent a contact of the product contained in the can to the metallic end material.//

As can in particular be recognized in Figs. 5 and 6, the closure unit 6 bonded to the fixed end région 2 engages over the microgap 4. An imperviousness of the can end can also be achieved in this manner without a sealing film at the inner end side.

Réference numéral list

1	can end
2	fixed end région
3	upwardly pivotable end région
4	microgap
5	sealing frame
6	closure unit
7	pivot bearing
8	tear-open member
9	upper can side
10	engagement end
11	pivot bearing of 8
12	sealing and latching rib
13	sealing and latching rib
14	sealing and latching rib
15	réception groove
16	réception groove
17	réception groove
18	sealing edge
19	sealing edge
20	sealing edge
21	hook
22	projection
23	aperture
24	prolongation
25 I	sealing film plane
II	plane (J

Claims

Claims (6)

1. Claims

   1. A metallic can lid having a reclosable opening, in particular for beverage cans and for containers for storing foodstuffs and other liquid, pasty, powdery, or solid products, having a microgap (4) or weakening line provided in the metallic end surface and peripheral about the opening, having a sealing frame (5) composed of plastic material connected to the fixed end surface (2) and surrounding the opening région, having a closure unit (6) that is composed of plastic material, that is connected to the upwardly pivotable metallic end région (3) disposed within the microgap (4) or the weakening line, that is pivotably attached to the fixed end surface (2) via a pivot bearing (7), and that is preferably provided with a tear-open member (8) that is upwardly pivotably connected to the closure unit (6) diametrically opposite the pivot bearing (7), wherein the sealing frame (5) and the closure unit (6) cooperate in a sealing manner via sealing and latching ribs (12, 13, 14) and associated réception grooves (15, 16, 17) and the metallic end région (3) disposed within the peripheral microgap (4) or weakening line is received and held in the opening région ofthe end (1), and wherein the sealing and latching ribs (12, 13, 14) form at least two, preferably three sealing edges (18, 19, 20) with the réception grooves (15, 16, 17), characterized in that the sealing edges are configured such that on the opening ofthe can end (1), the radially innermost sealing edge (18) still seals when the radially outer sealing edge or the radially outer sealing edges (19, 20) hâve just been released.
2. 2. A can lid in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the radially innermost sealing edge (18) has a greater distance from the end surface than the other sealing edge or both the other sealing edges (19, 20).
3. 3. A can lid in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the radially innermost sealing edge (18) extends in a plane (I) that is inclined with respect to the plane ofthe metallic end région (3) disposed within the microgap (4) or weakening line, with the two planes (I, II) having the greatest distance from one another on the side remote from the pivot bearing (7).
4. 4. A metallic can lid having a reclosable opening, in particular for beverage cans and for containers for storing foodstuffs and other liquid, pasty, powdery, or solid Products, having a microgap (4) or weakening line provided in the metallic end surface and peripheral abo jt the opening, having a sealing frame (5) composed of plastic material connected to the fixed end surface (2) and surrounding the opening région, having a closure unit (6) that is composed of plastic material, that is connected to the upwardly pivotable metallic end région (3) disposed within the microgap (4) or the weakening line, that is pivotably attached to the fixed end surface (2) via a pivot bearing (7), and that is preferably provided with a tear-open member (8) that is upwardly pivotably connected to the closure unit (6) diametrically opposite the pivot bearing (7), wherein the sealing frame (5) and the closure unit (6) cooperate in a sealing manner via sealing and latching ribs (12, 13, 14) and associated réception grooves (15, 16, 17) and the metallic end région (3) disposed within the peripheral microgap (4) or weakening line is received and held in the opening région ofthe end (1), and wherein the sealing and latching ribs (12, 13, 14) form sealing ecges (18, 19, 20) with the réception grooves (15, 16, 17), in particular in accordance with any one ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing and latching ribs (12, 13, 14), on the one hand, and the réception grooves (15, 16, 17), on the other hand, are configured such that they increasingly interlock with one another with an upwardly arching can end (1).
5. 5. A can lid in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that a latching rib (12) provided at the sealing frame (5) has an outwardly facing hook (21) that coopérâtes with a correspondingly inwardly facing latching projection (22) of an associated réception groove ofthe closure unit (6).
6. 6. A metallic can lid having a reclosable opening, in particular for beverage cans and for containers for storing foodstuffs and other liquid, pasty, powdery, or solid Products, having a microgap (4) or weakening line provided in the metallic end surface and peripheral about the opening, having a sealing frame (5) composed of plastic material connected to the fixed end surface (2) and surrounding the opening région, having a closure unit (6) that is composed of plastic material, that is connected to the upwardly pivotable metallic end région (3) disposed within the microgap (4) or the weakening line, that is pivotably attached to the fixed end^A^ surface (2) via a pivot bearing (7), and that is provided with a tear-open member (8) that is upwardly pivotably connected to the closure unit (6) diametrically opposite the pivot bearing (7), wherein the sealing frame (12) and the closure unit (13) preferably cooperate in a sealing manner via sealing and latching ribs (12, 13, 5 14) and associated réception grooves (15, 16, 17) and the metallic end région (3) disposed within the peripheral microgap (4) or weakening line is received and held in the opening région of the end (1), in particular in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

   10 the tear-open member (8) has an aperture (23) into which a prolongation (24) of the closure unit (6) engages, with the prolongation (24) being so firmly connected, in particular bonded, to the tear-open member (8) that the prolongation (24) is torn off from the closure unit (6) on the upward pivoting of the tear-off member (8).

   15 7. A can lid in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that the aperture (23) and the prolongation (24) are provided in the région of the pivot bearing of the tear-open member (8).