US3682349A - Easy-opening stopper for metal cans and the like - Google Patents

Easy-opening stopper for metal cans and the like Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3682349A
US3682349A US52273A US3682349DA US3682349A US 3682349 A US3682349 A US 3682349A US 52273 A US52273 A US 52273A US 3682349D A US3682349D A US 3682349DA US 3682349 A US3682349 A US 3682349A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
stopper
opening
cover
edge
lip
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US52273A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jean Cospen
Bernard Baumann
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3682349A publication Critical patent/US3682349A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D39/00—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers
    • B65D39/16—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers with handles or other special means facilitating manual actuation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D39/00—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D39/00—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers
    • B65D39/04—Cup-shaped plugs or like hollow flanged members

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an easy-opening closure or stopper for metal cans or the like.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view taken along the center of a cover embodying the features of this inventron;
  • F IG. 2 is a top plan view of the cover shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view through a stopper provided with reinforcing ribs
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view through a stopper provided with notches
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational view through a stopper having a reinforced center and a peripheral groove of variable depth
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the stopper in position of use on the cover
  • FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the stopper in FIG. 6 at an intermediate stage of removal
  • FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the stopper shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in a further advanced stage of removal.
  • FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a cover embodying the features of this invention with two openings.
  • the invention relates to an easy-opening closure for metal cans or the like manufactured with an opening in the cover which is hermetically sealed by a plastic stopper molded in situ and retained by a displaceable internal disappearing lip.
  • the stopper is molded in situ under known temperature and pressure conditions, for example by injection molding, by direct pressure molding, or by the total or partial molding of a preform, etc.
  • the material used is a plastic, preferably a polypropylene.
  • the movable disappearing lip rests on the inner surface of the cover along the edge of the opening to be plugged and extends in a general direction substantially perpendicular to this surface.
  • the movable lip is caused to rotate about an articulation zone which will hereinafter be defined, its upper side stopping substantially perpendicularly of the edge of the opening to enable the cover to be removed without tearing any of the material.
  • a second fixed lip is situated concentrically with the movable lip towards the center of the stopper.
  • the oppositesurfaces of the two lips may be flat, broken or curved.
  • the lips define a groove therebetween which may vary in width and which may vary in depth, depending upon the degree of stiffness desired to be imparted to the articulation zone.
  • the shape of the groove should enable the movable lip to rotate or rock about the articulation zone through an angle of at least without interference by the fixed lip.
  • the size of the fixed lip is also variable depending upon the requirements. It can be shrunk into a central inner reinforcement or omitted altogether in certain special cases.
  • the articulation zone isdetermined by a number of parameters: the distance between the starting point of the inner surface of the movable lip on the one hand and the edge of the opening of thecover on the other hand; the shape of the movable lip; the width of the groove; the mass of the fixed lip or central reinforcement, if present.
  • the depth of the groove separating the two lips can vary about its periphery, the effect of which is to graduate the effort required to remove the stopper.
  • the base of the stopper can be provided with parallel outer and/or inner notches, optionally staggered over the two surfaces.
  • the stiffness of the stopper can be increased by ribs on the central outer portion.
  • the stopper is provided externally with a grip member in the form of a tab, usually terminating in a ring or other readily gripped configuration.
  • the cover In instances where a liquid is to be packaged under pressure, such for example as beer, it can be advantageous to provide the cover with a second opening of smaller diameter than the main opening and which is plugged in substantially the same manner as the main opening, optionally with a modification of the articulation zone.
  • The-two stoppers are connected together by a bridge and the finger grip should be fixed to the stopper first to be removed. 2
  • the configuration of the lips allows an almost unlimited variation of shapes without departing from the scopeof the invention.
  • the cover 1 has an opening which is closed by the stopper 2.
  • the stopper consists of a diaphragm 3 surrounded by a reinforcing edge 4 of greater crosssectional thickness, and having an outer wall formed with a recessed portion 10" in which the free edge 10 of the cover 1 is inserted level with the diaphragm 3.
  • the reinforced edge 4 when viewed from the interior of the can, has a groove 5 which separates an outer movable lip 6 from a spaced inner fixed lip 7.
  • the part 8 of the reinforcing edge 4 which is situated above the level of the cover 1 is provided with a grip tab, such as tab 9, extending from the side of a tab 9' extending upwardly from the top surface.
  • a connecting strip or bridge 12 connects the inner edge'of the stopper 2 with a second stopper 18 of the same general construction, which is used when two openings are provided in the cover.
  • the stopper is formed of a plastic material, preferably a polypropylene, which is unaffected by the content material in the can.
  • the free edge of the cover I can be curved normally upwardly, as at 11, to take into consideration contraction of the plastic material during formation of the stopper into a preferential zone which enables the plastic material to be Stopped at the raised edge and contributes towards increasing the fluid-tightness of the closure.
  • FIG. 3 shows a stopper which can be removed in one go.
  • the central portion 3 is reinforced by a rib 13 which extends upwardly from the surface in laterally spaced apart relation with the reinforced edge and which, in the example shown, is circular but can be any other form.
  • the stiffening effect produced by the rib or ribs results in immediate detachment of the stopper around its entire periphery when the can is opened.
  • the central diaphragm can advantageously be provided with a series of spaced notches 14 on one side or on both sides of the diaphragm portion intermediate the reinforced edge of the stopper.
  • the notches can be provided opposite one another or, in the alternative, they can be staggered relative to one another in the respective surfaces, as shown in FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 5 Another possibility of obtaining gradual opening is illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • the diaphragm is highly reinforced with the diaphragm portion having a thickness which can be equal to that of the reinforcing edge.
  • the groove which separates the movable lip 6 from the central inner portion 17, which in this modification replaces the fixed lip 7, is variable in depth around the periphery, gradually diminishing from a maximum depth in the portion 15, where the tear tab 9 is situated, to a minimum depth at the portion 15' situated diametrically opposite.
  • FIGS. 6-8 illustrating the different phases involved in the removal of a stopper, the fixed lip has been replaced by a central downwardly extending reinforcement and the upper portion 3 above the can line is substantially the same in the middle as at the edge.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates the closure in position of use on the can.
  • the tap 9 is gripped by the user and pulled upwardly.
  • the movable lip 6 begins to turn about its articulation zone into the groove 5 in the direction towards the fixed lip 7.
  • the surface 6' which was in contact with the underside of the edge of the cover 1 gradually moves to a position perpendicular to its starting position, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.
  • a cover with two openings is shown in FIG. 9.
  • a large stopper 2 plugs the opening from which the content material is poured from the can while a smaller stopper l8 plugs the opening through which air can be admitted during removal of the stopper and while content material is being poured from the can.
  • the two stoppers 2 and 18 are joined by a bridging strip 12 with the tab 9 extending from the small stopper to a grip member 19 in the form ofa ring.
  • a removable stopper for hermetically sealing the opening formed of a stiff plastic material molded in situ and dimensioned to span the opening and extend a short distance beyond the opening with the stopper having a central body portion and an outer reinforcing portion, a top side facing outwardly of the container and a bottom side facing inside the container, a recessed portion extending inwardly from the outer edge of the stopper in which the edge of the cover about the opening is received in sealing relation, a movable lip extending downwardly from the bottom side of the stopper underlying the edge of the cover for articulation about the edge of the cover in response to an upwardly directed force, a fixed lip extending from the bottom side and spaced laterally inwardly from the movable lip members to define a groove between the movable lip and the fixed lip into which the movable lip is displaced about the edge of the opening in response to a force applied for removal of the stopper, and a tab extending from the outer reinforced portion of the stop
  • a stopper as claimed in claim 1 which is integrally molded of a polypropylene plastic.
  • a stopper as claimed in claim 1 in which the movable lip rests on the inner surface of the cover along the edge of the opening and extends in a general direction substantially perpendicular to the surface.
  • a stopper as claimed in claim 1 in which the groove varies in depth and/or in width.
  • a stopper as claimed in claim 4 in which the groove varies in depth from a maximum depth adjacent the tab to a minimum depth opposite the tab.
  • a stopper as claimed in claim 1 which includes one or more notches in the top side and/or the bottom side of the stopper.
  • a stopper as claimed in claim 7 in which the notches are in both the top side and bottom side surfaces of the stopper withthe notches arranged one over the other.
  • a cover as claimed in claim ll which includes a bridging strip joining the stoppers and a grip tab joined to the edge of the second stopper.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
US52273A 1969-07-09 1970-07-06 Easy-opening stopper for metal cans and the like Expired - Lifetime US3682349A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR6923376A FR2052045A5 (xx) 1969-07-09 1969-07-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3682349A true US3682349A (en) 1972-08-08

Family

ID=9037213

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US52273A Expired - Lifetime US3682349A (en) 1969-07-09 1970-07-06 Easy-opening stopper for metal cans and the like

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US3682349A (xx)
AT (1) AT309313B (xx)
BE (1) BE753056A (xx)
CH (1) CH520037A (xx)
FR (1) FR2052045A5 (xx)
GB (1) GB1323572A (xx)
IL (1) IL34858A (xx)
LU (1) LU61282A1 (xx)
NL (1) NL7010112A (xx)
OA (1) OA03291A (xx)
SE (1) SE370055B (xx)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4103804A (en) * 1975-10-06 1978-08-01 Fournier E P Clamp action sealing device for tab opening cans
US20030213803A1 (en) * 2002-03-29 2003-11-20 Chasteen Howard C. Beverage can end with a straw opening end
USD776529S1 (en) * 2015-01-26 2017-01-17 G3 Enterprises, Inc. Carbonated beverage cap liner
US20170260801A1 (en) * 2011-08-26 2017-09-14 Integrity Products & Supplies Inc. Access Port Seal

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL7807892A (nl) * 1977-07-28 1979-01-30 Tokan Kogyo Co Ltd Deksel voor een houder voorzien van een kunststofdeel dat kan worden geopend, en werkwijze voor het maken van een dergelijke deksel.
GB2401861A (en) * 2003-05-22 2004-11-24 Marc Ray Swift Can drinks saver plug

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2848130A (en) * 1953-10-07 1958-08-19 Duo Vent Vacuum Closure Compan Pressure resistant closures
US3021976A (en) * 1959-09-24 1962-02-20 Nat Can Corp Container
US3106311A (en) * 1961-01-09 1963-10-08 Fairchild Edwin Bradley Container closure
US3107838A (en) * 1960-03-16 1963-10-22 Celluplastics Inc Bottom closure for a plastic container
US3133666A (en) * 1962-01-17 1964-05-19 Continental Can Co Closure plug means
US3428212A (en) * 1967-04-20 1969-02-18 Myles A Rohrlick Closure for easy opening cans
US3437227A (en) * 1968-02-21 1969-04-08 Continental Can Co Easy opening container
US3473692A (en) * 1967-10-20 1969-10-21 Continental Can Co Easy opening container with protective bead

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2848130A (en) * 1953-10-07 1958-08-19 Duo Vent Vacuum Closure Compan Pressure resistant closures
US3021976A (en) * 1959-09-24 1962-02-20 Nat Can Corp Container
US3107838A (en) * 1960-03-16 1963-10-22 Celluplastics Inc Bottom closure for a plastic container
US3106311A (en) * 1961-01-09 1963-10-08 Fairchild Edwin Bradley Container closure
US3133666A (en) * 1962-01-17 1964-05-19 Continental Can Co Closure plug means
US3428212A (en) * 1967-04-20 1969-02-18 Myles A Rohrlick Closure for easy opening cans
US3473692A (en) * 1967-10-20 1969-10-21 Continental Can Co Easy opening container with protective bead
US3437227A (en) * 1968-02-21 1969-04-08 Continental Can Co Easy opening container

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4103804A (en) * 1975-10-06 1978-08-01 Fournier E P Clamp action sealing device for tab opening cans
US20030213803A1 (en) * 2002-03-29 2003-11-20 Chasteen Howard C. Beverage can end with a straw opening end
US20170260801A1 (en) * 2011-08-26 2017-09-14 Integrity Products & Supplies Inc. Access Port Seal
US10968689B2 (en) * 2011-08-26 2021-04-06 Integrity Products & Supplies Inc. Access port seal
USD776529S1 (en) * 2015-01-26 2017-01-17 G3 Enterprises, Inc. Carbonated beverage cap liner

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2033907A1 (de) 1971-02-18
IL34858A (en) 1974-03-14
DE2033907B2 (de) 1976-11-18
NL7010112A (xx) 1971-01-12
FR2052045A5 (xx) 1971-04-09
GB1323572A (en) 1973-07-18
BE753056A (fr) 1971-01-06
OA03291A (fr) 1970-12-15
SE370055B (xx) 1974-09-30
LU61282A1 (xx) 1971-07-06
AT309313B (de) 1973-08-10
IL34858A0 (en) 1970-09-17
CH520037A (fr) 1972-03-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5460287A (en) Blow-molded wide mouth plastic container and injection-molded lid
US4202455A (en) Molded plastic container for use with a cap having inner and outer skirts
US4638916A (en) Closure with snap-type hinge cap
US4166552A (en) Plastic cap and container construction
US3622028A (en) Closure construction
US3323671A (en) Container closure with hinged cover portion
US3349950A (en) Container with segmented lid seat
US3482725A (en) Closures and methods of making the same
US3940004A (en) Widemouth jar neck and plastic cap construction
US4024976A (en) Tamperproof molded package
US7121420B2 (en) Container with removable protective element
US3624789A (en) Container stacking and sealing overcap
US4687114A (en) Tamper indicating closure for containers
US20050269328A1 (en) Self-adjusting re-sealable spring center closure
US3025989A (en) Closures for containers
US3025988A (en) Non-removable closure
US3352448A (en) Resilient closure
FI83501B (fi) Anordning foer tillslutning av behaollare.
US4032029A (en) Tamper-proof bottle cap and container
US3653529A (en) Rinsable bottle cap seal device
US3557998A (en) Wide mouth container and closure having integral opening means
US3682349A (en) Easy-opening stopper for metal cans and the like
US3424338A (en) Resealable can
KR20020093872A (ko) 제거 보조부를 갖는 복합 마개 및 그 제조 방법
CA1138819A (en) Single-piece plastic closure having internal seal forming means