WO1993022204A1 - Easy open closure - Google Patents

Easy open closure Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1993022204A1
WO1993022204A1 PCT/EP1993/001016 EP9301016W WO9322204A1 WO 1993022204 A1 WO1993022204 A1 WO 1993022204A1 EP 9301016 W EP9301016 W EP 9301016W WO 9322204 A1 WO9322204 A1 WO 9322204A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
closure
container
tab
score
vacuum
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP1993/001016
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jean François DEVAUD
Original Assignee
Carnaudmetalbox Sa
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 Carnaudmetalbox Sa filed Critical Carnaudmetalbox Sa
Priority to EP93911781A priority Critical patent/EP0638043A1/en
Publication of WO1993022204A1 publication Critical patent/WO1993022204A1/en

Links

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
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/18—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient
    • B65D81/20—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
    • B65D81/2007—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas under vacuum
    • B65D81/2015—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas under vacuum in an at least partially rigid container
    • 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
    • B65D17/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions
    • B65D17/28—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions at lines or points of weakness
    • B65D17/401—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions at lines or points of weakness characterised by having the line of weakness provided in an end wall
    • B65D17/4012—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions at lines or points of weakness characterised by having the line of weakness provided in an end wall for opening partially by means of a tearing tab
    • 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
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/16—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas
    • B65D51/1672—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby venting occurs by manual actuation of the closure or other element
    • B65D51/1677—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby venting occurs by manual actuation of the closure or other element by rupturing a portion of the closure

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an easy open closure.
  • it relates to an easy open closure for a container designed to be closed under vacuum and to a container provided with such a closure.
  • the traditional method of closing a vacuum-type container comprises simply placing the closure over the open end of the container so that the vacuum created in the container causes the closure to adhere to the container.
  • a tight seal is obtained by the use of a gasket or sealing compound provided between the container body and the closure.
  • the present invention seeks to provide a closure which improves the openability of a vacuum container whilst not unduly increasing the cost of manufacturing the closure.
  • an easy open closure for a container having a rigid body and being adapted to be closed under vacuum comprising a panel, a tab connected to the panel, and a score in the panel, the tab being suitable for rupturing the score and releasing the vacuum.
  • the tab is located close to the score and may substantially cover the score.
  • Easy-open ends are known for example for metal containers for carbonated drinks, in which a tab is generally riveted to a central panel of the end.
  • a closure portion of the end is defined by a score line which can be broken by lifting a rear portion of the tab so as to detach the closure portion from the rest of the central panel thus providing an aperture through which product may be extracted from the container.
  • ends and associated technology are well-known for beverage containers, for example, no suitable opening of this kind has been developed as a closure for vacuum containers.
  • the closure may be rigid and may therefore be used as a loose cover after opening the container to protect the product inside, since only a small vent hole will be present in the closure when the score is broken.
  • the primary function of the tab of the present invention is to break at least part of the score so as to release the vacuum.
  • the tab does not break the score so as to provide an aperture in the closure through which a product can be removed from the container as in a beverage container, for example.
  • the release of the vacuum enables the whole closure to be removed by simply lifting the closure, without needing to tear away the whole score or to provide access to the product via an aperture in the closure.
  • a container having a rigid body and provided with a closure as described above.
  • Figure 1 is a plan view of a closure according to the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a perspective view of the closure of figure 1 in use fixed to a vacuum container
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container of figure 2 after opening, with a portion of the closure cut away.
  • a container 10 (figures 2 and 3) and a metal closure 20.
  • the container body 10 is made of a rigid material suitable for withstanding a vacuum, for example of plastics or glass.
  • the closure 20 comprises a concave panel 25 having a peripheral flange 30 which has an inner groove on its underside in which a gasket or sealing compound 40 (figure 3) is provided.
  • the closure 20 fits on the container body 10 and the top edge of the container is embedded in the sealing compound 40 so that an air tight seal is formed when a vacuum pulls the closure onto the container body.
  • the closure 20 includes an easy opening device or tab 60 comprising a gripping ring or ring pull 70 and a lug 90 attached to the centre of the panel 25 by a rivet 95.
  • the lug portion of the tab substantially covers a U-shaped score 80 (dotted line in figure 1).
  • the tab is thus arranged so as to rupture the score 80 when the tab is lifted away from the panel by the gripping ring 70.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers Opened By Tearing Frangible Portions (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

A closure (20) for a vacuum container (10) and comprising a panel (25) and a tab (60) connected to the panel which substantially overlies a score (80). The tab is arranged so as to rupture the score when a rear portion of the tab is lifted away from the panel, thereby releasing the vacuum within the container. Access to a product within the container is then possible by simply lifting the closure.

Description

EASY OPEN CLOSURE
This invention relates to an easy open closure. In particular, it relates to an easy open closure for a container designed to be closed under vacuum and to a container provided with such a closure. The traditional method of closing a vacuum-type container comprises simply placing the closure over the open end of the container so that the vacuum created in the container causes the closure to adhere to the container. A tight seal is obtained by the use of a gasket or sealing compound provided between the container body and the closure.
The present invention seeks to provide a closure which improves the openability of a vacuum container whilst not unduly increasing the cost of manufacturing the closure.
According to the present invention, there is provided an easy open closure for a container having a rigid body and being adapted to be closed under vacuum, the closure comprising a panel, a tab connected to the panel, and a score in the panel, the tab being suitable for rupturing the score and releasing the vacuum.
Preferably, the tab is located close to the score and may substantially cover the score.
Easy-open ends are known for example for metal containers for carbonated drinks, in which a tab is generally riveted to a central panel of the end. A closure portion of the end is defined by a score line which can be broken by lifting a rear portion of the tab so as to detach the closure portion from the rest of the central panel thus providing an aperture through which product may be extracted from the container. Whilst such ends and associated technology are well-known for beverage containers, for example, no suitable opening of this kind has been developed as a closure for vacuum containers.
The closure may be rigid and may therefore be used as a loose cover after opening the container to protect the product inside, since only a small vent hole will be present in the closure when the score is broken.
The primary function of the tab of the present invention is to break at least part of the score so as to release the vacuum. The tab does not break the score so as to provide an aperture in the closure through which a product can be removed from the container as in a beverage container, for example. The release of the vacuum enables the whole closure to be removed by simply lifting the closure, without needing to tear away the whole score or to provide access to the product via an aperture in the closure.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container having a rigid body and provided with a closure as described above. A preferred embodiment of container will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a closure according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the closure of figure 1 in use fixed to a vacuum container; and
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container of figure 2 after opening, with a portion of the closure cut away. With reference to the figures, there is shown a container 10 (figures 2 and 3) and a metal closure 20.
The container body 10 is made of a rigid material suitable for withstanding a vacuum, for example of plastics or glass. The closure 20 comprises a concave panel 25 having a peripheral flange 30 which has an inner groove on its underside in which a gasket or sealing compound 40 (figure 3) is provided. The closure 20 fits on the container body 10 and the top edge of the container is embedded in the sealing compound 40 so that an air tight seal is formed when a vacuum pulls the closure onto the container body.
The closure 20 includes an easy opening device or tab 60 comprising a gripping ring or ring pull 70 and a lug 90 attached to the centre of the panel 25 by a rivet 95. The lug portion of the tab substantially covers a U-shaped score 80 (dotted line in figure 1).
The tab is thus arranged so as to rupture the score 80 when the tab is lifted away from the panel by the gripping ring 70. As the ring 70 is lifted, projecting fingers 75 of the tab press on respective bosses 100 and the score 80 is broken as the tab 60 pivots about a bendable region 85. As the score ruptures, air is able to enter the container 10 and so release the vacuum. The closure can then be removed easily by lifting it off the container.
It will be appreciated that the invention has been described above by way of example only and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CL AIMS :
1. An easy open closure for a container having a rigid body and being adapted to be closed under vacuum, the closure comprising a panel, a tab connected to the panel, and a score in the panel, the tab being suitable for rupturing the score and releasing the vacuum.
2. A closure according to claim 1, in which the score is substantially U-shaped.
3. A closure according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the tab is rivetted to the cover.
4. A closure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the tab comprises a gripping ring.
5. A closure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a sealing compound arranged at its periphery.
6. A closure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the score is rupturable to release the vacuum without providing a dispensing aperture in the closure.
7. A closure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the closure is substantially rigid.
8. A vacuum container comprising a rigid body and a closure according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
PCT/EP1993/001016 1992-04-30 1993-04-27 Easy open closure WO1993022204A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP93911781A EP0638043A1 (en) 1992-04-30 1993-04-27 Vacuum container with easy open closure

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9205382A FR2690672B1 (en) 1992-04-30 1992-04-30 EASY OPENING CAPSULE FOR VACUUM PACKAGING AND PACKAGING PROVIDED WITH SUCH A CAPSULE.
FR92/05382 1992-04-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1993022204A1 true WO1993022204A1 (en) 1993-11-11

Family

ID=9429445

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP1993/001016 WO1993022204A1 (en) 1992-04-30 1993-04-27 Easy open closure

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0638043A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2690672B1 (en)
WO (1) WO1993022204A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9514870D0 (en) * 1995-07-20 1995-09-20 Wtb Company The Ltd Wide-mouthed pressurisable beverage container
FR2829106B1 (en) * 2001-08-28 2004-10-01 Larroche Brigitte METHOD AND DEVICE FOR VACUUM CLOSURE OF A FOOD CONTAINER

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR778734A (en) * 1933-12-11 1935-03-22 Cirages Francais Soc Gen Des Packaging improvements
US3353739A (en) * 1967-03-10 1967-11-21 Reynolds Metals Co Container means having pull-off wall means
US4036398A (en) * 1976-08-31 1977-07-19 The Raymond Lee Organization, Inc. Container with removable ring and utensil carrying lid
FR2387856A1 (en) * 1977-04-20 1978-11-17 Bouchage Mecanique Container with vacuum seal cap - has flexible cap with weakened zone, ruptured to release vacuum and free cap
EP0070160A2 (en) * 1981-07-10 1983-01-19 Thomas Hunter Limited Container closure

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR778734A (en) * 1933-12-11 1935-03-22 Cirages Francais Soc Gen Des Packaging improvements
US3353739A (en) * 1967-03-10 1967-11-21 Reynolds Metals Co Container means having pull-off wall means
US4036398A (en) * 1976-08-31 1977-07-19 The Raymond Lee Organization, Inc. Container with removable ring and utensil carrying lid
FR2387856A1 (en) * 1977-04-20 1978-11-17 Bouchage Mecanique Container with vacuum seal cap - has flexible cap with weakened zone, ruptured to release vacuum and free cap
EP0070160A2 (en) * 1981-07-10 1983-01-19 Thomas Hunter Limited Container closure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2690672B1 (en) 1996-02-02
EP0638043A1 (en) 1995-02-15
FR2690672A1 (en) 1993-11-05

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