WO2004089768A1

WO2004089768A1 - Strip for opening and closing tins and other containers

Info

Publication number: WO2004089768A1
Application number: PCT/ES2004/000097
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eva Pastor Serra
Original assignee: Eva Pastor Serra
Priority date: 2003-04-08
Filing date: 2004-03-01
Publication date: 2004-10-21
Also published as: AR043990A1; BRPI0403957A; AU2004228384A1; CN1697761A; ES2246635A1; EP1612154A1; US20060175332A1; ES2246635B1; JP2006522721A; MXPA04011659A; CA2487043A1

Abstract

Strip (1) for opening and closing tins and other containers, comprising a strip element or band (5) as integral part of the lid (3) delimited by a major external score line (6) and a minor internal line (7), circumferencially, with at least one enlarged riveting area (12) surrounding a tongue (8) in said lid of the tin or other container, of an extremity of the axis (9), from the base stretch to the other extremity, with at least on rivet (10) which connects the tearing ring (2) on its projecting side (11), used as lever for acting on a reinforced point (14) of the lid (3) when tearing off manually the strip element or band (5) with the part of the lid (3) which contains the strip element or band (5).

Description

THREAD - OPENER FOR OPENING AND CLOSING OF CANS AND OTHER CONTAINERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wire-opener for opening and closing cans and other containers, of which they can be used to uncover a part of the lid surface of a can or other container, as a hole, by manually starting a starter ring attached to the covers of these to allow access to its contents and subsequent closure as a possibility of protection in the case of storage of remains of this.

Examples of such canned products to be uncovered and stored are the well-known condensed milk, olives, and rice, or soft drinks in aluminum cans in the presentation sector for food consumption, but also the oil for combustion engines or liquid cooling for them, etc.

Specifically, the yarn-opener, object of the invention, can be used to uncover canned content, and to store remnants thereof due to its progressive consumption, provided that it is liquid to a certain point of viscosity, or solid with the condition that due to Its granular structure is suitable for pouring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

So far, only the openers that are known They are used by manual starting with a device attached to the lid of a can or other container, such as a ring or similar, to uncover part or all of the surface of the can, making useless in this maneuver the element known as insert or tongue, which covers the pouring hole, delimited by a weakening line, by the permanent union with the ring device or similar through a rivet, or because it is inserted inside the can or other container below from the surface of the lid without the possibility of being recovered for a later closure of the uncovered hole. However, there is no opener device that offers a solution for the possibility of plugging the pouring hole and saving the rest of the contents of the unconsumed container after the device has been used for manually starting the insert or tongue using this staying as part of the lid and moving along an axis, and itself.

Therefore, there is a need for an opening wire for opening and closing cans and other containers, especially for cans containing liquid or solid food products, but also for containers with any other content that is usually presented as a product in cans or other containers in the market, offering the advantages of small size, application of cheap materials, versatility of use and practical handling, which allows the uncovering and closing to store product remains without resorting to devices other than those incorporated in the can or another container, and use the insert or tongue if Same as closing element. It is precisely here that the present invention intervenes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The opening wire developed by this invention comprises an element of thread or strip, as an integral part of the lid of a can or other container, delimited by a larger outer line and a smaller inner line, of circumferential weakening, surrounding a tongue in said cover from one end of the axis of the base thereof to the other, with at least one rivet, which joins the starter ring on its side that serves as a lever with the part of the cover containing the thread element or strip.

According to one aspect of the invention, the thread or strip element as an integral part of the cover delimited by a major and a minor line of weakening comprises at least one area of properly enlarged riveting location.

According to another aspect of the invention, the major and minor weakening lines have points of attachment to each other at their ends.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the major and minor weakening lines have no points of attachment to each other at their ends.

According to another additional aspect of the invention, the tongue comprises an axis at its base, along which the movement for opening and closing the hole is made.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the starter ring comprises a side protruding from the area riveted and opposite to the ring that acts as a lever at the time of manual system startup.

According to another aspect of the invention, the lever acts on a reinforced point on the cover at the time of manual starting of the thread or strip element with the starter ring.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the rivet is located on the side opposite the base of the tongue in the center of the circumferential thread or strip element.

According to another additional aspect of the invention, the rivets are located on both sides of the shaft at the base of the tongue at the ends of the circumferential thread or strip element. According to a further aspect of the invention, the connection of the starting ring with the part of the cover containing the thread or strip element is carried out with conventional riveting.

According to another aspect of the invention, the starter ring comprises guides with flanges on its inner face with suitable measures for the reception of the tongue with its free sides and the cover of the strip not covered by it, once the Thread or strip element. According to a further aspect of the invention, the constituent part of the starter ring can have any suitable shape that serves its purpose.

According to another additional aspect of the invention, the constituent part of the thread or strip element can have any suitable shape depending on the shape of the tongue that serves its purpose.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the parts constitutive of the system can be of any suitable material of sufficient rigidity, preferably of tin or plastic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the attached schematic drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a plan view of a can lid with the starter ring attached to it through two rivets located at the base of the tongue, at the ends of the thread or strip element, - Figure 2 it is a side elevation of the lid of the figure l _s

- Figure 3 shows a plan view of a can lid with the starter ring and the thread or strip element removed, the insert or tongue with the axis of opening and closing movement at its base and the reinforcement point for the starter ring lever,

- Figure 4 is a plan view of a starter ring with the thread or strip element, two side rivets and guides with flanges on its inner face, - Figure 5 is a side elevation of the starter ring of Figure 4,

- Figure 6 shows a plan view of a can lid with the starter ring and the thread or strip element covering the insert or tongue with its guides with flanges on its inner face,

- Figure 7 is a side elevation of a can lid with the starter ring and the thread or strip element covering the insert or tongue with its guides with flanges on its inner face and with the opening hole uncovered,

- Figure 8 shows a plan view of a can lid with the starter ring and the thread or strip element raised, the insert or tongue with the axis of opening and closing movement at its base and the reinforcement point for the starter ring lever,

- Figure 9 is a plan view of a starter ring with the thread or strip element, a central rivet and guides with flanges on its inner face,

- Figure 10 is a side elevation of the starter ring of Figure 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For reasons of simplicity of exposure, the following description will be made in relation to the use of the yarn-opener, object of the invention, to uncover and store food cans.

However, this should not be construed as a limitation of the invention, but as an illustration thereof by way of example, since, as mentioned above, the present package may have many other applications.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, it is noted that the opening wire, object of the invention, comprises a wire or strip element (5), as an integral part of the cover (3), delimited this by a major outer line (6), and another minor inner line (7), of weakening in circumference, circling a tongue (8), in said can lid or other container, from one end of the shaft (9), from the base (15), from the same to the other, with two rivets (10), which drain the starter ring (2), on its side protrusion (11), which acts as a lever, with the part of the cover (3), which contains the thread or strip element (5).

As can be seen in Figure 3, the tongue (8), with the shaft (9), at its base (15), remains in the lid of the can (3), visible both the reinforced point (14), as a hole of the hole (4), with its two zones (12), of location of riveted suitably widened, uncovered by the manual start of the starting ring (2), with the element of thread or strip (5). To use said opening thread, the manual start-up is first carried out by inserting a finger into the starter ring (2), and pulling it through a decisive upward movement.

The constituent part of the thread-opener device shown in figures 4 and 5, with its starter ring (2), its protruding side (11), and its guides with flanges (16), on its inner face joined to The cover (3), by means of two rivets (10), until the moment of starting, is loose together with the thread or strip element (5), attached to the rivets (10).

Once the separation by starting is made, the tongue (8), with its free sides in the guides with its flanges (16), of the thread-opener device is shown as shown in figure 6, serving the connection between the starter ring (2), and the tongue (8), as an element to cover and uncover the hole (4), with opening movements and closing on the shaft (9), at the base (15), of the tongue (8), as can be seen in figure 7.

Figures 8 to 10 show a second execution of the thread-opener, object of the invention, in which a single rivet is used.

As can be seen in Figure 8, the tongue (8), with the shaft (9), at its base (15), remains in the lid of the can (3), visible both the reinforced point (14), as a hole in the hole (4), with its only area (12), with a properly widened riveting location, uncovered by the manual start of the starter ring (2), with the thread or strip element (5).

In order to use said opening wire, the procedure is carried out as in the previous execution, firstly by manual starting by inserting a finger into the starter ring (2), and pulling it through a decisive upward movement.

The constituent part of the thread-opener device shown in Figures 9 and 10, with its starter ring (2), its protruding side (11), and its guides with flanges (16), on its inner face joined to The cover (3), by means of a single rivet (10), until the moment of starting, is released together with the element of thread or strip (5) attached to the rivet (10).

Once the separation by starting is made, the tongue (8), with its free sides in the guides with its flanges (16), of the thread-opener device is introduced identically as shown in figure 6, serving the connection between the starter ring (2), and the tongue (8), also in this embodiment as an element to cover and uncover the hole (4), with opening and closing movements along the shaft (9), at the base (15), of the tongue (8), as in figure 7.

Obviously, the use of the thread-opener, object of the invention, for tasks other than the opening and closing of food cans would be carried out in the same manner described above, that is, once the manual start has been carried out by means of a decisive upward movement, it proceeds to the storage of the rest of the product serving the union between the starter ring (2), and the tongue (8), as an element to cover and uncover the hole (4).

The invention has thus created a wire-opener that offers several advantages, among which the following can be highlighted:

Simple structure, and as a consequence, ease of use.

- Practical use, due to the universality and versatility of application. - Use of cheap materials, such as tinplate and plastics.

- Form of aesthetic presentation, since both waiting to be used for the first time and subsequently to store remnants of unconsumed content, the opening thread offers an aspect of strength.

The above description has focused on the essential features of the invention. However, it is understood that the opener described could be subject to modifications in its shape and structure without departing from the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the scope thereof be limited solely by the content of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Thread - opener (1), for opening and closing cans and other containers, of which by manually starting a starter ring (2), attached to the covers of these uncover a part of the surface of the lid (3), of the can or other container, as a hole (4), to allow access to its contents and subsequent closure as a possibility of protection in the case of storage of remains thereof, characterized in that it comprises a wire element or strip (5), as an integral part of the cover (3), delimited by a larger outer line (6), and another smaller inner line (7), of weakening in circumference, circling a tongue (8), in said lid of the can or other container, from one end of the shaft (9), from the base thereof to the other, with at least one rivet (10), which joins the starter ring (2), on its protruding side (11), which acts as a lever, with the part of the cover (3), which contains the thread or strip element (5).

2. Thread - opener (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that the thread or strip element (5), as an integral part of the cover (3), delimited by a larger line (6), and a smaller one (7 ), of weakening comprises at least one area (12), of a properly widened riveting location.

3. Thread - opener (1), according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the major (6) and minor (7) weakening lines have joining points (13), each other at their ends.

4. Thread - opener (1) according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the weakening lines Major (6), and minor (7), have no points of attachment to each other at their ends.

5. Thread - opener (1) according to claims 1 to

4, characterized in that the tongue (8), comprises an axis (9), at its base, along which the movement for opening and closing the hole (4) is made.

6. Thread - opener (1) according to claims 1 to

5, characterized in that the starter ring (2), comprises an protruding side (11), to the topped area and opposite to the ring (2), which acts as a lever at the time of manual system start-up.

7. Thread - opener (1) according to claims 1 to

6, characterized in that the lever on the protruding side (11) acts on a reinforced point (14), on the cover (3), at the time of manual starting of the thread or strip element (5), with the starter ring (two).

8. Thread - opener (1) according to claims 1 to

7, characterized in that the rivet (10), is located on the opposite side of the base (15), of the tongue

(8), in the center of the thread or strip element (5), in circumference.

9. Thread - opener (1), according to claims 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, characterized in that the rivets (10) are located on both sides of the shaft (9), at the base (15) , of the tongue (8), at the ends of the thread or strip element (5), in circumference.

10. Thread - opener (1), according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the union of the starter ring (2), with the part of the cover (3), which contains the thread or strip element (5) , is done with conventional riveting.

11. Thread - opener (1), according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the starter ring (2), comprises guides with flanges (16), on its inner face, with suitable measures for the reception of the tongue (8 ), with its free sides and the cover of the strip not covered by it, once the thread or strip element (5) has been torn off.

12. Thread - opener (1), according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the constituent part of the starter ring (2), can have any suitable shape that serves its purpose.

13. Thread - opener (1), according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the constituent part of the thread or strip element (5), can have any suitable shape depending on the shape of the tongue (8), which serves for its end

14. Thread - opener (1), according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the constituent parts of the system can be of any suitable material of sufficient rigidity, preferably tin or plastic.