WO2005032966A1

WO2005032966A1 - Fastening means between outer lid and inner lid

Info

Publication number: WO2005032966A1
Application number: PCT/DK2004/000663
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lars Johnsen
Original assignee: Lid Systems A/S
Priority date: 2003-10-03
Filing date: 2004-10-01
Publication date: 2005-04-14
Also published as: EP1675780A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a lid (1) for closing a container (4), where the container (4) consists of a container volume (6) ending with a neck (8), where the lid (2) consists of an outer lid (10), where the outer lid (10) includes an inner lid (16) covering the opening in the container neck (8), where outer lid (10) and inner lid (16) are centrally coupled together, where the coupling forms a rotary connection. It is the purpose of the invention to provide an efficient fastening element between outer lid (10) and inner lid (16) that allow rotation of the outer lid (10) relative to the inner lid (16) with simultaneous transmission of downwards directed forces between inner lid (16) and outer lid (10). This may be achieved if a connecting element (24, 124, 224, 324, 424, 524, 624) is fastened to the outer lid, where the connecting element (24) is secured rotatably, where the connecting element (24) is fastened to the inner lid (16). Hereby may be achieved that freedom for a rotating movement between outer lid (10) and inner lid (16), which is suitable in connection with screwing off a lid, as the outer lid (10) can be fastened to the container neck (8) by means of a screw thread. By allowing a rotatable connection is thus permitted that the outer lid (10) is moving relatively to the inner lid (16). The fastening between inner lid and outer lid has the advantage that during opening the lid, the fastening prevents the inner lid from being strongly deformed by the prevailing subpressure in the container.

Description

Fastening Means between Outer Lid and Inner Lid

The invention concerns a lid for closing a container, where the container consists of a container volume ending with a neck, where the lid consists of an outer lid that in- eludes a cylindric collar interacting with the neck of the container, where the collar of the outer lid communicates with a circular top exposing the neck of the container, where the outer lid includes an inner lid forming sealing between outer lid and the upper edge of the neck, where the inner lid covers the opening in the container neck, where outer lid and inner lid are centrally coupled together, where the coupling forms a rotary connection.

A lid of this type is known from WO 00/56622. Herein is described an outer lid including an inner lid, where the inner lid is fastened centrally to the ouer lid with a ratable fastening element which can be formed of a flexible plastic material. By down- wards deflection of the inner lid, a subpressure in the container can transmit tensile forces to the outer lid, where the outer lid can be designed with a central area that may be deflected downwards by the forces of the fastening element.

It is the purpose of the invention to provide an efficient fastening element between outer lid and inner lid that allow rotation of the outer lid relative to the inner lid with simultaneous transmission of downwards directed forces between inner lid and outer lid.

This may be achieved if the coupling between inner lid and outer lid is formed by a connecting element which is fastened to the outer lid, where the connecting element is designed with first means providing force transmission in axial direction, where the fastening to the outer lid is made with other means that allow rotation between the outer lid and the inner lid, where the connecting element is fastened to the inner lid.

Hereby may be achieved that freedom for a rotating movement between outer lid and inner lid, which is suitable in connection with screwing off a lid, as the outer lid can be fastened to the container neck by means of a screw thread. If a subpressure prevails in the container during unscrewing, the inner lid will be deformed downwards, most at the centre. At the same time, a great adhesive action between inner lid and upper edge of the container neck may appear. By allowing a rotatable connection is thus permitted that the outer lid is moving relatively to the inner lid. The fastening between inner lid and outer lid has the advantage that during opening the lid, the fastening prevents the inner lid from being strongly deformed by the prevailing subpressure, whereby the inner lid is pulled down in the container itself in connection with a rise in pressure in the volume located between inner lid and outer lid. During opening it is therefor important that this fastening is provided which can transmit downward forces from the inner lid to the outer lid. Also, the outer lid is designed with a central area that exhibit a profiling with a click function which by means of the fastening element is pulled downwards while a subpressue prevails in the container. Thereby is achieved a known indication of the existence of a prevailing subpressure in the container or if a pressure equalization has occurred. A pressure equalisation indicates that the packing has been leaky and the product is to be discarded.

A connecting elemetn may advantageously be fixed to the inner lid ifthe connecting element interacts with a cetnral opening in the outer lid, whre the connecting element, af passing through the outer lid, is deformed for forming a head that bears against the top side of the outer lid. Hereby may be achieved a very simple connecting element which is riveted on the outer side of the outer lid, whereby is formed a head that ensures force transmission of the connecting element but which at the same time allow turning of the connecting element.

The opening of the outer lid may be surrounded by a circular downwards bent edge that forms a conical surface around the opening, where the connecting element is deformed for forming a downwards facing conical face, where the conical face of the head interacts with the conical surface of the lid. Hereby may be achieved that the riveting provided by the connecting element becomes countersunk in relation to the surface of the outer lid. The new lid with the connecting element hence does not interfere with a well-known handling of e.g. glass filled with foodstuffs. An alternative connecting element can be fixed to the inner lid where the connecting element interacts with a central recess in the outer lid, where the recess is designed with a conical face, where the conical face exhibits increasing diameter with shorter distance to the bottom of the recess. Hereby may be achieved that an unbroke outer lid is used, which by itself provides sealing against the ingress of foreign matter or contamination.

The recess may exhibit a centrally disposed projection, where the projection is designed with a conical face, where the conical face has a diameter which is reduced in relation to the depth of the recess. Hereby may be achieved an efficient fastening of the connecting element in relation to the outer lid, where this connection is formed circularly symmetrical so that the inner lid can be turned in relation to the outer lid where there is basis for absorption of force from all downwards directed forces acting on the inner lid.

A first connecting element may advantageously be fixed to the inner lid, where the connecting element contains a projection, which projection contains at least one first slit, where the projection has a conical face, where the projection has an annular slit, where the connecting element interacts with a second connecting element which is fixed to the outer lid. Hereby may be achieved that there are two different connecting elements that both may be fastened to their respective components prior to assembly, the first fastening element may e.g. by heat mirror welding be fastened directly to the inner lid wher a welding between glas faces may thus be formed, while the other fastening element can be forme of metal which can be fastened to the metal lid e.g. by soldering, while gluing or welding are also fastening methods that may be used.

The outer lid may be designed with an internal cutout that interacts with a second connecting element, which connecting element has an annular projection, where the cutout has a folded outer wall, where the folded outer wall accommodates the annular projection in the folds. Hereby may be achieved a secure deformation fastening of the second fastening element in relation to the outer lid, as a direct downwards deflection of the parts of the material of the outer lid occurs around a collar which is provided upon the fastening element, after which, as previously mentioned, the two elements may be assembled subsequently and form the entire fastening element.

By an alternative embodiment, a connecting element can be fastened fastened to the inner lid, where the connecting element contains a circular recess that has a through- going hole at the centre, where the connecting element includes an insert including a cylindric disc and a cylindric pin, where the recess of the connecting element accommodates the cylindric disc, and where the through-going hole accommodates the cylindric pin, where the cylindric pin continues through a central opening in the outer lid, where the cylindric pint, after passing through the outer lid, is deformed for formation of a head. Hereby may be achieved an alternative embodiment, where optimum freedom for a rotating movement between inner lid and outer lid can be achieved, and where a very efficient fastening between outer lid and inner lid can be found for absorbing the downwards acting forces of the inner lid.

By an alternative embodiment of the invention, the fastening element can be fastened to the uppermost material layer of the inner lid, where the fastening element has a recess for accommodating a projection, where the projection is formed by deformation of a central area of the outer lid, where the projection contains at least one radially outwards directed projection, the projection interacting with the fastening element.

Hereby may be achieved that the surface of the outer lid remains unbroken without any projections that increase the height of a packing product. Simultaneously, the downwards directed projection is formed by cold flow of the material which can be effected as a part of punching the outer lid. The formed recess in the outer lid may subsequently be filled with a plastic material, or the recess can be covered with a label.

In the following, the invention is explained with reference to Figures, where:

Fig. 1 shows the state of the art, Fig. 2 shows a section through a detailed first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3 shows a section through a possible embodiment of an alternative outer lid where an inner lid is fitted, Fig. 4 shows a section through the finished outer and inner lids shown on Fig. 3 mounted on a packing neck,

Fig. 5 shows a section through an alternative embodiment of an outer lid and an inner lid, Fig. 6 shows a section through the finished inner and outer lids mounted on a packing neck,

Fig. 7 shows a section througha further embodiment of an outer lid together with an inner lid and the associated fastening means,

Fig. 8 shows a finished outer lid together with an inner lid, and Fig. 9 shows outer lid and inner lid mounted on a packing neck,

Fig. 10 shows an alternative embodiment for the outer lid together with inner lid and the required means for fastening,

Fig. 11 shows a fastening element fastened to the outer lid,

Fig. 12 shows the assembled construction of outer lid and inner lid fastened to a packing neck,

Fig. 13 shows a section through an enlarged detail of a central area of an outer lid that interacts with an inner lid and associated fastening means.

Fig. 1 shows a lid 2 for closing a packing opening 6, where the packing consists of a neck 4 with inner side 8, where the neck is covered by an outer lid 10 having a skirt 12 which surrounds the upper part of the packing nee 4, where the outer lid 10 has a circular part 14 covering the opening 6 in the packing neck, where further covering of the opening of the packing neck is provided by means of an inner lid 16 that is in contact with the upper edge 18 of the neck, werhe the contact surface of the inner lid 16 has the designation 20 and the opening cross-dimension in the container neck 8 has the designation 22. Between inner lid 16 and outer lid 10 is disposed a fastening element 24. The collar 12 of the outer lid exhibits a radial inwards directed projection 26 disposed uner the edge 28 of the inner lid.

During operation, a subpressure will prevail in the inner volume of the packing in relation to the surroundings. This subpressure will act on the inner lid 16 with an evenly distributed force action in downwards direction, which will deflect the inner lid 16 whereby tension will arise on the inner lid 16 where the inner lid 16 bears against the packing edge 18. Retaining forces from possible jamming by means of outer lid 10 against the inner lid 16 over packing lid 18 ensures against pulling down the inner lid into the packing volume. However, a beginning opening of the outer lid 10 can entail reduction of the squeezing force between outer lid and inner lid, and airing of the volume between outer lid 10 and inner lid 16 may occur. Thereby the risk of downwards deflection of the inner lid 16 which may be pulled down into the container 6. This would unsuitable for using the contents of the container. Therefore, fastening element 24 is used centrally for preventing a deflection of the inner lid 16. During normal stor- age, the fastening element 24 will cause a punctiform upwards directed pressure on the inner lid, whereby a passage to the inner volume of the container is formed, where a subpressure is equalized and a further opening occurs by using very small forces from a person removing a lid on e.g. a glass.

Fig. 2 shows a section through a lid 102 which is mounted on a container 104. The container 104 is covered by an outer lid 110 consisting of a skirt 112 and a circular face 114 covering the container opening, where between outer lid 110 and container volume there is an inner lid 116. A retainer element 124 is fastened centrally to the inner lid 116, and the retainer element 124 is disposed in a through- going opening 126 in the face 114 of the outer lid, where the outer lid has a downwards bent edge 132 around the opening 126 where the connecting element 124 is deformed so tha bearing surfaces 128 bearing against the downwards facing faces 132 of the outerl lid 110 are provided.

Thereby appears a reliable fastening of the connecting elemtn 124 as contact appears between the inclining surface 132 of the lid and the corresponding inclining surface 134 of the connecting element. A rotatable connection may thereby appear, as surface 134 can be rotated in relation to surface 132, while between inner lid 116 and connecting element 124 there is formed a rigid connection that may absorb the forces acting on inner lid 116. A subpressure in the container volume may perform a downwards deflection of inner lid 116 where the forces are transmitted to the outer lid which is bent down correspondingly. This may be utilised for centrally providing a zone which can be bent down by a click-function when the forces do not exceed a determined size. Thereby may be achieved an indication if a subpressure prevails in the container, which will be the case as soon as deflection downwards of the centre area of the outer lid is indicated.

Fig. 3 shows a section through an alternative embodiment of an outer lid 210 that differs from previously by a recess 226 being formed at the centre of the outer lid 210. This recess 226 acts on the top side as a projection 232. An inner lid 216 is provided with a fastening element 234 which is partially disposed in the recess 226.

Fig. 4 shows a lid 202 consisting of an outer lid 210 that has a collar 212 and a plane surface 214 for covering the container volume, where there is shown an inner lid 216 to which the fastening element 234 is fastened. This fastening element 234 is here shown in deformed state as the projection 232 is deformed so that a depressed area 238 appears. This depressed area has inclining surfaces 236 that hve pressed material from fastening element 234 outwards whereby a locking of the connecting element is produced.

Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment with an outer lid 310 having a plane surface 314 for covering a container, werhe the outer lid interacts with an inner lid 316, where centrally on the inner lid 316 there is fastened a connecting element 324. Where the connecting element 324 includes a projection 326 containing a first slit 330 that divides the projection 326 into several part sections. The projection 326 may be designed with a conical surface332 simultaneously with the projection 326 having an annular slit 334. The connecting element 324 has connection to another connecting element 328, they are fixed to the outer lid 316 about its centre. The connecting element 328 has an opening which interacts with the projection 326, where the projection 326 forms a snap connection with the connecting element 328.

Fig. 6 shows a lid 302 mounted on a container 304 where outer lid 310 interacts for forming a seal with an iner lid 316. A connecting element 324 is provided, fixed to the inner lid 316 and designed with a projection 326 that interacts with an opening 340 in another connecting element 328, which connecting element is fastened centrally to the plate 314 of the outer lid 310, where the fastening is effected to the centre of the plate 314.

Hereby is achieved a snap connection between an outer lid 310 and an inner lid 316, where the snap connection forms a very secure mechanical connection for transmission for downwards directed forces that act on the inner lid 316. While the projection 326 is disposed in an opening in the second connecting element 328 is achieved that the connecting element 328 has an edge situated in the slit 334 in the projection 326 of the frist conneting element 324, whereby is formed a rotatable connection between the second connecting element 328 and the projection 326. Thereby it becomes possible to perform turning of an outer lid 310 without torque being transmitted to the inner lid 316, which will cause a very light unscrewing of the outer lid 310.

Fig. 7 describes a further variant of the invention. Here is shown an outer lid 410 with a plane surface 414 for covering a container volume, where internally in the outer lid 414 there is formed a recess 426 forming a projection 427 at the outer side. An inner lid 416 is designed with a connecting element 425 containing a projection 426, where the projection 426 has a slit 430, a conical surface 432 and a horizontal slit 434. The projection 426 interacts with a second connecting element 428 that exhibits an open cylinder 430 and an opening 440.

Fig. 8 exhibits the same outer lid 410 as on Fig. 7. The second connecting element 428 is fastened to the recess 426 of th outer lid, where the projection 427 is folded together so that a squeezing arises about the cylinder 430 of the second fastening element 428, where between the folding material from the cylinder 430 is jammed. Hereby is achieved a secure fastening of the fastening element 428 in relation to the outer lid 410. An inner lid may now be fastened by snap conenction as the projection 426 on the connecting element 424 forms a snap connection together with the opening 440 in the second connecting element 428.

Fig. 9 describes the same embodiment as Fig. 8. The projection 426 is disposed in the second fastening element 428, as the opening 440 and its edges interac with the horizontal slit 434. Hereby is formed a good and efficient snap connection that ensures transmission of forces that act in downwards direction from the inner lid, while rotation of the outer lid in relation to the inner lid is allowed.

Fig. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in the form of an outer lid 510 with a plane surface 514 covering a container volume. A connecting element 524 is shown similarly designed with a recess 530 and a through-going hole 532, where a second fastening element 526 has a cylindric plate 527 interacting with the recess 530, where th second connecting element also has a pin 528 interacting with opening 532 in the first connecting element 524.

On Fig. 11 is shown an assembly between the first connecting element 524 and the second connecting element 526. The pin 528 now goes through an opening in the outer lid where the front edge forms a head 534 that forms a fastening around the edges of the hole.

On Fig. 12 is shown the same embodiment as shown on Figs. 10 and 11, but here in connection with a container 504 shut off with a lid 502, where the lid 502 consists of an outer lid 510 with a sirkt 512 and a plane surface 514, where the first connecting element 524 is here fixed to the inner lid 516, where the second connecting element 526 is shown inside the connecting element 524 where the rivet 534 is seen.

Hereby appears a simple embodiment of the invention, wher forces acting on the inner lid 516 in downwards direction can be transmitted to the outer lid 510, but at the same time a turning of the outer lid 510 relative to the inner lid 516 is allowed. A turning that notable can be performed with a small moment.

Fig. 13 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention. Here is only shown a sec- tion through a central detail of a lid according to the invention, consisting of the central part of an outer lid 614 and the central part of an inner lid 616, where the inner lid consists of an upper layer 616, an intermediate layer 618 and a downwards facing layer 620. A connecting element 624 is fastened with fastening means 626 to the upper layer 616 of the inner lid. The centre 630 of the outer lid 624 is pressed downwards for forming a downwards facing projection, where the projection has walls 632 and a bottom 634, whre downwards facing projection 630 has rounded faces 636, and rounded surface 638 at the bottom, while the bottom 634 of the projection is provided with at least one projection 640 that interacts with the connecting element 624.

The downwards facing projection 630 may be made by cold flow of the outer lied 614. Thereby is formed a projection 640 that interact with corresponding indentations in the connecting element 624 which can be snapped onto the projection 640, whereby a rotatable connection will be formed. The projections 640 enable a transmission of force between connecting element 624 and the outer lid, while connecting element 624 can be turned in relation to the downwards projection 630, and very little moment is required for achieving a turnings since low friction may occur between fastening ele- ment and projection. Upper layer 616 of the inner lid can be made of polypropylene, where the intermediate layer 618 can be made from EVOH while the lowermost layer is formed by an elastomere. Between the different layers a binder may be provided. The inner layer can be made as a co-extruded multilayer product.

Claims

1. Lid (2) for closing a container (4), where the container (4) consists of a container volume (6) ending with a neck (8), where the lid (2) consists of an outer lid (10) that includes a cylindric collar (12) interacting with the neck (8) of the container, where the collar (12) of the outer lid communicates with a circular top (14) exposing the neck (8) of the container, where the outer lid (10) includes an inner lid (16) forming sealing (18) between outer lid (10) and the upper edge (20) of the neck, where the inner lid (16) covers the opening (22) in the container neck (8), where outer lid (10) and inner lid (16) are centrally coupled together, where the coupling forms a rotary connection, characterised in that the coupling is formed by a connecting element (24, 124, 224, 324, 424, 524, 624) which is fastened to the outer lid (10, 110, 210, 310, 510, 610), where the connecting element (24, 124, 224, 324, 424, 524, 624) is designed with first means providing force transmission in axial direction, where the fastening to the outer lid (10, 110, 210, 310, 510, 610) is made with other means that allow rotation between the outer lid (10) and the inner lid (16), where the connecting element (24, 124, 224, 324, 424, 524, 624) is fastened to the inner lid (18).

2. Lid (102) according to claim 1, wherein a connecting element (124) is fixed to the inner lid (116), where the connecting element (124) interacts with a central opening (126) in the outer lid (110), where the connecting element (124) after passing through the outer lid (110) is deformed for forming a head (128) bearing against the top side (130) of the outer lid.

3. Lid (102) according to claim 2, wherein the opening (126) of the outer lid is surrounded by a circular downwards bent edge (132) that forms a conical surface around the opening (126), where the connecting element (124) is deformed for forming a downwards facing conical face (134), where the conical face (134) of the head (128) interacts with the conical surface (130) of the lid.

4. Lid (202) according to claim 1, where a connecting element (224) is fixed to the inner lid (216), where the connecting element (224) interacts with a centrally disposed recess (226) in the outer lid (210), where the recess is designed with a conical face (230), where the conical face (230) exhibits increasing diameter with shorter distance to the bottom (232) of the recess.

5. Lid (202) according to claim 4, where the recess (226) exhibits a centrally disposed projection (234), where the projection (234) is designed with a conical face (236), where the conical face has a diameter which is reduced in relation to the depth of the recess (236).

6. Lid (302) according to claim 1, where a first connecting element (324) is fixed to the inner lid (316), where the connecting element (324) contains a projection (326), which projection (326) contains at least one first slit (330), where the projection (326) has a conical face (332), where the projection (326) has an annular slit (334), where the connecting element (324) interacts with a second connecting element (328) which is fixed to the outer lid (316).

7. Lid (402) according to claim 6, where the outer lid (410) is designed with an internal cutout (426) that interacts with a second connecting element (428), which connect- ing element has an annular projection (430), where the cutout (426) has a folded outer wall (432), where the folded outer wall (432) accommodates the annular projection (430) in the folds.

8. Lid (502) according to claim 1, where a connecting element (524) is fastened to the inner lid (516), where the connecting element (524) contains a circular recess (530) that has a through-going hole (532) at the centre, where the connecting element (524) includes an insert (526) including a cylindric disc (527) and a cylindric pin (528), where the recess (530) of the connecting element accommodates the cylindric disc (527), and where the through-going hole (532) accommodates the cylindric pin (528), where the cylindric pin (528) continues through a central opening in the outer lid, where the cylindric pint (528), after passing through the outer lid, is deformed for formation of a head (534).

9. Lid according to claim 1, where the fastening element (624) is fastened to the upper material layer (616), where the fastening element (624) has a recess for accommodating a projection (630), where the projection (630) is formed by deformation of a cen- tral area of the outer lid (614), where the projection (630) contains at least one radially outwards directed projection (640), the projection (640) interacting with the fastening element (624).

10. Lid according to one of claims 1 - 9, where the collar (12) of the outer lid is de- signed with at least one radially inwards directed projection which is disposed under the upper edge of the container, and under the outer edge of the inner lid, where the projection during opening forms a spotwise upwards directed pressure on the outer lid.