WO2010012947A2

WO2010012947A2 - Improvement to container lids with an opener ring

Info

Publication number: WO2010012947A2
Application number: PCT/FR2009/051509
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabrice Leboucher
Original assignee: Impress Group B.V.
Priority date: 2008-07-28
Filing date: 2009-07-27
Publication date: 2010-02-04
Also published as: EP2149502A1; WO2010012947A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a metal cover (1) made up of a part (2) forming a peripheral ring connected at least partly to a part (4) forming a central closure panel by means of a stress-raiser line (3), said central panel (4) being provided with a gripping body (6) having two parts along the length thereof, a lug part (7) fixed to said panel (4) and a central gripping part (8), the gripping part (8) having outlines (8a, 8b) defining the outline thereof (E). According to the invention, the central panel (4), further comprises on the upper side thereof (5), a hollow stamp (10) arranged to ease the gripping of said gripping part (8), arranged outside the outline (E) of said gripping part (8), and a shaped part (10a) of said hollow (10)extends directly adjacent to a part of said outline (E) of the gripping part (8).

Description

IMPROVEMENT TO CONTAINER COVERS, WITH RING

OPENING

The present invention relates to metal lids for containers, in particular metal containers. It relates more particularly to the covers of the type comprising an associated peripheral ring, through a breaking initiation line, to a central panel equipped with a gripping member type "opening ring".

Some metal containers, mainly cans for food packaging, are equipped with an "easy" opening system, avoiding the use of a can opener. As presented in the document GB-1 207 769, a particularly interesting solution consists of a one-piece cover comprising an associated peripheral ring, via a breaking initiation line, to a central panel provided with a gripping member. commonly known as the "opening ring".

This type of gripping member conventionally comprises two parts along its length: a peripheral part, called a "beak", fixed to the central panel of the cover near the breaking initiation line, and a central part forming a gripping loop. which, before its maneuver for opening, is pressed against the upper surface of the associated central panel.

To open the container, the user grasps the loop portion of the gripping member, then removes the latter from the associated central panel. The gripping member then forms a kind of lever, rotated by the user around its peripheral end in the form of a support nose, which causes a break in the breaking initiation line. It is then sufficient for the user to exert a suitable traction on the gripping member so as to continue the opening at the breaking initiation line and dissociate the central panel of its associated ring.

However, in practice, gripping the loop of the gripping member is not always easy, especially because of the small space between this loop of the associated panel for the passage of fingers or the nail of the user (this space is often less than a millimeter). This user is thus often brought to slide a thin and rigid object under the loop, to succeed in initiating the maneuver in rotation of the gripping member around its peripheral end.

To limit this problem, some lids with "opening ring" have a central panel provided, on the side of its upper surface, a hollow recess formed under the loop of said ring to form a space facilitating the passage of fingers and, hence, his grip.

However, the presence of this recessed impression is likely to hinder the stacking of the lids on each other during storage and transport, before being placed on a container body. This imprint should, in addition, not be too deep, which limits its effectiveness. Indeed, during stacking, the imprint of a cover is likely to come to press the gripping member of the underlying cover, preventing optimal superposition. It will be noted that the rectilinear recessed impressions 9a and 9b of the lid described in the abovementioned document GB-1 207 769 are not arranged and adapted to facilitate the gripping of the opening ring; in addition, the positioning of the impression 9b, partially under the opening ring, prevents the optimal superposition of such covers.

To overcome these drawbacks, the applicant has developed a new cover structure with "opening ring" which optimizes both the gripping characteristics of the opening ring and the stacking characteristics of the corresponding lids. on each other.

The present invention thus relates to a metal container cover, which consists of a peripheral ring portion at least partially associated, via a breaking initiation line, to a central shutter panel portion. , which central panel is equipped, at its upper surface, with a gripping member for breaking said breaking initiation line and for exerting traction on said removable panel, which gripping member comprises along its length two parts: a nose portion fixed to said panel near said breaking initiation line, and a central gripping portion which, before operation, is pressed against said upper surface of the central panel, which gripping portion comprises outlines defining its bulk. , which central panel further comprises, on the side of its upper surface, a cavity recess arranged to facilitate the gripping of said grasping tie. The hollow impression in question, according to the invention, is arranged outside the bulk of said gripping portion, and a portion of the contour of said fingerprint extends directly adjacent to a portion of the bulk. of said gripping portion.

This particular imprint does not hinder the stacking of the lids on each other. It can thus be possibly deeper, and improve the positioning of the fingers of the operator, or any other suitable object, for the maneuvering of the gripping member.

Preferably, the gripping portion advantageously has the form of a complete loop, the size of which is delimited by internal and external contours.

In this case, the cover advantageously comprises the following technical characteristics, taken in combination or independently of each other:

the gripping member advantageously has a longitudinal axis of symmetry, passing through its beak and central portions, and the gripping fingerprint is formed on said axis of symmetry and outside the loop; then, the central end of the outer contour of the loop of the gripping member advantageously comprises a flat portion (or at least approximately plane); the gripping fingerprint has an oblong generally shaped contour, part of which is adjacent to that of said flat portion, and the median axis of symmetry is common to said gripping member and said gripping fingerprint;

the central panel comprises, at its upper surface, a second indentation, distinct, which is formed outside the annular space of the gripping loop and in the zone delimited by the inner edge of said gripping loop. ; this second indentation is advantageously arranged so that part of its contour is directly adjacent to a portion of the inner edge of the gripping loop, the side of the beak portion of the gripping member.

According to another characteristic, the central panel also comprises, at its upper surface, at least one other complementary recessed indentation, which is formed outside the bulk of the gripping portion (advantageously in the form of a loop ) and arranged near the gripping member / first fingerprint assembly for opening.

In this case and preferably, the central panel comprises two complementary cavities, arranged on either side of the whole gripping member / first fingerprint, so as to allow the optimal positioning of the fingers of the user, left-handed or right-handed, during operation of opening the lid.

According to yet another characteristic, the fingerprint (s) of the central panel advantageously have a depth of the order of 1 to 1.5 mm.

The container equipped with a lid as described above is also concerned by the present invention. The invention is further illustrated, without being limited, by the following description in relation to the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a general view in perspective of a first cover according to the invention, the central panel comprises a group of two indentations hollow; - Figure 2 shows two lids according to Figure 1, in a side view and in section, suitably superimposed on one another; and

- Figure 3 is still a general view and perspective of a cover of the type shown in Figure 1, here with two additional indentations, to facilitate the positioning of the fingers of the user. The lid 1, as shown in FIG. 1, is intended to be assembled on the upper edge of a metal container body (not shown). This container body generally consists of a bottom element associated with the lower edge of a sidewall belt (circular section, square, rectangular, etc.).

The connection between the lid 1 and the container body is usually performed by a crimping technique.

This cover 1 consists, in a conventional manner, of a peripheral ring portion 2 which is associated, via a breaking initiation line 3, to a part 4 forming a central shutter panel, removable.

It is advantageously made monobloc by a stamping technique, that from a sheet metal material of the type aluminum, steel, etc..

The ring 2 is here of annular shape. It is adapted to allow the attachment of the cover 1 by crimping on a container body comprising in this case a cylindrical side wall (as indicated above, this general shape may be different).

The breaking initiation line 3 is here also circular. It is achieved by a thinning of material, obtained by the implementation of a suitable tool, during the manufacture of the lid.

This line of initiation of rupture 3 is here closed / complete, and advantageously of generally circular shape; alternatively, it could be only partial (for example in an arc). The central shutter panel 4 is equipped, at its upper surface 5, with a gripping member 6 whose manipulation by a user will allow easy opening of the lid 1 (that is to say a separation, total or partial, of the central panel 4 relative to the peripheral ring 2, by breaking the thinning line 3).

This gripping member 6 is well known to those skilled in the art under the name of "opening ring".

This ring 6 has two parts, arranged along a median axis of symmetry 6 ':

a spout portion 7 fixed to the panel 4, close to the breaking initiation line 3, and

a central part 8, forming a gripping loop, which is pressed against the upper surface 5 of the central panel 4. According to the invention and as represented in FIG. 1, the central panel 4 again comprises, on the side of its upper surface. 5, a particular recessed imprint 10, and preferably a second indent imprint 1 1, also particular (these imprints 10, 1 1 are protruding from the side of the lower surface of the central panel 4, as shown in Figure 2). These cavities 10 and 1 1 are both outside the bulk of the gripping member 6, and more particularly outside the annular space E of the gripping loop 8. This annular bulk E is delimited by the two contours of this loop 8, namely its "circular" internal contour 8a and its outer contour 8b (that is to say, still the full part of the loop 8).

The first impression 10 is provided in particular to facilitate gripping of the gripping member 6 by one of the fingers or nails of the user (or by a suitable tool).

For this, this imprint 10 is formed on the central panel 4 so as to be placed outside the loop 8 and in the extension of the gripping member 6 (the side of its loop 8).

This imprint 10 is arranged so that part of its contour 10a extends directly adjacent to a portion of the annular space E of the loop 8, in this case the "central" end of its outer contour. 8b (that is to say at the end of the loop 8 located on the central axis 6 'and opposite the spout 7).

In addition, this imprint 10 here has an outline 10a of slightly oblong general shape. It could also have another shape adapted to the positioning of one of the fingers of the user (for example circular).

Here, this imprint 10 comprises an axis of symmetry common to the median axis of symmetry 6 'of the gripping member 6.

The second cavity 1 1 is provided in particular to optimize the rotational indexing of the stacked lids, as shown in Figure 2; it may also be useful to facilitate the positioning of a finger during the gripping of the gripping member by the user wishing to open the lid 1.

For this purpose, this impression 1 1 is formed on the central panel 4 so as to come here inside the loop 8, that is to say still in the zone delimited by the inner contour 8a of this loop 8 In addition, this impression 1 1 has a contour 1 1 has a generally oblong general shape. It could also have another shape adapted to the positioning of one of the fingers of the user (for example circular).

Here, this impression 1 1 also comprises an axis of symmetry common to the median axis of symmetry

6 'of the gripping member 6. It is offset with respect to the central axis of the cover 1, and it is adjacent to the portion of the inner contour 8a of the loop 8 oriented on the side of the spout 7.

Impressions 10 and 1 1 advantageously have a significantly greater depth than the imprints present on the lids known to date.

Indeed, during the stacking of several identical covers, the particular positioning of these two indentations 10 and 1 1 makes it possible to avoid, or at least limit, the contacts with the gripping member 6 of a cover 1 directly below, as shown in Figure 2 described below. As an indication, these impressions 10, 1 1 have a depth of the order of 1, 2 mm. This depth is advantageously included, without being limiting, between 1 and 1.5 mm.

Moreover, the central panel 4 is still provided, on the side of its upper surface 5, several bosses 13 regularly distributed. These bosses 13 have a height greater than that of the ring 6, and have the function of absorbing any shocks with the bottom of a finished superimposed container.

For storage and transport, before assembly with the body of a container, the lids 1 can be stacked in column, or in other words stacked on top of one another. Preferably, these stacked lids 1 are all oriented in the same direction, their gripping member 6 coming to align in a vertical plane.

In this case and as shown in Figure 2, the fingerprints 10 and 1 1 of a cover 1 are placed on either side of the loop 8 of the cover 1 directly underlying. More specifically, the first imprint 10 is placed against the central end of the outer contour 8b of the loop 8; the second cavity 1 1 is housed within the opening of the loop 8 delimited by its internal contour 8a.

This particular cooperation of the cavities 10, 11 of a lid 1 with the loop 8 of the lid 1 which is directly underlying, has the advantage of ensuring the indexing and the locking in rotation of the lids with respect to each other during the stacking operation. The lids can thus be distributed by ensuring their orientation in the same direction (this being particularly advantageous for the operation of mounting the lids on the container bodies).

In addition, it is noted in Figure 2 that the footprint 10, positioned adjacent to the bulk of the loop 8 (more precisely here in the extension of the outer contour 8b of the latter), allows easy gripping or hooking of this loop by the end of one of the fingers of the user.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment for the lid described above in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2.

This cover is distinguished in that it comprises here two additional indentations 15 and 16, to facilitate the positioning of the fingers of the user, whether left-handed or right-handed, during the lifting maneuver of the organ grip 6.

For this, these cavities 15 and 16 are arranged on either side of the gripping member assembly 6 / aperture cavity 10, approximately on either side of the loop 8 (advantageously also symmetrically relative to to the median axis 6 'of the gripping member 6).

In practice and as an indication, the operator can position in each footprint the ends of the following fingers: - in the fingerprint 10: the thumb, index or middle finger (see the tip of the finger itself or a suitable tool);

in a first complementary cavity 15: preferably, the thumb, the middle finger or a suitable tool; and - in the second complementary cavity 16: preferably, the thumb, middle finger or a suitable tool.

In general, the loop of the gripping member could be replaced by any other suitable form (partially open loop, arc, etc.).

The lid according to the invention has the advantage of allowing optimum gripping of the gripping member by the user, while maintaining optimum characteristics of "stackability".

The cavity or cavities facilitate the positioning of the fingers of the user, or any tool (s) necessary (s), during the life cycle of the cover: from its manufacture to its recycling, through its opening. By "tool positioning" is meant the search for the positioning of the cover in location in a plane and / or orientation.

Claims

- CLAIMS -

1.- Metal lid for containers, in particular for containers of the metal cans type, which lid (1) consists of a portion (2) forming a peripheral ring for assembling said lid (1) on the upper edge of a container body, which ring (2) is associated at least in part, via a breaking initiation line (3), with a part (4) forming a central obturating panel, which central panel (4) is equipped, at its upper surface (5), with a gripping member (6) for breaking said breaking initiation line (5) and for exerting traction on said panel (4) , which gripping member (6) has two parts along its length: - a nose portion (7) fixed to said panel (4) close to said breaking initiation line (3), and - a central gripping portion ( 8) which, before operation, is pressed against said upper surface (5) of the central panel (4), which portion e gripping (8) has contours (8a, 8b) defining its size (E), which central panel (4) further comprises, on the side of its upper surface (5), a hollow recess (10) arranged to facilitate gripping said gripping portion (8), characterized in that said hollow recess (10) is provided outside the bulk (E) of said gripping portion (8), and that part of the contour (10a) of said cavity (10) extends directly adjacent a portion of said bulk (E) of the gripping portion (8).

2. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping portion (8) has the shape of a complete loop whose bulk (E) is delimited by inner contours (8a) and outer (8b).

3. Lid according to claim 2, characterized in that the gripping member (6) has a longitudinal axis of symmetry (6 '), passing through its parts beak (7) and central (8), and in that the gripping fingerprint (10) is provided on said axis of symmetry (6 ') and outside said loop (8).

4. Lid according to claim 3, characterized in that the central end of the outer contour (8b) of the loop (8) of the gripping member (6) comprises a flat portion, or at least approximately flat, in the gripping finger (10) has a generally oblong contour (10a), part of which is adjacent to that of said planar portion, and that the axis of symmetry (6 ') is common to said finger member; gripping (6) and said gripping fingerprint (10).

5. Lid according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the central panel (4) has, at its upper surface (5), a second indentation (1 1), distinct, which is provided outside the annular space (E) of the gripping loop (8) and in the area delimited by the inner edge (8a) of said gripping loop (8).

6. Lid according to claim 5, characterized in that the second indentation (1 1) is arranged so that part of its contour (1 1 a) is directly adjacent to a portion of the inner edge ( 8a) of the gripping loop (8), on the side of the beak portion (7) of the gripping member (6).

7. Lid according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the central panel (4) further comprises, at its upper surface (5), at least one other indentation (15, 16). , complementary and distinct, which is provided outside the bulk (E) of the gripping portion (8) and arranged close to the gripping member assembly (6) / first cavity (10) for opening.

8. Lid according to claim 7, characterized in that the central panel (4) comprises two complementary cavities (15, 16) arranged on either side of the whole gripping member (6) / first fingerprint of gripping (10), so as to allow the optimal positioning of the fingers of the user, left-handed or right-handed, during operation of opening the lid (1).

9. Lid according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the fingerprint (s) (10, 1 1, 15, 16) of the central panel (4) have a depth of the order of 1 to 1 , 5 mm.

10. Container provided with a lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.