WO2013153218A1

WO2013153218A1 - Reclosable closure for a container

Info

Publication number: WO2013153218A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/057735
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander Schmid; Manuel Wille; Michael Hofer
Original assignee: Hirschmann Automotive Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-04-13
Filing date: 2013-04-12
Publication date: 2013-10-17
Also published as: EP2836437A1; DE102013206615A1

Abstract

Reclosable closure for a container, especially a drinks can, comprising a lid (2, 9), which closes an opening of the container or releases same for withdrawal of the contents of the container, characterized in that the closure has a frame (1) on which the lid (2, 9) is movably mounted, and a seal (3) which extends around the edge of the opening and which seals the frame (1) with respect to the container.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Wiedel-closable closure for a container

The invention relates to a resealable closure for a container, in particular a beverage can, with a lid which closes an opening in the container or releases it for removal of the contents of the container, according to the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Containers, especially beverage cans for carbonated drinks, are known. These are usually made of a deep-drawn light metal, the side walls, the bottom and the upper part of the container form a space for receiving the content, in particular a liquid. In known beverage cans, the upper part is provided with a punched, which forms a cover. When the lid is removed, an opening in the container for removal of the contents of the container is released. This has long been known and works basically satisfactory, but has the disadvantage that the opening that has been released once from the lid can not or only insufficiently be closed again.

From DE 10 2012 201 743 A1 a drinking can with a resealable closure is known.

The invention has for its object to provide a resealable closure for a container, which is improved over the prior art, in particular with regard to its production and function on the one hand a reliable and permanent closure of the container, in particular for carbonated contents, forms before the lid has opened the opening in the container for the first time and which, after the first release, allows the once released opening to reliably close again.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, it is provided that the closure has a frame on which the lid is movably mounted, and a seal surrounding the opening, with which the frame is sealed relative to the container. As a result, with regard to the production of such a container, in particular such a beverage can, there is the advantage that the frame can be matched to the geometries of the container. Only after the frame has been made and provided with the lid, it is permanently and sealingly inserted in a correspondingly large opening in the container, thereby closing the opening initially present in the container from the frame and the lid. This initially present in the container opening forms a portion of the opening which is closed by the lid or which is released for removal of the contents of the container after the movement of the lid. On the other hand, this has the advantage that the geometry of the lid can be completely adapted to the geometry of the frame or vice versa, without having to take account of the geometries, the material and the like of the actual container consideration. Thus, it is advantageously made possible that the geometry of the frame and its associated around the opening of the container circumferential seal can be optimally adapted to the opening in the container. In addition, the container can be filled with its contents, in particular sterile filled, before the frame is placed with its lid and thus the container is completely closed. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the cover, which is movably mounted on the frame, can be adapted to the geometry of the frame in the sense that in the preassembled position (first position) of the lid, the opening formed by the frame , durable and reliable, especially before outgassing, closes and only then releases the opening for removal of the content from the ratio when it is brought by a user from the first (closure) position to the second position, that is, the position releasing the opening in the container. The geometries of the frame and lid are coordinated so that they can optimally achieve their functions in the two positions. It is particularly important that in the first position, a seal of the interior of the container is ensured against its external environment and then, when the lid is in the second, opening position, the contents of the container for the user is the best possible accessible.

In a further development of the invention, the frame has at least one web pointing in the direction of the interior of the container, with which the frame can be fixed in the opening in the container. If there is a single web, it is advantageously designed to be completely radially encircling and has one Geometry, which allows the frame is inserted with the pointing in the direction of the interior of the container web in the opening in the container and fixed there after insertion of the web. This is done in an advantageous manner by a catch, an undercut, a gluing, caulking or the like. Alternatively, it is conceivable that not a radially encircling web, but several, located on a circumference webs are present, which allow the same as with the one circumferential web.

In a further development of the invention, the frame and the peripheral seal around the opening are formed as a two-component component. This has the advantage that the frame and the peripheral seal after their production form a common component, which can be used, for example automatically or by hand, in the opening in the container. It is conceivable first to produce the frame made of plastic in a plastic injection molding process, and then, after it has been produced, to use it in a further injection mold to him the peripheral seal of a plastic material, which is softer or more elastic with respect to the frame material is to inject. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to inject in a tool, in particular an injection mold, both the frame and the peripheral seal of two different plastic materials.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the frame and the circumferential seal around the opening are formed as separate parts and the seal fixed by means of positive engagement with the frame. This provides the advantage that the two parts (frame and seal) can be manufactured separately from one another from different materials in the same or different manufacturing processes. After both components have been produced, they are fixed to one another by means of positive locking, so that the component prepared in this way can be inserted and fixed in the opening in the container as described above. In such a case, for example, the frame is also manufactured in a plastic injection molding process, while the peripheral seal is for example an O-ring, which is fixed by means of positive engagement with the frame, which has a corresponding receiving geometry for the seal.

In a further development of the invention, the cover itself is formed by a frame and a cover held by the frame, wherein the cover closes the opening in the container. In this case, the lid is not, as previously described, integrally formed, but in this case in two parts. Of course, more than two parts for forming the lid are also conceivable. This two- or multi-part design of the lid has the advantage that it can be optimally designed in terms of its function. On the one hand, the cover has the task that it can be handled by the user without any problems. For this purpose, the frame is necessary, which gives the movable lid stability. For this purpose, the frame, for example, also made of plastic and hergesteilt in a plastic injection molding process. The cover held by the frame has another function, namely to close the opening in the container and, above all, to seal it, so that neither outgassing outside the interior of the container, outside, external influences, in particular contamination, can not penetrate from the outside into the interior of the container. Therefore, the cover is designed to perform the above function. For this purpose, it also consists, for example, of a plastic material, which can also be processed again in a plastic injection molding process. While the frame gives the lid the required stability and is made of a strong plastic material, the cover held by the frame is also made of a plastic material, especially for hygienic reasons, but softer to the hard plastic material of the frame.

To realize the lid with its frame and the cover held by the frame, two different possibilities are again conceivable.

To one is provided in a further development of the invention that the frame of the lid and the cover held by the frame are formed as separate components and the cover is fixed by means of positive engagement with the frame of the lid. As a result, these two components can be produced optimally in terms of material and manufacturing process by their separate production and are assembled together only after their preparation. This is done in an advantageous manner by means of positive locking, to which the geometries of the frame and cover are coordinated. In the simplest case, therefore, the cover is simply pressed into the corresponding recess of the frame. Alternatively or additionally, caulking, welding, gluing, latching and the like are conceivable. Also in this case, the frame is made of hard plastic material, opposite the cover of a softer plastic material.

On the other hand, the frame of the lid and the cover held by the frame are advantageously designed as a two-component component. In this case, the frame and the cover by means of a Kunststöffspril gussvelfalirens made in a tool dääüTclT; that the frame from the first, in particular hard Kunststoffmateriai, and then the cover, in particular from the softer plastic material, injected. Ansteife of which also the frame of the lid can first be produced in a plastic injection molding process in a corresponding tool and this frame thus produced are used in a second tool, where then the cover of another plastic material is molded onto the frame.

All of the above-described measures have the advantage of making the cover, which can be attached to the frame, which can be fixed or fixed in the opening of the container, separate from this frame and subsequently movably arranged on the frame. This also makes clear the advantage of the invention, namely that the frame, which is fixed to the container, on the one hand optimally matched to the geometries of the container and on the other hand optimally adapted to the geometries of the movable lid. The movable lid which can be fixed to the frame again has the advantage that it can be optimally designed with regard to its geometries on the one hand to the attachment to the frame and on the other hand to the closure, release and sealing function.

In a further development of the invention, the lid has a valve. Such a valve has the advantage that between the interior of the container and the external environment, if necessary, a pressure equalization can take place. For this purpose, the valve is designed in a particularly advantageous manner to the effect that only a pressure equalization can take place from the interior of the container in the direction of the external environment. A pressure equalization of the external environment in the direction of the interior of the container should be prevented. This makes it possible in an advantageous manner, to prevent or reduce a resulting inside the container pressure, in particular a harmful or even dangerous pressure. In a particularly advantageous manner is in this If the valve is designed so that it allows only a gaseous pressure equalization (venting), but at the same time prevents this liquid from escaping from the inside of the container.

In a further development of the invention, the valve is arranged in the cover, which is arranged in the frame of the lid. This has the advantage that the valve can already be arranged with production of the cover which is arranged in the frame and forms the cover together with the cover and can be optimally matched in terms of its function.

In a further development of the invention, the lid is either pivotally or displaceably arranged on the frame, which is inserted into the opening of the container. This results in terms of handling for closing or for releasing the opening in the container different options, which in particular meet the desire of the user for different ways to operate the lid. Both in the case of the pivotable and in the case of the displaceable arrangement of the lid on the frame, the lid may be formed one or more parts.

The invention will be explained and described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

In the figures 1 to 3, as far as shown in detail, a frame 1 is shown, which can be used according to its geometry in an opening not shown here in a container, also not shown and permanently and sealingly fixed in this opening by appropriate measures. The frame 1 also forms an opening, wherein the opening formed by the frame 1 is at least equal to or smaller than the opening area of the opening in the container. For closing or releasing this opening, a lid 2 is provided. The frame 1 has a seal 3. Frame 1 and seal 3 are either separate from each other and festiegbare by positive engagement Components are barren as a one-piece component, in particular made ^{~ 'by} a two-component injection molding of plastic. The determination of the frame 1 by means of a web. The web is either one piece, radially around the opening in the container around circumferentially formed (not shown here) or consists of a plurality of webs 4, wherein the plurality of webs 4 are arranged like a circle. The geometry of the plurality of webs 4 is chosen so that with them the frame 1 is fixed to the container when the frame is inserted into the opening, in this case, the plurality of webs 4 has a corresponding undercut. Alternatively or additionally, the frame 1 can also be fixed to the container in a different manner. If the frame 1 is fixed by means of the webs 4 to the container, the underside of the seal 3 rests on the surface of the container, so that thereby the sealing function of the frame 1 is realized with respect to the container.

FIG. 2 shows that the cover 2 has at least one joint 5, here two joints 5. By means of these joints 5, the lid 2 is pivotally fixed to the frame 1. For this purpose, the frame 1 has corresponding counter means for receiving the joints 5 of the lid 2. Likewise, the cover 2 has at least one latching element, here two latching elements 6, with which the cover 2 is held in its closed position on the frame 1.

When viewing the right-hand part of FIG. 2, it can be seen that the cover 2 in this embodiment has a frame (no reference numeral), this frame accommodating a cover 7. The frame and the cover 7 of the cover 2 are either two components manufactured separately from one another or they are produced in a production process, in particular in a two-component plastic injection molding process. With a supplementary view of the figure 1 and the left part of Figure 2 it is clear that the cover 7 is designed in terms of their geometry so that it closes the opening formed by the frame 1, or after the pivoting of the lid. 2 releases. With regard to their sealing function, the cover 7 is made of a material which is softer against the material of the frame 1 and the frame of the Deckenis 2. This ensures on the one hand that with the cover 7, the opening in the container, formed by the frame 1, is effectively closed, but can be released gieichzeitig after pivoting the lid 2, so that the contents of the container can be removed.

In Figure 2, right side, it is shown that the lid 2 has a valve. In this case, a valve 8 is provided in the cover 7. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable to dispose not only the valve 8 in the cover 7 but also in the frame of the lid 2 and / or the frame 1 and / or the container itself.

In order to prevent the cover 2 from its position releasing the opening again moves into the position closing the opening when the content is removed from the container, at least one latching hook 10 (Figure 1) is still present, the detachable cover 2 at the frame 1 determines. Corresponding to the latching hook 10 of the lid 2 corresponding latching means on the frame 1 are present. The reverse arrangement, namely, for example, at least one latching hook on the frame 1 and corresponding latching means on the cover 2, are conceivable. In addition, other measures for locking the lid 2 in certain or arbitrary positions relative to the frame 1 are conceivable. For example, the hinge 5 of the lid 2 and the corresponding counterpart to the frame 1 may be designed such that the lid 2 can be moved relative to the frame 1 only by applying a certain minimum force. If this force is not applied, the lid 2 remains in its last position relative to the frame 1.

In Figure 3, finally, a further embodiment of the lid, here provided with the reference numeral 9, shown. In this case, the frame 1 is designed such that it allows the displaceability of the lid 9 between its opening occlusive and the opening releasing position. Both in the case of the lid 2 (shown in Figures 1 and 2) and in the case of Dectcels ^" 9 ^~ (shown in iguT ^ 3) Is 3er cover 2, 1F one-piece ^" dreary? multipart ^", in particular in two parts. In Figure 3, the cover 9 is in one piece and consists of a plastic material which is softer than the plastic material of the frame 1. As a result, and by the correspondingly coordinated shift geometries allows that Mitteis of the lid 9 of the Instead of the one-piece cover 9, it is also conceivable that it may be designed in two parts from different plastic materials or also in several parts, analogously to the cover 2 shown in FIG. shown in Figures 1 and 2, that this may also be integrally formed, and thereby the opening formed by the frame 1, released or can be effectively closed sealing.

So far it has been assumed that the frame 1 and the one- or multi-part cover 2, 9 has been made of appropriate plastic materials. In addition to the plastic injection molding process described so far, other production processes are also considered for the production of plastic parts. In addition, it is not excluded that the entire arrangement consisting of frame 1 and cover 2, 9, also made of other materials than plastic.

Bezugsze † † c ien1is1e

1st frame

2. Lid

3. seal

4th bridge

5. joint

6. locking element

7. Cover

8. Valve

9. Lid

10. catch hook

Claims

P A T E N T A N S P R E C H E

Resealable closure for a container

A recloseable closure for a container, in particular a beverage can, with a lid (2, 9) closing an opening in the container or releasing it to remove the contents of the container, characterized in that the closure comprises a frame (1) on which the lid (2, 9) is movably mounted, as well as a peripheral to the opening seal (3), with which the frame (1) is sealed from the container.

2. Reclosable closure for a container according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (1) has at least one pointing in the direction of the interior of the container web (4) with which the frame (1) in the opening in the container can be fixed ,

3. Reclosable closure for a container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the frame (1) and the peripheral to the opening seal (3) are formed as a two-component component.

4. resealable closure for a container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the frame (1) and the peripheral seal around the opening (3) are formed as separate components and the seal (3) by means of positive engagement on the frame ( 1) is fixed.

5. Reclosable closure for a container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (2) of a frame and a cover (7) held by the frame, the cover (7) ^" closing the opening in the container.

6. reclosable closure for a container according to claim 5, characterized in that the frame of the lid (2) and held by the frame cover (7) are formed as separate components and the cover (7) mitteis positive connection to the frame of Cover (2) is fixed.

A reclosable closure for a container according to claim 5, characterized in that the frame of the lid (2) and the cover (7) held by the frame are formed as a two-component component.

8. Reclosable closure for a container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (2) has a valve (8).

9. reclosable closure for a container according to claim 8, characterized in that the valve (8) in the cover (7) is arranged.

10. reclosable closure for a container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (2) pivotable or the lid (9) which is formed as a one- or two-component component, slidably on the frame (1) is arranged.