WO2015005799A1

WO2015005799A1 - Opener

Info

Publication number: WO2015005799A1
Application number: PCT/NO2014/050126
Authority: WO
Inventors: Finn Sandmael
Original assignee: Flaax Holding As
Priority date: 2013-07-09
Filing date: 2014-07-09
Publication date: 2015-01-15
Also published as: NO339217B1; NO20130952A1

Abstract

The invention concerns generally an opener, more particularly a system for splash proof tins. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a system for and a method for (manufacturing) splash proof tin openers. It is also an objective that this can be made manually and just by using one hand for holding the tin and one hand for opening it. It is very much to desire to do this without using additional aiding means beyond what is following the tin. The present invention achieves the objective stated above by arranging a first and a second opener in opposite sides of a lid region defined by a surrounding weakened region, so that when a user opens the lid towards a common limited portion along the long sides of the contour, the lid can be removed without releasing tension forces.

Description

OPENER

Background of the invention

Technical field

The invention concerns generally a tin and more particularly a system for splash proof tins.

The background art

Many food products are sealed, in particular if they are hermetically closed (canned). Such food products are conveniently packed in tins adapted for the use of an opener. Many canned tins are adapted for opening with a separate tin opener, while other types are equipped with a ready-made opener for opening a lid, preferably along a pre defined track arranged by weakening a region of the tin.

Usually the lid is defined by said track, which thus is a contour of the lid.

Two commonly used openers are available. A first type is a ring that breaks the tin sealing when lifted up making it possible to open the tin, usually by pulling the lid off. A second type, also commonly used, is a key for breaking the tin sealing when the key is turned, thereby enabling rolling up of the lid.

In many cases it is desirable to remove the lid, for example to avoid any mess, to avoid that the user is cut by sharp edges along the edge if the lid, for obtaining more easy access to the content, or just for esthetical reasons.

From prior art it is referred to DE4303617 concerning a tin having a lid provided with two openers.

It is also referred to US4690297 disclosing a can equipped with a lid and one opener, said lid being designed for ensuring that the opening and the removal of the lid can be used in a better controlled way.

Summary of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The inventor has realized the fact that even if modern tin openers are providing an effective way to loosen the lid, there is still a problem left: to remove the lid from the tin without any spill. The lid is typically made of thin metal and is tensed like a spring. When the lid is finally detached and being withdrawn, the tensioning property may accomplish that the tin content on the lid is thrown out without control. With a content having a strong colour, such as mackerel in tomato sauce, this may i.a. result in permanent miscolouring of clothes and other textiles. Based upon this it is a main objective of the present invention to provide a system for and a method for (manufacturing) splash proof tin openers. It is also an objective that this can be made manually and just by using one hand for holding the tin and one hand for opening it. It is very much desirable to do this without use of additional implements beyond what comes with the tin.

Methods for solving the problems

The present invention achieves the objective presented above, by a tin as defined in the ingress of claim 1 and having the features of the characterizing clause of same claim 1 .

A number of non-exhaustive embodiments, variants or alternatives of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The present invention achieves the objective stated above by arranging a first and a second opener in opposite sides of a lid region defined by a surrounding weakened region, so that when a user opens the lid towards a common limited portion along the long sides of the contour, the lid can be removed without releasing tension forces.

This can be accomplished by moving the lid back and forth so that it loosens, and possibly by reducing the part of the lid that can be tensioned as a spring.

Effects of the invention

The technical difference from prior art is that using the first and the second opener when arrives to a state were the lid is fastened in a smaller region at each long side of the lid. By moving the lid back and forth will no force being established tensioning any spring like property in the lid, so therefore no accumulated forces are suddenly released to make an uncontrolled movement. The movement back and forth provides further material weakness in the weakened region so that the lid easily can be detached and removed completely from the tin.

Alternatively the lid can be removed by pulling the first opener over most of the tin length towards the second opener and thereafter open the lid using said second opener. When arriving at the region where the first opener has opened the lid, just a minimal part of the lid can be tensioned like a spring and will move minimally when the cumulated forces are released.

In both situations the last fracture portion along the weakened region is a portion along the pulling force, whereas ordinary tins according to prior art are having the last portion transfers of the pulling force. The first solution requires far less force for detachment than the traditional lid. These effects provide in turn an additional favourable effect:

• It makes it possible to remove the lid without touching sharp edges

Brief description of the drawings

The invention is further described below and referring to the drawings illustrating several embodiments, where:

fig. 1 schematically shows a closed prior art tin

fig. 2 schematically illustrates a prior art tin just before the lid is pulled off the tin

fig. 3 schematically illustrates a closed tin according to the invention fig. 4 schematically illustrates a tin according to the invention just before the lid is pulled off the tin

The reference signs used in the drawings

A closer description of the invention

In the following the invention is further described with reference to the drawings which show several embodiments and where fig. 1 schematically illustrates a closed tin 100 according to prior art.

A weakened region 1 10 defines a contour for a lid 120. Such a weakening can be defined in many ways, but a usual way is a slot penetrating most of one of the metal walls of the tin so as to provide a mechanical weak zone determining where the metal is tearing up during an opening, but without damaging the sealing of the tin content. A commonly used alternative is to weld the lid to the tin top.

An opener 102 is arranged at one end of a lid 120 against a weakened region 1 10, specifically a first end portion of the contour. The opener acts by acting with a sufficient force so that an opening arises in the first end portion of the contour of the lid, often by that the opener provides a lever effect. When the opening is established, less force is needed for pulling the opener further for drawing the metal out from the contour, as this metal to be drawn out is the lid 120. The lid can be pulled out along the first 1 16 and second long side 1 18 of the contour, then further to the second end portion 1 14 of the contour, being opposite to the first end portion were the opener is fastened. Typically for this case greater forces are needed for pulling out the lid, which also becomes bent during this process, where fig. 2 schematically shows a prior art tin, just before the lid is pulled off the tin. In the moment when the lid is detached from said second end portion at a fracture portion 122, the force acting at the opener suddenly becomes released so that the lid acts as a spring, giving the risk for that parts of the content of the tin is splashed out.

Principles forming the basis of the invention

The invention takes advantage of the fact that a reduced force is needed for pulling off the lid along the long side of the contour, rather than along the end portions, and that a reduced tensioning of a spring action of the lid takes place if said lid is removed along the long sides.

By moving the lid back and forth when the lid has been detached from the ends and only is held over a smaller region along the long sides, material fatigue can be induced so that longitudinal fracture lines 124 and 126 are made. The lid then can be easily detached and without the accumulating of forces to be released during uncontrolled movements in turn giving the possibility that the content of the tin is ejected.

To open such lids there are many alternatives. In many cases reusable separate lid openers are used. Often it is a wish that the opener is following the tin and is fastened to it.

A first opener is of the ring type, and fastened to the lid, where the lifting of a ring punctures the tin at the same time. Such an opener often utilizes the lever arm principle to add sufficient force for the puncturing. Thereafter the ring is pulled against the user so that the lid can be drawn from the tin. A second type is of the key type, where a slot in the key catches a tongue being an extension of the lid. Compared with the ring type, a key can act with a greater force, but is also less convenient to use. Best modes of carrying out the invention

The embodiment of the invention shown in figs. 3 and 4 comprises a tin as described above. In addition the tin is provided with longitudinal strengthening structures 128 ensuring that longitudinal fracture lines 124, 126 are defined at the first and second long side 1 16, 1 18 respectively, of the contour.

Additional embodiments

A number of variants over the above can be visualized. As an example a ring opener can be used over a first end portion and a key opener on a second end portion, as the ring opener easily can open the lid along the most of the long sides, while the key opener can be used for opening the last portion and also make a practical means for holding the lid without touching the tin content.

It can be desirable to define the length the lid is opened over, by the first and second opener, particularly to prevent that the complete lid is pulled off by the first opener in a conventional way, as the usefulness then is lost.

It can then be envisaged that the lid is provided with longitudinal strengthening structures in said lid, so that the lid easily is opened over most of the length by means of the first opener, and then shorter or missing longitudinal structures for the remaining portion of the lid, thereby reducing the spring action length.

The second opener can be designed so long that it obviously makes it difficult to pull off the lid just with the first opener.

Even other variants, such as variants of the lid material, are feasible.

Industrial applicability

The invention finds its use by tins where the risk for ejecting content of the tin during opening, is to be reduced.

Claims

1 . A tin (100) comprising a lid (120) defined by a contour (1 10), said lid being provided with a first opener (130) arranged at a first end portion (1 12) of the contour, characterized in further comprising a second opener (140) arranged at a second end portion (1 14) of the contour,

the first and second end portion are opposite, and

the lid is provided with longitudinal strengthening structures (128) in said lid, said structures defining a first length and a second length.

2. The tin according to claim 1 , characterized in that the lid is arranged for opening the lid the first length by means of the first opener and the second length by means of the second opener.

3. The tin according to claim 2, characterized in that the first length is longer that the second length.

4. The tin according to claim 1 , characterized in that the longitudinal

strengthening structures (128) define longitudinal fracture lines (124, 126) at the first and second long side (1 16, 1 18) of the contour (1 10).