US20240109710A1

US20240109710A1 - Preserving can with a liquid drainage opening

Info

Publication number: US20240109710A1
Application number: US18/275,682
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas MANNAI
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-02-04
Filing date: 2022-01-28
Publication date: 2024-04-04
Also published as: FR3119378B1; EP4288345A1; WO2022167745A1; FR3119378A1; CN117098709A

Abstract

A preserving can including a tubular body having two opposite ends closed respectively by a lower lid and an upper lid, the upper lid having a removable upper part having a surface area at least greater than 90% of a surface area of the upper lid in order to be able to empty food from the can, and the lower lid having a removable lower part delimited by a lower rupture starter line and provided with a lower opening member, the removable lower part having at least one long and linear main section having a width with a value of less than or equal to 3 millimetres and a length having a value of greater than or equal to 10 millimetres, in order to be able to drain a liquid juice from the can prior to emptying food therefrom.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of PCT Application No. PCT/FR2022/050157 filed on Jan. 28, 2022, which claims priority to French Patent Application No. 21/01050 filed on Feb. 4, 2021, the contents each of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a preserving can.
It relates more particularly to a preserving can comprising a tubular body having two opposite ends closed respectively by a lower lid and an upper lid.

BACKGROUND

In a known manner, in a preserving can, the upper lid has a removable upper part delimited by an upper rupturable score line and equipped with an opening upper member, thus forming a so-called easy opening system or “EOE” for “Easy Open End”.
Generally, for a preserving can containing a solid content (foodstuffs) soaked into a liquid content (a liquid juice), the removable upper part has a surface area at least greater than 90% of a surface area of the upper lid to be able to empty all of its foodstuffs from the preserving can; we talk classically about an integral opening on the upper lid.
However, to separate the foodstuffs from the juice, it is necessary to resort to solutions that are not entirely satisfactory, such as for example slightly open the removable upper part to make the juice flow, or using a strainer into which both the foodstuffs and the juice are emptied.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure proposes an easy, fast and economical solution for separating the foodstuffs from the juice, in other words purging the solid content from the liquid content, with the metal preserving can, and without using an external apparatus.
Thus, the present disclosure proposes a preserving can comprising a tubular body having two opposite ends closed respectively by a lower lid and an upper lid, wherein the upper lid has a removable upper part delimited by an upper rupturable score line and equipped with an opening upper member, this removable upper part having a surface area at least greater than 90% of a surface area of the upper lid to be able to empty foodstuffs from the preserving can, said preserving can being remarkable in that the lower lid has a removable lower part delimited by a lower rupturable score line and equipped with an opening lower member, such a removable lower part having at least one elongated main section having a width of value less than or equal to 3 millimeters and a length of value greater than or equal to 10 millimeters, to be able to drain a liquid juice from the preserving can prior to emptying foodstuffs therefrom.
The present disclosure therefore proposes to purge the foodstuffs of the liquid juice through a lower opening defined by the removable lower part which, once opened, has at least such an elongated main section. In other words, this lower opening will form a lower drainage opening serving to empty the liquid juice, without letting the foodstuffs leak out, and this thanks to the thin and oblong shape, longer than wide, of the elongated main section. Its thinness (width less than or equal to 3 mm) ensures that the foodstuffs do not come through the lower drainage opening, and its length (length greater than or equal to 10 millimeters) ensures that the foodstuffs do not come block the lower drainage opening while providing an increased drainage surface area to be able to quickly drain the liquid juice.
According to one possibility, the elongated main section is straight or curved.
According to another possibility, the length of the elongated main section has a value comprised between 10 and 50 millimeters.
According to another possibility, the width of the elongated main section has a value comprised between 1 and 2 millimeters.
In a particular embodiment, the removable lower part has at least one elongated secondary section, connected to the elongated main section and extending transversely to the elongated main section, wherein said elongated secondary section has a width of value less than or equal to 2 millimeters and a length of value greater than or equal to 5 millimeters.
Thus, the lower drainage opening has two or more elongated and thin sections which intersect, thus increasing the drainage surface area, while preventing foodstuffs from escaping because these several elongated sections are all thin (width less than or equal to 3 mm).
According to one possibility, the elongated secondary section is straight or curved.
In a particular embodiment, the elongated main section and the elongated secondary section together define a “X”, “T”, “L”, “Y” or “V” shape.
Thus, if only one elongated secondary section is provided, then the lower drainage opening will have a “X”, “T”, “L”, “Y” or “V” shape.
Alternatively, if two or more elongated secondary sections are provided, then the lower drainage opening may have a more complex shape, for example “E”, “H”, “W”, “F”, “Z”, etc. shape.
According to another possibility, the length of the elongated secondary section has a value comprised between 5 and 30 millimeters.
According to one feature, the width of the elongated secondary section has a value comprised between 1 and 2 millimeters.
In an advantageous embodiment, the opening lower member includes, on either side of a central part fastened to the removable lower part, a grasping tab and a bearing nose adapted to cause a break in the lower rupturable score line at one end of the elongated main section.
Thus, a user grabs the grasping tab to move it away from the removable lower part, so that the opening lower member forms a lever which causes the bearing nose to cause a local break in the lower rupturable score line, at this end of the elongated main section, and finally the user pulls the opening lower member so as to continue the tearing of the lower rupturable score line and to separate all or part of the removable lower part from the lower lid, thus forming the lower drainage opening.
The present disclosure also relates to a method for opening a preserving can according to the present disclosure, such a preserving can receiving internally foodstuffs soaked into a liquid juice, this opening method implementing the following steps:
opening the removable lower part by acting on the opening lower member, thus forming in the lower lid a lower drainage opening defined at least by the elongated main section of the removable lower part which has a width of value less than or equal to 3 millimeters and a length of value greater than or equal to 10 millimeters;
opening at least partially the removable upper part by acting on the opening upper member, creating a draught following which the liquid juice is drained through said lower drainage opening, while retaining the foodstuffs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will appear on reading the detailed description below, of non-limiting examples of implementation, made with reference to the appended figures wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective schematic view of a preserving can according to the present disclosure, allowing to visualize its upper lid, the removable upper part of which is closed;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective schematic view of the preserving can of FIG. 1 , allowing to visualize its lower lid, the removable lower part of which is closed;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective schematic view of the preserving can of FIGS. 1 and 2 , allowing to visualize the removable lower part of the lower lid, with its opening lower member, at the start of the opening of this removable lower part in order to begin clearing the lower drainage opening;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective schematic view of the preserving can of FIGS. 1 to 3 , at the near end of the opening of the removable lower part in order to clear almost completely the lower drainage opening, where this FIG. 4 shows a zoom on the removable lower part;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective schematic view of the preserving can of FIGS. 1 to 4 , allowing to visualize the partial opening of the removable upper part of the upper lid, in order to create a draught consecutively to the opening of the removable lower part illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 ;

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective schematic view of the preserving can of FIGS. 1 to 5 , allowing to visualize the draining of the liquid juice through the lower drainage opening;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective schematic view of the preserving can of FIGS. 1 to 4 , allowing to visualize the complete opening of the removable upper part of the upper lid, in order to recover the foodstuffs after the draining of the juice liquid illustrated in FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 8 is a top schematic view of the preserving can of FIGS. 1 to 7 , with the removable upper part closed;

FIG. 9 is a bottom schematic view of the preserving can of FIGS. 1 to 8 , with the removable lower part closed, and with a zoom on this removable lower part;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of three alternative embodiments of the removable lower part, having other shapes than that illustrated in FIG. 9 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 , a preserving can 1, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, comprises a metal tubular body 10 having two opposite ends closed respectively by a lower lid 4 and an upper lid 3.
The upper lid 3 is of the lid type with full opening, and it has:
a peripheral part 30 in the form of a ring, which is secured to one of the two ends of the tubular body 10, for example by crimping; and
a sealing central panel 31 comprising a removable upper part 32 delimited by an upper rupturable score line 33 and equipped with an opening upper member 34.
This removable upper part 32 has a surface area at least greater than 90% of a surface area of the upper lid 3 to be able to empty foodstuffs DA from the preserving can 1 (as visible in FIG. 7 ).
The opening upper member 34 is for example of the “opening ring” type, and it includes, on either side of a central part fastened to the removable upper part 32, a grasping tab 37 and a bearing nose 38 adapted to cause a break in the upper rupturable score line 33.
Also, to separate or open the removable upper part 32, the user maneuvers the opening upper member 34 to partially tear the upper rupturable score line 33, then he pulls on this opening upper member 34 to continue the tearing of the upper rupturable score line 33 and thus open the removable upper part 32 sufficiently to empty the foodstuffs DA from the preserving can 1, or even completely dissociate the removable upper part 32 from the upper lid 3.
The lower lid 4 has:
a peripheral part 40 in the form of a ring, which is secured to the other of the two ends of the tubular body 10, for example by crimping; and
a sealing central panel 41 comprising a removable lower part 42 (not visible in FIG. 2 ) delimited by a lower rupturable score line 43 and equipped with an opening lower member 44.
Referring to FIG. 9 , this removable lower part 42 has a elongated main section 45 having a width G1 of value less than or equal to 3 millimeters, and for example a value comprised between 1 and 2 millimeters, and a length L1 of value greater than or equal to 10 millimeters, and for example a value comprised between 10 and 50 millimeters.
The opening lower member 44 is for example of the “opening ring” type, and it includes, on either side of a central part fastened to the removable lower part 42, a grasping tab 47 and a bearing nose 48 adapted to cause a break in the lower rupturable score line 43 at one end of the elongated main section 45.
Also, to separate or open the removable lower part 42, the user maneuvers the opening lower member 44 to partially tear the lower rupturable score line 43 at the end of the elongated main section 45, then he pulls on this opening lower member 44 to continue tearing the lower rupturable score line 43 and thus open the removable lower part 42 sufficiently to form in the lower lid 4 a lower drainage opening 49, to be able to drain a liquid juice JU from the preserving can 1 prior to emptying the foodstuffs DA therefrom. This lower drainage opening 49 is thus delimited by the lower rupturable score line 43.
In the example illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 9 , this removable lower part 42 also has an elongated secondary section 46, connected to the elongated main section 45 and extending transversely to the elongated main section 45, wherein such an elongated secondary section 46 has a width G2 of value less than or equal to 2 millimeters, and for example a value comprised between 1 and 2 millimeters, and a length L2 of value greater than or equal to 5 millimeters, and for example a value comprised between 5 and 30 millimeters.
In this example, the elongated secondary section 46 crosses the elongated main section 45 in the middle at one of its ends, so that the elongated main section 45 and the elongated secondary section 46 together define a “T” shape. Thus, the lower drainage opening 49 has a general “T” shape.
Of course, other shapes may be provided for the removable lower part 42, and therefore for the lower drainage opening 49, such as a “V” shape (see FIG. 10 on the left), a “X” shape (see FIG. 10 in the middle), a “L” shape, a “Y” shape, or more complex shapes such as the one visible in FIG. 10 on the right. It should also be noted that the elongated main section 45 and/or the or each elongated secondary section 46 is straight or curved.
The remainder of the description relates to the method for opening a preserving can 1 according to the present disclosure, this preserving can 1 internally receiving foodstuffs DA soaked into a liquid juice JU, this opening method implementing the following steps:
as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 , opening the removable lower part 42 by acting on the opening lower member 44, thus forming in the lower lid 4 the lower drainage opening 49 defined at least by the elongated main section 45 and, wherein appropriate, by the elongated main section(s) 46;
as illustrated in FIG. 5 , opening at least partially the removable upper part 32 by acting on the opening upper member 34, creating a draught following which the liquid juice JU is drained through the lower drainage opening 49 (as illustrated in FIG. 6 ), while retaining the foodstuffs DA; and
once the liquid juice JU has been purged, complete (or almost complete), opening the removable lower part 42 in order to recover the foodstuffs DA emptied of the liquid juice JU, as illustrated in FIG. 7 .

Claims

1. A preserving can comprising a tubular body having two opposite ends closed respectively by a lower lid and an upper lid, wherein the upper lid has a removable upper part delimited by an upper rupturable score line and equipped with an opening upper member, the removable upper part having a surface area at least greater than 90% of a surface area of the upper lid to be able to empty foodstuffs from the preserving can, the lower lid having a removable lower part delimited by a lower rupturable score line and equipped with an opening lower member, the removable lower part having at least one elongated main section having a width of value less than or equal to 3 millimeters and a length of value greater than or equal to 10 millimeters, to be able to drain a liquid juice from the preserving can prior to emptying foodstuffs therefrom.

2. The preserving can according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated main section is straight or curved.

3. The preserving can according to claim 1, wherein the length of the at least one elongated main section has a value comprised between 10 and 50 millimeters.

4. The preserving can according to claim 1, wherein the width of the at least one elongated main section has a value comprised between 1 and 2 millimeters.

5. The preserving can according to claim 1, wherein the removable lower part has at least one elongated secondary section, connected to the at least one elongated main section and extending transversely to the at least one elongated main section, wherein the elongated secondary section has a width of value less than or equal to 2 millimeters and a length of value greater than or equal to at 5 millimeters.

6. The preserving can according to claim 5, wherein the elongated secondary section is straight or curved.

7. The preserving can according to claim 5, wherein the at least one elongated main section and the elongated secondary section together define a “X”, “T”, “L”, “Y” or “V” shape.

8. The preserving can according to claim 5, wherein the length of the at least one elongated secondary section has a value comprised between 5 and 30 millimeters.

9. The preserving can according to claim 5, wherein the width of the at least one elongated secondary section has a value comprised between 1 and 2 millimeters.

10. The preserving can according to claim 1, wherein the opening lower member includes, on either side of a central part fastened to the removable lower part, a grasping tab and a bearing nose adapted to cause a break in the lower rupturable score line at one end of the at least one elongated main section.

11. A method for opening a preserving can comprising a tubular body having two opposite ends closed respectively by a lower lid and an upper lid, wherein the upper lid has a removable upper part delimited by an upper rupturable score line and equipped with an opening upper member, the removable upper part having a surface area at least greater than 90% of a surface area of the upper lid to be able to empty foodstuffs from the preserving can, wherein the lower lid has a removable lower part delimited by a lower rupturable score line and equipped with an opening lower member, the removable lower part having at least one elongated main section having a width of value less than or equal to 3 millimeters and a length of value greater than or equal to 10 millimeters, to be able to drain a liquid juice from the preserving can prior to emptying foodstuffs therefrom, the method implementing the following steps:

opening the removable lower part by acting on the opening lower member, thus forming in the lower lid a lower drainage opening defined at least by the at least one elongated main section;

opening at least partially the removable upper part by acting on the opening upper member, creating a draught following which the liquid juice is drained through the lower drainage opening, while retaining the foodstuffs.

12. The preserving can according to claim 2, wherein the length of the at least one elongated main section has a value comprised between 10 and 50 millimeters.

13. The preserving can according to claim 12, wherein the width of the at least one elongated main section has a value comprised between 1 and 2 millimeters.

14. The preserving can according to claim 13, wherein the removable lower part has at least one elongated secondary section, connected to the at least one elongated main section and extending transversely to the at least one elongated main section, wherein the elongated secondary section has a width of value less than or equal to 2 millimeters and a length of value greater than or equal to at 5 millimeters.

15. The preserving can according to claim 14, wherein the elongated secondary section is straight or curved.

16. The preserving can according to claim 15, wherein the at least one elongated main section and the elongated secondary section together define a “X”, “T”, “L”, “Y” or “V” shape.

17. The preserving can according to claim 16, wherein the length of the at least one elongated secondary section has a value comprised between 5 and 30 millimeters.

18. The preserving can according to claim 17, wherein the width of the at least one elongated secondary section has a value comprised between 1 and 2 millimeters.

19. The preserving can according to claim 18, wherein the opening lower member includes, on either side of a central part fastened to the removable lower part, a grasping tab and a bearing nose adapted to cause a break in the lower rupturable score line at one end of the at least one elongated main section.

20. The preserving can according to claim 2, wherein the width of the at least one elongated main section has a value comprised between 1 and 2 millimeters.