WO2004028917A2 - Container seal, container lid and container - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a container seal, in particular for a milk container (7'), whereby said container seal may be mounted in a container lid (6') and manually operated without tools. According to the invention, the container seal is at least partly made from plastic and may be inserted in a cut-out in the container lid (6'), whereby the container seal seals the cut-out in the container lid (6') and comprises a pouring opening. The invention further relates to a corresponding container lid (6) and a container with said container seal.

Description

 Can closure, can lid and can

The invention relates to a can closure, in particular for a milk can, according to the preamble of claim 1, a can lid according to claim 14 and a can according to claim 17 with such a can closure or can lid.

Conventional condensed milk cans are usually opened by inserting a pouring opening into the can lid near the edge and a ventilation opening on the opposite side.

The problem with such known condensed milk cans is that the can fold protrudes next to the pouring opening at the edge of the can, which hinders clean pouring of the condensed milk and thereby complicates the desired dosage of the condensed milk. In addition, condensed milk residues can accumulate on the edge of the can, which is unsanitary and impairs the visual impression of the condensed milk can. Finally, in the known condensed milk cans, the pouring opening or the ventilation opening with residual condensed milk can become clogged, which makes it necessary to open it again.

Furthermore, beverage cans are known for beer or caffeinated lemonades, for example, which have a tear-open or press-in closure. In this case, a mostly triangular wall part is provided in the can lid, which is delimited from the rest of the can lid by a line of weakness and can be torn out by means of a tab or pressed into the beverage can to expose a pouring opening in the can lid. However, such press-in or tear-open closures are not used in condensed milk cans, since the pouring openings which are formed would generally be too large. Beyond that would the can fold protruding from the edge of the can lead to the problems described at the beginning even with such a press-in or tear-open closure.

The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a can closure which, in the case of a condensed milk can, enables clean pouring of condensed milk and prevents contamination by adhering residual condensed milk.

The object is achieved by a can closure according to claim 1, a can lid according to claim 14 or a corresponding can according to claim 17.

The invention encompasses the general technical teaching of creating a can closure which consists at least partially of plastic and has a pouring opening which can be opened manually by a user without tools, the pouring opening preferably being spaced apart from the can lid.

The arrangement of the pouring opening spaced apart from the can lid offers the advantage that clean pouring is possible and contamination of the can lid by residues of the poured out liquid is prevented.

The manufacture of the can closure according to the invention from plastic, on the other hand, offers the advantage that it can be inserted into a cutout in the can lid and thereby seals the cutout.

When the can closure is made of plastic, the lower part of the can preferably consists of two components that are of different hardness. The softer component of the lower part of the can serves as a seal and lies in the assembled state on the edge of the cutout in the can lid. In this case, the seal preferably lies not only on the edge of the cutout arranged in the can lid, but also surrounds the edge of the cutout, thereby protecting the edge of the cutout from corrosion. In this context it should be mentioned that the can plate is usually covered with a protective lacquer layer before processing. When the cutout is punched out in the can lid, however, this protective lacquer layer is damaged at the edge of the cutout, which can lead to corrosion there. In this variant of the invention, corrosion at the edge of the cutout in the can lid is advantageously prevented by the cutting edge being enclosed by the seal of the can closure according to the invention.

Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are particularly advantageously suitable as the material for the can closure according to the invention, but the invention is not limited to these plastics with regard to the material for the can closure, but can also be realized with other plastics.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, the can closure has a lower closure part and a closure cover, the lower closure part being insertable into a cutout in the can lid and being able to be positively connected to the can lid, while the closure cover is connected to the lower closure part by a hinge and is pivotable from a transport position into a use position. Here, a pouring opening is arranged in the bottom part of the closure and the closure lid has means for opening the pouring opening in the use position of the closure lid. In order to open the can closure, the closure lid is thus preferably folded onto the bottom closure part, the pouring opening arranged in the bottom closure part being opened automatically. Preferably, the pouring opening in the lower part of the closure is closed by a cover which has at least one predetermined breaking point before being opened for the first time. The closure cap then breaks this predetermined breaking point when it is pivoted for the first time from the transport position into the use position, as a result of which the pouring opening in the lower part of the closure is released.

The predetermined breaking point in the lower part of the closure is preferably broken by means of a piercing rib which is arranged on the underside of the closing lid and presses against the cover of the pouring opening arranged in the lower part of the closure when the closing lid is pivoted out of the transport position into the use position.

This piercing rib preferably has a bevel on the side facing the joint, the height of the piercing rib decreasing along the bevel toward the joint.

On the one hand, this prevents the cover of the pouring opening arranged in the lower part of the closure from tearing off completely in the use position of the closure lid and possibly falling into the can.

On the other hand, the cover of the pouring opening arranged in the bottom part of the closure is held in a pivoted position by the bevel of the piercing rib, in which the pouring opening in the bottom part of the closure always remains open.

In addition, the piercing rib provided in the sealing cover preferably serves as a handle for pivoting the sealing cover from the transport position into the use position. For fastening to the can lid, the lower closure part can have a circumferential, preferably groove-shaped recess, into which the mouth edge of a cutout arranged in the can lid engages in a form-fitting manner.

However, it is more economical in terms of production technology to connect the lower part of the closure to the can lid by means of a plastic injection process.

In addition, there is also the possibility that the lower part of the closure is connected to the can lid by an ultrasonic welding.

The can closure according to the invention preferably has a surface contour on its underside or on the underside of the lower closure part in order to form a positive, intimate connection with a corresponding surface contouring on the can lid during a plastic injection process. Such a surface contouring can consist, for example, of small elevations, depressions or bores which are arranged in the can lid at the edge of the cutout for the lower closure part.

Furthermore, the closure lid in the can closure according to the invention preferably remains independently in the use position after pivoting from the transport position into the use position. This can be achieved, for example, in that the closure cover forms an interference fit with the lower closure part. However, it is alternatively also possible for the lower closure part and the closure cover to have latching elements in order to form a latching connection between the lower closure part and the closure cover in the use position of the closure cover, so that the closure cover remains in the use position independently. In addition, the can closure according to the invention can preferably be closed again after opening for the first time. For this purpose, a closure flap can be provided, which is arranged on the closure cover and can be pivoted relative to the closure cover, for example by a joint, such as a film hinge.

However, the invention comprises not only the can closure according to the invention described above, but also a correspondingly adapted can lid which has a cutout for receiving the lower closure part and a recess for receiving the closure lid in its transport position.

The recess for the closure lid is preferably so large that the closure lid does not protrude above the can edge in the mounted position in the transport position. Such a design of the can closure and the associated can lid is advantageous because the filled cans can be stacked on top of one another without the can closure increasing the stack height or impairing the stackability.

In the case of the can lid according to the invention, a surface contouring is preferably provided on the edge of the cutout for the lower closure part in order to form a positive, intimate connection with a corresponding surface contouring on the lower closure part during a plastic injection molding process. Such a surface contouring can consist, for example, of elevations, depressions or bores which are arranged on the edge of the cutout for the lower closure part.

Finally, the invention also includes a can with such a can lid and / or a can closure according to the invention. Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are explained in more detail below together with the description of the preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a can closure according to the invention in the open state in a top view,

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a can with the can closure according to the invention from FIG. 1 in a transport division,

FIG. 3 shows the area A from FIG. 2 in an enlarged cross section,

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the can from FIG. 2 in a position of use with the can closure open,

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the can closure from FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 shows a milk can with a can closure according to the invention in a transport position,

FIG. 7 the milk can from FIG. 6 in a position of use,

FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of the can closure of the milk can from FIGS. 6 and 7 in the opened state,

FIG. 9 shows a perspective top view of the can closure from FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 shows a can lid with a can closure according to the invention in the transport position,

FIG. 11 shows a bottom view of the can lid from FIG. 10,

FIG. 12 shows a perspective top view of the can lid from FIGS. 10 and 11 with the can closure removed,

FIG. 13 shows a perspective bottom view of the can lid from FIG. 12, Figure 14 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the can closure according to the invention and

FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional view of the can closure from FIG. 14 in the assembled state on a can.

Figures 1 to 5 show a can closure 1 made of plastic, which essentially consists of a lower closure part 2 and a closure cover 3.

The lower closure part 2 is connected via a hinge 4 to the closure lid 3, the hinge 4 consisting of a film hinge.

During assembly, the lower closure part 2 - as will be explained later - is fastened in a cutout 5 adapted to its shape within a can lid 6 of a can 7.

The lower closure part 2 has a pouring opening 8 which is provided in the transport state of the can 7 (see FIG. 2) by means of a cover 9 in the form of a piercing surface. This cover 9 is connected in its areas delimiting the pouring opening 8 via thin-walled predetermined breaking points 10 to the lower closure part 2, while an area of the cover 9 opposite the pouring opening 8 is designed as a film hinge 11 and acts as a joint after being pierced.

The closure lid 3 is also provided with a pouring opening 12 which can be closed again by means of a hinged closure flap 13 when the can 7 is in use. In the middle region of the pouring opening 12 in the closure cover 3 there is a piercing rib 14 which extends vertically across the pouring opening 12 and the function of which will be discussed later. FIG. 2 shows the can closure 1 integrated in the can lid 6 of the can 7, the cover 9 still being connected to the lower closure part 2. As can also be seen from this figure, the cutout 5 is located in the can lid 6, into which the lower closure part 2 is introduced by means of an injection molding process and is thus held in the can lid 6 in a form-fitting manner. There is the possibility of providing smaller elevations or depressions or small bores on the inner contours of the cutout 5 in order to establish an intimate connection between the lower closure part 2 and the can lid 6.

The can lid 6 also has a recess 15 which is adapted to the contours of the closure lid 3 and into which the closure lid 3 is introduced when the can 7 is in the transport state. This makes it possible to stack several cans 7 one above the other for transport purposes without the closure 1 having a disruptive effect on the stack height. The recess 15 is therefore so deep that the closure lid 3 does not protrude above the edge of the can 7 in the transport position.

In the use position of the can 7 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the closure cover 3 has been removed from the depression 15 of the can cover 6 by pulling on the piercing rib 14 and pivoted in the direction of the lower closure part 2. In this process, the piercing rib 14, which has a bevel 16 in the region of the joint 4 (see FIG. 3), pushes the cover 9 due to its predetermined breaking points 10 towards the inside of the can until the cover 9 is attached to the bevel 16 of the closure lid 3 Plant arrives. The cover 9 pivots about the area 8 between the lower closure part 2 and the cover 9. In this state, the closure cover 3 latches with the lower closure part 2. FIG. 5 also shows a circumferential latching edge 17 which is arranged on the lower closure part 2 and which interacts with a likewise circumferential latching receptacle 18 arranged on the closure cover 3.

The pouring opening 12 in the closure lid 3 is covered by the closure flap 13 which permits reclosure. In the position of use of the can 7 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the liquid present in the can 7 can be removed via the pouring opening 8 and the pouring opening 12, the metering of the liquid being able to be influenced by the piercing rib 9. After the dispensing process has ended, the dispensing opening 12 of the closure cover 3 is covered by the closure flap 13. This closure flap 13 can also be pivotally connected to the closure cover 3 via a film hinge 19 and latches with the closure cover 3 in the pressed-on state.

For more convenient handling, the cover 3 also has a handle-like extension 20 with which the cover 3 can be removed from the lower part 2 again.

The embodiment of a .Dosenverschlusses invention shown in Figures 6 to 13 l ¹ largely corresponds to the above-described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 embodiment consistent, so that largely be made below to avoid repetition of the foregoing description and for corresponding Components the same reference numerals are used, which are identified only by an apostrophe for distinction.

A special feature of this exemplary embodiment is that a slit-shaped depression 21 'is arranged in the lower closure part 2', which is covered on its underside by a cover 22 'before the first opening, the cover Kung 22 'is connected to the lower closure part 2' by predetermined breaking points. When pivoting the cover 3 'from the transport position shown in Figures 6, 8, 9, 10 to the use position shown in Figure 7, the piercing rib 14' is inserted into the slot-shaped recess and breaks the predetermined breaking points between the cover 22 'on the underside the slot-shaped recess 21 'and the lower closure part 2', whereby a pouring opening is released.

In addition, it can be seen from FIG. 8 that small elevations 23 'are formed on the underside of the lower closure part 2', which in the assembled state engage in corresponding recesses 24 'which in the closure cover 3' in the edge of the cutout 5 'for the lower closure part 2 'are attached, as can be seen in particular from Figures 13 and 14. The elevations 23 'on the lower closure part 2' in connection with the bores 24 'in the closure lid 3' lead to a positive connection.

The exemplary embodiment of a can closure 1 "according to the invention shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 largely corresponds to the exemplary embodiments described above, so that, in order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above description and the same reference numerals are used below for corresponding components, which are only used to distinguish them are marked by two apostrophes.

A special feature of this exemplary embodiment is that the lower closure part 2 "consists of two plastic components which have a different hardness. The harder plastic component here forms a seal 25" which, in the assembled state, rests on the edge of the cutout in the can lid and thereby seals the cutout , In addition, the seal 25 "also prevents corrosion at the edge of the cutout of the can lid by the seal 25" enclosing the cutting edge. This is advantageous because punching out the cutout damages the protective lacquer layer on the can plate and thus makes it susceptible to corrosion.

The invention is not restricted to the preferred exemplary embodiments described above. Rather, a large number of variants and modifications are possible which likewise make use of the idea according to the invention and therefore fall within the scope of protection.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1 ', 1 can closure

2, 2 ', 2 lower closure part

3, 3 ', 3 sealing covers

4, 4 ', 4 joint

5, 5 'cutout

6, 6 * can lid

7, 7 \ 7 can

8, 8 ', 8 pouring opening

9, 9 '9 "cover

10, 10 '1 predetermined breaking points

11 film hinge

12, 12 '1 opening

/ 14" Durchstoßrippe/ 13 "closure flap

/ 14 "puncture rib

15, 15 '1 recess

16, 16 '1 chamfer of the piercing rib

17, 17'f snap edge

18, 18 'snap-in receptacle

19, 19 'film hinge

20, 20 'approach 1' recess 2 'cover 3' elevations 4 'recesses 5' 1 seal

Claims

PATENTA SPEECHES 1. Can closure (1, 1 ', 1 "), in particular for a milk can (7, 7', 7 ' ¹ ), the can closure (1, 1', 1") being mountable in a can lid (6, 6 ') and can be operated manually without tools, characterized in that the can closure (1, 1 ', 1 ") consists at least partially of plastic and can be inserted into a cutout (5, 5') in the can lid (6, 6 '), the Can closure (1, 1 ', 1 ") seals the cutout (5, 5') in the can lid (6, 6 ') and has a pouring opening (8, 8', 12, 12 '). 2. Can closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the pouring opening (8, 8 ', 8 ", 12, 12') is spaced apart from the can lid (6, 6 ') in the assembled state. 3. Can closure (1, 1 ', 1 ") according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a lower closure part (2, 2', 2") which in a cutout (5, 5 ') in the can lid (6, 6' ) can be used and can be positively connected to the can lid (6, 6 ') as well as a closure lid (3, 3', 3 ") which is connected to the lower closure part (2, 2 ', 2 ") is connected and can be pivoted from a transport position into a use position, the pouring opening (8, 8', 8") being arranged in the lower closure part (2, 2 ', 2 ") and the closure cover (3, 3 ', 3 ") has means (14, 14', 14 '') around the pouring opening (8, 8 ', 8") arranged in the lower closure part (2, 2', 2 ") in the use position of the closure lid (3rd , 3 ', 3 ") to open. 4. Can closure (1, 1 ', 1 ") according to claim 3, characterized in that the pouring opening (8, 8', 8") in the closing lower part (2, 2 ', 2 ") in the transport position of the closure cover (3, 3', 3") before the first opening is closed by a cover (9, 9 ', 9 ") which has at least one predetermined breaking point. 5. Can closure (1, 1 ', 1 ") according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the closure lid (3, 3', 3") as a means for opening in the lower closure part (2, 2 ', 2 ") the pouring opening (8, 8 ', 8 ") has a piercing rib (14, 14', 14") arranged on the underside of the closure lid (3, 3 ', 3 "). 6. Can closure (1, 1 ', 1 ") according to claim 5, characterized in that the piercing rib (14, 14', 14") on the side facing the joint (4, 4 ', 4 ") has a bevel ( 16, 16 '). 7. Can closure (1, 1 ', 1 ") according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the closure lid (3, 3 ', 3 ") a further pouring opening (12, 12') is arranged, which in the use position of the closure lid (3, 3 ', 3") over the pouring opening (8, 8', 8 ") Lower closure part (2, 2 ', 2 ") lies and can be closed again by a closure flap (13, 13', 13"). 8. Can closure (1, 1 ', 1 ") according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure lid (3, 3', 3") has a handle-like extension (20, 20 ') to the closure lid (3, 3 ', 3 ") again from the use position. 9. Can closure (1, 1 ', 1 ") according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on its underside or on the underside of the lower closure part (2, 2', 2") a surface contouring (23 ') is provided in order to at a Plastic injection molding process to form a positive connection with a corresponding surface contouring (24 ') on the can lid (6, 6'). 10. Can closure (1, 1 ', 1 ") according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower closure part (2, 2 ', 2 ") and the closure cover (3, 3', 3") have latching elements (17, 17 ', 18, 18') to in the use position of the closure cover (3, 3 ', 3 ") to form a locking connection between the lower closure part (2, 2 ', 2 ") and the closure cover (3, 3', 3"). 11. Can closure (1, 1 ', 1 ") according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an ultrasonic welding is provided for connection to the can lid (6, 6'). 12. Can closure (1, 1 ', 1 ") according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower closure part (2, 2 ', 2 ") consists of a harder and a softer component, the softer component in the assembled state as a seal (25") on the edge of the cutout (5, 5') in the can lid (6, 6 ' ) is present. 13. Can closure (1, 1 ', 1 ") according to claim 12, characterized in that the softer component (25") of the lower closure part (2, 2', 2 ") in the assembled state the edge of the cutout (5, 5 ' ) in the can lid (6, 6 '). 14. Can lid (6, 6 '), in particular for a milk can (7, 7', 7 ¹ '), characterized by a cutout (5, 5') for receiving a lower closure part (2, 5 ') which seals the cutout (5, 5') , 2 ', 2 ") and a recess (21') for receiving a closure cover (3, 3 *, 3") pivotally connected to the lower closure part (2, 2 ', 2 "). 15. Can lid (6, 6 ') according to claim 14, characterized in that the recess (21') for the closure lid (3, 3 ', 3 ") is so deep that the closure lid (3, 3', 3" ) in the assembled state in the transport position does not protrude beyond the edge of the can. 16. Can lid (6, 6 ') according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that at the edge of the cutout (5, 5') a surface contouring (24 ') is provided in order to provide a positive connection with a corresponding surface contouring ( to form 23 ') on the closure lower part _(2/2 *, 2 "). 17. Can (7, 7 ', 7' ') with a can closure (1, 1', 1 ") and / or a can lid (6, 6 ') according to any one of the preceding claims. * * * * *