WO2013178793A1 - Cover for beverage can with a protective foil - Google Patents

Description

 COVER FOR BEVERAGE CAN WITH A PROTECTIVE FOIL

The invention relates to a lid for a beverage can or the like with a lid mirror and arranged in the region of the lid mirror, openable and resealable closure device that selectively releases or closes a drinking opening in the lid mirror. The lid has an inner side facing the inside of the can in use and an outside facing the environment.

Lids of this type are known, for example, from DE 10 2010 027 821. Such lid for resealable beverage cans are used, for example, known per se, two-piece beverage cans, which consist of a one-piece can body and a lid connected thereto. The can body is typically formed of aluminum or tinplate (steel) and initially has on one longitudinal side an opening into which the bottler, for example, a drink is filled. After filling the can body, it is closed by means of a lid, wherein the lid is typically tightly connected to the can body by means of a double fold. In conventional, non-reclosable beverage cans the lid is usually made entirely of aluminum. Such a lid typically has a centrally located lid mirror which is surrounded by a reinforcing bead in the vicinity of the connection to the can body. In the lid mirror is typical provided a drinking opening, which is defined in conventional lids by a rupturable cover portion. As is known, such a beverage can is opened by tearing open a weakening line defining the tearable lid portion by means of a gripping tab and at the same time removing or tearing away the tearable lid portion. Beverage cans with such lids can not be closed again after first opening.

To be able to close a beverage can again after first opening, cans with resealable lids are known. Corresponding closure elements are described, for example, in the previously cited DE 10 2010 027 821 or also in WO 2005/068312.

The invention has for its object to improve such beverage cans.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a lid for a beverage can or the like, which has a lid mirror and an opening device which can be opened and reclosed in the region of the lid mirror. The closure device has the property of selectively releasing or closing a drinking opening in the lid mirror. A side facing the inside of the can in the use state of the lid is the inside thereof and a side facing the environment is the outside thereof. According to the invention, a film is arranged on the outside of the cover, which covers the closure device on the outer side of the lid and is fully sealed around the closure device so that penetration of moisture is prevented or at least prevented by the connection between the film and the lid mirror is significantly impeded. This is relevant in order to ensure a hygienic environment in open cavities of the closure device by suppressing the nucleation as long as possible. The film is multi-layered and has at least one metal layer and one plastic layer as well as an adhesive or sealing layer.

In this way, the film prevents or minimizes the risk of moisture absorption in various cavities of the closure device and thus precludes the risk of microbiological growth. Namely, the invention includes the recognition that resealable lids for beverage cans are more problematic in this regard than conventional rip-off lids, since most closure devices on the outside are side of the lid have a more complex geometry than the usual Aufreißdeckel and are therefore more sensitive to microbiological contamination. In addition, closure devices often include plastic components that are more susceptible to microbiological contamination than the bare or painted metal surfaces of conventional tear-open lids.

According to a preferred embodiment, the film completely covers the closure device on the outside of the lid. According to alternative embodiments, however, the film may have apertures, in which case the edge or the edges of a respective aperture - also preferably fully - tightly connected to a surface of the closure device. The surface of the closure device located within such a breakthrough in the film is in turn preferably completely closed so that a completely closed surface results together with the film and the cover mirror.

Preferably, the film and the connection of the film to the cover mirror are designed so that the film irreversibly deforms on removal. This allows the additional functionality of tamper evidence.

Since the film completely covers the closure device on its outside, the film must first be removed in order to be able to open a corresponding beverage can. By providing that the film thereby deforms irreversibly, the deformed film can serve as a seal and evidence that the corresponding beverage can is originally sealed. According to one embodiment, the film and the connection of the film to the cover mirror are designed so that the connection to the cover mirror is so strong that the film stretches on removal and thus irreversibly deforms. According to the invention, the film is multi-layered and preferably has at least one metal layer, so that the film provides not only for a liquid-tight seal but also for a gas-tight seal. In this case, the film has at least three layers, namely a metal layer, a plastic layer and an adhesive or sealing layer. The latter is used to connect the film with the lid mirror. Alternatively, the film may also be breathable, for example by being made of a plastic containing breathable polymers. In view of the fact that at least some components of the closure device typically extend outwardly beyond the topping mirror, it is preferred that the film be preformed so as to conform to outwardly contoured portions of the closure device beyond the topping mirror. The film is therefore preferably prefabricated so that it follows the contour of the closure device. This implies that the portions of the film intended for connection to the cover mirror already run at least approximately in the plane of the cover mirror when such a film is applied to the cover. This means that the application of the film on the lid is not accompanied by major deformations of the film, so that in this way a reliable and tight connection between film and lid mirror can be more easily ensured.

In the case of conventional lids, the lid mirror is part of a shell which, in addition to the lid mirror, also has at least one reinforcing bead which encloses the lid mirror in full circumference and which merges into the lid mirror in a mirror inclination. In the case of such covers, it is preferred if the film is connected to the shell not only in the region of the cover mirror but also beyond a peripheral edge of the cover mirror. This is particularly advantageous if a drinking opening to be closed by the closure device is arranged close to the edge of the lid mirror and thus also relatively close to the reinforcing bead. In this case, the area of the cover mirror available between the closure device and the peripheral edge of the cover mirror is so narrow that it is advantageous if the film extends beyond this peripheral edge and is also firmly connected to the mirror bevel adjoining the peripheral edge. In this way, a safer and denser connection between the film and the shell of the lid can be produced. The shell of the lid is typically formed from a one-piece, correspondingly shaped sheet metal.

According to the invention, a method is also proposed for producing a cover of the aforementioned type, according to which the film is applied to the remaining cover by means of a flexible, for example elastic pressure stamp, wherein the pressure stamp is designed such that it conforms to the contour of the closure device when applying the film adapts. In this way it can be ensured that the film when fully applied to the rest of the lid fully secure to the lid - more precisely the shell - rests. This is of particular importance because the area between the closure device and the peripheral edge of the cover mirror is typically very small. According to a preferred variant of the method, the film is thermally treated after application. In this way, it is possible, in particular in the case of a film formed substantially by a thermoplastic, to ensure that the shape of the film after application exactly adapts to the surface contour of the lid together with the closure device. The thermal treatment of the film can be carried out by various media and, for example, accompanied by a mechanical pressing, for example by means of an elastic stamp. The heat treatment of the film can also be done without contact.

The invention will now be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the figures. From the figures shows:

Figure 1a shows a cross section through a lid according to the invention including

 Closure device and foil; and

Figure 1 b is a lid similar to Figure 1 a with an alternative film.

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b each show a cover 10 or 10 'which, in the manner of known covers, has a shell formed from a one-piece metal sheet which forms a cover mirror 12, a reinforcing bead 14 and a core wall bevel 16. The cover mirror 12 is fully enclosed by the reinforcing bead 14. In the plan view, the shape of the reinforcing bead 14 is typically circular. The reinforcing bead 14 merges into the cover mirror 12 in a mirror bevel 18. The lid mirror 12 has a passage opening, which in the case of resealable lids is closed by a closure device 20, which typically has an inner closure element 22 and an outer activation element 24. Since the closure element 22 is arranged on the inside of the lid 10 or 10 ', it is pressed by a prevailing in a beverage can internal pressure from the inside against the shell of the lid 10 and 10' in carbonated drinks, so that even with beverage cans With internal pressure a secure closure is guaranteed. The inner closure element 22 is typically connected to the outer actuating element 24 with a differently shaped drive, so that it can be moved by means of the outer actuating element 24 into a position in which the closure element 22 engages the opening in the lid. mirror 12 releases. Details of the design of such closure devices are known in the art.

According to the invention, a film 30 or 30 'is provided on the outer side of the lid 10 or 10', which completely covers the outer components of the closure device 20 and its outer edge is firmly but detachable in use with the lid mirror 12 and optionally also with the Mirror slope 16 is connected. This compound can be accomplished by an adhesive layer of the film 30 or 30 'or else by a sealing layer, which is connected, for example, under the action of heat with the cover mirror 12 and optionally the mirror slope 18. In the embodiment in Figure 1 a, the film 30 is formed by a preferably thermoplastic layer of plastic and moreover also has a seal. Adhesive layer on.

In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1 b, the film 30 'has a multilayer structure and has an outer plastic layer and an underlying metal layer. The metal layer ensures good gastightness of the film 30 '. The metal foil can in turn be laminated on its inner side (ie the side facing the lid mirror) with a further plastic layer or else be provided directly with an adhesive or sealing layer. In particular, a film 30 'according to the variant shown in Figure 1 b has the property that it irreversibly deforms during removal and therefore can not be applied after a single removal in its original state on the lid 10'. In this case, an intact film 30 'shows a consumer that the corresponding can has never actually been opened but is originally closed.

Attributes, 10 'Lid

 Cover mirror reinforcement bead

 Chuck wall slope

 Mirror slope Locking device Closing element

 actuator

, 30 'film

Claims

claims Lid for a beverage can or the like with a lid mirror and arranged in the region of the lid mirror to open and resealable closure device that selectively opens or closes a drinking opening in the lid mirror, the lid has a in use to an inside of the can interior and an outer side facing the environment has characterized in that on the outside of the lid a film is arranged, which covers the closure means on the outside of the lid and is fully sealed around the closure means with the lid mirror so tightly that the penetration between moisture is prevented by the connection between the film and the lid mirror at least substantially impeded, wherein the film is multi-layered and has at least one metal layer and a plastic layer and an adhesive or sealing layer. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the film and the connection of the film to the lid mirror are designed so that the film is irreversibly deformed during removal. Lid according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the film is breathable. Lid according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the film is preformed in such a way that it is adapted to a contour outwardly beyond the lid mirror reaching beyond the components of the closure device. Lid according to claim 4, characterized in that the film is prefabricated such that it follows the contour of the closure device such that the provided for connection to the lid mirror portions of the film already at least approximately in the plane of the lid mirror, if such a film on the lid is applied. Lid according to one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the lid mirror is part of a shell which, in addition to the lid mirror, has a reinforcing bead which surrounds the lid mirror and which is mirrored in the lid mirror. goes, characterized in that the film is connected via a peripheral edge of the lid mirror also with the shell. 7. Lid according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the film completely covers the closure device on the outside of the lid. 8. A method for producing a lid according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the film is applied by means of a flexible, for example, elastic Andruckstempels on the rest of the lid, wherein the Andruckstempel is formed so that it conforms to the contour of the closure device during application the film adapts. 9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the film is thermally treated after application.