MXPA00011200A - Resealing overcap for a cylindrical container - Google Patents

Abstract

A resealing overcap (20) is provided for fitting over a top end (13) of a cylindrical container (10) and an easy-open top end closure (15) thereon which includes an end ring (17) having an inside circular downwardly and inwardly curved bead (18) defining a central opening and closed by a removable membrane (19) positioned thereon. The resealing overcap (20) includes a circular central portion (22) having an outer periphery and adapted to extend radially of the container when positioned thereon for covering the top end closure (15). The overcap (20) further includes a downwardly depending flange (23) integrally extending from and around the central portion outer peripheral area and adapted to extend axially of the cylindrical container when positioned thereon to provide a friction fit around the end ring (17) of the container end closure when positioned thereon. The resealing overcap (20) further includes a downwardly depending flexible ring portion (25) integrally extending from an in side surface of the overcap central portion (22) and adapted to extend axially of the cylindrical container whenpositioned thereon to define a leading edge portion (26) adapted to be positioned over the inside circular bead (18) of the container end closure when positioned thereon before opening of the container and adapted to flex and snap fit around the bead (18) of the end ring of the container end closure upon opening of the container and removal of the easy-open membrane patch for resealing of the container.

Description

RESELLABLE COVER FOR CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved construction of a lid to fit the upper end of a cylindrical container and an easy-open closure at the upper end thereof that includes an end ring defining an opening closed by a removable membrane.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The easy-open containers have been provided so far for a wide variety of products that include powdered products, such as food products, cleaning products, etc. These easy-open containers are often composed of a composite cylindrical body part having end closures to close and seal the container and wherein the closure of the upper end comprises an end ring attached to the composite container body and having a peripheral area. inner circular in the form of a curved edge downward and inward and defining a central opening of the desired size to have access through it to the interior of the container. The closure of the upper end further includes an easy opening membrane patch of sufficient size to cover the central opening and attached to the end ring, which allows it to be peeled off and removed when it is desired to open the container to gain access to the product therein. This type of easy-open containers also often includes covers constructed to fit the upper end portion of the container and the closure of the upper end before and after opening the container. These covers fulfill many functions including, but are not limited to, protecting the upper part of the container from damage before and after removing the membrane and opening the container, preventing unwanted material from entering the container afterwards. of removing the membrane and opening the container, preventing the product inside the container from spilling out of the container after opening the container, helping to improve the capacity of stacking of these containers before and after opening, and increasing the duration of the product after to open the container. With the increasing packaging of products sensitive to moisture and oxygen in this type of containers, the need for an improved sealing feature for the container has been established, after opening the container and removing the membrane, to re-close hermetically the container and prevent unwanted moisture and oxygen from entering the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the purpose of this invention is to provide a generally circular cap adapted to fit the upper end of a cylindrical container and the upper end closure thereof including an end ring having a curved edge downward and inwardly circular inner defining a central opening and closed by a removable membrane placed therein, wherein the lid construction includes a sealing feature to re-seal the container after opening for the first time and remove the membrane from the upper end closure. It has been observed with this invention that this objective can be achieved by providing a resealable lid comprising a circular central portion having an outer periphery and adapted to extend radially of the container when placed therein to cover the upper end portion of the container. The lid further includes a flange portion that hangs downwardly extending integrally from and around the outer peripheral area of the central portion and adapted to extend axially of the cylindrical container when placed therein and having an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the container. Cylindrical to provide a friction fit around the end ring of the container when placed on it.

The lid also includes a flexible hoop part that hangs down, which extends integrally from an interior surface of the central part of the lid and adapted to extend axially from the cylindrical container when placed on it to define a main edge portion adapted to be placed on the inner circular edge of the container's end closure at placed on it before opening the container and adapted to flex and snap around the curved edge downward and inward of the end ring of the container end closure after opening the container and removing the easy-open membrane patch to return to close the container tightly. It has been found preferable that the leading edge of the flexible ring of the lid has a diameter smaller than that of the central opening of the closure of the upper end of the container and to extend outwardly from the lid at a predetermined angle of between 30 ° and 45 ° to the flexible ring that hangs down from the lid. It has also been found that it is preferable to construct the lid as an injection molded plastic lid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The purpose and advantages of this invention have been explained above; Other purposes and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of this invention which will be described later, when considered with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container of easy opening having put on the improved lid of this invention and showing the lid in exploded view; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the upper part of the container of Figure 1 with the upper end closure thereof and that illustrates the membrane of said upper end closure removed to open the container and have access to the product therein, Figure 3 is a sectional view of one side of the upper part of the container of Figure 1, before removing the membrane of the upper end closure, and with the cover on; and figure 4 is a view, like figure 3, after the membrane of the upper end closure has been removed and the lid has been replaced at the end of the container and snapped into the opening of the end closure formed at the end. Remove the membrane to reseal the container hermetically.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, in figure 1 there is shown an easy opening container, generally indicated with 10, which is adapted to be filled with a powder product P, such as food products, cleaning products, etc. The container 10 can be of any desired configuration and can be constructed of any desired material including compounds, plastic, metal, etc. However, it is preferable that the container 10 have a generally cylindrical shape and be constructed of composition materials including paper covers of the type normally used for the construction of containers of powder products P and which are well known to those skilled in the art. . The container 10 is formed by a generally cylindrical container body 12 defining opposite upper and lower end portions 13, 14. The container 10 further includes upper and lower end closures 15, 16 attached respectively to the upper and lower end portions 13,14 of the container body to close and seal the container with product P therein in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The lower end closure 16 can be any suitable end closure glued or bonded to the lower end portion 14 of the container and can be constructed of metal, composite, plastic or other suitable material. The upper end closure 15 is of the easy opening type comprising an end ring 17 having an outer circular peripheral area 17a attached to the upper end portion of the container body 13 (as shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4). The end ring 17 further includes an inner circular peripheral area in the form of a curved edge downward and inward 18 defining a central opening of the desired size to allow access to the interior of the container 10 (as shown particularly in Figure 2) . The upper end closure 15 further includes an easy-open membrane patch 19 of sufficient size to cover the central opening, which is attached to the end ring 17 so that the membrane patch can be peeled off and removed 19 (as shown in the figure). 2) when it is desired to open the container 10 to have access to the product P that is inside. The end ring 17 of the upper end closure 15 may be constructed of any suitable material including compounds, metal, plastic, etc. and the membrane patch can be constructed of any suitable material including compounds, metal, plastic, etc. The junction between the membrane patch 19 and the end ring 17 can be any suitable joint including heat bonding, adhesive, etc. to create a joint of sufficient strength to withstand internal forces within the container, while being sufficiently weak in tension direction to allow sealing of the "easy open" joint of the upper end closure 15 of the container 10 , in the manner known to those skilled in the art. Preferably the joint can be made with a polypropylene heat seal layer on the membrane patch or on the end ring or both. In accordance with this invention, a resealable cap 20 is constructed to fit over the upper end of the container body 13 and the upper end closure 15 before and after opening the container 10 (as shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4) and to snap into the central opening of the upper end closure 15 after opening the container 10 and removing the easy-open membrane patch 19 to reseal the container (as shown in the figure) 4). The lid 20 comprises a circular central part 22 having an outer periphery and radially extending from the container 10 to cover the upper end portion of the container 15. The lid 20 further includes a downwardly hanging flange portion 23 extending completely from and around the outer peripheral area of the central part 22 and axially of the container body 12 when being placed in the container 10. This flange part 23 has an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the container body 12 to provide a friction fit around the end collar 17 and the outer peripheral area 17a thereof, which is attached to the upper end portion of the container body 13 (as shown in Figures 3 and 4). The resealable lid 20 further includes a downwardly dangling flexible hoop part 25 that extends completely from an inner surface of the central part of the lid 22 and axially of the container body 12 when placed in the container 10 to define a main edge portion 26. This main edge portion 26 is placed over the inner peripheral area or edge 18 of the end ring of the upper end closure 17 before opening the container 10 (as shown in Figure 3) and is adapted to flex and snapping around the curved edge downward and inwardly 18 in the inner peripheral area of the upper end closure 15 after opening the container 10 and removing the easy-open membrane patch 19 (as shown in Figure 4). This can be achieved (as shown in Figure 4) by pressing with a finger or the like in the middle part of the central part 22 of the resealable lid 20 which causes the main edge part 26 of the flexible hoop part which hangs downwards 25 flexes and snaps around the edge 18 inside the end ring 17 of the end closure 15 of the container 10. As can be seen in figures 3 and 4, the main edge part 26 of the hanging ring Downwardly 25 of the resealable lid 20 preferably has a diameter greater than the diameter of the inner peripheral area defined by the edge 26 of the end ring 17 of the upper end closure 15 of the container 10 and extends outwardly of the lid 20 at an angle? predetermined, to the hoop hanging downwards 25 thereof, in order to flex and fit around the curved edge downwards and inwards 26 of the end closure 15 of the container 10 when it is desired to reseal hermetically. Is it preferable that the angle? The predetermined portion of the main edge portion 26 towards the hoop hanging downwards 25 of the resealable lid 20 is between 30 ° and 45 °. The resealable lid can be constructed of any suitable material having the above-described characteristics and is preferably constructed of plastic and injection molded so as to provide the downwardly hanging flexible ring 25 which allows bending and snaps around the rim 18 end 17 of the upper end closure 15 of the container 10. Thus, the present invention provides an improved resealable cover for use in a container having an easily opened upper end closure and which is constructed to reseal the container after that the upper end closure has been opened to access the product inside the container. In the drawings and specification, a preferred embodiment of this invention has been explained and, although specific terms are employed, these terms are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The field of the invention is established in the following claims.

Claims (7)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A container, adapted to be filled with powdered products, dry food products and the like, comprising a generally cylindrical container body defining the opposite upper and lower end portions, upper and lower end closures respectively attached to said end portions of the body of upper and lower container for closing and sealing the container with the product inside, characterized in that the upper end closure is of the easy opening type and comprises an end ring having an outer circular peripheral area attached to the upper end portion of the container body and having an inner circular peripheral area in the form of a curved edge downward and inward to define a central opening of the desired size to allow access to the interior of the container, and characterized in that the upper end closure further comprises a membrane patch of Easy opening of sufficient size to cover the ab central hole and that is attached to the end ring to allow its detachment and removal when you want to open said container and have access to the product that is inside; the improvement of: a resealable cover constructed to fit over the upper end portion of the container body and the upper end closure before and after opening the container and to fit into the central opening of the upper end closure after opening the container and removal of the easy opening membrane patch to re-seal said container; the lid of a circular central part having an outer periphery and extending radially of the container to cover the upper end portion of the container, a flange part hanging downward that extends completely from and around the outer peripheral area of the container centrally and axially part of the container body and having an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the container body to provide a friction fit around the end ring attached to the upper end portion of the container body, and a portion of the annulus flexible that hangs downwardly extending completely from an inner surface of the central part of the lid, axially of the container body to define a main edge portion positioned on the inner peripheral area of the end ring of the upper end closure before opening the container and adapted to flex and fit by pressure around the bo rde curved downward and inwardly forming the inner peripheral area of the upper end closure after opening the container and removing the easily opened membrane patch.

2. A container according to claim 1, further characterized in that the edge portion of the flexible ring hanging downwardly of the resealable cover has a diameter greater than the diameter of the inner peripheral area of the end ring of the upper end closure of the container and extends outwardly from the lid at a predetermined angle, to the flexible ring that hangs down from the lid.

3. A container according to claim 2, further characterized in that the predetermined angle of the main edge portion, to the flexible ring hanging downwardly of the lid is between 30 ° and 45 °.

4. A container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further characterized in that the lid is a plastic cover molded by injection.

5. A resellable lid adapted to fit over the upper end of a cylindrical container as an easily opened upper end closure thereof, which includes an end ring having a curved edge downward and inwardly circular interior defining a central opening which is closed by means of a removable membrane placed on it; said lid comprising: a circular central part having an outer periphery and adapted to extend radially of the container when placed on it to cover the upper end closure of the container; a flange part hanging downwardly extending completely from and around the outer peripheral area of the central part and adapted to extend axially of the cylindrical container when placed on it and having an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the cylindrical container to provide a friction fit around the upper end closure of the container when placed on it; and a flexible ring part that . .OMiHí. hangs down completely extending from an inner surface of the central part of the lid and adapted to extend axially of the cylindrical container when placed on it to define a main edge portion adapted to be placed on the inner circular edge of the end closure of the container when placed over it before opening the container and adapted to flex and snap around the curved edge downward and inward of the end ring of the container end closure after opening the container and removing the easy-open membrane patch to reclose hermetically the container.

6. A resealable lid according to claim 5, further characterized in that the edge portion of the flexible ring of the lid has a larger diameter than the central opening of the upper end closure of the container and extends out of the lid to a predetermined angle between 30 ° and 45 ° to the flexible ring that hangs down from the lid.

7. A resealable cover according to claim 5 or 6, further characterized in that the lid is a plastic cover molded by injection. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A resealable cover is provided to fit over the top end of a cylindrical container and an easy opening top end closure that includes an end ring having an inner curved downward and inward circular edge defining a central opening and closed by a membrane removable placed in it; the resealable lid includes a circular central portion having an outer periphery and adapted to extend radially of the container when placed on it to cover the upper end closure; the cap further includes a downwardly hanging flange extending integrally from and around the outer peripheral area of the central portion and adapted to extend axially of the cylindrical container by placing it thereon to provide a frictional fit around the end ring of the end closure of the container when placing it on it; the resealable lid further includes a flexible hoop part hanging downwardly extending from an inner surface of the central part of the lid and adapted to extend axially of the cylindrical container by placing it thereon to define a main edge portion adapted to be placed on it. circular edge inside the end closure of the container when placed on it before opening the container and adapted to flex and snap around the edge of the end ring of the end closure of the container after opening the container and remove the easy opening membrane patch to re-close the container hermetically. EV / asg * sff * aom P00 / 1583