WO2000059795A1

WO2000059795A1 - Lid for a drinks can or can containing other liquids

Info

Publication number: WO2000059795A1
Application number: PCT/BE2000/000030
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Son
Original assignee: Paul Son
Priority date: 1999-04-05
Filing date: 2000-04-04
Publication date: 2000-10-12
Also published as: BE1012582A5; AU3649800A

Abstract

A lid (10) with a flat top and comprising an extra-thin combination (13) consisting of a neck which is mounted in such a way that it can pivot around a pivoting axis between a lowered position below an at least partially tearable cap (25) and a raised position wherein it passes through the opening left by the cap (35) when said cap is partially torn. The neck (13) is secured to a base (11) which is advantageously provided with an air bleed (16) guaranteeing full emptying of the can on which the lid is placed, in addition to possessing an expansion chamber (18) enabling variations in pressure when the can is closed and enabling pressure to be equalized when the neck (13) is deployed. Preferably, the cap (25) consists of two parts (27, 29), whereby the can can be hermetically closed once it has been opened.

Description

COVER FOR BEVERAGE BOX OR OTHER LIQUID

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to cans of beverage or other liquid and it relates in particular to a lid for cans provided with a deployable tube after detachment of a sealing cap to serve as a neck.

At present, when a consumer wishes to drink from a can after having detached the sealing cap, he usually has to wear his lips against the outside surface of the can. However, this outer surface is usually contaminated by dirt and pollution of all kinds resulting from storage and various manipulations during packaging, transport and storage of boxes.

In distribution networks too, boxes are handled many times by different people. In large-area refrigerators, for example, the boxes are handled by a large number of people, in particular to assess their freshness.

In addition, the boxes are often placed on the floor and are therefore within reach of animals or may come into contact with chemicals, detritus, grease, oils, etc. All this means that the drink cans currently on the market are of questionable hygiene.

In addition, when a consumer drinks from the can, especially a child, it is not uncommon for him to injure his lips or his tongue.

In addition, when the neck spreads out of the box, the drink often spills on the upper face of the box or

the rim that usually has the lid of the box. Previous technique

Publication EP-A-0744355 describes a container comprising a cover provided with a separable capsule and an interior base forming a tubular part which can be deployed towards the outside of the cover when the separable capsule is separated from the cover. The tubular part serves as a neck and can be taken in the mouth by a consumer who wants to drink the contents of the container. When the lid of this container is closed, the tubular part is inserted inside the container, below the interior base and is thus protected from any external contamination. However, the tubular part is at least partially immersed in the liquid contained in the container or else a non-negligible part of the interior volume of the container cannot contain liquid. This container also has the disadvantage that during the filling process of the containers, the lids to be placed on containers of this kind can not be stacked on crimping machines in current bottling. These machines cannot therefore be used for the production of beverage containers of this type.

The publication US-A-4407425 describes a container lid, comprising a tubular piece folded under the separable capsule and deployable towards the outside when the capsule is separated from the lid. The tubular part is housed in a housing formed under a central protrusion projecting from the upper surface of the cover. Here too the tubular part is protected from any external contamination when it is housed under the cover. However, it turns out that the manufacture of such a cover with the protuberance in question requires several manipulations and welds which prohibit the use of existing press machines. The manufacture of this cover is therefore expensive. On the other hand, the protuberance prevents the containers provided with such a lid from being stackable and from being placed in the vending machines. Finally the protuberance presents the danger of injuring the consumer in the hands and scratching.

Publication WO-98/30458 describes a simpler manufacturing container which can be stacked in vending machines and refrigerators. This container includes an interior base arranged under the cover provided with a detachable cover. The interior base comprises a flexible tubular part which is folded under the detachable cover and is received in a housing formed in the interior base, the tubular part deploying upward through the opening left in the cover when the cover detachable is detached from the cover. The interior base fits under the lid of any container when it is filled, and it has the advantage of not changing the usual exterior dimensions of the containers, which allows them to always be stored in vending machines. currents and in refrigerators.

With containers or beverage cans, even with a neck that can be extended outwards when the sealing cap is detached from the lid, there is currently the problem that when the contents of the container are not completely drunk in once, it is hardly possible to close the container tightly. In addition, it happens that the flow in the neck is not always excellent and that it is therefore often difficult to completely empty the container.

The invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of known lids provided with a deployable neck while simplifying both the manufacture of the cover and the assembly of the cover and a box of drink or other liquid.

Summary of the invention

The invention relates to a new cover consisting of a set of simple manufacturing elements and which can be easily assembled in industrial production.

Another object of the invention is a cover provided with a deployable neck and which makes it possible to hermetically close the box on which it is placed after the neck has been deployed. The subject of the invention is also a cover provided with a sealing cap and a neck deployable towards the outside of a box to allow the emptying of this box and which is arranged so as to avoid overflows and splashes of liquid when the cover is detached from the cover.

The cover according to the invention comprises a lower base, a ring intended for fixing the cover to a box, and an upper part fixed to the lower base and comprising an at least partially tear-off cover. A rigid neck, consisting for example of a flat tube, is fixed to the lower base so as to be able to pivot around an axis between a lowered position against the upper face of the base, below the upper part of the cover and a raised position in which the neck passes through the opening left in the aforementioned upper part when the cover is torn at least partially from the upper part and in which the inner duct of the neck is in communication with an orifice provided in the lower base . In one embodiment, the lower base is made in one piece with the ring.

Advantageously, the tearable cover is made in two parts: a part fixed to the upper part of the cover by a hinge element and a second part fixed to the first part by another camber element. A pull ring is usually attached to the second part of the cover.

The construction of the elements making up the cover according to the invention ensures the production of a perfectly flat and extra-thin cover which does not reduce the liquid capacity of the box on which it is placed. After opening the box, the neck can be returned to the lowered position and the lid can be closed if the contents of the box are not drunk in full at once. This avoids the introduction of any insects or waste inside the box and into the liquid.

The cover is advantageously provided with an air intake which ensures an excellent flow of the liquid in the neck and a good emptying of the box. A groove in the lower base acts as an expansion chamber which allows pressure variations when the box is closed and equalizes the pressure during deployment of the neck in the raised position, which has the advantage of facilitating the emptying of the box.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear better on reading the description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the cover according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of part of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a beverage can with a lid according to Figure 1;

Figures 4 to 7 illustrate the process of opening the box shown in Figure 3.

Description of an embodiment

Figures 1 and 2 show the elements which constitute a cover according to the invention intended to be placed on a typical metal beverage can. The assembly 10 comprises a lower base 11, a neck 13, a fixing ring 15 and an upper part 17. The elements 11, 13 and 17 are advantageously made of synthetic material. The ring 15 is for example made of aluminum or another metal. It is used to fix the cover on a box.

The lower base 11 has a protruding rim 12 intended to cooperate with the ring 15 and to be made integral therewith. It is pierced with an opening 14 for the passage of the liquid contained in the box on which the cover will be fixed. In the embodiment illustrated by way of example, the lower base 11 also comprises, disposed in a position practically diametrically opposite to that of the opening 14, an orifice 16 to allow the introduction of air or gas to the interior of the box on which the cover will be placed, and also a groove 18 which extends over an appreciable part of the periphery of the base and communicates with two air intake holes 22 formed in the legs 19. The role of this groove will be explained later.

The neck 13 preferably consists of a rigid flat tube having a section sufficient to ensure good flow of liquid and perfect emptying of the box on which the cover will be placed. One end of the neck

13 has two pins 23 for fixing the neck to the base 11.

The pins 23 are housed in housings 24 provided in the legs 19 of the base. The pins 23 define a pivot axis 100 around which the flat tube 13 can pivot. Thus fixed on the base 11, the flat tube 13 can pivot between a lowered position in which it is housed in the cavity of the base and a raised position. in which the tube stands on the base and in which the interior passage of the tube 13 communicates with the opening 14 of the base. It should be noted that the lower surface of the base is flat and that when it is fixed to a box, the absence of recesses under the base 11 makes it possible to reduce the injection of gas into the box.

The upper part 17 of the cover comprises a body in the surface of which is formed a precut which delimits a cover 25 intended to be torn according to the precut. Advantageously, the cover comprises two parts connected to each other by a hinge element. A first part 27 is connected to the body of the upper part 17 by a hinge 26 and a second part 29 is connected to the first by the hinge 28. The part 29 extends for example over a length equal to approximately one third of the length total of the cover.

The advantage of this embodiment is that, when it is torn according to the precut, the cover remains attached to the body of the cover and does not extend beyond the periphery of the box. This allows the box to be placed on the supports provided for this purpose in vehicles. In addition, the lid thus torn does not does not interfere with the handling of the box and it does not interfere either to bring the mouth of the neck to the mouth to drink the contents of the box. The plastic cover does not cut or scratch the consumer's fingers. It can be provided with reinforcement or stiffeners on the inner face of the part 27 as can be seen represented for example at 31 in FIG. 6.

A pulling ring 32 is integral with the part 29 of the cover and extends flat on the periphery of the upper part 17 of the cover. Such a pulling ring can be easily taken between the fingers and lifted to tear the seal. Being fixed by small points on the periphery of the cover, this ring remains flat on the body of the cover. A cover is thus produced on which there is no longer a projecting pulling ring as is the case on the known covers and the top of the cover therefore appears perfectly flat. This promotes the stability of the lid in the machines for filling beverage cans. In addition, the perfectly flat top of the lid allows the boxes to always be stacked on top of each other.

The elements constituting the cover according to the invention are easy to manufacture and their assembly is also very easy. The lower base 11 is made integral with the ring 15 for example by overmolding, then the neck 13 is fixed on the base 11 by simple clipping of the fixing lugs in the housings 24 provided in the tabs 19 of the base 11. The neck 13 being lowered and housed in the cavity of the base 11, the upper part 17 is fixed to the base 11 by welding or gluing, for example. The assembly is extra-thin and its thickness does not exceed that of the usual covers.

When the cover is assembled, the body of the upper part 17 covers the groove 18 formed in the lower base 11. The groove 18 then plays the role of an expansion chamber which allows variations in pressure when the box is closed and equalizes the pressure during deployment of the neck in the raised position, which facilitates emptying of the box on which the cover will be placed. The cover according to the invention is fixed to a box by crimping the ring 15 on the edge of the opening of the body of the box. FIG. 3 represents a typical drink can 20 provided with a cover 10 according to the invention. Note that the pulling ring 32 extends well flat along the inner periphery of the cover. The box is then perfectly airtight.

The operation of opening the box is described below using FIGS. 4 to 7. To open the box, the consumer releases the pulling ring 32, easily passes one or more fingers through the opening of the ring 32 and raises it (Figure 4).

By exerting traction on the ring 32, the consumer causes the part 29 of the cover to be torn first (FIG. 5), then the part 27 of the cover 25 to be torn. The cover tears out along the pre-cut to its edge forming a hinge 26 and thus uncovers the neck tube 13 (Figure 6). The neck being thus uncovered, the consumer grasps it with the fingers and rotates it in its raised position (Figure 7).

When it emerges from its housing in the cavity of the lower base 11, the tube 13 releases the air intake holes 22 and 24 provided in the tabs 19 of the lower base 11 (see Figure 2). The air intake holes 22 and 24 then allow air to enter the groove 18 and this air then enters the interior of the box through the orifice 16 visible in FIG. 2. This puts the liquid contained in the box at atmospheric pressure and facilitates the emptying of the box. When the neck is in the lowered position, the air intake holes are closed for example by lugs 33 and 34 provided on the sides of the tube 13. Air intake means can obviously be produced in other embodiments .

After raising the neck tube 13, the consumer can fold the part 27 of the cover while the part 29 remains raised outward to let the neck pass in the raised position. The inner conduit of the tube 13 is then in communication with the opening 14 in the lower base 11 and gives way to the liquid contained in the box. Was given protected inside the cover until the opening of the lid, the tube 13 forming a neck is always of food grade and can therefore be taken in the mouth without risk of contamination for the consumer.

Being in the raised position, the neck 13 preferably extends in an oblique direction relative to the lower base 11. This allows the consumer to drink the contents directly from the box with comfort.

When the consumer does not drink the entire contents of the box at once, it is possible for him to lift the cover 25, to replace the neck tube in its lowered position and then to close the cover over the folded neck. The box is then closed again tightly, which avoids the risk of insects, cigarette butts, dust particles or any other waste getting into the box. The neck as well as the contents of the box therefore remain protected from any external contamination.

It is understood that the embodiment shown in the drawings and described above is only an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the invention and that the latter is in no way limited to this exemplary embodiment.

Claims

claims

1.- Lid for beverage or other liquid box, characterized in that it consists of an assembly comprising a lower base (11) having an opening (14) to allow the passage of the liquid contained in the box on which the cover will be placed, a neck (13) fixed on the lower base (11) so as to be able to pivot between a lowered position against the base and a raised position in which its inner duct is in communication with the opening (14) of the base lower (11), and an upper part (17) fixed on the lower base (11), said upper part comprising a cover (23) tearable at least partially so as to allow the neck (13) to pass in its raised position.

2.- Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower base (11) is integral with a ring (15) intended to allow the fixing of the cover on a box (20).

3.- Lid according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the neck (13) consists of a flat tube fixed to the lower base (11) so as to be able to pivot around a pivot axis (100).

4.- Lid according to claim 3, characterized in that the neck (13) is fixed on the lower base (11) so as to be removable.

5.- Lid according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (25) comprises a first part (27) fixed to the upper part (17) by a hinge (26) and a second part (29) fixed to the first part (27) by a hinge (28).

6.- Lid according to claim 5, characterized in that the second part (29) of the cover (25) extends over a length equal to approximately one third of the total length of the cover.

7.- Lid according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the second part (29) of the cover (25) carries a traction ring (32).

8.- Cover according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower base (11) has an air intake orifice (16) arranged to allow the entry of air or gas inside a box on which the lid is placed.

9. A cover according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises a pressure expansion means (18) to equalize the pressure during the deployment of the neck (13) in its raised position.

10.- Beverage can or other liquid, characterized in that it is provided with a cover according to any one of the preceding claims.