HK1260419A1 - Can lid - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a can lid, particularly for beverage cans, with a limited opening area provided for in the metallic cover material of a cover surface and a two-arm lever designed to open this opening area, which is firmly connected to the cover material, in particular by a cutting or welding.

The use of such lids is very widespread throughout the world. They are easy and inexpensive to manufacture and allow the storage of cans in a space-saving manner and the opening of the cans by simply swinging the long arm of the lever upwards. However, these well-known lids have some serious disadvantages, which are mainly that the lever initially lying flat on the lid surface is not easy to grasp, that when the lever is swung upwards and the can is opened, the lid area closing the opening area is first pushed into the inner part of the lid and there it comes into contact with the hygienic liquid, which does not change, and that the lid is inevitably unusable when the lid is placed in the open area, even if it is placed directly on the lid area, or in the open area, or in the open area, where the lid is pressed in the open area, or in the open area, where the lid is pressed in the open area, and the liquid is in contact with the lid, which is not penetrating, and that the lid is unusable when the lid is placed in the open area, even if the lid is placed in the open area, or in the open area, and the lid is made of aluminium or aluminium.

The following table shows the total number of samples of the product concerned that were sampled in the Union during the investigation period:

The present invention is intended to create a can lid of the type described at the outset without at least one of the disadvantages mentioned above, namely, in particular, a can lid that can be opened with much less force and easier to handle than conventional can lids, is hygienically sound and, in particular, prevents the occurrence of aluminium chips or aluminium micro-articles during the opening process. Otherwise, a can with the invention-conform lid is intended to be equivalent to conventional cans in terms of storage of the contents, manufacturing, transport and handling characteristics.

This problem is essentially solved by a first embodiment of the invention, in which the opening area is formed as a tongue-lash separated from the lid surface by a microspit extending over the rim, in particular a puncture gap, and the base of the tongue-lash connected to the lid surface forms a bending bearing which becomes effective during the opening operation, and the coating is made adjacent to the microplate between the tongue-lash and the lid surface, in particular, it is notched and preferably at least partially swept through.The first is that the opening of the can with the two-arm lever is possible with surprisingly little force and that the requirements for the tightness of the can are nevertheless safely guaranteed. The micro-slit is preferably maintained by a stamping process with the subsequent return of the tongue bottle pressed from the can cover material by the stamping to its original position before stamping.

Following the above basic principle of interaction of the micro-slit and the plastic coating provided at the bottom of the lid, the two-arm lever is attached to the lid surface and the short lever arm deflects the tongue-lash into the inside of the can when opened, together with the portion of the plastic coating bounded by the attenuation line that covers it below, allowing the notch line to be located outside the micro-slit.

This prevents any disruptive crack formation during the opening process and ensures that the can can be opened with a low force.

A preferred development of the basic principle of the invention is that the two-arm lever attachs to the tongue-tie and is supported by its short lever arm on the lid surface, in particular on a stiffening area of the lid surface, and that the long lever arm deflects the tongue-tie outwards during the opening operation together with the portion of the plastic coating that covers it below, bounded by the weakening line placed inside the microslit.

This embodiment combines all the possible advantages of the invention, since the opening operation requires a significantly lower amount of force compared to conventional can lids, the appearance of aluminium chips or aluminium micro-particles is completely avoided during the opening operation and hygienic optimum is achieved by preventing the submersion of the lids into the can interior and thus into the liquid in the can.

The design of the invention, which is advantageous for all embodiments, is characterized by the fact that the tongue-tie of the metal can lid is separated from the surrounding lid surface by a cutting process, in particular a punching process, and that the tongue-tie and the lid surface adjacent to it are connected through the protrusions and protrusions in a form and force-resistance manner by forming the microsplit, ensuring the tightness of the finished, unopened lid by the plastic coating or film inside.

The projections and the subtractions are preferably coupled by means of intersections.

In particular, in the embodiment where the tongue-tie is moved outwards during the opening operation, the longer arm of the two-arm lever organ is formed by a grip bottle, in particular a ring-tie, and the two-arm lever organ is connected to the tongue-tie outwards, in particular at the periphery.

The invention also covers, in addition to the can lids described in detail, all cans fitted with a can lid according to the invention, which is preferably connected to the respective can via a respective edge, in particular the plastic film provided at the bottom of the lid in the connection area between the can lid and the can, which acts as a seal and the specifically positioned notch allows opening with low force.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated below by means of the drawing, which shows: Figure 1a schematic view of a closed lid, Figure 2a cross section along a diameter of the lid, Figure 1, Figure 3, a partial enlarged view of the cross section, Figure 2, and a perspective view of the lid from above.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of the can lid 1 according to the invention. In its perimeter, this can lid is conventionally fitted with a rim 2 with a cover area 3 within the rim 2 which has an opening area 4 in the form of a tongue bottle in relation to the centre of the disc. This metallic can lid, made of aluminium material, is surrounded by a rigidity area 14 formed by deformation of the opening area 4.

The opening zone 4 or the tongue-tip of the can lid is connected to a double-arm lever 5, 6 in particular with a welded or welded lever, so that a fixed connection point 7 is formed. This connection point 7 is located in the peripheral zone of the opening zone 4, i.e. opposite the tongue base connected to the lid surface (3), and the double-arm lever consists of a shorter and a longer zone, the longer lever being preferably formed by a well-grabbed ring flask 5 and the shorter zone by a supporting shaft 6 which, when the longer lever is swung upwards, rests on a part of the stiffening zone 14 of the lid. The double-arm lever 6 5, is located in the main exit passage parallel to the third deck.

The tongue-tie forming the opening zone 4 is fixed in shape and in force by means of protrusions 12 and exceptions 13 and is preferably connected to the lid surface 3 by suitable cross-sections of these parts, except in the area of the tongue base 7 where the opening zone 4 and the lid surface 3 are connected by metal, so that a kind of bending joint 9 allows the tongue-tie 3 to swing upwards by means of the lever when opening the can and then the tongue-tie and the lever can be brought to rest outside the inner compartment of the can, with the opening released.

The required tightness of the lid is ensured, despite the lack of a continuous metallic connection between lid 3 and opening zone 4 in the area of the hinge, by a plastic material, in particular a suitable plastic film, which is fixed on the bottom of the metallic lid, in particular, and which is firmly attached to or sealed on the bottom of the lid. This coating has a significant attenuation 14 in the immediate vicinity and within the opening line or microscope, in particular a single or partial bending, so that when the lid is opened and the flask 4 of the glass is raised, the microscope passes over the area of the lid, which is effectively isolated from the plastic and allows a metaphase conversion with low dose of oil.

To achieve this design, which excludes any metallic paneling when the lid is opened, the opening area or the tongue lid is separated from the surrounding lid surface by a cutting or preferably stamping process, which allows the complete and easy removal of the resulting chips or micro-particles during the manufacturing process.

Instead of a linear microspheres, the stamping process preferably produces interlocking protrusions 12 and protrusions 13, as shown in Figure 1.

In this case, immediately after the stamping process, the two components, which were initially partially separated, are put back together in a coherent way so that the can lid can be handled in the same way as conventional can lids, which only have a weakening feature, at further stages of production.

The processes of separation and interlocking are carried out directly in succession, i.e. on the stamping hub, the two parts are joined together in a coherent manner to form a complete part. The coherent connection between the two areas is achieved by appropriate moulding or by the use of intersections which ensure sufficient mechanical interconnection, so that the necessary coating operations or the process of applying the film under the surface can be carried out as with a single part.

The invention may be used instead of the gear shown in the figure, to provide for other, if necessary simpler, gap lines during the stamping process, but in any case the opening area or tongue bottle is connected to the cover area 3 via the bending bearing area 9 and the micro-slit is covered by the inner edge of the plastic film with a notch. The plastic film, which may be a PP film which reacts when sealed with the seal lacquer provided for the metal, is produced in particular as an independent blister-shaped part in which the notch is already provided.

The slightly enlarged partition shown in Fig. 3 shows, in addition to the design of the junction 7 by type of mesh bonding, the full surface application of the plastic film 10 at the bottom of the can lid and, in particular, the formation of the weakening line 11 in the plastic film 10 by a notch and/or a cross-sectional notch, which extends around the opening area 4 inside or outside the microslit depending on the design.

The perspective illustration in Fig. 4 shows the design features already described in a particularly vivid way and also shows that the ring finger 5 forming the longer lever arm can be conveniently held with one finger and tilted upwards for opening by means of a planned recess in the lid area 3. In this upward swing of the handle 5 the shorter lever 6 is supported by the stiffened area 14, which in the course of the lifting of the ring finger 4 the opening area 4 is opened under simultaneous and now without spanning solution of the closed coupling of lid area 3 and glass bottle 4 and separation and solution of the plastic bottle at the bottom of the lid line.

The ring nozzle 5 and the opening area 3 with it shall be moved to the free right side of the can lid over the bending area 9 below the free end of the ring nozzle in Figure 4 and remain there with the can open.

As described above, this avoids all the disadvantages of the previously known and widely used can lid, in particular the health hazard of the formation of tiny micro-aluminium particles when the can is opened.

The closing and opening system described for a can lid is similarly applicable to other containers and packaging intended to be fitted with a tear-off closure.

List of reference marks

1Dish cover2Bördel edge3Dish cover4Opening area, tongue clasp5Lifting arm6Lifting arm7Fixing point, tongue base8Micro-slit9Knick bearing area10Plastic film11Weakening line, notch 12Before 13Exception14Rigidity area

Claims (10)

1. A can lid, in particular for beverage cans, comprising a bounded opening region (4) provided in the metallic lid material of a lid surface (3); and a two-armed lever member (5, 6) intended for opening this opening region (4), said lever member (5, 6) being fixedly connected, in particular via a rivet connection (7) or a weld connection, to the lid material, wherein the lower side of the metallic lid (1) is coated in a firmly adhering manner, in particular over its full surface, with a plastic material, in particular a plastic film (10), characterized in that the opening region is configured as a tongue tab (4) which is separated from the lid surface (3) by a microgap (8), in particular a punched gap, extending over the tab periphery and the tongue tab base connected to the lid surface (3) forms a kink bearing (9) which becomes effective during the opening procedure; and in that the coating (10) is weakened, in particular notched and preferably at least partly notched open, adjacent to the microgap (8) between the tongue tab (4) and the lid surface (3).
2. A can lid in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the two-armed lever member (5, 6) is fastened to the lid surface (3) and the short lever arm (6) pivots the tongue tab (4) into the can interior during the opening procedure together with the part region of the plastic coating (10) covering it at the lower side and bounded by the weakening line (11), with the weakening line or notch line (11) being disposed outside the microgap (8).
3. A can lid in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the two-armed lever member (5, 6) is fastened to the tongue tab (4) and its short lever arm (6) can be supported on the lid surface (3), in particular on a stiffening region (14) of the lid surface (3); and in that the long lever arm (5) pivots the tongue tab (4) outwardly during the opening procedure together with the part region of the plastic coating (10) covering it at the lower side and bounded by the weakening line (11), with the weakening line or notch line (11) being disposed within the microgap (8).
4. A can lid in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tongue tab (4) of the metallic can lid (1) is separated from the lid surface (3) surrounding it while forming mutually engaging projections (12) and recesses (13) by a cutting procedure, in particular by a punching procedure; and in that the tongue tab (4) and the lid surface (3) adjoining it are connected in a shape-matched and force-transmitting manner via the projections (12) and the recesses (13) while forming the microgap (8), with the leaktightness of the finished, unopened can lid being ensured by the inwardly disposed plastic coating or film (10) having a thickness preferably in the range from approximately 1/10 mm to 3/10 mm.
5. A can lid in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the projections (12) and the recesses (13) are coupled via undercuts.
6. A can lid in accordance with claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that the lid surface (3) is formed in a concave manner in the region of the tongue tab (4) and the pressing in the microgap is increased by the internal container pressure.
7. A can lid in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plastic film (10) provided at the lower side forms a separate molded blister part prior to its sealing to the lower side and the notch (11) or the partial opening notch is already provided in said molded blister part.
8. A can lid in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that the two-armed lever member (5, 6) is connected to the tongue tab (4) off-center, in particular at the marginal side.
9. A can lid in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that the longer arm (5) of the two-armed lever member (5, 6) is formed by a gripping tab, in particular by a ring tab.
10. A can having a can lid in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims connected via a bead rim to the can.