U.S. patent application number 13/853266 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-19 for manually removable lid structure including metal lid and plastic ring.
This patent application is currently assigned to Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is CROWN PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY, INC.. Invention is credited to MICHEL PHILIPPE, JEAN-MARC RICHEUX.
Application Number | 20130240527 13/853266 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34938803 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130240527 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PHILIPPE; MICHEL ; et
al. |
September 19, 2013 |
Manually Removable Lid Structure Including Metal Lid and Plastic
Ring
Abstract
A lid structure comprising a metal lid in the form of a disc
(20) and a plastics ring (1). A lug (6) on the ring is snap-fitted
around the exposed edge (25) of the lid. The lid structure can be
fitted onto a filled container by application of a downward force
until a lower profile (7) on the ring is forced around a curl or
other feature on the top edge of the container. Outward expansion
of the lid structure provides further retention on the container.
The plastics ring of the lid structure has one or more weakened
regions which can be torn to release the lid structure from the
container without the need for any tool.
Inventors: |
PHILIPPE; MICHEL; (Bourg Les
Valence, FR) ; RICHEUX; JEAN-MARC; (Larrey,
FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CROWN PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY, INC. |
Alsip |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Crown Packaging Technology,
Inc.
Alsip
IL
|
Family ID: |
34938803 |
Appl. No.: |
13/853266 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11816862 |
Sep 21, 2007 |
|
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PCT/EP06/50239 |
Jan 17, 2006 |
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13853266 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/270 ;
53/485 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 43/02 20130101;
B65D 17/28 20180101; B44D 3/127 20130101; B65B 7/2842 20130101;
B44D 3/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/270 ;
53/485 |
International
Class: |
B65D 17/00 20060101
B65D017/00; B65B 7/28 20060101 B65B007/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 24, 2005 |
EP |
051013993 |
Claims
1.-6. (canceled)
7. An easy open container comprising: a metal can body having an
open top with an outward curl at an edge of the opening; a lid
structure that includes: a metal lid having a center panel and
inner and outer walls that define a generally U-shaped channel, the
outer wall terminating in a generally outwardly extending annulus;
a plastic ring attached to the metal lid, the plastic ring having
an inwardly extending annular shoulder that extends over the
outwardly extending annulus of the metal lid, a peripheral skirt
depending from the shoulder, the skirt having an inwardly extending
lug which clips against an edge of the metal lid, and a lower
profile which is complementary to the profile of the upper edge of
a container body, wherein the lug is spaced apart from the lower
profile such that the curl of the can body is spaced between the
lug and the lower profile; and a line of weakening along which at
least part of the lower profile of the ring is manually deformable
or tearable for opening the container to which the lid structure is
attached, with the lower profile of the ring engaging the can body
curl; in which the outer wall of the metal lid is seated within the
can body and the outer wall and the can body have complementary
outwardly extending beads, and in which, in use, a weakened part is
operable manually removing the lid structure from the can body.
8. The easy open container of claim 5, further comprising a sealant
disposed between the outward curl of the metal can body and the
outwardly extending annulus of the metal lid.
9. The easy open container of claim 5 wherein the inwardly
extending lug is a first inwardly extending lug, and the lower
profile of the plastic ring further includes a second inwardly
extending lug that has teeth configured to assist in gripping the
container body.
10. The easy open container of claim 9, wherein the teeth are
located at discrete, radially spaced apart sections of the second
inwardly extending lug.
11. A method of sealing an easy open container, the method
comprising: placing a lid structure over an open end of a metal
container body, the lid structure including: a metal lid having a
center panel and an outer wall terminating in a generally outwardly
extending annulus; a plastic ring comprising an inwardly extending
annular shoulder and a peripheral skirt depending from the
shoulder, the skirt having an inwardly extending lug which clips
against the edge of the lid with the shoulder extending over the
lid annulus, and a lower profile which is complementary to the
profile of the upper edge of a container body to which, in use, the
lid structure is to be fixed; and a line of weakening along which
at least part of the lower profile of the ring is manually
deformable or tearable for opening the container to which the lid
structure is attached, applying downward pressure to force the lid
and ring combination down onto the container body so that the lower
profile of the plastic ring engages the upper edge of the container
body and an outer wall of the lid is adjacent part of the container
body side wall; and maintaining the downward pressure whilst
applying a radially outward expansion force to deform the outer
wall of the lid and the adjacent body wall to thereby form
complementary beads in the body wall and the outer wall of the
lid.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of applying downward
pressure further includes pivoting the ring radially outward and
snapping the lower profile of the ring around the upper edge of the
container body.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of maintaining the
downward pressure comprises ensuring correct positioning of the
complementary beads.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of applying
sealing compound to the metal lid.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of maintaining the
downward pressure whilst applying the radially outward expansion
force includes maintaining compression of the sealing compound.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising radially retracting
the outward expansion force whilst maintaining the downward
pressure.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to an easy open container. In
particular, but not exclusively it related to a lid structure for
an easy open container for packaging liquids such as paint, or
solids such as powders.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] It is known to provide metal containers for packaging paint
in which the container has a body with seamed or integral base, a
metal ring which is seamed to the open end of the can body, and a
press-on lid which can be opened by inserting a lever into a
channel at the edge of the ring.
[0003] In an alternative design, the press-on lid has a U-shaped
channel for inserting the lever, and a flange, which extends
radially outwardly from the channel. A plastics ring is clipped
over the raw edge of the lid and extends around an outwardly rolled
circumferential edge flange of the can body when the lid is pressed
down onto the can body.
[0004] Numerous arrangements of recess have been described but
essentially all of these require the insertion of a tool to release
an interlock between the lid and container body or ring. These
designs rely on the lever opening principle and therefore require
some form of tool in order to lever open the container. In some
examples, the lever acts against a springy wall of the container,
ring or lid so that the container is reclosable and there is
minimal distortion of the container on opening.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided a
manually removable lid structure comprising: a metal lid, having a
centre panel and a outer wall terminating in a generally outwardly
extending annulus; and
a plastics ring comprising an inwardly extending annular shoulder
and a peripheral skirt depending from the shoulder, the skirt
having an inwardly extending lug which clips against the edge of
the lid with the shoulder extending over the lid annulus, and a
lower profile which is complementary to the profile of the upper
edge of a container body to which, in use, the lid structure is to
be fixed; characterised by line of weakening along which at least
part of the lower profile of the ring is manually deformable or
tearable for opening the container to which the lid structure is
attached.
[0006] In contrast with lever lids of the prior art, the plastics
ring of the lid structure provides openability when the lid
structure is fixed to a container, without the need for any tool.
After tearing the lower ring profile, the lid structure is
removable from the container, such that the container appears to
the user to have only two parts.
[0007] The centre panel of the lid may be joined to the outer wall
by a generally U-shaped channel. This prevents excessive intrusion
of the lid structure into the headspace of the can body. Typically,
sealing compound may be provided around the lid annulus and
adjacent the outer wall.
[0008] The line of weakening is usually tearable and defines a
tamper evident strip or band.
[0009] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an easy open container comprising: a metal can
body having an open top ; the lid structure as described above,
with the lower profile of the ring engaging the edge of the can
body opening; in which the outer wall of the metal lid is seated
within the container body and the outer wall and the container body
have complementary outwardly extending beads, and in which, in use,
the weakened part of the ring profile is operable manually removing
the lid structure from the can body.
[0010] Typically, the can body has an outward curl at the edge of
the opening so that the ring engages this can body curl. According
to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method of sealing an easy open container, the method
comprising:
placing the lid structure over the open end of a metal container
body; applying downward pressure to force the lid and ring
combination down onto the container body so that the lower profile
of the plastics ring engages the upper edge of the container body
and an outer wall of the lid is adjacent part of the container body
side wall; and maintaining the downward pressure whilst applying a
radially outward expansion force to deform the outer wall of the
lid and the adjacent body wall into complementary beads.
[0011] Generally, the method may be used with a lid structure
having a U-shaped channel so that an expandable tool may be
inserted into the channel for applying radial force to the channel
outer wall to form the beads.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be
described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings,
in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of the plastics
ring;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below of the plastics
ring;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side section of the plastics ring, through the
cut in area `C`;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a side section of the plastics ring, through the
cut in area `D`;
[0017] FIGS. 5 is a schematic side view showing the plastics ring
and metal lid assembly;
[0018] FIGS. 6 to 9 are schematic side views showing the
application of the lid structure onto a can body; and
[0019] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of the closed
container.
MODE FOR THE INVENTION
[0020] The plastics ring of FIG. 1 has an annular shoulder 2 and a
skirt having an inner wall 3 and an outer wall 4. A tab feature 5
on the outer wall is provided for gripping by a user when opening a
container as is described in more detail below. Lug 6 of the
example is a fully circumferential lug for engaging a metal lid to
form a lid structure and a lower profile 7 on the inner wall for
engaging the container body.
FIG. 2 is an underneath isometric view of the ring of FIG. 1,
showing cut regions `A`, `C` and `D`. In the side sections of FIG.
3 and/or 4, the annular shoulder 2, lug 6 and tab 5 can be clearly
identified. Lower profile 7 includes teeth 8 in uncut regions which
assist in gripping the container body. The cut in the `C` area is
indicated by reference 9 in FIG. 3 that of the `D` area by
reference 10 which extends from the tab 5 of FIG. 4.
[0021] FIG. 5 shows the lid structure which combines the plastics
ring 1 with a metal lid 20. The lid 20 comprises a centre panel 21,
inner and outer walls defining a channel 22, the outer wall 23
leading into an outwardly extending annulus 24, and terminating in
a raw edge. As can be seen from the figure, the plastics ring is
clipped over the annulus 24 so the shoulder 2 covers annulus 24 and
lug 6 covers the edge of the lid at 25.
[0022] In FIG. 6, downward pressure is applied by tool 40 onto the
shoulder 2 to force the lid structure downwardly onto a filled
container 30. As the lower profile 7 contacts can body curl 31, the
ring 1 pivots outwardly and then snaps around the curl into the
position of FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, the lid structure is fixed to the
can body 30, with sealing compound 26 between the annulus 24 of the
metal lid and the top of curl 31. The lower profile 7 of the
plastics ring has a shape complementary to that of the curl 31 and
provides even contact around the curl.
[0023] The next stage of applying the lid structure provides
further engagement between the outer wall 23 of channel 22. A
downwardly extending portion 41 of the tool 40 has a radially
outwardly extending bead 42 which is moved into contact with the
outer wall 23 by applying a radial expansion force. Downward
pressure is maintained whilst the expansion force is applied to
ensure correct positioning of the bead 42 against the outer wall
23. By maintaining downward pressure during expansion, the
compression of the compound is maintained during the expansion.
This compression is also maintained after the blocking of the lid
in the body and partly by the plastic ring. The combined forces are
applied until complementary beads are formed in the lid wall 23 and
can body wall 32, beneath the curl 31. The tool 40 is then
retracted radially, with downward pressure maintained (FIG. 9) and
tool 40 removed to leave the finished structure of FIG. 10.
[0024] The invention has been described above by way of example
only and changes may be made to the method of forming the lid
structure or of applying it to a container body without departing
from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For
example, although the complementary feature 32 has been described
as a "bead", clearly this feature could be series of beads,
independent lugs or other complementary feature.
* * * * *