U.S. patent application number 14/902856 was filed with the patent office on 2016-05-19 for hygienic seal for containers.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jose Francisco GONZALEZ SANCHEZ. Invention is credited to Jose Francisco GONZALEZ SANCHEZ.
Application Number | 20160137365 14/902856 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49510672 |
Filed Date | 2016-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160137365 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GONZALEZ SANCHEZ; Jose
Francisco |
May 19, 2016 |
HYGIENIC SEAL FOR CONTAINERS
Abstract
Hygienic seal for a container (3), comprising an upper lid (1)
and a lower ring (2) coupled to said upper lid (1) and being
capable of being fitted around the body of the container (3), the
upper lid having an extension (10) which projects outwards and is
directed towards the lower ring (2) such that in a closed state of
the container, the extension (10) of the upper lid (1) partially
overlaps the lower ring (2). On an upper flange of the lower ring
(2), positioning means (11, 20) are provided which comprise at
least one depression (20) complementing a projection (11) which
projects internally from the interior face of the extension (10).
The interior face of the extension is directed towards the lower
ring (2) and has tightening means (12; 120) which contact the lower
ring (2) in a closed state of the container (3) when the projection
(11) and the depression (20) are in contact with one another.
Inventors: |
GONZALEZ SANCHEZ; Jose
Francisco; (Barcelona, ES) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GONZALEZ SANCHEZ; Jose Francisco |
Barcelona |
|
ES |
|
|
Family ID: |
49510672 |
Appl. No.: |
14/902856 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
April 24, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/ES2014/070360 |
371 Date: |
January 5, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/319 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2251/1008 20130101;
B65D 2251/0021 20130101; B65D 2251/1025 20130101; B65D 2543/00259
20130101; B65D 43/166 20130101; B65D 85/72 20130101; B65D 21/0222
20130101; B65D 2251/0071 20130101; B65D 2251/04 20130101; B65D
2517/0098 20130101; B65D 51/248 20130101; B65D 65/466 20130101;
B65D 51/242 20130101; B65D 53/02 20130101; B65D 2543/00435
20130101; B65D 43/16 20130101; B65D 2251/01 20130101; B65D 43/0256
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 53/02 20060101
B65D053/02; B65D 85/72 20060101 B65D085/72; B65D 43/16 20060101
B65D043/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 5, 2013 |
ES |
P201331016 |
Claims
1. Hygienic seal for containers, in particular for containers
comprising a lateral wall provided with a lower base and an upper
section comprising an upper lid (1) and a lower ring (2) coupled in
an articulated manner to said upper lid (1) and capable of being
fitted around the body of the container, in which the upper lid has
an extension which projects outwards and is directed towards the
lower ring (2), such that in a closed state of the container, the
cited extension of the upper lid (1) partially overlaps the lower
ring (2), characterized in that on the upper flange of the lower
ring (2) there are provided positioning means comprising at least
one depression complementing a projection which projects internally
from the interior face of the extension, the interior face of the
extension, directed towards the lower ring (2), having tightening
means capable of being in contact with the lower ring (2) in a
closed state of the container when the projection and the
depression are in contact with one another.
2. Hygienic seal for containers according to claim 1, characterized
in that the tightening means comprise a plurality of tabs (12)
separated from one another, each one of them formed from an
elongated portion with a notable triangular form arranged
perpendicularly with respect to the depression and/or projection
which form the positioning means.
3. Hygienic seal for containers according to claim 1, characterized
in that it includes a guarantee seal.
4. Hygienic seal for containers according to claim 3, characterized
in that the guarantee seal has a pair of projections arranged
diametrically opposed to one another, projecting from the lower
ring (2), and a pair of grooved sections arranged diametrically
opposed to one another for housing the respective projections, each
housing having a lower, breakable section of smaller width.
5. Hygienic seal for containers according to claim 1, characterized
in that the interior face of the upper lid has an annular shutter
element (16) which projects in a downwards direction and is
separated from the flange of the upper lid (1).
6. Hygienic seal for containers according to claim 1, characterized
in that the upper lid (1) and the lower ring (2) are made from a
biodegradable, injection-moldable, plastic material.
7. Hygienic seal for containers according to claim 1, characterized
in that the tightening means comprise an elongated tab (120) formed
from an elongated portion with a notably triangular, traversal
section arranged perpendicularly with respect to the depression
and/or projection which form the positioning means.
8. Hygienic seal for containers according to claim 1, characterized
in that the upper lid (1) and the lower ring (2) are coupled by
means of a hinge (4).
9. Hygienic seal for containers according to claim 8, characterized
in that the hinge (4) comprises a hinge portion connected to the
upper lid (1) and a hinge portion connected to the lower ring (2)
which includes at least one through hole.
10. Hygienic seal for containers according to claim 9,
characterized in that a blocking mechanism is provided to maintain
the hinge portion connected to the upper lid (1) and the hinge
portion connected to the lower ring (2) in a fixed position.
11. Hygienic seal for containers according to claim 10,
characterized in that the blocking mechanism comprises a blocking
projection (18) which projects from a point on the circumferential
rim of the upper lid capable of passing over at least one blocking
tab (19) present on the hinge portion connected to the lower ring
(2).
12. Container (3) for the storage of a drinkable, liquid product,
characterized in that it includes a hygienic seal according to
claim 1.
13. Container (3) for the storage of a drinkable, liquid product,
characterized in that it includes a hygienic seal according to
claim 2.
14. Container (3) for the storage of a drinkable, liquid product,
characterized in that it includes a hygienic seal according to
claim 3.
15. Container (3) for the storage of a drinkable, liquid product,
characterized in that it includes a hygienic seal according to
claim 4.
16. Container (3) for the storage of a drinkable, liquid product,
characterized in that it includes a hygienic seal according to
claim 5.
17. Container (3) for the storage of a drinkable, liquid product,
characterized in that it includes a hygienic seal according to
claim 6.
18. Container (3) for the storage of a drinkable, liquid product,
characterized in that it includes a hygienic seal according to
claim 7.
19. Container (3) for the storage of a drinkable, liquid product,
characterized in that it includes a hygienic seal according to
claim 8.
20. Container (3) for the storage of a drinkable, liquid product,
characterized in that it includes a hygienic seal according to
claim 9.
Description
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The object of the present patent application for an
invention is the register of a hygienic seal for containers,
incorporating notable innovations and advantages.
[0002] More specifically, the invention proposes the development of
a hygienic seal for containers intended to store solid products
such as dried fruits, fruits, appetizers, preserved products as
well as liquid products such as soda, alcoholic beverages etc.,
which in a closed state guarantees air-tightness in the upper area
of the container where the outlet for the solid or liquid product
to be dispensed is located.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Protector elements intended to be fitted on containers for
dispensing a liquid substance such as a beverage are well known in
the prior art, for example the type commonly known as tins, with
the purpose of providing more hygienic conditions in the upper part
of the container corresponding to the area where the user usually
places the mouth when consuming the beverage directly from the
container without the use of an additional receptacle.
[0004] A particular example of a protector system is a system
formed by two pieces: an upper lid which lids the entire upper face
of the container connected to a lower ring coupled around the
container in proximity to the upper flange of said container as
described in ES 1071137, the common characteristics of which form
part of the preamble of claim 1.
[0005] Nevertheless, although this system described provides good
hygienic protection against the soiling of the upper part of the
container, it cannot guarantee complete hermeticity once the upper
lid has been manipulated, that is to say, the user or consumer has
manipulated the upper lid to consume or manipulate a drinkable
fluid or food product arranged in the interior of the container,
consequently there exists an undesirable risk of a leakage of
liquid contained within the container when the opening has been
manipulated (that is to say, the container is open).
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention has been developed with the purpose of
providing a hygienic seal for containers which is configured as a
novelty within the field of application and resolves the drawbacks
mentioned above, also providing other additional advantages which
will be evident from the description which follows.
[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a hygienic seal for containers, in particular envisaged for
tin containers, comprising an upper lid and a lower ring coupled in
an articulated manner to said upper lid and being able to be fitted
around the body of the container, in which the upper lid has an
extension which projects outwards and is directed towards the lower
ring, such that in a closed state of the container, the cited
extension of the upper lid partially overlaps the lower ring. In
particular, the invention is characterized in that on the upper
flange of the lower ring, positioning means are provided which
comprise at least one depression complementing a projection which
projects internally from the interior face of the extension, the
upper face of the extension, directed towards the lower ring,
having tightening means capable of being in contact in a pressured
manner with the lower ring in a closed state of the container when
the projection and the depression are in contact with one another.
In this way, said tightening means facilitate the release of the
projection or projections from the corresponding depression or
depressions, therefore the user must apply a small amount of effort
for the release and at the same time guarantee the engagement of
the same (projection and depression).
[0008] Thanks to these characteristics, air-tightness with greater
reliability between the lower ring and the upper lid is reliably
obtained in a closed state or position, allowing the container to
be opened and closed in a tightly sealed manner on more than one
occasion.
[0009] This hygienic seal is ideal, not only for protecting
containers containing beverages, but also for those containers
containing preserved products which have a disposable aluminum
sheet on the upper face of the container since they protect it from
receiving possible, undesirable impacts and in a closed state keep
the product within the container in spite of the disposable sheet
being removed.
[0010] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the
tightening means comprise a plurality of tabs separated from one
another, each one of them formed from an elongated portion having a
noticeably triangular shape arranged perpendicularly with respect
to the depression and/or projection which form the positioning
means.
[0011] Additionally, the hygienic seal may include a guarantee seal
which allows the user to know whether the seal has been previously
manipulated when the user acquires or buys a container provided
with such a hygienic seal.
[0012] Preferably, the guarantee seal has a pair of projections
arranged diametrically opposed to one another, projecting from the
lower ring and a pair of grooved sections arranged diametrically
opposed to one another for housing the respective projections, each
housing having a lower breakable section of smaller width.
[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, the upper lid
and the lower ring are made from a biodegradable,
injection-moldable, plastic material.
[0014] In an advantageous manner, the interior face of the upper
lid has an annular opening element which projects in a downwards
direction and is separated from the flange of the upper lid, which
in the closed state of the hygienic seal with respect to the
container, is arranged in a manner adjacent to the riveted flange
present in conventional tin containers. In this way, the formation
of a condensation process is reduced or avoided and consequently,
there is a reduction to the risk of the formation of an oxidation
process in any area of the upper part of the container in which the
outlet for the product contained therein is present.
[0015] It is also an object of the invention to provide a container
for storing a drinkable, liquid product which includes a hygienic
seal as previously described.
[0016] Other characteristics and advantages of a hygienic seal for
containers of the present invention are evident from the
description of a preferred, but non-exclusive, embodiment which is
illustrated, in an exemplary and non-limiting manner, in the
accompanying drawings, where:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1: This is a perspective view of a hygienic seal
according to the invention in an open state;
[0018] FIG. 2: This is a perspective view of the upper lid shown
from the interior;
[0019] FIG. 3: This is another perspective view of the upper lid
shown in FIG. 2;
[0020] FIG. 4: This is a detailed perspective view in which the
tabs forming part of the tightening means may be seen;
[0021] FIG. 5: This is a perspective view of an alternative
embodiment of the tightening means;
[0022] FIG. 6: These are detailed views of a sequence of the
hygienic seal fitted on the container from a hermetic position to
an open position;
[0023] FIG. 7: This is a perspective view of a container which
includes a hygienic seal according to the invention;
[0024] FIG. 8: This is a perspective view of a container which
includes another embodiment of the hygienic seal according to the
invention which is differentiated from FIG. 7 in the dimensions of
the frontal extension;
[0025] FIG. 9: This is a partial plan view of the upper lid and the
lower ring prior to being fitted or coupled together in an
articulated manner; and
[0026] FIG. 10: This is a detailed perspective view of the region
of the hinge of the hygienic seal in an open state and actuating
the blocking mechanism present in the hinge.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] Considering the mentioned figures and in accordance with the
numeration adopted, a preferred embodiment of the invention may be
seen from these figures, which comprises the parts and elements
which are indicated and described in detail below.
[0028] Thus, as shown a hygienic seal for a container, in
particular envisaged for containers which comprise a cylindrical
lateral wall provided with a lower base and a circular upper
section, essentially comprises a circular upper lid (1) and a lower
ring (2) coupled in an articulated manner to said upper lid (1) by
means of a hinge (4) and said lower ring (2) having a diameter
suitable for being fitted around the body of the container (3).
[0029] The upper lid (1) has an extension (10) or arched tab which
projects outwards and is directed towards the lower ring (2) such
that in a closed state of the container (3), the cited extension
(10) of the upper lid (1) partially overlaps the lower ring (2) in
the coincident area with the region where the user places their
lips to drink, in particular when this is a container for
dispensing a beverage. In FIGS. 7 and 8, two embodiments of the
hygienic seal may be seen which are essentially differentiated in
the dimensions of the cited extension (10). It should also be
mentioned that said extension (10) may facilitate the escape of
liquid material when the hygienic seal is placed on a container for
dispensing preserved products which usually include a fluid product
in order to maintain the properties of the preserved food
product.
[0030] The upper lid (1) and the lower ring (2) are made from a
biodegradable, injection-moldable, plastic material which may be
the same or different for both pieces. This plastic material may
have a polyethylene or polypropylene base together with a series of
additives which facilitate oxo-biodegradation and therefore,
natural degradation of the hygienic seal.
[0031] Advantageously, on the upper flange of the lower ring (2),
there are provided positioning means which comprise a pair of
depressions (20) each of which have a notably rectangular form
complementing a pair of projections (11) which project internally
from the interior face of the extension (10), the interior face of
said extension (10), directed towards the lower ring (2), having
tightening means capable of being in contact with the lower ring
(2) in a closed state of the container when the projections (11)
and the depressions (20) are in contact with one another.
[0032] With particular reference to a particularly preferred
embodiment, the tightening means mentioned above and according to
the FIGS. 1 to 4 comprise, in one embodiment, a plurality of tabs
(12) separated from one another and aligned, each one of them
formed from a projecting and elongated portion with a notably
triangular form arranged perpendicularly with respect to the
depressions (20) which form part of the positioning means described
above. In a closed position of the hygienic seal, the tabs are
located below a riveted flange (31) present on the upper part of
the container (3).
[0033] In an alternative embodiment, only one elongated tab (120)
may be provided which is equal to the total longitude of the region
which has the plurality of tabs (12), as can be seen in FIG. 5.
[0034] The upper lid (1) has a circumferential perimeter flange
(13) and a central section (14) which projects upwards, such that
it defines an intermediate, circumferential, sunken section (15)
which is suitable for placing on top a container with similar
characteristics to those shown, thus facilitating the stacking of
containers for the marketing thereof.
[0035] In order to reduce the formation of condensation in the area
of the opening of the container (3), that is to say, the upper face
of the container, the interior face of the upper lid (1) may have a
light weight, annular shutter element (16) which projects in a
downwards direction and which is separated from the flange of the
upper lid (1) as may be seen more clearly in FIG. 4.
[0036] Additionally and as may be seen in various figures, the
present hygienic seal includes a guarantee seal which is formed by
a pair of projections (5) arranged diametrically opposing one
another, which project from extensions of the lower ring (2) and a
pair of grooved sections (6) arranged diametrically opposed to one
another for housing the respective projections (5), each housing
having a lower, breakable section of smaller width. In this way,
when the cited lower section is broken, the user may see that the
container has already been previously manipulated.
[0037] It should be mentioned that it is possible for the hinge and
more specifically, the hinge portion connected to the lower ring
(2) to have a pair of through holes (17) separated from one
another, as may be seen in FIG. 9, which are consequently suitable
for the placement of a band or similar (not shown) which allows the
container (3) provided with the hygienic seal described herein to
be transported in a manner such that it is suspended from the
exterior part of a backpack, etc.
[0038] In said FIG. 9, it may be clearly seen how the hinge (4)
comprises a hinge portion connected to the upper lid (1) and a
hinge portion connected to the lower ring (2) and include a
blocking mechanism which allows the hinge portion connected to the
upper lid (1) and the hinge portion connected to the lower ring (2)
to be maintained in an open and fixed position such that it
facilitates the use of the container, for example, when the user is
drinking directly from the container.
[0039] Said blocking mechanism primarily comprises a blocking
projection (18) which projects from a point on the circumferential
rim of the upper lid capable of passing above, by means of a
resilient deformation, a pair of blocking tabs (19) present on the
hinge portion connected to the lower ring (2), also triggering a
sound similar to a click such that the upper lid (1) stays
completely open, for example, forming an angle greater than
180.degree. with respect to the plane defined by the lower ring, as
shown in FIG. 10.
[0040] The details, the forms, the dimensions and other accessory
elements as well as the materials used in the manufacture of a
hygienic seal for containers according to the invention may be
expediently substituted for others which are technically equal and
do not deviate from the essence of the invention nor from the scope
defined by the claims included below.
* * * * *