Receptacles – Closures – With closure opening arrangements for means
Patent
1998-05-08
2000-05-16
Newhouse, Nathan J.
Receptacles
Closures
With closure opening arrangements for means
220375, 220906, B65D 1734
Patent
active
060624140
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a container, particularly to a container for drinks, of the type commonly known by the term "can".
More specifically, the invention relates to a container of the type comprising an end wall in which a closed line of weakening is formed defining the outline of a lid and of a corresponding hole, and a lever associated with the lid and operable manually in order to tear the wall along the line of weakening and to remove the lid from the container wall.
A known container of this type has the disadvantage that, when it is opened, the lever and the lid associated therewith are physically separated from the container and they can therefore be scattered in the environment.
To prevent this problem, drinks containers of the type defined at the beginning of the present description have been proposed, in which the line of weakening defining the outline of the lid is open and in which the operation of the lever tears the cover of the container and deflects the lid towards the inside of the container through the corresponding hole. After the lid has been torn and deflected, it remains firmly connected to the container and cannot be scattered separately in the environment. This solution has the disadvantage, however, that, as a result of the opening of the container, the lid is "dipped" into the drink with a consequent risk of contamination which renders ineffectual the precautions which are adopted in the production and packaging of the drink and which should ensure the sterility of the product.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,487 shows a container having the features contained in the pre-characterising portion of claim 1. This document discloses a pull tab for removing a panel portion of an easy opening container and thereafter effecting the folding up of the removed portion in a bent configuration. The tab is formed of plastics material which is so moulded so as to have a memory in the form of a plurality of transversely extending fold lines. The memory fold lines are operable progressively to roll up the tab in pup tent style to assume a triangular cross section.
This solution is complex and difficult to use on an industrial scale because also the lever and the removable panel portion must be provided with transverse fold lines in alignment with the memory fold lines so as to be folded up together and within the tab.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,528 teaches an alternative solution wherein a pull strip has hinge sections with a memory arranged so that, in the open configuration of the container, the removable panel portion is automatically swung to a position radially beyond the lateral wall of the container.
The disadvantage of the latter solution is that in the open configuration the removable portion is in a very exposed position and can hurt the user with its sharp edges.
The object of the present invention is to provide a container which overcome the disadvantages of the known solutions and having a simpler and less expensive structure.
According to the present invention this object is achieved by a container according to claim 1.
Further characteristics and advantages of the container according to the invention will become clear from the following detailed description given with reference to the appended drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:
FIGS. 1-4 are perspective views of a container according to the invention, shown in the closed configuration (FIG. 1), in two successive opening stages (FIGS. 2 and 3), and in the final open configuration of use (FIG. 4), respectively,
FIGS. 5-8 are perspective views of a container according to another embodiment, which is also shown in the closed configuration (FIG. 5), in two successive opening stages (FIGS. 6-7), and in the final open configuration of use (FIG. 8),
FIG. 9 is a section taken on the line IX--IX of FIG. 4, and
FIG. 10 is a section taken on the line X--X of FIG. 8.
With reference to the drawings, a drinks container 1 according to the invention comprises a generally cylindrical receptacle 2 made, for example, of alumin
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Mongarli Alessandro
Mongarli Cesare
Mongarli Cesare
Newhouse Nathan J.
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