Receptacles – Closures – Superposed closures for common opening
Patent
1997-07-21
1999-04-13
Cronin, Stephen K.
Receptacles
Closures
Superposed closures for common opening
2203592, 220254, B65D 5120
Patent
active
058934774
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a receptacle or container for containing contents and more particularly to a container or receptacle for containing milk, juice or other type of drink having a pour opening for permitting the contents to be discharged from the receptacle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is a known receptacle or container for a drink having a cylindrical structure in which an opening for use in discharging the drink is formed in an upper lid and is closed by a pull tab. A consumer, after removing the pull tab, can drink the contents in the receptacle directly from the opening. In this type of a drink receptacle, however, dust tends to deposit on the lid during transportation and storage. When the lid is formed of a plastic material, dust is particularly apt to deposit on the lid due to static electricity and the deposits once formed are hard to remove. In the presence of this dust, it is unsanitary to directly touch the opening with the mouth.
While a large pull tab can cover the vicinity of the opening, it is impossible to entirely cover the lid with the pull tab. Thus, a large pull tab cannot effectively prevent the deposition of dust on the lid.
There is also a method by which the deposition of dust is prevented and this involves fitting a molded plastic cover over the upper lid. With this method, however, a tight seal cannot be provided between the plastic cover and the lid and so it is possible for water, etc. to enter the space between the lid and the cover.
In receptacles for drinks formed of plastic or a laminate and used for purposes of relatively long term storage, a film having oxygen barrier properties is used to prevent the deterioration of the contents. If such a film is used for each of the parts of the container or receptacle such as the upper lid and the pull tab attached to the upper lid, the receptacle production steps are inevitably complicated and so the production costs are increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the foregoing problems by providing a receptacle or container for a drink which can prevent the deposition of dust and water, and which can be easily imparted with barrier properties. According to one aspect of the invention, a receptacle or container for a drink includes a cylindrical receptacle main body having an open upper end that is closed by a plastic lid provided with an opening for use in drinking. The opening is covered with an openable pull tab and the outer periphery of the lid is provided with a flange. A cover film is sealed to the flange to cover the lid.
In another form of the invention, a receptacle or container for a drink includes a cylindrical receptacle main body having an open upper end that is closed by a plastic lid provided with an opening for use in drinking. The lid is provided with an upstanding flange that surrounds at least the opening in the lid. A cover film is sealed to the flange to cover the lid.
Since the cover film is sealed so as to cover the upper lid or the opening in the lid, the upper surface of the lid or the portion of the lid containing the opening is shielded from the outer atmosphere. Thus, there is no fear of deposition of dust or water on the upper surface of the lid, particularly in the area of the lid where the opening is located. Thus, the upper surface of the lid can be maintained clean until the opening is actually exposed.
When the container or receptacle main body is made of a material possessing oxygen barrier properties, the cover film having a relatively simple construction is formed of a film material also having oxygen barrier properties. This does away with the need for imparting barrier properties to the upper lid and the pull tab.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
The foregoing features and advantages, in addition to others, will be more readily understood by the following detailed description of the invention considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which like elements are identified by like reference numerals
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Kaneko Masamichi
Konno Hidetoshi
Satoyoshi Junichi
Cronin Stephen K.
Newhouse Nathan
Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
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