TAPE SEAL FOR CONTAINER

RUBAN DE SCELLEMENT POUR CONTENANT

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A tape seal end closure for closing pour openings
in the end panel of a container. The tape is of rectangular
configuration applied to a round end panel and to cover all
of the openings extends to an area proximate the circular
peripheral seaming chuck guide groove in the end panel. The
tape is provided with a ring pull which is folded over the
tape and forms corners with the body portion of the tape
at its lateral edges. These corners, when the body portion
is positioned to adequately cover all of the pour openings in
the end panel project over and encroach upon the chuck guide
groove since the proximate edge of the body portion of the
tape extends chordally with respect to the groove. Cutting
off these corners develops notches which concentrate failure -
promoting stresses causing the tape to tear and thus frustrating
opening of the container. The invention solves the problem
by providing novel dart folds in these corners which clear
the groove and which unfold when the ring pull is lifted
thereby developing the full strength of the tape.

Claims

C L A I M S
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property
or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A closure for a container and member having a
center panel portion and a peripheral chuck wall and a
chuck-receiving annular groove in the panel adjacent the
chuck wall and having pour opening means disposed in close
proximity to said groove;
a tape of rectangular shape having a body portion
and a finger-grip lift portion folded over the body portion
and forming a fold edge at one end of the body and corners
therewith at the lateral edges thereof;
means removably connecting said body portion to said
center panel in a position disposing said folded edge proximate
to said chuck wall chordally with respect to said groove and
locating said corners in overlapping relation to the groove,
said corners being folded inwardly from said lateral
edges to clear said groove.
2. The invention according to Claim 1 and said corners
being formed as folds disposed between said body and finger-
grip portions.
3. The invention according to Claim 2 and said folds
being in the form of darts.
4. The invention according to Claim 3 and said folds
having a pair of opposing triangular shaped sections joined in
fold edges displaced inwardly from said lateral edges.
5. The invention according to Claim 4 and said folds
terminating in apical points coincident with said fold
edge defined between the body portion and said finger-grip
portion.

6. A tape closure for a pour opening of a container
comprising a rectangular body portion and a folded over end
portion forming corners therewith at the lateral edges of the
tape, said corners being folded inwardly of respective lateral
edges and tucked in between said body portion and end portion.
7. The invention according to Claim 6 and said
corners including sections of both portions of the tape
forming opposed fold plies.
8. The invention according to Claim 7 and said fold
plies being of triangular shape.
9. The invention according to Claim 8 and said body
and end portions forming a fold edge transverse to the lateral
edges and said plies forming edges diagonally subtending the
fold edge and respective lateral edges.
10. The invention according to Claim 9 and said
edges on the plies disposed at approximately 45 degrees to
said fold edge and respective lateral edge.

Description

~1~3~7~9 ~ :
In devices utilizing tapes for closing the pour
openings, the tape is usually secured by pressure sensitive
adhesives. In closing pressured beverages such as beer or
soft drinks, pressure sensitive tapes have not been successul
and even heat sealed ~apes have more or less consistently
failed. The problem at least partially resided in having a
single opening defining the pour aperture which has to be "
placed close to the rim or seam of the can thus minimizing '~
the area to which the adhesive is appIied and concurrently .~ .-
10 limiting the area of tape ~hich can be adhered since the tape ,'
has to clear the' chuck guide groove. ~,,' '~
This invention is directed to a tape seal for the ,~
'~ pour opening of a container for pressurlzed beverages.
A general object of the lnvention is to provide ',
~, ,a novel' tape~having a rectangular body ~hich is applied '' '~diametrically across the top of the round end panel in closing
relation to the pour aperture and which has a ring-pull portion '~
~;~ at one end folded over the body portion and wherein suff,icient '~
'~ suTface'areas of the end panel and body tape are-securely
20 ~ adhered particularly in the'location between the edge of
,the pour opening and the chuck guide~groove. '-' '~
~ ~ The lnvention contemplates providing a tape'of ;~
,,~ sufficient width'not only to cover the pour aperture comprising
''~, multiple selectively arranged holes to minimize pressure on
the tape, but also to provide an extensive sealed sanitary
,~ area maintained free of contamination and providing a ring -~
pull end portion of adequate size to admit the inger of
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most users~ ', ~' , ',
~' A further object is to provide a tape which has a ~,~ , ,,
30 rectangular body with edge hems along its longitudinal edges ;' ,~
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to increase its tensile as well as tear or shear strength
and of adequate width to form a ring pull at one end of the
same diametrical dimension as the width of the body, so that
the tape may be easily fed through and fabricated in suitable
tape making equipment.
The invention comprehends providing a wide rectangular
tape which intermediate its lateral edges is secured to the
end panel close to the chuck guide by a novel folding of the
corners of the tape formed by the juncture of the body and
ring pull end portion, the corners being folded away to a
nonobstructing position and unfolding during opening of the
; tab to provide an uninterrupted full width of tape from end to
end.
These and other objects and ad~antages inherent in -~
and encompassed by the invention will become more readily -
apparent from the specification and drawings, wherein~
Figure 1 is~a top perspective view~of~the structure
~ ` incorporating the invention;
i~ ~ Figure 2 is a top plan view of the;structure showing
the tab~in folded portion;
Figure 3~is a top plan view of the structure
.~ showing the tab ln unfolded position preparatory to opening of the container;
Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-section on line 4 of
Figure~2;
Plgure 5 is a top view of a partially formed tape;
Figure 6 is a top view of a formed tape with the
folds between the ring pwll end portion and body portion of
the tape partially formed; and
Figure 7 is a crosssectional view taken substantially
on line 7 7 of Figure 6.
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1~38799 : ~The invention is disclosed in association with a can
or container 2 having a cylindrical body 3, an end member 4
including a central flat panel portion 5 circumscribed by an ~-
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annular chuck guiding groove 6 and a chuck wall 7 which is
double seamed at 8 with the upper edge of the can body. - !
The panel is provided with a pour aperture generally
designated 10 including a plurality of geometrically arranged
openings 11, 12 which extend from the peripheral edge 13 of the
panel 5 inwardly.
A tape 15 of a metal foil and plastic such as polypro~
pylene is used as a closure for the openings. The specific -
details of such closure are disclosed in Canadian Patent
. "
Application 219,842, filed February 1975, and the disclosure
therein is herein incorporated by reference.
Suffice lt to say that the tape is secured by an '
adhesive to the can top 17 as in the aforesaid application for
patent.
The tape herein shown is of a laminate metal foil and ~-~
plastic and of substantial width and covers the area designated
19 (Figure 3) on the can top. The tape comprises a rectangular
~ ; body portion 20 and at one end has an integral finger-grip
portion 21 which is folded over the body portion in a fold bend
juncture 23 transverse to the longitudinal extent of the tab.
As best seen in Figure 2, the ends of the bend juncture ~` '
23 form right angle corner portions 24, 24 shown (shown in `,
phantom lines in Figure 2) which would normally project over and
encroach upon the chuck guide groove.
, A feature of the present invention is the provision
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of dart -folds 25, 25 tucking in the corner portions 24, 24
between the pull ring portion and the body portion of the
tab.
Each dart -foLd has upper and lo~er triangular dart -
sections 26, 27 which converge inwardly from the respective
lateral edges 289 29 of the tape and these sections 26, 27
have a fold juncture 30 which merges into an apical point
31 which coincides with the bend line 32 of the juncture 23.
It will be noted that the corners 24, 24 at the bend line
are folded so that the outer edges clear the guide groove
and at these outer edges 33 are preferably 45 degrees to the ~
bend line and adjacent lateral edge of the body of the tape. ;
This angle, however, is not critical and may be of any
magnitude which will clear the groove.
It will be observed from Figure 3 that~ upon the ring
pull portion being lifted the dart folds will unfold and the ;
full width of the tape connects the ring panel portion with
the body portion. ;~
The ring pull portion has~ a circular hem edge 35 and
20 ~ a center fingeradmittlng opening 36 which also has a hem edge ~ -
37.
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