Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT FOR A CAN
Field of the Invention
The present invention refers to a closure arrangement
to be applied to a can obtained in metallic sheet and
of the type which comprises a tubular body presenting
a peripheral side wall with a.circular or polygonal
contour and having a lower end portion, affixing or
incorporating a bottom wall, and an upper end portion
carrying, internally, a structural ring defining an
opening to access the interior of the can, and a seat
on which is seated and retained a sealing element, in
the form of a removable and reclosable lid which is
stamped in metallic sheet or molded in plastic
material, or in the form of a generally metallic film
which is peripherally glued on the structural ring and
definitively removed upon the first opening of the
can.
Background of the Invention
Determined products of progressive consumption and
which are packaged in bulk, such as certain food
products, paints and the like, should be submitted to
hermetic storage and require the lid to be of the
reclosable type, so that it may be reclosed as many
times as needed during the progressive consumption of
the stored product, in order to guarantee the
tightness of the can and protect the remaining content
thereof.
Prior art cans with a press-fit lid are well known, in
which the lid is press-fitted in a structural ring
which is externally double-seamed to an upper edge of
the peripheral side wall of the tubular body of the
can. The tightness is guaranteed when the lid is
fitted in the seat defined in the structural ring. In
some cases, particularly when food products are
concerned, there is the need to provide a hermetic
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taper evident seal until the first opening of the can
and which is usually defined by a thin aluminum sheet,
or other adequate material, which is double seamed to
the upper edge of the peripheral side wall jointly
with the structural ring.
In other known solutions, such as those described in
Brazilian patent applications PI0203950-8 and
PI0303833-5, the press-fit lid is constructed in
plastic material and comprises a sealing portion which
is removably seated and retained in the seat defined
in the structural ring, and a manually breakable seal
provided around the upper end portion of the tubular
body of the can.
Another known solution comprises the provision of a
structural ring, whose upper face defines an annular
surface for the seating and gluing of the marginal
portion of a seal, usually in aluminum foil and which
is manually detached upon the first opening of the
can. In this constructive solution, there is provided
a plastic overlid or cover that is removably fitted
over the upper edge of the peripheral side wall of the
tubular body, in order to protect the content of the
can after the seal has been removed.
In any of the three types of closure arrangements
mentioned above, there is the need of providing a
piece for defining the structural ring which,
independently of the different shapes it may present,
it has to be externally double seamed to the upper
edge of the peripheral side wall of the tubular body
of the can. The provision of the structural ring is
mandatory to impart the necessary structural strength
to the open upper end portion of the tubular body of
the can and also to define the seat for the seating of
the sealing element in the form of a metallic lid,
plastic lid or seal.
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However, in the known prior art constructions, the
structural ring is defined as a separate piece in
relation to the tubular body, consuming a respective
quantity of tin plate for the formation thereof and
requiring to be double seamed so as to be tightly
affixed to the upper edge of the peripheral side wall
of the can. Besides requiring the addition of more raw
material, the operation of double seaming the known
structural ring considerably limits the possibilities
of reducing the manufacture costs of the cans.
Summary of the Invention
By reason of the inconveniences cited above and
related to raw material and manufacture costs to
provide the structural ring, it is an object of the
present invention to provide a closure arrangement for
cans of the type considered herein, which eliminates
not only the provision of the structural ring as a
metallic sheet piece different from that of the
tubular body of the can, but also the operation of
double seaming the structural ring to the upper edge
of the peripheral side wall of the tubular body of the
can, without however impairing the characteristics of
structural strength of the can and formation of the
seat for the sealing element.
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide a closure arrangement as cited above, which
allows the structural ring to be shaped to define
different patterns for the seat onto which will be
seated different elements for hermetically sealing the
opening that gives access to the interior of the can.
The present closure arrangement is applied to a can of
the type presenting a tubular body, of circular or
polygonal cross section,. which is inferiorly closed
and comprises: a peripheral side wall provided with an
upper edge; and a structural ring internal to the
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tubular body and which is hermetically united to the
peripheral side wall so as to define an upper opening
of the can and a seat for the seating of a sealing
element.
According to the invention, the structural ring is
defined by a circumferential rib formed by a recess in
the peripheral side wall which is axially spaced back
in relation to the upper end of the latter and
projecting radially into the tubular body.
The construction proposed by the present invention
allows the structural ring of the can to be defined by
deformation of the peripheral side wall of said can,
saving not only the material that would be used for
stamping the double seamed structural ring of the
prior art, but also the double seaming operation of
said ring to the structure of the tubular body of the
can.
The circumferential rib that defines the new
structural ring can be constructed so as to define a
seat for the seating of a sealing element which can
take the form of a press-fit lid stamped in metallic
sheet or molded in plastic material or a tamper
evident seal, which is peripherally and removably
glued over the annular upper face of said
circumferential rib.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention will be described below, with reference
to the enclosed drawings given by way of example of
possible embodiments for the present invention and in
which:
Figure 1 is a partial perspective and exploded view of
an assembly formed by a can, a sealing element and an
overlid, presenting the closure arrangement of the
present invention and in which the sealing element
takes the form of a film that is removably glued on
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the circumferential rib;
Figure 2 is a partial perspective and exploded view
similar to that of figure 1, but illustrating another
embodiment for the circumferential rib of the closure
5 arrangement;
Figure 3 is a partial diametrical sectional view of
the assembly illustrated in figure 1 and in the
condition in which both the sealing element and the
overlid are mounted to the tubular body of the can;
Figure 4 is a is a similar view to that of figure 3,
but illustrating the closure arrangement with another
embodiment for the circumferential rib;
Figure 5 is a partial diametrical sectional view of an
assembly formed by a can and a press-fit lid in the
mounted condition and using the closure arrangement of
the present invention;
Figure 5a is an enlarged detail of figure 5
illustrating a possible constructive solution for a
sealing gasket to be provided between the seat and the
lid.
Figure 6 is a partial diametrical sectional view
similar to that of figure 5, but illustrating another
possible construction for the lid to be used in the
closure arrangement of the present invention;
Figure 7 is a similar view to that of figure 6, but
illustrating the closure arrangement applied to the
upper portion of a can provided with a diametrical
reduction in its upper region; and
Figure 8 is a partial diametrical sectional view of a
can tubular body constructed according to another
embodiment.
Detailed Description of the Invention
As illustrated in the appended drawings, the closure
arrangement of the present invention is applied to a
can generally made of tin plate and presenting a
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tubular body 10 with a circular or polygonal cross-
section and which is inferiorly closed by a bottom
wall (not illustrated) and comprising: a peripheral
side wall 11 provided with an upper edge 12, and a
structural ring 13, internal to the tubular body 10
and which is hermetically joined to the peripheral
side wall 11, in order to define an upper opening 14
for the can, as well as a seat 15 onto which will be
seated a sealing element 20, which can present
different constructions, as described ahead.
Figures 1-4 of the appended drawings are related to a
closure arrangement in which the sealing element 20 is
defined by a film 21, generally in impermeable
material and preferably metalized, which is removably
glued to the upper face 16a of a circumferential rib
16. This sealing element 20 is constructed in such a
way as to be definitively removed by the user from its
mounted position upon the first opening of the can so
as to give access to the interior of the can.
In this type of construction, the circumferential rib
16 presents its upper face 16a usually flat and
orthogonal to the axis of the can to facilitate the
hermetic and secure gluing of the marginal portion of
the film 21 on the circumferential rib 16.
In the embodiment illustrated in figures 1 and 3, the
circumferential rib 16 presents a cross section in the
approximate shape of a horizontal "U", with the
lateral legs being parallel to each other and with the
basic region defining the inner edge 16b of the
circumferential rib 16 and whose shape can have
different characteristics, depending on the
construction used for the sealing element 20. In
figures 2 and 4, the circumferential rib 16 presents a
cross section in the approximate form of a horizontal
"V", with a rounded vertex, defining the inner edge
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16a of the circumferential rib 16 and having a lateral
leg defining the upper face 16a of the circumferential
rib 16 and which is preferably disposed orthogonally
to the axis of the can when the sealing element 20
takes the form of the film 21 that hermetically seals
the can.
Upon using a sealing element 20 in the form of a film
21 removably glued over the circumferential rib 16,
the closure arrangement further comprises an overlid
30 which is formed in a single piece having a recessed
median portion 31 to be housed in the interior of the
tubular body 10, in a level higher than that of the
circumferential rib 16 and by a peripheral portion 32
with a cross section in the approximate form of an
inverted "U" and which is dimensioned to be tightly
fitted over the upper edge 12 of the peripheral side
wall 11 of the tubular body 10 of the can.
In the embodiment illustrated in figures 1-4, the
upper edge 12 of the peripheral side wall 11 of the
can is bent outwardly, downwardly and inwardly, in
order to define a tubular rib 17 externally
incorporated to said upper edge 12, collaborating in
the structural stiffening of the latter and defining a
peripheral salience in this region of the can which,
besides operating as a seating means for the
peripheral portion 32 of the overlid 30, operates as
an axial retention stop for peripheral portions of
other types of sealing elements that can be fitted in
the seat 15 of the can. As illustrated in figures 1-7,
the tubular rib 17 of the upper edge 12 of the
peripheral side wall 11 of the can may present a
circular or substantially circular cross section.
The axial retention of the overlid 30 to the upper
edge 12 of the can is obtained by the fact that the
peripheral portion 32 of said overlid 30 has a
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radially internal wall 32a which is dimensioned and
configured to be telescopically and relatively tightly
seated against the inner face of a portion of the
peripheral side wall 11 of the can defined between the
circumferential rib 16 and the upper edge 12. Said
peripheral portion 32 further has a basic wall 32b to
be seated on said upper edge 12 of the can, and a
radially external wall 32c to be seated against the
tubular rib 17, surrounding the latter. The radially
external wall 32c of the peripheral portion 32 of the
overlid 30 presents a free lower end edge that
incorporates an external tubular curl 33 that imparts
a better structural strength to the marginal portion
of the overlid 30, which is generally molded in
plastic material or the like.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate a construction for a can
similar to that illustrated in figures 1-4, but using
another type of sealing element 20 that dispenses the
use of the film 21 glued over the circumferential rib
16. In this way of carrying out the invention, the
circumferential rib 16 presents its inner edge 16b
configured to define a preferably circular convex arc,
and the sealing element 20 is defined by a lid 22 that
comprises, in a single piece of metal foil or plastic
material, a basic wall 23 and a peripheral wall 24
that presents an upper edge 25, to be seated on a
portion of the peripheral side wall 11 of the tubular
body 10 which is defined above the upper opening 14 of
the can, and a circumferential recess 26 whose cross
section is in the form of a concave arc turned
radially outwardly, preferably in a circular
development and which is configured to fit,
therewithin, the inner edge 16b of the circumferential
rib 16 upon the seating of the lid 22 on the seat 15.
Also in this construction for the press-fit lid 22,
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the circumferential rib 16 can present a cross section
in any adequate form to define a seat for the seating
and retention of the lid 22. In the illustrated
embodiments, the circumferential rib 16 presents the
cross section in the approximate form of a horizontal
"U" or "V" and the inner edge 16b of the
circumferential rib 16 is formed by the basic portion
of the "U" shaped profile or by the vertex of the "V"
shaped profile.
With this construction, when the lid 22 is fitted in
the seat 15, the inner edge 16b of the circumferential
rib 16 is fitted, by elastic deformation of at least
one of the peripheral side wall 11 of the can and the
peripheral wall of the lid 22, in the interior of the
circumferential recess 26 of the latter, allowing to
obtain not only a fitting that hermetically seals the
lid 22 to the seat 15, but also an effective and
secure axial retention of the lid 22 to the tubular
body 10 of the can.
Considering that the tubular body 10 of the can is
usually formed of a metal foil provided with a
longitudinal seam, which is obtained by welding
overlapping longitudinal edges of metal foil, there is
the problem of obtaining an adequate sealing between
the circumferential rib 16 and the circumferential
recess 26 in the seaming region.
Thus, even taking into account the reduced thickness
of the metal foil that forms the tubular body 10 of
the can, it is desirable to provide, in the region
between the lid 22 and the circumferential rib 16 of
the tubular body 10, a sealing element 50 made of an
elastically deformable material compatible with the
canned product, in order to accommodate the
superficial alteration of the circumferential rib 16
in the longitudinally seamed region of the tubular
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body 10.
As illustrated in figure 5a, for a possible
construction, the elastically deformable sealing
element 50 takes the form of an annular gasket
5 covering at least part of the radial extension of the
inner surface of the circumferential recess 26 of the
lid 22, and said gasket can be formed in any suitable
material, resinous or not, such as plastisol. The
sealing element 50 can be dimensioned to surround only
10 the inner edge 16b of the circumferential rib 16 or
also, additionally, the upper face 16a of the latter
and even a certain extension of the peripheral wall 24
of the lid 22.
In the case of the lids 22 constructed in plastic,
material, as illustrated in figure 6, depending on the
characteristics of the seaming, of the plastic
material of the lid, and of the product to be stored,
the provision of the sealing element 50 may not be
needed.
As illustrated in figures, 5, 6 and 7, the peripheral
wall 24 of the lid 22 can be configured to present an
annular radial portion 24a to be seated on the upper
face 16a of the circumferential rib 16, and an axial
upper portion 24b to be seated against the inner face
of a portion of the peripheral side wall 11 of the
can, defined between the circumferential rib 16 and
its upper edge 12. This construction allows obtaining
an even more effective sealing between the lid 22 and
the region of the seat 15 of the tubular body 10 of
the can.
In the embodiment illustrated in figure 5, the upper
edge 25 of the peripheral wall 11 of the lid 22
incorporates an external tubular rib 27 to be seated
on the upper edge 12 of the peripheral side wall 11 of
the tubular body 10 of the can upon the closing of the
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lid 22, by fitting the inner edge of the
circumferential rib 16 in the interior of the
circumferential recess 26 of the peripheral wall 11 of
the lid 22.
In the construction illustrated in figures 3-7, the
external tubular rib 27 of the lid 22 is seated on the
tubular rib 17 of the peripheral side wall 11 of the
tubular body 10.
As illustrated in figure 6, the upper edge 25 of the
peripheral wall 11 of the lid 22 may incorporate a
seal 28 comprising a skirt 28a to be relatively
tightly seated around the tubular body 10, immediately
below the tubular rib 17 of its peripheral side wall
11, said lower skirt 28a being superiorly united to
the upper edge 25 of the peripheral wall 11 of the lid
24 by means of bridges 28b to be manually broken when
submitted to a certain force upon the first opening of
the lid 22.
It should be noted that the lower skirt 28a of the
seal 28 is positioned below the tubular rib 17 and
operates as a stop, which prevents the lid 22 from
being removed without breaking the bridges 28b and
liberating the seal 28.
As illustrated in figure 7, the circumferential rib 16
can be provided in a region of the peripheral side
wall 11 of the tubular body 10 presenting a diameter
that is substantially inferior to the diameter of the
remainder of the tubular body 10 of the can, in order
to make the seal 28 of the lid 22 to remain contained
in the interior of the axial projection of the
remainder of the tubular body 10.
In the embodiments illustrated in figures 1-7, the
tubular rib 17 is shaped and dimensioned so as to be
maintained in a level above that in which the
circumferential rib 16 is provided, allowing that the
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circumferential recess which forms the latter and
which is defined in the peripheral side wall 11, to be
visible in a lateral visualization of the can.
Besides the problem related to the finishing operation
of the can, the shape of the tubular rib 17, in the
embodiments illustrated in figures 1-7, limits the
structural reinforcement effect of the can, in the
open upper portion of the tubular body 10, to the
extension defined between the circumferential rib 16
and the upper edge 12.
Figure 8 illustrates a constructive alternative for
the tubular body 10 of the can, according to which the
tubular rib 17 operates as a esthetic finishing
element for the can and as a structural reinforcement
element for the open upper portion of the tubular body
10 of the can.
According to the present improvement, the tubular rib
17 continues to be externally incorporated to the
upper edge 12 of the peripheral side wall 11, but
extending downwardly, beyond the circumferential rib
16, in order to cover the recess that forms the latter
in said peripheral side wall 11.
As illustrated, the tubular rib 17 is constructed to
have its free lower end portion 17a inwardly and
upwardly bent and disposed adjacent the peripheral
side wall 11 of the tubular body 10, below the
circumferential rib 16.
In the construction exemplified in figure 8, the free
lower end portion 17a of the tubular rib 17 presents
an end region 17b, which is upwardly bent and
laterally seated against the peripheral side wall 11
of the tubular body 10 of the can.
The construction proposed herein allows the tubular
rib 17 to completely cover the recess that forms the
circumferential rib 16, giving an aspect of more
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integrity to the can and producing a structural
reinforcement of larger axial extension.
The tubular rib 17 is generally configured in an
oblong shape in the direction of the can axis and
presents a median extension 17c that is substantially
parallel to the peripheral side wall 11 of the tubular
body 10, in the region in which the circumferential
rib 16 is incorporated, whereby the tubular rib 17
takes the form of a kind of strap surrounding the
upper end portion of the can.
While only some embodiments of the present invention
have been described and illustrated, it should be
understood that changes as to the form and arrangement
of the elements could be made without departing from
the constructive concept defined in the appended
claims.
