Container with a hermetic closure

Abstract

The container with a hermetic closure has a receptacle having a receptacle opening surrounded by an annular mouth surface, a lid having a front side and a back side intended for being oriented towards the outside and the inside of the receptacle, respectively, a sealing ring arranged between the annular mouth surface of the receptacle and an annular perimetral flange of the lid, and a closure mechanism formed by a shaped metal wire defining a first region coupleable to the lid, a second region being under elastic stress in a closed position and a third region coupleable to the receptacle. The front side of the lid has at least two opposite supporting points in an area coinciding with or adjacent to the annular flange, and the first region of the closure mechanism is configured for being supported, in a closed position, on said at least two opposite supporting points.

Claims

1. A container with a hermetic closure, the container including: a receptacle provided with a mouth including a receptacle opening and an annular mouth surface surrounding said receptacle opening; a lid having a front side and a back side, the back side intended for being oriented towards the inside of the receptacle, said lid including an annular perimetral flange which, in a closed position, is superimposed on the annular mouth surface of the receptacle, the front side including a protruding annular closure rib and the back side including an annular centering rib of a smaller diameter than the mouth of the receptacle which, when the lid is in the closed position the annular centering rib is inserted into the mouth; a sealing ring fitted in an annular perimetral groove of the annular centering rib held between the annular mouth surface of the receptacle and the lid; a closure mechanism unitarily movable between a closed position, in which the closure mechanism holds the lid against the annular mouth surface of the receptacle, and an open position, in which the closure mechanism releases the lid allowing the opening thereof, the closure mechanism being formed by a shaped metal wire defining: a first region configured for being superimposed, when in the closed position, on the front side of the lid; a second region formed by two symmetrical opposite portions arranged on opposite sides of the mouth of the receptacle, each symmetrical opposite portion being connected to a different end of the first region and configured for being under elastic stress when in the closed position, attracting the first region to the mouth of the receptacle; at least a third region configured for being coupled, when in the closed position, to the receptacle in a position adjacent to the mouth of the receptacle and connected to the symmetrical opposite portions of the second region (42); wherein the annular closure rib is completely or partially superimposed on the annular centering rib, said annular closure rib including at least two opposite supporting points in an area coinciding with or adjacent to the annular flange, and in that the first region of the closure mechanism is configured for being supported, in the closed position, on said at least two opposite supporting points.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first region of the closure mechanism is shaped defining a bend coincident with said at least two opposite supporting points when the closure mechanism is in the closed position.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the annular closure rib has a smooth surface with a plurality of supporting points for receiving the first region of the closure mechanism.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the annular closure rib includes notches at certain intervals, each notch corresponding to a supporting point for receiving the first region of the closure mechanism in said notches.

5. The container according to claim 4, wherein the annular closure rib has, between two contiguous notches, an inclined supporting surface defining a slope towards said notch for leading the first region of the closure mechanism to the closest notch.

6. The container according to claim 4, wherein the notches have a depth equal to or greater than the thickness of the metal wire.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first region is formed by a first metal wire and the two symmetrical opposite portions forming the second region are formed by a second metal wire independent of the first metal wire, each of two opposite ends of the first metal wire being attached in an articulated manner to the second metal wire, and the second metal wire being attached to the receptacle by two opposite articulated attachments defined by the third region of the closure mechanism at opposite sides of the mouth.

8. The container according to claim 7, wherein the third region of the closure mechanism is defined by two ends of the second metal wire inserted into respective housings of the receptacle.

9. The container according to claim 8, wherein the housings are housings defined in a wall of the receptacle.

10. The container according to claim 8, wherein the housings are housings defined in a fixed collar around the receptacle in a position adjacent to the mouth.

11. The container according to claim 7, wherein a segment of the second metal wire connecting the two symmetrical opposite portions of the second region forms a lever arm which simultaneously actuates both symmetrical opposite portions for arranging the closure mechanism in the open position or closed position.

12. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first region, the second region, and the third region are formed with one and the same metal wire, the third region being complementary to an annular notch defined around the mouth of the receptacle.

13. The container according to claim 12, wherein the second region is shaped in the form of a spring loop.

14. The container according to claim 1, wherein said annular flange has a thickness equal to or less than 5 mm.

15. The container according to claim 1, wherein a central portion of the lid which is devoid of an annular centering rib has a thickness equal to or less than 5 mm.

16. The container according to claim 1, wherein the sealing ring is made of a molded material with a thickness equal to or less than 2.5 mm.

17. The container according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle and/or the lid are made of glass or ceramic.

18. The container according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle and/or the lid are made of plastic.

19. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lid is made of glass and has a flat circular shape with the annular closure rib and the annular centering rib protruding on opposed sides of the flat circular shape, the annular closure rib and the annular centering rib being concentric to the flat circular shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing and other advantages and features will be better understood based on the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the attached drawings which must be interpreted in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a container with a hermetic closure according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 1 in a closed position;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a container with a hermetic closure according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a container with a hermetic closure according to an alternative embodiment with respect to that shown in FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5; and

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a container with a hermetic closure according to another alternative embodiment with respect to that shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

(9) The attached drawings show illustrative non-limiting embodiments of the present invention.

(10) FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show a container with a hermetic closure comprising a receptacle 10 which, in this example, is proposed to be a glass receptacle 10. Said receptacle 10 is provided with a cylindrical mouth 11 to which there is coupled a lid 20, also preferably made of glass, with a sealing ring 30 interposed to assure a leak-tight sealing between the mouth 11 and the lid 20.

(11) The mouth 11 includes a receptacle opening 13 and an annular mouth surface 14 surrounding said receptacle opening 13.

(12) It will be understood that although the preferred embodiment is made of glass, both the receptacle 10 and the lid 20 can be made of other materials, such as ceramic, for example, or the use of plastic is even optionally contemplated.

(13) The lid 20 is a flat lid formed by a flat circular glass about 5 mm thick, defining a front side oriented upwards and a back side oriented downwards and towards the inside of the receptacle 10. The circular glass has an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of the mouth 11 of the receptacle 10, such that a perimetral edge of the lid is level with an outer surface of the receptacle 10 adjacent the mouth 11 when superimposed thereon.

(14) From the back side of the circular glass there projects downwardly an annular centering rib 23 in the form of an annular protuberance concentric to the circular glass, formed by the same glass as the rest of the lid 20 and with an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the container opening 13 of the mouth 11 of the receptacle 10, such that said annular centering rib 23 is inserted into the mouth 11 of the receptacle 10 when the lid 20 is in a closed position.

(15) The part of the circular glass comprised between the annular centering rib 23 and the outer perimetral edge of the lid 20 forms an annular flange 21 which, in the closed position, is superimposed on the mouth 11, and the thickness of which is equal to or less than 5 mm.

(16) The front side of the lid 20 incorporates an annular closure rib 22 in the form of an annular protuberance concentric to the rest of the lid 20. Said annular closure rib 22 is formed from the same glass forming the rest of the lid 20.

(17) Preferably, said annular closure rib 22 projects from the front side of the lid 20 in a position vertically coinciding with the position occupied by the annular centering rib 23 located at the back side of the lid 20 and/or with the annular flange 21, i.e., the annular closure rib 22 is completely or partially superimposed on the annular centering rib 23 and/or the annular flange 21.

(18) To keep the sealing ring 30 attached to the lid 20 even when the lid is separated from the receptacle 10, it has been envisaged for the annular centering rib 23 to incorporate an annular perimetral groove in which the sealing ring 30 is partially fitted, thereby being fixed to the lid 20.

(19) Obtaining the described lid 20, incorporating said annular perimetral groove in the annular centering rib 23, requires the lid 20 to be produced with glass pressed in a mold formed by more than two mold parts.

(20) To keep the lid 20 attached to the receptacle 10, there is included a closure mechanism 40 formed by a shaped metal wire which, in the closed position, is partially superimposed on the lid 20, pressing it at two diametrically opposite supporting points 25 of the annular closure rib 22 and against the mouth 11 of the receptacle 10, achieving a hermetic closure.

(21) According to an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the closure mechanism 40 consists of a first shaped wire having an inverted U shape and a flat bottom and a second wire having a U shape and a rounded bottom including symmetrical portions 42a and 42b in the form of loops in areas close to their ends.

(22) The ends of the second wire are inserted into respective notches arranged on opposite sides of the outer receptacle 10, adjacent to the mouth 11 providing an articulated attachment between the second wire and the receptacle 10. The ends of the first wire are inserted into respective opposite portions 42a and 42b in the form of loops of the second wire, on opposite sides of the outside of the receptacle 10, providing an articulated attachment between the first wire and the second wire.

(23) In the present embodiment, said notches are defined in a metallic collar fixed around the receptacle 10, but it is also contemplated for these notches to be notches formed in the actual glass wall of the receptacle 10, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

(24) The first wire is superimposed on the annular closure rib 22 of the lid 20 in the closed position, and the second wire allows, according to its position, moving the symmetrical portions 42a and 42b in the form of loops to which the first wire is articulated in a vertical direction, with the vertical stress of the first wire on the annular closure rib 22 of the lid 20 being exerted against the mouth 11 of the receptacle 10, assuring hermetic closure thereof.

(25) The first wire constitutes a first region 41 intended for pressing the lid 20 against the receptacle 10, the portions 42a and 42b of the second wire constitute a second region 42 intended for producing an elastic stress, attracting the first region 41 downwards, and the ends of the second wire articulated with respect to the receptacle 10 form a third region 43 of the closure mechanism 40 intended for connecting the closure mechanism 40 to the receptacle 10, and serving as a supporting point for subjecting the second region to elastic stress.

(26) The portion of the second wire comprised between the symmetrical portions 42a and 42b in the form of loops is a lever arm which allows a simultaneous and symmetrical actuation of the two symmetrical portions 42a and 42b, locating the closure mechanism 40 in the closed or open position in which the lid 20 is released, allowing it to be removed from the mouth 11 of the receptacle 10.

(27) According to another envisaged embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the closure mechanism 40 consists of a single shaped wire having an inverted U shape and a flat bottom.

(28) Said metal wire will have a first region 41 in its central area, intended for being supported on the annular closure rib 22 of the lid 20, a second region defined in two portions 42a and 42b located in areas close to the ends of the wire, intended for being subjected to certain elastic stress when the closure mechanism 40 is in the closed position, and a third region corresponding to the two ends of the wire, said third region being complementary to an annular groove arranged around the mouth 11 of the receptacle 10, provided for fitting said third region therein, and therefore serving as a supporting point so that the second region can provide elastic stress to the first region which transmits it to the lid 20 through two opposite points of the annular closure rib 22.

(29) Said annular closure rib 22 can be smooth, allowing the first region 41 of the closure mechanism 40 to be supported in any position, or can include notches 24 provided so that the first region 41 of the metal wire can be fitted therein in pre-established positions.

(30) An alternative version of this same solution is shown in FIG. 7 and proposes for the two ends of the single shaped metal wire forming the closure mechanism 40 to be located on the lid 20, jointly constituting the first region 41. Each end of the single shaped metal wire is bent downwards in a sinuous shape and presses the lid at a supporting point 25. Said supporting points 25 can be located in pits or recesses, for example cylindrical pits, of the lid 20.

(31) According to an alternative embodiment, for example, the one shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the supporting points 25 of the lid 20 are rounded pits and the first region 41 of the closure mechanism 40 includes bends the ends of which coincide with and are fitted to the supporting points 25. Ends of the third region 43 of the closure mechanism 40 are inserted into pits provided on the sides of the receptacle providing an articulated attachment.

(32) It will be understood that the different parts forming the invention described in one embodiment can be freely combined with the parts described in other different embodiments even though said combination has not been explicitly described, provided that the combination does not entail any drawback.