Hygienic Device for a Can

Abstract

The invention relates to a hygienic protective membrane (2) for a drink can (12) provided with a lid (14) with a circular edge (16) and a ring suitable to form an orifice in a detachable zone of said lid, the membrane (2) comprising a first and a second film (6) superimposed and adhered to each other, said membrane (2) being configured to be disposed with the first film adhered to the lid (14), the second film (6) being separable from the first in order to give access to the orifice of the lid. The membrane has a central portion (8) generally circular suitable to cover the lid (14) and a lateral portion (10) forming a strip from the circular portion and adapted to cover the edge of said lid.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. Hygienic protective membrane for a drink can having a lid with a circular edge and a ring suitable to form an orifice in a detachable zone of said lid, the membrane comprising: a first and a second film superimposed and adhered to each other, said membrane being configured to be disposed with the first film adhered to the lid, the second film being separable from the first film in order to provide access to the orifice of the lid; a lateral portion configured to cover the edge of said lid; and a generally circular central portion configured to cover the lid, the lateral portion forming a strip from the circular portion.

12. The membrane according to claim 11, wherein the lateral portion comprises: a distal end with a zone where the first film and the second film are not adhered to each other, so that the second film forms a zipper tab in order to separate the two films.

13. The membrane according to claim 12, wherein the zone where the first film and the second film are not adhered to each other extends over multiple square millimeters, including: at least 50 mm.sup.2; or at least 100 mm.sup.2.

14. The membrane according to claim 11, wherein the lateral portion extends over more than 20 mm from the central portion, so as to cover an upper portion of a vertical side of the can, adjacent to the lid.

15. The membrane according to claim 11, wherein each of the first film and the second film has a thickness of: less than 1 mm; between 0.01 and 0.75 mm; or between 0.05 and 0.5 mm.

16. The membrane according to claim 11, wherein the first film and the second film are attached to each other at one end of said membrane opposite to the lateral portion, so as to form a hinge during the separation of the second film.

17. The membrane according to claim 11, wherein the first film comprises: an orifice configured to fit the contours of the ring of the can.

18. The membrane according to claim 11, wherein the first film comprises: a line of weakening or precut corresponding to the detachable zone of the lid forming the orifice.

19. A drink can, comprising: a lid with a circular edge and a ring configured to form an orifice in a detachable zone of said lid and a protective membrane disposed on the lid; wherein the membrane comprises: a first and a second film superimposed and adhered to each other, said membrane being configured to be disposed with the first film adhered to the lid, the second film being separable from the first film in order to provide access to the orifice of the lid; a lateral portion configured to cover the edge of said lid; and a generally circular central portion configured to cover the lid, the lateral portion forming a strip from the circular portion.

20. The drink can according to claim 19, wherein the detachable zone of the lid remains covered by the first film after formation of the orifice.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a representation of the membrane seen from above.

[0018] FIG. 2 represents the membrane according to the invention fixed on a can and in a closed configuration.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows the membrane fixed on the can and in an open configuration.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows the membrane fixed on the can without the second film, the can is here in open configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0021] FIGS. 1 to 4 are not at the same scale and are given only as an illustration and not limitative of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows the membrane 2 according to the invention. The membrane 2 comprises a first film 4 and a second film 6 superimposed and adhered to each other, only the second film 6 is visible here. The membrane 2 is configured to be disposed on a drink can lid generally made of metal, with the first film adhered to the lid of the can and the second film 6 separable from the first in order to give access to the orifice of the can. The membrane 2 comprises a central portion 8 generally circular intended to cover the lid of the can and a lateral portion 10 forming a strip from the central portion and which is capable of covering the edge of the can lid.

[0023] The membrane 2 is made of a material ensuring the integrity of the membrane facing the storage conditions of cans such as moisture or heat. The membrane 2 is preferably made of a flexible material, waterproof, resistant to tearing and more preferably recyclable. The membrane 2 may also be formed of a material on which it can be printed or written. In order to guarantee the hygiene of the membrane, the two films must adhere to each other in a sealed manner. The two films 4; 6 can be adhered to each other by heating for example. The two films are preferably adhered to one other along their edges. The lateral portion 10 comprises a distal end with a zone 28 where the first and second films 4 and 6 are not adhered to one other so that the second film 6 forms a zipper tab in order to separate the two films. The zone 28 extends over several square millimeters, preferably at least 50 mm.sup.2, more preferably at least 100 mm.sup.2. The first and second films 4 and 6 are attached to each other at one end of said membrane 2 opposite to the lateral portion 10, so as to form a hinge during the separation of the second film 6.

[0024] The first film 4 comprises an orifice 24, here shown in dotted line, with a size that allows the passage of the can ring adapted to form an orifice, said orifice 24 being configured to fit the contours of said ring. The first and second films 4 and 6 of the membrane 2 each have a thickness of less than 1 mm, preferably between 0.01 and 0.75 mm, more preferably between 0.05 and 0.5 mm, which allows the membrane to fit the shape of the can.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows the membrane 2 according to the invention in a closed configuration and fixed on a can 12 provided with a lid 14 with a circular edge 16. The membrane 2 is fixed to the lid 14 of the can with the first film adhered to the lid 14 and the second film 6 being separable from the first in order to give access to the orifice (not visible) of the lid 14. The first film can be adhered to the lid 14 by means of adhesive material for example. The central portion 8 of the membrane covers the entire lid of the can 14 and the lateral portion 10 extends from the central portion over more than 20 mm so as to cover an upper portion of a vertical side 30 of the can 12 adjacent to the lid 14. More particularly the lateral portion 10 extends over the upper part of a vertical side 30 of the can adjacent to the orifice of the lid, which corresponds to the place where the consumer will put his lips. The lid and the can ring must be sterile before attaching the membrane to the can.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows the membrane 2 fixed on the lid of the can 12 in an open configuration. The second film 6 is almost completely separated from the first film 4 and we now have access to the ring 18 and to a detachable zone 22 of the lid forming the lid orifice. The first film 4 comprises a line of weakening or precut 26 corresponding to the detachable zone 22 of the lid forming the orifice, so as to facilitate the cutting of the first film when opening the can. The references 8.sup.1 and 10.sup.1 respectively correspond to the central portion and to the lateral portion of the first film 4 and the references 8.sup.2 and 10.sup.2 respectively correspond to the central portion and to the lateral portion of the second film 6.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows the membrane fixed on the lid of the can 12, the can being open here. The second film has been completely separated from the first film 4 in order to access the detachable zone 22 of the lid forming the orifice 20. The first film 4 remains adhered to the lid. The ring 18 of the can was tilted so as to detach the zone 22 from the lid in order to form the orifice 20 of the can. After formation of the orifice 20 of the can, the detachable zone 22 of the lid remains covered and protected by the first film 4 thanks to the line of precut or weakening which facilitates its cutting during the opening of the can. This then prevents the liquid contained in the can to be in direct contact with the detachable zone 22 since said zone remains protected by the first film when the can is opened.