Abstract
A container closure device (20) for a container (10), in particular for a beverage can (10), comprises a lid (30) having an upper face (31), a lower face (32), and an opening (33). The container closure device (20) further comprises a closure (50) having a closure part (51) for opening and closing the opening (33) and an operating device (40) for actuating the closure part (51). The closure part (51) is arranged on the lower face (32) so as to be pivotable about a first axis (A) which extends substantially parallel to the lower face (32). The operating device (40) is arranged on the closure part (51) so as to be rotatable about a second axis (B) and be rotatable from a first position (S.sub.1) into a second position (S.sub.2). The opening (33) can be closed by rotating the operating device (40) into the first position (S.sub.1) and can be opened by rotating the operating device (40) into the second position (S.sub.2).
Claims
1. A container closure device for a container, in particular for a beverage can, comprising: a lid having an upper face, a lower face, and an opening; a closure having a closure part for opening and closing the opening and an operating device for actuating the closure part; wherein the closure part is arranged on the lower face so as to be pivotable about a first axis which extending substantially parallel to the lower face; wherein the operating device is arranged on the closure part so as to be rotatable with respect to the closure part about a second axis from a first position to a second position; wherein the opening can be opened by rotating the operating device with respect to the closure part about the second axis into the second position at which the closure part is moveable out of sealing engagement with the opening and can be reclosed by rotating the operating device with respect to the closure part about the second axis into the first position at which the closure part is returned into the sealing engagement with the opening; and wherein the closure comprises a fixing part with which the closure part is mounted in a fixed position on the lower face such that the closure part is pivotable together with the operating device about the first axis.
2. The container closure device according to claim 1, wherein the second axis extends substantially at right angles relative to at least one of the first axis and the closure part.
3. The container closure device according to claim 1, wherein the closure part includes a groove and the opening is bordered by a beading that engages in the groove when the closure is closed.
4. The container closure device according to claim 1, further comprising a sealing.
5. The container closure device according to claim 4, wherein the sealing is fixed to one of the closure part and the lid.
6. The container closure device according to claim 4, wherein the sealing includes a sealing lip which rests on the lower face when the closure is closed.
7. The container closure device according to claim 1, wherein the operating device has a first end which is arranged above the upper face upon a rotation of the operating device from the first position into the second position.
8. The container closure device according to claim 7, wherein the opening has a rim, wherein the first end upon a rotation of the operating device from the first position into the second position is arranged outside the rim.
9. The container closure device according to claim 1, wherein the operating device rests on the upper face.
10. The container closure device according to claim 1, wherein the operating device is rotated by an angle between about 90 degrees to about 180 degrees to get from the first position to the second position.
11. The container closure device according to claim 1, further comprising a valve for adjusting the pressure of a fluid in the container to ambient pressure.
12. The container closure device according to claim 11, wherein the valve is opened by lifting the operating device.
13. The container closure device according to claim 11, wherein the valve is opened by pressing a valve button.
14. The container closure device according to claim 11, wherein the valve is opened by rotating the operating device.
15. The container closure device according to claim 14, wherein the valve is opened when the operating device is rotated into a third position.
16. The container closure device according to claim 15, wherein the third position is arranged rotationally between the first position and the second position.
17. The container closure device according to claim 11, wherein the valve is arranged on the closure part.
18. The container closure device according to claim 11, wherein the closure part includes at least one valve opening.
19. The container closure device according to claim 11, wherein the valve includes a valve element which is arranged on the closure part so as to be rotatable, wherein said valve element includes at least one passage and is fixedly connected to the operating device.
20. The container closure device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing part includes a joint and the joint provides the first axis.
21. The container closure device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing part is connected to the lid in a form-locking manner.
22. The container closure device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing part includes a ring and the lid includes a fixing region that is arranged on the lower face along the opening, and the ring is connected to the fixing region in a form-locking manner.
23. The container closure device according to claim 22, wherein the fixing region is formed by beading the lid along the opening.
24. A container comprising the container closure device according to claim 1.
25. The container according to claim 24 wherein the container is a beverage can.
Description
(1) Further details and advantages of the container closure device according to the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments which are merely schematically illustrated by the attached drawings wherein it is shown by:
(2) FIG. 1a a schematic view of a container of the invention, comprising a container closure device according to a first embodiment of the invention, wherein an operating device is arranged in a first position;
(3) FIG. 1b a schematic view of the container according to the first embodiment of the invention, wherein the operating device is arranged in a third position;
(4) FIG. 1c a schematic view of the container according to the first embodiment of the invention, wherein the operating device is arranged in a second position;
(5) FIG. 1d the container according to the first embodiment of the invention, with a closure in an opened condition;
(6) FIG. 2 a top view of the container closure device according to the first embodiment of the invention;
(7) FIG. 3 a lateral view of the container closure device according to the first embodiment of the invention;
(8) FIG. 4 a bottom view of the container closure device according to the first embodiment of the invention;
(9) FIG. 5 a schematic view of the container closure device according to the first embodiment of the invention;
(10) FIG. 6 a further schematic view of the container closure device according to the first embodiment of the invention;
(11) FIG. 7 a cross-sectional view of the container closure device according to the first embodiment of the invention, in the closed condition;
(12) FIG. 8 a cross-sectional view of the container closure device according to the first embodiment of the invention, in the opened condition;
(13) FIG. 9 an exploded view of the container closure device according to the first embodiment of the invention;
(14) FIG. 10 a schematic view of the closure of the first embodiment;
(15) FIG. 11 a cross-sectional view of the closure of the first embodiment;
(16) FIG. 12 a schematic view of a sealing according to the first embodiment;
(17) FIG. 13 a schematic view of a valve element according to the first embodiment;
(18) FIG. 14 a schematic view of a valve disc according to the first embodiment;
(19) FIG. 15 a schematic view of the operating device according to the first embodiment;
(20) FIG. 16 a schematic view of the container closure device according to a second embodiment of the invention;
(21) FIG. 17 a further schematic view of the container closure device according to the second embodiment of the invention;
(22) FIG. 18 a bottom view of the container closure device according to the second embodiment of the invention;
(23) FIG. 19 a top view of the container closure device according to the second embodiment of the invention;
(24) FIG. 20 an exploded view of the container closure device according to the second embodiment of the invention;
(25) FIG. 21 a lid of the container closure device according to a third embodiment of the invention;
(26) FIG. 22 a cross section through the lid of the container closure device according to the third embodiment of the invention;
(27) FIG. 23 a schematic view of the closure of the of the container closure device according to the third embodiment of the invention;
(28) FIG. 24 a further view of the closure of the container closure device according to the third embodiment of the invention;
(29) FIG. 25 an exploded view of the container closure device according to the third embodiment of the invention;
(30) FIG. 26 a cross-sectional view of the container closure device according to the third embodiment of the invention;
(31) FIG. 27 a top view of the container closure device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;
(32) FIG. 28 a schematic view of a closure part of the container closure device according to the fourth embodiment of the invention;
(33) FIG. 29 a schematic view of the operating device of the container according to the fourth embodiment of the invention;
(34) FIG. 30 a lateral view of the operating element of the container closure device according to the fourth embodiment of the invention;
(35) FIG. 31 a further lateral view of the operating element of the container closure device according to the fourth embodiment of the invention;
(36) FIG. 32 a further schematic view of the operating element of the container closure device according to the fourth embodiment of the invention.
(37) The container 10 in a first embodiment of the invention comprises a container closure device 20 according to the invention. The container closure device 20 comprises a lid 30, a closure 50 having an operating device 40 and a valve 60. The lid 30 has an upper face 31, a lower face 32 and an opening 33. Preferably, the opening 33 is approximately circular. The closure 50 is fixed to the lower face 32 of the lid 30 and covers the opening 33 from the lower face 32 with a closure part 51. In the closed condition, the closure part 51 extends substantially parallel to the lower face 32 and is arranged for pivoting about a first axis A. The first axis A substantially extends parallel to the lower face 32 or to the lid 30.
(38) Preferably, the operating device 40 is designed as a tab and is arranged on the closure part 51 in such a manner that it can be rotated about a second axis B. By its rotation about the second axis B, the operating device 40 can be moved to different positions S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3.
(39) FIG. 1a shows the container 10 with a container closure device 20, wherein the operating device 40 is arranged in a first position S.sub.1. The container which is illustrated in FIG. 1b comprises the operating device 40 that is arranged in the third position S.sub.3. FIG. 1c shows the container 10 according to the invention with the operating device 40 in a second position S.sub.2. In the first position S.sub.1, the container 10 is closed by the closure part 51 lying against the opening 33 from the lower face 32 of the lid 30. Here the operating device 40 in the first position S.sub.1 serves as a lever, which allows the closure part to be pivoted into the interior of the container about the first axis A. The container 10 is thus closed.
(40) In FIG. 1c, the operating device 40 is arranged in the second position S.sub.2. The latch which is formed by the operating device 40 is released and the operating device 40 does no longer form an obstacle to the pivoting movement of the closure part 51 about the first axis A. The container can thus be opened as indicated in FIG. 1d.
(41) FIG. 1b shows the container with the operating device 40 in the third position S.sub.3. In a preferred construction, an operating device 40 that has been moved to the third position S.sub.3, opens a valve 60 for allowing a pressure to escape from the interior of the container 10.
(42) In each of the positions S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3, the operating device 40 is arranged above the upper face 31 of the lid 30. Moreover, the operating device 40 rests on the upper face 31 at least partially. The operating device 40 has a first end 41 which is arranged outside the rim 36 of the opening 33, irrespective of the position S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3 in which the operating device 40 is arranged.
(43) As can be seen particularly in FIG. 2, the operating device 40 is arranged in such a manner that it can be rotated about the second axis B. An angle formed between the first position S.sub.1 and the second position S.sub.2 corresponds to approx 180 in the preferred embodiment. As can be seen particularly in the top view of the container closure device 10 of the first embodiment in FIG. 2, a rivet 37 formed in the lid 30 is provided also from the upper face 31, and the closure 50 with its fixing part 54 is connected to the lid 30 with the aid of said rivet.
(44) A view from below of the container closure device 10 in the first embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. This view illustrates how the fixing part 54 of the closure 50 is fixed to the rivet 37. The closure 50 can be pivoted about the first axis A by means of a joint 55. The joint 55 is arranged along the first axis A. A connecting region 56 is arranged on the fixing part 54 between the joint 55 and the closure part 51. The fixing part 54 according to the first embodiment has an approximately rectangular cross section. The fixing part 54 has a rivet hole through which the rivet 37 is driven.
(45) The valve 60 of the container closure device 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention is arranged substantially in the center of the closure part 51. As can be seen particularly in FIG. 10, the closure part 51 in the first embodiment includes a valve opening 53. The valve 60 has a valve element 62 which is arranged on the closure part 51 so as to be rotatable and is rigidly connected to the operating device 40 so that by rotating the operating device 40 about the second axis B also the valve part 62 is rotated about the second axis B. Preferably, a valve disc 65 is disposed between the valve element 62 and the closure part 51. The valve disc 65 can be designed as a valve sealing, made for example from rubber or metal, in particular aluminum. Preferably, the valve disc 65 includes an opening 66. The valve 60 is opened when a passage 63 which is provided in the valve element 62, the valve opening 53 and the opening 66 are congruent or at least partially congruent. Alternatively, the opening 66 and/or the valve opening 53 and/or the passage 63 can be designed as a long hole (elongated hole).
(46) As can be seen particularly in the FIGS. 10 and 11, the closure part 51 of the container closure device 20 has a groove 52 which substantially extends rotation-symmetrically with respect to the second axis B. The groove 52 has a substantially V-shaped cross section and is adapted for receiving a beading 34 of the lid 30 in the closed condition. On the beading 34 a sealing 35 can be arranged. The sealing 35 is preferably fixed to the lid 30. Alternatively, the sealing 35 can be fixed to the closure part 51 or between the closure part 51 and the lid 30.
(47) As can be seen particularly in the FIGS. 7 and 8, the first axis A is arranged on the lower face 32 of the lid 30 adjacent to the beading 34 and extends parallel to the lid 30. In the FIGS. 7 and 8, the first axis A extends at right angles to the plane of projection. The second axis B extends parallel to the plane of projection and approximately through the center of the closure part 51. Along the second axis B the valve element 62 is arranged. In FIG. 7, the operating element 40 is arranged in the first position S.sub.1 and the opening 33 of the lid 30 is closed by the closure part 51. The sealing 35 is disposed between the closure part 51 and the beading 34 and is fixed to the beading 34. The lid 30 is integrally formed also in the region of the rivet 37. The rivet 37 is formed by the wall of the lid 30. FIG. 8 shows the container 10 in an opened condition. The closure part 51 is pivoted downwards about the axis A thus allowing a fluid to be discharged from the opening 33. The operating device 40 rests on the upper face 31 of the lid 30 and is arranged in the second position S.sub.2. By rotating the operating device 40 into the first position S.sub.1, the container 10 can be restored from its opened condition illustrated in FIG. 8 to its closed position illustrated in FIG. 7.
(48) As can be seen particularly in FIG. 9, the sealing 35 is disposed between the lid 30 and the closure part 51. The opening 33 is formed by a beading 34. The beading 34 forms a rim 36. As particularly shown in FIG. 12, the sealing 35 is approximately circular and in particular conical. The sealing 35 is adapted for being rested on the beading 34 and for sealing the closure 50 against the lid.
(49) FIG. 15 illustrates an operating device 40 of the container closure device. According to the first embodiment of the invention, said operating device 40 can be a tab or a standard SOT tab. The operating device 40 has a first end 41 and a second end 42 arranged oppositely to the first end 41 with respect to the second axis B. Preferably, the second end is arranged within the rim 36 of the opening 33 and does not rest on the upper face 31 of the lid 30.
(50) The FIGS. 16 to 20 illustrate a second embodiment of the container closure device 20 according to the invention. In that second embodiment, the closure part 51 is connected to the lid 30 by means of an alternatively designed fixing part 54. In this construction, the provision of a rivet 37 in the lid 30 can be omitted. The connecting region 56 matches the contours of the lid 30. One end of the connecting region 56 rests on the lower face 32 of the lid 30 over its full area and is connected thereto preferably by a material-locking connection. The material-locking connection can be accomplished by bonding or alternatively by welding or soldering. The joint 55 is disposed between the connecting region 56 and the closure part 51. The fixing part 54 according to the second embodiment is made from e.g. a thin-walled aluminum sheet metal. Preferably, also the connection between the closure part 51 and the fixing part 54 is a material-locking connection. This material-locking connection can be an adhesive connection, a welded and/or soldered connection.
(51) In the second embodiment, however, the operating device 40 is not rigidly connected to the valve element 62. Instead a valve head 61 is arranged substantially in the center of the closure part 51, which valve head is connected to a locking body 64. The valve head 61 and the locking body 64 are arranged substantially rotation-symmetrically with respect to the second axis B and along the second axis B. The valve head 61 can be operated from outside of the container 10.
(52) By pressing the valve head 61, the locking body 64 is moved downwards, i.e. in the direction of the interior of the container 10. By pressing the valve head 61 and by moving the locking body 64 downwards, an outlet is formed that is particularly suited for discharging pressure from the interior of the container 10 to the environment.
(53) In the third embodiment which is illustrated in the FIGS. 21 to 26, the container closured device 20 is characterized by the fixing part 54 having a ring 57 and the lid 30 having a fixing region 38, which is arranged on the lower face 32 and is preferably formed by a beading 34. The ring 57 is connected to the fixing region 38 in a form-locking manner. In the same manner as the lid 30 according to the second embodiment, the lid 30 according to the third embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 21, does not include a rivet 37. The form-locking connection of the ring 57 and the fixing region 58 enables a reliable and inexpensive connection between the closure 50 and the lid 30. As can be seen particularly in FIG. 22, the fixing region 38 is formed by a beading 34. The beading 34 is formed on the lower face 32 of the lid along the opening 33.
(54) As can be seen particularly in the FIGS. 23 and 24, the closure 50 according to the third embodiment is characterized by an alternative construction of the fixing part 54. The fixing part 54 includes a ring 57 and a connecting region 56. The joint 55 is formed by turning down the fixing part 54. The closure 50, in particular the fixing part 54 and the joint 55, is formed by an elastically flexible material. For fixing the closure 50 to the lid 30, the ring 57 is, as illustrated particularly in FIG. 25, put over the beading 34 and locked against the beading 34 after the sealing 35 has been attached. The closure part 51 is now arranged along the joint 55 in such a manner that it can be pivoted about the first axis A.
(55) As can be seen particularly in FIG. 26, the first axis A on the lower face 32 is formed by the joint 55. The position of the first axis A can be changed by varying the distance between the ring 57 and the closure part 51 in the flipped-open condition of the closure 50. In the installed condition of the closure 50 as shown in FIG. 26, both the connecting region 56 and the closure part 51 and the lid 30 are arranged parallel to each other.
(56) The FIGS. 27 to 32 illustrate a container closure device 20 according to a fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, two elevations 58 are formed on the closure part 51. The operating device 41 comprises a seal 43 which in the first position S.sub.1 between said elevations 58 is substantially rectangular and rests by one edge on the closure part 51. Alternatively, the seal 43 can also rest on the closure part in a depression that is formed in said closure part 51. For example, the depression can be formed in a region that approximately corresponds to the region between the two reference numbers 58. If the operating device 40 is rotated away from the first position S.sub.1, the seal 43 will lift off from the closure part 51, is bended and/or breaks away and thus indicates to the user that the operating device 40 has already been moved so that the integrity of the contents of the container 10 is no longer guaranteed.
(57) Preferably, the seal 53 is arranged on the second end 42. As can be seen particularly in the FIGS. 29 to 32, the seal 43 is arranged so as to be out of square (skew) with respect to the plane in which the lid 30 is arranged. As can be seen particularly in FIG. 30, the seal 43 extends from the second end 42 to the upper face of the closure part 51.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
(58) 10 container 20 container closure device 30 lid 31 upper face 32 lower face 33 opening 34 beading 35 sealing 36 rim 37 rivet 38 fixing region 40 operating device 41 first end 42 second end 43 seal 50 closure 51 closure part 52 groove 53 valve opening 54 fixing part 55 joint 56 connecting region 57 ring 58 elevation 60 valve 61 valve button 62 valve element 63 passage 64 locking body 65 valve disc 66 opening A first axis B second axis S.sub.1 first position S.sub.2 second position S.sub.3 third position angle
