Drink can lid comprising an articulated neck

Abstract

A plastic lid for a metal can including a liquid. The lid includes a cavity (20) receiving a neck (15) that can be folded down and secured to a wall section (21) of the cavity. The free end of the folded-down neck (15) compresses a wall (23) of the cavity and seals the can, closing an air intake slit (27) provided in an elastomer material (29).

Claims

1. A beverage can lid, substantially of non-elastomeric plastics material, comprising: a rigid neck fixed to an exterior side of the lid so as to be able to pivot between a lowered position in which an internal channel of the neck is not in communication with an interior side of the lid opposite the exterior side, and a raised position in which the internal channel is in communication with the interior side of the lid, said lid being substantially flat and having a cavity in the one side that is generally oblong or circular in shape, said cavity having a first side wall portion, a second side wall portion, and a bottom which has an opening, said cavity accommodating the neck, the neck having a first free end and a second end attached to the second side wall portion of the cavity by a hinge element so as to be able to pivot between the lowered position in which the second end is located against said second side wall portion and the first free end is located against said first side wall portion of the cavity, and the raised position, a flexible leakproof membrane connecting a part of a periphery of said opening to a part of the second end of the neck which is not attached to the second side wall portion of the cavity, a slot at the first side wall portion in an elastomeric material, the slot communicating with the interior side of the lid when the neck is in the raised position and being oriented transverse to an axis of the interior channel of the neck when the neck is in the lowered position, the first side wall portion of the cavity being compressed by said first free end of the neck in the lowered position such that the slot closes in a leakproof manner under the action of said compression.

2. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the first side wall portion is composed of the elastomeric material.

3. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the first side wall portion is of semi-rigid plastics material and the elastomeric material is located behind said first side wall portion.

4. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the first side wall portion is composed of a web of plastics material for compressing the elastomeric material.

5. The lid according to claim 4, wherein an upper part of said web has a bevel to facilitate engagement of the first free end of the neck in the lowered position.

6. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the second side wall portion to which the neck is attached is also made of an elastomeric material and is arranged to ensure leakproofness with the second end of the neck when the neck is in the lowered position.

7. The lid according to claim 6, in which the elastomeric material of the second side wall portion is made of one part and extends partially under the interior side of the lid.

8. The lid according to claim 1, further comprising a rib of plastics that surrounds the elastomeric material comprising the slot so as to increase a thickness of the first side wall portion.

9. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the non-elastomeric plastics material of which the lid is substantially made is polypropylene.

10. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material is an elastomer sold under the trademark TREFSIN or SANTOPRENE.

11. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the neck is provided with lateral grooves to facilitate gripping.

12. The lid according to claim 1, wherein, at the first free end, the neck comprises embossing intended to increase compression of the slot in the lowered position.

13. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the lid is molded in one piece by a dual injection molding process.

14. A beverage can comprising: a lid substantially of non-elastomeric plastics material and with a rigid neck fixed to said lid so as to be able to pivot between a lowered position in which an internal channel of the neck is not in communication with an interior of the can, and a raised position in which the internal channel is in communication with the interior of the can, the lid being substantially flat and having a cavity, said cavity having a side wall and a bottom which has an opening, the neck having a first free end and a second end attached to the side wall of the cavity by a hinge element so as to be able to pivot between the raised position and the lowered position, wherein in the lowered position the first free end of the neck is located and presses against a portion of the side wall made of, or integral with, an elastomeric material comprising a slot, or an elongate recess, passing through the lid, and perpendicular to an axis of the internal channel of the neck, the slot being adapted to close in a leakproof manner under lateral pressure exerted by said first free end of the neck in the lowered position, and wherein in the lowered position the second end of the neck is located and presses against a portion of said side wall opposite the cavity of elastomeric material, so also ensuring leakproofness.

15. The lid according to claim 1, further comprising a beverage can on which the lid is mounted.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage container lid according to the invention, with the neck in the raised position;

(2) FIG. 2 shows the lid of FIG. 1 viewed from beneath and slightly obliquely;

(3) FIG. 3 is a schematic, sectional view of the lid with the neck lowered down;

(4) FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the lid with the neck in the raised position;

(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a can lid provided with its closure 13 with a tab 43, firmly connected around a periphery incorporated into an aluminum ring 12 associated therewith, said ring being intended for fixing to the can, e.g. by crimping;

(6) FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a can lid according to a variant embodiment, after the closure 13 with the tab 43 has been torn off and the neck has been raised.

(7) FIG. 7 shows an example of a beverage lid according to the invention, in a specific case in which the lid is not circular but can be fitted to a parallelepipedal or cylindrical receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a can lid having a cavity 20, formed at the center of the lid and capable of extending over a substantial part of the surface thereof.

(9) A neck 15 is accommodated in said cavity, integral with a portion of the side wall 21 of the cavity.

(10) The lid 1 is preferably connected with a sealing closure 13 (FIGS. 3 and 5), for example applied by heat-sealing, which may be torn away completely or partially.

(11) When said closure 13 has been raised or removed, it opens up in the middle of the lid a cavity 20, of oblong or circular general shape, in which a neck 15 is accommodated which is integral with a portion of the side wall 21 of the cavity.

(12) Opposite said side wall 21 of the cavity is a wall 23 frictionally receiving the free end 15a of the neck in the lowered position. Behind this wall is a ventilation opening or slot 27 provided in an elastomeric element 29, such as a rubber at the periphery of the cavity and which, when the neck is in the raised position, is opened up and then allows air to enter the interior of the receptacle or can when not compressed. This sets the liquid contained in the receptacle to atmospheric pressure and facilitates emptying of the can. The elastomeric element may be an elastomer sold under the trademark TREFSIN or SANTOPRENE.

(13) The neck 15 is preferably composed of a relatively rigid, flattened tube having a sufficiently large cross-section to ensure good flow of liquid and complete emptying of the can.

(14) The end of the neck 15b is attached over a certain amount of its periphery to the side wall 21 of the cavity by a hinge element 16 (which may for example be composed of an elastomer).

(15) The hinge element 16 enables the neck to be pivoted between its lowered position and a raised position in which it extends towards the outside of the planar part.

(16) In the embodiment shown by way of example in the drawings, the hinge element 16 is situated at the periphery of the cavity 20. It will be understood that, according to one embodiment, two lateral recesses 31 (FIG. 7) in the cavity 20 either side of the neck facilitate manual access thereto for bringing it into its raised position.

(17) When it is in the lowered position, the lower end 15b of the neck 15 is against the side wall 21 of the cavity 20, a portion of wall which may be planar. The neck may be held in this position by a lug formed on this side wall 21 of the cavity so as to cooperate with the lower end of the neck. When the neck is in this lowered position, its internal channel is not in communication with the interior of the can to which the lid is fixed by means of an aluminum ring 12, 12A and the liquid contained in the can cannot enter the neck. Consequently the liquid cannot splash or overflow when the neck is brought into its raised position.

(18) As also illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the neck 15 is in the lowered position, the free end 15a compresses the wall portion 23, preferably a planar portion, of the cavity 20.

(19) This compression is transmitted to the slot 27, which remains closed (FIG. 3) and therefore leakproof, being provided in the elastomeric element 29.

(20) A flexible leakproof membrane 28 connects the part of the periphery of the neck 15, which is not attached to the side wall of the cavity 20, to a part of the periphery of an opening 24 formed in the bottom 22 of the cavity. The flexible membrane 28 is folded over on itself when the neck is in the lowered position and prevents any escape of liquid along the neck 15. Another elastomeric element 29 may be provided at the side wall 21, ensuring the leakproofness of the base of the reclosed neck.

(21) Hermetic closure of the can to which the lid is fixed is thus ensured.

(22) On the other hand, when the neck is in the raised position, its lower end is released from the side wall 21 of the cavity and the flexible membrane or skirt 28 opens up the opening 24 in the bottom of the cavity 20, defining in leakproof manner, inside the cavity 20, a free passage between the interior of the can and the channel inside the neck 15. While the consumer is drinking the contents of the can by placing his or her lips over the free end of the neck and inclining the can, no liquid overflows onto the top of the lid. Furthermore, the cross-section of the free passage in the form of a funnel facilitates complete emptying of the can.

(23) The neck 15 being raised, the pressure exerted by its free end 15a on the wall 23 is relieved and the longitudinal slot or recess 27 provided in the elastomeric element 29 may open (FIG. 4), so allowing ventilation of the can and formation of an air inlet.

(24) It may be observed that the top of the lid according to the invention may be substantially flat when the neck is folded down.

(25) This promotes lid stability in beverage can filling machines. Furthermore, the flat top of the lid means that the cans can still be stacked one on top of the other.

(26) Given that it remains protected under a closure 13 until the latter is opened, the neck 15 is always of food quality and can therefore be put into the mouth without risk of contamination for the consumer. Furthermore, being of synthetic material, the closure does not cut and scratch a consumer's fingers.

(27) Although made of a rigid or semi-rigid plastics material and an elastomeric element, the lid according to the invention is easy to manufacture by molding, optionally even by molding in one piece using methods known per se (dual injection molding).

(28) In general, the invention consequently relates to a lid incorporating a neck, which is capable of pivoting in known manner from a closed position to a raised position and has a free end which, in the reclosed position, compresses an elastomeric element, and a ventilation opening passing through said lid.

(29) The invention relates more particularly to a lid of beverage can or container, substantially of non-elastomeric plastics material, e.g. of polypropylene, equipped with a rigid neck fixed so as to be able to pivot between a lowered position in which its internal channel is not in communication with the interior of the can and a raised position in which its internal channel is in communication with the interior of the can, comprising a planar part having a cavity generally oblong in shape, said cavity having a first side wall or side wall portion, a second side wall or side wall portion and a bottom which has an opening, said cavity accommodating the neck having a first free end and a second end attached to the side wall of the cavity by a hinge element so as to be able to pivot between a lowered position in which its second end is located against said side wall and the first end against said side wall opposite the wall of the cavity and a raised position towards the top of the planar part, a flexible leakproof membrane connecting a part of the periphery of said opening to the part of the periphery of the neck which is not attached to the side wall of the cavity, in which the wall of the cavity is capable of being compressed by said first end of the neck in the lowered position such that an opening or a slot provided across the neck in the lowered position and formed in an elastomeric material closes in leakproof manner under the action of said compression.

(30) The wall or wall portion attached to the second end of the neck may also be composed of elastomeric material.

(31) The wall 23 compressed by the free end of the neck may be of semi-rigid plastics material, and the elastomeric element 29 in which the slot 27 is located behind said wall. This wall 23 may take the form of a web of plastics material, for example polypropylene, for compressing the elastomeric element. The upper part of the web advantageously has a bevel 33 to facilitate engagement of the end of the neck on closing.

(32) The elastomeric part of the lid may be designed in one piece and may partially extend over the inside of the periphery of the cavity and/or over the internal face of the lid.

(33) The thickness of the wall which is or surrounds the elastomeric element 29 comprising the slot 27 may be increased by a plastics rib 34 to facilitate heat-sealing of a closure by coming into contact therewith and thereby ensuring double leakproof closing of the air inlet.

(34) At its free end, the neck may comprise embossing 36, 14 intended to increase compression of the slot or of the opening in the lowered position. The neck may also be provided with lateral grooves 35 to facilitate gripping.

(35) The invention also comprises a beverage container or can incorporating a lid as described above.

(36) It goes without saying that the embodiment shown in the drawings and described above is merely an exemplary embodiment according to the invention and that the invention is in no way limited to this exemplary embodiment.