Lid for containers of substances and container of substances thus equipped

Abstract

A- lid (20) for a container (21) comprises: a central surface (27) having a substantially circular shape, on which a line of weakening (30) is made, which defines a closing element (39) which can be opened by pulling, made in the central surface (27); and a drive tab (22), having at least a first end (25) to act as a fulcrum outside the line of weakening (30) connected to the closing element (39) with a rivet (23) and able to be driven so as to remove upward, the closing element (39) from the remaining part of the central surface (27), detaching it along the line of weakening (30). The line of weakening (30) is interrupted at one end of the closing element (39) opposite to the drive tab (22), so that the closing element (39) has a connection flap (34) solid with the remaining part of the central surface (27). In the case of aluminum, the rivet is located at 1.5-3.5 mm from the front part of the closing element (39). In the case of ferrous allogs, this distance is 4.0-6.0 mm.

Claims

1. Lid for a container able to contain a liquid or powdery substance comprising: a central surface having a substantially circular shape, concentric with respect to a central axis (Y) of the container, and on which a line of weakening is made, which defines a closing element that is configured to be opened by pulling on the closing element; and a drive tab, having at least a first end able to act as a fulcrum outside said line of weakening and an intermediate flexible portion zone solid with said tab and connected with a rivet to said closing element and able to be driven so as to remove upward said closing element, detaching the closing element along said line of weakening, said line of weakening being interrupted at one end of said closing element opposite to said drive tab, with respect to said central axis (Y), so that said closing element has a connection flap solid with the remaining part of said central surface, wherein the fulcrum of the drive tab is a central part of the first end of the drive tab that cooperates with the edge of the central surface in close proximity to a peripheral curb and wherein the connection flap connects to the central surface by elasticizing connections and the elasticizing connections branch off in opposite directions with respect to a median axis of the connection flap, and an axis of the rivet, in the case of aluminum and its alloys, being located at 1.5-3.5 mm or at 2.0-2.5 mm, whereas in the case of ferrous alloys the axis of the rivet is located at 4.0 and 6.0 mm or between 4.5 and 5.0 mm, from the fulcrum at a front terminal part of the closing element, wherein the fulcrum of the drive tab, the axis of the rivet and the front terminal part of the closing element are conformed as a concentrator segment where a break starts when a force is applied to the drive tab, and the drive tab is configured to apply the force at the axis of the rivet, wherein the central surface comprises at least one area with a reduced thickness along the line of weakening and in the intermediate flexible portion zone, wherein the concentrator segment is on the line of weakening and is in correspondence with the intermediate flexible portion zone where the pulling begins, to reduce the effort needed to pull the closing element; and wherein the connection flap includes an at least partially longitudinal reinforcement deformation, which substantially extends around the closing element, and is defined peripherally by a reinforcement edge, and wherein the reinforcement edge and the line of weakening have substantially different shapes.

2. Lid as in claim 1, wherein in the zone where the fulcrum of the drive tab rests there is a reinforcement ridge.

3. Lid as in claim 1, wherein the stopper type closing element has a reinforcement.

4. Lid as in claim 1, wherein the connection flap also comprises a central reinforcement, which extends substantially from a joining neck between the connection flap and the closing element, for the whole connection flap.

5. Lid as in claim 1, wherein the elasticizing connections are located outside a reinforcement edge.

6. Lid as in claim 1, wherein the elasticizing connections are located inside or in cooperation with a reinforcement edge.

7. Lid as in claim 1, wherein the drive tab has only a single fulcrum.

8. Lid as in claim 7, wherein the fulcrum is located along a longitude of the drive tab.

9. Lid as in claim 1, wherein the drive tab includes reinforcement ribs.

10. Container able to contain a liquid or powdery substance comprising a lateral external surface, a lid and a bottom, in which the lid comprises: a central surface having a substantially circular shape, concentric with respect to a central axis (Y) of the container, and on which a line of weakening is made, which defines a closing element that is configured to be opened by pulling on the closing element to; and a drive tab, having at least a first end able to act as a fulcrum outside said line of weakening and an intermediate flexible portion zone solid with said tab and connected with a rivet to said closing element and able to be driven so as to remove upward said closing element, detaching the closing element along said line of weakening, said line of weakening being interrupted at one end of said closing element opposite to said drive tab, with respect to said central axis (Y), so that said closing element has a connection flap solid with the remaining part of said central surface, wherein the fulcrum of the drive tab is a central part of the first end of the drive tab that cooperates with the edge of the central surface in close proximity to a peripheral curb and wherein the connection flap connects to the central surface by elasticizing connections and the elasticizing connections branch off in opposite directions with respect to a median axis of the connection flap, and an axis of the rivet, in the case of aluminum and its alloys, being located at 1.5-3.5 mm or at 2.0-2.5 mm, whereas in the case of ferrous alloys the axis of the rivet is located at 4.0 and 6.0 mm or between 4.5 and 5.0 mm, from the fulcrum at a front terminal part of the closing element, wherein the fulcrum of the drive tab, the axis of the rivet, and the front terminal part of the closing element are conformed as a concentrator segment where a break starts when a force is applied to the drive tab, and the drive tab is configured to apply the force at the axis of the rivet, wherein the central surface comprises at least one area with a reduced thickness along the line of weakening and in the intermediate flexible portion zone, wherein the concentrator segment is on the line of weakening and is in correspondence with the intermediate flexible portion zone where the pulling begins, to reduce the effort needed to pull the closing element; and wherein the connection flap includes an at least partially longitudinal reinforcement deformation, which substantially extends around the closing element, and is defined peripherally by a reinforcement edge, and wherein the reinforcement edge and the line of weakening have substantially different shapes.

11. Container as in claim 10, wherein the drive tab has only a single fulcrum.

12. Container as in claim 11, wherein the fulcrum is located along a longitude of the drive tab.

13. Container as in claim 10, wherein the drive tab includes reinforcement ribs.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some preferential forms of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a container according to the present invention with the lid in a partly closed condition;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the container in FIG. 1 in a subsequent opening step;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the container in FIG. 1 in an open condition;

(5) FIG. 4 is a plane view of a lid according to the present invention;

(6) FIG. 4a is a schematic view of a cross section of the lid in FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 5 shows a first variant of the lid in FIG. 4;

(8) FIG. 6 shows a second variant of the lid in FIG. 4;

(9) FIG. 7 shows a third variant of the lid in FIG. 4;

(10) FIG. 8 shows a fourth variant of the lid in FIG. 4;

(11) FIG. 9 shows a fifth variant of the lid in FIG. 4;

(12) FIG. 10 shows a sixth variant of the lid in FIG. 4;

(13) FIG. 11 shows a seventh variant of the lid in FIG. 4;

(14) FIG. 12 shows an eighth variant of the lid in FIG. 4;

(15) FIG. 13 shows a ninth variant of the lid in FIG. 4;

(16) FIG. 14 shows a tenth variant of the lid in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERENTIAL FORMS OF EMBODIMENT

(17) With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a container 21 for substances, in this case drinks, is shown in its entirety, and is made for example of aluminum, steel or their alloys, and has a substantially cylindrical shape with an external lateral surface 40, a lid 20 and a bottom, of any known type, and not shown in the drawings.

(18) The lid 20 has a substantially circular shape, concentric with respect to a central axis Y of the container 21 (FIG. 4a), and has an annular shaped peripheral rib 41 which surrounds a central surface 27 having a determinate diameter and defining a peripheral curb 52.

(19) In alternative solutions, the central surface can be provided completely or at least partly flat, or rounded.

(20) On the central surface 27 a line of weakening 30 (FIGS. 4-14) or incision is made in a known manner, having an open configuration, with a locally reduced or variable cross section, which delimits a closing element or stopper 39, having a circular, oval or drop shape.

(21) In the case shown here, the stopper 39 has centrally a reinforcement deformation 38, substantially quadrangular in shape and able to define a greater rigidity of the stopper 39, to promote and guide in a desired manner the steps in which the stopper 39 is detached from the central surface 27 along the line of weakening 30.

(22) In this case, the line of weakening 30 has at the front part a concentrator segment 29, which has a tapered conformation with respect to the profile of the stopper 39 of the line of weakening 30.

(23) The concentrator segment 29, that is, where the break starts and from where it spreads, allows to concentrate, as will be explained in more detail hereafter, the opening action exerted by the user, to facilitate the pulling of the stopper 39 and hence the opening of the corresponding delivery hole 45.

(24) In fact, since the stopper 39 is normally continuous with the lid 20, it closes the corresponding delivery hole 45 through which the drink can come out of the container 10.

(25) In particular, when the container 21 is closed, the stopper 39 closes the hole 45 completely and hermetically, whereas when the container 21 is open (FIG. 3), it is raised, at least partly, from the hole 45, although it remains solid with the remaining part of the container 21, substantially inside the central surface 27.

(26) The stopper 39, as will be shown in detail hereafter in the description, is attached solidly to a drive tab 22 which, in the closed condition, at least partly overlaps it.

(27) The drive tab 22 is drivable manually, by means of a gripper end or ring 26, to separate the stopper 39 from the rest of the lid 20, along the line of weakening 30 or pre-cutting.

(28) On the drive tab 22, in opposite lateral positions with respect to the ring 26, reinforcement ribs 37 can be provided, which also allow to make the drive tab 22 solid with the lid 20, in such a way that it can easily be eliminated. The drive tab 22 has its fulcrum in the front part 25 (FIG. 4) disposed substantially in cooperation with the peripheral curb 52.

(29) The peripheral curb 52 has at least a vertical or subvertical edge, so as to generate a strong resistance to yield, even only elastic yield.

(30) The drive tab 22 comprises an intermediate zone 46, comprised between the gripper ring 26 and the front part 25, to which a flexible portion 24 is constrained, in turn connected to the stopper 39; the constraint of the flexible portion 24 is provided toward the front part 25.

(31) The intermediate zone 46 is attached by means of a rivet 23 to the stopper 39, in proximity to the concentrator segment 29.

(32) By acting on the gripper ring 26 a rotation of the drive tab 22 is determined around its front part 25. This entails a distancing of its intermediate zone 46 from the central surface 27 (FIG. 1), and a relative partial detachment of the stopper 39 from the central surface 27, starting from the concentrator segment 29, so that the aperture 45 starts to open.

(33) Since the front part 25 and the connection zones between the intermediate zone 46 and the flexible portion 24 and between the flexible portion 24 and the stopper 39 are in close proximity, the drive tab 22 defines an extremely favorable arm that allows, with a limited force, to apply a high angular moment.

(34) Furthermore, the force of the drive tab 22 is applied at a point of application in close proximity to the concentrator segment 29 of the line of weakening 13 and with a rotation toward the outside of the container 10.

(35) Moreover, in correspondence with the concentrator segment 29 an area of reduced thickness 28 is provided, which further facilitates the operations to pull off the stopper 39 from the central surface 27 along the line of weakening 30.

(36) Therefore, as can be seen from the above, it is clear that the force needed to lift the stopper 39 along the line of weakening 30 is much less than in containers with a hygienic stopper, or a stopper opening outward, as known in the state of the art.

(37) A further distancing upward of the drive tab 22 (FIG. 2) allows the stopper 39 to be completely removed from the central surface 27 and to be positioned in a folded configuration (FIG. 3).

(38) The stopper 39 comprises at the rear a connection flap 34, substantially rectangular in shape and contiguous to the stopper 39 itself, defined by a rear part of the line of weakening 30.

(39) The connection flap 34 connects the stopper 39 solidly with the remaining part of the central surface 27, so as to prevent it from detaching from the latter, even in the open condition.

(40) At the rear, the connection flap 34 ends with two elasticizing connections 36, defined by the terminal ends of the line of weakening 30.

(41) The elasticizing connections 36 branch off in opposite directions with respect to a median axis of the connection flap 34.

(42) The connection flap 34 also comprises a central reinforcement 35, which extends substantially from the neck 33 to the elasticizing connections 36, in order to strengthen the connection flap 34 and prevent it from breaking during the opening of the lid 20.

(43) The lid 20 also comprises a reinforcement deformation 31 defined peripherally by a reinforcement edge 32, made on the central surface 27.

(44) In particular, the reinforcement edge 32 is made annularly around the stopper 39, so that the line of weakening 30 is made substantially inside the reinforcement deformation 31.

(45) The elasticizing connections 36, according to the elasticization desired, can be provided outside, inside or in cooperation with the reinforcement edge 32.

(46) In particular, the reinforcement edge 32 can be shaped so that the relative reinforcement deformation 31 is lying on a lowered (or raised) plane with respect to the plane on which the central surface 27 lies, so as to resist with greater effectiveness the action of upward traction, needed to remove the stopper 39.

(47) In this way, the possible deformations of the central surface 27 are reduced to a minimum, during the opening of the stopper 39.

(48) In the form of embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the lid 20 has a conformation substantially equivalent to the one shown in the form of embodiment in FIGS. 1-4, except for the ring 26 of the drive tab 22.

(49) In fact, in this form of embodiment, on the rear part of the ring 26 a gripper bridge 47 is provided, raised upward with respect to the rest of the drive tab 22 and able to facilitate the insertion of the tip of the user's finger and/or nail between the drive tab 22 and the central surface 27, to start lifting the drive tab 22 and lift the stopper 39.

(50) In the form of embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the lid 20 has a conformation substantially equivalent to the one shown in the form of embodiment in FIGS. 1-4, except for the flexible portion 24, which, in this solution, is constrained to the intermediate zone 46 toward the gripper ring 26.

(51) In this solution, the mechanical and kinematic conditions of lifting the stopper 39 are partly changed following the lifting of the drive tab 22. Consequently, the conditions of breaking the concentrator segment 29 and the line of weakening 30 are also different from the solutions in FIGS. 1-4 and FIG. 5.

(52) In the form of embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the lid 20 has a conformation substantially equivalent to the one shown in the form of embodiment in FIGS. 1-4, except that the distance b between the center of the rivet 23 and the front part 25 of the drive tab 22 is at its maximum extension, distancing itself from the concentrator segment 29.

(53) In this solution too, unlike in the solutions in FIGS. 1-4 and FIG. 5, the mechanical and kinematic conditions of lifting the stopper 39 are partly changed following the lifting of the drive tab 22 and consequently, the conditions of breaking the concentrator segment 29 and the line of weakening 30 are also different.

(54) In the form of embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the lid 20 has a conformation substantially equivalent to the one shown in the form of embodiment in FIGS. 1-4, except that the connection flap 34 has a more elongated conformation, thus also increasing the distance d between the elasticizing connections 36 and the front part 25 of the drive tab 22. The elasticizing connection 36 also functions to prevent the break from advancing during opening.

(55) In the form of embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the lid 20 has a conformation substantially equivalent to the one shown in the form of embodiment in FIGS. 1-4, except that close to the peripheral rib 41, in correspondence with the zone of the central surface 27 on which the front part 25 of the drive tab 22 pivots, a ridge 49 is made, facing upward.

(56) In this solution, the front part 25 rests in direct contact on the ridge 49, so as to discharge the pressure onto the latter during the opening steps. In this solution, the central surface 27 is further preserved from possible deformations due to the pressures at work.

(57) In the form of embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the lid 20 has a conformation substantially equivalent to the one shown in the form of embodiment in FIGS. 1-4, except that the line of weakening 30 which delineates the shape of the stopper 39 has two lateral bulges 50.

(58) The lateral bulges 50 confer on the stopper 39 a laterally elongated conformation which is easier to detach from the central surface 27.

(59) In the form of embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the lid 20 has a conformation substantially equivalent to the one shown in the form of embodiment in FIGS. 1-4, except that the connection flap 34 has a conformation as short as possible, thus also reducing the distance d between the elasticizing connections 36 and the front part 25 of the drive tab 22.

(60) In the form of embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the lid 20 has a conformation substantially equivalent to the one shown in the form of embodiment in FIGS. 1-4, except that instead of the central reinforcement 35 on the connection flap 34 a gripper seating 51 is made, over which the terminal part of the gripper ring 26 at least partly overlaps.

(61) The gripper seating 51 is conformed to facilitate the insertion of the user's tip of the finger and/or nail between the drive tab 22 and the central surface 27, to start lifting the drive tab 22 and lift the stopper 39.

(62) In the form of embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the lid 20 has a conformation substantially equivalent to the one shown in the form of embodiment in FIGS. 1-4, except that the reinforcement deformation 31 has its reinforcement edge 32 closed and that it extends beyond the elasticizing connections 36, so as to comprise the latter inside the reinforcement deformation 31.

(63) In this way, the possible deformations of the central surface 27 during the opening of the stopper 39 are further reduced.

(64) In the form of embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the lid 20 has a conformation substantially equivalent to the one shown in the form of embodiment in FIG. 13, except that the reinforcement deformation 31 has its reinforcement edge 32 open and that it extends beyond the elasticizing connections 36, so as to comprise the latter inside the reinforcement deformation 31.

(65) It is clear, however, that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the lid 20 and the container 21 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

(66) It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of lid for containers of substances and container for substances thus equipped, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.