[0001] The subject of the present invention is a pouring cap, in particular for liquids.
The invention has a particular and convenient, although not exclusive, application
for containers of liquid, for alimentary use also, for cans, bottles and similar,
which particularly facilitates the relative distribution.
[0002] Pouring devices are known in the present state of art which are used in particular
for containers of alimentary liquids such as oil and vinegar, but similar applications
for cans of other types of liquids such as, for example, lubricant oils, are not excluded.
Such devices can be grouped in two differing categories/
- The first one comprising a fixed distributor of the type projecting from the rim
and
- The second one having the distributor coming out of the upper part of the can.
The first type has a structure which is generally in rigid plastic inserted axially
on the upper part of the can where the terminal part being a small tubular piece on
which the closing tap or plug is placed.
The second type has a means of distribution consisting of an essentially ring-shaped
structure for insertion in an opening preventively obtained in the upper part of the
container, and a second structure or small tubular piece arranged inside and connected
to it being the last one in deformable material, being further provided by a cap or
plug which is positioned above the respective opening end inserted in it in tightening
condition. When the closing cap or plug is lifted, the respective flexible tubular
piece is also extracted, thus allowing the unplugging and the possibility of pouring
the liquid from the container.
[0003] An inconvenience which is common to both solutions is that the distribution and container
closing device is in two parts, respectively the first part being made up of the tubular
piece and relative support while the second one consists of the real cap or cover.
An inconvenience to be found in the first solution is of the functional type, as it
is a bulky device which is particularly unsuitable for can packaging, and also presents
excessive costs in respect to the use for which it is destined.
Among other inconveniences to be found in the second solution is the fact that the
tubular piece often does not discharge. This inconvenience can arise because this
one is often stiff to lift and as the cap is only lightly attached to it, they are
jerked apart detaching the tube and leaving the half neck coplanar to the upper part,
for example, of the can. In other cases the breakage of the cap itself, or of the
pourer, may occur due to excessive force used for extraction. The can is consequently
awkward to use and determines abundant and undesired pouring, together with sprinkling
of drops which cannot be controlled.
[0004] The scope of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned inconveniences.
This and other scopes are accomplished by the present invention as per the characteristics
given in the attached claims, thus solving the explained problems with a pouring cover
associated/able to a can/container in particular for the distribution of liquids,
wherein:
- it consists of a sole piece closing structure in flexible material,
- said closing structure has a diametric opening and a hinged cap-tongue integrally
attached to one end of said opening,
- said hinged cap-tongue being movable in an arc-like movement with the rotation axis
corresponding to an hingeing axis realized in said hinging attachement, and wherein,
- said cap-tongue comprises a pair of walls which extend backwards and downwards,
ortogonally from the said cap-tongue cover surface realizing a transversal "U"section,
in order to obtain:
- in closed-plane position with the cover, a plug, with said pair of walls protruded
inside the container;
- in rotated opening, an "U" pouring seat/gutter in outside protrusion, for pouring
the liquid from the container.
[0005] The advantages obtained by this solution consist essentially in that it is a sole
means comprising both the pourer and the closure, and is furthermore extremely functional
and inexpensive. It further optimizes the controlled distribution of the liquids,
thus avoiding formation of drops.
[0006] These and other advantages appear in the following detailed description of preferential
solutions for realization together with the help of attached drawings, the execution
details of which are not to be held as limiting but only as examples.
Figure 1 gives a lateral view of a container to which a pouring device has been applied.
Figure 2 gives a plan of the lid and/or the upper side of the container, as in Figure
1, to which a pouring means is applied;
Figure 3 gives a lateral cross section along A-A axis of pouring device applied to
the lid as per Figure 2;
Figure 4 gives a front cross section along B-B axis of pouring device applied to the
lid as per Figure 2;
Figure 5 gives a plan of another lid for a container.
[0007] With reference to the above figures, a can-type container (B) has a cover structure
(A) in a single piece of flexible material (1) which closes the can or part of it
from above. The support structure (1) has an opening (2), preferably rectangular,
which permits passage from the inside of the can to the outside. A tongue (3) is hinged
at one end (3′) on one side (2′) of the opening (2) obtained on the cover or lid (1),
and said tongue has a tongue-projection (4) in correspondence with the opposite end
to facilitate the grip necessary to lift it. On surface (a) of the tongue (3), a pair
of parallel walls (5) are longitudinally obtained, partially ring-shaped and arranged
ortogonally to said surface (a) which are projected towards the inside of the container
(B), to realize in closing position a tight plug. Rotation is effected by gripping
and lifting the tongue-projection (4) to rotate it on the hingeing axis (b), thus
making an arc movement which determines the protrusion of the tongue above the upper
surface cover and bringing it to a position of nearly 90° in respect to the original
one. In this pouring opening the tongue plug (3) and with its inside surface (a) are
entirely on the outside together with the longitudinal walls (5) which realize the
pouring seat, being essentially "U"-shaped. After use it is sufficient to carry out
the operation in reverse by counterotating and pressing the tongue plug (3) to take
it back to the original position where it will contact the perimetric edges of said
opening (2) to realizes a tight.
1. Pouring cover (A) associated/able to a can/container (B) in particular for the
distribution of liquids, characterized by the fact that:
- it consists of a sole piece closing structure (1) in flexible material,
- the closing structure (1) has a diametric opening (2) and a hinged cap-tongue (3)
integrally attached to one end (3′) of it in said opening (2),
- said hinged cap-tongue (3) being movable in an arc-like movement with the rotation
axis corresponding to an hingeing axis (b) realized in said hinging attachement (3′),
and wherein,
- said cap-tongue comprises a pair of walls (5) which extend backwards and downwards,
ortogonally from the said cap-tongue cover surface realizing a transversal "U"section,
in order to obtain:
- in closed-plane position with the cover, a plug, with said pair of walls (5) protruded
inside the container;
- in rotated opening, an "U" pouring seat/gutter in outside protrusion, for pouring
the liquid from the container.
2. Cap, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the pouring seat has the lateral
walls (5) of said "U"-shape slightly diverging for realizing a tightness between the
outside walls of the cover and the rotatable plug.
3. Cap, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that is provided a lateral tongue-projection
(4) from the upper closing surface of the tongue-plug (3) in order to realize a handle
means for opening and closing the plug (3).