SYSTEMS FOR THE OPENING OF CANS

Abstract

 Cans of beer and refreshing beverages, including carbonic beverages, whose lid may optionally have various gripping strips (5 and 5') fixed differently to the lid (1) at the vecinity of the conventional platelet (3) which provides for the opening of the hole (6) of the can, said hole being optionally closed by means of a protection sheet (3') also used as opening element.

Description

SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to systems for opening cans of soft drinks, including carbonated drinks, as well as beers, of the type which have a cover which plays a part in protecting the upper face of the can from dirt or which incorporate various alternative forms of an exterior pull-strip which facilitates the opening of the orifice in which there is a small plate, one of them making use of a special configuration of the cover in the vicinity of the small plate, which is simultaneously secured to the upper cover, it being possible, as an alternative, to replace the small plate with a protective sheet which acts as an opening element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In metal receptacles which are used to contain soft drinks or another type of aerated beverage, it is known to use rings which cause the sinking-in of the small opening-plate towards the inside of the package, causing the small plate to come into contact with the liquid and thereby contributing to an adulteration of the taste of the beverage if the small plate has particles of dirt on it.

[0003] Previously, use was made of rings secured to the small opening-plate which, after being pulled off, were thrown away, no part of the small plate therefore remaining inside the receptacle. However, this system is no longer used to prevent users throwing the seal on the ground after opening the tin.

[0004] It is also known to use cardboard packages, which contain beverages such as juices, whose opening element consists of a thin small sheet which covers the orifice through which the liquid will emerge, said sheet incorporating a projection which projects upwards and which is pulled upwards to detach the sheet from the cardboard, leaving the opening free for the passage of the liquid.

[0005] This type of system is used solely on packages which contain non-aerated beverages, since the closure is not sufficiently hermetic to maintain the pressure of the package.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The systems for opening cans which are proposed in this invention are based on a cover which is coupled by conventional means to the upper face of the tin, and which has a zone joining the cover to a small plate, this zone being weakened, in the upper face of the tin or, also, combined with an antagonistic perforation of said face giving rise, when it is opened, when the cover is pulled upwards, to the tearing or separation of the small plate, the orifice through which the liquid ingested by the consumer flows being free.

[0007] Likewise, by means of this opening system, it is possible, when detaching the small plate, to prevent dirt, in the form of particles of dirt which may be on its exterior surface, from entering the beverage, since the small plate is detached upwards together with the cover.

[0008] The cover may or may not have a longitudinal groove on each side of the small plate, for passage of a strip or sheet, in this case facilitating tearing of the small plate when an upward force is exerted on the pull-strip of the cover, the orifice through which the liquid ingested by the consumer flows being free.

[0009] This detachment of the cover from the tin is facilitated by the fact that the pull-strip, stapled via its ends to the lower face of the cover on both sides of the grooves, projects upwards via the openings, which makes it possible to pull it upwards until the cover is uncoupled and the small plate is pulled off by the deformation of the cover and the consequent lifting of the sector defined between the grooves.

[0010] As an alternative to the small plate, there is a small sheet whose area covers the zone of the upper face of the tin which corresponds to the liquid-passage opening and the vicinity thereof and which serves as an element for joining to the double cover in order to facilitate detachment thereof and to achieve opening of the tin.

[0011] To achieve opening of the can, the double cover is pulled upwards, either directly or, alternatively, with the aid of a handle, for example, a cord, the small plate or, if appropriate, the small sheet being pulled off and leaving the orifice in the upper face of the can free.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] To supplement the description which is being given and in order to assist better comprehension of the characteristics of the invention, the present specification is accompanied, as an integral part thereof, by a set of plans in which the following have been represented in an illustrative and non-limiting manner:

Figure 1 shows the upper part of the elevation of a cross section plus two consecutive perspective views of the opening system for cans with a small plate and handle in the form of a string, the upper view showing the cover in the sealed position and the central perspective view showing an exploded version of the cover.

Figure 2 shows two perspective views of the sealed can and a view of the can open plus the cover seen in an exploded version via its lower face after having been detached from the can, showing the alternative version with a closure sheet.

Figure 3 shows two perspective views of the sealed can and a view of the can open plus the cover seen in an exploded version via its lower face after having been detached from the can, showing the alternative version with a gripping handle inside the cover and the small closure-plate.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Example 1. - The opening system for cans which is presented in this invention (Fig. 1) basically consists of a cover (1) which is joined via conventional means (2) to the small plate (3) which is thin or weakened and is incorporated in the upper face (4) of the tin, being opened by means of the pull-strip (5) in such a manner that, upon pulling the strip upwards, it is possible for the cover (1) to be disconnected from the upper face (4) of the tin, bringing with it the small opening-plate (3) and uncovering the orifice (6) for the exit of the liquid.

[0014] Alternatively (Fig. 2), the small plate (3) is not used and the cover (1) is connected to a small sheet (3') which covers part of the upper face of the tin corresponding to the zone of the opening (6) for the passage of liquid and its vicinity.

[0015] The small sheet (3') has a projection (7), for example a fold, which extends upwards and which constitutes the element joining to the double cover (1) in such a manner that, when said small sheet is pulled upwards, it is disconnected from the upper face (4) of the can, detaching the small sheet (3') and leaving the opening (6) free for pouring out the beverage which is ingested by the consumer.

[0016] Finally (Fig. 3), the cover (1) is provided with a longitudinal groove (8) securing the pull-strip (5') in a conventional manner to both sides of the cover (1) and to the small plate (3) so that, when the strip is pulled, it makes deformation of the cover (1) possible in the sector included between said grooves (8) and, consequently, the detachment of the small plate (2) is facilitated.

[0017] It is considered unnecessary to expand this description further so that any expert in the field can understand the scope of the invention and the advantages deriving therefrom.

[0018] The materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements may be varied provided this does not detract from the essential nature of the invention.

[0019] The terms in which this specification has been described must always be taken in their widest and non-limiting sense.

Claims

1. Systems for opening cans of the type consisting of a cover (1) which is joined via conventional means (2) to a small plate (3) which is thin or weakened and is incorporated in the upper face (4) of the tin, characterized essentially in that the cover (1) is provided with a longitudinal groove (8) securing the pull-strip (5') in a conventional manner to both sides of the cover (1) and to the small plate (3), the strip passing through these grooves (8) in such a manner that it is sufficient to pull the strip (5') to make deformation of the cover (1) possible in the sector included between said grooves (8), thereby facilitating the detachment of the small plate (2).

2. Systems for opening cans according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the grooves (8) are not used and the pull-strip (5') is replaced with the strip (5) so that, when the latter is pulled upwards, it is possible for the cover (1) to be disconnected from the upper face (4) of the tin, bringing with it the small opening-plate (3) and uncovering the orifice (6) for the exit of the liquid.

3. Systems for opening cans according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pull-strip (5) or (5') is not used and the small plate (3) linked to the cover (1) is replaced by a small sheet (3') which covers part of the upper face of the tin corresponding to the zone of the opening (6) for the passage of liquid as well as its vicinity and which has a projection (7) which constitutes the element joining to the double cover (1) in such a manner that, after said small sheet has been pulled upwards, it is disconnected from the upper face (4) of the can, detaching the small sheet (3') and freeing the opening (6).

Drawing