Dome top for metal containers allowing closure with a crown cap

Description

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The present invention refers to an element defined herein as a 'dome-shaped' for use as the upper body in the production of metal containers with two or more parts provided with a crown cap.

[0002] Metal containers formed by two or more parts for packaging of liquids and semi-liquids, including foodstuffs, are increasingly widely available on the market. They are an improvement over glass containers in that they avoid damage due to the fragility of the material and allow considerable savings on transport and packaging thanks to their light weight.

[0003] Metal containers for packaging of olive oil formed by a plurality of parts the upper body of which comprises a threaded area so as to accept screw-on closure caps are known to the art. These metal containers with screw-on caps must be provided with safety devices against tampering with the cap. It is therefore necessary to provide on the upper body a groove suitable to accommodate the safety anchoring. This requires the upper body to be constructed in successive steps on a progressive series of dies and thus a long manufacturing operation. Furthermore, production of the upper parts comprising threaded areas requires a manufacturing process in a plurality of steps resulting in a greater amount of time taken.

[0004] GB 488427 (A) discloses a dome-shaped member constituting the upper body for metal containers with two or more parts comprising a circular base, a tubular neck tapering outwards toward said base, a mouth and an area situated above the neck wherein the area comprises a peripheral annular ridge in the shape of a ring situated beneath the mouth adapted to interconnect with a crown cap, said member being obtained by drawing a metal disc cut from a sheet of tinplate material and subsequent pressing.

[0005] US 4313545 (A) discloses a metallic pressure vessel or container, made of a thin aluminum or aluminum alloy sheet coated with a resin suitably, used for a small size beer container. The vessel is composed of (a) a main body member of bottomed cylindrical form, and (b) a lid member, for covering the former body, which is made into an inverted bowl shape, with a mouth portion integrally formed for being crowned thereon, and provided with a plurality of small wave like patterns consisting of continuous and smooth hills and valleys. Those two parts are generally made by multiple deep-drawing processes and joined together by the double seaming method.

[0006] GB 463950 (A) discloses a bottle of metal wherein the neck for crown cap is turned inwardly at the mouth to provide a sealing surface 10 and is provided externally with an annular groove 14 affording a shoulder having a sloping undersurface beneath which shoulder the projections on a crown seal are adapted to engage, the interior surfaces of the bottle being protected by a coating extending into the seamed joints connecting the parts.

[0007] Object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art relating to metal containers formed by multiple parts by providing a practical versatile and cheap upper body that is able at the same time to ensure a good closure.

[0008] These objects are achieved according to the invention with the characteristics listed in appended independent claim 1.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are apparent from the dependent claims.

[0010] The upper member (or dome-shaped member) for multiple-part metal containers according to the invention comprises a circular base, a tapered and tubular neck enlarging towards said base, a mouth and an area situated above the neck in a distal position with respect to the circular base, which comprises a ring-shaped end suitable to couple with a crown cap closure and to retain said cap after pressure has been exerted, said ring being positioned beneath the mouth.

[0011] Further characteristics of the invention will be made clearer by the detailed description that follows referring to a purely exemplifying and therefore non limiting embodiment thereof, illustrated in the appended drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an upper member (dome top) according to the invention in which one part has been partially sectioned;

Figure 1a is an enlargement of the detail circled in Figure 1;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of a multiple part container in which a crown cap, the dome-shaped upper member of Figure 1, and a central body can be identified before assembly.

Figure 3 is an assembled view of the container of Figure 2.

[0012] With reference to Figure 1, the dome-shaped member according to the invention, denoted by reference numeral 1, comprises a tubular neck 2 which tapers outwards towards the circular base 3, away from the mouth 7.

[0013] The circular base 3 consists of a ring 8 which integrates a flange 9 the outer rim 10 of which is curved outwardly downwards and partially bent towards the inside of the dome top 1.

[0014] Above the neck 2 there is an area 4 which comprises a peripheral annular ridge 5 (ring) situated beneath the mouth 7. Beneath the ring 5 is a throat or recess 13.

[0015] The ring 5 protrudes outwards with respect to the throat 13 in a radial direction with respect to the axis of the member 1 giving rise to an area 11 as shown in fig. 1a adapted for anchoring of the teeth of crown caps once closing pressure is exerted. In this manner anchoring of the teeth of the crown cap to said ring 5, and thus to the dome-shaped member 1, is ensured.

[0016] The upper rim 12 of the ring 5 is curved outwardly downwards and its free end bent towards the inside of the dome 1.

[0017] The throat 13 is joined to the neck 2 by means of a truncated conical area 6.

[0018] A flange 9 of the circular base 3 is used for subsequent coupling of the dome top 1 to the other parts generally used to form metal containers as shown in Figure 2 and as will be better described hereunder.

[0019] The circular base 3 can be of various diameters according to the dimensions of the other parts of the metal container. A preferred diameter is, for example, about 65 mm measured as the outside diameter of the ring 8 of said base.

[0020] The upper member 1 may be made of electrolytic tinplate, plain or lithographed. What is meant by tinplate is a steel plate coated with a film of tin by means of an electrolytic process.

[0021] Alternatively, the upper element can be made of another metal such as aluminium, tin free steel, plain or possibly coated with paints or polymer films, such as, for example, polyethylene films, polypropylene films, etc. These materials can also be lithographed.

[0022] The upper member is preferably made of tinplate or tin free steel coated with polymer films.

[0023] The upper member 1 is obtained by means of process which comprises the stage of forming the neck by drawing a metal disc cut from a sheet of tinplate material, subsequent pressing and rolling.

[0024] With reference to figure 2, the member 1, once formed, is then coupled with the central body 14 and a bottom (not illustrated in the figure), and a crown cap 16 giving rise to a multiple-part metal container as illustrated in Figure 3. The central body 14 may be a single piece integral with the bottom.

[0025] Coupling of the parts is carried out so as to form a container using methods known to the art, for example, by mechanically clamping the rim 10 of the flange 9 of the dome-shaped member 1 to the upper edge 15 of the central body 14 and/or by means of welding etc.

[0026] The central body 14 and thus the relative bottom may be either cylindrical or of different shapes. For example, the central body 14 can be parallelepiped in shape with a quadrilateral outline preferably with equal sides. In this case a connection will have to be provided between the circular base 3 and the central body 14.

[0027] Numerous changes and modifications of detail can be made to the present embodiments of the invention without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A dome-shaped member (1) constituting the upper body for metal containers with two or more parts comprising a circular base (3), a tubular neck (2) tapering outwards toward said base, a mouth (7) and an area (4) situated above the neck (2), the area (4) comprising a peripheral annular ridge in the shape of a ring (5) situated beneath the mouth (7) adapted to interconnect with a crown cap (16), said member (1) being obtained by drawing a metal disc cut from a sheet of tinplate material or tin free steel and subsequent pressing, characterized in that the member (1) is formed after drawing and pressing by subsequent rolling, in that beneath the annular ridge (5) there is provided a throat (13), the ring (5) protruding outwards with respect to said throat (13) in a radial direction with respect to the axis of the member (1), and in that said ring (5) has its upper rim (12) curved outwardly downwards and its free end bent towards the inside of the dome-shaped member (1) and forming an area (11) as shown in Figure 1a adapted for anchoring of the teeth of a crown cap.

2. A dome-shaped member according to claim 1, characterised in that said circular base (3) consists of a ring (8) which integrates a flange (9) the outer rim (10) of which is curved outwardly downwards and partially bent towards the inside of the dome-shaped member (1).

3. A dome-shaped member according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said throat (13) is joined to the neck (2) by means of a truncated conical area (6).

4. A dome-shaped member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said circular base (3) as a diameter of about 65 mm measured as the outside diameter of the ring (8) of said base.

5. A dome-shaped member (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the tinplate is plain or lithographed; or the tin-free steel is plain or coated with paints or polymer films, preferably polyethylene films or polypropylene films, optionally lithographed; preferably the upper member is made of tinplate or tin-free steel, coated with polymer films.

6. A dome-shaped member (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said rim (10) of the flange (9) of the circular base (3) is adapted to couple to the upper rim (15) of the central body (14) of metal containers.

7. A multiple part metal container comprising a central body (14) with a bottom and an upper body (1) closed by a crown cap (16), characterised in that said upper body is the dome-shaped member (1) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6.

Ansprüche

1. Kuppelförmiges Glied (1), das den oberen Körper für Metallbehälter mit zwei oder mehr Teilen bildet, umfassend eine kreisförmige Basis (3), einen röhrenförmigen Hals (2), der nach außen zu der Basis hin konisch zuläuft, eine Mündung (7) und einen Bereich (4), der sich über dem Hals (2) befindet, wobei der Bereich einen ringförmigen Umfangsgrat in Form eines Rings (5) umfasst, der sich unter der Mündung (7) befindet und dazu geeignet ist, sich mit einem Kronkorken (16) zu verbinden, wobei das Glied (1) durch Ziehen einer Metallscheibe, die von einer Platte aus Weißblechmaterial oder zinnfreiem Stahl abgeschnitten ist, und anschließendes Pressen erhalten ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Glied (1) nach dem Ziehen und Pressen durch anschließendes Walzen ausgebildet ist, dass unter dem ringförmigen Grat (5) eine Kehle (13) vorgesehen ist, wobei der Ring (5) bezüglich der Kehle (13) nach außen in einer radialen Richtung bezüglich der Achse des Glieds (1) vorsteht, und dass der obere Rand (12) des Rings (5) äußerlich nach unten gekrümmt ist und sein freies Ende zur Innenseite des kuppelförmigen Glieds (1) hin gebogen ist und einen Bereich (11) wie in Figur 1a gezeigt ausbildet, der zum Verankern der Zähne eines Kronkorkens geeignet ist.

2. Kuppelförmiges Glied nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die kreisförmige Basis (3) aus einem Ring (8) besteht, in den ein Flansch (9) eingegliedert ist, dessen äußerer Rand (10) äußerlich nach unten gekrümmt ist und teilweise zur Innenseite des kuppelförmigen Glieds (1) hin gebogen ist.

3. Kuppelförmiges Glied nach einem der Ansprüche 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Kehle (13) mithilfe eines kegelstumpfartigen Bereichs (6) mit dem Hals (2) verbunden ist.

4. Kuppelförmiges Glied nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die kreisförmige Basis (3) einen Durchmesser von ungefähr 65 mm aufweist, der als Außendurchmesser des Rings (8) der Basis gemessen ist.

5. Kuppelförmiges Glied (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Weißblech unbedruckt oder lithographiert ist; oder das zinnfreie Stahl unbedruckt oder mit Farben oder Polymerfolien, vorzugsweise Polyethylenfolien oder Polypropylenfolien, beschichtet, optional lithographiert ist; vorzugsweise das obere Glied aus Weißblech oder zinnfreiem Stahl, mit Polymerfolien beschichtet, hergestellt ist.

6. Kuppelförmiges Glied nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Rand (10) des Flanschs (9) der kreisförmigen Basis (3) zum Ankuppeln an den oberen Rand (15) des mittleren Körpers (14) von Metallbehältern geeignet ist.

7. Mehrteiliger Metallbehälter, umfassend einen mittleren Körper (14) mit einem Boden und einem oberen Körper (1), der durch einen Kronkorken (16) verschlossen ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der obere Körper das kuppelförmige Glied (1) ist, wie es in einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6 definiert ist.

Revendications

1. Elément de calotte de dôme (1) constituant le corps supérieur de récipients métalliques avec deux ou plusieurs parties comprenant une base circulaire (3), un col tubulaire (2) conique vers l'extérieur en direction de ladite base, une embouchure (7) et une surface (4) située au-dessus du col (2), la surface (4) comprenant une strie annulaire périphérique sous la forme d'une bague (5) située en-dessous de l'embouchure (7) adaptée pour s'interconnecter avec une capsule (16), ledit élément (1) étant obtenu en étirant une découpe de disque métallique à partir d'une tôle de matériau en fer blanc ou d'acier sans étain et le pressage consécutif, caractérisé en ce que l'élément (1) est formé après étirage et pressage par un roulage consécutif, en ce que en-dessous de la strie annulaire (5), une gorge (13) est prévue, la bague (5) faisant saillie vers l'extérieur par rapport à ladite gorge (13) dans une direction radiale par rapport à l'axe de l'élément (1), et en ce que ladite bague (5) a son bord supérieur (12) incurvé vers l'extérieur vers le bas et son extrémité libre pliée en direction de l'intérieur de l'élément de calotte de dôme (1) et formant une surface (11) comme montré sur la figure 1a adaptée pour l'ancrage des dents d'une capsule.

2. Elément de calotte de dôme selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite base circulaire (3) consiste en une bague (8) qui intègre une bride (9) dont le bord extérieur (10) est incurvé vers l'extérieur vers le bas et partiellement penché en direction de l'intérieur de l'élément de calotte de dôme (1).

3. Elément de calotte de dôme selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que ladite gorge (13) est jointe au col (2) au moyen d'une surface tronconique (6).

4. Elément de calotte de dôme selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que ladite base circulaire (3) présente un diamètre d'environ 65 mm mesuré comme étant le diamètre extérieur de la bague (8) de ladite base.

5. Elément de calotte de dôme (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que le fer blanc est uni ou lithographié ; ou l'acier sans étain est uni ou revêtu avec des peintures ou des films polymères, de préférence des films polyéthylènes ou polypropylènes, optionnellement lithographiés ; de préférence l'élément supérieur est réalisé en fer blanc ou en acier sans étain, revêtu de films polymères.

6. Elément de calotte de dôme (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que ledit bord (10) de la bride (9) de la base circulaire (3) est adapté pour s'accoupler au bord supérieur (15) du corps central (14) de récipients métalliques.

7. Récipient métallique à parties multiples comprenant un corps central (14) avec un fond et un corps supérieur (1) fermé par une capsule (16), caractérisé en ce que ledit corps supérieur est l'élément de calotte de dôme (1) tel que défini dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6.

Drawing