Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention refers to a metallic lid of the type which presents a peripheral
side wall provided with a free upper edge and designed to be frictionally seated and
axially retained in the interior of a seat defined in an upper opening of a can, the
lid being optionally provided, in its central region, with an inspection opening to
receive an auxiliary lid generally in a transparent plastic material.
Prior Art
[0002] Metallic lids of the type mentioned above are well known. They are formed in a single
piece of metal sheet and comprise a generally disk-shaped bottom wall, whose peripheral
edge incorporates a side wall projecting upwardly, so as to be removably press fitted
and axially retained inside a seat defined in an upper opening of a can. Said seat
can be defined by a pending tubular projection which is superiorly incorporated to
a median opening of the upper wall of a can with a circular or polygonal cross section.
[0004] In these prior art constructions, the lid structure comprises only the bottom wall
and a peripheral side wall, the axial retention of the lid in the seat, defined in
the upper opening of the can, being usually achieved through engaging means provided
in at least one of the parts of lid side wall and seat in the upper opening, in order
to cooperate with the other of said parts.
[0005] In the construction of the type cited above, even when the bottom wall of the lid
presents a drawn or raised median portion, as taught in the solution disclosed in
patents
BR7601221-2 and
US3,347,408, the lid structure requires certain cares to be taken when closing forces are applied,
which forces can irremediably damage said lid, impeding a tight and secure closure
of the can to be obtained.
[0006] The structural deficiency mentioned above is due to the fact that said lid construction
does not present the usual peripheral strength guaranteed in the metallic lids provided
with a peripheral annular recess, generally having a cross section with a substantially
trapezoidal and inverted form, to be frictionally seated in the interior of a recess
with a complementary cross section which defines a seat incorporated to the annular
upper wall of a can body, such as in the construction known for decades and which
is disclosed and illustrated in patent
US795,126, filed in 1904.
[0007] In view of increasing the structural strength of the known lids, which present only
the bottom wall and a peripheral side wall formed to be seated and axially retained
in an upper opening of the can, there was proposed a constructive solution, which
is disclosed and claimed in the Brazilian patent application
PI0405458-0 of the same applicant, according to which the bottom wall of the lid comprises a
peripheral annular portion and a median portion which are interconnected by an annular
rib portion having the approximate form of an inverted U. This previous construction
provides the lid, which is formed in a determined metal sheet thickness, with an increased
structural strength, overcoming the deficiency of these known lids, without requiring
the metal sheet thickness to be increased. The provision of the annular rib portion
in the bottom wall, as proposed in
BR0405458-0 (
WO2006058397) leads to a higher structural strength of the lid.
[0008] However, even incorporating the annular rib portion in the bottom wall of the lid,
the structural strength necessary for an adequate and secure operational behavior
of the lid still requires the metal sheet to have a certain minimum thickness.
Summary of the Invention
[0009] As a function of the exposed above in relation to the prior art, the present invention
has as one of its objects to provide a metallic lid of the type commented above, which
is provided with the annular rib portion in the bottom wall and which has increased
strength to the extent of allowing said lids to be constructed in metal sheet with
a reduced thickness, without reducing the structural strength to values lower than
those expected or desired to allow closing and opening the lid by the usual proceedings,
with no risks of producing plastic deformations which can make said lid become useless.
This and other objects of the present invention are attained by providing a metallic
lid of the type which has its bottom wall comprising a peripheral annular portion,
adjacent to the side wall of the lid, a median portion, and an annular rib portion
presenting its cross section with the approximate form of an inverted U, whose lateral
legs are inferiorly and respectively incorporated to the adjacent edges of the peripheral
annular portion and the median portion of the bottom wall.
[0010] According to the invention, the median portion of the bottom wall comprises an annular
panel and a central panel joined by an axial step portion, an outer peripheral edge
of the annular panel being incorporated to the adjacent lateral leg of the annular
rib portion, said axial step portion being constituted by a material that is plastically
deformed from the adjacent annular panel portion and from the central panel portion.
[0011] With the construction generically defined above, besides the fact that the medium
portion and the peripheral annular portion of the bottom wall of the can are joined
to each other by said annular rib portion, the median portion incorporates the axial
step in its radially median region, which axial step defines one more structural element
incorporated to the bottom wall and spaced from the side wall of the lid.
[0012] The provision of the auxiliary axial step, additionally to the provision of the annular
rib portion, imparts to the lid a structural strength that is substantially greater
than that achieved with the prior art constructions mentioned above, allowing obtaining
lids having adequate structural strength and formed in a metal sheet with a smaller
thickness, that is, with less material consumption.
[0013] Furthermore, the construction of the lid object of the present invention can be made
so that the central panel of the median portion of the bottom wall presents an inspection
opening defining a seat for seating and axially retaining an auxiliary lid in a transparent
plastic material.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0014] The invention will be described below, with reference to the enclosed drawings, given
by way of example of possible constructions for the present lid and in which:
Figure 1 represents a partial diametrical sectional view of the upper region of a
can, in whose discharge end opening is fitted a lid constructed according to one of
the known prior art solutions;
Figure 2 represents a top plan view of a lid of the type illustrated in figure 1,
but incorporating the axial step according to a first embodiment of the invention;
Figure 3 represents a partial diametrical sectional view of the lid, when mounted
in the discharge end opening of a can, said view taken according to line III-III in
figure 2;
Figure 4 represents a top plan view of a lid of the type illustrated in figure 2,
but incorporating radial extensions of the central panel, according to a second embodiment
of the invention;
Figures 5 and 6 represent partial diametrical sectional views of the lid when mounted
in the discharge end opening of a can, said views taken according to lines v-v and
VI-VI, respectively, in figure 4;
Figure 7 represents a top plan view of a third embodiment of the lid of the present
invention; and
Figure 8 represents a partial diametrical sectional view of the lid when mounted in
the discharge end opening of a can, said view taken according to line VIII-VIII in
figure 7.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0015] As illustrated in the enclosed drawings, the lid of the present invention is applied
to a can 10, which is graphically represented only by the upper portion of its side
wall 11, to whose upper edge is affixed, usually by means of a double-seaming 12,
an outer peripheral edge of an annular upper wall 13 in whose median region is provided
an opening 14 to whose edge is incorporated a pending tubular projection 15 which
defines a seat "S" for seating the lid of the can.
[0016] In the prior art construction exemplified in figure 1 of the drawings and which is
object of patent
BR9408643-5 of the applicant of the present patent application, the pending tubular projection
15 is provided with a lower end portion which is bent inwardly of the opening 14,
upwardly and against the pending tubular projection 15, so as to form a continuous
tubular rib 16, which has a generally circular shape, as described in said prior art
patent.
[0017] However, it should be understood that the construction of the pending tubular projection
15 of the annular upper wall 13 of the can 10 may have different constructive arrangements,
as illustrated and discussed in the prior art documents mentioned above, without said
constructive modifications altering the constructive and functional objectives of
the present invention.
[0018] As already previously mentioned, the lid 20 of the present invention is formed in
a single piece of metal sheet, comprising a bottom wall 21 usually in the form of
a flat disk and which superiorly and peripherally incorporates a side wall 22 provided
with a free upper edge 22a and designed to be frictionally seated and axially retained
inside the seat "S" defined by the pending tubular projection 15 of the opening 14
provided in the annular upper wall 13.
[0019] In the exemplary construction illustrated in the drawings, the lid 20 has its side
wall 22 provided with a continuous peripheral recess 22b, inside which is sealingly
fitted and axially retained the continuous tubular rib 16 of the pending tubular projection
15.
[0020] In the illustrated construction, both the continuous tubular rib 16 of the pending
tubular projection 15 and the continuous peripheral recess 22b of the side wall 22
of the lid 20 present a contour which is at least partially circular and complementary,
so that the mutual seating of said parts promotes not only the axial retention of
the lid 20 in the opening 14 of the can 10, but also a sealing effect in this frictional
seating region. It should be understood, however, that the continuous tubular rib
16 and the continuous peripheral recess 22b might present configurations other than
that tubular circular illustrated in the drawings, as can be observed in the prior
art documents cited in the beginning of the present description.
[0021] Still according to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the lid 20 has its
free upper edge 22a bent outwardly, downwardly and against the side wall 22, so as
to define a tubular upper rib 22c to be seated on the annular upper wall 13 of the
can 10, in the region that surrounds the opening 14. Accordingly, it should be understood
that the free upper edge 22a of the side wall 22 of the lid 20 can present different
constructive forms, as illustrated in the prior art documents previously cited, without
said modifications of form and arrangement of the upper region of the side wall 22
of the lid 20 altering the functional characteristics of the invention proposed herein.
[0022] According to the invention, the bottom wall 21 of the lid 20 comprises a peripheral
annular portion 23 adjacent to the side wall 22, a median portion 24 and an annular
rib portion 25 presenting a cross section with the approximate form of an inverted
U, whose lateral legs are inferiorly and respectively incorporated to adjacent edges
of the peripheral annular portion 23 and median portion 24 of the bottom wall 21.
[0023] The annular rib portion 25 is stamped jointly with the remainder of the lid 20, in
order to project preferably upwardly from the peripheral annular portion 23 and from
the median portion 24 of the bottom wall 21, the annular rib portion 25 remaining
spaced from said side wall 22 by an adequate distance, so as to provide to the marginal
region of the lid 20 the necessary structural strength to resist the compression forces
to be applied over the lid 20, upon fitting the latter in the opening 14 of the can
10.
[0024] Still according to the preferred embodiment, the median portion 24 of the bottom
wall 21 is disposed in a higher plane in relation to a plane which contains the peripheral
annular portion 23 of said bottom wall 21. This constructive arrangement allows the
median portion 24 of the bottom wall 21 to operate jointly with the annular rib portion
25 to define seating means to place one lid over the other, upon stacking said lids
in a lid feeding device in an automatic can closing machine, or to allow the lids
20 to be automatically fitted in respective annular upper walls 13, before they are
double-seamed to the side wall 11 of the cans 10.
[0025] The annular rib portion 25 is further constructed and dimensioned in such a way as
to be disposed inferiorly to a plane Ps containing the free upper edge 22a of the
side wall 22 of the lid 20, this relative dimensioning of the lid parts being made
as a function of the stacking characteristics cited above and discussed in
BR0405458-0. According to the present invention, the median portion 24 of the bottom wall 21
comprises a generally flat annular panel 24a having an outer peripheral edge which
is incorporated to the adjacent lateral leg of the annular rib portion 25 and an inner
peripheral edge incorporated, by an axial step portion 24c, to an outer peripheral
edge of a central panel 24b, which is also generally flat and disposed in a plane
slightly superior to that of the annular panel 24a.
[0026] In order that the lid 20 presenting the axial step portion 24c can be formed from
a metal sheet blank with the same dimensions as those necessary for producing the
lid defined in figure 1 and provided with the annular rib portion 25, the axial step
portion 24c is constituted by a material that is plastically deformed from the adjacent
annular panel portion 24a and from the central panel portion 24b.
[0027] The provision of the axial step portion 24c increases the structural strength of
the lid 20, particularly of its bottom wall 21, in a sufficient degree to allow the
usual thickness of the metal sheet of the lid to be reduced, without the structural
strength of the lid reaching values which are unacceptable or harmful to the correct
and secure closing and opening operations of the can by means of the lid.
[0028] In the embodiment illustrated in figures 2 and 3, the central panel 24b is completely
closed and deprived of any opening, having a radius R which corresponds to about the
double of the radial width RL of the annular panel 24a.
[0029] The height of the axial step portion 24c should be only sufficient to produce the
desired effect of increasing the structural strength of the lid 20, generally with
a value approximately equal to the thickness of the metal sheet used to form the lid
20, so that the material used to form the lid results exclusively from the material
that is plastically deformed from the adjacent annular panel portion 24a and from
the central panel portion 24b during the stamping operation of the lid.
[0030] In the second embodiment illustrated in figures 4, 5 and 6, the central panel portion
24b of the median portion 24 of the lid 20 incorporates a plurality of radial extensions
24d, coplanar to said central panel portion 24b and which extend until the adjacent
lateral leg of the annular rib portion 25, to which they are incorporated. In the
illustrated embodiment, the radial extensions 24d are in the number of four, but they
can vary above or below this number. However, it is desirable that said radial extensions
24d be equally and angularly spaced from each other. It is further possible to stamp
the lid 20, so as to allow the radial extensions 24d of the central panel 24b to be
disposed in a plane slightly axially offset from the plane of said central panel 24b.
In the embodiment illustrated in figures 7 and 8, the central panel 24b is provided
with an inspection opening 26 radially spaced from the axial step portion 24c, defining
a seat for seating and axially retaining a peripheral side wall 31 of an auxiliary
lid 30 in a transparent plastic material, said inspection opening 26 comprising a
pending skirt 27 formed to incorporate an inner circumferential rib 28 to be fitted
in a corresponding circumferential recess 33 provided in the peripheral side wall
31 of the auxiliary lid 30. The construction of the inspection opening 26 and of the
auxiliary lid 30 can follow the same proceedings applied to the lid 20, maintaining
the dimensions of the involved parts proportionally adequate to the smallest diameter
of the auxiliary lid 30. It should be understood that the radial extensions 24d of
the central panel 24b, in this case being also annular, may be also provided in the
embodiment illustrated in figures 7 and 8.
[0031] In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the peripheral annular portion 23
and the median portion 24 of the bottom wall 21 of the lid 20 are flat.
[0032] While only some constructive forms for the lid, jointly with a seat construction,
have been illustrated herein, it should be understood that alterations can be made
in the form of the component parts, without departing from the constructive concept
defined in the claims that accompany the present specification.
1. A metallic lid to be applied in a can (10) having an opening (14) which defines a
seat (S), said lid (20) comprising, in a single piece of metal sheet, a bottom wall
(21) which superiorly and peripherally incorporates a side wall (22) provided with
a free upper edge (22a) and to be frictionally seated and axially retained in the
interior of the seat (S), said bottom wall (21) comprising a peripheral annular portion
(23) adjacent to the side wall (22), a median portion (24) and an annular rib portion
(25) presenting a cross section with the approximate form of an inverted U, whose
lateral legs are inferiorly and respectively incorporated to adjacent edges of the
peripheral annular portion (23) and median portion (24) of the bottom wall (21), said
lid (20) being characterized in that the median portion (24) comprises an annular panel (24a) and a central panel (24b)
joined by an axial step portion (24c), an outer peripheral edge of the annular panel
(24a) being incorporated to the adjacent lateral leg of the annular rib portion (25),
said axial step portion (24c) being constituted by a material that is plastically
deformed from the adjacent annular panel portion (24a) and from the central panel
portion (24b).
2. The metallic lid, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the radial width (RL) of the annular panel (24a) corresponds to about half the radius
(R) of the central panel (24b).
3. The metallic lid, as set forth in any of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the axial step portion (24c) presents a height approximately equal to the thickness
of the metal sheet used to form the lid.
4. The metallic lid, as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the annular rib portion (25) projects upwardly from the peripheral annular portion
(23) and from the median portion (24) of the bottom wall (21).
5. The metallic lid, as set forth in claim 4, characterized in that the median portion (24) of the bottom wall (21) is disposed in an elevated plane
in relation to a plane which contains the peripheral annular portion (23) of said
bottom wall (21).
6. The metallic lid, as set forth in claim 4, characterized in that the annular rib portion (25) is disposed inferiorly to a plane (Ps) containing the
free upper edge (22a) of the side wall (22) of the lid (20).
7. The metallic lid, as set forth in any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the annular panel (24a) and the central panel (24b) are flat, the latter being disposed
in a plane slightly superior to that of the annular panel (24a) .
8. The metallic lid, as set forth in any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the central panel (24b) is provided with an inspection opening (26) spaced from the
axial step portion (24c), defining a seat for seating and axially retaining a peripheral
side wall (31) of an auxiliary lid (30) in a transparent plastic material, said inspection
opening (26) comprising a pending skirt (27) formed to incorporate an inner circumferential
rib (28) to be fitted in a corresponding circumferential recess (33) provided in the
peripheral side wall (31) of the auxiliary lid (30).
9. The metallic lid, as set forth in any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the central panel (24b) of the median portion (24) of the lid (20) incorporates a
plurality of radial extensions (24d), angularly spaced from each other and which extend
till the adjacent lateral leg of the annular rib portion (25) to which they are incorporated.
10. The metallic lid, as set forth in claim 9, characterized in that the radial extensions (24d) are coplanar to the central panel (24b).
1. Metalldeckel, der bei einer Dose (10) mit einer Öffnung (14), die einen Sitz (S) definiert,
angewendet werden soll, wobei der Deckel (20) in einem einzigen Stück aus Metallblech
eine Bodenwand (21) umfasst, die oberhalb und auf dem Umfang eine Seitenwand (22)
beinhaltet, die mit einer freien oberen Kante (22a) versehen ist und im Inneren des
Sitzes (S) mit Reibung eingesetzt und axial festgehalten werden soll, wobei die Bodenwand
(21) einen ringförmigen Umfangsabschnitt (23) benachbart zur Seitenwand (22), einen
mittleren Abschnitt (24) und einen ringförmigen Rippenabschnitt (25) umfasst, der
einen Querschnitt mit der ungefähren Form eines umgekehrten U aufweist, dessen seitliche
Schenkel unten liegen und jeweils in benachbarte Kanten des ringförmigen Umfangsabschnitts
(23) und des mittleren Abschnitts (24) der Bodenwand (21) integriert sind, wobei der
Deckel (20) dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass der mittlere Abschnitt (24) eine ringförmige Platte (24a) und eine zentrale Platte
(24b) umfasst, die durch einen axialen Stufenabschnitt (24c) verbunden sind, wobei
eine äußere Umfangskante der ringförmigen Platte (24a) in den benachbarten seitlichen
Schenkel des ringförmigen Rippenabschnitts (25) integriert ist, wobei der axiale Stufenabschnitt
(24c) durch ein Material gebildet ist, das vom benachbarten ringförmigen Plattenabschnitt
(24a) und vom zentralen Plattenabschnitt (24b) plastisch verformt ist.
2. Metalldeckel nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die radiale Breite (RL) der ringförmigen Platte (24a) etwa der Hälfte des Radius
(R) der zentralen Platte (24b) entspricht.
3. Metalldeckel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der axiale Stufenabschnitt (24c) eine Höhe aufweist, die ungefähr gleich der Dicke
des zum Ausbilden des Deckels verwendeten Metallblechs ist.
4. Metalldeckel nach einem der Ansprüche 1, 2 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der ringförmige Rippenabschnitt (25) vom ringförmigen Umfangsabschnitt (23) und vom
mittleren Abschnitt (24) der Bodenwand (21) nach oben vorsteht.
5. Metalldeckel nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der mittlere Abschnitt (24) der Bodenwand (21) in einer erhöhten Ebene in Bezug auf
eine Ebene angeordnet ist, die den ringförmigen Umfangsabschnitt (23) der Bodenwand
(21) enthält.
6. Metalldeckel nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der ringförmige Rippenabschnitt (25) unterhalb einer Ebene (Ps) angeordnet ist, die
die freie obere Kante (22a) der Seitenwand (22) des Deckels (20) enthält.
7. Metalldeckel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die ringförmige Platte (24a) und die zentrale Platte (24b) flach sind, wobei die
letztere in einer Ebene angeordnet ist, die geringfügig über jener der ringförmigen
Platte (24a) liegt.
8. Metalldeckel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zentrale Platte (24b) mit einer Inspektionsöffnung (26) versehen ist, die vom
axialen Stufenabschnitt (24c) beabstandet ist, die einen Sitz zum Absetzen und axialen
Festhalten einer Umfangsseitenwand (31) eines Hilfsdeckels (30) aus einem transparenten
Kunststoffmaterial definiert, wobei die Inspektionsöffnung (26) einen herabhängenden
Rand (27) umfasst, der so ausgebildet ist, dass er eine innere Umfangsrippe (28) beinhaltet,
die in eine entsprechende Umfangsaussparung (33) eingesetzt werden soll, die in der
Umfangsseitenwand (31) des Hilfsdeckels (30) vorgesehen ist.
9. Metalldeckel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zentrale Platte (24b) des mittleren Abschnitts (24) des Deckels (20) mehrere
radiale Ansätze (24d) beinhaltet, die im Winkel voneinander beabstandet sind und die
sich bis zum benachbarten seitlichen Schenkel des ringförmigen Rippenabschnitts (25)
erstrecken, in den sie integriert sind.
10. Metalldeckel nach Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die radialen Ansätze (24d) zur zentralen Platte (24b) koplanar sind.
1. Couvercle métallique destiné à être appliqué dans une boîte métallique (10) comportant
une ouverture (14) qui délimite un siège (S), ledit couvercle (20) comprenant, en
une seule pièce de métal en feuille, une paroi de fond (21) qui, dans sa partie supérieure
et périphérique, comprend une paroi latérale (22) pourvue d'un bord supérieur libre
(22a) et destinée à être assise par friction et retenue axialement à l'intérieur du
siège (S), ladite paroi de fond (21) comprenant une partie annulaire périphérique
(23) adjacente à la paroi latérale (22), une partie médiane (24) et une partie nervure
annulaire (25) présentant une section transversale ayant approximativement la forme
d'un U inversé, dont les jambages latéraux sont inférieurement et respectivement inclus
dans des bords adjacents de la partie annulaire périphérique (23) et la partie médiane
(24) de la paroi de fond (21), ledit couvercle (20) étant caractérisé en ce que la partie médiane (24) comprend un panneau annulaire (24a) et un panneau central
(24b) reliés par une partie épaulement axial (24c), un bord périphérique externe du
panneau annulaire (24a) étant inclus dans le jambage latéral adjacent de la partie
nervure annulaire (25), ladite partie épaulement axial (24c) étant constituée par
un matériau qui est déformé plastiquement à partir de la partie panneau annulaire
adjacente (24a) et à partir de la partie panneau central (24b).
2. Couvercle métallique, selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la largeur radiale (RL) du panneau annulaire (24a) correspond à environ la moitié
du rayon (R) du panneau central (24b).
3. Couvercle métallique, selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que la partie épaulement axial (24c) a une hauteur approximativement égale à l'épaisseur
du métal en feuille utilisé pour former le couvercle.
4. Couvercle métallique, selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1, 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce que la partie nervure annulaire (25) fait saillie vers le haut depuis la partie annulaire
périphérique (23) et depuis la partie médiane (24) de la paroi de fond (21).
5. Couvercle métallique, selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que la partie médiane (24) de la paroi de fond (21) est située dans un plan élevé par
rapport à un plan qui renferme la partie annulaire périphérique (23) de ladite paroi
de fond (21).
6. Couvercle métallique, selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que la partie nervure annulaire (25) est située dans une partie inférieure par rapport
à un plan (Ps) contenant le bord supérieur libre (22a) de la paroi latérale (22) du
couvercle (20).
7. Couvercle métallique, selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisé en ce que le panneau annulaire (24a) et le panneau central (24b) sont plats, ce dernier étant
situé dans un plan légèrement supérieur à celui du panneau annulaire (24a).
8. Couvercle métallique, selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisé en ce que le panneau central (24b) est pourvu d'une ouverture d'inspection (26) espacée de
la partie épaulement axial (24c), délimitant un siège pour asseoir et retenir axialement
une paroi latérale périphérique (31) d'un couvercle auxiliaire (30) en matière plastique
transparente, ladite ouverture d'inspection (26) comprenant une jupe pendante (27)
formée pour contenir une nervure circonférentielle interne (28) destinée à être emboîtée
dans un évidement circonférentiel correspondant (33) ménagé dans la paroi latérale
périphérique (31) du couvercle auxiliaire (30).
9. Couvercle métallique, selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisé en ce que le panneau central (24b) de la partie médiane (24) du couvercle (20) comprend une
pluralité d'extensions radiales (24d) distantes angulairement les unes des autres
et qui s'étendent jusqu'au jambage latéral adjacent de la partie nervure annulaire
(25) dans lequel elles sont contenues.
10. Couvercle métallique, selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce que les extensions radiales (24d) sont situées dans le même plan que le panneau central
(24b).