Patent Grant
10875690
The present application is § 371 application of PCT/IB2015/051470, filed Feb. 27, 2015, which claims priority to EP Application No. 14157082.0, filed Feb. 27, 2014. The entire disclosure of each of the foregoing applications is incorporated by reference herein.
An object of the present invention is to make available a can that is made of plastic, and preferably such a can that has sterile contents.
Cans for beverages enable them to be consumed, i.e. drunk, conveniently and quickly and are very popular with consumers. They generally contain one or more portions or “serving sizes”, such quantities enabling consumers to take cans with them for subsequent drinking, e.g. when they are away or are traveling. Cans are used as containers for alcoholic beverages and for non-alcoholic beverages or “soft drinks”, e.g. carbonated beverages, and convey concepts of leisure, pleasure, and freedom.
Cans are generally made of tinplate or aluminum plate. Methods of manufacturing such cans have been developed in such a manner that the contents of the can are at least pasteurized and preferably sterilized following filling, so as to guarantee that the foodstuff is safe. As described in Patent Application EP 2 409 925 A2, such cans have to withstand temperatures in the range of up to 50° C. to 70° C. and internal pressures of up to 7 bars, which is why that document teaches a can in which the enclosed liquid does not come into contact with the plastics material. However, EP 2 409 925 A2 discloses a re-closable lid that can be used on a metal can. Similarly, Patent Applications US 2008/0110887 and DE10244349 disclose re-closable or re-sealable pivotally mounted lids that are made of plastic for cans that are made of metal.
The state of the art also proposes cans made of plastic. For example, Patent Application WO2007/076620 discloses a plastic can that is filled via the portion opposite from the re-closable lid, which is formed in one piece with the body of the can, that can have a rupture point or puncture point that is pushed in by the lid, which can then be folded back to give access to the opening for drinking the beverage.
Document WO 2005/023666 discloses a plastic can made up of two portions, with a receptacle in the form of a bottle, and a re-closable lid. That can appears to be particularly well suited to fizzy beverages, such as, for example, beer.
While the documents of the state of the art indicate the need to pasteurize the beverage enclosed in the can, making a sterile beverage available is not specifically mentioned in the state of the art. Clearly, sterilization requires treatment and conditions that are even more stringent than pasteurization. In addition, sterilization makes it possible to obtain foodstuffs that offer extended shelf-lives, i.e. lengths of time for which they can be eaten or drunk, which is generally desirable. Making a sterile foodstuff available also makes it possible to guarantee that the foodstuff is safe.
An object of the present invention is to provide a plastic can that is preferably a can suitable for containing a sterile and/or sterilized liquid substance.
In particular, an object of the invention is to combine the advantages related to a container of the can type with the advantages of packaging made of plastic. Such plastic packaging can be transparent, if it is so desired. Since manufacturing cans made of metal requires specific installations, it is advantageous to be able to produce a can without such an installation.
In particular, an object of the invention is to make it possible to use pre-existing production, sterilization and/or filling lines, e.g. for filling bottles under aseptic conditions.
In an aspect, the present invention provides a can made essentially of plastic.
In an aspect, the present invention provides a can made essentially of plastic and containing a liquid foodstuff, and in particular a beverage.
In an aspect, the present invention provides a can made essentially of plastic and containing a sterile liquid foodstuff, and preferably a sterile beverage.
In an aspect, the present invention provides a can made essentially of plastic and containing a pasteurized liquid foodstuff, and preferably a pasteurized beverage.
In an aspect, the present invention provides a can made essentially of plastic and containing a beverage, the can including a receptacle having a substantially cylindrical body and an opening at the top end of the receptacle, said opening being sealed by a closure, the can also including a cap connected to the upper portion of the receptacle and including a piercing device.
In an aspect, the present invention provides a can made essentially of plastic and containing a beverage, the can including a receptacle provided with an opening that is hermetically closed by a closure, said closure being disposed in such a manner as to be opened irreversibly when the can is opened for the first time, said can including a cap placed on an upper portion of the receptacle and including a piercing device adapted to be activated by a consumer to pierce the closure and thus to open the can, said can being characterized in that said cap is secured to the receptacle by at least one bond formed by heat-sealing or welding, said at least one bond being situated between the cap and the upper portion of the receptacle and/or between the cap and the closure.
In an aspect, the present invention provides a cap made of plastic and suitable for being connected to a receptacle in such a manner as to constitute a can, the cap including a piercing device suitable for opening the can and a lid arranged in such a manner as to capable of re-closing said can once said can has been opened.
In an aspect, the present invention provides an (empty) can made of plastic, one or more of its component parts as described, and a can containing a liquid foodstuff.
In an aspect, the present invention provides methods of manufacturing the can of the invention and/or of filling and/or of assembling the can.
In an aspect, the present invention provides methods of packaging the can of the invention and/or of filling and/or of assembling the can.
In an aspect, the invention provides a method of making available and/or of obtaining a can made of plastic and containing a liquid foodstuff, which is preferably a sterile beverage and/or a sterilized beverage.
In an aspect, the invention provides a method of filling a receptacle and/or a plastic can, the filling taking place under aseptic conditions.
In an aspect, the invention provides a method of filling and sealing a plastic can.
In an aspect, the invention provides a method of making available a liquid foodstuff in a can that is made essentially of plastic.
In an aspect, the invention provides a liquid foodstuff packaged in a can that is made essentially of plastic.
In an aspect, the invention provides a method of obtaining and/or of making available a can made of plastic and containing a liquid foodstuff, the method including the steps of: providing a plastic receptacle filled with a liquid foodstuff; closing the filling opening of the receptacle; and attaching a cap to the closed receptacle.
In an aspect, the invention provides a method of obtaining and/or of making available a plastic can containing a liquid foodstuff, the method including the steps of: providing a plastic receptacle filled with a liquid foodstuff and comprising an opening hermetically sealed by a closure; and attaching a cap to the closed receptacle.
In an aspect, the invention provides the plastic can and/or a foodstuff in the plastic can obtained by any one of the methods of the invention.
Other aspects and preferred embodiments of the invention and are defined in the appended claims and in the following description.
The characteristics and advantages of the invention appear more clearly on reading the following description of preferred embodiments, the description being given merely by way of non-limiting example, and with reference to the accompanying illustrating drawings, in which:
The can 1 is made essentially of plastic, i.e. of a plastics material. In particular, the receptacle 2 is essentially or entirely made of plastic. The cap 3 is preferably essentially or entirely made of plastic. In particular, the beverage (the foodstuff) in the can 1 is in contact with the plastics material of the can 1, and in particular with the plastics material of the receptacle 2.
The plastics material(s) or “plastic(s)” of which the receptacle 2 and the cap 3 of the can of the invention are essentially made is/are preferably constituted by synthetic or artificial polymer material(s). The receptacle 2 and the cap 3 may be formed by thermoforming, plastics injection molding, extrusion blow molding or injection blow molding, for example. In a preferred embodiment, the receptacle 2 is formed by extrusion blow molding. In a preferred embodiment, the cap 3 is formed by plastics injection molding.
The receptacle 2 and/or the cap 3 may be formed of any thermoplastic materials that are usable for manufacturing hollow bodies. Examples of such plastics materials are polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP). The receptacle 2 and/or the cap 3 may be made of a “barrier packaging material”, e.g. a composite material such as the material described below. The plastics material(s) of which the receptacle 2 and the cap 3 are formed preferably comprise a material or materials that is/are sufficiently rigid to guarantee stability and rigidity for the can 1. Therefore, the receptacle 2 and the cap 3 are preferably of fixed shapes defined by the production method.
In an alternative embodiment, the body 2 of the receptacle, in particular the cylindrical wall 27, includes and/or is made of a soft plastic.
In an embodiment, the receptacle 2 is made of a plurality of layers (it is multilayer), e.g. three or more layers, including a layer that absorbs light, at least partially. In an embodiment, the receptacle includes an anti-oxygen layer, inhibiting diffusion of oxygen through the wall of the receptacle. An anti-oxygen layer may be made of ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH). Such a layer is preferably used when the beverage contains vitamins or other substances that can be degraded in the presence of oxygen. The layer that absorbs light and the anti-oxygen layer are barrier layers. Preferably, the receptacle includes or is made entirely of a multilayer configuration and comprises at least one barrier layer, and, for example, includes two or more barrier layers. In an embodiment, the receptacle includes a layer that absorbs light and/or an anti-oxygen layer. The barrier layers are preferably inner layers that are covered by other layers.
In an embodiment, at least a portion of the can is made of transparent plastic. In an embodiment, a portion of or all of the cylindrical side wall 27 (
In an embodiment, a portion of or all of the cap 3, e.g. the lid 4, is partially or totally transparent. For example, a portion of the can 1 may include a tinted transparent plastic.
In an embodiment, the can 1 contains a foodstuff, in particular a liquid foodstuff, and preferably a beverage. In a preferred embodiment, the can 1 contains a milk-based foodstuff, e.g. a milk-based beverage. For example, the foodstuff is a yoghurt-based beverage.
The liquid foodstuff may contain flavorings. In an embodiment, the liquid foodstuff contains coffee. For example, the liquid foodstuff may be a coffee with milk, a coffee with steamed milk, a cappuccino, and/or a macchiato coffee. In such cases, the beverage is also a milk-based beverage in the meaning of the invention.
The expression “milk-based foodstuff” or “milk-based beverage” refers to a foodstuff comprising at least one ingredient coming from milk, e.g. including one or more milk proteins, lactose, and/or fat originating from milk.
In a preferred embodiment, a milk-based food comprises milk, e.g. full-cream milk, milk that is totally or partially skimmed, or powder made from full-cream milk or from partially or totally skimmed milk.
In an embodiment, the milk-based foodstuff is allergen-free and/or lactose-free, or contains a substantially reduced quantity of allergens and/or of lactose respectively.
The can of the invention may also contain other beverages. In an embodiment, the can 1 contains a non-milk-based foodstuff, e.g. a non-milk-based beverage.
For example, the liquid foodstuff does not contain any milk. For example, the liquid foodstuff may be a black coffee, a juice, or a carbonated beverage that does not contain any milk or any ingredient coming from milk.
In an embodiment, the foodstuff, in particular the beverage, is homogeneous. For example, when it is a dairy product or a milk-based beverage, the foodstuff is homogenized.
In a preferred embodiment, the can of the invention contains a sterile foodstuff.
In another embodiment, the can of the invention contains a liquid foodstuff that has not been subjected to a sterilization method. For example, in an embodiment, the can of the invention contains a pasteurized liquid foodstuff.
Preferably, the can of the invention contains a liquid foodstuff that can be consumed without any risk for the health of the consumer. The foodstuff may be rendered fit for consumption by any method making it possible to guarantee absence of any risk for health, in particular absence of any harmful microorganisms or sufficiently low presence of such microorganisms to guarantee absence of any risk for health.
In a preferred embodiment, the can of the invention contains a sterile foodstuff, and preferably a sterile beverage. The characteristic of sterility applies to the foodstuff (e.g. said milk-based beverage or said non-milk-based beverage) in the can, after filling and closure, and thus to the volume containing the foodstuff and hermetically sealed as described below. The characteristic of sterility does not necessarily apply to the outside surfaces of the receptacle 2 of the can 1 as a whole.
It should be noted that the term “sterile” refers to an absolute condition, which is absolute absence of any living microorganism. The expression “living microorganism” includes microscopic fungi, including yeast, bacteria, and, in a preferred embodiment, also viruses. In particular, the expression “living microorganism” also includes spores, the resistant forms of certain bacteria and fungi. Preferably, the foodstuff contained in the can of the invention is sterile, any living microorganism being absent from it.
As indicated, the term “sterile” represents an absolute condition: a product is either sterile or is not sterile. Furthermore, the efficacy of a sterilization method cannot be defined in this way, because a population of microorganisms exposed to such a method follows an exponential model. Therefore, there always remains a limited probability that a microorganism might survive the sterilization method, independently of the type or of the length of the method. For this reason, sterility may also be measured as a probability that a microorganism of a population of microorganisms might survive the sterilization method. This probability corresponds to the fraction of the entities (the cans in this example) that are contaminated, and it is known as the “Sterility Assurance Level” (SAL), expressed as a negative exponent. For example, an SAL of 10−3 indicates a probability of 1/1000th that a sterilized entity is contaminated by a living microorganism. The SAL value is the same as the Probability of Non-Sterile Unit (PNSU) value. In this numerical example, one out of 1000 entities might be contaminated. In an embodiment, the foodstuff in the can of the invention has an SAL value of 10−1 or less, e.g. 10−2 or less. Preferably, the SAL value is 10−3 or less, more preferably the SAL value is 10−4 or less, and even more preferably, it is 10−5 or less. In a preferred embodiment, the SAL value is 1.5×10−4 or less, 2×10−4 or less, 3×10−4 or less, or indeed 4×10−4 or less. In a preferred embodiment, the SAL value is 10−6 or less. The SAL value of 10−6 represents the highest standard in certain pharmaceutical fields. An SAL of 10−1, preferably 10−2 or possibly 10−3 or 10−4 or less has proved to be sufficient in the context of the present invention.
As described below, in an embodiment of the method of the invention for filling and closing the can, the receptacle 2 of the can and the foodstuff are preferably sterilized independently of each other. The closure 10 of the receptacle, described below, is preferably also sterilized. The receptacle 2 is filled and hermetically sealed by a closure under aseptic conditions. In this way, a can containing a sterile foodstuff is obtained.
The sterility makes it possible to present a foodstuff in accordance with the invention and with the foodstuff having a long shelf-life. Shelf-life refers to storage at ambient temperature (25° C.). In an embodiment, the foodstuff in the can of the invention has a shelf-life of at least 2 months (i.e. 2 months or longer), preferably at least 3 months, more preferably at least 4 months, and even more preferably at least 5 months, e.g. at least 6 or 7 months. In an embodiment, the shelf-life of the foodstuff is at least from 3 to 6 months. The above-mentioned shelf-lives apply to a can that contains a beverage and that is hermetically closed by a closure as described in this description. The shelf-life is counted from the date of filling and sealing of the receptacle. Shelf-lives relate to storage before the can is opened for the first time. Once the can is opened, the length of time for which it can be stored can be substantially shorter than the shelf-life, e.g. one day or a few days, at ambient temperature.
In a preferred embodiment, the shelf-life of the foodstuff in the can of the invention is at least six (6) months, e.g. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 months, or longer.
Although, in a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a can containing a sterile liquid foodstuff, said foodstuff is not shown in the figures.
In the embodiments in which the liquid foodstuff is not sterile, e.g. when it is a pasteurized liquid foodstuff, it may have a shorter shelf-life than the shelf-life described above for sterile liquid foodstuffs. In addition, a non-sterile beverage may need to be stored chilled (in the range 1° C. to 5° C.) even before the can is opened for the first time.
In
The elliptical zone in dashed lines referenced 47 in
As can be seen by comparing
The lid 4 is preferably adapted to cover a zone that extends beyond (or that is of larger area than) the zone to be covered for the sole purpose of re-closing the drinking opening 14. As can be seen in
In an embodiment, the can of the invention includes a device 5 adapted to generate a drinking opening 14 when the can 1 is opened for the first time by a user, and a contact zone 47 designed to be in contact with the lips and/or the mouth of the consumer while the beverage is being drunk. Preferably, the can 1 comprises a lid 4 covering at least a portion of said contact zone 47 before the can 1 is opened for the first time.
In an embodiment, said contact zone 47 is situated on an outside surface 31 of the can 1 that at least partially surrounds a zone in which said drinking opening is generated when the can is opened for the first time.
In the embodiment shown, the lid 4 covers the entire piercing device 5 in the closed position. The lid 4 covers the entire closure zone 9, in which the piercing device 5, including the lever tab 6 and the piercing plate, is disposed. In an embodiment, the lid 4 is disposed in such a manner as to close at least the drinking opening 14 and the contact zone 47, and preferably also the portion 7 of the piercing device 5 that is pushed into the can when the can is opened for the first time. In another embodiment (not shown), the lid 4 does not cover the lever tab 6.
Regarding the contact zone 47, it should also be said that, in the embodiment shown, the mouth will possibly also be in contact with a portion of the skirt 30 of the cap 3, e.g. at the notch 43 and the zone around the notch 43. The zone over the skirt 30 that could be in contact with the mouth is not covered by the lid 4 (
The receptacle 2 comprises a lower portion or “receptacle portion” 20 that mainly defines the volume and the capacity 24 of the can. The lower portion is also referred to as the “body” of the receptacle 2 in the present description. The lower portion 20 has a substantially cylindrical shape, formed by a substantially cylindrical side wall 27. Since the lower portion 20 is visible from the outside, it contributes to the can appearance of the packaging 1 as a whole. The downward end of the lower portion 20 is constituted by the bottom 25 of the receptacle 2 or of the can 1. In the embodiment shown, the bottom 25 is slightly concave and is connected to the cylindrical portion 27 via an edge 29 provided with a peripheral annular setback 26. The bottom thus comprises structures 25, 26, 29 that are complementary to the upper portion of the cap 3, and that are arranged in such a manner as to enable a stack of cans 1 to be formed and/or to be stabilized. The peripheral annular setback 26 has, in particular, a shape that is complementary to the upper rim 40 or to an analogous upper rim 340, 440 in the various embodiments of the cap of the can. The edge 29 may be positioned on the top surface of a lid 4a, 404c, or on a top surface of the cap in general, and the bottom of the receptacle is then laterally stabilized by the rim 40.
It should be noted that, when the liquid foodstuff contained in the can of the invention is a fizzy and/or carbonated beverage, the bottom of the can generally comprises reinforcing shapes or structures to prevent the can from being deformed. For example, a bottom comprising a star-shaped reinforcement is commonly used for plastics receptacles containing carbonated beverages. The person skilled in the art can alter the receptacle 2 shown in the figures in such a manner as to make it suitable for carbonated beverages.
The person skilled in the art can understand that the side wall 27 of the body 20 may exhibit an outside surface that is otherwise than exactly cylindrical, e.g. that is slightly conical, or that is provided with relief, e.g. when a particular can design is chosen for reasons of pleasing appearance, without going beyond the general concept of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the lower portion 20 of the receptacle is exactly cylindrical, ignoring the structures 26, 29 forming the transition at the bottom 25 of the can. Such a cylindrical shape contributes to giving the conventional appearance of a metal can.
In a preferred embodiment, the receptacle 2 comprises a lower portion 20 that is not covered by the cap, and said lower portion is essentially cylindrical or comprises at least one cylindrical segment.
The upper portion 21 of the receptacle gives the receptacle 2 as a whole the appearance of a bottle. The upper portion 21 is characterized by the upward end of the cylindrical wall 27. In particular, the cylindrical wall 27 tapers at the upper portion 21, in such a manner as to form a neck 17, before flaring out again to constitute a ring 18. The upper portion 21 thus includes the neck 17 and the ring 18, said ring 18 having an outside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the neck 17. The transition between the cylindrical wall 27 and the neck 17 is formed by a lower collar 28a, and the transition between the neck 17 and the ring 18 is formed by an upper collar 28b, given that the receptacle 2 as a whole is circularly symmetrical. It is also possible to consider the neck 17 as a peripheral recess that enables the receptacle 2 to be taken hold of and carried by robotized grasping means, e.g. robotized arms. Said robotized means may bear against the receptacle 2 respectively at the lower collar 28b or at the upper collar 28b, depending on the orientation of the receptacle 2 while it is being manipulated.
In an embodiment, the can 1 of the invention includes a receptacle 2 comprising a substantially cylindrical portion 20 and an upper portion 21 that is narrower than the cylindrical portion 20, the upper portion 21 leading towards an opening 19. Preferably, said receptacle has the general appearance of a bottle.
The opening 19 in the receptacle 2 is situated at the top in
The can 1 and/or the receptacle 2 is/are preferably filled via the opening 19. In an alternative embodiment, the receptacle is provided with another opening and/or with a separate opening, in particular making filling possible. For example, the invention considers the possibility of filling via the bottom. For example, an opening may be situated at the bottom of the can, e.g. in the bottom 25. Such an alternative embodiment of a can could be filled once the opening 19 has been sealed, or also when the opening 19 is totally absent, e.g. when it is replaced by some other system making piercing possible. For example, the closure 10 of the can as described above may be formed by a rupture line in the material of which the receptacle 2 is made. The invention covers any possibility for an opening enabling the can to be filled at a position other than the position of the opening 19.
The upper portion 21 of the receptacle 2 is provided with a peripheral groove 22. The purpose of this groove 22 is to enable the cap 3 to be connected to the receptacle 2 by snap-fastening. The groove 22 defines a portion of snap-fastening means. The groove 22 is delimited downwards by the cylindrical wall 27 and upwards by a peripheral shoulder 23 that is in the form of an annular projection on the upper portion 21.
In general, the upper portion 21 of the receptacle 2 and the cap 3 preferably comprise complementary shapes that are arranged to make connection by snap-fastening possible.
It should be noted that the lower portion 20 has a diameter d1 that is greater than the maximum diameter over the entire upper portion 21. In other words, at no position does the upper portion have a diameter that exceeds the diameter defined by the outside surface of the cylindrical wall 27 of the body 20. The entire upper portion 21 thus generally has dimensions that are smaller than the dimensions of the outside surface of the cylindrical wall 27, such dimensions being measured along horizontal axes defining the diameter of the receptacle 2 at any given vertical positions. For example, the diameter d2 of the ring 18 (as measured at the outside surface of the ring 18) is less than the diameter d1. In the embodiment shown, the maximum diameter of the upper portion of the receptacle 2 is situated at the level (in the vertical direction) of the annular projection 23.
The widest diameter of the upper portion 21 is preferably smaller than the diameter of the lower portion at the upper end of the lower portion 20, defining the transition 15 between the lower portion and the cap 3. In a preferred embodiment, the largest diameter of the upper portion 21 is smaller than the smallest diameter of the lower portion 20, ignoring the reduction in the diameter at the transition 26, 29 at the bottom 25 of the receptacle.
The smaller horizontal dimensions and/or the smaller diameter of the upper portion 21 make it possible for the cap 3 to mask or to cover said upper portion 21 completely, as can be seen more clearly in
In a preferred embodiment, the cap is arranged on the receptacle in such a manner as to feature an outline that, in profile, is continuous and/or is arranged in such a manner that the outside surfaces of the lower portion 20 of the receptacle and of the lower portion 30 of the cap are flush with each other, together making the assembly comprising the cap 3 and the receptacle 2 look like it is formed in one piece. Preferably, this applies even when the receptacle 2 has a non-cylindrical outside shape over its lower portion 20, e.g. it has a lower portion 20 featuring a profile (longitudinal section) that is curved (not shown).
In a preferred embodiment, the cap comprises a skirt including an essentially cylindrical lower portion in contact with an essentially cylindrical portion or segment of the lower portion of the receptacle, and the cylindrical portion of the cap and the cylindrical segment of the receptacle have the same diameter so that together they exhibit a uniform cylindrical outside appearance.
The outside surface of the can 2 at the transition between the receptacle and the cap extends preferably without any discontinuity and/or without any visible break.
As shown in the perspective view of
The cap 3 includes the side wall or skirt 30, the outside surface of which, visible in
In other words, the cap 3 is formed in such a manner as to contribute to the substantially cylindrical can appearance of the can 1, by masking an upper portion 21 of the receptacle 2 that, for example for reasons related to aseptic filling, exhibits an outside surface that looks like a bottle rather than a can.
It should be specified that the person skilled in the art will understand that the peripheral outside wall 30 of the cap 3 could exhibits a substantially cylindrical outside surface, without a conical portion, or it could also be slightly conical overall (without a completely cylindrical portion), without going beyond the general concept of the invention.
The piercing device 5 is situated in a recess or opening 33 that is provided in the top wall 31 of the cap. The recess 33 comprises two recesses, namely a front recess 33a and a back recess 33b, the recesses 33a and 33b being separated by the support 34 of the piercing device 5. The recesses 33a and 33b pass through the top wall 31 of the cap 3, and thus constitute openings through which the foodstuff in the can could pass once the can (and in particular the closure) is open. As becomes clear below, during drinking, the foodstuff passes preferentially through a drinking opening 14 (
The piercing device 5 includes a piercing plate (or striker) 7 and a lever tab 6 connected on either side to a pair of pins 8a and 8b that form a rotary shaft 8. The piercing plate 7 is disposed in such a manner as to pierce a closure 10 (not shown in
The outline of the projection 37 corresponds to the shape of the opening and/or closure zone 9 on the top wall 31 of the cap 3. When the lid 4 is in the closed position, as shown in
In an embodiment, the surface area of the entire bottom face 4b of the lid 4 represents the area covered by the lid 4 as closed. Preferably, the lid 4 features and/or covers an area of at least 2.0 cm2 or more, preferably 2.5 cm2 or more, more preferably 3.0 cm2 or more, and even more preferably 3.5 cm2 or more. In a preferred embodiment, the area covered by the lid 4 is at least 4.0 cm2 or more. This area of the lid includes the above-defined surface area of the zone 47, and more generally the surface area that goes beyond the drinking opening 14 and that surrounds said drinking opening. The relatively large area of the bottom face 4b of the lid 4 constitutes an advantage for hygiene, as described elsewhere in this specification.
In a preferred embodiment, the cap comprises a lid or some other form of protection that covers said piercing device and/or that covers at least an area of surface that is designed to constitute a drinking opening once the can is opened.
As can be seen in
In an embodiment, the can 1 comprises a receptacle 3 with an opening 19, a cap 3, and a closure 10 disposed over the opening 19, said cap including a piercing device 5 disposed in a lid closure zone 9, delimited by a first delimitation wall 38, and said cap includes a pivotally mounted lid 4 comprising a second delimitation wall 37, said first and second delimitation walls comprising complementary shapes, said pivotally mounted lid being disposed in such a manner as to be able to close said closure zone by said complementary shapes fitting together in interfitting manner.
In the embodiment shown in the figures, the lid 4 exhibits a non-circular outline, including curved shapes designed to improve the pleasing appearance of the cap 3 as a whole. To accommodate the lid 4 properly in the closed position, the top wall 31 comprises a raised horizontal level 36, subdivided into two separate levels 36a and 36b, delimited by side walls 39a and 39b that match the side portions 41a and 41b of the curved outline of the lid 4. In this way, when the lid is in the closed position (
When the lid 4 is in the closed position, the entire top face of the cap 3 is thus generally flat and horizontal, but it is also provided with a rim 40 that is essentially continuous at its periphery. The rim 40 is preferably in the shape of a circle or of a portion (arc) of a circle, preferably extending through an angle of at least 180°, and preferably of at least 270°. The rim 40 is formed by the side rim portions 40a and 40b disposed on the top wall 31, and by the front rim portion 40c disposed at the periphery and at the front of the lid 3, on its top face, as can be seen more clearly in
In a variant of the embodiment shown in the figures, the lid 4 is disk-shaped, with, in particular, an outline that is substantially circular. In this variant, the raised horizontal levels 36a and 36b are absent, and the top face of the lid 4 extends over the entire top of the cap 3, and/or forms the entire top face of the cap 3 when the lid is in the closed position.
The projecting rim 40 contributes to the stability of the stacked cans. More particularly, the rim 40 makes it possible to place a can of the same type and comprising a bottom provided with complementary structures, e.g. a peripheral annular setback 26 and an edge 29 as described with reference to
A notch 43 is situated at the top and at the front in the skirt 30 of the cap 3. The notch 43 facilitates opening of the lid by enabling the consumer to press upwards from below on the lid 4 using a finger. The consumer who takes hold of the can in the embodiment shown by holding it normally in the palm of the hand, can conveniently push up the lid by pressing the end of the thumb against the lid at the notch 43. The lid 4 is thus disposed or arranged in such a manner as to be opened with one hand only.
Easy opening of the lid 4 as described above does not preclude providing tamper-proofing or tamper-evidencing means that have to be opened or destroyed on opening the can for the first time. Such tamper-proofing or tamper-evidencing may constitute additional closure means, serving to confirm to the consumer that the can has not yet been opened. It may be impossible for such tamper-proofing or tamper-evidencing to be opened with one hand only. Tamper-proofing or tamper-evidencing, e.g. in the form of a tear-off film of plastic (tear-off strip or tamper-proofing), may also be used to cover the outside surfaces of the can 1 that come into contact with the consumer's mouth during drinking. The tamper-proofing or tamper-evidencing thus increases the hygiene of the can and reduces the risk of the consumer being contaminated while drinking. This applies in particular insofar as the outside surfaces are not yet covered by the lid 4, as described with reference to the contact zone 47.
In
When the lid 4 is in the closed position, it also rests on the top face of the piercing device 5. Preferably, before the can is opened for the first time, the lid 4 is disposed horizontally, above the piercing device 5, which is also disposed horizontally. For example, the lid 4 rests on the plate 7 and the lever tab 6. In the embodiment shown, the lid 4 also rests on the top wall 31 of the cap.
In the embodiment shown, the lid 4 rests on the top face 35 of the top wall 31, said top face forming a horizontal support level for the lid 4.
Preferably, the top surfaces of the lever tab 6 and the piercing plate 5 are substantially or entirely horizontal and face the bottom surface 4b of the lid 4 when the lid 4 is in the closed position.
In
In an embodiment of the invention, the cap may be attached to the receptacle by snap-fastening means, bayonet fittings, or screw-fastening including complementary inside and outside threads respectively in the cap and on the receptacle, for example. Connections that prevent movement in an axial direction relative to the receptacle are preferred, such as bayonet fittings and snap-fastening connections. Preferably, the cap is also fastened by gluing or heat-sealing/welding to the receptacle as described below.
In
The dashed arrow 56 indicates the general axis of the can 1. This axis is vertical when the can is stood on a horizontal surface and it corresponds to the upward longitudinal direction of the can, towards the arrow.
In an embodiment, the can 1 of the invention comprises a receptacle 2 with an opening 19, a cap 3 fastened to the receptacle 2, and a closure 10 disposed over the opening 19 in such a manner as to close said opening 19 in hermetically sealed manner. Preferably, the closure 10 includes a thin metal layer and a heat-seal lacquer. Preferably, the closure is placed by bonding over the receptacle 2 in such a manner as to close the receptacle 2 and thus the can 1 in hermetically sealed manner.
The closure may be produced with materials specific to packaging, e.g. to sterile packaging. Closures of this type are commercially available. Preferably, the closure is produced from materials that enable it to be pierced, e.g. by the piercing device 5 made of plastic, as described in the context of the present invention. Preferably, the closure makes it possible both for the opening 19 to be closed in hermetically sealed manner and also for piercing to take place using a pointed piece of plastic pressed by pressure that can conveniently be generated by a user manipulating the piercing device 5.
The closure is generally in the form of a film, and preferably a film having a plurality of layers, including, for example, a metal layer or foil, e.g. aluminum or tin foil, and one or more layers of plastic. One or more layers of heat-seal lacquer are generally disposed on the closure over defined zones of one of the two surfaces of the closure or of both of said surfaces of the closure. The closure is generally a composite material, e.g. of a laminated composite including different materials in the form of foils or films.
The closure 10 is generally substantially circular. The closure may also be made up of or include one or more films of plastic and/or one or more heat-seal lacquers. In an embodiment, the closure is a film including superposed layers, e.g. layers of different materials, e.g. a metal film and a plastics film. The layers of heat-seal lacquer may be disposed on the underside (corresponding to the bottom face of the closure in its position on the assembled and filled can) and/or on the topside (corresponding to the top surface) of the closure, preferably over annular surfaces on the closure, in such a manner as to enable the closure to be bonded to the receptacle 2 and/or for the cap 3 to be bonded to the closure, respectively.
In a preferred embodiment, the closure includes heat-seal lacquer on both of its opposite surfaces. The lacquer on the respective sides defines or constitutes respective positions for sealing the closure. The layers of lacquer are preferably disposed over annular surfaces of the closure. Preferably, a first ring of lacquer is disposed on the underside of the closure and a second ring of lacquer is disposed on the topside of the closure, which ring is designed to be in contact with the cap 3 of the assembled and filled can. Preferably, the first and second rings of lacquer are not, or not entirely superposed on either side of the closure, so that the sealing using the lacquer of the first ring can be performed separately and at another place form the sealing using the lacquer of the second ring. For example, the ring of lacquer on the underside of the closure is situated at least partially inside the ring of lacquer on the topside.
The
In an embodiment in which the receptacle 2 is not filled via the opening 19, but rather, for example, via another opening, the closure to be pierced (or piercable) by the piercing device 5 may be formed differently from what is described above. The invention also covers a closure formed, for example, by rupture lines or rupture points present in the top wall of the receptacle 2, e.g., when the opening 19 is absent and the receptacle is closed at the position of the opening 19 by said wall. In this embodiment, the receptacle may be provided with a filling opening in the portion of the receptacle that is shown at the bottom in the figures and/or that is situated at the bottom of the receptacle.
In the embodiment shown, the shaft 8 is formed by two pins 8a and 8b that connect the piercing device 5 on either side of the top wall 31, in particular to the support 34 of the piercing device. The pins 8a and 8b connect the lever tab 6 at its front end (in
Since the pins 8a and 8b are thin branches, they enable the lever tab 6 to pivot by means of their elasticity/resilience and/or flexibility. Said pivoting is thus the result of thin/weak regions at chosen places (the pins 8a and 8b) that are suitable for bending when a traction force is applied to the lever tab 6 by a user wishing to open the can. In a preferred embodiment, the lever tab 6 is disposed in such a manner that it can be lifted and/or pivoted upwards in order to generate the opening of the can, preferably by the striker 7 moving downwards and/or pivoting downwards.
By means of the film hinge 49, the piercing plate 7 can pivot at least partially about the shaft 8. Conversely, in the embodiment shown, the lever tab 6 of the piercing device 5 is rigidly connected to the shaft 8, and it can even be said that the shaft 8 (the pins 8a and 8b) is part of the lever tab 6. The lever tab cannot therefore pivot relative to the shaft 8, but rather it can pivot about a horizontal axis that corresponds to the axis of the shaft 8 and/or of the pins 8a and 8b, when the lever tab is lifted by a user. The lever tab 6 comprises a lever edge 48 (see also
As can be understood by the person skilled in the art, when a user lifts the lever tab 6 by holding it in its position in which it is designed to be taken hold of by a user and, by pivoting the tab 6 upwards, the lever edge 48 comes to bear against the bearing surface 50. The force exerted by a user on the lever tab 6 is thus transmitted to the piercing plate by pivoting the lever tab, thereby causing the piercing plate 7 to pivot in the same direction. Pivoting the piercing plate 7 counterclockwise (in leftward rotation) causes the closure 10 to be pushed in by the piercing member 46.
In a preferred embodiment, the lever tab 6 is disposed in such a manner that it can be taken hold of and lifted by a user, the tab 6 being lifted causing the striker 7 to be lowered and thus the closure 10 to be torn.
Preferably, the lever tab 6 is pivoted by the user until it is in a vertical position (not shown) or close to a vertical position. The piercing plate is thus also forced into a vertical position, as shown in
It should be noted that, once in the vertical position (
Arrow 51 in
On its underside, and before it is positioned on the receptacle after the receptacle has been filled, the closure comprises a ring of heat-seal lacquer (not shown). When the closure is placed on the receptacle 2, the heat-seal lacquer on the closure is positioned in such a manner as to be in contact with the bonding edge 44 (
It should be added that the bond 51 is circular and extends over the entire periphery of the bonding edge 44, in particular over an annular loop over the substantially horizontal outside surface of the ring 18, the position of which as seen in longitudinal section is indicated by arrow 51.
In a preferred embodiment, the can 1 of the invention comprises a bond for attaching the cap 3 to the receptacle 2. This bond is preferably a second bond 52. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the bond 52 of the cap 3 is situated between an inside surface of the skirt 30 of the cap 3 and an outside surface of the closure placed on the ring 18. In another embodiment, the bond of the cap 3 is not situated on the closure, but rather directly between the plastics material of the cap and the plastics material of the receptacle 2, e.g. at or close to the snap-fastening connection 53 (
Like the bond 51 (the first bond) between the closure 10 and the receptacle 2, the second bond 52 may be made by laser, induction, or spin bonding, for example. Bonding by applying heat is less advantageous. Giving a heat source access to the position of the bonding is not easy to imagine, since the bonding is bonding that takes place inside the can, after the cap 3 has been placed on the receptacle 2. In a preferred embodiment, the bond 52 is situated on an inside portion of the cap 3. Spin-bonding, as disclosed in Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,289, is a possibility for forming the bond 52. In a preferred embodiment, the bond between the cap 3 and the closure 10, or between the cap and the receptacle 2, is formed by induction welding.
The bond 52 of the cap does not necessarily need to be as hermetic and sealed (leaktight) as the first bond 51. The bond 52 of the cap serves firstly to attach the cap in fixed or rigid manner to the receptacle. In a preferred embodiment, the bond prevents the cap 3 from moving in rotation relative to the receptacle 2. The snap-fastening connection 53 is not a rigid connection and a user could easily detach the cap 3 from the receptacle 2 or turn the cap 3 relative to the receptacle 2. The bond 52 of the cap 3 increases the connection between the receptacle and the cap 3 and prevents the cap and the receptacle from moving in rotation relative to each other.
In addition, the bond 52 contributes to the sealing between the cap 3 and the receptacle 2. The person skilled in the art can understand, in particular, that once the can 1 is open, as shown in
In an embodiment, the can 1 includes a cap 3 comprising a piercing device 5 including an actuation lever 6 that can be activated by a consumer in order to pierce said closure 10 so as to generate a drinking opening 14, said cap 3 comprising a pivotally mounted lid 4, disposed in such a manner as to close over said drinking opening 14 and thus as to re-close the can 1.
When, after piercing the closure 10, a user re-closes the lid 4, the foodstuff contained in the can 1 can flow into the space 54, e.g. when the can 1 is on its side or when it tips. In an embodiment of the can 1 of the invention, provision is made for the cap 3 to be connected to the receptacle 2 in a substantially sealed manner. The sealing between the cap 3 and the receptacle 2 may however be of lesser degree than the sealing between the closure 10 and the receptacle. The sealing of the cap 3 does not need to guarantee sterility for the contents of the can, unlike what applies for the sealing generated by the bond of the seal 51.
The annular space 55 (
Generally, the can 1 comprises a sleeve (not shown) over its outside surface. The sleeve generally contains the graphic design, the decoration, and any other communications to the consumer. For example, the sleeve may include information concerning the foodstuff contained in the can 1. Naturally, the invention also covers all of the other embodiments of decorations and information for the packaging, such as, for example, a decoration applied by In-Mold Labeling (IML), the use of a label, e.g. glued to the can, direct printing on the can 1, and/or cardboard surrounding the can, for example.
In a preferred embodiment, the can 1 comprises an outer sleeve (not shown). Preferably, the sleeve covers the circular line 15 that indicates the transition between the cap 3 and the receptacle 2 on the outside (
Preferably, the sleeve is not used to attach the cap to the receptacle. Preferably, the purpose of the sleeve is not to prevent the cap from moving in a longitudinal (axial) direction of the can.
The sleeve may be produced with a shrinkable plastics film or of a stretch plastics film. In case of a shrinkable film, it is placed and then shrunk, e.g. by heat treatment, about the substantially cylindrical outside surface of the can 1. The plastic sleeve also contributes to the sealing between the cap 3 and the receptacle 2. The stretch sleeve is stretched and placed over the can. On the can, the stretched plastic tightens to form the sleeve.
The can 1 of the invention thus contains one or more elements or structures that can contribute to the sealing between the cap 3 and the receptacle 2, in order to avoid leakage of the liquid via the transition between the cap and the receptacle (line 15 in
As mentioned, the lid 4 makes it possible to re-close the can 1 once it has been opened. Preferably, the lid 4 also makes it possible to achieve a re-closure that is essentially or at least partially sealed. The person skilled in the art can understand that the sealing between the closure 10 and the receptacle 2, created by the bond 51 is preferably absolute or complete, whereas the sealing produced by the lid 4 is partial or relative. If a can having had its closure 10 pierced and having its lid 4 re-closed is lying on its side, on the cylindrical outside surface 27, the lid preferably makes it possible for the can to be sealed for a certain amount of time, e.g. in the range 10 minutes to 48 hours, and preferably from 1 hour to 24 hours. Conversely, it is not necessary and no provision is made for the lid 4 to enable the can 1 to be closed hermitically as described with reference to the closure 10. The sealing between the lid 4 and the cap 3 and the sealing between the cap 3 and receptacle 2 is preferably sealing to a lesser degree than the sealing between the closure 10 and the receptacle, which sealing preferably makes it possible to keep the contents of the can 1 sterile, in accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention.
As can be seen in
The lever tab 6, in particular its top surface, is plane and/or flat overall. This surface preferably extends substantially horizontally, and preferably essentially in the same plane as a substantially horizontal top wall of the cap 3. The striker 7 is also plane and/or flat, ignoring the piercing structure 46 designed to pierce the closure 10, which structure is disposed on the bottom surface of the striker and extends substantially vertically. The striker 7 and the lever tab 6 respectively have the flat general shape of a disk and the flat general shape of a tab. The piercing device 5 thus looks like the opening mechanism of a conventional metal can. For this reason, the user will instinctively understand the opening mechanism, in spite of the fact that plastics cans including such opening systems did not exist hitherto. In particular, the lever tab 6 is arranged in such a manner that it can be lifted with the tip of a finger so as to cause the striker to be lowered, and thus the can to be opened. The flat configuration of the piercing device and/or the fact that it is arranged in a horizontal plane, thereby minimizing its horizontal extent, make(s) it possible to save space and facilitates stacking the cans.
One or more parts that may be part of the can 1 of the invention, chosen in particular from among the receptacle 2, the cap 3, the closure 10, and/or the sleeve (if a sleeve is present) may comprise or be made of a “barrier packaging material”, e.g. a composite material comprising one or more layers of different materials. Preferably, the material is chosen in such a manner as to form a barrier against, for example, one or more or all of the following: light, air (or a gas or oxygen in particular), and moisture or humidity. As specified in this description, the receptacle 2, the cap 3, and/or the sleeve are preferably made of plastic, but they may comprise layers of plastic or of some other material, in order to increase the barrier qualities of the packaging. A barrier material is preferably a composite material that comprises a plurality of different materials in order to combine the qualities of each of the materials, including the mechanical qualities, for example.
The present invention also relates to methods concerning manufacturing and/or obtaining the can of the invention, filling and/or assembling the can, for example.
A method of the invention preferably includes a step of taking a receptacle 2 that comprises a lower portion 20 and/or a portion including a volume designed to be filled with a foodstuff. Preferably, said receptacle comprises a neck 17 and a ring 18, enabling the receptacle 2 to be taken hold of, e.g. by robotized arms and/or for automated filling. The receptacle 2 is preferably produced from plastic. Preferably, the receptacle is produced to contain multiple layers as described above.
In an embodiment, the method of the invention aims to obtain a can containing a sterile liquid foodstuff. In which case, the method includes a plurality of sterilization steps, making it possible to guarantee sterility. In another embodiment, the method does not aim to obtain a sterile liquid foodstuff. In which case, the sterilization step for sterilizing the liquid foodstuff may be omitted, e.g. replaced by a pasteurization step. Preferably, the receptacle 2 and the closure 10 are sterilized, e.g. as described in the present description, even if the liquid foodstuff is pasteurized rather than being sterilized, for example.
The method of the invention preferably includes a step of sterilizing the inside volume of the receptacle 2 and/or the inside surfaces of the receptacle. Preferably, the empty receptacle is sterilized in this step. Sterilizing the receptacle 2 may be performed by any possible means, e.g. by heat treatment, by chemical treatment, by ionization (e.g. by exposure to gamma rays or a beam of accelerated electrons), or by a combination comprising two or more of these treatments. In a preferred embodiment, the sterilization of the receptacle is performed by chemical treatment, and preferably by exposure to a disinfectant gas, such as, for example, ethylene oxide or a peroxide. The person skilled in the art can understand that sterilization preferably takes place in apparatus that is closed in sealed manner, thereby making it possible to generate a desired atmosphere, depending on the sterilization method used. The closure 10 may be sterilized by the same types of sterilization as those used for sterilizing the receptacle 2.
It should be noted that it is preferably the inside of the receptacle that is sterilized. When sterilization is by exposure to a disinfectant gas, the disinfectant gas is injected into the receptacle. Preferably, the inside space of the receptacle is arranged in such a manner as to enable effective and quick sterilization with a disinfectant gas. This preferably requires absence of remote cavities or nooks in the inside space of the receptacle and into which gas would find it difficult to penetrate during the step of sterilizing the receptacle.
The method of the invention preferably includes a step of sterilizing the liquid foodstuff with which the receptacle is to be filled. In a preferred embodiment, the foodstuff is a beverage, e.g. a milk-based beverage. Preferably, the foodstuff is sterilized by heat treatment, e.g. by Ultra High Temperature (UHT) treatment. UHT treatment per se is commonly used as a food-grade technique for sterilizing milk and dairy products in general. UHT treatment preferably involves exposure to a temperature greater than 100° C., e.g. from 130° C. to 160° C. for from 1 second to 15 seconds, and preferably at least 135° C. for an appropriate period of more than 2 seconds, e.g. from 140° C. to 150° C. for from 2 seconds to 5 seconds.
Preferably, pasteurization is not considered as a sterilization method for sterilizing a foodstuff in accordance with the present invention.
The method of the invention preferably includes a step of filling the (empty) receptacle 2 with the foodstuff. If the method aims to obtain a sterile liquid foodstuff, the food is sterilized before it is filled. Preferably, the filling takes place under aseptic packaging conditions. In an embodiment, a sealed filling apparatus is used. The inside of the apparatus is preferably provided with sterile air.
The method of the invention preferably comprises a step of hermetically sealing or closing the receptacle 2 filled with the foodstuff. In an embodiment, sealing and/or closing the receptacle 2 comprises putting a closure 10 in place. Preferably, the closure is disposed so that the opening 19 in the receptacle is fully covered over, and the closure is bonded to the receptacle, preferably to a ring 18 that defines the opening 19 in the receptacle 2. To this end, the closure preferably comprises a portion made of plastic or a lacquer suitable for being bonded, i.e. heat-sealed or welded, to the plastics material of the receptacle, in particular the ring 18 of the receptacle 2. More details concerning the material from which the closure is produced and how it is sealed to the filled receptacle are disclosed above. Methods enabling the closure to be bonded to the receptacle are also described and are part of a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention. Bonding the closure by heat treatment is the preferred method.
Preferably, the closure is also sterilized, e.g. by chemical treatment, prior to sealing the receptacle. Preferably, the method of the invention includes two or three sterilization steps: (1) sterilizing the receptacle, preferably by chemical treatment; (2) sterilizing the closure, preferably by chemical treatment; and, optionally, (3) pasteurizing or sterilizing the liquid foodstuff, preferably by heat treatment. Preferably, the three sterilization steps, as well as the filling and the sealing of the closure to the receptacle are performed in suitable apparatus. Preferably, the steps (1)-(3), and the sealing of the closure are performed in the same apparatus. Preferably, this apparatus is adapted to aseptic packaging.
In an embodiment, the method of the invention includes the step of taking a plastics receptacle 2 that is filled with a liquid foodstuff and that comprises an opening 19 that is hermetically closed by a closure 10. In an embodiment, this step includes the following steps or sub-steps:
The person skilled in the art can understood that, during and after sterilization of the empty receptacle 2, said empty receptacle is preferably maintained in an aseptic atmosphere, e.g. it is exposed to a well-defined atmosphere (sterile air, predefined pressure) that prevents the receptacle from coming into contact with germs. The aseptic atmosphere is preferably maintained at least until the receptacle is sealed by the closure 10. Once sealed, the receptacle can be taken out of the aseptic atmosphere. In an embodiment, the method of the invention includes aseptic packaging. Preferably, the method of the invention, as from sterilizing of the empty receptacle, including filling the empty receptacle and sealing it, and at least until the closure is bonded, takes place inside a suitable apparatus that makes it possible to guarantee that the recipient remains sterile after it has been sterilized. The sterilization and/or filling apparatus is preferably adapted to aseptic packaging.
In the embodiment in which the liquid foodstuff is not sterile, the method of the invention includes the step of taking a plastics receptacle 2 that is filled with a liquid foodstuff and that comprises an opening 19 that is hermetically closed by a closure 10. In an embodiment, this step includes the following steps or sub-steps:
Preferably, the inside of the receptacle 2 is sterilized before filling, as described in the embodiment of the invention in which the liquid foodstuff is sterile. Preferably, the inside of the receptacle 10 is also sterilized before filling, as described in the embodiment of the invention in which the liquid foodstuff is sterile.
The method of obtaining a liquid foodstuff that is not necessarily sterile preferably includes the step of pasteurizing the liquid foodstuff before the receptacle 2 is filled with it.
It should be added that, regardless of whether the foodstuff is sterile or not, the filling step may take place via the opening 19 in the receptacle 2 as shown in
The method of the invention preferably includes a step of putting the cap 3 in place in order to form the can 1 of the invention, containing a foodstuff that is sterile or non-sterile, e.g. pasteurized. In an embodiment of the method, the receptacle 2 comprises a cylindrical body 20 and the cap 3 comprises a cylindrical side wall 30 having the same diameter as said body 2, and the assembly of the cap 3 and of the receptacle 2 exhibits the appearance of a preferably cylindrical can.
In a preferred embodiment, the cap 3 is connected to the upper portion of the receptacle 2 via connection means equipped with interacting complementary structural or mechanical portions, e.g. snap-fastening means or bayonet fittings. A screw-fastening connection of the cap 3 to the upper portion of the receptacle is also possible. In a preferred embodiment, the cap is connected to the receptacle by a snap-fastening connection, preventing the cap from being moved in an axial direction along the axis of the can.
In an embodiment, the cap 3 is also fastened to the sealed receptacle 2 by bonding (heat-sealing or welding) and/or by gluing. Preferably, a bonding material, e.g. a heat-seal lacquer, is disposed on the upper portion 21 of the receptacle or on the topside of the closure 10 of the sealed receptacle. The cap 3 is put in place on the sealed receptacle and the bonding is performed. Since the bonding location is generally situated inside the cap 3 (arrow 52 of
In a preferred embodiment, said step of attaching the cap includes the sub-steps of placing the cap on the receptacle by snap-fastening it thereto, and of bonding the cap placed on the receptacle to said receptacle in order to prevent it from moving in rotation relative thereto.
The present invention also proposes a solution making it possible to avoid the risk of the closure 10 being pierced when the cap 3 is placed on the filled and sealed receptacle. In certain state-of-the-art solutions, it is proposed to connect a cap to a receptacle by screw-fastening. Screw-fastening may be considered as disadvantageous because the cap is brought increasingly close to the closure as the cap is being screwed onto the receptacle. It is then necessary to take particular measures to avoid the striker or some other portion of the cap piercing the closure at this stage of assembly of the can. It is also possible that a user or a member of staff of a retail outlet might turn the cap in order to tighten it or to re-fasten it onto the receptacle if it has become loose. By providing a snap-fastening connection between the cap and the receptacle and by preventing the cap from moving in rotation by bonding it, the present invention avoids those problems.
In a preferred embodiment, the closure 10 contains a heat-seal lacquer on its topside face (the face of the closure in
In an embodiment, the method of the invention includes a step of putting a sleeve in place around the can 1 as filled with the foodstuff. Preferably, the sleeve is situated in such a manner as to mask the presence of a separate cap 3, e.g. by covering the transition 15 between the receptacle 2 and the cap 3 on the outside surface of the can (
A user or consumer who wishes to drink the foodstuff in the can 1, as shown in
When the lid is a pivotally mounted lid as in the embodiment shown, said lid 4 is pivoted backwards, as shown in
As is clear from the above, the drinking opening 14 (
If the user does not wish to drink all of the liquid foodstuff at once, the user may re-close the can by re-closing the lid 4. When the lid 4 is a pivotally mounted lid, it suffices to pivot the lid 4 forwards so that the lid closes the closure zone 9 in order to close the can in sealed manner. The lid 4 brings at least partial sealing and/or temporary sealing to the re-closed can, in such a manner as to avoid unwanted leakage, e.g. if the re-closed can is tipped over accidentally. Similarly, the cap 3 is attached to the receptacle 2 in a manner sufficiently sealed to avoid leakage through the transition 15 (
In an embodiment, the cap 3 comprises a piercing device 5 suitable for piercing the closure 10, the cap 3 being adapted to exhibit a drinking or pouring opening 14 once the can 1 has been opened, which opening enables the liquid foodstuff to be drunk, the cap also comprising a lid 4 suitable for re-closing said drinking opening 14.
The person skilled in the art can understand that the present invention makes it possible to obtain a sterile liquid foodstuff in a can essentially made of plastic. Except for the closure 10 that may include a metal film, all of the components of the can may be made of plastics only. The invention is particularly advantageous in that it makes it possible to use existing filling installations for filling the can of the invention. Surprisingly, filling lines for filling plastics bottles under aseptic conditions may be used or adapted to filling a can exhibiting the appearance of a conventional can, characterized by the can shape and by an opening mechanism based on a lever tab 6. In addition, the invention offers a can that is re-closable, by means of the presence of the cap 3 comprising a pivotally mounted lid 4. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it could be considered that the concept of the present invention lies at least partially in the idea of transforming a bottle into a can by using a cap 3 as described in this description, e.g. instead of a screw cap as typically used for bottles. By means of its piercing device 5, the cap makes it possible to open the can 1 of the invention like a conventional can. The adaptations of the outside shapes of the bottle (the receptacle 2) and of the cap 3 make it possible to imitate the shape of a can.
As the person skilled in the art can understand on reading this description, the lid 4 and the closure are two separate closures for closing the can. The lid 4 may be considered as being a first closure, and the closure 10 as being a second closure. In an embodiment, the can 1 of the invention comprises a first closure 4 and a second closure 10, the first closure 4 being re-closable and the second closure 10 being designed to be opened once only. In particular, the closure 10 is a single-use closure: once the closure has been pierced, it can no longer be re-closed. Preferably, the seal 10 is disposed in such a manner as to be opened irreversibly when the can is opened. In other words, the closure 10 is not re-closable, unlike the lid 4: as soon as the closure is pierced, the sterility of the contents of the can 1 is no longer guaranteed, and it is recommended that the beverage be drunk rapidly and stored cold (in the range 0.5° C. to 5° C.).
The alternative embodiments shown in
In an embodiment, the cap 203 of the can of the invention comprises a lid 204 that is held in the closed position by a detachable structure 240c of the cap. The detachable structure is designed to be detached when the can is opened for the first time. The detachable structure 240c may constitute tamper-proofing or tamper-evidencing, indicating whether the can has already been opened, or, conversely whether it is still in its original state, e.g. its state on leaving the factory. The detachable structure is preferably discardable and not necessary for drinking the beverage.
In an embodiment, the detachable structure 240c is formed in one piece with the cap 203 during the injection molding of the cap. The cap 203 is molded with the lid 204 in the open position, and the lid 204 is closed by being pivoted forwards during assembly of the filled can. Alternatively, the detachable structure 240c may be attached to the cap 203 via bonding (heat-sealing or welding) or by gluing with adhesive.
In the closed can, the detachable structure 240c is connected to the cap 203 via one or more thin films or bridges that define rupture points and/or weaknesses.
In a preferred embodiment, the detachable structure 240c is arc-shaped in general shape. Preferably, the detachable structure 240c forms a portion of the rim 40 that surrounds at least a portion of the substantially circular top surface 36a, 36b, 204a of the closed can. Preferably, the detachable structure forms the rim towards the front of the top surface of the cap of the closed can. For example, the detachable structure is situated on or passes through the contact zone 47, which is designed to be in contact with the mouth of a consumer while the contents of the can are being drunk.
In an embodiment, two thin bridges (not shown) are situated respectively at the left and right ends of the arc-shaped detachable structure. Preferably, the rupture points, e.g. in the form of thin bridges or film connect the detachable structure 240 to the top rim 40 of the cap. The arcuate or circular rim 40 preferably comprises two free ends 240a, 240b towards the front. In
Preferably, the detachable structure is disposed in such a manner as to be readily taken hold of in the hand. For example, the detachable structure may be readily taken hold of by the thumb and the index finger so as to be detached in order to open the can.
In an embodiment, and on its front end, the lid 204 comprises two retaining structures 241, 242, e.g. protuberances or projections. In
Preferably, the lid 204 is not re-closable. Once the tamper-proofing or tamper-evidencing 240c has been detached, the lid 204 can no longer be fastened in the closed position. For this reason, the bottom surface 204b of the lid 204 shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the can of the invention comprises two openings. A first opening formed by the lid 204 that is locked in the closed position by tamper-proofing or tamper-evidencing 240c before the can is opened for the first time, and a second opening formed by the piercing device 5, adapted for piercing the closure 10 as described above. Preferably, both of these opening systems are not re-closable and are designed to be used once only. In an alternative embodiment, even though it is locked by tamper-proofing or tamper-evidencing 240c, the lid is also re-closable, as described for the can in
The absence of a re-closable lid (
In an embodiment, the cap 303 of the can comprises a piercing device 7 comprising a lever tab 6 and a striker 5, the tab 6 being disposed in such a manner as to be lifted and/or pivoted upwards to open the can, the cap also comprising a detachable and/or non-reclosable protection that covers at least a drinking opening 33a and/or an opening zone 9 of the can.
A can comprising the cap 303 preferably comprises a lid or a protection 304, shown in
In the embodiment shown in
The piercing device 7 being disposed in a horizontal plane, as it is in metal cans, is advantageous compared with a piercing device on which the top surfaces are not flat. It is then possible to use a thin lid 304, in the form of a film or a disk, to protect the opening zone 9. A lid comprising a side wall (or skirt) is not necessary. The piercing device 7, flat over its top surface makes the can more compact along a vertical axis, facilitates applying a protection 304, and also facilitates stacking the cans.
In the embodiment shown in
Preferably, the protection is provided with a tab 305 that can be taken hold of by a consumer to enable it to be readily detached. For example, the tab 305 is in the form of a projection extending beyond the outline of the circle defined by the protection 304 and thus also extending beyond the top surface of the cap when the protection is placed on it.
In an embodiment, the protection 304 is transparent or translucent, as shown in
Preferably, the protection or the lid 304 is flexible and deformable. Preferably, it is “peelable” or “peel-off” and/or can be detached by peeling (
Preferably, the lid 304 is attached to the top surface 335 to prevent unwanted detachment. In an embodiment, the lid 304 is bonded to the top surface 335 of the cap 303. For example, a heat-seal lacquer or some other bonding lacquer, present on the bottom surface of the lid 304, can be activated by heat and/or pressure being applied by using a soldering iron when the lid 304 is placed on the cap. Alternatively, the bottom surface of the protection 304 is provided with adhesive.
The bonding or the gluing between the flexible lid 304 and the top surface of the top wall 335 is preferably sufficiently weak to enable the protection to be detached easily when a user pulls the tab 305.
In an embodiment, the protection 304 has a thickness lying in the range 0.01 millimeters (mm) to 0.5 mm, preferably in the range 0.02 mm to 0.3 mm, and even more preferably in the range 0.03 mm to 0.1 mm.
The piercing device comprises a striker 407 that is disposed to be pushed in directly by a user seeking to open the can 401. Unlike the piercing device used for the preceding embodiments, a lever tab, designed to be lifted and/or pivoted upwards and acting on the striker, is absent.
The striker 407 comprises a bearing surface 406, on which the tip of a finger may be readily placed so a then to push in the striker 407. An indication for the consumer may be provided on said bearing surface 406, so that said consumer understands how to open the can.
The striker 407 is hinged to a support structure 434 of the cap, e.g. by a film hinge. The support 434 preferably comprises a flat, horizontal surface, relative to which the striker 405 emerges, i.e. stands proud. The striker 407 does not exhibit a substantially flat configuration on a horizontal plane, unlike the piercing device of the preceding embodiments. By means of the profile that is raised relative to the support surface 434, a consumer can readily press on the striker 407 and push it in. Towards the back, the striker 407 is linked to the support by a film hinge 449. The film hinge, linking the striker 407 to the support towards the back makes it possible to pivot the striker forwards. Towards the front, the striker is retained in its position by rupture films or bridges (not shown) disposed laterally on either side of the striker. These rupture bridges fasten the front of the striker to the horizontal support surface 434. Their function is to prevent the striker from being pushed in in unwanted manner.
Before the can is opened for the first time, the striker 407 occupies the drinking opening in the support 434 and more generally in the intermediate surface 435 of the cap. The support, as well as the striker and the closure wall 438 are disposed on this intermediate surface, which is visible when the re-closable lid 404 of the cap is pivoted backwards.
The skirt 430 of the cap extends down from the intermediate surface 435. It co-operates therewith to form the cover of the upper portion 21 of the receptacle 2. The wall 435 is referred to as “intermediate” because of the horizontal and substantially circular wall 404c of the lid 403, the wall 404c forming the top surface 404a of the closed cap.
The striker 407 and the support 434 thereof are surrounded by a lower wall 438. The lower wall is substantially vertical and/or parallel to the general axis of the can. The wall 438 defines an opening zone 409 that is closed when the lid 404 is in the closed position (
The outer and inner walls 438 and 437 have the form of protuberance or projections that form closed loops that are preferably circular or elliptical.
The lower wall 438 surrounds the opening zone 409 and in particular the drinking opening 414 that is generated in the cap and in the closure 10 once the striker is pushed in (
To increase the degree of sealing obtained when the can is re-closed after it has been opened for the first time, and after the striker 407 has been activated, the complementary walls 438 and 437 are sufficiently high. When one of the walls is fitted into the other one, the two surfaces are in contact so as to generate the sealing. The higher the walls 437 and 438, the larger the area of contact and the more the degree of sealing is increased.
The inner wall 437 comprises an annular lateral projection 445 on its outside surface 437b, and the outer wall comprises a complementary annular groove 422 in its inside surface 438a. The projection 445 and the groove 422 have complementary shapes that co-operate to form a connection by snap-fastening. When the lid 404 is closed (or re-closed), the two walls 437, 438 fitting one into the other cause the projection to engage in the groove, thereby retaining the lid in the closed position and increasing the degree of sealing generated by the lid 404.
In the embodiment shown, the lid 404 is connected via a hinge 432 to the main portion and/or to the support 435 of the cap 403. For example, one or more butterfly hinges may be used.
In order for the pivoting of the lid 404 forwards into the closure position to make it possible for the lower and upper walls 437 and 438 to be fitted accurately one into the other, the hinges 432 may be disposed on a support 435a disposed on the rear portion of the intermediate wall 435. This support 435a makes it possible to position the lid 404 at an optimum height for achieving sealed re-closure. Preferably, the support 435a may also make it possible to attach butterfly hinges.
Since the striker 407 and the walls 438 and 437 extend to a relatively high extent in the axial direction (along a vertical axis), compared with the piecing device 5 of the preceding embodiments, the lid 404 also comprises a skirt or side wall 441 that is substantially annular or tubular. The side wall 441 of the lid is high enough to enable the raised striker 407 and the lower wall 438 to be covered. When the lid 404 is closed or re-closed (
The skirt 430 of the cap 403 preferably comprises a cylindrical portion 416b. Preferably, the lower portion 416b of the skirt 430 is cylindrical. The lower portion 416b is preferably arranged to constitute the outline and the uniform surface in contact with the lower portion of the receptacle 2, as described in the present description.
It should be added that the cap 403 shown in
The can 1, 401 of the invention is generally designed to be discarded after the liquid foodstuff has been consumed. The can 1, 401 is disposable. Since the closure 10 has been pierced, provision is not made to re-use the can, and indeed such re-use may be inappropriate and/or impossible. The can of the invention is preferably designed for once-only use. Since the can is essentially made of plastic, it can be recycled. The person skilled in the art can understand that the can 1, 401 can be manufactured at low cost, using plastics materials that are commercially available and that do not require any particular characteristics. The can is easy to produce in large quantities and can be filled on existing production lines.
In an embodiment, the can of the invention encloses a volume of in the range 50 milliliters (ml) to 3 liters, and preferably in the range 80 ml to 2 liters, more preferably in the range 100 ml to 1.5 liters, and even more preferably in the range 200 ml to 1 liter.
In a preferred embodiment, the can contains in the range 150 ml to 500 ml, and preferably in the range 200 ml to 350 ml of a liquid foodstuff.
The can of the invention preferably exhibits the appearance of a typical can, such as the appearance of a metal can, for example. The can is generally cylindrical or comprises a cylindrical receptacle portion or segment. In an embodiment, the can of the invention comprises a cylindrical body 20 and the cap 3 comprises a cylindrical side wall 30 having the same diameter as said body 2, and the assembly comprising the cap 3 and of the receptacle 2 exhibits the appearance of a can.
In an embodiment, the height (h) of the can as a whole is greater than the width or the diameter (d, e.g. d1 in
In a preferred embodiment, the external outline of the assembly comprising the cap 3, 103, 203, 303, 403 and the receptacle 2, seen in longitudinal section, is not convex and/or is not curved towards the outside. Preferably, external outline of the receptacle as seen in longitudinal section is not convex and/or is not curved towards the outside and/or the cross-sectional diameter of the receptacle or of the receptacle-and-cap assembly does not go through a maximum in the longitudinal (axial) direction of the can.
The person skilled in the art will encounter no particular difficulty in adapting the contents of the present disclosure to his or her own needs, and in implementing a can, without going beyond the ambit of the present invention. For example, it should be noted that adapting the present teaching to constructing another type of can will not pose any particular difficulty for the person skilled in the art.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14157082 | Feb 2014 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2015/051470 | 2/27/2015 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2015/128847 | 9/3/2015 | WO | A |
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| 20160355306 A1 | Dec 2016 | US |
