Information
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Patent Grant
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6427862
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Patent Number
6,427,862
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Date Filed
Tuesday, November 7, 200024 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, August 6, 200222 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 220 270
- 220 276
- 220 3591
- 220 3592
- 220 3593
- 220 3594
- 220 2541
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International Classifications
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Abstract
A self-opening can includes a container, and a rim member which has an outer peripheral portion sealingly joined to an edge of the container and an inner peripheral portion extending inwardly of the outer peripheral portion and confining an opening. The inner peripheral portion has a groove which extends around the opening. A filler of non-metallic plastic material fills and is exposed from the groove. A cover panel closes the opening and extends to the inner peripheral portion of the rim member. The cover panel has a layer of non-metallic plastic material which is connected sealingly to the filler.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a self-opening can, more particularly to a self-opening can with an enhanced sealing effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a conventional self-opening can is shown to include a container
1
which has a longitudinal wall
10
with an edge
101
confining an opening
11
. A rim member
12
has an outer peripheral portion
121
which is sealingly joined to the edge
101
, and an inner peripheral portion
122
which extends inwardly of the outer peripheral portion
121
. A plastic cover member
2
includes a peripheral wall with a groove
21
which extends therein and in which the inner peripheral portion
122
is inserted securely, and a cover panel
22
which closes the opening
11
. A separable weakened seam
221
is formed between the peripheral wall and the cover panel
22
. An opening tab
222
is connected to the cover panel
22
adjacent to the seam
221
such that the cover panel
22
can be broken from the seam
221
by pulling the opening tab
222
. However, when the formation of the groove
21
and the inner peripheral portion
122
is not precise, the sealing effect between the rim member
12
and the cover member
2
will be adversely affected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a self-opening can which has an enhanced sealing effect.
According to this invention, the self-opening can includes a container which has a receiving space and a longitudinal wall surrounding the receiving space. The longitudinal wall has an edge which extends around one end of the receiving space. A rim member has an outer peripheral portion which is sealingly joined to the edge, and an inner peripheral portion which extends inwardly of the outer peripheral portion and which confines an opening for access to the receiving space. The inner peripheral portion has a groove which extends around the opening. A filler of non-metallic plastic material fills the groove and is exposed from the groove. A cover panel closes the opening and extends to the inner peripheral portion of the rim member. The cover panel has a layer of non-metallic plastic material which is connected sealingly to the filler.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a fragmentary sectional view of an end of a conventional self-opening can;
FIG. 2
is a fragmentary sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of an end of a self-opening can according to this invention;
FIG. 3
is a top view of the first preferred embodiment;
FIG. 4
is a top view of a second preferred embodiment of the self-opening can according to this invention;
FIG. 5
is a fragmentary sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of an end of the self-opening can according to this invention;
FIG. 6
is a top view of the third preferred embodiment;
FIG. 7
is a top view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the self-opening can according to this invention;
FIG. 8
is a fragmentary sectional view of the fourth preferred embodiment; and
FIG. 9
is a fragmentary sectional view of the fourth preferred embodiment when opened.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification.
Referring to
FIGS. 2 and 3
, the preferred embodiment of the self-opening can according to the present invention is shown to comprise a circular container
4
which has a receiving space
40
and a longitudinal wall
41
that surrounds the receiving space
40
. The longitudinal wall
41
has an edge
411
which extends around one end of the receiving space
40
. A rim member
5
has an outer peripheral portion
51
which is sealingly joined to the edge
411
and which abuts against the longitudinal wall
41
, an inner peripheral portion
53
which extends inwardly of the outer peripheral portion
51
and which confines an opening
42
for access to the receiving space
40
, and an intermediate portion
52
which extends between the inner and outer peripheral portions
53
,
51
and which projects transversely and inwardly from the longitudinal wall
41
. The inner peripheral portion
53
is bent from the intermediate portion
52
to project longitudinally and inwardly so as to form a tubular portion
57
which defines the opening
42
. The inner peripheral portion
53
is further bent transversely and inwardly from the tubular portion
57
to make a U-turn
55
so as to form a groove
56
around the opening
42
.
A filler of non-metallic plastic material is in the form of a loop-shaped member
6
which has one end
61
that is fitted within the groove
56
and an opposite another end
62
that projects out of the groove
56
. The tubular portion
57
extends around the opposite another end
62
of the loop-shaped member
6
, and has a retention protrusion
54
to engage the opposite another end
62
so as to prevent the filler from being released from the groove
56
. An engaging slot
63
is formed between the one end
61
and the opposite another end
62
to engage a distal end of the U-turn
55
tightly.
A cover panel
7
is disposed to close the opening
42
, and extends to the inner peripheral portion
53
of the rim member
5
. In this embodiment, the cover panel
7
has a layer of paper
70
and a layer of non-metallic plastic material
71
, such as PE or PP film, which is coated on the layer of paper
70
and which is heat sealed (such as by high frequency sealing) to the opposite another end
62
of the loop-shaped member
6
. Thus, there is an enhanced sealing effect between the filler and the cover panel
7
. In addition, an opening tab
72
has a connecting part
721
which is connected to the cover panel
7
, and a handle part
722
which extends from the connecting part
721
and which can be pulled to separate the cover panel
7
from the filler so as to tear off the cover panel
7
.
In assembly, the loop-shaped member
6
is first fitted within the groove
56
and abuts against the retention protrusion
54
. Then, the distal end of the U-turn
55
is inserted into the engaging slot
63
. Subsequently, the cover panel
7
is connected sealingly to the loop-shaped member
6
by virtue of the plastic film
71
. Finally, the outer peripheral portion
51
is sealingly joined to the edge
411
of the container
4
so as to close the opening
42
.
The self-opening can of this invention can have a rectangular container
4
as shown in
FIG. 4
, or a hexagonal container (not shown).
As shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6
, the self-opening can of the third preferred embodiment according to this invention has a container
4
of a larger dimension, such as a container for oil. As compared to the first preferred embodiment, the rim member
5
of the self-opening can further has a stepped ring portion
58
which interconnects the intermediate portion
52
and the tubular portion
57
. In addition, the outer peripheral portion
51
is connected integrally to the edge of the container
4
. Moreover, the cover panel
7
includes a metal layer
70
, such as aluminum, and a plastic film
71
. To facilitate tearing of the cover panel
7
, the cover panel
7
has a lateral portion
730
which is connected to the filler
6
, a removable region
731
which is surrounded by the lateral portion
730
, and a separable weakened seam
73
which is formed between the lateral portion
730
and the removable region
731
. The opening tab
72
is attached to the removable region
731
adjacent to the lateral portion
730
.
Referring to
FIGS. 7
,
8
and
9
, the fourth preferred embodiment of the self-opening can is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment in construction, except that the cover panel
7
and the filler
6
are formed as an integrally molded body. The cover panel
7
is connected integrally to the end
62
of the filler
6
, and includes a removable region
77
which is formed within the end
62
of the filler
6
. A separable weakened seam
73
is formed between the end
62
and the removable region
77
. The cover panel
7
further has a tab holding part
76
which is adjacent to the separable weakened seam
73
and which is connected to the connecting part
721
of the opening tab
72
by means of a rivet
722
. A serpentine breakable line
75
is formed at one side of the tab holding part
76
opposite to the separable weakened seam
73
. The cover panel
7
further has a loop-shaped crease line
74
which extends in the removable region
77
, and the opening tab
72
has a protrusion
723
engaging the loop-shaped crease line
74
to position the opening tab
72
on the cover panel
7
.
With reference to
FIG. 9
, when the handle part
72
of the opening tab
7
is pulled upwardly, the protrusion
723
is separated from the loop-shaped crease line
74
, and the breakable line
75
is broken. Then, the cover panel
7
is broken off from the separable weakened seam
73
. Note that the crease line
74
is provided to compensate shrinkage occurring upon cooling of the molded body of the cover panel
7
.
As illustrated, by virtue of the sealing connection between the rim member
5
and the filler
6
, and by virtue of the sealing connection between the plastic film
70
and the filler
6
, an enhanced sealing effect for the opening
42
of the container
4
can be achieved.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.
Claims
- 1. A self-opening can comprising:a container having a receiving space and a longitudinal wall surrounding said receiving space, said wall having an edge extending around one end of said receiving space; a rim member having an outer peripheral portion sealingly joined to said edge, and an inner peripheral portion extending inwardly of said outer peripheral portion and confining an opening for access to said receiving space, said inner peripheral portion having a groove extending around said opening; a filler of non-metallic plastic material filling said groove and exposed from said groove; a cover panel closing said opening and extending to said inner peripheral portion of said rim member, said cover panel having a layer of non-metallic plastic material connected sealingly to said filler; and an opening tab having a connecting part connected to said cover panel, and a handle part extending from said connecting part; wherein said rim member further includes an intermediate portion extending between said inner and outer peripheral portions, said outer peripheral portion abutting against said longitudinal wall, said intermediate portion projecting transversely and inwardly from said longitudinal wall, said inner peripheral portion being bent from said intermediate portion to project longitudinally and inwardly so as to form a tubular portion which define said opening, said inner peripheral portion being further bent transversely and inwardly from said tubular portion to make a U-turn so as to form said groove.
- 2. A self-opening can of claim 1, wherein said filler is a loop-shaped member having one end fitted within said groove and an opposite another end projecting out of said groove, said tubular portion extending around said another end of said loop-shaped member and having a retention protrusion to engage said another end so as to prevent said filler from being released from said groove.
- 3. A self-opening can of claim 2, wherein said cover panel and said filler are formed as an integrally molded body, said cover panel being connected integrally to said another end of said filler, and including a removable region formed within said another end of said filler, and a separable weakened seam formed between said another end of said filler and said removable region, said opening tab being attached to said removable region adjacent to said separable weakened seam.
- 4. A self-opening can of claim 3, wherein said cover panel further has a loop-shaped crease line extending in said removable region.
- 5. A self-opening can of claim 4, wherein said removable region of said cover panel has a tab holding part adjacent to said separable weakened seam and connected to said opening tab, and a breakable line formed at one side of said tab holding part opposite to said separable weakened seam, said connecting part of said opening tab being attached to said tab holding part between said breakable line and said separable weakened seam.
- 6. A self-opening can of claim 2, wherein said rim member further has a stepped ring portion interconnecting said intermediate portion and said tubular portion of said inner peripheral portion.
US Referenced Citations (9)