This invention is directed to a tamper evident sealing plug for insertion in metal can lids.
The packaging of liquid products and particularly comestibles such as edible oil is commonly done in 4 liter cylindrical cans. This very rugged but relatively inexpensive packaging is used for high volume shipments to third world countries. The circular can top is formed with a center opening for the most efficient high speed filling operation. Following the filling step a closure fitment is inserted in the fill opening and retained therein by means of a friction fit to complete the package. The prior art closure construction heretofore employed for this use has provided a retractable plastic pour spout closed off by an integrally molded membrane and having an overlying screw cap to enable extension of the spout to pouring position and for reclosing. In one principal application of this packaging construction used in supplying edible oil to impoverished populations, it has been brought to light that most frequently the can is opened for pouring by simply punching two diametrically opposed pouring and vent openings in the top of the can adjacent the can sidewall. The reasons for this are rather obvious. To pour from a very short spout positioned in the center of the can top results in nothing short of a mess with oil all over the top of the can. Moreover, cutting off the membrane sealed top of the spout with a knife that may be readily available, is more than likely a very unsanitary exercise. Reclosing, as a practical matter, is rarely practiced. Bearing all this in mind, the unavoidable cost of a two piece spout and cap closure does not seem justified. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, the prior art spout and cap construction while offering some unnecessary features, fails to provide what is perceived today as the most essential feature. Tamper evidence is now considered paramount for food packaging distributed in the instant environment. An undetectable prying off of the closure and subsequent replacement renders the acceptability of the food packaging improbable.
The invention overcomes these prior art deficiencies that have manifested themselves in actual use and taken a completely different tact. Instead of providing a recloseable pouring spout of questionable utility, this invention in contrast discloses a one piece sealing plug that is pushed into the can top center opening after filling, creating a permanent friction fit therewithin. The resulting sealing plug can lid combination is an effective barrier against product leakage while allowing the end user to decant the liquid contents in the commonly practiced manner of puncturing the can lid for optimum pouring. A distinguishing attribute of the invention sealing plug, however, is a tamper evident feature significantly enhancing the security of the package. This consists of a peripheral band surrounding the sealing plug and integrally connected thereto by a series of frangible webs. This tamper evident band is configured in such a fashion as to preserve the structural integrity of the part thus avoiding accidental rupturing of the frangible webs during insertion in the suitably reinforced can lid while at the same time assuring such rupturing of the webs with any attempt to pry the sealing plug out of the lid opening.
It is accordingly a principal object of this invention to provide a new sealing plug can end combination.
Another object is to provide a one piece, single use sealing plug for metal cans.
A further object is to provide a new and improved tamper evident sealing plug for use on comestible packaging.
Further and more detailed objects will in part be obvious and in part pointed out as the description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing proceeds.
In that drawing:
The sealing plug can lid combination is shown in
The sealing plug 10 clearly shown in
Assembly of the sealing plug to the lid after the can filling operation is accomplished by insertion of the pilot portion 16 on the plug sidewall within the lid opening neck 6. As seen in
The filled can is thus tightly sealed against leakage under normally encountered shipping, handling and storage conditions. In addition, any tampering or other attempt at unauthorized access is effectively thwarted by the presence of the tamper evident ring which blocks access to the sealing plug sidewall with any kind of pry out implement. Any such attempt to pry the plug past the locking bead 14 would severely damage the plug and clearly rupture the frangible connecting webs rendering undetectable replacement of the sealing plug within the can lid extremely unlikely.
Various other changes in or modifications of the sealing plug and combination of the invention would suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the sealing plug could be molded of other plastic resins or the sealing plug could be inserted in the can lid and the lid then seamed onto the filled can. It is accordingly intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as being illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20060037958 A1 | Feb 2006 | US |