An end closure of a container primarily intended for beverages

This invention is concerned with a plastic end closure of a container that is primarily intended for beverages. It ensures a tight closure before the container is opened for the first time and may be used to cover the opening.

Such an end closure is known from Patent Application PCT/DE97/02061 (WO 98/12118) concerning a container, in particular a drinks can, which is closed by a lid with a finger pull-tab opening. The container has also a rotatable lid element that enables the re-closing of the pull-tab opening for as long as needed.

A re-closable lid, in particular for a drinks can, is also known from the international Patent Application PCT/EP2003/014675 (WO 2004/056667). In this solution, the lid has a strip-away part that can be torn along the predetermined score line and a finger tab that is rotatably mounted onto the lid wall. The finger tab is fitted with a freely twistable portion and a flat closure attachment underneath the grip, which enables the re-closure of the opening.

The end closure consists of a body that is tightly attached to the container and an opening device that additionally enables one to cover the opening after use. The invention is concerned with an end closure that is characterised by that it has an in-and-out hole in its body, which is tightly closed until opened for the first time using a valve that has a hole around which, substantially perpendicularly to the hole surface, there are at least two latches that are rotatably mounted in the mounting hole from the

inside of the end closure and interact with a knob that has an arm terminated with a cylindrical element that has at least one carrier on its side surface and is rotatably mounted in the mounting hole from the outside of the end closure, whereby the valve is sealed and immobilised from the internal side of the end closure with the help of the plastic foil in which there is a hole with an area that is less than the area of the base of a cylindrical element and which is attached to the end closure's internal surface alongside the edge of the valve and to the surface of the base of the cylindrical element along the edge of the hole in the foil. The end closure's body has preferably a dome shape and the valve's plane section has a shape close to a circular sector.

The valve's surface on the opposite side of the latches consists of two flat surfaces that have a common edge along the chord of the valve's arch. Each latch has a flange and a transverse cross section in the form of a transverse cross section of a hollow cylinder sector. The inside surface of the end closure's body preferably has a groove that runs around the edge of the valve being in its initial position. The sealing foil is sealed into this groove. Preferably, a mounting hole is in the centre of the end closure's body.

Furthermore, the end closure is fitted with a hygienic cover protecting the mouth contact area. The hygienic protection may be provided the surface of the arm of the knob, which is facing the outside surface of the end closure, and has a shape close to a circular sector, or by a hygienic cover firmly fitted in a hole in the arm of the knob or by a hygienic cover in the form of a removable overlay that is snapped onto the cylindrical element of the knob.

According to this invention, the end closure ensures tightness in high pressures generated inside the container filled with a carbonated beverage, and serves as a device enabling easy and comfortable opening of the container, even in cases where the end closure has been deformed by high pressures inside the container. Once opened, the valve can be used to cover the hole again to protect the beverage against contamination and the additional hygienic cover protects the mouth contact area.

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.1 presents the end closure in a closed position - view from above; Fig. 2 - A cross- section of the end closure; Fig.3 - the end closure in a closed position - view from below; Fig. 4 - The body of the end closure in a view from above, prior to the valve and knob installation; Fig. 5 - the body of the end closure in a view from below, prior to the valve and knob installation; Fig. 6 - A cross-section of the knob; Fig. 7 - The knob in a view from above; Fig. 8 - A cross-section of the valve; Fig. 9 - The valve - view from above; Fig. 10 - Plastic foil; Fig. 11 - The end closure in an open position in a view from below; Fig. 12 - The knob and hygienic cover as a one-unit system - view from above; Fig. 13 - A cross-section of the knob and hygienic cover as a one-unit system; Fig. - 14 The knob with a hygienic cover mounted on its arm; Fig. - 15 A cross-section of the knob with a hygienic cover mounted on its arm; Fig. 16 - The knob with a snap-on hygienic cover - view from above, Fig. 17 - A cross-section of the knob with a snap-on hygienic cover.

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The end closure shown by way of example consists of a stationary body 1 whose inside surface 2 has a dome shape. The body 1 has a in-and-out hole 3 and a centrally situated mounting hole 4 used for the mounting of the end closure's mobile parts including a valve 5 and knob 6. The valve 5 valve has a hole around which, substantially perpendicularly to the hole surface, there are four latches 7 terminated with a flange 8, which are rotatably mounted in the mounting hole 4 from the inside of the end closure. A plane section of the valve 5 has a shape close to a circular sector and the valve's surface, on the opposite side of the latches 7, it consists of two planes 17 and 18 which have a common edge 15 running along the chord of the edge arch of the valve 5. The latches 7 interact with a knob 6 fitted with an arm 13 terminated with a cylindrical element 9 that has two carriers 10 on its side surface and that is rotatably mounted in the mounting hole 4 on the outside of the body 1 of the end closure. The valve 5 is sealed and immobilised on the end closure's inside surface using plastic foil 11 that has a hole 12 with an area that is less than the area of the base 14 of the cylindrical element 9. The inside surface 2 of the body 1 has a groove 16 to which the plastic foil 11 is sealed and which runs along the edge of the valve 5 when the valve is in the initial position. The foil is also sealed into the surface of the base 14 of the cylindrical element 9 along the edge of the hole 12 in the plastic foil 11. Furthermore, the end closure is fitted with a hygienic cover 19 of the mouth contact area.

The hygienic protection is provided by surface of the knob's arm 13, which is facing the outside surface of the end closure, and has a shape

close to a circular sector ( Fig. 13). In another example the cover 19 is firmly placed in a hole 20 in the knob's arm 13 (Fig. 14). The hygienic cover 19 can also take the form of a removable sheath snapped onto the top part of the cylindrical element 9 of the knob 6. In order to open the container one should rotate the arm 13 of the knob 6 overcoming resistance until the in-and-out hole 3 is fully uncovered (Fig. 11). By rotating the arm 13 back, one can cover the hole 3 and the mouth contact area with the cover 19.