CONTAINER WITH EASY OPENING

DESCRIPTION

The object of the present invention is a container for food products. Usually, these containers are used to box foodproducts and to retail them, also facilitating the correct preservation thereof .

They are generally made of metallic materials. The cans for beverages are an example of these containers . Cans are known, which comprise a body identifying an inner cavity used for containing the beverage. This body is substantially cylindrical, and on a base of the body means are obtained for accessing the inner cavity of the body and for allowing the food products contained in it to be extracted. The access means comprise:

- a tab;

- a small lever accessible to the user, which is engaged with the body and connected operatively to the tab.

The action of the small lever allows the tab to pass at least from one first configuration to a second configuration.

In the first configuration the tab blocks the opening of the body and is delimited at least partially by a pre-engraving, which constitutes a point of weakening to facilitate the opening.

In the second configuration, the tab allows the food products to be extracted through the opening, and it remains engaged with the body of the container by means of at least one its own edge not affected by the pre-engraving. In particular the user, by lifting a first end of the tab, makes a second end of the little lever exert a pressure on the tab, which therefore separates from the body of the container along the pre-engraving. The small lever for opening the tab exerts a force on a point of the tab which is at a distance of 3-4 millimetres from the pre-engraving .

The above described can present some drawbacks.

They require in particular a certain effort in order to

allow the can to be fully opened; furthermore, opening of the tab occurs in a sudden and quick manner.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks described above by providing a container for food products, which allows its opening to be facilitated.

According to the present invention, these and other obj ects , which will be more apparent during the following description, are obtained with a container for food products having structural and functional characteristics according to the attached independent claims, further embodiments thereof being identified in the attached and corresponding dependent claims.

The invention is described in more detail hereunder with the aid of the drawings, which represent a non-limiting example of embodiment thereof. Figure 1 shows a top view of a first construction solution of a container according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a view according to the plane of section A-A indicated in figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a view according to the plane of section B-B of figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a top view of a second construction solution according to the present invention.

Figure 5 shows a view according to the plane of section C-C of figure 4. Figure 6 shows a view of the container of figure 4 with some parts removed for better highlighting other parts.

Figures 7 to 9 show a top view of various construction solutions of a container according to the present invention with some parts removed for better highlighting other parts. Figure 10 shows a top view of a further construction solution.

Figure 10a shows the solution of figure 10 with some parts removed for better highlighting other parts.

Figures 11 and 12 show a top view of the same construction

solution in two different operative configurations and with some parts removed for better highlighting other parts.

With reference to the figures, number 1 indicates a container for food products is indicated, comprising: - a body 2 identifying an inner cavity 20 used for containing the food products;

- opening means 3 for opening the body 2 for allowing the food products contained in the body 2 to be extracted.

This body 2 is adequately made of metallic material, for example aluminium.

The opening means 3 comprise:

- two adjacent tabs 30;

- a small lever 32 accessible to the user, which is engaged with the body 2 and connected operatively to the two tabs 30. The action of the small lever 32 allows the two tabs 30 to pass at least from one first configuration to a second configuration .

In the first configuration these two tabs 30 block an opening 4 of the body 2 and are delimited at least partially by a pre-engraving 31 (see for example figure 11, where the small lever 32 is not illustrated in order to better highlight underlying elements) . In the first configuration of the two tabs the body 2 is completely closed. In particular, in the first configuration of the two tabs 30 the body 2 insulates in a fluid-tight manner the inner cavity 20 from the environment outside the body 2. The opening 4 allows the food products contained in the cavity 20 of the body 2 to be extracted. The tabs 30 remain in the first configuration during the transport phase. In this first configuration, the food products contained in the cavity 20 can be preserved adequately. The pre-engraving 31 presents a first segment 311, which separates said two tabs 30 each from the other. The pre-engraving 31 is therefore interposed between said two tabs 30 and creates a discontinuity between them.

In the second configuration the tabs 30 allow the food products to be extracted through the opening 4, and they remain engaged with the body 2 of the container 1 through at least one own edge 33, which allows the join (see for example figure 12, where the small lever 32 is not illustrated for better highlighting underlaying elements) . The edge 33 of each tab 30 involved a perimetrical portion of the tab 30 not affected by the pre-engraving 31. For the passage from the first to the second configuration, the small lever 32 exerts directly a thrust action on the two tabs 30 and on the first segment 311 of the pre-engraving 31. Adequately, for the passage from the first to the second configuration the small lever 32 is moved by the user, typically by means of the fingers of a hand.

In a particular construction solution the opening means 3 comprise at least one further tab 300. The action of the small lever 32 causes the passage also of this at least one further tab 300 from a first configuration, wherein it contributes to blocking the opening 4 of the body 2, to a second configuration, wherein it allows the food products to be extracted through the opening 4 and remains engaged with the body 2 of the container through at least one own edge 33 (see figures 10 and 10a) . In this case, in order to move the further tab 300 from the first to the second configuration, the small lever 32 exerts directly a thrust action on the further tab 300. Each tab 30, 300 of the opening means 3 is advantageously adjacent to another one, which contributes to blocking the opening 4. Each tab 30, 300 of the opening means 3 is advantageously adjacent to another one, which contributes to blocking the opening 4 and is separated from this latter by means of a corresponding segment of the pre-engraving 31. When only two tans 30 are provided, this corresponding segment of the pre-engraving 31 matches the first segment 311 of the pre-engraving 31. When more than two tabs 30, 300 are provided, the small lever 32 advantageously comprises a plurality of arms 325, each arm 325 acting on the corresponding segment of the

pre-engraving 31, which separates a corresponding pair of adjacent tabs 30, 300.

The pre-engraving 31 comprises a second segment 312, which develops delimiting each tab 30, 300 of the body 2 at least partially. The second segment 312 develops advantageously without sharp parts. As illustrated by way of example in the attached figures, the first segment 311 intersects this second segment 312 of the pre-engraving.31. When two tabs 30 are provided, the second segment 312 of the pre-engraving 31 starts from an edge 33 of one of the two tabs 30 and reaches the edge 33 of the other tab 30. In the first configuration of the tabs 30,

300, the intersection 34 of the first and of the second segment 311, 312 of the re-engraving 31 is not overlapped with the small lever 31. As illustrated by way of example in the attached figures, the first and/or the second segment 311, 312 of the pre-engraving

31 develops/develop without interruption.

In the intersection 34 between the first and the second segment 311, 312 of the pre-engraving 31, the angle between the tangent of the first and of the second segment 311, 312 is equal to 90°.

The pre-engraving 31 can comprise a third segment 313 , which develops between the two edges 33 of two adjacent tabs 30, 300. The first and the third segment 311, 313 advantageously intersect . In the first configuration of the tabs 30, 300, the third segment 313 is completely overlapped by the small lever 32.

The pre-engraving 31 does not affect the edge 33 of the tabs 30, 300. In the second configuration, thetabs30, 300project at least partially inside the cavity 20. In the second configuration, the edge 33 prevents the tabs 30, 300 from falling through the opening 4 inside the cavity 20.

Each tab 30, 300 comprises a perimetrical surface portion

301, which delimits an inner surface portion 302. The small lever

32 exerts a compression at least on the inner surface portion

32 of each tab 30, 300. This is to improve the thrust of the small lever 32 on the tab 30, 300.

By way of non-limiting example, the perimetrical portion 301 presents a width equal to 2 millimetres. The small lever 32 comprises:

- a first part 321, suitable to be lifted by the user in order to move each tab 30, 300 from the first to the second configuration;

- a second part 322 used for exerting a compression on each tab 30, 300, so as to allow each tab 30, 300 to pass from the first to the second configuration, this second part 322 overlapping at least partially each tab 30, 300 when these latter are in the first configuration;

- a fulcrum 323 for connection to the body 2, this fulcrum 323 being interposed between the first and the second part 321,

322 of the small lever 32.

The fulcrum 323 is arranged at the edges 33 of the tabs 30, 300, which allow, in the second configuration, the connection between the tab 30, 300 and the body 2 of the container 1. • While passing from the first to the second configuration, the small lever 32 rotates about a first reference line passing through the fulcrum 323, this first reference line being integral with the body 2 of the container 1 and being orthogonal to a first reference plane. The container 1 comprises an edge 40 surrounding the opening 4. As illustrated by way of non limiting example in figures 11 and 12, in a particular construction solution this edge 40 projects towards the fulcrum 323 at the area in which, in the first configuration, the first and the second segment 3112, 312 of the pre engraving 31 intersect.

An end of the first segment 311 of the pre-engraving 31 is advantageously arranged near this connecting fulcrum 323. The first and the third segment 311, 313 of the pre-engraving 31 intersect advantageously at the connecting fulcrum 323.

A line passing through the geometrical centre of the opening 4 and parallel to the first reference line is interpose between the edges 33 and the intersection of the first and of the second segment 311, 312. Similarly, a line passing through the geometrical centre of the opening 4 and parallel to the first reference line is interpose between the fulcrum 323 and the intersection of the first and of the second segment 311, 312.

The second segment 312 of the pre-engraving 31 and the edges 33 of the tabs 30, 300 advantageously surround the opening 4.

The second segment of the pre-engraving 31 comprises an arch developing between two edges 33. This second segment 312 involved at least half of the length of the edge 40 of the opening

4, preferably at least ^ of the length of the edge 40 of the opening 4.

The second part 322 of the small lever 32 present a swell 35, which is, at least in the first configuration, in front of at least two of these tabs 30, 300. Advantageously, the swell 35 is in front of each tab 30, 300. The swell 35 improves the contact with these at least two tabs 30, 300 during the passage from the first to the second configuration.

The second part 322 of the small lever 32 comprises a final end 324, which, in the first configuration of the tabs 30, 300, overlaps at least partially the perimetrical surface portion 301 of the tabs 30,300 at the second segment 312 of the pre-engraving 31. This facilitates the formation of a slit also along the second segment 312 of the pre-engraving 31.

The body 2 comprises two bases 21 and a side wall 22, which develops between the two bases 21. The side wall 22 is advantageously substantially cylindrical . As illustrated by way of non limiting example in the attached figures, the bases 21 are circular. Adequately, the opening means 3 are obtained on one of the two bases 21 of the body 2,

After having introduced food products into the inner cavity

20 the containers 2 are generally in the first configuration. Furthermore, the containers 1 are also transported and sold in the first configuration.

Reference shall be made to the construction solution illustrated in the figures 1 to 9 and 11 and 12. During the use, when the user wants to open the container 1, generally he/she with one hand grips the body 2 and with the fingers of the other hand actuates the small lever 32.

By acting on the small lever 32 the tabs 30 of the container 1 move from the first to the second configuration. During opening, the second part 322 of the small lever 32 performs its action initially on the first segment 311 of the pre-engraving 31, thus causing a slit along the first segment 311. In this way the small lever 32 directly presses on a structural weakening point such as the first segment 311 of the pre-engraving 31. By continuing lifting the first part 321 of the small lever 32, the second part 322 of the small lever 32 will increasingly enter inside the cavity 20. In this way the slit will affect progressively the first segment 311 of the pre-engraving 31. At the same time the small lever 32 will exert a force also transversally to the first reference plane, thus causing the bending of the tabs 30, 300 relative to the second segment 312 of the pre-engraving 31. Therefore, a slit will progressively affect also the second segment 312 of the pre-engraving 31, thus allowing the tabs 30, 300 to enter inside the body 2 remaining connected with the body 2 through the edges 33. In this way, the tabs 30, 300 no longer block the opening 4.

In the case of the construction solution of figure 10, the operation is completely similar to that illustrated above, with the exception that in this case the arms 325 of the small lever 32 directly act on each corresponding segment of the pre-engraving 31, which separates two adjacent tabs 30, 300. In this way a slit will form in each segment of the pre-engraving 31 which separates two adjacent tabs 30, 300.

The invention achieves significant advantages.

First of all, it allows to minimise the effort of the user for opening the can. Secondarily, it allows to have an opening easy to be modulated and controlled. Therefore, the user has an optimum sensitivity during opening of the container. Furthermore, it should be noted that the switch of the opening means 3 is particularly facilitated in metallic cans maintained at a low temperature, as they present a greater rigidity and the separation of the tabs 30, 300 requires therefore less force . Modifications and variants can be applied to the present invention, without however departing from the protective scope of the present invention.

Moreover, all the details can be replaced with other technically equivalent details. Practically, all the used materials, as well as the dimensions, canbe of any type, according to the requirements.