CAN INCLUDING A LID

Abstract

A can (1) closed by a lid (2) having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the can (1). The lid (2) comprises (i) a ring having an outer portion (26) crimped onto one end of the can (1) and an inner portion pressed towards the inside of the can (1) and surrounding an opening of the can (1), and having (ii) a seal (24) covering the inner portion of the ring and closing the opening of the can (1), the seal (24) being fixed on the inner portion of the ring and the seal (24) having a tab (36) for exerting traction on the seal (24) to separate the seal (24) from the ring. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: CAN COMPRISING A LID Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of food containers and more particularly to the field of coffee containers. STATE OF PRIOR ART

[0002] In a known manner, coffee is stored ground or in beans in bags or in boxes.

[0003] Storage in bags, for long periods, is generally carried out using bags made of multi-layer materials which alternate layers of polymers and layers of aluminum. This type of storage is expensive and complex to recycle.

[0004] To preserve the aromas of coffee, it is known to store coffee in a vacuum bag. This method is also expensive and does not allow satisfactory preservation of the coffee once the bag is opened.

[0005] To ensure better preservation of coffee before and after opening the packaging, it is also known to use steel cans. These cans are most often classic tin cans made of steel. However, it is known that long-term storage in contact with steel alters the taste of the coffee. It is therefore common to use steel cans with an inner film made of polymer material. The use of a polymer film helps preserve the taste of the coffee, but makes the can difficult to recycle.

[0006] Furthermore, it is well known that coffee degases after roasting. Thus, coffee emits carbon dioxide and aromas after roasting. Degassing can take place several days or months after roasting and packaging. Also, it is known to integrate degassing valves on coffee packaging (bag or box). These valves allow the gases emitted by the coffee to be evacuated, but block the entry of outside air into the packaging (while the packaging is hermetically sealed). The valves prevent suppression in the packaging which would lead to the destruction of the packaging. But, by evacuating the carbon dioxide resulting from degassing, the valve also evacuates some of the aromas, which alters the taste of the coffee. In addition, the valve is an expensive system which combines several materials, which makes it complex to recycle.

[0007] In this context, it is desirable to provide a coffee storage device which allows the aromas of the coffee to be preserved, while being inexpensive, simple to manufacture and easily recyclable. Statement of the invention

[0008] To this end, according to a first aspect, there is provided a can closed by a lid having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the can. The lid comprises (i) a ring having an outer portion crimped onto one end of the can and an inner portion pressed towards the inside of the can and surrounding an opening of the can, and having (ii) a seal covering the inner portion of the ring and closing the opening of the can. The seal is fixed to the inner portion of the ring and the seal has a tab allowing traction to be exerted on the seal to separate the seal from the ring.

[0009] According to a particular arrangement, the cover is glued onto the inner portion of the ring.

[0010] According to a particular arrangement, the cover and the ring have a common frangible portion.

[0011] According to a particular arrangement, the can comprises a removable cap adapted to cover the opening of the can and the inner and outer portions of the ring.

[0012] According to a particular arrangement, the removable cap is deformable to close the can by creating a depression in the can.

[0013] According to a particular arrangement, the removable cap is made of silicone. Brief description of the drawings

[0014] The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of at least one exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the attached drawings, among which:

[0015] [Fig-1] illustrates a can with the lid covering an inner portion stamped toward the inside of the can and surrounding an opening of the can;

[0016] [Fig.2] illustrates a can without the lid;

[0017] [Fig.3] illustrates a can with a cap.

[0018] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0019] With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, there is provided a can 1 closed by a lid 2.

[0020] Can 1 is a conventionally shaped can having a cylindrical shape. with a base 11 located at one end of the can 1, a side wall 12 and an opening 14 located at the other end of the can 1.

[0021] According to a particularly advantageous arrangement, the can 1 is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy.

[0022] The cover 2 has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the can 1.

[0023] The cover 2 mainly comprises a ring 22 and a cover 24.

[0024] The ring 22 has an outer portion 26 crimped onto one end of the can. More specifically, the outer portion 26 is crimped onto a rim of the side wall 12, which encircles the opening 14.

[0025] The ring 22 also has an inner portion 30 stamped towards the inside of the can 1. The inner portion 30 surrounds the opening 14. According to a particular arrangement, the inner portion 30 forms a band having a width of between 4 millimeters and 8 millimeters, preferably the width is 5 millimeters. This arrangement makes it possible to maximize the dimensions of the opening 14. This makes it easier to insert and recover coffee (ground or in beans), in the can 1, via the opening 14.

[0026] Furthermore, as previously indicated, the lid 2 comprises the cover 24. The cover 24 makes it possible to close the opening 14. As shown in [Fig.l], the cover 24 covers the inner portion 30 of the ring 22 and thus closes the opening 14 of the can 1.

[0027] More precisely, the cover 24 is fixed on the inner portion 30 of the ring 22. This arrangement is particularly advantageous, in fact, the fixing of the cover 24 on the inner portion makes it possible to guarantee a sufficiently strong connection to resist an increase in pressure in the can 1 following degassing of coffee contained in the can 1. In addition, as shown in [Fig. 2], this arrangement also makes it possible to free the opening 14 when the cover is removed from the lid 2, to recover coffee contained in the can 1.

[0028] According to a particular arrangement, the cover 24 is glued onto the inner portion 30 of the ring 22. The bonding connection is particularly advantageous because it guarantees optimal strength of the fixing, while being inexpensive.

[0029] According to another arrangement, the cover 24 can be welded.

[0030] According to another arrangement, the cover 24 and the ring 22 may have a common frangible portion (i.e. a common portion suitable for being broken, shattered, cut).

[0031] Furthermore, the cover 24 has a tab 36 allowing traction to be exerted on the cover 24 to separate the cover 24 from the ring 22.

[0032] According to a particular arrangement, the cover 24 is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. According to an even more particular arrangement shown diagrammatically in [Fig.l], the cover 24 may have an embossed surface. This arrangement very advantageously makes it possible to increase the pressure resistance of the cover 24.

[0033] Furthermore, as shown in [Fig. 3], the can 1 comprises a removable cap 40. The cap 40 is adapted to cover the opening 14 of the can 1 and the inner 30 and outer 26 portions of the ring 22.

[0034] According to a particularly advantageous technical arrangement, the removable cap 40 is deformable to close the can 1 by creating a depression in the can 1.

[0035] More precisely, according to a particular arrangement, the cap 40 has a hemispherical shape with a top 41 and an equatorial portion 42. The equatorial portion 42 is adapted to surround the outer portion 26 of the ring 22. To create a depression, the top 41 is pushed towards the inside of the can 1.

[0036] Typically, the cap 40 is used to reseal the can 1 after the seal 24 has been removed. In this case, the top 41 can be pushed through the opening 14.

[0037] According to a particularly advantageous technical arrangement, the cap 40 is made of silicone. Indeed, silicone combines the advantages of being flexible and suitable for food contact.

Claims

Claims

1. Can (1) closed by a lid (2) having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the can (1), the can (1) being characterized in that the lid (2) comprises (i) a ring (22) having an outer portion (26) crimped onto one end of the can (1) and an inner portion (30) stamped towards the inside of the can (1) and surrounding an opening (14) of the can (1), and having (ii) a seal (24) covering the inner portion (30) of the ring (22) and closing the opening (14) of the can (1), the seal (24) being fixed to the inner portion (30) of the ring (22), the seal (24) having a tab (36) allowing traction to be exerted on the seal (24) to separate the seal (24) from the ring (22), and the cover (24) having an embossed surface.

2. Can (1) according to claim 1, in which the seal (24) is glued to the inner portion (30) of the ring (22).

3. Can (1) according to claim 1, in which the seal (24) and the ring (22) have a common frangible portion.

4. Can (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a removable cap (40) adapted to cover the opening (14) of the can and the inner (30) and outer (26) portions of the ring (22).

5. Can (1) according to claim 4, wherein the removable cap (40) is deformable to close the can (1) by creating a depression in the can (1).

6. Can (1) according to claim 5, in which the removable cap (40) is made of silicone.

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