SLIDING LOCK

Abstract: Sliding lock comprised of a tubular body (1) presenting a longitudinal slit (2) deliminted by facing and proximate edges and by means of which said tubular body is intended to press on the walls of the container (3) by coupling and sliding thereto, the slit ending at one of its extremities into a diverging sector (4) which facilitates the coupling of the tubular body to the container, by acting as a guide for the same. The tubular body may incorporate one or a plurality of peripheral ribs (6) which stiffend its structure and minimize its elastic deformability, as well as an incision (5) at its extremity corresponding to the divergence of its longitudinal in order to improve its deformability in this area during the coupling to the container.

Description: This invention relates to a slide-on seal which has been specially designed so as to form a sealing device for different types of cardboard or laminated containers such as the cartons used for the marketing of milk, fruit juices, etc. The slide-on seal described herein enables the container in question, which has been opened and the contents of which have been partially consumed, to be resealed hermetically in a simple, quick, effective way, pending further consumption of the contents. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A large variety of liquid products such as those mentioned above and even some solid products are commercialized in plastic bags, hermetically sealed, which keep the contents protected from the surroundings. At other times, plastified cardboard containers are used such as the well-known "tetra-brik". Usually when this type of container is used, in order to consume the product, an oblique cut is made at the corner of the carton thus forming an opening through which the contents may be poured out. This opening usually measures between 1 and 2cm. although in some cases it may measure more or less. This type of container poses a two-fold problem. On the one hand, once the carton is opened, the contents run the risk of deteriorating and on the other hand, because of the flexible nature of the carton itself, there exists the likelihood of the contents being spilt while handling the carton. Some closures for bags have been described in the prior art. DE-A-3801192 discloses a slide-on seal according to the preamble of the attached claim. This document refers to a clip applied to bags, consisting of a handle, a tubular body with a cut and a plurality of reinforcements on the tubular body. The sides of the bag have to be folded around an inner member, before sliding the tubular body over the inner member and the folded sides of the container. WO-A-92/03994 discloses a tubular body with a longitudinal cut which is applied for bags and GB-A-2029203 discloses a container closure and handle with a cylindrical body having a longitudinal slit closing the sides of the container. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The slide-on seal described herein has been conceived with a view to eliminating the above problems in an entirely satisfactory way. This sealing device has a simple structure, is easy to use, very effective and assures a water tight seal for the carton, once opened, thus protecting the contents both from the deteriorating effect of the surroundings and from being spilt during use through careless handling of the carton. In order to achieve this, the invention provides a slide-on seal according to the attached claim. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS As a complement to the description given and in order to enable a fuller understanding of the invention, we are attaching a set of drawings which form an integral part of this descriptive account. These drawings represent in an illustrative but not restrictive way the following: Figure 1. shows a perspective view of the slide-on seal constructed in accordance with the object of this invention. Figure 2. shows a cross-sectional view of the same device. Figure 3. shows a perspective view of the sealing device used to seal the opening in the corner of the type of carton that is used to commercialize milk, for example. RECOMMENDED CONSTRUCTION OF THIS INVENTION From the drawings, it can be seen that the slide-on seal is constructed from a tubular body (1) which in the practical example illustrated adopts a cylindrical form. However, it could just as easily adopt any other form such as, for example, a rectangular prism, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, etc. and this would not effect the essence of the invention provided that the basic characteristics, which are essential to its functioning properly, are adhered to. These characteristics are: an appropriate radial elasticity and the existence of a straight longitudinal slit (2) along the entire length of the device, said slit being as narrow as possible (almost of negligible width) so that a radial deformation of the tubular body (1) is necessary in order to fit it on to the cut corner of the carton (3), as shown in Fig. 3, or onto the cut corner of any other type of conventional container having sides of laminated cardboard or plastic, etc. In order to facilitate the attaching of the body (1) onto the container in question (3) the longitudinal slit (2) has been designed in such a way that the end that fits on to the carton terminates in a short divergent section (4) which acts as a form of guide to the sides of the carton (3), formed by the cut corner, as they are introduced into the sealing device and slide towards the main operative section of the slit (2). Moreover, this divergent section (4) is complemented by an opposite small cut (5) which facilitates the deformation of the seal at this end where it attaches onto the container. In accordance with this construction the seal forms a type of elastic peg with a high sealing tension along its operative edges defined by the longitudinal slit (2). This tension is increased by placing rigidity reinforcements (6) at suitable intervals around the perimeter of the device. In the practical example illustrated there are two such reinforcements but this number may vary without affecting the essence of the invention: Moreover, the reinforcements make the device easier to grip while attaching it to or removing it from the container. Since the seal has been specially designed for cartons containing food or drink and so as to result in the maximum amount of air being expelled by compressing the carton before it is completely sealed off in order to achieve some degree of vacuum and consequently help keep the contents fresh, the seal should be manufactured of a non-toxic material. We feel that an expert in the matter will understand the importance of this invention and the benefits that can be derived from it without having to go into any further detail. The materials to be used, shape, size and location of its elements may all be varied provided that this does not alter the essence of the invention. The terms used in this description should always be understood in a broad sense and not a restrictive one.

Claims: A slide-on seal mountable by longitudinal sliding over an open end of a container (3), the seal consisting of a tubular body (1) with a longitudinal slit (2) extending over its entire length and having closely spaced opposite edges, such that the seal is adpated to exert pressure on the sides of the container when being attached thereto and slid therealong, wherein one of the ends of said longitudinal slit (2) opens in a divergent sector (4) and one or more reinforcements (6) which are also divided by the longitudinal slit (2) are placed around the perimeter of the tubular body (1) to make it more rigid and to minimize its elastic deformability, characterized in that the tubular body (1) consists of a single piece and in that a cut (5) is provided at one end of the body opposite said diverging sector (4) in order to increase its deformability in this area.

Inventors: LOPEZ GONZALEZ JOSE MARIA, LOPEZ GONZALEZ, JOSE, MARIA
Applicants: COMERCIAL EUROP, COMERCIAL EUROPA, S.C.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B65D33
IPC codes: B65D33, B65D55