Metal container with a tear-off lid

Abstract: A metal container (1) with a lid (4) comprising an endless tear-off line (5), characterised in that the lateral surface (2) of the container comprises, in a position underlying the zone in which the lid is secured threreto, an annular appendix (10) directed towards the inside of the container and having width not less than the width of the horizontal annular lid edge (11) defined by the endless tear-off line (5).

Description: This invention relates to a metal container with a tear-off lid. Substantially cylindrical metal containers are known in which their lid and base are secured to the ends of their lateral surface by seaming. The lid generally comprises an endless incision line defining an internal tear-off portion which is provided with a pulling ring. To open the container the user firstly raises the pulling ring to induce an initial tear in the portion, after which he pulls it to completely remove this portion from the container. Such containers are currently used for packaging foods such as peeled tomatoes, tuna, meat in gelatine, coffee powder etc.. Recently they have also been used as aroma-protection containers for chocolates, tea bags and pre-packaged coffee capsules, ie products which are removed by inserting the hands into the container. However such containers have the drawback to cause the grazing of the user's hand and wrist on contact with the annular torn-off edge of the lid left after the removal of the internal tear-off portion. US-A-4 184 444 discloses a container including a thermoformed rigid or semirigid plastic body and a metal end seamed upon and closing one open end of the body. According to the invention a metal container is provided with a metal tear-off lid as described in claim 1. The present invention is further clarified hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing showing a partial longitudinal section through a container according to the invention. As can be seen from the drawing, the metal container 1 according to the invention has the shape of a cylindrical body, the lateral wall 2 of which has the ends secured to a base 3 and a lid 4 by seaming. The lid 4 comprises an endless circular incision line 5 defining an inner tear-off portion 6, which is provided with a ring-shaped tear-off tab 7. The upper part 8 of the container lateral surface is inclined inwards in an upward direction after which it passes through a loop 9 which extends as a horizontal portion 10 which is substantially into touch with the standing above horizontal annular portion 11 of the lid 4 defined by the incision line 5. The width of the annular portion 10 is greater than the width of the annular portion 11, so that the loop 9 forms an "edge protector" preventing the hands and wrists inserted by the user into the container from coming into contact with the cutting edge of the annular portion 11 once the portion 6 has been removed. Furthermore the presence of the annular portion 10 forms a support surface for the annular portion 11 when the portion 6 has to be pulled in correspondence of the tab 7, thus making easier the tearing off of the lid. Finally the inclined shape of the upper part 8 enables to take away in an easy and simple way possible materials which have been left underweath it, thus ensuring the complete emptying of the container and this is particular advantageous in the use as container for semifluid substances like plaster, honey.

Claims: A metal container (1) with a metal lid (4) comprising an endless tear-off line (5), characterised in that the lateral surface (2) of the container comprises, in a position underlying the zone in which the lid is secured thereto, a horizontal annular appendix (10) directed towards the inside of the container and having width greater than the width of the horizontal annular lid edge (11) defined by the endless tear-off line (5), said horizontal portion (10) being into continuous touch which said horizontal annular lid edge (11). A container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the upper part (8) of the container lateral surface (2) is inclined inwards in an upward direction and forms a loop (9) having a horizontal portion (10) which is into continuous touch with into the annular edge (11) defined by the endless tear-off line (5). A container as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that it has a cylindrical shape.

Inventors: D AGNOLO GINO, D'AGNOLO, GINO
Applicants: OCM SRL, OCM S.R.L.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B65D17
IPC codes: B65D17, B65D43, B65D51