A CAN PROVIDED WITH A COVER PANEL WITH AN EASY-OPEN DEVICE

Abstract: A can with an easy-open device (7, 7<u>a</u>, 7<u>b</u>), and which can be used for packing block articles, said can being provided with a cover panel (1). The cover panel comprises a score line (2) arranged close to a closing flange (6) formed between the cover panel and the body of the can. The nose (7<u>b</u>) on the pull ring (7<u>a</u>) of the pull device is placed very close to the score line (2). The cover panel is provided with upward projections (8<u>a</u>, 8<u>b</u>, 8<u>c</u>, 8<u>d</u>). The position and height of these projections are such that when a second corresponding can is piled atop the first can, these projections (8<u>a</u>, 8<u>b</u>, 8<u>c</u>, 8<u>d</u>) abut the downward projection(s) on the bottom member of the second can, whereby it is avoided that the second can comes into contact with the pull ring on the first can. As a result, the risk of the nose unintentionally causing a leak in the first can has been highly reduced.

Description: Title: A can provided with a cover panel with an easv-open device Technical Field. The invention relates to a can provided with an easy-open device, said can for instance being used for packing block articles, such as meat articles in blocks. Background Art The piling of cans provided with a cover panel with an easy-open device is encumbered with the problem that a can piled atop a second can may easily come into contact with the easy-open device of the second can with the unfortunate result that the nose of said easy-open device is uninten¬ tionally pressed into the score line of the cover panel of the second can. The latter is a rather unsatisfactory effect. Brief Description of the Invention The object of the invention is to provide a can of the above type which completely eliminates the risk of the bottom of second can when piled atop another can unintentionally hits the easy-open device of the first can during the piling procedure whereby the latter can leaks. The can according to the invention is characterised in that the cover panel comprises a score line placed adjacent a closing flange formed between the cover panel and the body of the can, and that the nose of a pull ring of the easy-open device is placed very close to said score line, and that upward projections are formed on the cover panel, and that the position and height of these projections are such that when a second correspond¬ ing can is piled atop the first can these projections abut the downward projection(s) on the bottom member of the second can. In this manner it is avoided that the second can comes into contact with the pull ring of the first can. The easy-open device of the can, such as a pull ring with a nose, is most probably kept clear of a possible impact effect from a second can in the moment said second can is piled atop the first can. The risk of the first can accidentally starting to leak has therefore been highly reduced. According to the invention, the body of the can may at the bottom be necked-in, whereas the height of the projections of the cover panel plus the height of the projections of the bottom member may be slightly higher than the height of the upward retracted portion of the bottom plus the thickness of the pull ring. The resulting embodiment turned out to be particularly advantageous. Moreover, the projections may according to the invention be of an equal height with the result that the can is particularly simple to manufacture. Moreover, the pull ring may according to the invention be arranged on the longitudinal axis of the cover panel, whereas the projections of the cover panel are symmetrically arranged around the pull ring. In this manner the pull ring is protected in a particularly good manner against impacts "from the side" . Furthermore the projections may according to the invention be of a height of 1 to 6 mm, preferably 2 mm, which turned out to be particularly advan¬ tageous. Finally, the can may when presenting a circular cross section according to the invention be characterised in that the downward projections of the bottom member are annular, whereby it is ensured that the bottom mem- ber of a second can piled atop said first can most unlikely hits the pull ring or the nose of the first can during the piling procedure because said projec¬ tions always keep the cover panel of the first can and the lower end of the upward retracted portion of the bottom sufficiently interspaced. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top plane view of a can according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a bottom plane view of the can of Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 illustrates two cans piled atop one another, Fig. 4 is a partially sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a top view of a circular can, and Fig. 6 is a bottom plane view of the can of Fig. 5. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The can D (Fig. 3) shown in the Figures comprises a cover panel 1 (Fig. 1 ), a bottom member 10 (Fig. 2), and a body 5 (Fig. 3). As illustrated in Fig. 1 , the cover panel comprises a circumferential score line 2 adjacent a closing flange 6 formed between the cover panel 1 and the body of the can. The cover panel comprises also an easy-open device 7, optionally provided with a pull ring 7a and a nose 7b. The nose 7b is positioned very close to the score line 2. The cover panel 1 comprises furthermore upward projections 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d. These projections are arranged in such a way and are of such a height a that when a second corresponding can D' is piled atop the cover panel 1 said projections abut one or more downward projections 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, cf. Fig. 2, on the bottom member 10 of the can thereabove. As a result, the easy-open device, i.e. the pull ring and/or its nose, on the first can does not come into contact with the second can. As illustrated in Fig. 4 the body 5 can be "necked-in" at the bottom, cf. 1 1 '. When the height of the projections of the cover panel 1 is a, and when the height of the projections of the bottom member 10 is b, and furthermore when the height of the upward retracted portion of the bot¬ tom member is k, and the height (the thickness) of the easy-open device is m, the following applies a + b > k + m. The projections 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d. are preferably of an equal height. The projections 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d are also preferably of an equal height. The height of the projections on the cover panel need not, however, be the same as the height of the projections on the bottom member. As illustrated in Fig. 1 , the pull ring 7 is arranged on the longitudinal axis 21 of the cover panel, whereas the projections 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d are sym¬ metrically arranged around the pull ring. The projections 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d can be of a height of 1 to 6 mm, such as 2 mm. When the can is of a circular cross section, cf. Fig. 5, where the cover panel 1 1 of a circular can is shown, the projections 1 8a, 18b, 18c of the cover panel can be placed as shown, while the bottom member 20 of the can can comprise a downward projection 19, cf. Fig. 6. In the latter case, the projection 1 9 presents a radius almost identical with the radius on which the projections 18a, 1 8b and 18c are arranged on the cover panel 1 1 . An easy-open device 7 can be placed as illustrated in Fig. 5. Here too it applies that the height of each projection 1 8a, 1 8b, 1 8c. plus the height of the projection 1 9 is so large that a second round can piled atop the first round can is kept clear of the pull device 7 of the first can. The can according to the invention can be used for packing many types of articles, but it turned out to be particularly suited for block articles, espe¬ cially meat articles in blocks. The importance of the score line 2 being arranged close to the closing flange of the cover panel 1 is based on the fact that when the panel of the cover 1 is removed, the block article must be able to slide out of the can without being damaged by the closing flange remaining on the body of the can. The invention may be modified in many ways without thereby deviating from scope of the invention.

Claims: Claims. 1. A can with a cover panel (1; 11) provided with an easy-open device (7, 7a, 7b), where said can for instance can be used for packing block articles, such as meat articles in blocks, characteri sed in that the cover panel (1; 11) comprises a score line (2) placed adjacent a closing flange (6) formed between the cover panel and the body of the can, and that the nose (7b) of the pull ring (7a) of the easy-open device is placed very close to said score line (2), and that upward projections (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d; 18a, 18b, 18c) are formed on the cover panel, and that the position and height of said projections are such that when a second corresponding can is piled atop the first can these projections (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d; 18a, 18b, 18c) abut the downward projection(s) (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d; 19) on the bottom member (10; 20) of the second can, whereby it is avoided that the second can comes into contact with the pull ring on the first can. 2. A can as claimed in claim 1, c ha racteri sed in that the body of the can (5) is "necked-in" (11') at the bottom, and that the height (a) of the projections (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) of the cover panel (1) plus the height (b) of the projections (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) of the bottom (10) is slightly larger than the height (k) of the upward retracted portion of the bottom (10) plus the thickness (m) of the pull ring (7). 3. A can as claimed in claim 1 or 2, c ha racte rised in that the projections are of an equal height. 4. A can as claimed in one or more of the claims 1 to 3, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i s e d in that the pull ring (7) is arranged on the longitudinal axis of the cover panel (1), and that the projections (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) of the cover panel (1) are symmetrically arranged around the pull ring (7). 5. A can as claimed in one or more of the claims 1 to 4, c h a r a c - t e r i s e d in that the projections are of a height of 1 to 6 mm, preferably 2 mm. 6. A can as claimed in one or more of the claims 1 to 5 and being sub¬ stantially circular in cross-section, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the downward projection (19) of the bottom member (20) is annular. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 26 August 1996 (26.08.96); original claims 1-6 replaced by amended claims 1-4 (1 page)]. 1. A can with a cover panel (1) provided with an easy-open device (7, 7a, 7k), where said can which preferably is substantially rectangular for instance can be used for packing block articles, such as meat articles in blocks, wherein the cover panel (1) comprises a score line (2) placed adjacent a closing flange (6) formed between the cover panel and the body (5) of the can, and the nose (7b) of the pull ring (7a) of the easy-open device is placed very close to said score line (2), upward projec¬ tions (8a, 8fe, 8ς, 8JD being formed on the cover panel, characte¬ rised in that the body (5) is M necked-in" (IT) near the bottom, and that not only the cover panel but also the bottom (10) which has an upwardly retracted portion (k) is flanged to the body (5), and that downward projections (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) are provided on the bottom (10), and that the position and height of said projections are such that when a second corresponding can is piled atop the first can the upward projections (8a, 8fc, 8ς, 8d) abut the downward projection(s) (9a, 9b, 9ς, 9<i) on the bottom member (10) of the second can, the height (a) of the projections (8a, 8k, 8ς, 8$1) of the cover panel (1) plus the height (b) of the projections (9a, 9fe, 9ς, 9φ of the bottom (10) being slightly larger than the height Qj) of the upward retracted portion of the bottom (10) plus the thickness ( ) of the pull ring (7). 2. A can as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the projections are of an equal height. 3. A can as claimed in claims lor2, characterised in that the pull ring (7) is arranged on the longitudinal axis of the cover panel (1), and that the projections (8a, 8b, 8ς, 8ji) of the cover panel (1) are symmetrically arranged around the pull ring (7). 4. A can as claimed in one or more of the claims 1-3, characte¬ rised in that the projections are of a height of 1 to 6 mm, preferably 2 mm.

Inventors: JAKOBSEN HANS JOERGEN GRAA, JAKOBSEN, HANS, JOERGEN, GRAA
Applicants: GLUD & MARSTRAND AS, JAKOBSEN HANS JOERGEN GRAA, GLUD & MARSTRAND A/S, JAKOBSEN, HANS, JOERGEN, GRAA
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65D17
IPC codes: B65D17, B65D21