Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for sealing food product containers, in particular drink containers, comprising: a sealing element adapted to engage on a wall of a food product container around a wall opening arranged in the wall, and an operating element adapted to co-act with the sealing element for displacing the sealing element between an opened position leaving the wall opening clear and a closed position sealing the wall opening. The invention also relates to a food product container provided with such a device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1) Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a device for sealing food product containers, in particular drink containers, comprising: a sealing element adapted to engage on a wall of a food product container around a wall opening arranged in the wall, and an operating element adapted to co-act with the sealing element for displacing the sealing element between an opened position leaving the wall opening clear and a closed position sealing the wall opening. 
     The invention also relates to a food product container provided with such a device. 
     2) Description of the Prior Art 
     The reclosable liquid container has already been known for a long time. The American patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,538 thus describes a reclosable can for drinks or other foodstuffs. The known can is closed at the top by a seam-folded upper wall or cover. The upper wall is herein provided with a wall opening for passage of drink held in the can. The can is further provided with a device connected to the upper wall for closing the can. The device herein comprises a rotatable sealing element and a standing operating element connected to the sealing element. The sealing element is preferably constructed from a non-permeable lip which, after rotation of the operating element, can cover or leave clear the wall opening whereby the passage of drink can thus be respectively prevented or made possible. The advantage of the known can is that the can is reclosable, whereby the content of the can does not have to be consumed all at once but can, if desired, be consumed in portions at different times. Closing the passage opening of the can by means of the lip does somewhat enhance conservation of the content of the can, but mainly prevents the content of the can leaving or being able to leave the can in simple manner. As well as the above stated advantage, the known can also has drawbacks. A significant drawback of the known can is that only mediocre sealing of the can is realizable. The sealing element cannot seal the can completely in liquid-tight manner, or can do so only briefly. In the sealing situation of the can the content of the can is however still accessible to micro-organisms and gas exchange can take place freely between the atmosphere surrounding the can and the local atmosphere prevailing in the can. Particularly when the drink held in the can is carbonated, whereby an internal pressure will be built up in the can, the sealing element will be unable to seal the can sufficiently, as a result of which the carbon dioxide can and will escape. As already generally known, a reduction in the carbon dioxide content of drink results in a—usually unwanted—change in the taste of this drink. 
     The invention has for its object, while retaining the above stated advantage of the prior art, to provide an improved device for sealing a food product container, using which the food product container can be sealed in substantially medium-tight manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides for this purpose a device having an operative element adapted to co-act with a sealing element, with the feature that the operating element is provided with coupling means for coupling to the food product container, and that the relative orientation of the sealing element and the operating element can be changed such that the operating element can cause the sealing element in the closed position to engage under bias on a wall for substantially medium-tight sealing of the food product container. By causing the sealing element to engage under bias on the wall of the food product container, the food product container is sealed in substantially medium-tight manner. This not only prevents the possibility of the liquid and/or solid food product leaving the food product container in the closed position of the food product container, but also prevents gas exchange being able to take place between an atmosphere surrounding the food product container and an atmosphere prevailing in the food product container. In the case the food product is formed by a carbonated drink, the carbon dioxide will remain confined in the food product container in the closed situation, whereby it will also be possible to maintain the carbon dioxide content in the food product container, which enhances the preservation of taste and the like. Using a device according to the invention it is moreover possible to prevent micro-organisms being able to move, in the closed situation, from outside the food product container to a location inside the food product container. A constant composition of the food product can therefore be guaranteed with the device according to the invention in closed position, wherein the food product can also be conserved in relatively hygienic manner in the closed food product container. In the opened situation of the sealing element, the sealing element is generally situated substantially at a distance from the wall, whereby removal of food product along the sealing element and via the wall opening can take place freely and preferably unimpeded. After sufficient removal of the food product, the sealing element can be displaced once again to the closed position, wherein a bias will be exerted directly or indirectly on the wall in order to realize the medium-tight sealing of the food product container. The bias exerted on the wall by the sealing element can be adjusted in discrete or continuous manner by means of the operating element for a user. 
     The sealing element and the operating element can be located substantially on one side relative to the wall, but the sealing element and the operating element are preferably adapted to mutually enclose a part of the wall of the food product container. The operating element generally has to be readily accessible to the user and will usually be positioned substantially on an outer side of the wall. The sealing element is preferably located at least substantially inside the food product container. In this manner it is possible to prevent, or at least counter, the sealing part—usually a sealing edge—of the sealing element becoming dirty relatively easily, which is often at the expense of the reliability of the medium-tight sealing. 
     In a preferred embodiment the mutual distance between the sealing element and the operating element can be changed. The mutual co-action of the sealing element and the operating element is herein such that, in the case of translation and/or rotation of the operating element in the closed situation of the device, the sealing element will displace in a direction away from the operating element. In a closed position the sealing element will then rest under bias against the wall around the wall opening, and in an opened position the sealing element will be positioned at least partially, but preferably wholly at a distance of the wall. Because the operating element—after mounting on a food product container—will be coupled by means of coupling means to the food product container, preferably to the wall, the possibility for translation of the operating element relative to the food product container will generally be limited, and will usually even be minimized and become zero. In that case the operating element will only be rotatable relative to the wall. After rotation of the operating element relative to the wall and the sealing element, the sealing element will hereby be forced to displace relative to the wall and the operating element. It is noted that food product container should be interpreted in a broad sense. Understood here are all kinds of conventional containers and packages which are used to conserve food products. The food products can herein be formed by: (carbonated) drinks, syrups, tablets, sweets, consumable sprinkling materials etcetera. 
     The sealing element engages via a seal on the wall of the food product container. In order to guarantee the medium-tight sealing in the closed situation of the device a sealing layer will be advantageous. The seal will generally be formed by a flexible, sealing strip of material which is arranged on a part of the sealing element that is adapted to support under bias on the wall. It is also possible to envisage arranging the sealing strip of material on the wall itself at the location where the sealing element will support in the closed situation. Various conventional materials can be applied as sealing material. Preferably used are an elastic material, such as rubber, and/or a flexible foam with a closed cell structure. Examples of applicable materials are: ethylene vinyl acetate rubber (EVA), ethylene vinyl ethanol (EvOH) and silicone rubber. 
     In a preferred embodiment the coupling means are adapted to engage on a peripheral edge of the wall opening. The coupling means can herein be formed for instance by a projecting flange adapted to engage on a side of the wall remote from another part of the operating element. The operating element will thus be partially situated in the wall opening such that the operating element engages bilaterally on the wall. The projecting flange herein locks the mutual position of the operating element relative to the wall. The flange can herein engage on a part of the peripheral edge of the wall opening or can be positioned along the whole peripheral edge of the wall opening. 
     In another preferred embodiment the operating element is provided with at least one receiving space for a pin projecting from the wall. The pin preferably projects in the direction of a space enclosed by the food product container, so as to minimize the number of components protruding in the direction of the user. The pin is preferably formed by a cylindrical body, but can optionally also be designed in other manner. The mutual co-action of the pin and the receiving space prevents rotation of the sealing element. The sealing element is however displaceable along the pin, whereby translation of the sealing element relative to the wall and the operating element, for instance after rotation of the operating element, remains possible. The pin can be formed by a bent and/or folded part of the wall, but may also form part of an intermediate element, for instance a stationary intermediate ring, placed separately between the sealing element and the operating element. The intermediate ring is then preferably connected fixedly to the wall, wherein the pin preferably projects via the wall opening in the direction of the sealing element. The advantage of the intermediate ring is that the existing structure of a conventional food product container need not be changed in order to apply the pin in order to prevent rotation of the sealing element. It is then possible to suffice with an intermediate ring or other type of intermediate element separately manufactured and arranged at a later stage. In order to further stabilize prevention of rotation of the sealing element, a plurality of (spaced-apart) projecting pins may be applied. 
     The operating element is preferably provided with a projecting engaging member for a user. The projecting engaging member generally facilitates opening respectively closing of the food product container. The engaging member can for instance be formed by a fin-like member. In addition to serving as handle, the projecting member can also serve to bound the maximum rotation of the operating element, since in particular food product containers, such as drink cans, the wall opening is arranged asymmetrically in the wall, wherein after a determined rotation the projecting engaging member will engage on a seam-folded part of the wall, whereby further rotation of the operating element can be prevented. An outer edge of the operating element can also be given a profiled form, whereby this outer edge can effectively also function as engaging member for the user. 
     The operating element is preferably provided with a passage opening for the food product held in the food product container. From a hygienic viewpoint the passage opening can more preferably be sealed by a screening element forming part of the sealing element and projecting in the direction of the operating element. This applies particularly in the case liquid food products, in particular drinks, are held in the food product container. The passage opening bounded by the operating element will then generally result in an improved sensation the user when the drink is consumed directly from the food product container, since the operating element—generally manufactured from plastic—will provide a better sensation than the generally sharp peripheral edge of the wall opening. Furthermore, injuries to the user resulting from cuts from the peripheral edge can thus be prevented, or at least countered. 
     The operating element is preferably provided with a venting opening. Particularly in the case of liquid food products, usually drinks, a venting opening will be advantageous, particularly during removal of the drink from the drink container. Gurgling removal of drink can thus be prevented, or at least countered. 
     In a preferred embodiment the device is initially sealed in the closed situation of the device. In this manner a user can ascertain at the time of purchase whether the food product container has previously been (improperly) opened, and whether the content corresponds to a content with specific quality standards guaranteed by the manufacturer. In a particular preferred embodiment the seal is formed by a mutual breakable connection between the sealing element and the operating element. The connection can for instance be formed by a rod. The seal is more preferably visible to the user, so that the user can see at a glance whether or not the device has been opened at an earlier stage. In a particular preferred embodiment, the rod is initially connected to the peripheral edge of the venting opening incorporated in the operating element. The rod is thus visible to the user. During initial opening of the device the rod will be permanently detached from the peripheral edge, whereby the seal is visibly broken and wherein the venting hole can actually function as aeration and venting of the food product container. 
     The sealing element and the operating element preferably mutually co-act by means of a screw connection. When the relative orientation of the sealing element and the operating element is changed, the mutual distance of the two components will thus also be changed. In addition to screw (thread) connections, the use of other types of co-acting connections can also be envisaged, such as for instance a bayonet connection (bayonet fitting). 
     The invention also relates to a food product container provided with such a device according to the invention. As already noted, the device can be applied in diverse types of (substantially) conventional food product container. The device is preferably positioned in an upper wall of the food product container, since removal of the relevant food product generally takes place via the upper wall of the food product container. The food product container is preferably formed by a drink container, such as for instance a bottle, carton or can. In a drink container the wall opening through which the drink can be removed is generally also situated on the upper wall, or at least one of the upper walls of the relevant drink container. The device will usually already be connected to the upper wall during the manufacturing process of the relevant drink container. During manufacture of a drink can a cover will first of all be provided with the device according to the invention, before the cover is seam-folded onto a body filled with drink. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be elucidated on the basis of the non-limitative embodiments shown in the following figures. Herein: 
         FIG. 1   a  shows a perspective view of a device for closing a food product container according to the invention, 
         FIG. 1   b  shows a semi-transparent, perspective top view of the device according to  FIG. 1   a,    
         FIG. 1   c  is a semi-transparent, perspective bottom view of the device according to  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b,    
         FIG. 1   d  is a semi-transparent side view of the device according to  FIGS. 1   a - 1   c,    
         FIG. 2   a  shows a perspective view of another device according to the invention in the closed situation, 
         FIG. 2   b  shows a perspective view of the device according  FIG. 2   a  in the opened situation, 
         FIG. 2   c  is a perspective top view of the device according to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  in closed situation, 
         FIG. 3   a  shows a perspective cross-section of an alternative device according to the invention in closed situation, 
         FIG. 3   b  shows a perspective cross-section of the device according to  FIG. 3   a  in opened situation, 
         FIG. 3   c  is a perspective bottom view of the device according to  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  in closed situation, 
         FIG. 3   d  is a perspective top view of the device according to  FIGS. 3   a - 3   c  in closed situation, and  FIG. 4  shows a schematic cross-section of a soft drink can provided with a device according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1   a  shows a perspective view of a device  1  for closing a food product container (not shown) according to the invention in closed situation. The device  1  comprises a sealing element  2  and an operating element  3  connected rotatably to sealing element  2 . Sealing element  2  is adapted to be positioned inside the food product container, and operating element  3  (for a user) is adapted to be positioned outside the food product container. Sealing element  2  and operating element  3  mutually co-act by means of a screw thread connection (see  FIGS. 1   b - 1   d ). The mutual distance between operating element  3  and sealing element  2  can be changed by means of rotating the operating element  3  relative to sealing element  2 . In order to prevent simultaneous rotation of sealing element  2  during rotation of operating element  3 , sealing element  2  is locked two-dimensionally by means of two stationary pins (see  FIGS. 1   c  and  1   d ). The pins herein form part of an intermediate ring (see  FIGS. 1   c  and  1   d ). Sealing element  2  is provided for this purpose with two receiving spaces  4  for the two pins. Operating element  3  is provided with a projecting coupling flange  5  for clamping the operating element  3  in a wall opening of the food product container. Operating element  3  is provided with a moon-shaped passage opening  6  for the food product held in the food product container. In the shown closed situation of device  1 , the passage opening is filled by a likewise moon-shaped projection  7  in order to enable hygienic sealing of the space situated below operating element  3 . Operating element  3  is provided with a fin-like projection  8  to facilitate rotation of operating element  3  by the user. In the shown situation the device  1  is closed, whereby removal of food product from the food product container will not be possible. After arranging the shown device  1  on the wall of the food product container, an edge  9  forming part of sealing element  2  will support under bias on the wall, whereby a medium-tight sealing of the food product container can be realized. In the shown device  1  however, there is no physical contact present between the edge  9  of sealing element  2  and the wall, since a sealing layer  10  is arranged between the two. This layer  10  can be fixed by means of an adhesive to the wall or to the edge  9  of sealing element  2 . Operating element  3  is provided with a venting opening  11  in order to facilitate removal of—particularly liquid—food product. In venting opening  11  a free end of a rod  12  connected to sealing element  2  is now visible. The rod will break and/or deform permanently once the operating element  3  is rotated relative to sealing element  2 . Rod  12  therefore functions in fact as an indicator of whether the device  1  is still sealed or not. Device  1  is arranged in the shown situation on the food product container and marketed commercially as an assembly. Device  1  is preferably manufactured wholly, or in any case at least partially, from plastic. It is also conceivable to manufacture the device  1  from a different material, such as for instance metal. 
       FIG. 1   b  shows a semi-transparent perspective top view of the device  1  of  FIG. 1   a . In the present view the operating element  3  is shown semi-transparently. The other components are shown in the normal situation of device  1 .  FIG. 1   b  shows clearly that the sealing element is provided with a centrally located tubular member  11  provided with an internal screw thread  12 . The tubular member  11  is also provided with a protrusion  13  located at a distance from screw thread  12  for the purpose of bounding the maximum relative rotation of operating element  3  and sealing element  2 . In the present embodiment the maximum angle of rotation amounts to (substantially) 120°. An opposite boundary of this maximum angle of rotation is formed by the moon-like projection  7  which is bounded in the closed situation by mutual co-action with passage opening  6 . The mutual distance between screw thread  12  and protrusion  13  is here minimally the wall thickness of a projecting tubular member which forms part of operating element  3  and which is provided with an external screw thread (see  FIG. 1   c ). Also shown clearly in  FIG. 1   b  is the intermediate ring  14  which is positioned concentrically relative to sealing element  2 . The intermediate ring  14  is usually manufactured from plastic and is generally connected fixedly to the wall of the food product container. 
       FIG. 1   c  shows a semi-transparent, perspective bottom view of the device  1  of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b . In  FIG. 1   c  the sealing element  2  is shown semi-transparently. The other components of device  1  are however shown normally. In the present figure the projecting tubular body  15  forming part of operating element  3  is clearly shown. The body  15  is herein provided with an external screw thread  16  and is provided on an inner side with a projecting counter-protrusion  17 . Screw thread  16  is adapted to co-act with the screw thread  12  forming part of sealing element  2 . The counter-protrusion  17  is herein adapted to co-act with the protrusion  13  forming part of sealing element  2 , as already stated above. The intermediate ring  14  is now also clearly shown, wherein the intermediate ring is provided with the above mentioned pins  18 . Pins  18  are herein received in the receiving spaces  4  of sealing element  2 , whereby only one-dimensional displacement of sealing element  2  is possible during rotation of operating element  3 . 
       FIG. 1   d  shows a semi-transparent side view of the device  1  of  FIGS. 1   a - 1   c . Sealing element  2  is once again shown semi-transparently. The wall of the food product container is now shown by means of a broken line  19 . After rotation of operating element  3 , sealing element  2  will be displaced linearly along the pins  18  in a (downward) direction away from operating element  3 , whereby sealing element  2  comes to lie at a distance from wall  19 . In this opened situation the food product can be removed along the sealing element and via the wall opening (not shown). In an alternative embodiment the pins  18  are formed integrally by a deformed part of the wall of the food product container. Pins  18  can thus be formed by downward deformation of (punched) parts of the food product container, whereby a passage opening for the food product is also provided situated between pins  18 . 
       FIG. 2   a  shows a perspective view of another device  20  according to the invention in the closed situation. The operation very largely corresponds with the operation of the device  1  shown in  FIGS. 1   a - 1   d . Device  20  comprises a top element  21 , an intermediate layer  22  rotatably connected to top element  21 , and a cover element  23  co-acting with top element  21  and intermediate layer  22 . Arranged between intermediate layer  22  and cover element  23  is a sealing ring  24  which is connected to intermediate layer  22 . Cover element  23  is provided with a receiving opening  25  for a pin  26  forming part of intermediate layer  22 . Top element  21  is provided with a handgrip  27  and a profiled edge  28  to facilitate rotation of top element  21 . Top element  21  is also provided with a venting opening  29  in which a flexible rod-like member  30  is received in the closed situation. The rod-like member  30  in fact seals the venting opening  29  in the closed situation. When top element  21  is rotated relative to intermediate layer  22  and cover element  23 , the rod-like member  30  will be removed from venting opening  29 . The cover element will simultaneously be displaced linearly along the pin  26 , whereby removal of the relevant food product, usually drink, from the food product container can take place along cover element  23  and via intermediate layer  22  and a passage opening  32  arranged in top element  21  (see  FIG. 2   b ). 
       FIG. 2   b  shows a perspective view of the device  20  of  FIG. 2   a  in the opened situation.  FIG. 2   b  shows clearly that top element  21  and cover element  23  are located a distance from each other, whereby removal of food product from the food product container can take place (see arrow A). Also shown is that rod-like member  30 , temporarily deformed, rests against an underside of top element  21  until top element  21  is rotated back to the situation shown in  FIG. 2   a , whereafter the rod-like member  30  will once again extend into venting opening  29 . 
       FIG. 2   c  shows a perspective top view of the device  20  of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  in closed situation. In the closed situation the passage opening  32  is sealed by means of a raised part  33  forming part of cover element  23 . Also shown is that handgrip  27  is provided with an eye  34  which co-acts with an elevated member  35  arranged in intermediate layer  22 . The elevated member  35  prevents the top element  21  from being able to rotate in undesired and simple manner. Only after overcoming a determined bias can the eye  34  be carried over the elevated member  35 , whereafter unimpeded rotation of top element  21  through a determined angle is made possible. Top element  21  can in fact therefore be locked in the closed position of device  20 . 
       FIG. 3   a  shows a perspective cross-section of an alternative device  36  according to the invention in closed situation. Device  36  is arranged on a cover  37  of a drink can. Device  36  comprises an internal element  38  and an external element  39  co-acting with internal element  38 . Internal element  38  is provided for this purpose with a cylindrical member  40  provided with an internal screw thread  41 , and external element  39  is likewise provided with a cylindrical member  42  provided with an external screw thread  43 . Rotation of internal element  38  is prevented by locking of internal element  38  on one side. The one-sided locking is realized by mutual co-action of an irregular portion  44  arranged in cover  37  on the one hand and two fixation protrusions  45  forming part of internal element  38  and engaging on either side on the irregular portion  44  on the other. A part of external element  39  is arranged with clamp fitting in a passage opening for drink arranged in cover  37 . External element  39  herein engages on cover  37  on two sides. External element  39  is provided for this purpose with a projecting flange  46  for engaging on the inner side of cover  37 , and a supporting edge  47  for engaging on an outer side of cover  37 . External element  39  is also provided with a drinking opening  48  for a user, which drinking opening  48  is filled in the shown, closed situation by a plunger member  49  forming part of internal element  38 . In the shown situation a sealing edge  50  forming part of internal element  38  engages under bias on cover  37 . A sealing edge (not shown) is preferably arranged between sealing edge  50  and cover  37  in order to ensure a long-term medium-tight sealing of the drink can. When external element  39  is rotated, internal element  38  will move linearly in a direction away from cover  37 , whereafter sealing edge  50  also comes to lie at a distance from cover  37 , whereby the can is thus opened and removal of drink is made possible. This opened situation is shown in  FIG. 3   b . In the shown situation the maximum rotation of external element  39  has been reached, as a lip  51  forming part of external element  39  engages on an edge  52  forming part of cover  37 .  FIG. 3   b  also shows that plunger member  49  of internal element  38  has an surface with an inclining orientation relative to a remaining part of device  36 . The higher situated part of plunger member  49  herein forms a boundary to excessive rotation of external element  39  in the direction of the closed position as shown in  FIG. 3   a.    
       FIG. 3   c  shows a perspective bottom view of device  36  of  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  in closed situation.  FIG. 3   c  shows in particular the mutual co-action of the irregular portion  44  and the fixation protrusions  45  enclosing the irregular portion  44 , whereby rotation of internal element  38  relative to cover  37  and external element  39  can be prevented. 
       FIG. 3   d  shows a perspective top view of device  36  of  FIGS. 3   a - 3   c  in closed situation. Passage opening  48  of external element  39  is now filled by plunger member  49 .  FIG. 3   d  also shows that external element  39  is provided with venting opening  53  to make it possible to prevent gurgling removal of drink. External element  39  is moreover provided with a profiled edge  54  to facilitate rotation of external element  39  for the user. 
       FIG. 4  shows a schematic cross-section of a soft drink can  55  provided with a device  56  according to the invention. Can  55  is filled with a carbonated soft drink  56 . Can  55  is constructed from a base element  57 , a body  58  connected to base element  57  and a cover  59  seam-folded round body  58 . Cover  59  is provided with a passage opening  60  for drink. Device  56  is coupled to cover  59  and is adapted for renewed medium-tight sealing of cover  59 . Cover  59  comprises for this purpose a guide means  61  connected fixedly to cover  59  and provided with a receiving space  62  for a slide  63  connected in guiding manner to guide means  61 . Slide  63  is coupled by means of a flexible element  64  to a sealing element  64  located in can  55 . By sliding the slide  63  along guide means  61  (arrow A) and positioning it on receiving space  62 , sealing element  64  can be pulled firmly against cover  59  (arrow B) such that a medium-tight sealing is created. Cover  59  is however now provided with a rubber ring  65  to ensure the medium-tight sealing. So as to stabilize the position of sealing element  64  to some extent, cover element  64  is provided with a pin  66  which protrudes with clamp fitting through an opening  67  arranged in cover  59 . A seal  68  is likewise arranged between pin  66  and opening  67 . In order to facilitate displacement of slide  63 , this latter is provided with a handgrip  69 . 
     It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown and described here, but that numerous variants, which will be obvious to the skilled person in the field, are possible within the scope of the appended claims.