Abstract:
A novel closure for a container is provided. The closure comprises an overcap and a built in blade ring for making a circumferential cut in the container body so the top portion of the body can be removed to expose the container contents.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This disclosure patent relates to an overcap for a rigid paper can. More particularly, this disclosure relates to an overcap for a rigid paper can wherein the overcap has a cutting ring for opening the rigid paper can. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Rigid cylindrical composite containers used to hold goods such as snacks and other food items are an important product in the packaging industry. These containers usually are manufactured with open ends, one of which may be closed with a metal or plastic bottom closure. The top end may be sealed with a peel-off membrane and an overcap. The membrane is used to guard against tampering and ensure content safety and freshness. The consumer must remove both the overcap and the membrane before use. The overcap can be replaced if the contents are not consumed all at once. 
         [0005]    The present disclosure describes an alternative overcap having a “built-in” cutting ring for opening the rigid paper can, thereby eliminating the need to remove a membrane. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The disclosure relates to a closure for a container. The closure comprises an overcap and a built in blade ring for making a circumferential cut in the container body so the top portion of the body can be removed to expose the container contents. 
         [0007]    The overcap may comprise a covering portion and an annular portion comprising an annular rim, an outer skirt extending downward from an inner edge of the rim and an annular inner wall extending downward from an outer edge of the rim to the covering portion. 
         [0008]    The blade ring is affixed to an interior surface of the overcap outer skirt. The blade ring comprises at least two teeth segments circumferentially spaced around and extending radially inwardly from a ring-like structure. A teeth segment body is located on an outer surface of the ring-like structure opposite each teeth segment. Each teeth segment body has a raised trailing portion extending radially outward from the rest of the blade ring, a stopping edge circumferentially rearward of the trailing portion, and a forward edge circumferentially opposite the stopping edge. The teeth segments may be slightly spaced from the container body. 
         [0009]    The overcap outer skirt may have an interior surface and define circumferentially spaced apart recesses for receiving and retaining each teeth segment body. 
         [0010]    The outer skirt may define a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart spaces for receiving the raised trailing portion of each teeth segment body. The outer skirt may comprise one or more inwardly extending cams configured to push against the raised trailing portions when a radially inward force is imposed on the outer skirt. The outer skirt may further comprise one or more inwardly extending lugs, where each lug has a forward facing surface that faces one of the spaces in the outer skirt. Each forward facing surface is configured to push against a corresponding raised trailing portion when the outer skirt is squeezed and rotated. 
         [0011]    In another aspect of the disclosure a method of opening a container sealed by the closure described above is provided. The method may comprise the steps of: squeezing the outer skirt until the teeth segments cut into the body; rotating the overcap to make one or more circumferential cuts in the body until the body is cut circumferentially into two pieces; and lifting off the overcap. 
         [0012]    In the method described above the outer skirt may be squeezed at two places around the overcap about 180 degrees apart and coinciding with the location of two of the teeth segments and the overcap is rotated degrees. 
         [0013]    Alternatively, the blade ring may comprise six teeth segments, the overcap is squeezed at places coinciding with the six teeth segments, and the overcap is rotated 60 degrees. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1  taken along line  2 - 2  showing the container before opening. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1  showing the container during opening. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a container showing the container before opening. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of one embodiment of a blade ring used as a component of an overcap according to the disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a portion of the blade ring of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of a blade ring. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a portion of the blade ring of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1  taken along line  8 - 8 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of a portion of the overcap of  FIG. 8  after squeezing pressure has been applied to the overcap. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of a portion of the overcap of  FIG. 9  after the overcap has been rotated. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    While the invention described herein may be embodied in many forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one or more embodiments, with the understanding that this disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the illustrated embodiments. 
         [0026]    The disclosure relates to an overcap having a “built-in” cutting ring for opening the rigid paper can, thereby eliminating the need to remove a membrane. 
         [0027]    Rigid composite containers are used to package various products such as snacks and other food items. These containers often comprise a rigid cylindrical or shaped body usually manufactured with open top and bottom ends. One or both ends may be sealed with paper-based ends or ends made of metal, flexible polymer material, or composite materials. While the bottom end is usually affixed to the container, the top end is often designed to be easily removed by the consumer. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sample rigid composite container  10 . The container  10  comprises a container body  12  and an overcap  14 . The container body  12  has a top opening and a bottom opening. The bottom opening is sealed with a bottom end or closure  16 . The top opening is sealed with the overcap  14 . The body  12  has an inner (content facing) surface  22  and an outer surface  24 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of the container  10  of  FIG. 1  taken along line  2 - 2 . The overcap  14  may comprise a circular covering portion  28  and an annular portion  30  configured to overlay the container&#39;s beaded top rim  18 . The annular portion  30  may comprise an annular rim  32 , an outer skirt  34  extending downward from the rim  32  adjacent the outer surface  24  of the paper can body  12 , and an annular inner wall  36  that extends downward from the rim  32  adjacent the inner surface  22  of the paper can body  12  to the covering portion  28 . The covering portion  28  may be countersunk with respect to the container top rim  18 . Raised or textured gripping sections  39  ( FIG. 1 ) may be circumferentially disposed around the outer skirt  34 . A blade ring  40  is affixed to the overcap as explained below. The inner skirt  36  may define a continuous or discontinuous annular recess  37  located approximately radially inward from the blade ring  40 . The overcap  14  may be plastic or any suitable material. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the container  10  of  FIG. 1  shown being opened. When the overcap  14  is squeezed at the gripping sections  39 , teeth segments  42  ( FIG. 9 ) of the blade ring  40  are pushed into the can body  12 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a container  60  showing the container  60  before opening. Like the previous embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the container  60  comprises a container body  12  and an overcap  64 . Unlike the previous embodiment the body  64  has a straight top rim  70 . 
         [0032]    Still referring to  FIG. 3 , the overcap  64  is configured to accommodate the straight rim  70 , and comprises a circular covering portion  78  and an annular portion configured to overlay the container top rim  70 . The annular portion may comprise a rim  82 , an outer skirt  84  extending downward from the rim  82  adjacent the outer surface  24  of the can body  12 , and an annular inner wall  86  that extends downward from the rim  82  adjacent the inner surface  22  of the can body  82  to the covering portion  28 . The outer skirt  84  has an interior surface  88  and may define a continuous or discontinuous annular recess  87  located radially inward from the blade ring  40 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a blade ring  40  and  FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a portion of the blade ring  40  of  FIG. 4 . The blade ring  40  comprises at least two and preferably six teeth segments  42  circumferentially spaced around and extending inwardly from a ring-like structure  44 . A thickened area, a.k.a. the teeth segment body  46 , is located on the outer surface  48  of the ring-like structure  44  opposite each teeth segment  42 . Each teeth segment body  46  has a raised trailing portion  47 , a stopping edge  50  rearward of the trailing portion  47 , and a forward edge  54  opposite the stopping edge  50 . The trailing portion  47  extends radially outward from the rest of the blade ring  40 . The blade ring  40  may be metal, plastic or any suitable resilient material. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of a blade ring  41  and  FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a portion of the blade ring of  FIG. 6 . Like the previous embodiment, the blade ring  41  comprises at least two and preferably six teeth segments  42  circumferentially spaced around and extending inwardly from a ring-like structure  44 . A teeth segment body  46  is located on the outer surface  48  of the ring-like structure  44  opposite each teeth segment  42 . Each teeth segment body  46  has a stopping edge  50  and a forward edge  54  opposite the stopping edge  50 . 
         [0035]    The operation of the combination overcap  14  and blade ring  40  will now be described with respect to  FIGS. 8 to 10 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the container  10  of  FIG. 1  taken along line  8 - 8 . From inside out,  FIG. 8  shows cross-sections of the overcap inner skirt  36 , the can body  12 , a gap or space, the blade ring  40  and the overcap outer skirt  34 . A broken line in  FIG. 8  indicates the inner boundary of the annular recess  37  defined by the overcap inner wall  36 , better shown in  FIG. 2A . 
         [0037]    The overcap outer skirt  34  has an interior surface  38  and defines circumferentially spaced apart recesses  35  for receiving and retaining each teeth segment body  46 . 
         [0038]    The blade ring  40  is affixed to or otherwise held by the interior surface  38  of the overcap outer skirt  34  and has teeth segments  42  pointed radially inward. The teeth segments  42  may contact the can body  12  or, as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 8 , may be slightly spaced from the can body  12 . 
         [0039]    The outer skirt  34  defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart spaces  27  and comprises one or more inwardly extending sloped surfaces or cams  29  and one or more inwardly extending lugs  31 , with each lug  31  having a forward facing surface  33  facing one of the spaces  27  in the outer skirt  34 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 9  is a view of the overcap  14  of  FIG. 8  after squeezing pressure has been applied to the overcap  14  by a user. When the overcap  14  is squeezed at the gripping sections  39 , the cams  29  move radially inward as shown by arrow A push the teeth segments  42  into the can body  12 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of a portion of the overcap  14  of  FIG. 9  after the overcap  14  has been rotated. When the overcap  14  is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow B, the trailing portion  47  of each teeth segment body  46  will move radially outward when the trailing portion  47  is radially aligned with a space  27  in the outer skirt  34  due to the resilience of the blade ring  40 . As the overcap  14  is rotated further, the forward surface  33  of each lug  31  will abut the stopping edge  50  of each teeth segment body  46  and begin applying a rotating force to the blade ring  40 , forcing the blade ring  40  to rotate along with the overcap  14 . As the teeth segments  42  rotate, they make an annular cut into the can body  12  until the body  12  is cut into a top section and a bottom section. The top section can be lifted off to expose the contents of the container  10 . 
         [0042]    For greatest effectiveness the overcap  14  should be squeezed at two places around the overcap  14  about 180 degrees apart and coinciding with the location of two of the teeth segments  42 . Typically the overcap  14  must be rotated 180 degrees to completely cut the container body  14 . Where six equally spaced teeth segments  42  are used and the overcap is squeezed at all six places coinciding with the six teeth segments  42 , it may be possible to cut the entire circumference of the container body  12  by turning the overcap  14  only 60 degrees. 
         [0043]    It is understood that the embodiments of the disclosure described above are only particular examples which serve to illustrate the principles of the disclosure. Modifications and alternative embodiments of the disclosure are contemplated which do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the foregoing teachings and appended claims. It is intended that the claims cover all such modifications and alternative embodiments that fall within their scope.