Closure Arrangement for Cans

Abstract

The can of the invention includes a body portion joined to a neck portion of reduced contour and which incorporates an outer peripheral projection and which defines an upper opening; and a lid having a peripheral tubular portion to be fitted into the upper opening, and an outer circumferential rib. The outer circumferential rib presents a semi-tubular shape, inferiorly opened and having: a radially inner edge which is joined to the upper edge of the peripheral tubular portion of the lid, by an annular step; and a radially outer edge. The outer circumferential rib carries, in its interior, an annular gasket to be seated on the outer peripheral projection of the neck portion, upon the fitting of the lid into the upper opening and the seating of the annular step on said outer peripheral projection.

1 . A closure arrangement for cans of the type which comprises: a body portion inferiorly closed; a neck portion, presenting a reduced contour and an upper end edge, which incorporates an outer peripheral projection and defines the contour of an upper opening; a transition portion, joining the body portion and the neck portion; and a lid having a panel portion which incorporates a peripheral tubular portion to be fitted, with interference, into said upper opening, and having an upper edge carrying an outer circumferential rib, the arrangement being characterized in that the outer circumferential rib presents a semi-tubular shape inferiorly opened and having: a radially inner edge which is joined to the upper edge of the peripheral tubular portion of the lid, by an annular step which projects outwards from said peripheral tubular portion; and a radially outer edge, spaced from the radially inner edge, the outer circumferential rib carrying, in its interior, an annular gasket to be seated and pressed against the outer peripheral projection of the neck portion upon the fitting of the lid into the upper opening (A) and the seating of the annular step on the outer peripheral projection of the neck portion. 
     
     
         2 . The closure arrangement, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the outer circumferential rib has the projection of its radially inner edge, in the axial direction of the can, secant to the radially innermost half contour of the outer peripheral projection of the neck portion, the projection, in the same axial direction of the radially outer edge of the outer circumferential rib, being disposed radially external to the contour of the outer peripheral projection of the neck portion. 
     
     
         3 . The closure arrangement, as set forth in  claim 2 , characterized in that the annular gasket is defined by a resin bead molded in the interior of the outer circumferential rib of the lid. 
     
     
         4 . The closure arrangement, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the radially inner edge and radially outer edge of the outer circumferential rib define, therebetween, an alignment which is secant to the upper half of the contour of the outer peripheral projection of the neck portion. 
     
     
         5 . The closure arrangement, as set forth in  claim 4 , characterized in that the annular gasket is inferiorly tangent to or intersected by the alignment defined by the inner radial edge and radially outer edge of the outer circumferential rib of the lid. 
     
     
         6 . The closure arrangement, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the outer peripheral projection and the outer circumferential rib are defined by radially outwardly bending the upper end edge of the neck portion and the free upper edge of the peripheral tubular portion of the lid, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The closure arrangement, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that it further comprises a retaining ring, in a single piece of plastic material and having: an upper annular portion to be seated on the outer circumferential rib of the lid; a peripheral skirt portion pending from the upper annular portion, laterally tightly surrounding the outer circumferential rib of the lid and the outer peripheral projection of the neck portion and incorporating an inner circumferential projection to be seated and axially locked under the outer peripheral projection of the neck portion. 
     
     
         8 . The closure arrangement, as set forth in  claim 7 , characterized in that the inner circumferential projection presents a profile in the form of a downwardly and radially inwardly inclined ramp. 
     
     
         9 . The closure arrangement, as set forth in  claim 7 , characterized in that the retaining ring also incorporates, in its upper annular portion, an upper tubular projection positioned and dimensioned to be fitted against the bottom wall, internally to the peripheral double-seam, of another identical can, seated on the first one in a stack of said cans.