Closure and Suspension Arrangement for Cans

Abstract

The present arrangement is applied to a can including a body portion; a neck portion incorporating an outer peripheral ridge and joined to the body portion by a transition portion; and a lid carrying an outer peripheral rib. A retention ring is seated on the outer peripheral, surrounding the latter and the outer peripheral ridge and being locked under said outer peripheral ridge; and a suspension ring carrying a grip handle and surrounding the neck portion, and locking, upwardly, the retention ring. A seal strip is joined to the suspension ring by breakable connection means, blocking access to a surrounding wall of the suspension ring, which is elastically deformable to unlock the retention ring.

1 . A closure and suspension arrangement for cans, comprising: a body portion; a neck portion having an upper end edge defining an upper opening (A) of the can and incorporating an outer peripheral ridge; a transition portion joining the body portion and neck portion; and a lid including a peripheral tubular portion to be fitted into the upper opening (A) and having an upper edge carrying an outer peripheral rib, the arrangement being characterized in that it comprises: a retention ring in plastic material, having an upper annular portion seated and retained on the outer peripheral rib, and surrounding above and laterally the latter, a peripheral skirt portion, externally and tightly surrounding the outer peripheral rib and the outer peripheral ridge and incorporating an inner circumferential projection to be seated and axially locked under the outer peripheral ridge, and a lower tubular projection; and a suspension ring in plastic material, carrying a grip handle and surrounding the neck portion, being upwardly and downwardly locked respectively against the outer peripheral ridge and against the transition portion and presenting a peripheral upper channel which is externally limited by a surrounding wall and into which is fitted and upwardly locked the lower tubular projection of the retention ring, with the surrounding wall being elastically deformable outwards, in order to release the upward displacement of said lower tubular projection and thus the removal of the lid, the surrounding wall being superiorly joined, in a single piece and through a breakable connection means, to a seal strip which is detachable and interrupted by an axial slot and peripherally surrounding a lower region of the peripheral skirt portion of the retention ring. 
     
     
         2 . The arrangement, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the pending peripheral skirt further incorporates, internally, a peripheral chord which is configured to be tightly seated under the radially outer edge of the outer peripheral rib of the lid. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the lower projection of the suspension ring is fitted inside the peripheral upper channel of another suspension ring disposed immediately below in a stack of said suspension rings. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the lower tubular projection to be defined by at least one strip portion which incorporates, along its extension, an outer lower tooth facing upwards and inferiorly configured as a ramp, the surrounding wall being provided with an inner upper tooth, facing downwards and operating as a stop for the outer lower tooth of the lower tubular projection, preventing the upward axial displacement of the retention ring. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the peripheral skirt portion is provided with an outer recess, inside which is loosely housed an enlarged end portion of the seal strip adjacent to the axial slot of the latter. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the surrounding wall of the suspension ring has an upper edge which maintains an axial gap in relation to a lower edge of the peripheral skirt portion of the retention ring, sufficient to allow the introduction of a manual lever means into said axial gap, after removing the seal strip. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the outer peripheral rib of the lid has a partially tubular format, inferiorly open and having: a radially inner edge joined to the upper edge of the peripheral tubular portion by an annular step projecting outwards of said peripheral tubular portion; and a radially outer edge, spaced from the radially inner edge, the outer peripheral rib carrying, in its interior, an annular gasket to be seated and compressed against the outer peripheral ridge of the neck portion, upon fitting the lid into the upper opening of the can, and upon the seating of the annular step onto the outer peripheral ridge of the neck portion. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement, as set forth in  claim 7 , characterized in that outer peripheral rib has the projection of the radially inner edge and radially outer edge thereof, in the axial direction of the can, disposed secant, respectively, to the radially innermost half and the radially outermost half of the contour of the outer peripheral ridge of the neck portion, the radially inner edge and the radially outer edge of the outer peripheral rib defining, in relation to one another, a secant alignment in relation to the upper half of the contour of the outer peripheral ridge of the neck portion. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement, as set forth in  claim 8 , characterized in that the annular gasket is inferiorly tangent to, or sectioned by the alignment defined by the radially inner edge and radially outer edge of the outer peripheral rib of the lid. 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the retention ring further incorporates, in the upper annular portion thereof, a first upper tubular projection, radially spaced in relation to the outer contour of the retention ring and defining, with the upper annular portion, a peripheral step onto which is seated the lower peripheral edge of another identical can, placed over the first in a stack of said cans. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement, as set forth in  claim 10 , characterized in that the retention ring further incorporates, in the upper annular portion thereof, a second upper tubular projection, radially spaced in relation to the first upper tubular projection, the lower tubular projection of the retention ring being seated on the first upper tubular projection, of another retention ring located under the first in a stack of retention rings, each already incorporated to a respective lid, with the second upper projection of said another retention ring acting as an outer guide stop for the lower region of the peripheral tubular portion of the lid incorporated to said another retention ring. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the suspension ring incorporates, externally and in opposite regions of the lower projection thereof, two radial pins, each being provided with an enlarged head, the grip handle being provided with end portions respectively pivotable on the radial pins and being angularly displaceable, about the common axis of the two radial pins, between a nonoperational position, in which it remains positioned laterally and externally to a respective lateral extension of the neck portion, and an operational position in which it is positioned over the can. 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement, as set forth in  claim 12 , characterized in that each end portion of the grip handle is provided with a through opening, through which is rotatively supported a respective radial pin, said through opening having a width sufficient to rotatively support, in a tight manner, the radial pin, and a length in the longitudinal direction of the grip handle which is sufficient to rotatively support the radial pin, both with the grip handle in the nonoperational position, and with the grip handle in angular displacement from the nonoperational position to the operational position. 
     
     
         14 . The arrangement, as set forth in  claim 13 , characterized in that each through opening has opposite lateral edges, parallel and straight, against which are tightly seated opposite regions of the cross section of the respective radial pin. 
     
     
         15 . The arrangement, as set forth in  claim 14 , characterized in that the through opening presents an outer end edge, against which is seated the respective radial pin when the grip handle is in the operational position and suspending the can, each radial pin incorporating an enlarged head, having a contour which is greater than the width of the through openings, each of the latter having an inner end, opposite to the outer end edge and open to an enlarged hole having a contour dimensioned to allow the passage of the enlarged head of the radial pin, with little elastic deformation of the enlarged head or of the through opening.