Metal cover for a container body

Abstract

Disclosed is a metal cover for a container body, in particular for a container such as a metal can, the cover including a removable portion ( 4 ) which is defined by a scoreline ( 5 ) and which is provided with an opening member ( 6 ). The scoreline ( 5 ) includes two upstream portions ( 55 ) and one downstream portion ( 56 ), provided on either side of a virtual axis ( 10 ). Each upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) includes a second section ( 522 ) including a residual thickness (E 2 ) greater than a residual thickness (E 1 ) of a first section ( 551 ); and the second section ( 552 ) extends over at least 20% of the length (L) of the upstream portion ( 55 ), a downstream end ( 5522 ) being provided within the upstream portion ( 55 ).

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A metal cover for a container body, in particular for a container of the metal can type,
 said metal cover ( 1 ) comprising:
 a central part ( 2 ) forming a central closing panel, and 
 a peripheral part ( 3 ) adapted to be fastened to said container body, 
   wherein the central part ( 2 ) comprises a removable part ( 4 ) that is delimited by a scoreline ( 5 ) having a variable residual thickness and that is equipped with an opening member ( 6 ),   wherein the opening member ( 6 ) comprises, on either side of a part ( 8 ) for the fastening to the removable part ( 4 ), a peripheral incision part ( 7 ) and a central grasping part ( 9 ),   wherein said scoreline ( 5 ) comprises:
 two upstream portions ( 55 ), extending on either side of the longitudinal axis ( 6 ′) of the opening member ( 6 ), and 
 a downstream portion ( 56 ), consisted by the remaining length of said scoreline ( 5 ), 
   wherein the portions ( 55 ,  56 ) are arranged on either side of a virtual axis ( 10 ) extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis ( 6 ′) of the opening member ( 6 ), said virtual axis ( 10 ) corresponding to the bend line generated on the removable part ( 4 ) after a pivoting of said opening member ( 6 ) and the tearing of said upstream portions ( 55 ),   wherein each upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) includes, successively in the tearing direction, at least two sections:
 a first section ( 551 ) having a first residual thickness (E 1 ), and 
 a second section ( 552 ) having a residual thickness (E 2 ) higher than said first residual thickness (E 1 ), 
   wherein the second section ( 552 ) extends over at least 20% of the length (L) of said upstream portion ( 55 ),   and wherein said second section ( 552 ) of each upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) includes:
 an upstream end ( 5521 ), connected to the first section ( 551 ), and 
 a downstream end ( 5522 ), provided within said upstream portion ( 55 ). 
   
     
     
         14 . The metal cover according to  claim 13 , wherein the downstream end ( 5522 ) of the second section ( 552 ) is connected to the downstream portion ( 56 ) (i) directly or (ii) through a third section ( 553 ) whose residual thickness (E 3 ) is lower than the residual thickness (E 2 ) of said second section ( 552 ) of the upstream portion ( 55 ). 
     
     
         15 . The metal cover according to  claim 13 , wherein the upstream end ( 5521 ) and/or the downstream end ( 5522 ) of the second section ( 552 ) of the upstream portion ( 55 ) show:
 an abrupt variation of the residual thickness, or   a continuous progressive variation of the residual thickness, or   a discontinuous progressive variation of the residual thickness.   
     
     
         16 . The metal cover according to  claim 15 , wherein the upstream end ( 5521 ) and the downstream end ( 5522 ) of the second section ( 552 ) of the upstream portion ( 55 ) each show a progressive variation of the residual thickness (E), and wherein the downstream end ( 5522 ) extends over a length higher than the length of the upstream end ( 5521 ). 
     
     
         17 . The metal cover according to  claim 13 , wherein the first section ( 551 ) of the upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) has a constant residual thickness (E 1 ), and
 wherein the second section ( 552 ) of the upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) has a constant or variable residual thickness (E 2 ).   
     
     
         18 . The metal cover according to  claim 13 , wherein the difference of residual thickness (E 2 ′) between the first section ( 551 ) and the second section ( 552 ) of the upstream portion ( 55 ) is comprised between 10 and 50 μm. 
     
     
         19 . The metal cover according to  claim 13 , wherein the first section ( 551 ), and as the case may be, the third section ( 553 ), of the upstream portion ( 55 ) has a residual thickness identical, or at least approximately identical, to the majority residual thickness (E 4 ) of the downstream portion ( 56 ). 
     
     
         20 . The metal cover according to  claim 13 , wherein the scoreline ( 5 ) is formed by a lower groove ( 54 ) and/or by an upper groove ( 53 ) that are arranged in a lower face ( 22 ) and/or an upper face ( 21 ), respectively, of the central part ( 4 ) of the cover ( 1 ), and
 wherein said upper groove ( 53 ) and/or said lower groove ( 54 ) have a variable depth at the upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ).   
     
     
         21 . The metal cover according to  claim 13 , wherein the upstream portions ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) extend symmetrically on either side of the longitudinal axis ( 6 ′) of the opening member ( 6 ). 
     
     
         22 . A container, in particular of the metal can type, equipped with a metal cover ( 1 ) according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         23 . A method for manufacturing a cover ( 1 ) according to  claim 13 , wherein the method comprises a step of incision of the scoreline ( 5 ) in said cover ( 1 ), by means of an incision tool ( 12 ) comprising an upper member ( 121 ) and a lower member ( 122 ) each carrying a profile ( 1211 ,  1221 ),
 wherein, during said step of incision, the profiles ( 1211 ,  1221 ) of said incision tool ( 121 ) are arranged so as to generate each of said upstream portions ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ),   each upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) includes, successively in the tearing direction, at least two sections:
 a first section ( 551 ) having a first residual thickness (E 1 ), and 
 a second section ( 552 ) having a residual thickness (E 2 ) higher than said first residual thickness (E 1 ), 
   wherein the second section ( 552 ) extends over at least 20% of the length (L) of said upstream portion ( 55 ),   wherein the second section ( 552 ) of each upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) includes:
 an upstream end ( 5521 ), connected to a first section ( 551 ), and 
 a downstream end ( 5522 ), provided within said upstream portion ( 55 ). 
   
     
     
         24 . A device for manufacturing a metal cover ( 1 ) according to  claim 13 , comprising an incision tool ( 12 ) for forming the scoreline ( 5 ), which incision tool ( 12 ) comprises an upper member ( 121 ) and a lower member ( 122 ), each carrying an incision profile ( 1211 ,  1221 ),
 wherein the profiles ( 1211 ,  1221 ) in incision position define, between each other, a space of a variable width to generate the upstream portions ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ),   each upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) includes, successively in the tearing direction, at least two sections:
 a first section ( 551 ) having a first residual thickness (E 1 ), and 
 a second section ( 552 ) having a residual thickness (E 2 ) higher than said first residual thickness (E 1 ), 
   wherein the second section ( 552 ) extends over at least 20% of the length (L) of said upstream portion ( 55 ),   wherein the second section ( 552 ) of each upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) includes:
 an upstream end ( 5521 ), connected to the first section ( 551 ), and 
 a downstream end ( 5522 ), provided within said upstream portion ( 55 ). 
   
     
     
         25 . A container, in particular of the metal can type, equipped with a metal cover ( 1 ) according to  claim 14 . 
     
     
         26 . A container, in particular of the metal can type, equipped with a metal cover ( 1 ) according to  claim 15 . 
     
     
         27 . A container, in particular of the metal can type, equipped with a metal cover ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 . 
     
     
         28 . A container, in particular of the metal can type, equipped with a metal cover ( 1 ) according to  claim 17 . 
     
     
         29 . A method for manufacturing a cover ( 1 ) according to  claim 14 , wherein the method comprises a step of incision of the scoreline ( 5 ) in said cover ( 1 ), by means of an incision tool ( 12 ) comprising an upper member ( 121 ) and a lower member ( 122 ) each carrying a profile ( 1211 ,  1221 ),
 wherein, during said step of incision, the profiles ( 1211 ,  1221 ) of said incision tool ( 121 ) are arranged so as to generate each of said upstream portions ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ),   each upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) includes, successively in the tearing direction, at least two sections:
 a first section ( 551 ) having a first residual thickness (E 1 ), and 
 a second section ( 552 ) having a residual thickness (E 2 ) higher than said first residual thickness (E 1 ), 
   wherein the second section ( 552 ) extends over at least 20% of the length (L) of said upstream portion ( 55 ),   wherein the second section ( 552 ) of each upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) includes:
 an upstream end ( 5521 ), connected to a first section ( 551 ), and 
 a downstream end ( 5522 ), provided within said upstream portion ( 55 ). 
   
     
     
         30 . A method for manufacturing a cover ( 1 ) according to  claim 15 , wherein the method comprises a step of incision of the scoreline ( 5 ) in said cover ( 1 ), by means of an incision tool ( 12 ) comprising an upper member ( 121 ) and a lower member ( 122 ) each carrying a profile ( 1211 ,  1221 ),
 wherein, during said step of incision, the profiles ( 1211 ,  1221 ) of said incision tool ( 121 ) are arranged so as to generate each of said upstream portions ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ),   each upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) includes, successively in the tearing direction, at least two sections:
 a first section ( 551 ) having a first residual thickness (E 1 ), and 
 a second section ( 552 ) having a residual thickness (E 2 ) higher than said first residual thickness (E 1 ), 
   wherein the second section ( 552 ) extends over at least 20% of the length (L) of said upstream portion ( 55 ),   wherein the second section ( 552 ) of each upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) includes:
 an upstream end ( 5521 ), connected to a first section ( 551 ), and 
 a downstream end ( 5522 ), provided within said upstream portion ( 55 ). 
   
     
     
         31 . A device for manufacturing a metal cover ( 1 ) according to  claim 14 , comprising an incision tool ( 12 ) for forming the scoreline ( 5 ), which incision tool ( 12 ) comprises an upper member ( 121 ) and a lower member ( 122 ), each carrying an incision profile ( 1211 ,  1221 ),
 wherein the profiles ( 1211 ,  1221 ) in incision position define, between each other, a space of a variable width to generate the upstream portions ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ),   each upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) includes, successively in the tearing direction, at least two sections:
 a first section ( 551 ) having a first residual thickness (E 1 ), and 
 a second section ( 552 ) having a residual thickness (E 2 ) higher than said first residual thickness (E 1 ), 
   wherein the second section ( 552 ) extends over at least 20% of the length (L) of said upstream portion ( 55 ),   wherein the second section ( 552 ) of each upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) includes:
 an upstream end ( 5521 ), connected to the first section ( 551 ), and 
 a downstream end ( 5522 ), provided within said upstream portion ( 55 ). 
   
     
     
         32 . A device for manufacturing a metal cover ( 1 ) according to  claim 15 , comprising an incision tool ( 12 ) for forming the scoreline ( 5 ), which incision tool ( 12 ) comprises an upper member ( 121 ) and a lower member ( 122 ), each carrying an incision profile ( 1211 ,  1221 ),
 wherein the profiles ( 1211 ,  1221 ) in incision position define, between each other, a space of a variable width to generate the upstream portions ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ),   each upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) includes, successively in the tearing direction, at least two sections:
 a first section ( 551 ) having a first residual thickness (E 1 ), and 
 a second section ( 552 ) having a residual thickness (E 2 ) higher than said first residual thickness (E 1 ), 
   wherein the second section ( 552 ) extends over at least 20% of the length (L) of said upstream portion ( 55 ),   wherein the second section ( 552 ) of each upstream portion ( 55 ) of the scoreline ( 5 ) includes:
 an upstream end ( 5521 ), connected to the first section ( 551 ), and 
 a downstream end ( 5522 ), provided within said upstream portion ( 55 ).