Rcap

[57] ABSTRACT

The overcap comprises a receptacle adapted for snap fit over a can bead. The receptacle is provided with a snap-in cover, so held that the latter is retained during application or removal of the overcap.

Claims, 6 Drawing Figures

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Patented May 16, 1972

3,662,913

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ATT'Y

DUAL OVERCAP

3,662,913

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to overcaps for cans or similar containers, more particularly to an overcap of the reclosure type affording a chamber for confining a second product exteriorly of the prime container.

2. The Prior Art

Overcaps of the reclosure type are well known in the art, as exemplified by those used with coffee cans and the like for end protection and for preservation of contents after partial use, as well as caps generally provided with aerosol cans and other dispensing containers as a protection for a nozzle or spout. Such overcaps have sometimes been used for the secondary purpose of confining a premium, coupon, instruction sheet, or small package.

Use of prior overcaps as auxiliary containers has been generally limited to items which are not readily subject to spoilage of themselves or a can end by contact therewith. These hazards are particularly serious with can ends of the easy opening types, which typically have tabs or pull rings and are scored to define a tear strip. Heavy or sharp objects may damage a tab or ring, or even puncture the end. A fragile product can readily be damaged or broken; the wrapping of a fluent product may be punctured or otherwise become leaky and the contents thus be spilled. Special protective wrapping or stuffing is usually too costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a principal object of this invention to provide an overcap which serves the dual purposes of a reclosure type protective cap for a prime container and a closed container for a second product.

In its preferred form, the overcap has a body in the shape of a cup or canister, in inverted position as normally applied to a prime container. The body has a flexible and resilient lip, with an inner groove near the edge.

Inwardly of the bead-engaging groove the body has a second 4Q groove for reception of a snap-in cover, preferably of flexible plastic. The combined flexibility of the lip and the cover facilitate assembly. The body and cover define a chamber for the reception of the second product. The product may be an implement or material to be used in association with the 45 product in the prime container. The overcap cover separates the second product from the end of the prime container and provides a second sanitary seal for the second product. The cover has a pull tab or knob to facilitate removal of the cover.

The engagement overlap of the cover relative to its reten- 50 tion groove is preferably somewhat greater than that between the can bead and the bead retention groove, so that flexure of the lip in applying and removing the overcap does not release the cover. Thus, the second product does not spill out when the overcap is removed from the prime container.

The novel overcap provides extra protection when used with a can of the easy-opening type. The second product and the tab or ring and tear strip are separated by the overcap cover, so there is no risk of the product and the can end damaging each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a can with an overcap according to this invention assembled thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-section through the overcap on a can end, which is partially broken away, to show the relationship of the assembled parts;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary and partial cross-section view of the assembly, showing details of the body lip and the cover;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the cover showing the tab in phantom as molded and in solid lines as in use;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section view similar to FIG. 3 showing another form of cover having a pull knob; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a cover showing a form of reenforcement.

Referring now to FIG. 1, prime container 10 is shown with the overcap of this invention assembled thereon. For purposes of illustration, the container 10 here shown is a tobacco can, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to a particular size, style or type of prime container. The latter is not necessarily metal, but may be plastic or other material, as best suited for the contents in each case.

As seen in FIG. 2, the overcap in this case comprises a rather deep receptacle, having a body 11 with end wall 12 and side wall 13. Lip 14 defines the mouth 15 and terminates in rim 16. Body 11 is formed or molded of a flexible and resilient material such as plastic or fiber composition, with the smallest ; inside diameter of lip 14 slightly less than the outside diameter of can bead 17.

Wall 13 is provided internally with an annular groove 18, spaced from rim 16 lengthwise of lip 14. Groove 18 is adapted to engage snugly around bead 17 when lip 14 is forced over 1 the end of can 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, lip 14 is provided with a tapered throat 19 leading from rim 16 to the groove 18, affording wedge action upon pressing body 11 downward against bead 17, permitting the body to snap into its position of engagement with the bead 17 in groove 18. The resilience of the material 11 affords a snap fit so as to secure the overcap with sufficient tightness to preclude accidental separation in usual storage and handling, as well as to provide a sanitary seal.

Body 11 is provided with a snap-in cover 20, which is preferably a plastic disc, as best seen in FIG. 2. Cover 20, the side wall 13 and end wall 12 define a chamber in which to confine a product or article, or several such items, completely isolated from the prime container 10. For example, in the case of a package containing tobacco sealed in the can 10, one or more smoking accessories 21 may be confined in the receptacle body 11. In the case of a primary food product in can 10, the second product may be a supplement, for example, a sauce or the like. In other cases body 11 may hold a toy, tool or other premium or accessory item. The overcap may be formed of a transparent plastic material for display or decorative effects, as desired.

In addition to its function of supplementing the sanitary seal around bead 17, cover 20 acts as a floor for the second product in the chamber. This facilitates neat packaging and separates the second product from the end of the prime container. The latter advantage is a particularly important consideration with can ends of the easy opening type, for reasons given above. The dual overcap of this invention is additionally advantageous as compared to the shallow, lightweight overcaps heretofore used as protectors, in that the overcap here described not only covers the end, but also provides a sturdy buffer against heavy objects stacked over the can, as may often occur in storage.

Referring again particularly to FIG. 3, cover 20 is separably held in body 11 by means of a second internal groove 22 around the wall 13, inward of groove 18. The combined expansibility of lip 14 and flexibility of cover 20 afford convenient insertion of cover 20 and snap fitting thereof into 60 groove 22, where it rests on shoulder 32. The tapered throat 19 facilitates insertion of the closure in the same manner as for applying the body to bead 17. Further, the flexible disc cover 20 bows under moderate pressure at the center. This action provides additional clearance for passage of the cover beyond 65 groove 18 and for seating it in groove 22. The assembly can be made in production with substantially conventional cover application tooling, or manually by placing the disc cover 20 against edges 16 and pressing down on the center of the disc with the thumbs while grasping the body 11 with the fingers.

Groove 22 is preferably spaced inward of groove 18 only to the extent necessary to assure that the inserted closure member 20, in the plane of groove 22, is spaced from the end of can 10 when body 11 is assembled thereon. Thus, a chamber of maximum size for given depth of the body is pro7 5 vided for the second product.

3,662,913

Wall 13 being flexible, there may be some distension of the wall in the plane of groove 22 when lip 14 is forced over bead 17 upon application or removal of the overcap. Generally, the corresponding enlargement of groove 22 will be less than that of the lip. If the two grooves are of the same depth relative to 5 the adjacent wall ID, the closure member 20 will not be released from groove 22 upon application or removal of the overcap. In the example shown, the inside diameter of the throat 19, downwardly adjacent to groove 18, is somewhat larger than the wall ID downwardly adjacent to groove 22. 10 The outer groove diameters are substantially the same. The basic thickness of wall 14 then is otherwise uniform throughout and the exterior is smooth. Thus, the normal radial overlap 23 of the rim of cover 20 relative to shoulder 32 is somewhat greater than the corresponding overlap 24 between 15 the outside of bead 17 and the wall ID at the inner end of throat 19. This provides an allowance for dimensional variations and bowing of the cover under load of the second product.

By virtue of the arrangement described, the overcap with its 20 contents can be applied to and removed from prime container 10 as an intact package. The cover 20 is non-destructively removable and reclosable. In order to facilitate removal of the cover for access to the contents of the overcap chamber, cover 20 is provided with a pull tab 25. Pulling on tab 25 25 causes slight expansion of receptacle wall 13 and bowing of cover 20, popping the latter from groove 22.

As seen in FIG. 3, tab 25 is integral with the disc portion of cover 20 and about the same thickness, facilitating molding or thermoforming as one piece. Sloped shoulder 32 accom- 30 modates and holds the outer edge of tab 25 when the lid rim is bottomed in groove 22 and also facilitates insertion and removal of cover 20. Referring to FIG. 4, tab 25, as indicated in broken lines, is formed as an extension or ear in the plane of member 20 and then folded over along a score line 26 to the 35 position shown in solid lines, as also seen in FIG. 3. Alternatively, a separate tab may be bonded or otherwise affixed to the cover. It is desirable to have the attachment of this type of tab as close to the edge of the cover as possible, providing leverage corresponding to the full cover diameter. 40

FIG. 5 shows another form of cover pull member. In FIG. 5, parts corresponding to those shown in the previous views are the same with the addition of 100. The outer face of cover 120 has a depression 127 at its center. Knob 125 projects from depression 127. By this arrangement, knob 125 is of sufficient 45 height to afford a good grip, and yet is clear of the end of can 110 when overcap body 111 is applied thereto. Knob 125 may also serve as a grip for a cover insertion tool for production assembly of body 111 and its cover 120.

A desirable combination of flexibility and strength of the 50 receptacle cover can be best achieved by forming same as a reinforced thin disc. FIG. 6 shows cover 20 provided with ribs in a grid comprising circular ribs 30 and radial ribs 31. This pattern affords a smooth rim annulus for best snap fit in the receptacle groove and a uniformly thick central area which 55 may be dished slightly to facilitate even bowing of the disc upon insertion. The unribbed center also minimizes concentration of stress tending to crease or crack the lid when flexed. The ribs are provided on the inward face of the lid as inserted, affording a load-distributing support for heavy objects in the 60 overcap chamber, minimizing the risk of jarring the cover loose or breaking it during handling or shipment.

Although the embodiment of the invention above described is one for use in association with a round can, it will be understood that use of the invention is not limited to that particular form of prime container. Dual-purpose overcaps according to this invention can be provided for cans of other shapes, or for other types of containers, such as jars for example. In the latter case the overcap receptacle lip can be fitted to the rim of the prime cap or lid in lieu of the application to the can end bead above described by way of example. Still other modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the container arts.