AU2001276166B2 - Improvements relating to containers and means for assisting pouring from containers - Google Patents

Description

WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916 IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO CONTAINERS AND MEANS FOR ASSISTING POURING FROM CONTAINERS TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a method and means for assisting pouring from containers.

The invention has particular application to containers for holding paint and similar materials where there is an inner gutter around an upper perimeter of the container and as well can be useful for single shouldered rims.

An object of this invention is to propose an arrangement and a method which can economically protect the side and if need be, (depending on the type of the rim) an upper inner gutter in a paint or like tin from being filled with liquid while the liquid is being poured from the tin.

A further object is to provide a member or members adapted to be applied to a paint or like tin for this purpose.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In one form of this invention there is proposed a pouring aid arrangement for a paint or like tin being a sheet of material having an underneath surface with a contact adhesive adhering to and effecting a seal with uppermost edges of the paint tin, the sheet having a preformed shape including two oppositely positioned wings extending from respective sides so as to be joined together at uppermost position defining thereby a pouring spout.

In preference, the pouring aid arrangement for a paint or like tin is further characterised in that there is provided a contact adhesive at least in a position WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916 2 on an underneath side of the material so as to be engaging with gripping adhesion a continuous length of at least an inner one of the edges.

In preference, the pouring aid arrangement for a paint or like tin is further characterised in that the shape of the sheet includes in relation to a portion of the sheet, at least one obtuse or acute angle, with part of the sheet defining an inner edge of the sheet such that it will facilitate pouring of liquid from the tin.

In preference, the pouring aid arrangement for a paint or like tin is further characterised in that each wing is adhered together so as to define thereby a funnel like shape where one of the wings is secured to the other by the contact adhesive while having the further portion of the material remaining in adhering contact with an upper rim of the paint or like tin.

In a further form the invention can be said to reside in a pouring aid for a paint or like tin being a sheet of material having an underneath surface with a contact adhesive to adhere to and effect a seal with uppermost edges of the paint tin, the sheet having a preformed shape including two oppositely positioned wings extending from respective sides and of a size and positioned so as to be joinable together at uppermost position defining thereby a pouring spout and such as to maintain sealing adhesion between the contact adhesive and uppermost edges of the paint tin.

In preference, there is provided a contact adhesive at least in a position on an underneath side of the material so as to engage with gripping adhesion a continuous length of at least an inner one of the edges.

In a double shouldered rim, it would be the innermost edge, in a single shouldered rim (for a 10 litre container for instance) it would simply be the single edge.

In order for paint or other liquid to be able to be directed only over the sheet of material when secured in a sealing engagement to the upper edge of the tin the WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916 3 shape of the sheet in preference includes in relation to a portion of the sheet, at least one obtuse or acute angle, with part of the sheet defining an inner edge of the sheet or an aperture through the sheet which will also thereby provide an included angle in any event such that when the sheet is attached to the tin it will be directed to pour over a further portion of the sheet on its path out from the tin.

In preference, the sheet is a sheet of paper of sufficient weight to maintain its general shape in the circumstances, although the sheet can also be manufactured from plastic sheeting (like vinyl and such like materials), aluminised plastic sheeting, foil, foam sheeting, etc.

It is of advantage to be able to use simply paper insofar that paper is a very economic material and will generally be accepted by most people as being disposable.

There is a further advantage in that the shape of paper can be readily preformed or cut so as to assume appropriate shapes that can be of assistance in the application.

In preference, there are, accordingly, two outermost wings one to each respective side of a central alignment or axis and having on an underneath side for each wing, contact adhesive. The shape is such that each wing can be lifted and brought together with the other wing on top of an underneath portion of the sheet so as to define thereby a funnel like shape where one of the wings is secured to the other by the contact adhesive while having the further portion of the material remaining in adhering and sealing contact with an upper rim of the paint or like tin.

The invention in a further form can also be said to reside in a method of assisting pouring of liquids from a container where there is included the step of first, adhering to an upper perimeter of the container, a sheet of material having WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916 4 an underneath surface with a contact adhesive to adhere to and effect a seal with uppermost edges of the paint tin, the sheet having a preformed shape including with two oppositely positioned wings extending from a respective side to be joinable at uppermost position defining thereby a pouring spout while maintaining sealing adhesion and then so joining the wings to form a pouring spout.

In preference the adhesion of the sheet is achieved by way of a contact adhesive first applied to the sheet. The adhesive can cover the entire surface of the sheet. The contact adhesive can be covered with a removable non adhesive backing before use.

In preference there is further provided a further portion of the material that is adapted to adhere to a side of a container.

In preference this is arranged so that the portion is adjacent a portion of the material intended to adhere to the top edge of the container.

In preference this further portion is provided as a tab that is adapted to be folded to adhere to a portion of the container immediately below a rim of the container.

In preference this is arranged for a tab to adhere to each side of the tin.

In preference there are a plurality of such additional tabs that can then be used to additionally secure the arrangement so that the sheet of material is additionally secured to both a top of the container and to a side of the container.

The advantage of the improvement is that the sheet of material is able to be more firmly secured to a container which is of advantage in some instances.

This extra tab in preference is in the form of an elongate extension of the sheet which is positioned to be able to be hinged adjacent a container rim and secure WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916 by adhesion to a side of the container where there will be a substantially larger area for adhesion.

In preference, in an alternate arrangement, the sheet of material is a sheet of transparent plastics material.

In preference, in an alternate arrangement, the sheet of material is a sheet of transparent plastics material where there are markings to assist in alignment of the sheet of material over a tin. This arrangement may assist as well in the correct positioning and operation of the securing tabs, and wings.

In preference as an alternative there is a pouring aid arrangement for a paint or like tin in which there is a first sheet of material adhering to an upper edge of the tin and having one or more tabs adhering to a side of the tin, and a second sheet of material adhering to an upper surface of the said first sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of this invention and improvement it will now be described in relation to embodiments which shall be described with the assistance of drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment where there is provided a sheeting material folded into a pouring position and located on a tin shown in dotted outline; Figure 2 is a plan view of the embodiment as in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the embodiment as shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of a sheet of material located on a tin prior to being folded into the pouring position as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3; WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916 6 Figure 5 is a side elevation as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3; Figure 6 illustrates a second embodiment showing how the pourer is used in practice; Figure 7 is a further view of the same embodiment as in Figure 6 showing how it is partially pulled apart to enable the user to wipe back any paint remaining on the device (thus saving paint) and showing as well the device being used to assist in wiping a brush on an inner side of this embodiment; Figure 8 illustrates the way in which the sheet can be removed after use.

This being the second embodiment; Figure 9 illustrates how the sheet of material again as per the second embodiment is brought into an overlapping position; Figure 10 illustrates how the sheet can be located for transfer or for manufacture and marketing; Figure 11 is a straightforward plan view showing a paint tin with the second embodiment sheet in position but prior to being folded across to provide a more rigid pouring spout shape; Figure 12 is a third embodiment showing how a material can be fully surrounding across a top of a tin; Figures 13 and 14 illustrate in connection with a further embodiment in an enlarged way, the gutter located at the top of a tin and the way in which there is adhesion in respect of an inner lip of this; Figure 15 is a plane view of an arrangement according to a further embodiment is showing extra tabs prior to these being pushed to engage the side of a container; WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916 7 Figure 16 is the same view as in Figure 15 except that the tabs have now been pressed down to adhere to the side of a container, Figure 17 is an underneath perspective view showing how the tabs in each case have been pushed so as to adhere to the side of a container; Figure 18 is an enlargement of one portion of the view of Figure 17 showing how a rear tab is located; Figure 19 is an enlarged view of the forward tab as shown in Figure 17; Figure 20 is a front view of a further embodiment; Figure 21 is a side view of the same embodiment as in Figure Figure 22 is the same view as in Figure 20 with a container attached; Figure 23 is the same view as in Figure 21 with a container shown in dotted outline; Figure 24 is a plane view of the arrangement as in Figures 22 and 23; Figure 25 is a perspective view of the arrangement as in Figure 24 with the can being shown in dotted outline; Figure 26 is the same view as in Figure 24 with the can removed; Figure 27 is the same view in perspective as in Figure 25 with the can removed; WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916 8 Figure 28 is an exploded view of the three elements that apply to this embodiment; Figure 29 is a perspective view of a typical container; Figure 30 includes the first sheet of material adhered directly onto the top of the container; Figure 31 shows where there are cut out tabs bent down to adhere to the side of the container; Figure 32 now shows an overlay which is the second sheet sitting firmly and then securely on top of the first sheet; Figure 33 shows the illustration of Figure 32 where the sides have been bent up to provide a pouring shape; and Figure 34 is an alternate top sheet where the sides have been bent downwardly to provide easy access for a brush into the container and provides an inner edge at 135 which can be used to wipe any paint from a brush as it is withdrawn from the container 114.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Now referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to the first embodiment.

There is shown here a sheet of paper 80 gsm which is cut into the shape specifically as shown in Figure 4 and which has on its underneath side a contact adhesive.

This sheet 1 has an inner arcuate shape at 2 which has for its purpose to assist in direction of liquid as it pours from the can.

WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916 9 In order to first locate such a sheet 1 in a position as shown, it is expected that a rim of the can 3 is of a type used predominantly for paint where there is a gutter with an inner edge at 4 and an outer edge at 5. By folding the corner parts as at 6 in the one case and 7 in the other so that they meet at a central position at 8 means that they can thereby be brought together to provide a quite stiff spout or funnel shape as shown 9.

Having the inner edge of the material positioned inwardly of the inner edge 4 allows for a brush to be wiped against this edge 2 to wipe excess paint of this prior to use.

The further embodiments which will now be described illustrate different ways in which the same general concept can be applied and it has been noted in some cases that the sheet of material can be left purely flat or planar and in this case it does work still quite well.

In Figure 6 then we have a tin 10 to which the second embodiment in the form of a sheet 11 is attached by reason of a contact adhesive between the lower edge of the sheet and an upper two edges of the paint tin at 12 and 13.

In this case, when the pouring is finished the sheet 11 can be unattached at its outer corners at 14 and 15 and of course a brush 16 can be partially cleaned of the excess paint by scraping this on the inside edge of the sheet 11.

Once the sheet 11 has been finally used, it can be simply removed from the can by pulling away from this and in this case, there is, provided the rim was properly cleaned prior to the positioning of the device, a clean rim devoid of paint getting into a gutter shape such at 17. You will also find the side of the can devoid of paint thanks to the outwardly projecting pouring spout portion of the member, and efficient last drop cutting capability of the sharp outer spout edge, induced by the use of thin material.

WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916 Figure 9 illustrates how the corners can be simply joined together, the extra width of the outer corner 15 assisting in separating corners 14 and 15 later on as in Figure 7.

In Figure 10 it will be seen that the sheets can be made by simply cutting the shape in the traditional way from a sheet of material such as an A4 sheet and being able to sell these with an overall contact adhesive on one face.

A dotted line such as shown at 18 can be included to guide a user as to how to locate such a member.

In a further example, in Figure 12, there is a unit which is intended to fit onto the top of a can and fully encircle this with however in this case corners or wings 31.

Figures 13 and 14 show in cross section a construction of a tin with a gutter and an inner upper edge at 41 and an outer edge at 42. The underneath side at 43 of the sheet 44 has contact adhesive fully over it and as can then be seen, there can particularly by adhesion provide an adhering and therefore sealing engagement around the inner edge 41.

In Figure 14, there is the same tin with gutter 40 and there is shown several partial lift aways but where this is only marginally lifted, paint or other viscous material has been found not to pass thereby, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the arrangement described.

Referring in detail to the drawings Figures 15 through 19, there is a sheet at which has an underneath surface of contact adhesive shown at typically 61 and an included angle at 62 to facilitate pouring of liquid there across.

In order to get additional adhesion to a container there are provided additional tabs which includes two reward tabs at 63 and 64 and two middle tabs at WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916 11 and 66 which have a lowermost edge inclined so as to provide a very sharp lowermost point which assists in subsequent lifting of this in order to provide a smooth and easy removal.

These are in the form of elongate portions separated by a slit shown typically at 67 and 68 and 69 and 70 so that there can be easily caused a hinging of these about a base location so as to take up the position as shown in Figure 16.

These views are more specifically illustrated in Figures 17 through 19 where it can be seen that the respective tabs such as 65 and 63 bend over and adhere to a side 71 of the container 72.

The same principles apply to further embodiments and we are now looking at Figures 20 through 27 in which there is an arrangement 80 intended to be positioned to adhere to the top of container 81 and provide a pouring facility thereby which will keep paint out of the top of a rim such as at 82 of a container during a pouring process.

There are wings 83 and 84 which are raised to form a nozzle shape but according to the improvement described, there are also tabs at 85 and 86 and at 87 and 88 which are elongate and which can be pressed downwardly to adhere additionally to the side of the container 81.

While reference has been made to a sheet of material, it is understood that there can be a composite material or, in another form, there can be a first sheet of material which is caused to adhere to the top of a container, and then a second sheet of material adhered onto the first.

This arrangement has the advantages that the first sheet of material can be adapted to provide characteristics most appropriate to secure a material appropriate to act as a support to the subsequent sheet of material onto the WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916 12 immediate top of the container and this can include, for instance, fold down tabs, or even other configurations appropriate to provide a very strong base.

Previously, many instances has been illustrative of a sheet of material being adhered directly to the top of the container but any of these can now be applied to a second or even a third sheet, if appropriate, where the second or third sheet or so on has the characteristics to provide for alignment of pouring paint or can provide appropriate surfaces for wiping brushes or keeping paint orientated in a pouring direction.

Referring in detail Figures 28 through 34, the container in this case 114 has a first sheet 115 adapted to be secured thereto where the first sheet 115 is defined by two co-annular semi-circles and the inner one being at 116 and the outer one being at 117.

In the outer side of this shape, there are a plurality of tabs shown typically at 118, at 119, 120, 121 and 122.

Each of these are defined by two slits and using the example of 118 as an example, the edges are at 123 and 124 and they terminate at an end in each case at 125 and 126 which are round apertures which minimises the chance of tearing beyond the defined extent of the slit.

A second sheet is shown at 127 and this is as previously described in many instances previously where there is an underneath contact adhesive surface, an inner included angle arrangement at 128 and outer wings at 129 and 130.

The series of drawings running from Figures 29 through 34 now show how the first and second sheets are applied.

WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916 13 The first sheet 115 has an underneath contact adhesive surface and this is then applied so as to generally have the edges 116 and 117 concentric with the circular upper shape of the container 114.

The tabs typically being shown at 119 are simply bent down so as to adhere more firmly to the side of the container 114.

Once this has been established, this then provides a more securer firmer foundation for adhesion to a second sheet and we have this being shown in Figure 64 as being adhered over the first sheet.

In Figure 33, as previously described, the wings 129 and 130 are simply being bent up to provide a pouring shape as shown at 131.

In Figure 34, there is an alternate second sheet which is shown at 132 where the wings are shown at 133 and 134 and, as previously described, these can be bent under and adhered also to the side of the container.

This has the advantage that this then provides easy access for a brush into the container and provides an inner edge at 135 which can be used to wipe any paint from a brush as it is withdrawn from the container 114.

This then describes the various embodiments from which it will be seen that there is provided a very effective disposable arrangement for assisting the pouring of liquids from containers, and/or the drawing of liquids directly from those containers, without soiling their rims or their sides.

Claims (28)

1. A pouring aid for a paint or like tin being a sheet of material having an underneath surface with a contact adhesive to adhere to and effect a seal with uppermost edges of the paint tin, the sheet having a preformed shape including two oppositely positioned wings extending from respective sides and of a size and positioned so as to be joinable together at uppermost position defining thereby a pouring spout and such as to maintain sealing adhesion between the contact adhesive and uppermost edges of the paint tin.

2. A pouring aid for a paint or like tin as in the preceding claim further characterised in that there is provided a contact adhesive at least in a position on an underneath side of the material so as to engage with gripping adhesion a continuous length of at least an inner one of the edges.

3. A pouring aid for a paint or like tin as in either one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the shape of the sheet includes, at least one obtuse or acute angle, with part of the sheet defining an inner edge of the sheet such that when the sheet is attached to the tin the liquid will be directed to pour over a further portion of the sheet on its path out from the tin.

4. A pouring aid for a paint or like tin as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the sheet is a sheet of paper. A pouring aid for a paint or like tin as in any one of the preceding claims 1ito 4 further characterised in that the sheet is a sheet of plastics material.

WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916

6. A pouring aid for a paint or like tin as in any one of the preceding claims 1ito 4 further characterised in that the sheet is a sheet of plastics material which is transparent.

7. A pouring aid for a paint or like tin as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that there are two outermost wings one to each respective side of a central alignment or axis and having on an underneath side for each wing, contact adhesive.

8. A pouring aid for a paint or like tin as in the preceding claim further characterised in that the shape is such that each wing can be lifted and brought together with the other wing on top of an underneath portion of the sheet so as to define thereby a funnel like shape where one of the wings is secured to the other by the contact adhesive while having the further portion of the material remaining in adhering contact with an upper rim of the paint or like tin.

9. A pouring aid for a paint or like tin as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the adhesion of the sheet is achieved by way of a contact adhesive first applied to the sheet.

A pouring aid for a paint or like tin as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that there is further provided an improvement where there is at least a further portion of the material that is adapted to adhere to a side of a container.

11. A pouring aid for a paint or like tin as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that this is arranged so that the portion is adjacent a portion of the material intended to adhere to the top edge of the container.

12. A pouring aid for a paint or like tin as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that this further portion is provided as a tab that WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916 16 is adapted to be folded to adhere to a portion of the container immediately below a rim of the container.

13. A pouring aid for a paint or like tin as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that this is arranged to be effected to each side of the arrangement.

14. A pouring aid for a paint or like tin as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that there are a plurality of such additional tabs that can then be used to additionally secure the arrangement so that the sheet of material is additionally secured to both a top of the container and to a side of the container.

A pouring aid for a paint or like tin as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the extra tab is in the form of an elongate extension of the sheet which is positioned to be able to be hinged adjacent a container top location and be secured to a side of the container where there will be a substantially larger area for adhesion.

16. A pouring aid arrangement for a paint or like tin being a sheet of material having an underneath surface with a contact adhesive adhering to and effecting a seal with uppermost edges of the paint tin, the sheet having a preformed shape including two oppositely positioned wings extending from respective sides so as to be joined together at uppermost position defining thereby a pouring spout.

17. A pouring aid arrangement for a paint or like tin as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that there is provided a contact adhesive at least in a position on an underneath side of the material so as to be engaging with gripping adhesion a continuous length of at least an inner one of the edges. WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916 17

18. A pouring aid arrangement for a paint or like tin as in either one of the two immediately preceding claims further characterised in that the shape of the sheet includes in relation to a portion of the sheet a shape which includes, at least one obtuse or acute angle, in a part of the sheet defining an inner edge of the sheet to facilitate pouring of liquid from the tin.

19. A pouring aid arrangement for a paint or like tin as in any one of the three immediately preceding claims further characterised in that each wing is adhered together so as to define thereby a funnel like shape where one of the wings is secured to the other by the contact adhesive while having the further portion of the material remaining in adhering contact with an upper rim of the paint or like tin.

A pouring aid arrangement for a paint or like tin as in any one of the four immediately preceding claims further characterised in that there is further portion of the material that is adhering to a side of the container.

21. A pouring aid arrangement for a paint or like tin as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that this is arranged so that the portion is adjacent a portion of the material adhering to the top edge of the container.

22. A pouring aid arrangement for a paint or like tin as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that the said portion is provided as a tab that is folded so as to adhere to a portion of the container immediately below a rim of the container.

23. A pouring aid arrangement for a paint or like tin as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that the portions are positioned on each respective side of the pouring spout. WO 02/09953 PCT/AU01/00916 18

24. A pouring aid arrangement for a paint or like tin as in any one of the two immediately preceding claims further characterised in that there are a plurality of such additional tabs that can then be used to additionally secure the arrangement so that the sheet of material is additionally secured to both a top of the container and to a side of the container.

A pouring aid arrangement for a paint or like tin as in any one of the three immediately preceding claims further characterised in that the extra tab is in the form of an elongate extension of the sheet which is positioned so as to be hinged adjacent a container top location and is secured to a side of the container.

26. A pouring aid arrangement for a paint or like tin in which there is a first sheet of material adhering to an upper edge of the tin and having one or more tabs adhering to a side of the tin, and a second sheet of material adhering to an upper surface of the said first sheet.

27. A method of assisting pouring of liquids from a container where there is included the step of adhering to an upper perimeter of the container, a sheet of material having an underneath surface with a contact adhesive to adhere to and effect a seal with uppermost edges of the paint tin, the sheet having a preformed shape including two oppositely positioned wings extending from respective sides to be joined together at uppermost position defining thereby a pouring spout while maintaining sealing adhesion.

28. A method of assisting pouring of liquids from a container as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that there is a first step where an upper rim of the tin is cleaned of paint prior to adhesion thereto of the sheet of material.