AU2003283264B2

AU2003283264B2 - Pail comprising a safety seal

Info

Publication number: AU2003283264B2
Application number: AU2003283264A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jens Bartusel; Richard Kellerer
Original assignee: Schoeller Arca Systems GmbH
Current assignee: Schoeller Allibert GmbH
Priority date: 2002-11-15
Filing date: 2003-10-13
Publication date: 2009-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-13
Also published as: WO2004045978A1; EP1560767A1; BR0316251A; HRP20050539A2; MXPA05005181A; CA2506311C; AU2003283264A1; CA2506311A1; EP1560767B1; US20060138156A1

Description

PAIL COMPRISING A SAFETY SEAL Technical Field 5 This invention relates to a container for the safe transport of liquid or pasty hazardous substances. One thing that these containers have in common is that they must be sufficiently leak-proof to prevent any escape of the transported hazardous substances. Secondly, they must be equipped with a closure that ensures safe closing of the container even under extreme loads. In particular, containers of this kind and their closures must io withstand loads that may occur also in the event of an accident, for example falling off the container from a certain height. Background of the Invention Containers of this kind known from the prior art include, in particular, pails or is drum-like containers whose lids are screwed on firmly to form a screw closure. To secure the closure, metal clips may be provided additionally, which press the lid onto the container or prevent the screw closure from unscrewing. There are also closure systems where the lid, after being fitted onto the container, is appropriately flanged to make the arrangement leak-proof. Systems are furthermore known in which the lid or closure is 20 bonded or welded, or in which additional sealing films are bonded or welded. The disadvantage common to all of these containers or closure systems is that they are complicated and difficult to handle; this is particularly problematic in view of the need for largely automated handling of such objects, including the closure process. 25 Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages or to provide a useful alternative. Summary of the Invention 30 In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a container assembly including a container and a lid, the container including an opening limited by a container lip, the container lip including sealing surfaces, the lid including a receiving area, the receiving area including at least two catch 35 members adapted for engagement with the container lip when the container assembly is in 2 a closed state with the container lip within the receiving area, one of the at least two catch members being adapted to release from engagement with the lip in response to movement in a first direction and the other of the of the at least two catch members being adapted to release from engagement with the lip in response to movement in a second direction, 5 opposite to the first direction, wherein, said one of the at least two catch members is further adapted to press the sealing surfaces together to form seals when the container assembly is in the closed state. The present invention, at least in a preferred embodiment, provides a leak-proof 10 and securely closable container that is suitable for the transport of liquid or pasty hazardous substances, both the production and handling of said container being uncomplicated and effective. The container of the invention, which is preferably configured as a pail or in drum-like form, has a lid for closing the container, said lid having a receiving area in is which, in the closed state, the lip of the container opening engages and is held there. In so far, the container of the invention is based on known containers. The present invention, at least in a preferred embodiment, is based on the realization that by providing positively interconnectable catch members and correspondingly interacting sealing surfaces, it is possible to close a container securely 20 and tightly. The use of positive connections formed by catch members and of appropriate sealing surfaces ensures that both handling and production are kept simple. Effective use of the container is thus ensured. The positive connections formed by catch members are preferably configured such that the lid of the container can only be loosened if at least part of the lid or part of 25 the container is destroyed. The user thus has a verifiable first-opener guarantee, since only a container that has never been opened is undamaged, whereas a container that has already been opened will have a damaged lid or be damaged itself. According to a preferred embodiment of the container, the receiving area of the lid and the lip of the container opening, which engage on closure of the container, i.e. the 30 catch members that form the positive connection, and the sealing surfaces are engineered such that putting on of the lid, i.e. closing of the container, is effected by way of translational movement of the lid relative to the container. If the lid is simply pushed onto or clipped onto the container from above, this permits automatic closing of the container by a machine, since a translational movement or pushing or clipping on 35 operations can easily be performed on a machine.

3 According to a preferred embodiment, at least two, preferably three or more pairs of catch members are provided in the receiving area of the lid and at the lip of the container opening, since a plurality of catch-member pairs makes it possible to secure the lid at several points and thus helps to close the container securely. The term "catch 5 member pair" does not refer here to just two catch members that lock positively together, but may also refer to a large number of catch members, which, however, on account of their similar configuration and identical mode of action, are deemed to be just one catch member pair. This applies, for example, to catch members formed simply by a sub division. 10 According to a preferred embodiment of the container, the at least two, preferably three or more catch-member pairs are engineered such that at least one of these catch-member pairs is configured differently to the other catch-member pairs in such manner that the movement necessary to disengage the catch-member pair differs from that for the other catch-member pairs. This means that not all the catch-member pairs can is be disengaged at once by way of a single movement of part of the lid, that is, of the receiving area of the lid, or of the lip of the container opening. On the contrary, the different movements required to disengage the catch-member pairs in their entirety ensure that a complex movement is necessary. It has proved particularly useful to provide at least two kinds of catch-member pairs, which require opposing movements to disengage 20 the catch. A particularly interesting approach here, for example, is to necessitate a portion of the receiving area to move both outwards and inwards for purposes of opening. This measure, in particular, thus goes beyond that of the need for different, in particular opposing, movements to disengage circumferential catch members located on opposite sides. Here, it is much rather different catch-member pairs that are meant, which are 25 located close by each other, for example, one above the other. The provision of different kinds of catch-member pairs that differ in the different type of movement needed to disengage the catch has the additional advantage that in this way, with the members that form the positive connection, an adequate clamping action may also be generated for the sealing surfaces provided likewise in the receiving area of 30 the lid and at the lip of the container opening. Even if the pressure of the sealing surfaces against each other is already effected by appropriate dimensioning of the lid and the container opening, the provision of different kinds of catch-member pairs, as described above, ensures an additional contact pressure that can be reliably upheld in many stress situations.

3a In addition, to separately located sealing surfaces, the present invention preferably provides matching sealing surfaces on the catch members forming the positive connection, since, particularly -4 where different kinds of catch-member pairs are used that necessitate movements in differ ent directions in order to disengage the catch, mutual keying can be effected which results in the positively-locking catch members pressing against each other to a certain extent and thus forming sealing surfaces. According to a preferred embodiment, additional seals may be provided in the receiving area of the lid and/or in the lip area of the container, particularly in the form of inserted or injected gaskets. To realize the first-opening guarantee, as it is called, it may also be advantageous to provide a predetermined partition location in the receiving area of the lid and/or in the lip area of the container opening in order that those areas which guarantee a safe and unreleasable connec tion can be detached easily. In particular, it is of advantage here to provide - in the receiv ing area of the lid or on the lip of the container opening - a predetermined partition location which results in that part of the receiving area and/or of the lip being detached that has the differently functioning catch-member pair(s), as this kind of catch-member pair, in particu lar, may prevent the positive connection from being released. According to a preferred embodiment, the cross-section of the receiving area of the lid is essentially U-shaped, the receiving area being open at the bottom in order to accommodate, from there, the lip of the container opening. The legs of the U-shaped receiving area enclose the lip of the container opening and hold it firmly, in positive-locking manner, by means of catch members. The sealing surfaces, meanwhile, are pressed firmly together, thus ensuring the sealing effect. While it is of course possible to provide a large number of different combinations of detent hooks, latches, snap-in grooves etc., and appropriately configured sealing surfaces, the pre ferred embodiment of this invention has, in the U-shaped receiving area formed by an outer and an inner leg, two latches or detent hooks on the inside of the outer leg, said two latches or detent hooks interacting with two latches on the outside of the lip of the container open ing. On its outside, the outer leg of the U-shaped receiving area has, in addition, a further detent hook that interacts with an undercut in the lip of the container opening, said undercut -5 being provided in a double-walled portion of the lip, on the outer arm of the lip. By locating detent hooks or latches both on the inside and on the outside of the outer leg of the U shaped receiving area, and configuring corresponding undercuts or catch members on the lip area of the container opening, two different kinds of catch-member pairs are formed which differ in that the catch formed by the one kind of catch-member pair can be released by moving the outer leg outwards, whereas to release the catch formed by the other kind of catch-member pair, the outer leg must be moved inwards. This simple configuration of catch-member pairs ensures, for one thing, that the lid can eas ily be put onto the container by a vertical downward movement. For another, this triple locking system ensures that the lid is fitted securely on the container. The different kind of catch-member pairs with the opposing opening movements ensures additionally that the lid cannot be removed without incurring damage. To permit easy opening of the container without the use of any particular specialty tools, and to ensure that the lid is easily put on, a constriction is engineered in the outer leg of the U-shaped receiving area, so that in this area an integral hinge, or film hinge, forms, which constitutes a lower segment of the outer leg. One effect of this film hinge is that the lower segment of the outer leg can perform the movements necessary to get past the latches or detent hooks and the undercuts during closure of the container, that is, when the lid is put on. The film hinge, i.e. the constriction, additionally offers the possibility of detaching the lower segment by simply cutting along the film hinge with a cutting tool such as a knife. Since the receiving-area catch members for two different catch-member pairs are preferably provided in the lower segment of the outer leg, only one catch remains after detachment of the lower segment. This last catch may be released via a slight movement of the outer leg of the receiving area. This single remaining catch permits continued use and renewed closure of the container after it has first been opened, although it does not provide for secure closure with a first-opening guarantee. This single remaining catch also permits continued use and re-closure of the container after it has first been opened, although secure closure with a first opening guarantee is no longer ensured.

-6 To permit uniform closure of the container, it is preferable if the catch members or catch member pairs are located circumferentially around the container opening and lid; interrup tion or sub-division of a catch member by recesses, lands, etc. may result in the formation of a corresponding plurality of catch members, although, as defined in this invention, the pur pose of uniform closure and treatment as one catch member or two catch members making up one catch-member pair is upheld. Thanks to the measures described above, standard materials can be used for the container of the invention, without the need for special measures. Polyolefin-based plastics are pre ferred, in particular polyethylene and polypropylene. The sealing aids preferably used in addition need not fulfill any special requirements either regarding the choice of material, although, depending on the application in question, special requirements regarding the choice of material may exist. Alone the dimensioning of the components, for example the wall thicknesses, must be adjusted to suit the application in order to withstand the necessary forces also in the case of exceptional loads, caused, for example, by accidents. Further advantages, characteristics and features of this invention become clear from the fol lowing detailed description of an embodiment and the attached drawings. The figures are purely schematic. Fig. I shows a partially cut-away side view of a container with its lid on; Fig. 2 shows details of Figure 1 at various stages of closure (Figs, 2a, 2b and 2c); Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view along the line D - D of Fig. 2b; Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along the line D - D of Fig. 2c; Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the container with its lid on; Fig. 6 shows a perspective partial view of the container with its lid off; Fig. 7 shows two containers stacked one inside the other; Fig. 8 shows a transverse view (Fig. 8a) of two lids stacked on top of the other, and details (Fig. 8b) of Fig. 8a; Fig. 9 shows a top view of the container lid.

-7 Fig. 1 shows a partially cut-away side view of a closed container 1 according to the inven tion, that is, with its lid 2 on. In the embodiment shown, the container 1 is in the form of a pail to which, to facilitate carrying, a rotatable handle 27 is attached. As can be seen in the partially cut-away section of Fig. 1, the container 1 has a slightly in ward-arching bottom 30 that has supporting feet 31 at its outer edge; there is thus a small space between the bottom 30 and the surface on which the pail stands. The container 1 fur thermore has a slightly conical, albeit essentially cylindrical, outer shape, so that empty con tainers can be nested. Figures 2a to 2c show details of the cutaway section, with the receiving area 4 and the lip 3 of the container opening, at various stages of closure of the container 1. In Figure 2a, the container is still completely open; the lid 2 is resting lightly on the con tainer opening, that is, on the lip 3 of the container opening. As is clearly evident in this detailed view, the receiving area 4 at the periphery of the lid 2 is essentially U-shaped, with the receiving area open at the bottom so as to accommodate from there the element 9 of the lip 3 of the container opening. The receiving area 4 thus has two legs 5 and 6, namely an outer leg 5 and an inner leg 6, which are interconnected in the connecting area 7 at the foot of the U. The inner part of the lid 2 is connected via the lip connection 22 with the receiving area 4; the lip connection 22 forms an opposing U with the inner leg 6 of the receiving area 4, so that the inner part 32 of the lid 2 is located at the level of the upper part of the receiv ing area 4. The receiving area 4 in the embodiment shown forms a circumferential stacking edge, so that closed containers 1 can be stacked one above the other. Any shifting relative to one another is largely prevented by the receiving area 4. On the inside of the outer leg 5 of the receiving area 4, two latches 12 and 13 are provided, while on the outside of the outer leg 5, almost at the bottom thereof, a detent hook 14 is en gineered. The latches 12 and 13 and the detent hook 14 are spaced at approximately equal distances along the outer leg 5. In the immediate vicinity of the latch 13, in the area between the latch 12 and the latch 13, a constriction is provided in the outer leg 5 of the U-shaped receiving area 4, so that an integral hinge 15, or film hinge 15, forms; at the same time, on -8 the inside of the outer leg 15, immediately adjacent to the latch 13, a groove 20 is engi neered. The side of the inner leg 6 that is opposite to the inside of the outer leg 5 is engineered as a smooth sealing surface; this sealing surface is angled somewhat relative to the vertical. Directly in the area 7 connecting the legs 5 and 6 of the U-shaped receiving area 4, in the curvature 29 of the U-shaped receiving area, space is provided for accommodating a gasket that is not shown. At its container opening, container 1 has a lip that is double-walled in the lower portion. In this lower portion of the lip 3 of the container 1 there is, in addition to the inner element 9, also an outer element 8 that forms the double wall. The lip 3 of the container 1 is thus made up of two sections, namely an upper, first section in which the lip 3 comprises the element 9 and is single-walled, and a lower, second section in which the lip 3 comprises the outer ele ment 8 and the inner element 9, making it double-walled. In the first, upper section of the lip 3 of the container 1, on the outside of the element 9, two detent hooks 10 and 11 are pro vided which, in cross-section, are configured essentially as almost triangular projections. The second, lower section of the lip 3 of the container 1 has openings 25 at the top. At the same time, the outer element 8 with the edge of the opening 25 forms an undercut 21. On the inside of the inner element 9 of the lip 3 of the container 1, a smooth, planar sealing surface 17 is engineered, which matches the sealing surface 16 of the receiving area 4 of the lid. The closing process is shown in Figs. 2b and 2c. Figure 2b shows that on closure of the con tainer 1 with the lid 2, the element 9 is inserted into the U-shaped receiving area 4, with the latch 13 first sliding past the detent hook 10, while the lower end of the outer leg 5 with the detent hook 14 is introduced into the opening 25 of the double-walled section of the lip 3 of the container 1.

-9 As the container 1 is closed further with the lid 2, as shown in Fig. 2c, the latch 12 also slides past the detent hook 10, and the latch 13 past the second detent hook 11. The latches 12 and 13 and the detent hooks 10 and 11 are configured such that they have complemen tary inclined surfaces which permit the latches to slide past the hooks in the direction of closure, whereas they are prevented from sliding back again by the positive-locking catch. At the same time, on complete closure, the lower part of the outer leg 5 is accommodated completely in the double-walled section of the lip 3, the detent hook 14 coming to rest be neath the undercut 21. It becomes evident here that on closure, the lower segment 33 of the outer leg 5 is on the one hand pressed outwards by the detent hook 11, whereas, on the other hand, the lower segment 33 of the outer leg 5 has to be bent inwards by the detent hook 14 in order for it to be inserted into the opening 25 of the double-walled lip 3. This is made possible, in particular, also by the configuration of the film hinge 15, which permits a dif ferent movement of the lower segment 33 depending on the stage of closing with the lid 2. In the completely closed state, it is evident that for one, the latches 12 and 13 form positive connections with the detent hooks 10 and 11, while for another, the detent hook 14 forms a positive connection with the undercut 21. To release all three catch-member pairs, it would be necessary to move the outer leg 5 outwards to disengage the catch-member pairs 12 and 10 and 11 and 13, while an inward movement would be necessary to disengage the catch member pair 14 and 21. As a result of the inclined surface 13, which is supported on the latch 11, the catch effect of the catch-member pair 14 and 21 is further reinforced, as a lever effect acts in the direction of the catch position. It is therefore impossible to release the catch mechanism without destroying the receiving area 4, i.e. without cutting or detaching the lower segment 33 along the film hinge 15. Only when the lower segment 33 has been detached by cutting along the film hinge can the still-remaining catch formed by catch member pair 12 and 10 be released. This has the added advantage that after the container has been opened the first time, which is visible to everyone due to the lower segment 33 remaining in the double-walled section of the lip, the container is still suitable for continued use and can be closed again. Besides the formation of the catch-member pairs, a seal is generated on closure of the con tainer due to the sealing surfaces 16 and 17 coming into contact, in particular, being - 10 squeezed together by appropriate adjustment of the dimensions of the lid 2 to those of the container 1 or the lip 3 of the container, and to the appropriate configuration of the catch mechanism between the receiving area 4 and the lip 3. In addition, the catch-member pairs, in particular the catch-member pair 12 and 10, also press sealing surfaces together, in this case the sealing surfaces 18 and 19, as shown in Fig. 2c. In the curvature zone 29 of the U shaped receiving area an additional gasket that is not shown may be included, which is pressed by the upper end of element 9 against the connecting area 7 of the receiving area 4, thus producing an additional sealing effect. As is also evident from Fig. 2c, the positive connection formed by the catch-member pair 13, 11 is further reinforced by a groove 20 engineered on the inside at the film hinge 15, into which groove the detent hook 11 can engage additionally. Figures 3 and 4 show, in cross-section, details from Figs. 2d and 2c, in each case along the line D-D. Figures 3 and 4 show how the element 9 engages between the outer leg 5 and the inner leg 6 on closure of the container 1. The cut views make it clear that both between the outer element 8 and the inner element 9 of the lip 3 and between the inner leg 6 and the lip connection 22 of the lid 2, partitions 23 and reinforcing walls 24 are provided, so that the second, lower, double-walled section of the lip 3 has openings 25 at the top that are essen tially rectangular in cross-section. The lower area of the outer leg 5 is accordingly provided with complementary recesses into which the partitions 23 can engage in the closed state. Figures 3 and 4, like Figure 2c, show part of the handle 27, which is likewise hinged in the double-walled portion of the lip 3. Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the container 1 with its lid 2 on it. This perspective view shows especially well how the handle 27 is rotatably hinged to the double-walled portion of the lip 3, in particular to the outer element 8. The partitions 23, the reinforcing walls 24 and the openings 25 can also be seen very clearly in this projection. Figure 5 also shows the configuration of the stacking supports 26, which are located on the outside of the container 1, underneath the lip 3, in the vicinity of the hing ing points for the handle 27. Figure 7 shows more clearly how the stacking supports work.

- 11 The lid 2 also has a pull means 28 attached to it, with which the lid 2 may be removed after the lower segment 33 of the outer leg 5 of the receiving area 4 (as shown above) has been detached. Figure 6 likewise shows a perspective view of part of the container 1 and of a lid 2 which has been removed therefrom. It is additionally evident from this projection that the outer leg 5 of the receiving area 4, at the lower end of which leg the detent hook 14 is provided, has a plurality of recesses 34 so that the outer leg 5 can engage the openings 25 and the partitions 23 have room in the area of the recesses 34. Figure 7 shows, in a partially cut-away side view, two containers 1 and 1' stacked one in side the other. It becomes clear here how the stacking supports 26 and 26' work, which, when the containers are nested, rest on the upper edge of the element 9. This prevents the nested pails from jamming and ensures a defined load distribution. The side view illustrated in Figure 7 also shows clearly that the detent hooks 10 and 11 are engineered as circumfer ential ridges on the lip 3, that is, on the element 9. As is evident from Figures 8a and 8b, not only the containers can be nested, but also the lids, as shown in Figure 8a. As illustrated in the detailed drawing of Figure 8b, the connect ing area 7 of the receiving area 4 forms a circumferential stacking rim into which the lower end of the inner leg 6 of the lid 2' positioned above can engage. In the cross-sectional view illustrated in Figures 8a and 8b, however, a reinforcing wall 23 prevents the inner leg 6 from being clearly apparent. The outer leg 5 is dimensioned such that the lower end of the leg 5 with the detent hook 14 is somewhat shorter than the lower end of the inner leg 6, so that the outer leg 5 ends above the connecting area 7 of a lid 2 positioned underneath. Figure 9 shows, in a top view of the lid 2, the uniform subdivision of the perimeter of the lid 2 with the receiving area 4 by the reinforcing walls 24 and the recesses 34 and detent hooks 14. Although, of course, a large number of detent hooks are formed around the perimeter by the recesses 34, this plurality of detent hooks 14 is to be understood for the purpose of this application as one catch member, since, in particular, all the detent hooks 14 interact with the circumferential undercut 21 and therefore form one catch-member pair. By analogy, of - 12 course, and in the meaning of the term as it is used here, one catch-member pair can also be formed from a large number of detent hooks and latches.

Claims

1. A container assembly including a container and a lid, the container including an opening limited by a container lip, the container lip 5 including sealing surfaces, the lid including a receiving area, the receiving area including at least two catch members adapted for engagement with the container lip when the container assembly is in a closed state with the container lip within the receiving area, one of the at least two catch members being adapted to release from engagement with the lip in response to movement 10 in a first direction and the other of the of the at least two catch members being adapted to release from engagement with the lip in response to movement in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, wherein, said one of the at least two catch members is further adapted to press the sealing surfaces together to form seals when the container assembly is in the closed 15 state.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the receiving area and the lip are adapted for closure of the container with a translational movement of the lid onto the container. 20

3. The container assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid can only be released from the container assembly in the closed state by destroying said lid.

4. The container assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sealing surfaces are provided separately from the at least two catch members. 25

5. The container assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said seals is provided in said receiving area and/or on said lip, said at least one of said seals being inserted or injected gaskets. 30

6. The container assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiving area and/or said lip further comprises a partition for detachment of a part of said receiving area and/or of said lip, said part including the catch member releasable in the second direction so that only the catch member releasable in the first direction remains, in order to permit opening of said container assembly in a closed state. 35 14

7. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross-section of said receiving area is essentially U-shaped and is open at the bottom, said lip of said container opening being at least partially, in a first section, straight in cross-section and being defined between the legs of the U-shaped receiving area, wherein at least one of the catch 5 members being provided on an inner side of one of said two legs and on the corresponding side of the first section of said lip, and said sealing surfaces being provided on the inside of the other said two legs and on the corresponding side of said first section of said lip of said container opening. 10

8. The container as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least two of said at least two catch members are provided on the inside of said outer leg of said receiving area and at least one of said at least two catch members is provided on the outside of said outer leg.

9. The container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lip of said container is opening is at least partially double-walled, said outer leg of said receiving area engages at least partially in the space between the two walls of said lip.

10. The container assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second section of said double-walled lip includes an outer element having an undercut, said 20 undercut interacting with said at least one catch member on the outside of said outer leg of said receiving area to form a catch member pair which, compared with said catch members on the inside of said outer leg of said receiving area and with said catch members on the outside of said element of the first section of the double-walled lip of said container opening, said catch member pair requires an opposing opening movement 25 in order to release said catch.

11. A container as claimed in claim 8, wherein said outer leg of the receiving area of said lid has a partition in the form of a film hinge for the purpose of parting with a cutting tool. 30

12. The container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the connecting area of said legs of said receiving area includes a gasket, which, when said container is in the closed state, is pressed into the receiving area by the upper end of the lip of said container opening. 35 15

13. The container assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said catch members are arranged as circumferential hooks or latches on said lip of said container opening and/or on said receiving area. 5

14. The container assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container and said lid is securely and tightly closed at inside pressures of up to 1 bar, and satisfies the UN licensing conditions for the transport of hazardous liquid substances.

15. The container assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said partition is 1o positioned such that when the lower segment of said outer leg of said receiving area is detached, said lower segment remains in said double-walled portion of said lip of said container opening.

16. The container assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with is reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 27 April, 2009 Schoeller Arca Systems GmbH Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON