AU2005209626C1 - Improvements in or relating to containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a releasable closure for a container having a rim, the closure having a closure element including a space for receiving at least part of the rim of the container, the space defined by an edge of the closure element and a wall spaced inwardly 5 from the edge of the closure element, the wall having a surface which is shaped to bias the location of the container rim into the space when the releasable closure and container are engaged. 3/8 t (601

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention title: Improvements in or relating to containers The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Our Ref 305585849 :AGBM IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CONTAINERS Field of the invention This application is divided from Australian patent application no 72248/00, and is 5 directed to improvements in or relating to containers, and more particularly but not exclusively to improvements to closures for containers. Background of the invention In this specification, unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission 10 that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date part of the common general knowledge. Many devices have been developed in the field of packaging of fluid and semi-fluid products such as foodstuffs and beverages. These generally include container releasable/resealable lid combinations where, following filling of the container, the lid is 15 secured to the container so that the container contents are initially sealed from the atmosphere. The filled and sealed container is then sent to a retail outlet and offered for sale. Containers of this type can include tamper-evident seals to prevent or deter tampering with the contents of the container. It has been observed that there are difficulties associated with both manual and 20 automated processes for securing lids to containers for foodstuffs such as ice-cream and yoghurt, where the lid construction does not permit ready alignment of the lid to the container rim for securing the lid to the container or for sealing the container following filling of the container. A consequence of this is that failure to match a lid with a container can occur, resulting in possible spoiling of the contents therein and unnecessary wastage. This can have 25 adverse economic implications for the product manufacturer. Summary of the invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided in one embodiment a releasable closure for a container having a rim, the closure having: a closure element including a space for receiving at least part of the rim of the 30 container, the space being defined by an edge of the closure element and a wall spaced inwardly from the edge of the closure element, the wall having a surface which is shaped to 2 location of the container rim into the space when the releasable closure and container are engaged; and one or more guides extending downwardly from the underside of the wall of the closure element for assisting in locating the closure element relative to the container, the or 5 each guide arranged so as to be aligned substantially transverse to the edge of the closure element. The surface of the wall of the closure element is preferably tapered or angled away from the rim. In one preferred embodiment the taper or angle is in a direction inwardly of an edge of the closure element. 10 The wall surface may be a regular or irregular shape. Preferably the arrangement is such that the wall surface provides a relatively large contact area for the container rim. In one particularly preferred embodiment the wall surface is substantially convex. Typically the wall surface will include planar and/or non-planar sections. Other wall surface shapes are envisaged within the scope of the present invention. 15 The wall surface of part thereof, such as an edge portion, may be bevelled to bias the location of the container rim with respect to the closure. According to another separate embodiment of the present invention there is provided a releasable closure for a container having a rim, the closure having a closure element including a space for receiving at least part of the rim of the container, the space defined by an 20 edge of the closure element and a wall spaced inwardly from the edge of the closure element, the wall having a pair of wall members; and one or more guides extending downwardly from the underside of the wall of the closure element for assisting in locating the closure element relative to the container, the or each guide arranged so as to be aligned substantially transverse to the edge of the closure element. Typically the width between the converging surfaces is 25 small compared to the overall depth of the wall. According to another separate embodiment of the present invention there is provided a releasable closure for a container having a rim, the closure having a closure element including a space for receiving at least part of the rim of the container, the space defined by a peripheral downwardly extending lip or skirt of the closure element and a wall spaced inwardly 30 from the lip or skirt , the depth of the wall being greater than that of the lip or skirt and one or more guides extending downwardly from the underside of the wall of the closure element for assisting in locating the closure element relative to the container, the or each guide arranged so as to be aligned substantially transverse to the edge of the closure element.

3 The gap between the peripheral downwardly extending lip or skirt is typically greater than the width of the wall of the container rim to be received in the gap. The wall may in this embodiment be defined by a pair of wall members. The wall members may converge relative to one another. In another embodiment they may diverge 5 relative to one another. In a further embodiment the wall members may be substantially parallel to one another. The wall members may typically terminate in a base connecting the wall members to one another. The wall members may with the base define a substantially U or V-shape. According to another separate embodiment of the present invention there is provided 10 a container including a closure as described. The present invention is predicated on the basis that a closure with a wall having a surface as described provides an increased biasing contact area for the container rim whereby to facilitate a greater likelihood of the closure and the container locating with respect to one another in the manner desired. 15 In addition, by having the depth of the wall greater than that of any lip or skirt of the closure element, the likelihood that the first point of contact between the container rim and the closure when they are brought into proximity for fitting the closure to the container will be that the wall surface will be increased. The shape of the wall surface is such that the rim will tend to be biased towards its intended location with respect to the closure and visa versa. 20 According to another separate embodiment of the present invention there is provided a container having an accompanying closure, the container including a body portion with a mouth having a rim for receiving the closure for releasably closing the mouth, the container and the closure being shaped so as to mutually engage one another by a press-or snap-fit, the closure having a closure element including a channel to receive at least part of the rim of the 25 container, the channel defined by a gap between a lip or skirt depending from an edge of the closure element and a wall spaced inwardly of the edge, the wall having a surface adjacent the channel which is shaped in a manner which tends to bias the closure towards its intended location when placed on the container, the depth of the wall being greater than that of the lip or skirt; and one or more guides extending downwardly from the underside of the wall of the 30 closure element for assisting in locating the closure element relative to the container, the or each guides arranged so as to be aligned substantially transverse to the edge of the closure element.

4 A wall according to any aspect of the invention may be continuous or discontinuous. If discontinuous, it may be contiguous with or consist of segments spaced from one another. The segments comprising the wall of the closure may be equally or unequally spaced from one another. The shape of the wall need not be constant throughout the wall. 5 According to another embodiment, the wall has an outside surface which converges downwardly with an inside surface of the wall, the outside surface being so shaped to bias the location of the container rim into the space when the closure and container are engaged. The wall may be a regular or irregular shape. It may be substantially rectangular, square or a shape approximating a triangular prism. It may be cone shaped. It may be frusto-conical. It is 10 particularly preferred that the width between the converging surfaces of the wall is small compared to the overall depth of the wall. Other wall shapes are envisaged within the scope of the invention. According to a further aspect there is provided a releasable closure for a container, the closure having a closure element having a wall inwardly spaced from the peripheral edge of the 15 closure element, and one or more guides extending downwardly from the underside of the wall of the closure element for assisting in locating the closure with respect to the container, the or each guide arranged so as to be aligned substantially transverse to the edge of the closure element. The one or more guides assist in locating the closure with respect to the container. A 20 guide according to any aspect of the invention may also assist in strengthening the closure in the region of the edge of the closure element and may take any suitable form. It may comprise a rib or other projection. In one embodiment the guide comprises a tapered rib. The taper of the rib is preferably of increasing thickness in a direction extending downwardly from the underside of the closure element. A guide according to the invention may be 25 continuous or discontinuous. If discontinuous, it may be contiguous or consist of segments spaced from one another forming a plurality of spaced guides. The segments comprising guides of the closure may be equally or unequally spaced from one another in the region of the periphery of the closure element. In one particularly preferred embodiment, a guide according to the invention is arranged on or adjacent to the wall surface beside a gap between 30 the edge of the closure element and the wall surface. Other guide shapes and arrangements are envisaged within the scope of the invention. It will be appreciated that any of the aspects of the present invention described herein may incorporate one or more guides that extend downwardly from the underside of the wall of the closure element for assisting in locating the 5 closure with respect to the container, the or each guide arranged so as to be aligned substantially transverse to the edge of the closure element. A closure according to the invention is preferably releasably engageable with the container whereby to seal the container but to retain the capacity to repeatedly open the 5 container to access the container contents. The arrangement is preferably such that the closure when placed on the container seals the container in a substantially air-tight manner. A closure element of a closure according to the invention may take any suitable form. The closure element is preferably of substantially planar form as is known in the art. An edge of the closure according to the invention may take any suitable form. In one 10 embodiment it comprises an outer edge or periphery of the closure. The edge of the closure may comprise a lip. In another embodiment it may comprise a skirt appending from a closure portion of the closure. In one particularly preferred embodiment, an edge of the closure comprises a closure portion having a skirt dependent therefrom, the skirt extending continuously about the periphery of the closure portion, the arrangement being such that the 15 closure mutually engages with the rim of the container whereby to close the container. A lip or skirt depending from an edge of the closure according to the invention may be provided with a bead or other protrusion whereby to facilitate engagement or interengagement with a corresponding or complementary portion of a container rim according to the invention. The bead or other protrusion may be inwardly or outwardly extending. 20 The present invention provides in another separate embodiment a releasable closure for a container having a rim, the closure having a closure element including a space for receiving at least part of the rim of the container, the space defined by a peripheral downwardly extending lip or skirt of the closure element and a wall spaced inwardly from the lip or skirt, the wall depending in a substantially straight line to a base of the closure element 25 to thereby define a surface which is shaped to bias the location of the container rim into the space when the releasable closure and container are engaged, the depth of the wall being greater than that of the lip or skirt, the closure including a rib or other projection of increasing thickness extending downwardly from the underside of the wall of the closure element, said rib further assisting in locating the closure with respect to the container. 30 A container according to the present invention may take any suitable form. In one presently preferred embodiment, the container includes a body portion having a rim of a construction known in the art for receiving ice cream, yoghurt and the like. The periphery of the container rim may be provided with a ledge, bead, protrusion or other surface to enable a 6 closure when placed on the container to be secured by a press- or snap-fit as is also known in the art. The ledge, bead, protrusion or other surface may be inwardly or outwardly extending. A container according to the invention may be provided with tamper-evident means as is also known in the art. One known arrangement includes an upstanding strip spaced 5 outwardly from the perimeter of the rim of the container in the region of the container just below the rim of the container, that arrangement defining a channel between the rim and the upstanding wall into which an edge of the closure in the form of a skirt or lip can be received. The strip typically has a region of weakening to facilitate at least partial detachment of the strip from the container. 10 The strip suitably extends for at least most of the way around the perimeter of the container. Most suitably it will extend all of the way around the perimeter. Tab means may be provided on the strip to facilitate at least partial tearing away of the strip from the container. In order to assist removal of the closure from the container when the tamper-evident 15 means have been broken, it is preferred that the tamper-evident means be located at a corner of the container. The closure according to the invention may be provided with an outwardly projecting lip, projection or other surface at an outer edge of the closure to enable the closure to be opened by the application of thumb or finger pressure to the underside of the lip or 20 protrusion to enable the container to be opened as is generally known in the art. The present invention provides in another separate embodiment a method for filling a container and closing it with a closure as described. The method includes the steps of providing a source of contents for the container, filling the container with the contents, and closing the container by securing a closure as described to the container. The method may 25 involve a filling step which is known in the art for filling a container with contents. The container may be provided on a moving conveyor assembly line as is also known in the art. A closure according to the invention may be fitted to the container manually, or it may be fitted to the container in an automated fashion by the use of a vacuum lifter or similar to lift and move the closure to bring the closure into substantial alignment with the container. 30 In a further embodiment the present invention provides a closure for releasably closing a container having a rim, the closure arranged for releasable engagement with the container so that they may mutually engage one another by way of a press or snap-fit, the closure having a substantially planar closure element including a channel for receiving at least part of the rim of the container, the channel defined by a peripheral downwardly extending lip 7 or skirt depending from the closure element and a wall spaced inwardly from the lip, the depth of the wall being greater than that of the lip or skirt, the wall having a pair of converging surfaces, the widti between the converging surfaces being small compared to the overall depth of the wall, the surface of the wall which is adjacent the channel being substantially 5 convex for providing an increased area of contact for the container rim to bias the closure towards its intended location when placed on the container; and one or more guides extending downwardly from the underside of the wall of the closure element for assisting in locating the closure element relative to the container, the or each guide arranged so as to be aligned substantially transverse to an edge of the closure element. 10 According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container having an accompanying closure, the container including a body portion with a mouth having a rim for receiving the closure for releasably closing the mouth, the container and the closure being shaped so as to mutually engage one another by a press-or snap-fit, the closure having a closure element including a channel to receive at least part of the rim of the container, the 15 channel defined by a gap between a lip or skirt depending from an edge of the closure element and a wall spaced inwardly of the edge, the wall having a surface adjacent the channel which is shaped in a manner which tends to bias the closure towards its intended location when placed on the container, the depth of the wall being greater than that of the lip or skirt, and one or more guides extending downwardly from the underside of the wall of the closure element for 20 assisting in locating the closure element relative to the container, the or each guide arranged so as to be aligned substantially transverse to the edge of the closure element. Brief Description of the Preferrd Embodiment The invention will now be described in relation to particularly preferred embodiments. In the drawings, in which like integers are given like reference numerals: 25 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the underside of a closure according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the closure of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the closure of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a detailed cross-section through the line 4-4 of Figure 2; 30 Figure 5 is a side elevation of the closure of Figure 1 with a container; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the underside of a closure according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a plan view of the closure of Figure 6; 7A Figure 8 is a side elevation of the closure of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a detailed cross-section through the line 9-9 of Figure 7; Figure 10 is a side elevation of the closure of Figures 6 to 9 with a container, 5 Figure 11 is a perspective view of a container with closure according to another embodiment of the invention, the container having tamper-evident means; Figure 12 is a cut-away perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 11 with the tamper-evident means broken; Figure 13 is a detailed cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the closure 10 about to be fitted to a container; Figure 14 shows the embodiment of Figure 13 with the closure positioned proximal the opening of the container; and, Figure 15 shows the container fitted to the container. Turning to the drawings, Figures 1 to 5 show generally a closure 10 for a container. 15 Closure 10 includes a substantially planar closure element 11 having a lip or skirt 12 dependent 8 therefrom and a wall 14 spaced inwardly therefrom. Skirt 12 and wall 14 define a gap 13 therebetween for receiving at least part of the rim 19 of a container 17 as shown in Figure 5. Wall 14 includes a pair of wall members 15, 15a having converging surfaces terminating in base 15b. It will be seen from the embodiment shown in Figure 4 that the 5 width "x" between wall members 15, 15a is small compared to the overall depth "y' of wall 14. Wall member 15 adjacent gap 13 is shaped in a manner which provides an increased area of contact for the rim 19 of container 17 to bias the closure 10 towards intended location when placed on the container 17. 10 As can also be seen from the embodiment of Figure 4, the depth "y" of wall 14 is greater than the depth "z" of skirt 12 depending from the edge of closure element 11. As can be more clearly seen in Figure 4, wall member 15 in the embodiment shown has a surface which is tapered or angled in a manner which tends to bias the closure 10 towards its intended location when placed on the container 17. Other wall surface shapes are envisaged within the 15 scope of the invention. As can also be seen in Figure 4, an inner face of skirt 12 carries a bead 16 capable of engaging with a corresponding bead or protrusion 18 extending about the rim 19 of container 17. This arrangement facilitates engagement or interengagement between the closure 10 and the container 17 to provide mutual engagement of the components by a press-or snap-fit 20 which can be disengaged by the application of finger pressure. Tamper-evident means (not shown) associated with the container 17 and/or the closure 10 may be provided as required. An alternative closure 10 is shown in Figures 6 to 10. In the embodiment shown in those figures, closure 10 includes a plurality of guides in the forms of ribs 20. Ribs 20 are in 25 the embodiment shown arranged adjacent to the wall member 15 on the inner side of gap 13. Ribs 20 assist in locating the closure 10 with respect to the container 17. It will be appreciated that a single continuous rib 20 may be provided in the region indicated if desired. As more clearly shown in Figure 9, rib 20 is tapered and increases in thickness in the downward direction with respect to wall 14. 30 In use, and with reference to Figures 5 and 10, following filling of the container 17 with a food stuff such as ice-cream or yoghurt, a closure 10 is brought into proximity of the container for the purpose of closing and sealing the container 17. As the closure 10 comes into contact with the rim 19 of container 17, the rim will be more likely to contact wall surface 15 of wall 14 in the case of a slight misalignment of gap 13 of closure 10 with the rim and will 9 be guided to its intended location in gap 13 by the inwardly tapered surface of wall member 15. In this way the likelihood of the container 17 and closure 10 being brought into contact in the manner desired is enhanced. The embodiments of Figures 11 and 12 show a wide mouth, walled container 17 5 having a closure 10 comprising a substantially planar closure element 11 attached thereto. Container 17 includes an upstanding strip 21 spaced outwardly from the perimeter of the rim of the container in the region of the container 17 just below the rim of the container 17, the arrangement defining a channel between the rim and the upstanding strip into which an edge of the closure 10 in the form of a skirt or lip 12 can be received. 10 The strip 21 has a region of weakening 22 in the form of tear bridges to facilitate at least partial detachment of the strip 21 from the container 17. As can be seen from Figures 11 and 12, the strip 21 suitably extends all of the way around the perimeter of the container 17. Tab means 21a are provided on the strip 21 to facilitate at least partial tearing away of the strip 21 from the container 17. 15 It will be noted from Figure 12 that the tamper-evident means is located at a comer of the container 17 in order to assist removal of the closure 10 from the container 17 by the application of finger pressure to the closure 10 in an upward direction at that corner when the tamper-evident means have been broken. The embodiment of Figures 13, 14 and 15 illustrates an alternative closure wall 20 arrangement. In this embodiment the closure wall 14 has a pair of substantially parallel wall members 25a and 25b whose depth "y" is greater than that of skirt 12 (indicated by"z"). Wall members 25a and 25b define with base 26 a substantial U-shape. Corner 30 of wall member 25b is bevelled or otherwise angled away from the rim of the container 17 to bias the container rim. 25 The width "xa" of the gap 24 between the peripheral downwardly extending skirt 12 is in the embodiment shown greater than the width "xb" of the wall of the container rim to be received in the gap 24. The container rim and skirt 12 have complementary beads 28, 29 to facilitate mutual engagement between the closure 10 and the container when the closure 10 is placed on the 30 container 17 and skirt 12 is received in the gap 27 defined between wall 57, upwardly extending peripheral strip 21 and ledge 23 connecting the wall 57 with strip 21. It will be seen that the dimension of the gap 27 is only marginally greater than the dimension of the skirt 12 to provide substantially an interference fit between the closure 10 and the container.

10 It can be seen from the foregoing that the present invention provides an improved means for location of a closure on a container whilst reducing the risk of misalignment of the closure with the container. Whilst it has been convenient to describe the present invention in relation to 5 particularly preferred embodiments, it is to be appreciated that other constructions and arrangements are considered as falling within the scope of the invention. Various modifications, alterations, variations and/or additions to the constructions and arrangements described herein are also considered as falling within the scope of the present invention. The word "comprising" or forms of the word "comprising" as used in this description 10 and in the claims do not limit the invention claimed to exclude any variants or additions. Modifications and improvements to the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope of this invention.

Claims (19)

1. A releasable closure for a container having a rim, the closure having: a closure element including a space for receiving at least part of the rim of the container, the space being defined by an edge of the closure element and a wall spaced 5 inwardly from the edge of the closure element, the wall having a surface which is shaped to bias the location of the container rim into the space when the releasable closure and container are engaged; and, one or more guides extending downwardly from the underside of the wall of the closure element for assisting in locating the closure element relative to the 10 container, the or each guide arranged so as to be aligned substantially transverse to the edge of the closure element.

2. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the wall is tapered or angled downwardly and inwardly from the edge of the closure element.

3. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the wall is substantially convex. 15

4. A releasable closure for a container having a rim, the closure having: a closure element including a space for receiving at least part of the rim of the container, the space defined by an edge of the closure element and a wall spaced inwardly from the edge of the closure element, the wall having a pair of wall members; and, 20 one or more guides extending downwardly from the underside of the wall of the closure element for assisting in locating the closure element relative to the container, the or each guide arranged so as to be aligned substantially transverse to the edge of the closure element.

5. A closure according to claim 4, having a pair of wall members wherein the width 25 between the converging surfaces is small compared to the overall depth of the wall.

6. A releasable closure for a container having a rim, the closure having: a closure element including a space for receiving at least part of the rim of the container, the space defined by a peripheral downwardly extending lip or skirt of the I1 closure element and a wall spaced inwardly from the lip or skirt, the depth of the wall being greater than that of the lip or skirt; and, one or more guides extending downwardly from the underside of the wall of the closure element for assisting in locating the closure element relative to the 5 container, the or each guide arranged so as to be aligned substantially transverse to the edge of the closure element.

7. A closure according to claim 4, wherein the wall members converge relative to one another.

8. A closure according to claim 4, wherein the wall members diverge relative to one 10 another.

9. A closure according to claim 4, wherein the wall members are substantially parallel to one another.

10. A closure according to claim 4, wherein the wall members terminate in a base of substantially U- or V-shape. 15

11. A closure according to claim 6, wherein the lip or skirt comprises an inwardly or outwardly extending bead or other protrusion to facilitate engagement or interengagement with a corresponding complementary portion of a container rim.

12. A releasable closure for a container, the closure having a closure element having a wall inwardly spaced from the peripheral edge of the closure element, and one or more 20 guides extending downwardly from the underside of the wall of the closure element for assisting in locating the closure with respect to the container, the or each guide arranged so as to be aligned substantially transverse to the edge of the closure element.

13. A closure for releasably closing a container having a rim, the closure arranged for releasable engagement with the container so that they may mutually engage one 25 another by way of a press or snap-fit, the closure having a substantially planar closure element including a channel for receiving at least part of the rim of the container, the channel defined by a peripheral downwardly extending lip or skirt depending from the closure element and a wall spaced inwardly from the lip, the depth of the wall being greater than that of the lip or skirt, the wall having a pair of converging surfaces, the 30 width between the converging surfaces being small compared to the overall depth of 12 wall, the surface of the wall which is adjacent the channel being substantially convex for providing an increased area of contact for the container rim to bias the closure towards its intended location when placed on the container, and, one or more guides extending downwardly from the underside of the wall of the closure element for 5 assisting in locating the closure element relative to the container, the or each guide arranged so as to be aligned substantially transverse to an edge of the closure element.

14. A releasable closure for a container having a rim, the closure having a closure element including a space for receiving at least part of the rim of the container, the space defined by a peripheral downwardly extending lip or skirt of the closure element and a 10 wall spaced inwardly from the lip or skirt, the wall depending in a substantially straight line to a base of the closure element to thereby define a surface which is shaped to bias the location of the container rim into the space when the releasable closure and container are engaged, the depth of the wall being greater than that of the lip or skirt, the closure including a rib or other projection of increasing thickness extending in a 15 direction downwardly from the underside of the wall of the closure element, said rib further assisting in locating the closure with respect to the container.

15. A closure according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein one or more of the guides each comprise a rib or other projection of increasing thickness extending in a direction downwardly from the underside of the wall of the closure element. 20

16. A releasable closure according to any preceding claim, substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

17. A container including a closure as claimed in any preceding claim.

18. A container having an accompanying closure, the container including a body portion with a mouth having a rim for receiving the closure for releasably closing the mouth, 25 the container and the closure being shaped so as to mutually engage one another by a press-or snap-fit, the closure having a closure element including a channel to receive at least part of the rim of the container, the channel defined by a gap between a lip or skirt depending from an edge of the closure element and a wall spaced inwardly of the edge, the wall having a surface adjacent the channel which is shaped in a manner 30 which tends to bias the closure towards its intended location when placed on the container, the depth of the wall being greater than that of the lip or skirt, and one or 13 more guides extending downwardly from the underside of the wall of the closure element for assisting in locating the closure element relative to the container, the or each guide arranged so as to be aligned substantially transverse to the edge of the closure element. 5

19. A container according to claim 17 or 18, substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. NO Holdings Pty Ltd