AU2647000A

AU2647000A - End seals for cylindrical containers

Info

Publication number: AU2647000A
Application number: AU26470/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Cahill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-05-25
Filing date: 2000-01-28
Publication date: 2000-12-12
Also published as: GB0130683D0; WO2000071435A1; GB2371293A

Description

WO 00/71435 PCT/AUOO/00043 END SEALS FOR CYLINDRICAL CONTAINERS Field of the Invention This invention relates to closures or seals for cylindrical containers. Background to the Invention 5 Cylinder shaped containers are commonly used for storing and transporting articles. For example, they are commonly used for transporting articles via the postal or courier systems. An advantage of cylindrical containers over other shaped containers is that the container can be constructed so as to be relatively strong yet light weight. Such containers can be 10 constructed from commercially available materials such as cardboard to provide relatively strong side walls that are resistant to compressive forces perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. This ensures strong but light weight containers can be constructed. Cylindrical containers usually have end closures for both ends to ensure 15 the contents are retained within the container and also to prevent the ingress of moisture that may damage the contents of the container. The end closures are normally in the form of suitably shaped caps that are engaged on one or both ends of the container using a frictional fit. The caps thus usually have a cylindrical side wall and an end portion that provides a lid to the side wall. The 20 external dimensions of the cylindrical side wall are slightly less than the inside diameter of the cylindrical container. This allows the cap to be fitted inside the container and thus provide increased strength to the container as well as sealing the ends. Caps may also have an annular lip portion on the side walls to prevent the cap from being inserted beyond the required distance into the container. The 25 caps can be manufactured from cardboard but more commonly are manufactured from plastic such as polyethylene. While the frictional fit of known caps can lead to satisfactory results it is usually necessary to provide further methods for securing the end caps onto the containers. This avoids the end caps being accidentally dislodged in transit or by movement of the article 30 within the container. A common method of achieving this is to use adhesive tape so that the tape extends over the cap and onto the side walls of the WO 00/71435 PCT/AUOO/00043 -2 cylindrical container. This method while achieving the objective of securing the end caps is however very time consuming to use and often frustrating to the operator. A more convenient and easier to use method of sealing a cylindrical tube 5 is desired. Summary of the Invention This invention provides in one form a cylindrical container end seal consisting of a relatively thin foldable sheet that is self adhesive on one surface and having a generally circular central region of diameter similar to the diameter 10 of the container to be sealed and a plurality of fingers arranged in a radial fashion extending outwards from said circular central region wherein the fingers are adapted so that in use when the fingers are folded perpendicular to the plane of the central region no fingers overlap with each other. Preferably the end seal includes a backing sheet on the self adhesive 15 surface to allow the seal to be conveniently stored and used by pealing from the backing sheet. Preferably there are eight fingers. Preferably the fingers are of different lengths and more preferably two different lengths. 20 In an alternative form this invention provides a method of sealing an end cap in a cylindrical container with an end seal as described above, centering the central region over the end cap and folding the arms so that they become adhered to the side walls of the container. Brief Description of the Drawings 25 The invention will be further described by reference to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings. Figure 1 is a plan view of a self adhesive seal on a square shaped backing sheet. Figure 2 is a schematic view showing the seal of Figure 1 attached to a 30 cylindrical container.

WO 00/71435 PCT/AUOO/00043 -3 Detailed Description of the Invention Referring to Figure 1, the end seal 1 has a circular central region 2 and eight radially arranged arms or fingers 3, 4. Alternate arms 3, 4 are of differing length. 5 The arms 3, 4 are shaped so that when folded perpendicular to the central region 2 they do not overlap. This is illustrated in Figure 2. The arms adhere to the sidewalls 6 of the cylindrical container. The end seal 1 is shown on a backing sheet 5. The end seal is relatively thin and foldable and may be manufactured from a wide range of paper or plastic type materials. The material 10 needs to be sufficiently flexible to allow a bend at right angles without substantially weakening the material. The end seals may be conveniently prepared by using a rotary die cutter. Typical thicknesses of the end seal would be in the range .05 - .5mm and more commonly .02 - .2mm. Provided adequate strength is provided, thinner materials may be used and these are more cost 15 effective. The arms or fingers are dimensioned and shaped so that in use they do not overlap with each other. We have found that by alternating longer or shorter arms and fingers that the end seals are easier to use as the arms have less tendency to inadvertently adhere to each other when being applied to a container. 20 The end seal material is preferably water proof and examples of suitable materials are coated paper and plastics such as vinyls. The nature of the adhesive on the seal is important in that it provides the means to secure the cap to the sides of the container and is preferably of a form that means the seal has to be cut or broken to open the container thus rendering the seal tamper evident. 25 To facilitate the opening of containers the end seals may be provided with some areas of weakness that facilitate the tearing of the end seal. This is also a convenient way of making the seals tamper evident. The areas or lines of weakness could be provided by a line or lines of perforations. Adhesives that may be used are known to skilled workers and illustrative are the adhesives used 30 on material known as "contact sheet or paper" which are used to provide covers to exercise books and lining for cupboard shelving.

WO 00/71435 PCT/AUOO/00043 -4 It will be appreciated that while end seals of the present invention are usually used to secure end caps to cylindrical containers in some applications the end seal may be used to form the end cap itself. In this further application the additional rigidity obtained by using end caps is not achieved. However, 5 this is unnecessary in some applications or where the diameter of the container is relatively small. The end seals of the present invention provide a convenient and easy to use method that overcomes the disadvantages of known methods. Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may be 10 readily effected by persons skilled in the art, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described, by way of example, hereinabove.

Claims

1. A cylindrical container end seal consisting of a relatively thin foldable sheet being self adhesive on one surface and having a generally circular central region of diameter similar to the diameter of the container to be sealed and 5 arranged in a radial fashion extending from said circular central region a plurality of fingers adapted so that in use when the fingers are folded perpendicular to the plane of the central region no fingers overlap with each other.

2. A cylindrical container end seal as defined in Claim 1 wherein the end 10 seal includes a backing sheet to allow the seal to be conveniently stored and used by pealing from the body sheet.

3. A cylindrical container end seal as defined in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein there are eight fingers.

4. A cylindrical container end seal as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 3 15 wherein the fingers are of different lengths.

5. A cylindrical container end seal as defined in Claim 4 where there are fingers of two lengths.

6. A cylindrical container end seal as defined in Claim 5 wherein the fingers of different lengths are arranged alternatively. 20

7. A method of securing the end caps of a cylindrical container comprising peeling an end seal as defined in any one of Claims 2 to 6, from a backing sheet, centering the central region over the end cap and folding the arms so that they become adhered to the side walls of the container.