AU537196B2

AU537196B2 - Container closure

Info

Publication number: AU537196B2
Application number: AU51843/79A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Andrew Woinarski
Original assignee: Innovative Design Co Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Innovative Design Co Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1978-11-01
Filing date: 1978-11-01
Publication date: 1984-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 1999-10-16
Also published as: AU5184379A

Description

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THE PATENTS ACT 1952-1973 I. I' COMPLETE AFTER PROVISIONAL SPECIFICTON No. 3 APPLICATION FOR A PATENT 51843/79 I/We INNOVATIVE DESIGN COMPANY PTY. LTD.

STUDIO 1, 162/C QUEEN STREET, WOOLLAHRA, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, 2025 579 6 hereby apply for the grant of a Patent fo n invention

entitled: "CONTAINER CLOSURE"

which is described in the accompanying specification.

!q/Our address for service is care of GRIFFITH, HASSEL FRAZER,

Patent Attorneys, of 323 Castlereagh Street, Sydney 2000, in

the State of New South Wales, Commonwealth of Australia.

DATED this 31st day of October 1978.

1rA, Our B3y tvLxykXbc Patent AttorneySC:

GRIFFITH, HASSEL FRAZEP

(F T= ECUOMnTSSIONER OF PATENTS, COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

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4AUST ALIA,

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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1952 (AS AMENDED)

DECLARATION IN SUPPORT OF A NON-CONVENTION APPLICATION FOR A PATENT

51 8 4 3 79 In support of the application made by INNOVATIVE DESIGN

COMPANY PTY. LTD. for a patent for an invention entitled:

"CONTAINER CLOSURE"

I, PETER ANDREW WOINARSKI, of Studio 1, 162/C Queen Street,

Woollahra, New South Wales, Australia, 2025, do solemnly and

sincerely declare as follows:

1. I am authorised by the above mentioned applicant for the

patent to irake this declaration on its behalf.

2. I am the actual inventor of the invention and the applicant

company is entitled to make the application because I made

the invention for and on behalf of the company in the course

of my duties as an officer of the company and under

circumstances such that the company is entitled to the

rights and title in and to the invention.

Declared at this 3, day of 1978

(signature) t 7

(position) .)IY

This invention relates to a plastics material closure

for attachment to the rim of a plastics material container.

(17) AUISTRALIAN PATENT ABRIDGMENT (19) All (11) AU-B-51843/79

(a4) CONTAINER CLOSURE (71) INNOVATIVE DESIGN CO. PTY. LIMITED (21) 51843/79 537196 (22) 1.11.78 (23) 16.10.79 (24) 1.11.78 (43) 8.5.30 (44) 14.6.84 (51)2 B65D 43,'06 B65D 43/10 B65D 43/03 (12) PETER ANDREW WOJNARSKI (74) GH (56) 50697/79 520832 FI6B 34206/78 516731 US 3840144

(57) Claim i. A closure for a container which nas a rim

surrounding itE opening and a ledge forming a portion

of the internal wall of the container:

the closure beingr formed from a resilient plastics

material and comprising;

a central well having a base and a bordering wall.

an inverted first channel which is continuously or

discontinuously annular and which borders the well. the

first channel having a radially inner wall whichi

constitutes the wall of the well. a radial)- outer

wall, and integrally torme6 bridging means

irverconnecting the inner and outer walls in a manner

such tnat rF[! walls are restrained substantially from

moving one relative to the other.

a non-inverted annular second channel bordering ./2

21 1

116:61/2

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(11) AU-B-51843/79 -2-

the first channel, the second channel having a radially

inner wall which is constituted by the outer wall of

the first channel and a radially outer wall, the outer

wall of the second channel being movable relative to

the inner wall of the second channel, and the second

channel having a base portion which is arranged to seat

on the ledge of the container when the closure is

fitted to the container, and

an inverted annular third channel bordering the

second channel and arranged to receive the rim cf the

container, the third channel having a radially inner

wall which is constituted by the outer wall of the emnd channel and a ra4iallj Qqutt well which

surrounds the ria of the container when the closure is

fitted to the container.

116:61/1

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A closure substantially as shown in Figures 2 and 3

.,AUSTRALIALL

Form PATENTS ACT 1952-1973

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Class:

Int Cl:

SApplication Number: i Lodged:

S" 0

Complete Specification-Lodged: 53~6 Accepted: Published: S *Priority .Priority: Tds dcumenw contains the amedments nude andeer Section 49.

Related Art: 9 and is correct tor primnting. 0e 0 0

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: INNOVATIVE DESIGN CO. PTY. LIMITED

a, STUDIO 1 162/C QUEEN STREET, Address of Applicant: WOOLLAHRA, NEW SOUTH WALES 2)25, AUSTRALIA.

Actual Inventor: PETER ANDREW WOINARSKI

Griffith, Hassel Frazer, Address for Service: 323 Castlereagh St., SYDNEY N.S.W. 2000 AUSTRALIA

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "CONTAINER CLOSURE"

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to R /us

This invention relates to a plastics material clo3ure

for attachment to the rim of a plastics material container.

The achievement of an ideal container closure requires

application of seemingly conflicting design criteria. Ihus,

a closure must be configured to engage in positive sealing

relationship with the rlU, of ito container and yet be capable

of relatively convenient removal. Also, the closure must

o possess sufficient flexural capacity to absorb impact forces

(from any direction) which are likely to be encountered in

service, without the sealing relationship being broken, and

°o yet be sufficiently rigid to support static loads imposed by stacking of loaded containers.

Australian Patent Specification No. 435,466 Roper

et al) discloses a container-closure arrangement which,

apparently, meets some but not all of the above requirements.

The refereiced patent specification describes one structure

in particular (see Fig. 8 of the drawings of the patent

specification) which provides for sealing of the closure to the rim. of the container and for transfer of a static load

So". 20 from the closure to the waLl of the container, the load transfer being provided for by a channel portion of the

closure engaging in compression against a ledge portion of

the container wall. The load transfer effect is enhanced by

the walls of the channel being interconnected by radially

extending ribs, but it is thought that these must have the

effect of reducing the capacity of the structure to withstand

impact forces without the closure-to-container seal being

broken.

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1 fl 51,843/79 FIG.1

The present 4 nvention seeks to provide a closure for a container and w~hich is configured to accommodate

Al the application of iirpact forces as well as providing static load carrying capacity. In broad terms. the present invention provides a closure for a container which has a rim surrounding its opening and a ledge forming a portion of the internal wall of the container. The closure is formed from a resilient plastics material and comprises: a central well having a base and a bordering wall. *00 an inverted first channel which is continuously or discontinuously annular and which borders the well, the first channel having a radially inner wall which constitutes the peripheral wall of the well, a radially outer wall, and integrally formed bridging means interconnecting the inner and o'!ter walls in a manner o 0 such th1at said walls are restrained substantially fro~m

moving one relative to the other. a non-inverted annular second channel bordering the first channel., the second channel having a radially 0O inner joall which is constituted by the outer wall of

the first channel1 and a radially outer wall, the outer wall of the second channel heirag movable relative to, the inner wall of the second channel, and the second channel having a base portion which is arranged to seat on the ledge of the container when the closure is fitted to the container,

FIG.' 4 an inverted annular third channel bordering the second channel and arranged to receive the rim of the container, the third channel having a radially inner wall which is constituted by the outer wall of the second channel and a radially outer wall which surrounds the rim of the container when the closure is fitted to the container.

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The closure in accordance with the invention and as

above defined is characterized by the provision of the two

(first and second) mutually inverted channels in addition to

the container rim-receiving (third) channel, with the walls

of the first channel being interconnected. The means which

interconnect the two walls of the first channel may comprise

radially extending ribs.

The first channel may be continuous, in which case it

would be partitioned by a series of said radially extending

o0 ribs, or it may be discontinuous. In the latter case, the o

first channel would be constituted by at least two and

preferably four or more circumferentially aligned trough-

like inverted channel segments.

An important feature of the closure of the present

15 invention is that the second (non-inverted) channel does not

incorporate any radially extending elements such as ribs

interconnecting its walls,and hence the walls of that channel may flex toward and away from one another should the closure

be subjected to radially directed impact forces.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description of twu explemplary embodiments of

container-closure arrangements. The description is given

with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of two stacked

container-closure assemblies,

Figure 2 shows a sectional elevation view of the

portion of the container-closure assembly which is encircled in Figure 1 and identified by the arrow A, the Figure illustrating a first embodiment of the invention,

Figure 3 shows a view of a portion of the underside of

the closure which is illustrated in Figure 2, as viewed in

the direction of arrow B,

Figure 4 shows a view which is similar to that shown in

Figure 2, but illustrating a second embodiment of the invention,

and Figure 5 shows a view of the top side of the closure

0 which is illustrated in Figure 4, as viewed in the direction

of ar;ow C. Io

Figure 1 of the drawings shows two containers 10, each of which is fitted with a closure 11. The containers

each have a wall which is slightly conical and the base of

the upper container nests within a well of the closure of the lower container.

As is shown in Figures 2 and 4, the container 10 has a

surrounding wall 12 and a base 13 which incorporates an

integral annular support portion 14.

The upper part of the wall 12 incorporates an inwardly

directed annular ledge 15 and, above the ledge, the wall 12

divarges toward the rim 16 of the container. A beading 17

is provided on the outside of the container wall, above the

level of the ledge 15, and the beading connects with the rim

16 of the container by way of a slightly concave portion 18.

Referring now to the closure as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings:

This closure comprises a central well portion 20 having

a base 21 and a peripheral wall 22. A first channel 23

having an inverted V-shapc borders the well, the channel

having a radially inner wall which is constituted by the

wall 22 and a radially outer wall 24. The channel 23 is

continuous, in the sense that its walls 22 and 24 completely

encircle the well 20, but the interior of the channel is

partitioned by radially projecting ribs 25. The ribs

interconnect the walls 22 and 24 and serve to prevent any

Lfl^ change occurring in the angle between the two walls of the

channel.

A seccnd channel 26 which has a non-inverted V-shape o o' borders the first channel 23, the second channel having a

radially inner wall constituted by the wall 24 and a radially

outer wall 27. The second channel is open-topped and it is

not formed with any interior ribs.

The wall 27 has a negatively inclined portion 29 which

engages with the inner margin of the container rim 16.

Also, the second channel 26 has a base portion 30 which

rests on the container ledge 15, this arrangement providing

for transfer of loads which are imposed on tihe closure to

the wall 12 of the container.

A third, inverted, channel 31 surrounds the second

channel and provides a recess for receiving the rim 16 of the container in sealing interengagement. The third channel

has a radially inner wall constituted by the wall 27 of

the second channel and a radially outer or peripheral wall

32. The wall 32 is formed with an annular inward'7 directed projection 33 which snap-f-L .s below and is trt pped by the container beading 17 when the closure is fitted to the container. Removal of the closure from the container is effected by prising the projection 33 outwardly and upwardly with respect 4%o. the container beading 17, this operation being accotumodated by the inherent resiliency of the closure material. Reference is now made to the closure construction that O* is shown in Figur _s 4 and 5 of the drawings.

e This closure is simiilar to that which is shown in

**Figures 2 and 3, except that the first (inverted) channel 23 is not continuous and does not (or need not) incorporate radially extending ribs. Instead, the channel 23 is constituted by four circumferentially aligned trough-like

channel segments 23-1, 23-2, 23-3 and 23-4 as best seen in Figure 5. The channel segments are each terminated by end walls 34 which interconnect the channel walls 22 and 24, ~*and a planar bridge 35 extends between the end walls 34 of

adjacent channel segmTent3 to join the well base 21 to the base 30 of tne second channel 26. Although not so shown in the drawiings, each of the channel segments 23-1 to 23-4 may have its walls joined by radially projecting ribo in the same manner as the continuous

channel structure as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Also, although the closure as shown in the drawings has four of the channel segments 23-1 to 23-4, six such channel segments are preferably provided.

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Claims

THE CLAIMS

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THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A closure for a container which has a rim

surrounding its opening and a ledge forming a portion

i of the internal wall of the container;

the closure being formed from a resilient plastics

material and comprising;

a central well having a base and a bordering wall.

an inverted first channel which is continuously or

discontinuously annular and which borders the well, the

first channel having a radially inner wall which

conbtitutes the wall of the well, a radially outer

wall, and integrally formed bridging means

interconnecting the inner and outer walls in a manner

such that said walls are restrained substantially from

moving one relative to the other,

a not inverted annular second channel bordering

the firct channel, the second channel having a radially

inner wall which is constituted by the outer wall of

the first channel and a radially outer wall. the outer

wall of the second channel being movable relative to

the inner wall of the second channel, and the second

channel having a base portion which is arranged o seat

on the ledge of the container when the closure is

fitted to the container, and

an inverted annular third channel bordering the

second channel and arranged to receive the rim of the

container, the third channel having a radially inner h wall which is constituted by the outer w'll of the

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SJ second channel and a radially outer wall which surrounds the rim of the container when the closure is fitted :o the container.

2. A closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first

channel has an inverted substantially V-shaped profile

in cross-section.

3. A closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second

channel has a profile which is subtantially V-shaped in

So croF-section.

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4. A closure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein

the first channel is continuous and is partitione by said

means interconnecting the inner and outer walls of the first

channel.

A closure as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means

interconnecting the inner and outer walls of the first channel

comprise radially e;xtending ribs.

6. A closure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein

the first channel is discontinuous and is constituted by at

le it two circumferentially aligned inverted trough-like

channel segments.

7. A closure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein

tne first channel is discontinuous and is constituted by 3*.

six circumferentially aligned inverted trough-like channel

segments. M

8. A closure as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein

each channel segment is terminated at each end thereof by

a substantially radially extending end wall, the end walls Sconstituting said means interconnecting the inner and outer

walls of the first channel.

9. A closure as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein

a bridge extends between the end walls of adjacent said

channel segments, the bridge joining the base of the well to

the base portion of the second channel.

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A closure substantially as shown in Figures 2 and 3 or in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference thereto. 11. A closure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in gombination with a said container. the container having a beading extending around its rim and the outer wall of the third channel having a radially inwardly directed

projection which is arranged to snap fit below the container beading when the closure is fitted to the container. 12. A combination of a container and a closure substantially as shown in Figures 2 and 3 or in Figures 4 and 5 of the

accompanying drawings and substantially as heriinbefore described with reference thereto.

*DATED this 11th day of October 1979.

INNOVATIVE DESIGN COMPANY PTY. LTD. 0 By their Patent Attorney:

0

of GRIFFITH, HASSEL FRAZER Fellows, Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia.

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