AU692354B2 - A container - Google Patents

Description

TITLE: A CONTAINER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to packaging containers and more particularly containers

of the kind formed with an open void separate to the main containment volume.

Examples of such containers are metal cans formed with a generally concave or domed

void in the base and which are commonly used for soft drinks, beer and a wide variety

of other products. Cans of this type usually have a second void formed adjacent to the

top or opening area of the can and defined by a peripheral rim. Other examples of containers of the kind to which this invention relates include pressurised containers,

again formed with a concave void in their base due to structural considerations.

Certain glass and plastic containers such as bottles are also formed with a concave

void in their base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the packaging of a wide variety of goods there is a need to have the ability

to package with, but separate to the primary goods, other articles and/ or printed material. These articles and materials can take the form of, for example, operating

instructions, promotional goods, spare parts or even a second active ingredient. In the

past the ability to package these articles or provide the printed material has generally

been limited to the extent to which information can be printed on the exterior of the

container or a visible portion of the interior. Alternatively, an adhesive label or a

second package adhered to the container is required. The printing of information is,

of course, limited by the available space visible to the end user. In the case of

separately adhered packages, difficulties are often encountered in ensuring that the separate package remains affixed during transport, storage, and display for sale.

It is an object of this invention to provide a container which will overcome, or

at least ameliorate, one or more of the foregoing disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention provides a container of the kind formed with an

open void separate to the main containment volume thereof characterised in that

selectively removable means are provided to substantially close said void thereby

defining a second containment volume.

The container according to this invention preferably has the open void formed in the container wall in such a way that it protrudes into the main containment volume.

Voids of this kind are typically formed in the base or bottom of metal beverage cans, the bottom of some wine bottles and the bottom of pressurised containers. The tops of

cans generally have an open void also. The selectively removable means can take the form of a membrane secured to

the container by pressure, friction, adhesives or through the application of heat, by shrink wrapping or other suitable process.

Preferably, the membrane is formed from materials such as aluminium or metal

foil, plastic, paper, cardboard or a combination of these materials.

The membrane can be transparent or opaque depending upon the selected

application and can have printing on one or both sides.

Preferably, the membrane is formed so as to be clearly tamper evident.

The membrane may be provided with a protruding tab which may be grasped

and pulled to tear the membrane for removal. Perforations may also be provided in

the membrane to assist with this process.

In an embodiment the open void includes a generally concave depression

terminating in a peripheral outer rim and a periphery of the membrane is adhered to an

exposed surface of the depression and/or rim to seal or close the second containment

volume.

In one preferred form of this embodiment the container is a can with a

generally cylindrical edge provided between the depression and the rim. In this form a

periphery of the membrane is adhered to an exposed surface of the depression and/or

edge and the closed or sealed membrane is contained in the open void within the

original container boundary.

In another preferred form the container is a bottle and the periphery of the membrane is adhered directly to the exposed surface of the depression. In a third preferred form the container is a can or bottle and the membrane is

adhered directly to the rim. In this third form the membrane is disposed exterior to

the original can or bottle boundary.

In a variation of the above embodiment the open void includes a generally flat

recessed depression terminating in a peripheral outer rim. An example of this being

the top of a beverage can that includes the ring pull. In a preferred form of this

variation the membrane is adhered directly to the rim.

In another preferred form the membrane may comprise two or more layers

sealed together to define an airtight package to contain such items as printed

information, marketing materials or edible goods.

In yet another preferred form the membrane may be provided with air holes to

assist with the application of the membrane to the container or to address

considerations such as changing air volume, the need for the container to stack and/or the possibility of condensation forming under the membrane.

It will be appreciated that the invention includes within its scope the provision

to have the membrane itself as the printed information carrying medium.

The membrane may also provide access to a sterile or at least clean second

containment volume, for example, adjacent the opening of can. This is useful for

sealing a void of a sterilised container for containing an eating or drinking utensil. As

the sealed void remains free from external exposure until the membrane is removed its

contents remain sterilised even if the container itself is not. It will be apparent that the container according to this invention has a wide

range of applications for the packaging of numerous goods. In a strongly preferred

form the container takes the form of an aluminium or steel beverage can.

It is preferred that the membrane is sufficiently flexible to allow stacking of the

cans by deflecting sufficiently to accommodate the ring pull of a lower can.

Other examples of the applications include the containers for non-consumable

goods such as insect sprays, hair sprays, household cleaning products and a range of

other pressurised or non-pressurised containers containing consumer products. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of this invention will now be described, by way of

example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-

Figure 1 is an inverted side view of a container according to a first

embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the container shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a sectional side view of the container shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the container shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the container shown in Figure 1 with the

membrane in the sealed or closed configuration;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the container shown in Figure 1 with the

membrane in the open configuration;

Figure 7 is a partial enlarged sectional view of the base of the container shown

in Figure 1 ; Figure 8 is an inverted perspective view of a container according to a second embodiment of this invention;

Figure 9 is a sectional side view of the container shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an exploded side view of the container shown in Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a bottom view of the container shown in Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a partial enlarged sectional view of a container according to a third

embodiment of the invention;

Figure 13 is a partial enlarged sectional view of a container according to a

fourth embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 14 is a partial enlarged sectional view of a container according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure 1 , the container 1 according to a first embodiment of the

invention comprises an aluminium metal can of the kind commonly used for the

packaging of beverages. The container 1 is shown in an inverted position and, as best

shown in Figure 3, has a base 2 with a generally concave depression 3 terminating in a

peripheral outer rim 4 with a cylindrical edge 5 therebetween. A metal foil membrane

6 is an exposed surface of the edge 5 attached by means of any suitable adhesive (not

shown). Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the metal foil membrane 6 is provided with a

tab 7 which protrudes slightly from the periphery of the can. In use, the membrane 6 is applied to the container 1 during production process to close the void formed by the

depression 3 and thereby define a second containment volume 8. Any desired

material, such as printed promotional material 9, coupons or other articles can be placed in the depression during the production process. It is a simple matter for the

end purchaser of the product to grasp the tab 7 and at least partially remove the

membrane to allow access to whatever may be contained in the second containment

volume 8. It will be appreciated that the metal foil 6 is not easily resealed and is,

therefore, tamper evident to the purchaser.

In this first embodiment, as best shown in Figure 7, an outer lip 10 of the

membrane 6 is glued to the edge 5 between the depression 3 and the outer rim 4. In

this way, the membrane does not protrude from the original can boundary thus

permitting the can to travel through standard production machinery and be easily

stacked on other cans with minimal risk of damage to the membrane. This

embodiment can also be stacked without any increase over the stacked height when

compared to a similar number of stacked conventional cans.

Figures 8 to 11 show a second embodiment of a container according to the

invention which again takes the form of an aluminium beverage can of known type. The corresponding parts have been labelled with the same reference numbers as in the

first embodiment.

In this embodiment the membrane is glued directly to the outer rim 4 of the

can. The membrane 6 is provided with sufficient flexibility to deform about the ring

pull of a lower can, when stacked, without rupturing.

This second embodiment provides a larger second containment volume 8 than

the first but more care must be taken in handling as the membrane is disposed exterior

the original can boundary. Figure 12 shows a third embodiment of the invention, similar to that shown in

Figures 1 to 7, in which the membrane 6 is adhered to an exposed surface 12 of a

concave depression 13 formed in the base of a bottle 14.

Figure 13 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention, similar to that shown in

Figures 8 to 11, in which the membrane 6 is adhered directly to the outer rim 15

surrounding the depression 13 formed in the bottle base 14.

Figure 14 shows a fifth embodiment of the invention in which the top 16 of the

can 1 includes a generally flat recessed depression 17 terminating in a peripheral outer

rim 18. The membrane 6 is adhered directly to the rim to provide a second

containment volume 19 in which the ring pull 20 is located. This embodiment provides a smaller containment volume to those previously described and is

particularly useful, for example, in keeping the can top and ring pull free from

contamination.

The foregoing describes only five embodiments of the invention and it will be

readily appreciated that the invention is applicable to numerous other containers.

Claims (20)

CLAIMS:-

1. A container of the kind formed with an open void separate to the main

containment volume thereof characterised in that selectively removable means are

provided to substantially close said void thereby defining a second containment

volume.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the open void is formed in the

container wall such that it protrudes into the main containment volume.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the selectively removable

means is a membrane secured to the container by pressure, friction, adhesives or

through the application of heat, by shrink wrapping or by a combination of any of

these processes.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3 wherein the membrane is formed from

materials such as aluminium or metal foil, plastic, paper, cardboard or a combination

of any of these materials.

5. A container as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the membrane is transparent or

opaque.

6. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the membrane

includes printing on one or both sides.

7. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein the membrane is

formed so as to be clearly tamper evident.

8. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein the membrane is

provided with a protruding tab which may be grasped and pulled to tear the membrane

for removal.

9. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8 wherein the membrane includes perforations.

10. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 9 wherein the open void includes a generally concave depression terminating in a peripheral outer rim and a

periphery of the membrane is adhered to an exposed surface of the depression and/or

rim to seal or close the second containment volume.

11. A container as claimed in claim 10 wherein the container is a can with a

generally cylindrical edge provided between the depression and the rim and the

periphery of the membrane is adhered to an exposed surface of the depression and/or

edge.

12. A container as claimed in claim 10 wherein the container is a bottle and the

periphery of the membrane is adhered directly to the exposed surface of the depression.

13. A container as claimed in claim 10 wherein the container is a can or bottle and

the membrane is adhered directly to the rim.

14. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 9 wherein the open void

includes a generally flat recessed depression terminating in a peripheral outer rim.

15. A container as claimed in claim 14 wherein the container is a can and the

membrane is adhered directly to the rim.

16. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 15 wherein the membrane

comprises two or more layers sealed together to define an airtight package.

17. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 16 wherein the membrane is

provided with air holes.

18. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 17 wherein the membrane

carries printed information.

19. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 18 wherein the membrane

provides access to a sterile or at least clean second containment volume.

20. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 19 wherein the membrane is

sufficiently flexible to allow stacking of the cans by deflecting sufficiently to

accommodate the ring pull of a lower can.