CA2229260A1

CA2229260A1 - A container and lid for covering the container

Info

Publication number: CA2229260A1
Application number: CA002229260A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Stephane Mercier
Original assignee: IPL Inc
Current assignee: IPL Inc
Priority date: 1998-02-12
Filing date: 1998-02-12
Publication date: 1999-08-12

Abstract

A container adapted to be covered by a lid comprises a sidewall with an upper peripheral edge region so configured as to provide a fluid tight engagement with the lid. The configuration of the upper peripheral edge region enables easy covering engagement with the lid, easy removal of the lid from the container, a cap effect with improved fluid tightness by providing a decompression zone between the lid and the container.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION
A container and a lid for covering the container FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a container adapted to be covered by a lid as well as to a combination of such container and lid.
BADKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Plastic container and lid combinations are well known.
However, for those containers adapted to receive fluid components it is of the upmost importance to provide a fluid tight engagement between the container and lid in order to avoid contamination of the fluid in the container from the outside environment or leakage of the fluid inside the container to the outside, and also to accidently open in situations where the lid-covered container is dropped or subjected to important impacts.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a container with an improved upper peripheral edge region of its side wall that will overcome the above described problems associated with plastic containers requiring very efficient fluid tightness.
The present invention therefore relates to a container which is adapted to be covered by a lid and which comprises an open cylindrical body consisting of a bottom wall and a tapering side wall, the side wall having an upper peripheral edge region adapted for receiving a lid in a fluid-tight engagement, a first outer peripheral upwardly turned flange and a second outer peripheral downwardly turned flange vertically spaced below the first flange. The upper edge region is defined by a top wall, an outer side wall and an inner side wall, the inner side wall consisting of a first inclined portion extending downwardly from the top wall to an inwardly entering snap shoulder. The outer side wall consists of a first inclined portion extending downwardly from the top wall, a second inclined portion extending downwardly from the first portion, the inclination of the first portion being greater than that of the second portion with respect to a vertical axis, and a third inclined portion extending downwardly and inwardly from the second inclined portion. The first inclined portion of the inner side wall and the secand inclined portion of the outer side wall cooperate to provide fluid tightness when the container is lid-covered while the first inclined portion of the outer side wall facilitates sliding engagement of the container to a lid and provides a decompression zone after engagement of the lid to the container to improve the fluid tightness.
The present invention also pertains to the combination of a container as described above and of a lid, the lid comprising a generally flat circular body having a peripheral edge portion; the peripheral edge portion includes a U-shaped inner section contiguous with an inverted U-shaped outer section while the outer portion has a lower edge adapted to be received in the first flange of the container and opposite inner faces. The inner faces including:
i) a first inclined portion for sliding along the first inclined portion of the outer side wall of the container so as to lodge the lower edge of the lid within the first flange of the container; and ii) a snap shoulder contiguous with the first inclined portion for engaging the third inclined portion of the container to secure the lid to the container;
the first inclined portion of the container being distanced from the U-shaped outer portion of the lid to provide a decompression zone for improving the fluid tightness;
Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that this detailed description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, is given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a container and of a lid made in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is an elevational view of the container with the handle removed; and Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a lid-covered container resting on an open container and supporting a superposed lid on which rests a container.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to figure 1, there are shown a container 10 and a lid 12.
Referring also to figures 2 and 3, the container 10 comprises an open cylindrical body consisting of a bottom wall 14 and a tapering side wall 16. The bottom wall has a peripheral flange 18 while the side wall 16 has an upper peripheral edge region 20 adapted for receiving the lid 12 in a fluid tight engagement. The side wall also includes an outer peripheral upwardly turned flange 22 and a second outer peripheral downwardly turned flange 24 vertically spaced below the flange 22.
The upper peripheral edge region is defined by a top wall 26 and by an inner side wall consisting of a first inclined portion 28 which downwardly extends from the top wall 26 to an inwardly entering snap shoulder 30. The outer side wall of the region comprises a first inclined portion 32 extending downwardly from the top wall 26, a second inclined portion 34 extending from portion 32; the inclination of portion 32 is greater than the inclination of the inclined portion 34 with respect to a vertical axis.
A third inclined portion 36 extends downwardly and inwardly from the second inclined portion 34; the inclination of portion 36 is greater than the inclination of portion 34 with respect to a vertical axis. The inner side wall of the container also includes a step or shoulder 38.
Flange 22 has an inverted L-shape in cross-section with a horizontal wall 40 and a peripheral side wall 42. A series of circumferentially spaced ribs 44 are disposed within the flange 22.
The second flange 24 also defines a L-shape in cross-section with a top wall 46 and a side wall 48. The side wall 48 displays, on its outer face thereof, three vertically spaced peripheral ribs 50, 52, 54 which assist in stabilizing the container when placed against similarly constructed containers during transport, the ribs of one container contacting the ribs of an adjacent container. The inner faces of the flange 24 are provided with a series of circumferentially spaced ribs 56 which, in addition to reinforce the flange 24, also serve to bear on the top wall 26 of container nested therebeneath.
The contour of the pair of flanges is interrupted by means of a break tab 58 which has weakened portions, three being shown at 60, 62, 64.
A handle 66 has its opposite ends engaged into a pair of opposite holes 68 adjacent the break tab and extending between the two flanges 22 and 24. Horizontal projections 69 extend beneath the holes to act as stoppers for the handle.
The lid 12 comprises a circular body having a central portion 70 and a peripheral edge portion 72. The central portion comprises a pair of concentric annular embossed portions 74 and 76, thus forming a pair of recessed areas 78 and 80, the latter of which receives the flange 18 of a superposed container. As can be seen in figure 2, the peripheral edge portion 72 of the lid comprises a first U-shaped inner section formed of side walls 82 and 84 joined by a rounded bottom wall 86. The U-shaped section includes therein a series of circumferentially spaced ribs 88. The peripheral edge portion also includes an inverted U-shaped section that includes the side wall 84, a top wall 90 and an outer side wall 92 having an outwardly extending edge 94. The inside portion of this outer inverted U-shaped portion comprises a shoulder 96, an inclined wall 98, a top wall 100, a first inclined wall 102, a second inclined wall 103, a shoulder 104 and an inclined wall 106.
As can be seen in figure 2, the lids may be stacked by having their inclined wall 106 and rounded bottom wall 86 resting on the top wall of a lid disposed therebeneath.
The lid and container are made of plastic material. The configuration of the outer peripheral portion of the lid is such that it may be snapped into engagement with the upper peripheral region of a container.
This is accomplished by having the inclined wall 106 slide along the inclined lid portion 32; simultaneously, the lid bottom wall 86 slides along container wall 28. Then, shoulder 104 slides also on container surface 34 and the elasticity of the plastic material of the lid and its configuration allow the shoulder 96 to slide under surface 36 while shoulder 96 slides under shoulder 30 to provide a secured tight engagement which provides good resistance to impacts subjected to the engaged lid-container combination.
On the container, the inclined portions 28 and 34 of the container defines a fluid tight cap with walls 98 and 102 of the lid. The inclined portion 32 enables easy closure of the lid to the container while the inclined wall 36 allows easy removal. Also, the inclined portion 32 is distanced from the lid inner wall to provide a decompression zone. The presence of shoulder 38 gives peripheral rigidity to the container while reinforcing ribs 44 provide rigidity to the flange. The height of the rib wall is such as to give a tamper-proof feature. The provision of the ribs 56 provides a shock absorbing effect during transport.
On the lid, the wall 106 enables easy closure of the lid to the container while wall 103 provides easy removal. The semi circular wall 86 improves resistance for container stacking and fluid tightness.
Although the invention has been described above with respect with one specific form, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that it may be modified and refined in various ways. It is therefore wished to have it understood that the present invention should not be limited in scope, except by the terms of the following claims.

Claims

1. A container adapted to be covered by a lid, said container comprising an open cylindrical body consisting of a bottom wall and a tapering side wall; said side wall displaying an upper peripheral edge region adapted for receiving a lid in a fluid-tight engagement, a first outer peripheral upwardly turned flange and a second outer peripheral downwardly turned flange vertically spaced below said first flange; said upper edge region being defined by a top wall, an outer side wall and an inner side wall;
said inner side wall consisting of a first inclined portion extending downwardly from said top wall to an inwardly entering snap shoulder; said outer side wall consisting of a first inclined portion extending downwardly from said top wall, a second inclined portion extending downwardly from said first portion, the inclination of said first portion being greater than that of said second portion with respect to a vertical axis, and a third inclined portion extending downwardly and inwardly from said second inclined portion, whereby said first inclined portion of said inner side wall and said second inclined portion of said outer side wall cooperate to provide fluid tightness when said container is lid-covered; whereby said first inclined portion of said outer side wall facilitates sliding engagement of said container to a lid and provides a decompression zone after engagement of the lid to the container to improve said fluid tightness.

2. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner side wall includes, opposite said first outer annular flange, a peripheral shoulder to provide peripheral rigidity to said container.

3. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said first outer flange is L-shaped in cross-section and includes a circumferential tamper evident rib at one end thereof.

4. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said second outer flange defines an inverted L-shaped section having a top face and an outer side face; said outer side face including peripheral stabilizing rib means thereon.

5. A container as defined in claim 4, wherein said second outer flange includes a series of circumferentially spaced reinforcing ribs therein.

6. A container as defined in claim 3, wherein said first and second outer flanges are connected, on a segment thereof, by a break tab area.

7. A container as defined in claim 1, further comprising a handle having its opposite ends connected to diametrically opposite lugs disposed between said flanges.

8. In combination, a container and a lid;
a) said container adapted to be covered by said lid and comprising an open cylindrical body consisting of a bottom wall and a tapering side wall; said side wall having an upper peripheral edge region adapted for receiving said lid in a fluid tight engagement, a first outer upwardly turned flange and a second outer downwardly turned flange vertically spaced beneath said first flange; said upper edge region being defined by a top wall, an outer side wall and an inner side wall; said inner side wall consisting of a first inclined portion extending downwardly from said top wall to an inwardly entering snap shoulder; said outer side wall consisting of a first inclined portion extending downwardly from said top wall, a second inclined portion extending downwardly from said first portion, the inclination of said first portion being greater than that of said second portion with respect to a vertical axis, and a third inclined portion extending downwardly from said second inclined portion, whereby said first inclined portion of said inner side wall and said second inclined portion of said outer side wall provides fluid tightness when said container is lid-covered;
b) said lid comprising a generally flat circular body having a peripheral edge portion, said peripheral edge portion including a U-shaped inner section contiguous with an inverted U-shaped outer section;
said outer portion having a lower edge adapted to be received in said first flange of said container and opposite inner faces; said inner faces including:
i) a first inclined portion for sliding along said first inclined portion of said outer side wall of said container; and ii) a snap shoulder contiguous with said first inclined portion for engaging said third inclined portion of said container to secure said lid to said container;
said first inclined portion of said container being distanced from U-shaped outer portion of said lid to provide a decompression zone during engagement of the lid to the container to improve said fluid tightness.

9. A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said U-shaped inner portion of said lid includes a rounded bridging bottom wall.

10. A combination as defined in claim 9, further comprising a series of circumferentially spaced ribs extending vertically in said U-shaped inner portion.

11. A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said lid comprises an annular recessed surface adjacent said inner U-shaped portion to receive the bottom wall of a superposed container placed thereon and an annular embossed surface adjacent said first surface to provide rigidity to said lid when a container is positioned thereon.

12. A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said first outer flange is L-shaped in cross-section and includes a series of circumferentially spaced reinforcing ribs therein.

13. A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said second outer flange defines an inverted L-shaped section having a top face and an outer side face; said outer side face including peripheral stabilizing rib means thereon.

14. A combination as defined in claim 13, wherein said second outer flange includes a series of circumferentially spaced reinforcing ribs therein.

15. A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said first and second outer flanges are connected, on a segment thereof, by a break tab area.

16. A combination as defined in claim 9, further comprising a handle having its opposite ends connected to diametrically opposite lugs disposed between said flanges.