EP0383745B1 - Container - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to safety devices intended to be mounted on metal packaging so as to keep the packaging and its lid integral and watertight during transport and handling. The invention applies in particular and more particularly to the transport of so-called dangerous materials within the meaning of the Transport Regulations. Mention may be made, among such so-called hazardous materials, of paints and other materials likely to contain solvents.

We know that in several countries, regulations now require that a packaging remains closed and sealed after an impact corresponding to a standardized drop test on a corner of the cover. The drop height for such a test is typically 1.2 meters. We know that traditional packaging, whose opening diameter is practically equal to that of the envelope, does not withstand this kind of test.

Many forms of clamps and means of retaining the cover have been proposed and tried, both in metal and in plastic, but without being able to give complete satisfaction.

Patent application EP-A-0 246 783 describes, for example, a serrated ring intended to hold together a metal package and its cover.

Such systems do not provide sufficient sealing after an impact corresponding to the standard fall tests. It is therefore necessary to move towards solutions generally more costly in material or in manpower.

There is therefore a demand for a safety device for metal packaging which, in practice, provides sufficient tightness after falling and which can be applied to standardized packaging.

The patent application published under the number EP-A-0334514 describes a plastic ring for holding a cover in place on a container having at its upper part an annular rim which is attached by its external side to the side wall of the container, by a crimping forming a bead which projects towards the outside of this side wall. The plastic ring has an internal crown, an external skirt and a ring connecting the internal crown and the external ring.

The outer skirt carries on its inner face a rib intended to be engaged under the bead. A slot is made in the internal crown, the external skirt and the ring connecting these two elements, thus facilitating the rupture of the ring and its removal from the container.

Patent application EP-A-0334514 which claims priority from a British patent application dated 25 March 1988 was published on September 27, 1989 (ie after the priority date claimed for the present patent application).

The object of the invention is to produce a device which confers on a package mechanical strength and sufficient tightness to meet the requirements corresponding to those of a drop test and transport standards.

An object of the invention is to provide such a device which can be produced inexpensively and which is easy to place and remove.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which fits on traditional packaging and on their lids.

The subject of the invention is a reinforced container of the paint can type, substantially cylindrical, comprising at its upper part an annular rim which is attached on the outside to the side wall of the container by a crimping forming a bead which projects towards the outside of this side wall, a cover having on its periphery a groove open upwards, and a plastic safety ring having a cross section substantially in the shape of a U and comprising an internal crown, an external skirt and a connecting ring the internal crown and the external skirt by their upper part.

In this safety ring, the external skirt consists of an annular element without a solution of continuity having an internal face provided at its lower part with a continuous rim directed towards the internal crown, this rim having a substantially conical lower surface flaring towards the bottom and an upper surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of the safety ring, the dimensions of the safety ring and its constituent elements being such that the safety ring can be placed on the upper part of the container with its lid, the internal crown being engaged in the groove of the lid with which it fills at least the major part, the ring of the ring covering the outer edge of the cover and the upper edge of the container, the outer skirt descending over the upper edge of the container, the continuous rim being engaged at the upper part of the container below the bead of crimping, this continuous rim being in permanent elongation because the inside diameter of the continuous rim is, before fitting the ring, less than the outside diameter of the side wall that this rim encloses.

Preferably, a stepped projection protrudes from the concave face of the ring of the ring, on the side of the axis of the ring, so that when the ring is placed on a container, said projection makes pressure on the periphery of the cover. The safety ring advantageously includes dismantling means.

An advantageous form of these dismantling means comprises a projection which goes around said ring on the internal side, in the extension of the flat ring and a surface in the cover on which a tool can bear.

According to another advantageous form, the dismantling means comprise at least one rupture initiation formed at the junction between the outer ring and the flat ring.

According to another possible form, a hollow tab can extend laterally on the side of the outer ring, said tab being able to receive the blade of a tool for dismantling said ring.

According to a preferred embodiment, the outer face of the outer skirt has, at its lower part, a tongue which extends radially outwards, this tongue being pierced with an orifice suitable for the insertion of a tool , such as a screwdriver blade, for dismantling said ring.

In these embodiments, a protrusion forming an extra thickness goes around the external face of the outer crown.

In a preferred form, the peripheral groove of the lid is extended by a volute, a seal being placed between the volute of the lid and the annular rim of the container.

One of the advantages of the invention is that it allows containers, which are otherwise standard, to successfully undergo the mechanical resistance tests imposed during the transport of so-called dangerous substances.

Another advantage of the device according to the invention lies in its high resistance to internal pressure in the container. This internal pressure is due in particular to solvent vapors and it can go up to 100 kPa (1 kg / cm²) without posing any problem for the device.

Another advantage is that the containers can be reinforced only according to the requirements and constraints of transport and are therefore of modular cost.

Another advantage of the security device according to the invention lies in the fact that it makes the packaging practically inviolable. Indeed, it is not possible to remove the safety device without visibly damaging it.

• la Fig. 1 est une vue en coupe d'un anneau de sécurité suivant l'invention représenté en place sur un bidon fermé;
• la Fig. 2 est une coupe d'un anneau de sécurité analogue à celui montré à la Fig. 1, mis en place sur un bidon fermé de type différent;
• la Fig. 3 est une vue en perspective de l'anneau de sécurité montré en coupe à la Fig. 2, vu obliquement par en dessous;
• les Fig. 4 à 6 sont des coupes d'anneaux de sécurité suivant l'invention selon des formes d'exécution différentes, montrés également montés sur des bidons fermés;
• la Fig. 7 est une vue en élévation de l'anneau de sécurité montré en coupe à la Fig. 6;
• la Fig. 8 est une vue partielle en plan d'une forme particulière d'un moyen de démantèlement de l'anneau de sécurité, et
• la Fig. 9 est une coupe de l'anneau suivant la ligne IX-IX de la Fig. 8.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the particular embodiments described below, reference being made to the appended drawings, in which:

• Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a safety ring according to the invention shown in place on a closed container;
• Fig. 2 is a section through a safety ring similar to that shown in FIG. 1, set up on a different type of closed container;
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the safety ring shown in section in FIG. 2, seen obliquely from below;
• Figs. 4 to 6 are sections of safety rings according to the invention according to different embodiments, also shown mounted on closed cans;
• Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the safety ring shown in section in FIG. 6;
• Fig. 8 is a partial plan view of a particular form of a means of dismantling the safety ring, and
• Fig. 9 is a section through the ring along the line IX-IX in FIG. 8.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a ring 1 according to the invention, made of plastic and mounted on a metal container 2, the body of which is closed by a cover 3.

This container has a side wall 4 which is connected to an upper rim 5 by a crimping 6 rolled outwards and forming a bead 7. The upper rim 5 of the container 2 contributes to its rigidity and serves as a support for the cover 3. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the rim 5 forms a groove 8 in which, when closed, a friction groove 9 is formed, of corresponding shape formed at the periphery of the cover 3. The end 10 of the rim 5, as well as the end 11 of the cover 3, is terminated by a stiffening volute.

The ring 1, which is placed on the container 2 already closed (for example under the effect of a press) (not shown), has three parts 12, 13, 14, seen here by the edge, whose arrangement in U is clearly visible: an internal ring 12 and an external skirt 13 which are connected on either side of a ring 14. The face of the external skirt 13 facing inwards has a re-entrant flange 15 which extends all over its periphery.

When the ring 1 is put in place, the crown 12 engages by force in the grooves 8, 9 of the cover and the rim and ensures their maintenance in the event of impacts. during a possible impact, the presence of the crown 12 prevents the two grooves 8, 9 from crushing, which contributes to maintaining the integrity of an essential part of the closure device.

Furthermore, the re-entrant flange 15 is inserted under the bead 7 which forms the crimping. The length of this rim 15 is less than that of the side wall 4, so that this rim 15 is in permanent elongation and encloses the side wall 4 of the container 2 under the bead 7.

A stepped projection 16 projects into the groove of the ring 1, ensuring pressure on the cover 3 below the level defined by the crimping 6.

An additional seal can be obtained by interposing between the cover and the container a seal 31, whether it is a separate seal of the o-ring type or a seal mounted in situ, for example between the end volute 11 of the cover and the rim 5.

In Fig. 2, the cover 3 and the ring 1 are mounted on another form of container 17.

The cover 3 is clamped against a loop 18 secured to the rim 5. The throat of the cover ends in a volute 19 which is pressed against the projection 16.

Just as in Fig. 1, the ring 1 is mounted on the cover 3, its inner ring 12 being forcibly mounted in the groove 8 of the said cover 3, and the re-entrant flange 15 is engaged under the bead 7 defined by the crimping 6 of the flange 5 with the side wall 4.

One can also provide a seal 31 which will be interposed, for example, between the loop 18 and the volute 19.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the ring 1 as a whole and clearly shows the ring 14, the crown 12 and the continuous skirt 13 extending on either side of this ring 14.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment allowing easy dismantling of the ring 20 after use: a projection 21 goes around the ring 20 on the internal side, parallel to the ring, so as to allow the insertion of a tool 22 (such as a screwdriver) and the release of the ring 20 by a simple twisting movement from a fulcrum formed by the cover 3 itself.

Fig. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a metal package 2 topped with its cover 3 and of a protective ring 23 with side tab 24.

This tab 24, placed at the outer periphery of the ring 23, allows the insertion of a tool 22 (such as a screwdriver) parallel to the axis of the container, to release the ring 20 from the container 2 on which it is mounted, by exerting on this tool 22 a simple or combined torsion.

In Fig. 6 is shown another embodiment making it possible to separate the ring 25 from the container 16 which it covers. The ring 25 comprises, spaced along its length, interrupting primers 26 at the level of the external angle between the ring 14 and the skirt 13. These primers 26 are of a width just sufficient for one to be able to insert therein the blade of a tool 22, such as a screwdriver, so as to be able to locally exert a breaking stress on the ring 25. To compensate for the weakening generated in the structure of the whole ring 25, by these primers d 'Interruption 26, a continuous reinforcement bead 27 goes around the skirt 13 near its end.

To release the ring 25, after vertical insertion of the tool 22 into a rupture initiator 26, the tool 22 is depressed vertically and brought back to the horizontal.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the ring 25 of FIG. 6 clearly showing the incipient fractures 26 regularly arranged along the ring 25, at its upper part, and the reinforcing bead 27 at the end of the skirt 13, on the opposite face of the re-entrant flange 15.

Figs. 8 and 9 show, respectively, in plan and in section, another means of dismantling the safety ring (28).

It is a tongue 29 extending radially from the outer face of the outer skirt 13.

This tongue 29 is provided with a central orifice 30 allowing the insertion of a tool 22 such as the blade of a screwdriver. This tool makes it possible to exert a twist on the ring 28 and to cause it to be dismantled.

Claims (9)

1. Reinforced drum (2, 17) of the paint can type, substantially cylindrical, comprising at its upper part an annular lip (5) attached on the outer side to the lateral wall (4) of the drum (2, 17) by a crimp forming a bead (7) which projects towards the outside of this lateral wall, a lid (3) presenting on its periphery a groove (9) open at the top, a safety ring (1, 20, 23, 25, 28) made of plastic arterial presenting an upturned substantially U-shaped cross-section and comprising an inner border (12), an outer skirt (13) and a collar (14) connecting the inner border (12) and the outer skirt (3) by their upper parts, in which the outer skirt (13) consists of an annular element without solution of continuity having an inner face provided at its lower part with a continuous lip (15) directed towards the inner border, this lip (15) presenting a substantially conical lower surface widening towards the bottom and an upper surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of the safety ring (1, 20, 23, 25, 28), the dimensions of the safety ring (1, 20, 23; 25, 28) and of its constituent elements being such that the safety ring (1, 20, 23, 25, 28) can be put in place on the upper part of the drum (2, 17) fitted with its lid (3), the inner border (12) being engaged into the groove (9) of the lid (3) of which it fills at least the greater part, the collar (14) of the ring (1, 20, 23, 25, 28) overlapping the outer edge of the lid (3) and the upper edge of the drum (2, 17), the outer skirt (13) descending over the upper edge of the drum (2, 17), the continuous lip (15) being engaged at the upper part of the drum (2, 17) under the crimped bead (7), this continuous lip (15) being permanently elongated because the internal diameter of the continuous lip (15) is, before the ring (1, 20, 23, 25, 28) is pat in place, less than the external diameter of the lateral wall (4) which this lip grips.

2. Drum according to Claim 1, characterised in that a step-shaped offset (16) projects on the concave face of the collar (14) of the ring, towards the axis of this ring (1, 20, 23, 25, 28), so that when the ring (1, 20, 23, 25, 28) is placed on its drum (2, 17), said offset (16) exerts pressure on the periphery of the lid (3).

3. Drum according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a means for dismantling (21, 24, 26, 29).

4. Drum according to Claim 3, characterised in that the means for dismantling (21) comprises a projection (21) all around said ring towards the border (12), in the extension of the collar, and a surface in the lid upon which a tool (22) can bear.

5. Drum according to Claim 3, characterised in that the means for dismantling (26) comprises at least one break initiation point (26) made at the joint between the outer skirt (13) and the collar (14).

6. Drum according to Claim 3, characterised in that the means for dismantling comprises a hollow lug (24) extending laterally on the side of the outer skirt (13), said lug (24) being adapted to receive the blade of a tool (22) for dismantling said ring (23).

7. Drum according to Claim 3, characterised in that the means for dismantling'comprises, at the lower part of the outer face of the outer skirt (2) [sic], a lug (29) which extends radially outwards, this lug (29) being pierced by an aperture (30) adapted for the insertion of a tool (22) for dismantling said ring.

8. Drum according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that there is a projection (27) forming an overthickness all around the external face of the outer skirt (13).

9. Drum according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the groove (9) of the lid (3) terminates in a volute (11, 19), a seal (31) being placed between said volute (11, 19) and the annular lip (5) of the drum.

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