EP3981703B1 - Container with snap-on lid - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a container according to claim 1.

The invention also relates to a container according to claim 5.

For the purposes of this application, a wide-mouth can is understood to mean a container with a base, a circumferential, typically cylindrical (or slightly conical) side wall and a typically central opening at the top of the wide-mouth can.

In the DE 298 02 048 U1 It is described that transparent cylindrical cans for solvent-free paints are known which have a relatively simple, open edge profile. The upper edge of such a can is designed as a sealing edge onto which a plastic lid can be snapped sealingly. When the can is unopened, the lid is connected to a retaining ring via a tear-off sealing tape, which in turn engages behind a circumferential rib on the outer wall of the can.

To improve such a can in the DE 298 02 048 U1 proposed to attach an outwardly projecting collar below the sealing edge and at a distance from it, which has a direction towards the Container opening forms an open channel, which is closed by the attached lid by a circumferential lid apron and with this forms a closed bead-like outer contour of the can. A tamper-evident closure in the form of a removable tab can be provided in the lid skirt.

The lid in the DE 298 02 048 U1 The can described can be removed from the can after removing the tab that forms the tamper-evident closure. However, this opening mechanism requires a bead-like outer contour that protrudes outwards over the circumferential side wall of the can. This results in a reduced number of packaging units in the can, which can be arranged next to each other on a (Euro) pallet, for example. In addition, filling contents can collect in the channel that is open to the container opening.

US 2003/071043 A1 and GB 1 335 722 A reveal the preamble of claim 1.

An object of the invention is to provide a container with a guarantee function that functions as reliably as possible, in which a bounced lid, which protrudes as little as possible outside the side wall of the container, can be easily lifted from the container after removing/activating the guarantee function. A further object of the invention is to provide a lid for such a container and a container with such a container and such a lid.

This object is achieved according to a first aspect by a container according to claim 1.

In the container according to the invention, the latching profile fulfills a double function: on the one hand, the latching profile enables the guarantee band of the lid to be latched onto the container and thus ensures tampering, and on the other hand, the at least one engagement recess on the latching profile simplifies the lifting of the lid, so that an operator can open the lid without additional Aids can be removed from the container. The latching profile typically extends horizontally from the side wall of the container, i.e. parallel to the bottom of the container, outwards, but this is not absolutely necessary. Access to the access recess(es) by an operator is prevented by the guarantee band, i.e. the access recess(es) are only accessible to the operator after the guarantee band has been removed.

The latching profile has a plurality of engagement troughs, which are preferably arranged at equal intervals (equidistant) in the circumferential direction. An engagement recess is typically provided for the engagement of an operator's finger. Several adjacently arranged engagement troughs enable the operator to lift the lid using several fingers. The engagement troughs are preferably arranged at equal intervals along the entire circumference of the locking profile. This allows the operator to reach into the engagement recesses at any point in the circumferential direction in order to lift the lid from the container.

According to the invention, the engagement troughs alternate with projections in the locking profile. The projections projecting radially outwards over the engagement troughs enable the guarantee band of the lid to lock, while preferably no latching occurs in the radially recessed engagement troughs. Typically, the cover has a circumferential, inwardly projecting locking edge or inwardly projecting locking elements, which engage under or behind the locking profile, more precisely the projections. Such a catch makes it easier to bounce the lid and is sufficient to prevent the operator from removing the lid from the container without removing the guarantee band. After the guarantee band has been removed, the projections can also serve as protection for neighboring containers or wide-mouth cans if they are transported on pallets, for example.

According to the invention, the locking profile forms a wave profile in which concave engagement troughs alternate with convex projections. Such a wave profile has no sharp edges on which an operator could injure himself when removing the lid.

In a further embodiment, the locking profile protrudes further outwards from the side wall as a preferably circumferential locking edge formed on the engagement area of the edge, which cooperates with the cover to seal the opening. The locking edge does not necessarily run continuously, but can also be through a A plurality of locking elements are formed. The locking edge and the locking profile are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction or in the direction of the container's vertical axis. The locking profile protrudes further outwards The edge of the lid expands slightly conically outwards from the lid mirror, which makes it easier to remove the lid.

In this case, the lid edge can have an L-shape, particularly at its lower edge, to which the guarantee band is detachably attached, i.e. the lower section of the lid edge, to which the guarantee band is attached, projects further outwards over the side wall than an upper one Section of the lid edge which forms an engagement area for locking interaction with the engagement area of the container. The L-shape on the underside of the lid edge makes it easier for an operator to grip the lid and improves the feel when the operator engages in the recess(s).

In a further embodiment, the container has a support structure for stiffening the latching profile (and the container), which is formed on the circumferential side wall on a side of the latching profile facing away from the opening. The support structure can be a rib structure which has a plurality of stiffening ribs spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction. As a support structure, for example, in the DE 10 2018 106 844 A1 The locking elements described by the applicant, which protrude radially outwards, are used in the DE 10 2018 106 844 A1 designed to be elastically resilient and/or connected to the circumferential side wall of the container in an elastically resilient manner. The elastically resilient connection can take place in the form of webs projecting outwards over the side wall, to which the locking elements are connected in an elastically resilient manner. The connection (for example by injection molding) of the support structure to the latching profile leads to a stiffening of the webs, so that the latching elements projecting radially outwards are no longer resiliently connected to the side wall in the present container.

The cross-sectional geometry of the container, in particular the wide-mouth can, is usually round, but the container can also have a different cross-sectional geometry, for example an oval or an angular cross-sectional geometry.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a container according to claim 5.

The lid edge or its engagement area is coordinated with the engagement area on the circumferential side wall of the container and enables the opening of the container to be sealed tightly when the lid is placed or bounced onto the container from above. When the guarantee band interacts with the latching profile on the circumferential side wall of the container, the guarantee band or the lid is permanently connected to the container when it hits the container, i.e. the latching of the guarantee band can only be canceled by releasing the connection between the guarantee band and the edge of the lid . For the purposes of this application, a guarantee band is also understood to mean a ring-shaped guarantee ring.

In one embodiment, the lid edge has, on a side facing the guarantee band, an outwardly projecting section to which the guarantee band is releasably attached. The edge of the lid can be attached to its The lower end to which the guarantee band is attached has a (radially) outwardly projecting section. The guarantee band is usually tied to the outer end of the section that projects outwards. If the guarantee band is loosened or removed, the protruding section of the lid edge makes it easier to lift the lid when an operator intervenes in the recess(s).

In a further embodiment, the guarantee band has an inwardly projecting, circumferential locking edge for locking interaction with the locking profile of the container. Instead of the locking edge, the guarantee band can in principle also have a plurality of locking elements in order to interact with the locking profile of the container. However, the provision of a circumferential locking edge is advantageous if the locking only takes place at those points of the locking profile where no engagement troughs are formed. In this case, the circumferential locking edge ensures that the locking of the lid on the locking profile of the container is independent of the orientation of the lid relative to the container. When using locking elements instead of the locking edge, indexing may be necessary to specify the orientation of the lid relative to the container.

In a further embodiment, the guarantee band has at least one tear-off tab for releasing the guarantee band from the edge of the lid. In this case, the guarantee band is connected to the edge of the lid via predetermined breaking point(s), for example via a wedge-shaped contour that runs (almost) completely around the circumference and is broken along its smallest cross-section, by several thin webs spaced apart from one another, etc. The guarantee band is in this case typically designed as a tear-off tape, which is released when the Connection is completely separated from the edge of the lid. Such a tear-off tape may not run completely around in the circumferential direction, but rather has two adjacent ends, at each of which a tear-off tab can be formed. It goes without saying that instead of a tear-off tab, there are also other options that enable or simplify the removal of the guarantee band from the edge of the lid.

It is also possible for the guarantee tape to have, in addition to the tear-off tape, a further section which remains on the container when the tear-off tape is loosened. For example, the guarantee band can have a ring-shaped latching section which interacts with the latching profile on the circumferential side wall and which remains on the container after the tear-off strip, which is formed between the lid edge and the latching section, has been released.

The container, which has a container which is designed as described above, and a lid which is also designed as described above. The container can in particular be a wide-mouth can, the opening of which is closed with the pressed lid. The lid typically has an end face with a flat section on which a piston can be attached in order to mechanically bounce the lid onto the edge of the container after the container has been filled.

In one embodiment, the material of the container and/or the lid is polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamides, PET or polyolefins. Containers made of polyolefins, in particular polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), can typically be produced inexpensively. Furthermore, such containers advantageous properties, such as great resistance due to high toughness and elongation at break values. In principle, the container or the lid can also be made from other plastic materials (in particular from thermoplastics, possibly also from thermosets). The container and/or the lid are typically manufactured using an injection molding process, but it may also be possible to produce the container using a deep-drawing or blow molding process. It is particularly advantageous if both the container and the lid are made of a recyclable plastic.

Further advantages of the invention result from the description and the drawing. Likewise, according to the invention, the features mentioned above and those further detailed can be used individually or in groups in any combination. The embodiments shown and described are not to be understood as an exhaustive list, but rather have an exemplary character for describing the invention.

Fig. 1

eine Darstellung eines Gebindes, welches einen Behälter in Form einer Weithals-Dose und einen auf diesen aufgeprellten Deckel mit einem Garantieband umfasst,

Fig. 2

eine Darstellung des Gebindes von Fig. 1 im Querschnitt mit einem Rastprofil an einer umlaufenen Seitenwand des Behälters, das mit einem an dem Garantieband gebildeten Rastrand zusammenwirkt,

Fig. 3a-c

Darstellungen des Gebindes bzw. eines Details des Gebindes nach dem Lösen des Garantiebands von dem Deckel,

Fig. 4

eine Darstellung des Behälters mit einem Rastprofil in Form eines Wellenprofils, das Eingriffsmulden und Vorsprünge aufweist,

Fig. 5

eine Darstellung von zwei übereinander gestapelten Deckeln, sowie

Fig. 6

eine Detaildarstellung von zwei übereinander gestapelten Behältern.

The invention is shown in the drawings and is explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments. They show:

Fig. 1

a representation of a container which includes a container in the form of a wide-mouth can and a lid pressed onto it with a guarantee band,

Fig. 2

a representation of the container from Fig. 1 in cross section with a locking profile on a circumferential side wall of the container, which interacts with a locking edge formed on the guarantee band,

Fig. 3a-c

Representations of the container or a detail of the container after the guarantee band has been removed from the lid,

Fig. 4

a representation of the container with a locking profile in the form of a wave profile that has engagement troughs and projections,

Fig. 5

a representation of two lids stacked on top of each other, as well

Fig. 6

a detailed representation of two containers stacked on top of each other.

Fig. 1 shows a container 1, which includes a container 2 in the form of a wide-mouth can and a lid 3 . The container 2 has a base 4 and a circumferential side wall 5 , which is cylindrical in the example shown. The lid 3 closes one in Fig. 2 Opening 6 to be seen in the container 2, which is formed on the top of the container 2 and which is surrounded by a peripheral edge 7 . The circumferential edge 7 has an engagement region 8 formed on the outside 5a of the circumferential side wall 5 for locking interaction with the cover 3. The lid 3 has a circumferential lid edge 9 , which, when the lid 3 is placed or bounced onto the container 2, extends downwards on the outside 5a of the circumferential side wall 5 and has an engagement area 10 on its inside facing the side wall 5, which locks with it the engagement area 8 on the outside 5a of the side wall 5 of the container 2 cooperates to seal the opening 6 of the container 2.

In the example shown, a circumferential clamping profile in the form of a locking edge 11 projecting outward over the circumferential side wall 5 is formed in the engagement area 8 of the container 2 and a circumferential, inwardly projecting locking edge 12 is formed on the engagement area 10 on the inside of the lid edge 9, which engages behind or under the locking edge 11 on the outside 5a of the side wall 5 of the container 2. It goes without saying that the latching on the engagement areas 8, 10 can also be formed in a way other than by two clamping profiles in the form of latching edges 11, 12.

At one end of the lid edge 9 facing away from the flat end face 13 of the lid 3, the lid 3 has a guarantee band 14 which is detachably connected to the lid 3. In the example shown, the guarantee band 14 is connected to the lid edge 9 via a film hinge, but it is also possible to connect the guarantee band 14 to the lid edge 9 in another way, for example via predetermined breaking points in the form of thin webs, etc. In the example shown, the guarantee band 14 has two tear-off tabs 15a, b , on which the guarantee band 14 designed as a tear-off band can be grasped by an operator in order to detach it from the edge of the lid 9. It goes without saying that other types of tear-off aids can also be attached to the guarantee band 14 in order to simplify detachment from the lid edge 9.

On a side of the circumferential edge 7 facing away from the opening 6, the container 2 has a circumferential locking profile 16 which protrudes outwards from the circumferential side wall 5 for locking interaction with the guarantee band 14. The guarantee band 14 has a radially inwardly projecting circumferential locking edge 17 , which is connected to the circumferential locking profile 16 interacts in a locking manner. In the example shown, the circumferential locking edge 17 engages under or behind the locking profile 16 of the container 2. Due to this locking connection, the lid 3 cannot be lifted from the container 2 without the connection between the guarantee band 14 and the lid edge 9 being released .

Fig. 3a -c show container 1 of Fig. 1 after tearing off the guarantee tape 14th in Fig. 3a and in Fig. 3c A support structure 18 can be seen, which is formed on the circumferential side wall 5 below the locking profile 16. The support structure 18 has a plurality of sawtooth-like stiffening ribs 19 spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction. In the example shown, the stiffening ribs 19 are with the help of webs 20 projecting outwards over the side wall 5 (cf. Fig. 3c ) connected to container 2. The webs 20 are molded onto the locking profile 16 and are therefore not designed to be elastically resilient. Accordingly, the stiffening ribs 19 are rigidly connected to the side wall 5 via the webs 20. It goes without saying that the support structure 18 can also be designed in another way.

As in Fig. 3b can be clearly seen, the lid edge 9 has a radially outwardly projecting section 9a at an end facing away from the end face 13 and thus facing the guarantee band 14, on which the guarantee band 14 (cf. Fig. 2 ) is detachably attached. The outwardly projecting section 9a of the lid edge 9 makes it easier to grasp the lid 3 for an operator who wants to lift the lid 3 from the container 2.

In order to make it easier to lift the lid 3, the locking profile 16 protrudes further outwards from the circumferential side wall 5 than the one on it Engaging area 8 of the edge 7 of the container 2 formed locking edge 11. This makes it possible to provide the outwardly projecting section 9a of the lid edge 9. In addition, the lid edge 9 can run slightly conically outwards from its top or from the lid surface to its lower end, which lifting the lid 3 from the container 2 is also simplified. In general, it is advantageous if the distance between the locking edge 11 and the locking profile 16 along the circumferential side wall 5 is comparatively large in order to increase the leverage when lifting the cover 3.

In addition, lifting the cover 3 is made easier by the fact that the locking profile 16 has a plurality of engagement troughs 21 , as shown in Fig. 4 can be seen in which the container 2 is shown after the lid 3 has been lifted off. To lift the lid 3, the operator can intervene in the engagement troughs 21 and thereby grasp the lid 3, more precisely the circumferential lid edge 9, at its lower end. As described above, lifting the lid 3 is facilitated by the section 9a of the lid edge 9 which projects radially outwards. However, the provision of the protruding section 9a on the lid edge 9 can also be dispensed with if necessary.

In the example shown, the engagement troughs 21 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The number of engagement troughs 21 depends on the diameter of the container 2 and can, for example, be more than twenty. At the in Fig. 4 Locking profile 16 shown alternates engagement troughs 21 with projections 22 . The guarantee band 14 is locked on the projections 22, that is to say the circumferential locking edge 17 does not extend in the radial direction to the apex of a respective engagement trough 21, as in Fig. 2 is easy to see. This simplifies the impact of the lid 3 on the edge 7 of the container 3, since the locking edge 17 of the guarantee band 14 only has to overcome the projections 22 of the locking profile 16, as well as the lifting of the lid 3 from the container 2. In the case in Fig. 4 In the container 2 shown, the locking profile 16 is designed as a wave profile, ie concave engagement troughs 21 alternate with convex projections 22. This has the advantage that sharp edges on which the operator could injure himself when removing the cover 3 are avoided.

The container 2 has a circumferential bottom support rib 23 on its bottom 4 (cf. Fig. 6 ), which forms a defined support surface when the container 2 is placed down. The bottom contact rib 23 can also be used to stack the container 2 on another (not identical) container which has a screw lid instead of the bounceable lid 3.

The bounceable lids 3 can be stacked on top of each other, as shown in Fig. 5 can be recognized. To make this possible, a section with a U-shaped cross-section and protruding from the flat cover mirror 13 is used, on whose annular circumferential support surface 24 a further cover is placed.

In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 The containers 2 shown, closed with the bounceable lid 3, can also be stacked on top of each other, as shown in Fig. 6 can be recognized. An upper container 2 is placed with a lower end 25 of the side wall 5 on the annularly circumferential support surface 24 on the end face of the protruding section of the lid 3 of a lower container. The bottom 4 of the upper container 2, on which the base contact rib 23 is formed, protrudes downwards over the support surface 24 of the lid 3.

In the examples described above, both the container 2 and the lid 3 are made of plastic, for example polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamides, PET or polyolefins. It is understood that other types of plastic can also be used to produce the lid 3 and the container 2. Both the container 2, in particular in the form of a wide-mouth can, and the lid 3 are preferably produced in an injection molding process.

In the manner described above, a latching and opening mechanism with a guarantee function that sits tightly on the circumferential side wall 5 is realized, which makes it possible to release the bounceable lid 3 from the container 2 without the need for an aid for this purpose.

Claims (9)

1. A container (2), in particular wide-mouth can preferably produced from plastic, comprising:

   a bottom (4) and a circumferential side wall (5), which in the region of an opening (6) of the container (2) comprises a circumferential rim (7), on which on the outer side (5a) of the circumferential side wall (5), an engagement region (8) for the snap-on interaction with a lid (3) is formed,

   wherein on a side of the rim (7) facing away from the opening (6), a preferably circumferential snap-on profile (16) projecting from the circumferential side wall (5) to the outside, for the snap-on interaction with a guarantee strip (14) releasably fastened to the lid (3) is formed, and wherein the snap-on profile (16) comprises a plurality of gripping recesses (21) for the facilitated lifting of the lid (3) following the tearing-out of the guarantee strip (14),

   characterized

   in that the snap-on profile (16) forms a wave profile, in which concave gripping recesses (21) alternate with convex projections (22).
2. The container according to Claim 1, in which the gripping recesses (21) are arranged at same intervals in the circumferential direction.
3. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the snap-on profile (16) projects from the side wall (5) further to the outside than a preferably circumferential snap-on rim (11) formed on the engagement region (8) of the rim (7).
4. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a support structure (19) for stiffening the snap-on profile (16), which on a side of the snap-on profile (16) facing away from the opening (6) is formed on the circumferential side wall (5).
5. A container unit (1), comprising:
   a container (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, and a lid (3), the lid (3) comprising:
   a circumferential lid rim (9) with an engagement region (10) for the snap-on interaction with the engagement region (8) on the rim (7) of the container (2), and a guarantee strip (14) releasably connected to the lid rim (9) for the snap-on interaction with the snap-on profile (16) on the circumferential side wall (5) of the container (2).
6. The container unit according to Claim 5, in which the lid rim (9), on a side facing the guarantee strip (14), comprises a section (9a) projecting to the outside, on which the guarantee strip (14) is releasably fastened.
7. The container unit according to Claim 5 or 6, in which the guarantee strip (14), for the snap-on interaction with the snap-on profile (16) of the container (3), comprises a circumferential snap-on rim (17) projecting towards the outside.
8. The container unit according to any one of the Claims 5 to 7, in which the guarantee strip (14) comprises at least one tearing tab (15a, 15b) for tearing-out the guarantee strip (14) from the lid rim (9).
9. The container unit (1) according to any one of the Claims 5 to 8, in which the material of the container (2) and/or of the lid (3) is polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, PET or polyolefin.

Images