GB1574713A

GB1574713A - Containers

Info

Publication number: GB1574713A
Application number: GB275076A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Metal Box PLC
Current assignee: Crown Packaging UK Ltd
Priority date: 1977-01-20
Filing date: 1977-01-20
Publication date: 1980-09-10

Description

(54) CONTAiNERS (71) We, METAL Box LIMITED, of Queens house, Forbury Road, Reading RG1 3JH, Berkshire, a British Company, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement This invention relates to containers having a body, a removable and replaceable lid, and a tray for use therein.

Rectangular containers are known which have a body and slip lid drawn from sheet metal, and a vacuum formed tray-like insert of plastics material, located within the body, to contain a variety of first aid dressings in separate compartments. In these containers the plastics tray usually has a peripheral flat flange which lies under an inwardly-curled edge of the body and the whole of the plastics tray lies within the confines of the body, there being no direct engagement between tbe plastics tray and the slip lid when the container is closed.

The present invention provides a container having a body with an inwardly directed projection at its mouth, a tray inserted in the body, which tray has an outwardly directed projection engaged behind the inwardly directed projection of the body to retain the tray in the body, and a removable and replaceable lid which engages a wall of the tray extending generally upwardly from the body to close the container.

The outwardly-directed projection of the tray may be displaceable the tray being flexible, or may be rigid: it is to be understood that the word "flexible", as applied to the tray in this specification, means sufficiently resilient to permit the tray to be pushed into engagement with the body during production of the container.

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a round container sectioned to show an arrangement of the lid, body and tray; Figures 2 to 5 respectively, show details of four embodiments of the tray; and Figure 6 is a perspective view ofa rectangular container body and compartmented tray; Figure 7 is a section through a further embodiment of a round container drawn from sheet material, sectioned on a diameter; Figure 8 is a fragmentary section through alternative arrangement for the body curl and tray of the container of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a part sectional perspective view of a container built up from sheet metal components, and having a deep tray which is held captive at the rim of the container.

In Figure 1 the container has a body 1, a removable and replaceable lid 2, and a tray 3. The body is drawn from sheet metal, such. as decorated tinplate, to have a base 4 and a side wall 5 which terminates in an inwardly-directed curl 6. The lid is also drawn from sheet metal, to have a top panel 7 and a lid skirt 8 which terminates in an inward curl 9. The body and lid components may be identical as shown; on the other hand the body may for example be deeper than the lid.

The tray member 3 is thermoformed from sheet plastics material to have a bottom panel 10 and a side wall 11, which joins the bottom panel 10 to a substantially upright outer wall 12 at a position within the lid 2. The wall 12 extends from within the lid down into the body 1, and terminates in an outwardly-directed projection in the form of a flange 13, the peripheral extermity of which extends upwards so that the flange 13 is in engagement with the underside of the curl 6, to retain the tray 3 in the body 1.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 show alternative forms of tray.

In Figure 2, the outer wall 14, is flared outwardly and downwardly to the outwardlydirected flange 13. The flange 13 has been trimmed by an upward stroke of a trimming tool to create an upward burr 15. When the wall 14 and flange 13 are pushed into a body such as that denoted 1 in Figure 1, the portions engaged with the curl 6 are circumferentially compressed slightly, so confining the wall 14 to provide a suitable surface for the curl 9 of the lid 2 to engage frictionally thereon. The downward and outward flare of the wall 14 is exaggerated for clarity.

In Figure 3, the outer wall 16, is flared as is convenient for vacuumforming the tray member from sheet plastics such as polyvinyl chloride. The flange 13 terminates in this embodiment in an upturned portion 17 which is trimmed vertically as seen at 1 7A.

In Fig, 4, the outer wall 12 is joined to the tray wall 11 by a curved portion 18, and has a curved flange 13A.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5 the tray 20, has an upstanding side wall 19 in place of the wall 11. The wall 19 has an upper portion l9A, below which are circumferentially-spaced, outwardly-directed protrusions 21. The functions of the outer wall and outwardly-directed projection in the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 4 are performed by the wall portion 1 9A of the tray 20 and by the outwardly-directed protrusions 21, respectively. Although the tray of Fig. 5 may be thermoformed form a sheet of plastics material, suited also for production by injection moulding, especially if the outwardly.

directed protrusions 21 are replaced by a continuous protrusion in the form of an anannular bead. However, such a moulded bead must be flexible enough to permit insertion of the tray in the container body. Furthermore, an injection moulded portion 19A may be thread d to receive a threaded lid.

The retangular container of Figure 6 shows that the invention may be used to make conainers in a variety of shapes. In Figure 6, a tray 22 having three compartments 23 is fitted in a rectangular body 24. The lid of the container aas been omitted for clarity; however, it may For example be a hinged lid or slip lid, to engage Nvith the tray member 23 generally in the nanner hereinbefore described.

Figure 7 shows a round container having a )ody 31, a removable lid 32 and a tray 33. The rody has a circular base 34 inegral with an uptanding peripheral side wall 35 the upper edge f which terminates in an inwardly-directed url 36.The lid comprises a circular closure panel 37 integral with a dependent peripheral side wall 38 the free edge of which terminates in an inwardly directed lid curl 39. The crosssectional diameter of the body curl 36 is less than that of the lid curl 39, which arrangement facilitates insertion of the tray in the curled body. How ever, the tray may alternatively be inserted into the body before the curl is formed.

In both cases the small body curl provides a useful tolerance of clearance in production and assembly.

The vacuum formed tray 33 has a substantially circular base 40 surrounded by an upstanding inner side wall 41, which extends from the base of the tray upwardly into the lid 32 where it bends back on its self to an outer wall 42 which is outwardly and downwardly flared to connect with a cylindrical wall portio 43, with which the curl of the lid frictionally engages when the container is closed. An annular projection 44 extends radially under the body curl to retain the tray 33 in the body 31 and join the lower end of the cylindrical portion 43 to a substantially cylindrical foot portion 45 which engages with the base of the body, to support the outer portions of the tray The wall 42 is preferably formed to have a cross sectional curvature of radius R where R iç the external diameter of the cylindrical portion 13. This allows the lid to be pivoted upwardly about a point on the inner surface of the lid curl for removal, which is thought to be a more natural action than axial sliding of the lid from the body. The wall 42 may be other shapes than curved, such as frustoconical as shown in Figure 8, provided there is clearance for the lid to pivot upwardly.

The smaller curl 36 of the body is unable to radially compress the cylindrical portion 43 which would spoil the fit of the lid curl thereon when closed.

Figure 8 shows an embodiment of the tray which allows the curls of body and lid to be equal in cross sectional size. Like parts are given the same numbers as in Figure 7. The distinguishing feature of the imbodiment of Figure 8 is the circumferential recess 46 which accommodates the body curl 36A, which is larger than the body curl 36 Figure 7 and substantially the same as the curl of the lid (not shown). The size of curl 36A and reces 46 are chosen so that the curl does not impose a compressive force on the insert and the lower wall portion of the recess 46 forms an outwardly directed projection engaged behind the curl 36A; in this arrangement the cylindrical portion 43 is able to recieve the lid curl in friction engagement.

Figure 9 shows a round container built up from sheet metal components to have a body 50 having a side seam 51, a base end 52 double seamed thereto, a drawn lid 53 and a vacuum formed deep domed scoop tray 54. In such a deep container it would be expensive to provid a foot portion like the one denoted 45 in Figure 7. Therefore, in the embodiment of Figure 9, an outwardly-directed flange 55 of the tray is supported by an inward bead 57 and retained by an inward curl 56, the bead and curl being formed from the Container body material. The frictional retention of the lid 53 on a cylindrical portion 58 is as described with reference to Figure 7.

In one method of assembling the container of Figure 9, a beaded side seamed body is first made from a sheet metal blank. The tray 54 is then placed in the body with the outwardly-directed annular portion 55 resting on the inward bead 57. While the underside of the bead 57 is supported the inward curl 56 is formed by means of a die, coacting with an optional auxiliary support, so that the flange 55 is held between the bead 57 and the curl 56.

The conventional can end 52 may be seamed onto the body either before or after fitting the tray 54.

After the container is filled the lid 53 is placed so that the curl 59 engages frictionally with the tray 54 and an adhesive tape 60 may optionally be applied to cover the junction between the lid 53 and the body 50 as shown in Figure 9, and so improve the closure. The alternative embodiments shown in t;igures 1,7 and 9 may also be sealed by adhesive tape if thought necessary.

For some products, such as face powder or creams, it may be advantageous to place a diaphragm or cover slip across the mouth of the tray before fitting the lid, however this is not an essential feature of the invention.

We have found whilst it is possibel to push round trays into round curled bodies it is often more convenient to fit the round trays in the round bodies before curling. However, rectangular trays can be pinched at opposed mid points of the sides so reducing the cross sectional dimensions to permit easy insertion into the bodies.

The preferred material for the lid and body is decorated sheet metal, such as tinplate or aluminium. The preferred material for the tray is thermoformed plastics material such as polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene or A.B.S.

However, injection moulding materials may be used such as high density polyethlene.

WHEAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A container having a body with an inwardly-directed projection at its mouth, a tray inserted in the body, which tray has an outwardly-directed projection engaged behind the inwardly-directed projection of the body to retain the tray in the body, and a removable and replacable lid which engages a wall of the tray extending generally upwardly from the body to close the container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the projection of the tray is displacable to pennit the tray to be inserted in the body during production of the container.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein the tray is flexible whereby to permit displacement of the projection.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1,2, or 3 wherein the tray is supported on a base of the body.

5. A container as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the outwardly directed projection of the tray rests on a further inwardly-directed projection below the mouth of the body to support the tray.

6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said wall of the tray extends upwardly and inwardly relative to the body to permit the lid to be removed by pivoting.

7. A container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein said wall of the tray is substantially cylindrical and has a screw thread engage by a thread on the lid.

8. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said upwardly extending wall is spaced from and is joined at its upper region to a side wall of the tray.

9. A container as claimed in any preceding claims wherein the projection of the tray is a flange.

10. A container as claimed in any of clams 1 to 7 wherein the projection of the tray comprises a protrusion on a side wall extending from a bottom panel of the tray.

11. A container as claimed in any of clams 1 to 8 wherein the projection of the tray comprises an outwardly directed wall portion provided between said upwardly directed wall portion provided between said upwardly extending wall and a foot portion of the tray.

12. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the projection of the body comprises an inwardly curled edge thereof.

13. A container substantially as hereinbefore particularly described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1. or Figure 1 when modified by Figures 2,3,4, or 5 of the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.

14. A container, substantially as hereinbefore particulary described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.

15. A container substantially as hereinbefore particulary described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 7 or Figure 8 of the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.

16. A container substantially as herein before particularly described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 9 of the draw ings accompanying the Provisional Specifi cation.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Figure 9, an outwardly-directed flange 55 of the tray is supported by an inward bead 57 and retained by an inward curl 56, the bead and curl being formed from the Container body material. The frictional retention of the lid 53 on a cylindrical portion 58 is as described with reference to Figure 7. In one method of assembling the container of Figure 9, a beaded side seamed body is first made from a sheet metal blank. The tray 54 is then placed in the body with the outwardly-directed annular portion 55 resting on the inward bead 57. While the underside of the bead 57 is supported the inward curl 56 is formed by means of a die, coacting with an optional auxiliary support, so that the flange 55 is held between the bead 57 and the curl 56. The conventional can end 52 may be seamed onto the body either before or after fitting the tray 54. After the container is filled the lid 53 is placed so that the curl 59 engages frictionally with the tray 54 and an adhesive tape 60 may optionally be applied to cover the junction between the lid 53 and the body 50 as shown in Figure 9, and so improve the closure. The alternative embodiments shown in t;igures 1,7 and 9 may also be sealed by adhesive tape if thought necessary. For some products, such as face powder or creams, it may be advantageous to place a diaphragm or cover slip across the mouth of the tray before fitting the lid, however this is not an essential feature of the invention. We have found whilst it is possibel to push round trays into round curled bodies it is often more convenient to fit the round trays in the round bodies before curling. However, rectangular trays can be pinched at opposed mid points of the sides so reducing the cross sectional dimensions to permit easy insertion into the bodies. The preferred material for the lid and body is decorated sheet metal, such as tinplate or aluminium. The preferred material for the tray is thermoformed plastics material such as polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene or A.B.S. However, injection moulding materials may be used such as high density polyethlene. WHEAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A container having a body with an inwardly-directed projection at its mouth, a tray inserted in the body, which tray has an outwardly-directed projection engaged behind the inwardly-directed projection of the body to retain the tray in the body, and a removable and replacable lid which engages a wall of the tray extending generally upwardly from the body to close the container.