GB1603503A

GB1603503A - Containers

Info

Publication number: GB1603503A
Application number: GB2104477A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Metal Box PLC
Current assignee: Crown Packaging UK Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-31
Filing date: 1978-05-31
Publication date: 1981-11-25

Description

(54) CONTAINERS (71) We, METAL Box LIMITED, of Queens House, Forbury Road, Reading Rio 1 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 which are stackable one upon another, and more particularly but not exclusively to lids for such containers.

Drums are known which have a spirally wound cardboard body and a seated-in cardboard bottom which is retained in the body by an inwardly directed curl formed from the body material. When such drums have been filled with washing powder they are closed by means of a lid of plastics material. The lids have a closure panel surrounded by a plug wall which fits in the inwardly curled mouth of the body. A flange portion of the lid extends from the plug portion to follow the profile of the mouth curl and so limit the entry of the lid into the container and engage peripherally with the exterior of the body. It is difficult to make a stable stack of such containers because the bottom curl of a stacked container is not restrained from sliding across the smooth flange of the lid of a container which supports it.A further constraint upon the design of a stacking feature arises from the laws for consumer protection which effectively require that the exterior surfaces of the drum should give the consumer a fair indication of the amount of product inside the drum.

In a first aspect this invention provides a container having a tubular body formed at one end with an inturned curl defining the container mouth and at its other end having a closure providing a seated-in bottom to the container, and a lid having a peripheral margin arranged, when the lid in use is fitted to a said container so as to close the container mouth, to engage the curl and thereby provide both axial and lateral location for the lid on the container, such axial location being provided by a terminal end part of the lid extending across the terminal end, in relation to the container axis, of the curl, the lid further comprising a central panel, a transition portion joining the peripheral margin to the central panel and including a stacking formation which stands proud of the terminal end part of the peripheral margin axially of the lid so as to engage within the seated-in bottom of a further like container resting upon the terminal end part of the lid and thereby provide mutual lateral location of the containers, the transition portion carrying the central panel in recessed relation to the terminal end part of the peripheral margin and including an inwardly projecting denesting formation which in relation to the axis of the lid is disposed intermediate the central panel and the free terminal end of the stacking formation, the transition portion being joined to the central panel at an elbow having a radial dimension intermediate those of the inner and outer peripheries of the denesting formation whereby two such lids may be stacked one on top of the other in a readily separable manner and with their central panels in parallel spaced relation, with the elbow of the uppermost lid supported on the denesting formation of the lowermost lid.

In the described embodiment of the invention the lid is thermoformed from sheet plastics material and the transition portion comprises an outer tubular wall extending from connection to the peripheral margin at one end to stand proud of the peripheral margin, a reentrant, inner and frustoconical wall forming with the outer wall a said stacking formation in the form of an endless stacking bead and connected at the apex of the stacking bead to the end of the outer wall opposite the said one end thereof, the inner wall extending in a convergent manner from the apex through and axially beyond the terminal end part of the peripheral margin, an endless denesting ledge extending inwardly from the end of the inner wall remote from the apex, and a further frustoconical wall connected at one end to the inner periphery of the denesting ledge and extending in a divergent manner away from the apex to connection with the periphery of the central panel at the elbow.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood an embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a first cylindrical drum stacked upon the lid of a second such drum, the left hand half of each drum being shown on a diametral section; Fig. 2 is an upper plan view of the lid shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a scrap view of the lid on a diametral section; Fig. 4 shows the lid partly in side elevation and partly on a diametral section; and Fig. 5 illustrates how a plurality of the lids may be denestably stacked one on top of another, being a scrap view similar to Fig. 3 of three of the lids stacked together.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a portion of a first cylindrical drum 1 resting upon the circular lid 2 of a second drum which is identical to the first but which is particularly denoted by the reference numeral 3 for the purposes of identification.

Each drum 1, 3 has a cylindrical body 4 made of spirally wound cardboard. As can be seen in the left hand half of Fig. 1, the lower end of the body terminates in an inwardly directed curl 5 which engages with a downturned peripheral flange 6 of a cardboard bottom closure 7. The bottom closure 7 has a closure panel 8 from which the downturned flange 6 depends. This closure arrangement for the body, often called "a seated-in bottom", provides a smooth exterior contour for the body side wall 24, as is apparent from the right hand half of Fig. 1.

The body 4 is formed at the upper end of the side wall 24 with an inwardly directed curl 9 which defines the mouth of the drum.

The lid 2 rests upon the terminal end (in relation to the drum 3 axis) of the curl 9 at a plane stacking ledge 17, and is a sliding fit upon the outside of the side wall 24 at a cylindrical skirt portion 10. It will therefore be seen that the weight of the upper drum 1 (and any further drums above it) is passed by its bottom curl 5, through the stacking ledge 17 and curl 9 of the drum 3 below, to the side wall 24 of the drum 3. It will further be seen that the stacking ledge 17 and skirt portion 10 form for the lid a peripheral margin by which the lid is located on the drum body 4 both axially and laterally.

The lid 2 is about 227 mm. diameter and is thermoformed from high impact polystyrene sheet of the order of 600 microns thick. From Figs. 2 to 4 in conjunction with Fig. lit will be seen that the lid 2 comprises, in sequence in the radially outward direction: a plane central panel 11 of diameter less than that of the body 4; a frustoconical wall 12 extending upwardly and inwardly from connection to the central panel at a circular elbow 25; a denesting ledge 13 which extends upwardly and outwardly from the frustoconical wall continuously around the lid; an upwardly and outwardly inclined frustoconical inner wall 15 and a downwardly and outwardly inclined frustoconical outer wall 16 joined at a circular apex 26; the stacking ledge 17; and the skirt portion 10, which depends from the periphery of the stacking ledge.

The inner wall 15 is of substantially greater length than the outer wall 16 and together with the outer wall forms a circular stacking bead 14 having its apex at the apex 26. The stacking bead stands proud of the skirt portion 20 so that, as will be understood from Fig. 1, the stacking bead of the lower drum 3 projects into the seated-in bottom of the upper drum 1 to provide lateral location for one drum on the other by engagement with the curl 5 of the upper drum.

The free bottom edge 27 of the skirt portion 10 is approximately coplanar with the junction between the frustoconical wall 12 and the denesting ledge 13.

The outer and inner walls 16, 15, the denesting ledge 13 and the frustoconical wall 12 together form the lid 2 with a transition portion by which the central panel is held in recessed relation to the peripheral margin formed of the stacking ledge 17 and skirt portion 10 as mentioned above. From Fig. 1, it will be seen that the useful internal volume of the drum 3 is generally defined by the central panel 11 of the lid 2, the side wall 24 of the body 4, and the closure panel 8 of the seated-in bottom closure 7. All these surfaces are readily visible from the outside of the drum and so, provided the drum is filled at least to the level of fill denoted "F", a purchaser can judge the amount of product in the drum.

In addition to this providing the purchaser with an indication of the level of the contents on purchase, the recessing of the central panel 11 in relation to the stacking ledge 17, has the further advantage that it facilitates the location of the lid on the drum body when the lid is being fitted into position initially or for reclosure. In performing this function the central panel is assisted by the generally downwardly convergent nature of the composite wall formed of the items 15, 13 and 12.

The design of the lid 2 is such that a plurality may be stacked for transport from the manufacturer to the packer in nested relationship and yet in a readily separable manner. Fig. 5 shows a stack of three of the lids particularly denoted 2A, 2B and 2C. The elbows 25 of the lids 2A and 2B rest upon the denesting ledges 13 of the lids 2B and 2C respectively to support the lids 2A, 2B from the lids 2B, 2C; to that end the central panel 11, and hence of the elbow 25, of the lid 2 in Figs. 1 to 4 has a diameter which is intermediate those of the inner and outer peripheries of the denesting ledge 13.

In the stack of Fig. 5 a clearance exists between the inner wall 15 of each lid and the inner wall of the or each adjacent lid to ensure that the lids do not become wedged together when stacked. To achieve this, and as shown in Fig. 3, the frustoconical wall 12 extends upwardly and inwardly at an angle "Z" which is substantially 10 to the vertical; the denesting ledge 13 extends upwardly and outwardly at an angle "Y" which is substantially 10 to the horizontal; and the angle between the inner and outer walls 15, 16 at the apex 26 is substantially equal to 20o.

The invention is not limited to the materials and method of manufacture particularly described for the lid 2. Plastics materials other than high impact polystyrene may be used, and moulding may be other than by thermoforming as described, for example by injection-moulding. It is also within the scope of the injection to use metal rather than plastics.

Whilst the invention has been described in terms of a slip lid fitting the outside of the drum, a plug end fit within the mouth of the container curl may be used as an alternative or additional mode of closure. In addition, the stacking bead and/or the denesting ledge of a lid in accordance with the invention may be segmented rather than continuous.

In a modification of the lid 2 particularly described, the outer wall 16 of the stacking bead 14 is more nearly vertical than as shown in the drawings, and is extended downwardly to below the level of the stacking ledge 17.

The wall 16 is joined to the inner periphery of the stacking ledge by an arcuate portion which follows the contour of the curl 9 for approximately 4W75 of subtended angle of the curl. In this way lateral location for the lid on the body 4 is generated on the inside of the curl. The skirt portion 10 is optional but preferably provided so that the curl is located in relation to the lid in both the radially inward and radially outward directions.

Moreover, the skirt portion enables the lid to be positively attached to the body 4 by adhesive taping.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A container having a tubular body formed at one end with an inturned curl defining the container mouth and at its other end having a closure providing a seated-in bottom to the container and a lid having a peripheral margin arranged, when the lid in use is fitted to a said container so as to close the container mouth, to engage the curl and thereby provide both axial and lateral location for the lid on the container, such axial location being provided by a terminal end part of the lid extending across the terminal end, in relation to the container axis, of the curl, the lid further comprising a central panel, a transition portion joining the peripheral margin to the central panel and including a stacking formation which stands proud of the terminal end part of the peripheral margin axially of the lid so as to engage within the seated-in bottom of a further like container resting upon the terminal end part of the lid and thereby provide mutual lateral location of the containers, the transition portion carrying the central panel in recessed relation to the terminal end part of the peripheral margin and including an inwardly projecting denesting formation which in relation to the axis of the lid is disposed intermediate the central panel and the free terminal end of the stacking formation, the transition portion being joined to the central panel at an elbow having a radial dimension intermediate those of the inner and outer peripheries of the denesting formation whereby two such lids may be stacked one on top of the other in a readily separable manner and with their central panels in parallel spaced relation, with the elbow of the uppermost lid supported on the denesting formation of the lowermost lid.

2. A container according to claim 1, in which the peripheral margin of the lid includes a depending skirt extending from the said terminal end part to the lid free edge, the depending skirt being arranged as a sliding fit over the tubular body of a said container whereby to provide lateral location for the lid on the container.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the depending skirt of the lid is arranged to provide exclusively the lateral location for the lid on the container 4. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the stacking formation is continuous around the lid to form an endless stacking bead.

5. A container according to any preceding claim; wherein the denesting formation is continuous around the lid to form an endless denesting ledge.

6. A container according to claim 1 wherein the lid is thermoformed from sheet plastics material, the transition portion of the lid comprising an outer tubular wall extending from connection to the peripheral margin

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. and 12. The design of the lid 2 is such that a plurality may be stacked for transport from the manufacturer to the packer in nested relationship and yet in a readily separable manner. Fig. 5 shows a stack of three of the lids particularly denoted 2A, 2B and 2C. The elbows 25 of the lids 2A and 2B rest upon the denesting ledges 13 of the lids 2B and 2C respectively to support the lids 2A, 2B from the lids 2B, 2C; to that end the central panel 11, and hence of the elbow 25, of the lid 2 in Figs. 1 to 4 has a diameter which is intermediate those of the inner and outer peripheries of the denesting ledge 13. In the stack of Fig. 5 a clearance exists between the inner wall 15 of each lid and the inner wall of the or each adjacent lid to ensure that the lids do not become wedged together when stacked. To achieve this, and as shown in Fig. 3, the frustoconical wall 12 extends upwardly and inwardly at an angle "Z" which is substantially 10 to the vertical; the denesting ledge 13 extends upwardly and outwardly at an angle "Y" which is substantially 10 to the horizontal; and the angle between the inner and outer walls 15, 16 at the apex 26 is substantially equal to 20o. The invention is not limited to the materials and method of manufacture particularly described for the lid 2. Plastics materials other than high impact polystyrene may be used, and moulding may be other than by thermoforming as described, for example by injection-moulding. It is also within the scope of the injection to use metal rather than plastics. Whilst the invention has been described in terms of a slip lid fitting the outside of the drum, a plug end fit within the mouth of the container curl may be used as an alternative or additional mode of closure. In addition, the stacking bead and/or the denesting ledge of a lid in accordance with the invention may be segmented rather than continuous. In a modification of the lid 2 particularly described, the outer wall 16 of the stacking bead 14 is more nearly vertical than as shown in the drawings, and is extended downwardly to below the level of the stacking ledge 17. The wall 16 is joined to the inner periphery of the stacking ledge by an arcuate portion which follows the contour of the curl 9 for approximately 4W75 of subtended angle of the curl. In this way lateral location for the lid on the body 4 is generated on the inside of the curl. The skirt portion 10 is optional but preferably provided so that the curl is located in relation to the lid in both the radially inward and radially outward directions. Moreover, the skirt portion enables the lid to be positively attached to the body 4 by adhesive taping. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A container having a tubular body formed at one end with an inturned curl defining the container mouth and at its other end having a closure providing a seated-in bottom to the container and a lid having a peripheral margin arranged, when the lid in use is fitted to a said container so as to close the container mouth, to engage the curl and thereby provide both axial and lateral location for the lid on the container, such axial location being provided by a terminal end part of the lid extending across the terminal end, in relation to the container axis, of the curl, the lid further comprising a central panel, a transition portion joining the peripheral margin to the central panel and including a stacking formation which stands proud of the terminal end part of the peripheral margin axially of the lid so as to engage within the seated-in bottom of a further like container resting upon the terminal end part of the lid and thereby provide mutual lateral location of the containers, the transition portion carrying the central panel in recessed relation to the terminal end part of the peripheral margin and including an inwardly projecting denesting formation which in relation to the axis of the lid is disposed intermediate the central panel and the free terminal end of the stacking formation, the transition portion being joined to the central panel at an elbow having a radial dimension intermediate those of the inner and outer peripheries of the denesting formation whereby two such lids may be stacked one on top of the other in a readily separable manner and with their central panels in parallel spaced relation, with the elbow of the uppermost lid supported on the denesting formation of the lowermost lid.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the depending skirt of the lid is arranged to provide exclusively the lateral location for the lid on the container

4. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the stacking formation is continuous around the lid to form an endless stacking bead.

at one end to stand proud of the peripheral margin, a reentrant, inner and frustoconical wall forming with the outer wall a said stacking formation in the form of an endless stacking bead and connected at the apex of the stacking bead to the end ofthe outer wall opposite the said one end thereof, the inner wall extending in a convergent manner from the apex through and axially beyond the terminal end part of the peripheral margin, an endless denesting ledge extending inwardly from the end of the inner wall remote from the apex, and a further frustoconical wall connected at one end to the inner periphery of the denesting ledge and extending in a divergent manner away from the apex to connection with the periphery of the central panel at the elbow.

7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the terminal end part of the peripheral margin of the lid is plane and connected to the outer wall at its inner periphery, the peripheral margin further including a skirt depending from the outer periphery of the terminal end part and extending to the free edge of the lid, the skirt being arranged as a sliding fit over a said container body whereby to provide exclusively the lateral location for the lid on the container.

8. A container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.