GB2102349A

GB2102349A - Security closure for lidded containers

Info

Publication number: GB2102349A
Application number: GB08221815A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michel Faucillon
Original assignee: Allibert SA
Current assignee: Allibert SA
Priority date: 1981-07-28
Filing date: 1982-07-28
Publication date: 1983-02-02
Also published as: FR2510521B1; ES266689U; GB2102349B; ES266689Y; DE8221341U1; FR2510521A1

Abstract

Security means for closing containers which are to be fitted with a lid, in particular for boxes including on their upper part a reinforced lip which substantially forms the circumference of the container and onto which lip the cover is to fit, characterised in that it includes, formed substantially behind the periphery of the said lip 7 over a small width, an orifice 8 opening out respectively at the top of the container and externally of its lateral wall 6, and below a part 7a of the said lip 7 on the exterior of the contiguous lateral wall of the container with a view to receiving a closing security connector 12 which will pass through a corresponding orifice 14 in the lid 13. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Security closure for lidded containers The essential object of the present invention is a security closure apparatus for containers which are provided with a lid, in particular for containers including on their upper part a reinforced lip forming substantially the circumference of the container and onto which lip the lid fits.

Frequently, in this type of apparatus, the lid is raised by pivoting it about a hinge on one side of the container, the other side can be maintained closed by means of a padlock which passes through orifices or shackles provided for this purpose on the lid and on the corresponding wall of the container. Possibly, the padlock can be replaced by a chain which will itself receive a padlock, or by a flexible connector onto which is applied a security seal which assures the inviolability of the container.

The disadvantage of the padlock system is obvious, because it is expensive and further requires that the authorised user has the corresponding key.

The solution using a flexible connector onto which is applied a security seal is more attractive.

Unfortunately, known devices of this type are difficult to fit, the operation taking a relatively long time and being incapable of being carried out automatically.

The object of the invention is to resolve these difficulties by providing an apparatus which permits the rapid and economic fitment of a flexible connector which is to receive a security seal, this operation also being capable of being carried out automatically by virtue of the particular form of the apparatus. By "seal" there is meant any application onto the two connected strands of the connector of a capsule of solder, plastics material, or any other generally thermoformable material applied by means of special pliers which make an indelible imprint, opening being incapable of being achieved without breaking of this "seal" or of the connector itself, according to a well-known technique.

The apparatus which is the subject of the invention is characterised in that it includes, formed over a small width substantially behind the periphery of the said edge, an orifice which opens out respectively at the top of the container externally of its lateral wall, and below a part of the said lip on the outside of the contiguous lateral wall of the container, with a view to receiving a security closure connector which will pass through a corresponding orifice formed in the lid. In general terms, the said orifice is directed substantially obliquely with reference to the vertical, it being assumed that the container is resting on its base which is horizontal, and forming a concavity directed towards the exterior.

In this way, it becomes extremely simple to engage the security connector in the said orifice, for example by arranging at the entrance to this orifice, above the upper edge of the container, an automatic spool of metal or plastic wire which will form the security connector and which will automatically engage on being guided into the said orifice to come out on the external surface of the container below the said edge.

The invention and the method of putting it into practice will become more clearly apparent with the aid of the following description which is made with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate by way of example one form of embodiment. In these drawings: Figure 1 shows in partial section on the lefthand side and in partial elevation on the righthand side a container including the orifice for receiving a security connector according to the invention, Figure 2 is a view of the top of the container shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a view from the side in accordance with the arrow III in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a section with the top part broken away of the container in the position illustrated in Figure 1, the container being fitted with its lid, Figure 5 shows in section partially broken away and on a larger scale the detail which is encircled and marked V on Figure 4, the security connector having been fitted.

According to the embodiment shown in the drawings, there is seen a container 1 constituted by a box, for example moulded from plastics material and of a general form which is substantially rectangular with a base 2 from which extend upwardly four lateral walls 3, 4, 5 and 6 which widen out slightly towards the top and are terminated at the upper part of the container in a reinforced lip 7 forming the entire circumference of the container.

According to the embodiment illustrated, a part 7a of the lip 7 is reinforced and extended locally towards the bottom over a certain height which can be seen clearly in the drawings.

Behind this reinforced part 7a, that is to say behind the periphery of the lip, is formed an orifice 8 which opens out respectively above the container and on the outside of its contiguous lateral wall 6. As is seen more clearly in Figure 5, the orifice 8 is directed in a general manner which is substantially oblique which respect to the vertical (the container being assumed to be supported on its base which is arranged horizontally) and forms a concavity directed towards the exterior. In the example illustrated and in a more precise manner, the orifice 8 includes a first, introduction passage 9 for a connector which is slightly inclinded to the vertical, a second more greatly inclinded passage 10 which follows it and is connected to it, and a third passage 11 which is even more greatly inclinded and which will guide the connector towards the exterior.It is thus clearly shown that if a flexible connector such as shown and indicated at 12' is introduced from above into the orifice 8, this will automatically be guided through the cavities 9, 10 and 11 and can be recovered at the outlet on the outside of the wall of the container. If a lid 1 3 has been fitted beforehand onto the container, which lid 13 includes, with regard to the orifice 8, a corresponding orifice 14, it will be easy to pass the connector 1 2' through the cover and behind the reinforced edge 7a of the container, after which the connector 12 can be bent over and closed and the security seal 1 5 applied to it. The operation will be further facilitated if the lid 1 3 includes a flange 1 6 extending above it substantially in the extension of the first passage 8 (figure 5).With such an arrangement, the application of the connector can be performed automatically, a spool of connector material being capable of being applied automatically against the flange 1 6 and the necessary length of connector unwound, after which the connector will be cut to length and sealed.

In the example shown in the drawings, and as is shown more clearly in figures 1 to 4, the construction of the box has been assumed to be symmetrical and the cover pivots on one side about a groove 1 7 which engages on the border 7, 7a, of the container, while on the other side, it includes a simple turned-down flange 18 which engages above the upper lip of the container, the fastening of the lid being assured once the connector 12 is in position.

Many variants of the embodiment described are possible. Thus, if the construction of the box is symmetrical as shown, the lid can have on either side two flanges such as 1 8 and the closure of the cover can be assured by the application of two connectors on either side of the container.

Similarly, the container may be asymmetrical, and only have an orifice 8 on one side, and in this case, the lid is preferably fixed as illustrated in figure 4 by being hinged at one of its edges.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, and as is seen more clearly in figure 5, the passages 10 and 11 are formed by the upper wall of the grip 1 9 which permits handling of the container. The construction is therefore economical and practical.

Claims

1. Security means for closing containers which are to be fitted with a lid, in particular for boxes including on their upper part a reinforced lip which substantially forms the circumference of the container and onto which the lip the cover is to fit, characterised in that it includes, formed substantially behind the periphery of the said lip over a small width, an orifice opening out respectively at the top of the container and externally on its lateral wall, and below a part of the said lip on the exterior of the contiguous lateral wall of the container with a view to receiving a closing security connector which will pass through a corresponding orifice formed in the lid.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that said orifice is directed in a general manner substantially obliquely with reference to the vertical when the container is resting on its base which is disposed horizontally, and forming a concavity directed towards the exterior.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterised in that said orifice includes a first passage for the introduction of a connector and slightly inclined to the vertical, a second more greatly inclined, following, passage connected thereto, and a third passage still more greatly inclined for guiding the connector towards the exterior.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said orifice is formed substantially above a projecting grip for handling of the container.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said part behind which is formed the said orifice is reinforced and extended locally downwards over a certain depth.

6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the cover includes a flange projecting above it and substantially in the extension of the said first passage.