GB2244479A

GB2244479A - A container with a lid

Info

Publication number: GB2244479A
Application number: GB9011896A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rgensen Bent J
Original assignee: Glud and Marstrand AS
Current assignee: Glud and Marstrand AS
Priority date: 1988-12-09
Filing date: 1990-05-29
Publication date: 1991-12-04
Also published as: DK162595B; FI895889A0; DK547489D0; DK547489A; NO894869D0; NO894869L; SE8904151D0; SE8904151L; GB9011896D0; DE3940377A1; DK162595C

Abstract

In a container with a lid 2 comprising a locking safety device 28 which ensures that the lid does not fall off when subjected to an unintentional force, the container comprising a large opening and a cylindrical member 1 with an upper lid holding portion 3, the lid 2 is made of a resilient, thin unslit metal sheet and includes a circumferential skirt with a groove portion 14 in which the locking safety device 28 is received. The groove portion 14 of the lid skirt comprises a resilient abutment surface 14a, which resiliently abuts a locking surface (3a Fig. 1), 24a of the lid holding portion 3 when the lid is on the container. The locking safety device 28 is manipulatable to alter its effective diameter d so as to press in or release the groove portion 14 against the bottom side of the resilient locking surface (3a), 24a or away therefrom, respectively. <IMAGE>

Description

1 A CONTAINER WITH A LID The invention relates to a container with a lid

comprising a locking safety device ensuring that the lid does not fall off when subjected to an unintentional force, and whereby the container is made oil metal sheet and comprises an opening which is large compared to the main dimensions of the container, and whereby the container comprises a cylindrical member provided with a bottom, said cylindrical member at the top comprising a lid holding portion whereas the lid comprises a circumferential skirt provided with a circumferential groove portion, said locking safety device being embedded from the outside in said circumferent.Lal groove portion.

It is known to secure a lid to a container by means of a string-shaped locking safety device. Such a securing turned out, however, not to be particularly reliable because the lid has not been "laced" up to the cylindrical member of the container in a sufficiently reliable manner.

DE-PS No. 888,512 discloses a container lock, especial- ly for preserving glasses, and whereby the container comprises a solid and rigid lid holding portion at -he top, and whereby the lid comprises a circumferential skirt provided with a circumferential groove portion gripping below the rigid lid holding portion. A 'Locking safety device is embedded in the groove portion. Such a container lock is not particularly suited for containers with a large 0 d opening. In addition it does not allow the 1. lo be put on again while ensuring a reasonable sealing, not even when the locking safety device is not used. The latter is 2 due to the fact that the groove portion of the lid skirt only with difficulty can be clamped below the lid holding portion once the lid has been slightly deformed in connection with the first removal.

The object of the present invention is to provide a container of the above type and which allows an easy removal by the consumer of the lid placed thereon, and which furthermore allows an easy placing of the lid on the container again while maintaining a reasonable sealing, even without the use of the locking safety device.

The container according to the invention is characterised in that the lid is made of a resilient, thin unslit metal sheet, and that downwardly the lid holding portion of the cylindrical member is defined by a circumferential-, resilient locking surface substantially turning downwards, and that the circumferential groove portion of the lid skirt comprises a resilient abutment surface, whereby said groove portion extends at least slightly below the locking surface of the lid holding portion so as to resiliently abut said locking surface when the lid is placed on the container, and that the lid comprises a recessed reinforcing member in a portion inside the cylindrical member and its associated portions, and that the locking safety device is shaped like a string and such that it is possible by way of a relatively insignificant diameteradjusting manipulation carried out by the consumer to alter the efficient diameter of said string-shaped locking safety device so as to press in or release the groove portion of the lid skirt against the bottom side of the resilient locking surface of the lid holding portion or away therefrom, respectively. When the container has been filled with the desired article and after the lid has been placed thereon by means of the locking safety device, it is possible for the consumer by an insignilficanz manipulation of said lockiras safety de-.---ce to loosen the engagement of the locking safety device with the groove portion of the skirt in such a manner that the lid can be pulled upwards above the Lid holding portion of the cylindrical member. Subsequently, it is relatively easy to press down the lid again over the 1--d holding 3 portion whereby said groove portion engages below the lid holding portion with the result that a reasonable sealing is obtained maintained between the lid and the cylindrical member. The latter is achieved despite the fact that the opening of the container is large compared to the main dimensions of the container, typically the height of the container. The locking safety device may optionally be secured again by way of a separate manipulation by the consumer. The container is for instance suitable for packing of bulk materials, such as cement, or of viscous materials.

According to the invention the lid holding portion may at the top comprise a bead turning inwards, such as in form of a roll-over portion or a flanging, and the groove portion on the lid skirt may be placed adjacent the lower end of said skirt, and said groove portion may be of a cross section substantially corresponding to a semicircle or a G, and the resilient locking surface turning downwards of the lid holding portion may be provided in a crease turning inwards in the cylindrical member. In -this manner it is easy to put on the lid again locking surface of the lid holding to a possible lopsidedness in the lid skirt caused by a deformation with the first removal of the lid.

because the resilient portion easily adjusts groove portion of the arisen in connection Furthermore according to the invention the crease determining the locking surface may be of a cross section considerably larger than the cross section of the groove portion of the lid skirt, said crease preferably being of a cross section substantially corresponding to a C or a semicircle. In this manner it is ensured that the groove portion of the lid skirt "slips into position" on the resiling locking surface of the lid holding portion in an easy manner.

Moreover according to the invention the distance between the groove portion of the lid skirt and the upper limitation of the lid may correspond at least to the height of the lid holding portion of the cylindrical member with the result that the groove portion of the lid skirt "fastens onto" the resiling locking surface of the lid holding 4 portion in a reasonably easy manner.

According to the invention the resilient locking surface of the lid holding portion may be provided on a hollow bead turning outwards, such as a roll-over portion or flanging at the top of the lid holding portion. As a result, the upper portion of the container is allowed to give slightly during the placing on again of the lid, and accordingly the placing on again of the lid is facilitated.

According to the invention the locking safety device may be a safety ring shaped like the figure of eight, where the large eye of the figure of eight is situated in the groove portion of the skirt whereas the small eye of said figure of eight projects from said skirt in such a manner that the safety device can be easily gripped by a consumer for manipulation by means of a manipulating device. The resulting locking ring is particularly easy to manipulate in connection with an opening/reclosing of the container because the consumer need only insert a tool, such as a nail or the like small member, through the small eye of the figure of eight so as to enlarge said small eye. Subsequently, the consumer turns the nail to one side or the other according as the large eye of the safety ring is to tighten or loosen its grip around the groove portion. When the safety ring is tightened, the groove portion of the skirt has been pulled inwards below the lid holding portion with the result that it is impossible to remove the lid from the cylindrical member.

Moreover according to the invention the locking safety device may be a length of wire embedded in the groove portion of the skirt, and the ends of said length of wire may cross one another and are optionally provided with eyes for gripping the man- at the outer ends I -pulating device, 7hereby a particularly simple embodiment of thelocking safety device is obtained.

According to the invention the 'Lockin- safetv device =1 - may be made of metal wire, preferably wire of stainless 1 a small preferabIly 1.25 to 2.0 mm, steel, o thickness, - whereby a particularly advantageous embodinnent o locking safety device is obtained.

1 3:; Furthermore according to the invention the metal wire may be a multiwire, whereby the locking safety device can withstand very strong forces, such as bumps or impacts, without disengaging the lid.

According to the invention the locking safety device may be an incomplete ring of plastics, and the two ends of the locking safety device may overlap one another and be interconnected by means of a clamp with the result that the lid is locked onto the lid holding portion of the cylindrical member in a very inexpensive way.

Furthermore according to the invention a sealing material may be embedded between the lid holding portion and the lid, said sealing material preferably being soft, such as plastics or pasty sealing material, and sealing between the lid and the lid holding portion. The resulting container is particularly suited for packing of fluids, such as paint. Even when the lid has been removed and put on again, the container maintains a reasonable sealing.

According to the invention the locking safety device may instead of one safety ring comprise two or more relatively thin safety rings abutting one another in the groove portion of the skirt, whereby an extraordinary well retaining of -the lid on the lid holding portion is obtained.

Concerning the recessed reinforcing member it is noted that by co-operating with the lid holding portion said member provides said portion with a considerable rigidity after the locking safety device has been positioned in the groove portion of the skirt.

The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a portion Of the cylindrical member and the lid holding portion of the container, and furthermore a cross- sectional view of a portion of the lid of the container, Fig. 2 corresponds to Fi,o. 1, but after a locking safety device in form of a safety ring has been arranged thereon, Fig. 3 corresponds to Fig. 2, but with an additional lid member on top of the lid, 6 Fig. 4 illustrates a locking safety device in form of safety ring shaped like the figure of eight, Fig. 5 illustrates a locking safety device in form of single length of metal wire, the ends of which cross one 5 another and are provided with eyes, Fig. 6 illustrates a locking safety device in form of a plastic string, the ends of which are joined by means of a clamp, Fig. 7 illustrates a locking safety device like the one in Fig. 5, but made of a multiwire, said multiwire being cut through so as to show the individual wires, Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the container with a lid, whereby the resilient locking surface on the lid holding portion of the cylindrical member of the container is provided in a crease at the lower end of the lid holding portion, and Fig. 9 corresponds to Fig. 8, but the groove portion of the lid skirt is abutting the resilient locking surface of the lid holding portion. 20 Fig. 1 illustrates a portion of the cylindrical member 1 of the container and the associated lid 2. At the top the cylindrical member 1 of the container comprises a lid holding portion in form of an external, hollow bead 3 shaped like a roll-over portion in this Fig. Nothing, however, pre-vents the bead from being a flanging. The lid holding portion 3 comprises a circumferential resilient locking surface 3a turning downwards. The lid comprises a skirt 12 with a groove portion 14 optionally arranged adjacent the lower rim of the skirt. The lower rim may optionally be provided with a roll-over portion 15. The lid may, but need not necessarily comprise a rounded portion 10 immediately adjacent the skirt 12.

A locking safety device 18 is embedded in the groove portion 14 of the skirt. The locking safety device 18 ensures that the lid does not fall off when subected to an unintentional force, such as bumps or impacts, caused by the container fai-ling on a hard base. The loc'King saffety device is shaped like a string and such that the consumer can alter the efficient diameter thereof by an insignificant -11 7 diameter- adjusting manipulation, whereby the clamping effect of the locking safety device around the skirt is either increased or decreased. The clamping effect of the locking safety device can be increased by a reduction of its efficient diameter d, cf. Fig. 2. When d is reduced, the locking safety device 18 presses the groove portion 14 inwards and obliquely upwards against the locking surface 3a of the lid holding portion 3. When the locking safety device has been removed from the skirt, the lid can be removed by said skirt being pulled past the bead 3.The lid holding portion possesses per se some resilience.

Fig. 4 illustrates a locking safety device in form of a safety ring 18a shaped like the figure of eight. The large eye of the safety ring is indicated by 18a' and the smalle eye of the figure of eight is indicated by Ha". When the large eye 18a' of the safety ring 18a is positioned in the groove portion 14 of the skirt, the safety ring can be tightened by the consumer inserting through the small eye Ha"a nail or the like thin member of a diameter slight- ly larger than said eye with the result that said eye is enlarged. The wire of the large eye 18 is then reliably tightened. Subsequently, the consumer twists the small eye so as to maintain the tightening of the large eye. Accordingly, the nail constitutes the manipulating tool for the safety ring.

Fig. 5 illustrates how the locking ring can be a length of wire 18b, the ends 18b' and 18b" of which cross one another and are provided with small eyes 18c' and 18c" at the outer ends for gripping a manipulating tool, such as a nail or pincers.

Fig. 6 illustrates a string-shaped locking safety device 18d, where the free ends of the string overlap one another and are joined by means of a clamp 18e secured to one end of the string. The clamp is manipulated for instance by means Of pincers, whereby the two gripping members of the pincers are moved away from one another such that one gripping member grips the clamp and the other gripping member grips the string 18d with the result that said string 18d is tightened in the groove portion 14. The efficiency 1 1-1 8 of the clamp 18 can be improved by its inner side being slightly grooved and by the string 18d being grooved on the outer side.

Finally, Fig. 7 illustrates how the locking safety device can be a multiwire 18,&, the individual wires being indicated by the reference numerals 18ú1, 184", 18&-, 18ú"n.

Each locking safety device 18a and 18b is made of metal wire, such as wire of stainless steel, of a thickness of preferably 1.25 to 2.0 mm.

A relatively soft sealing material, such as plastics or pasty sealing material, can be embedded between the lid holding portion 3 shaped as a bead and the rounded portion 10 of the lid 2, cf. Figs. 1, 2, and 3, so as to provide a seal between the lid and the bead. The sealing material may optionally also be adhesive in such a manner that it is of a consistency like chewing gum.

Instead of comprising a single locking safety ring 18, cf. Fig. 2, the groove portion 14 may comprise two locking safety devices embedded therein atop one another, whereby the securing of the lid to the cylindrica'. member is additionally improved.

It should be noted concerning the lid holding portion f the cylindrical member 1, that said portion must 3 o possess a rigidity sufficient for resisting the movement of the groove portion 14 when the lid is subjected to strong unintentional forces. The lid is as shown shaped such that it can support the lid holding portion 3 of the cylindrical member when the locking safety ring 18 tightens in the groove portion 14. The latter is due to the fact that the lid comprises a recessed portion 2b just above the groove portion 14 and capable of supporting the bead 3 from the inside.

Fig. 3 illustrates an upper supporting member 6 which car. be placed over the lid so as -to press said lid downwards over the lid holding portion while the locking saffety device 18 is being tightened.

Fig. 8 illustrates a second embodiment of:he container 1 with the lid 2, whereby the resilient locking surface 9 24a on the lid holding portion 3 is provided at the lower end of said lid holding portion and more specifically at the top in a crease 24. Upwardly the lid holding portion 3 comprises a hollow bead 23 turning inwards. The latter bead is supported by the recessed portion 2b of the lid when the groove portion 14 of the lid skirt is made abutting the locking surface 24a turning downwards of the lid holding portion and when the locking safety device 28 is tightened. The locking safety device 28 can be shaped like the locking safety device 18 described in connection with Figs. 2 to 7.

Fig. 8 illustrates how the crease 24 can be of a cross section considerably larger than the cross section of the groove portion 14 of the lid skirt with the result that the groove portion can enter the crease correctly and the upper portion of said groove portion can be made abutting the resilient locking surface 24a. The groove portion 14 and the crease 24 are preferably of a cross section substantially corresponding to a C or a semicircle.

Fig. 9 illustrates the lid 2 of Fig. 8 pressed into position where the locking safety device 28 is tightened. When the lid is being put on the container, it is possible to use a particular supporting member 26 like in connection with Fig. 3, said particular supporting member being carried downwards from the top so as to abut the lid 2 while the locking safety device 28 is being tightened. It is clearly illustrated how the groove portion 14 of the lid skirt is pressed from the bottom, or optionally obliquely from the bottom, by its resilient locking surface upwards towards the resilient locking surface 24a of the lid holding portion 3.

The distance -a between the groove portion 14 of the lid skirt and the upper limitation of the lid is preferably at least equal to the height h of the lid holding portion 3 of the cylindrical member.

A sealing material 11 may in Figs. 8 and 9 be inserted between the lid holding portion 3 and the lid 2 like in the Figs. 1, 2, and 3. When the lid is being put on the container, the sealing material 11 is pressed a distance downwards around the lid holding portlon.

I1 I-- The invention may be varied in many ways without thereby deviating from the scope thereof. Thus the upper end of the lid holding portion may be a rim rolled over, which is flat or slightly curved in such a manner that said rim can be used as a tilting point for the tool used by the consumer during the releasing of the locking safety device 18 and consequently during the releasing of the lid 2. Nothing prevents the above crease from being of another cross section than the one indicated, such as rectangular 10 or triangular.

It should be noted that the lid is made of unslit sheet material, which applies especially to the skirt. A slitting presents a working operation increasing the costs of production, and it turned out that such an operation is not necessary.

1

Claims

1 1 A container with a lid comprising a locking safety device ensuring that the lid does not fall off when subjected to an unintentional force, and whereby the container is made of metal sheet and comprises an opening which is large compared to the main dimensions of the container, and whereby the container comprises a cylindrical member provided with a bottom, said cylindrical member at the top comprising a lid holding portion whereas the lid comprises a circumferential skirt provided with a circumferential groove portion, said locking safety device being embedded from the outside in said circumferential groove portion, c h a ra c t e r i s e d in that the lid (2) is made of a resilient, thin unslit metal sheet, and that downwardly the lid holding portion (3) of the cylindrical member (1) is defined by a circumferential, resilient locking surface (3a) substantially turning downwards, and that the circumferential groove portion (14) of the lid skirt (12) comprises a resilient abutment surface (14a), whereby said groove portion extends at least slightly below the locking surface (3a, 24a) of the lid holding portion (3) so as to resiliently abut said locking surface when the lid is placed on the container, and that the lid (2) comprises a recessed reinforcing member (2b) in a portion inside the cylindrical member (1) and its associated portions, and that the locking safety device (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, HZ,, 23) is shaped like a string and such that it is possible by way of a relatively insignificant diameter- adjusting manipulation carried out by the consumer to alter the efficient diameter (jj) of said string-shaped locking sa-Eety device so as to press in or release the groove portion (14) of the lid skirt against the bottom side of the resilient locking surface (3a, 24a) of the lid holding portion (3) or away therefrom, respectively.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c- t e r i s e d in that at the top the lid holding portion (3) comprises a bead (23) turning inwards, such as in form of a roll-over portion or a flanging, and that the groove I- portion (14) on the lid skirt (12) is placed adjacent the lower end of said skirt, and that said groove portion (14) is of a cross section substantially corresponding to a semicircle or a C, and that the resilient locking surface (24a) turning downwards of the lid holding portion (3) is provided in a crease (24) turning inwards in the cylindrical member (1).

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i s c d in that the crease (24) determin- ing the locking surface (24a) is of a cross section considerably larger than the cross section of the groove portion (14) of the lid skirt, said crease preferably being of a cross section substantially corresponding to a C or a semicircle.

6.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, a r a c t e r i s e d in that the distance (a) between the groove portion of the lid skirt and the upper limitation of the lid corresponds at least to the height (1i) of the lid holding portion (3) of the cylindrical member (1).

5. A container as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a ct e r i s e d in that the resilient locking surface (3a) of the lid holding portion (3) is provided on a hollow bead (3) turning outwards, such as a roll-over portion or flanging at the top of the lid holding portion.

A container as claimed in one or more of the claims 1 to 5, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the locking safety device is a safety ring (18a) shaped like the figure of eight, where the large eye (18a) of the figure of eight is situated in the groove portion (14) of the skirt whereas the small eye (18a") of said figure of eight projects from said skirt in such a manner that the safety device can be easily gripped by a consumer for manipulation by means of a manipulating device.

7. A container as claimed in one or more of the claims 1 to 5, c 1In a r a c t e r i s e d in that locking safety device is a length of wire (18b) embedded in the groove portion (14) of the skirt, and that the ends (18b', 18b11) of said length of wire cross one another and are optionally provided with eyes (18c', 18c") at the outer 'lie 13 ends for gripping the manipulating device.

8. A container as claimed in one or more of the claims 1 to 7, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the locking safety device (18,1, 181, 184) is made of metal wire, preferably wire of stainless steel, of a small thickness, preferably 1.25 to 2.0 mm.

9. A container as claimed in claim 8, c h a r a ct e r i s e d in that the metal wire (18ú) is a multiwire (1841 - 18&"").

10. A container as claimed i f h claims 1 to 7 n one or more o t e c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the locking safety device (18-d) is an incomplete ring of plastics, and that the two ends of the locking safety device overlap one another and are interconnected by means of a clamp (18e).

11. A container as claimed in one or more of the claims 1 to 10, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that a sealing material (11) is embedded between the lid holding portion (3) and the lid (2), said sealing material preferably being soft, such as plastics or pasty sealing material, and sealing between the lid (2) and the lid holding portion (3).

12. A container as claimed in one or more of the claims 1 to 11, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that instead of one safety ring the locking safety device comprises two or more relatively thin safety rings abutting one another in the groove portion (14) of the skirt.

13. A container substantially as described above and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11 Published 1991 atThe Patent Office, Concept House. Cardiff Road, Newport. Gwent NP9 IRH. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point, CwmfeUnfach, Cross Keys, Newport, NP I 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd. St Mary Cray, Kent.