NL2006436C2 - HOLDER FOR A LIQUID PRODUCT. - Google Patents

Description

P93096NL00

Title: Holder for a liquid product

The invention relates to a container for a liquid product, in particular a cylindrical paint bucket, provided with an inner space bounded by a bottom, a side wall, and a cover which engages the side wall and extends across the bottom, and can be removed.

Such containers are generally known. A drawback of the known product container is that product flakes appear to develop at an upper edge of the bucket, even if the container is first opened after filling and closing by the end user. Said flakes 10 can come loose at the first opening and fall into the liquid product to be used, which is present in the container, which is detrimental to its quality.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to this problem. In particular, the invention contemplates an improved container in which the quality of the product can be better guaranteed, and in which in particular said product flaking problem can be avoided or reduced.

For this purpose, according to the invention, a holder according to the preamble is characterized in that an inner side of the side wall and a side of the cover extending therebetween define a substantially closed upper space, which upper space is separated from said inner space.

In particular, it can be achieved in this way that the holder and lid define two sealing edges (on two levels), with the closed upper space between them. In this way an additional barrier is provided between a location where said flaking could take place, and the container interior. When the container 2 is subsequently opened by removing the lid from the side wall, the formed flakes can be kept out of the range of product present in the container, so that the quality of the product remains guaranteed. Particularly good results are achieved if, viewed in a holder-top view, said closed upper space substantially does not overlap with said inner space. Furthermore, it appears to be particularly advantageous to provide the lid with a separate closing flange which engages on the inside of the side wall, in order to separate the upper space from said inner space.

It is noted that the term "sealed" in this application may include, for example, "airtight sealed" or "fluid-tight sealed", in particular under normal conditions of use of the container.

Advantageous further elaborations of the invention are set out in the dependent claims. The invention will now be elucidated on the basis of a non-limitative exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a vertical cross-section of an exemplary embodiment according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a detail Q from Fig. 1;

Figure 3 shows a cross-section of an upper part of a side wall of the exemplary embodiment; and

Figure 4 shows a cross-section of a radial outer part of a cover of the exemplary embodiment.

In this application, the same or corresponding measures are indicated by the same or corresponding reference numerals.

Figures 1-4 show an example of a holder 1, in cross-section, which holder 1 is filled with, for example, a liquid product (not shown). The product is in particular a coating product for coating a surface, for example paint, glue or the like, wherein the product coating forms a solid (cured) product layer, for example with the evaporation of a solvent and / or a chemical reaction. The container 1 can for instance be arranged to hold approximately 0.5-25 liters of product, or a different quantity.

The holder 1 has an inner space 3 (to hold said product) which is bounded by a bottom 2, a side wall 4, and a detachable lid 5 extending opposite the bottom 2 and engaging on the side wall.

The present holder 1 is substantially cylindrical, for example with a side wall 4 of which a main part 4c (which in this example determines more than 90% of the side wall) extends along a virtual cylinder surface (with a constant diameter), or, as in the for example, along a virtual conical surface with a relatively small apex angle of, for example, a maximum of 20 °, in particular a maximum of 10 °, for example approximately 6 °. The holder can also be formed in a different way, for example with an angular shape seen in a horizontal cross-section, such as square, rectangular or in another way.

The various parts 2, 3, 4, 5 of the holder 1 can furthermore be manufactured, for example, from somewhat flexible material, for instance one or more suitable plastics. In addition, for example, a first part of the holder (for example the bottom and side wall) can be made of a relatively rigid material, and another part (for example the cover 5) of somewhat flexible material (at least a material that is flexible with respect to said relatively rigid material).

In the drawing, the cover 5 is arranged on the upper edge of the side wall 4, to hermetically seal the inner space 3 from an environment (so that ambient air is prevented). A breakable connection 8 can be provided by an end user for coupling the cover 5 to the side wall 4 in that closed position, for manipulation indication. The cover 5 can be provided with an operating lip 6 extending opposite to an outside of the side wall 4 in order to pull the cover 5 off the side wall (in the case of a said optional breakable connection 8: after breaking that connection). Such a lid operating movement is indicated by the arrow T in FIG. 2 signed.

As more particularly follows from Figures 2-4, the holder 1 is advantageously provided with an upper space 8, which is substantially closed off from an environment and the inner space 3, close to one of the bottom 2 facing away from the top edge E of the side wall 4. In this example, the top space 8 extends substantially (in this case completely) along the entire circumference of the container 1, and substantially overlaps, seen in a container top view, ( in this case more than 50% and in particular more than 75%) with the container interior 3.

In this way the lid 5 connects along two sealing edges / levels to the inside 4 of the side wall (see Figs.

2), with the closed upper space 8 between them. As follows from the drawing, the volume of this upper space 8 is relatively small with respect to another container inner volume (i.e. the volume of the inner space 3). The volume of the upper space 8, in this example in fact a relatively narrow annular gap between the cover 5 and side wall 4, is, for example, at least 100x smaller, more in particular 100x smaller, than the volume of the container inner space 3.

For example, a maximum width of the closed upper space 8, measured in a direction normal to the central holder axis 25 H, can be in the range of 0.1-5 mm. According to a further elaboration, a maximum width W of the closed upper space 8, measured in a direction normal (in this example radial) relative to the central holder axis H, can for instance be approximately equal to a thickness of the holder side wall and / or the lid ( as in the drawing).

5

Furthermore, a maximum length L of the closed upper space 8, measured in a direction parallel to the central holder axis H, can for instance be smaller than approximately 1 cm. Other dimensions, for example a length L of approximately 1 cm or more, and / or a width W of more of 5 mm, are also possible.

The holder side wall 4 is provided with a first wall part 4a extending along said upper space 8 which, seen in a cross-section, extends at least in a direction away from a central holder axis H. The first wall part 4a, seen in the cross-section, encloses for example an angle φΐ in the range of 10-90 ° with a line h1 (see Fig. 3) which runs parallel to the central holder axis H, in particular an angle φΐ in the range of 30-60 °. More specifically, the present first side wall-wall portion 4a extends along a virtual conical surface with an apex angle greater than 20 ° and less than 180 °, for example an apex angle in the range of 60-120 °.

Furthermore, the holder side wall of the example is provided with a second wall part 4b extending along the inner space 3, wherein said first wall part 4a and second wall part 4b enclose an angle of less than 180 degrees, for example an angle in the range of 90-170 degrees.

In the example, the second wall part 4b extends along a circumferential surface which is substantially parallel to a contour of a main part 4c of the side wall 4 extending between the holder bottom 2 and the first wall part 4a.

Moreover, seen in the cross-section, said second wall part 4b can, for example, extend slightly in a direction away from the central holder axis H, in particular along a virtual conical surface with an apex angle of less than 20 degrees.

In this example, the cover 5 is provided with a closing flange 5a which engages the opposite inner side of the side wall 4, in order to separate the 6 upper space 8 from said inner space 3. In this example, the flange 5a has a triangular shape, seen in cross section. An edge R of the flange facing the side wall 4 is preferably rounded or pointed. The closing flange 5a (and an integral other part of the cover) can, for example, be made to be resilient so as to bend slightly while removing the cover from the side wall 4 and applying it to the side wall 4.

Viewed in the cross-section, the closing flange 5a encloses an angle φΐ with the inside of the side wall 4 that is smaller than 90 °, for example an acute angle φΐ in the range of approximately 10-45 °.

The lid is furthermore provided with an upper sealing part 5c which hermetically connects to the side wall 4 at a distance from said sealing flange 5a and extends over the upper edge E of the side wall (towards a cover part extending beyond the side wall). The upper sealing part 5c in particular provides an airtight seal between side wall 4 and cover 5, in order to prevent the penetration of ambient air to the container inner space 3 via the intermediate upper space 8. As follows from the drawing, the upper sealing part 5c touches the inside of the side wall 4 at a position that is spaced from the tangent position between the side wall and the sealing flange 5a (the upper space 8 extends between the two tangent positions).

Furthermore, the cover is provided with a cover part 5b which extends along said upper space 8 (at a distance from an opposite side wall part) in order to limit that upper space along a radial inner circumference. In this example, the latter cover part 5b, viewed in the cross-section, encloses an angle φ3 with a top side U of the cover which is smaller than 180 °, and for example is in the range of approximately 160-110 °. Said cover part 5b can for instance extend along a virtual conical surface which has a vertex angle in the range of approximately 10-80 °, for example a vertex angle in the range of approximately 30-60 °.

7

By using the upper space 8, in particular in combination with the flange 5a of the lid extending below, it appears that spreading of possible product flakes which may have deposited near the upper edge E of the side wall and / or along the upper space 8, be properly prevented. A clean product can thus be supplied, also immediately after a first opening of the container 1.

It is self-evident that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described. Various changes are possible within the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims (22)

A container for a liquid product, in particular a cylindrical paint bucket, provided with an inner space (3) bounded by a bottom (2), a side wall (4), and a container opposite the bottom (2). detachable lid 5 (5) engaging the side wall, characterized in that an inner side of the side wall (4) and a side of the lid (5) extending therefrom define a substantially closed upper space (8), which upper space (8) ) is separated from said interior space (3). 2. Holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein, viewed in a holder top view, said closed upper space (8) substantially does not overlap with said inner space (3). Holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper space (8) extends substantially along the entire circumference of the holder (1). Holder as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the holder side wall (4) is provided with a first wall part (4a) extending along said upper space (8) which, viewed in a cross-section, is at least in a direction away from a central holder axis direction. The container of claim 4, wherein said first wall portion (4a) extends along a virtual conical surface with a top angle greater than 20 degrees 6. Holder as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the side wall is provided with a second wall part (4b) extending along the inner space (3b), wherein said first wall part (4a) and second wall part (4b) are viewed in cross-section. include an angle smaller than 180 degrees, for example, an angle in the range of 90-170 degrees. 7. Holder according to claim 6, wherein the second wall part (4b) extends along a circumferential surface which is substantially parallel to a contour of a part (4c) of the part (4c) extending between the holder bottom (2) and the first wall part (4a). side wall (4). 8. Holder as claimed in any of the claims 6-7, wherein the second wall part (4b), viewed in a cross-section, extends somewhat in a direction away from a central holder axis, in particular along a virtual conical surface with an apex angle of less than 20 degrees. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid 10 (5) is provided with a closing flange (5a) which connects to the inside of the side wall (4) to separate the upper space (8) from said inner space (3). 10. Container according to claim 9, wherein the closing flange (5a) is of resilient design. A container according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the sealing flange, viewed in cross-section, includes an angle with an inner side of the side wall (4), which angle is smaller than 90 °. 12. Holder as claimed in any of the claims 9-11, wherein the lid is provided with an upper sealing part (5c) which connects to the side wall (4) at a distance from said sealing flange (5a). A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid is provided with a lid part (5b) which extends along said upper space (8), in order to separate said upper space from an upper environment of the lid. Container according to claim 13, wherein said cover part (5b), viewed in cross-section, encloses an angle with an upper side of the cover which is smaller than 180 °. A container according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said cover part (5b) extends along a virtual conical surface that has a vertex angle in the range of approximately 10-80 °, for example a vertex angle in the range of approximately 30-60 °. 16. Holder as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein a maximum width of the closed upper space (8), measured in a direction normal to a central holder axis, is in the range of 0.1-5 mm. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a volume of the upper space (8) is at least 100 times smaller than a volume of said inner space (3). A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a maximum width of the closed upper space (8), measured in a direction normal to a central container axis, is approximately equal to a thickness of the container sidewall and / or the lid. 19. Holder as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein a maximum length of the closed upper space (8), measured in a direction parallel to a central holder axis, is smaller than approximately 1 cm 20. Container as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the container is at least partially filled with a coating product, for instance paint or glue. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holder is of substantially cylindrical shape, wherein said upper space is in particular an annular space (8), for example an annular gap. 22. Holder as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the holder is made of somewhat flexible material.