NZ202607A

NZ202607A - Container: gap in ledge surrounding mouth facilitates opening

Info

Publication number: NZ202607A
Application number: NZ20260782A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: S J Olds
Original assignee: Tecpak Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1982-11-25
Filing date: 1982-11-25
Publication date: 1987-07-31

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> 202607 Patents Form No. 5 Fee $80 Attorney's ref. P344/82L am&ncE 2 2 FEB 1984 Patents Act J953 Number: 202607 Date: 25 November 1982 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION CONTAINER We, TECPAK PLASTICS LIMITED, a New Zealand company, of 544 Kaikorai Valley Road, Dunedin, New Zealand, 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:- - 1 - 202607 This invention relates to containers with particular but not exclusive application to containers for foodstuffs. It is knc*m to make such containers in the form of open-mouthed pots intended to be closed by lids having skirts which fit over and around a portion of the exterior of the pot surrounding its mouth. Such closures are liable to dislodgement by contact of sane other body with the end face of the skirt such as to lift the lid off the pot. In order to discourage such dislodgsnent, it is known to provide a pot with a ledge which extends outwardly of the pot and surrounds the open mouth of the pot a sufficient distance below the mouth to allow space for the engagement of the skirt of the lid. Such a construction, however, has been found to be unpopular with consumers who find it difficult to remove the well-protected lid from the pot. In practice, the lid tends to be damaged in the course of renewal and to be unfit for re-use. New Zealand Patent Specification No. 162484 describes and claims a plastics receptacle or pot with a ledge having a number of recessed areas which are substantially uniformly spaced around the periphery in such a manner as to provide a handle for the receptacle and yet expose overlying portions of the lid. The object of the present invention is to provide an inproved form of pot which is adapted to allcw easy removal of the lid while minimising the risk of accidental dislodgement. ^ 202607 A 5 y" 10 15 C 20 o According to the invention, a container of the kind having a mouth which is closeable by a lid having a depending skirt which is engageable with a wall surrounding the mouth, and a ledge extending outwardly of and surrounding the wall at sufficient distance from the mouth to allow the engagement of the skirt with that portion of the wall lying between t;he ledge and the mouth to protect the skirt frcm accidental dislodgement, is characterised in that the ledge has only one gap in its course about the wall, exposing a portion of an end face of the skirt of the lid in use, the gap being less than two centimeters in length. The ledge has only one said gap to minimise the chances of accidental dislodgement of the lid. Conveniently, the gap may be of suitable width to allow a finger of a user of the container to be inserted through the gap to contact the end face of the skirt of the lid. Preferably, the length of the gap in the course of the ledge should not exceed two centimeters. This allows more than adequate space for the insertion of a normal finger, while not exposing the lid to substantial risk of accidental dislodgement. in order that the invention may be more fully understood and more readily carried into effect, one embodiment thereof is hereunder described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: - 3 - 202607 Figure I is a half-sectioned side elevation of a pot according to the invention; Figure II is a plan view from above of approximately a half of the pot showing Figure I; and 5 Figure III is a section through an upper edge portion of a wall of the pot shown in Figure I, and an edge portion of a lid engaged therewith. Hie pot is shown in Figures I and II in 1.5:1 enlarged scale, The 10 section shown in Figure III is in 5:1 enlarged scale. The pot is a food container made of a conventional synthetic plastics material generally of 0.7mm thickness. The pot has an open mouth 1 surrounded fcy a wall portion 2 which has an outwardly-extending lip 3 15 and a recessed portion 4 to allow engagement of a lid 5 by means of a detent 6. A ledge 7 extends around the circumference of the end portion 2 of the wall so that a skirt 8 of the lid abuts against it when the lid is fitted to the pot and is protected fran accidental dislodgement by a body catching the end face 9 of the skirt. 20 'w A ledge of the kind shown which extends without a break all of the way around the mouth is highly effective at preventing accidental dislodgement of the lid, but also makes it virtually impossible for the lid to be removed in the most convenient way, that is by inserting a 25 fingernail or other object under the edge portion 9 of the skirt 8. To 202607 allow for such deliberate removal of the lid, a gap 10 is provided in the ledge. Hie length of the gap about the circumference of the pot is 18.5mn to allow ample roan for the insertion of a finger or thumb while not exposing an excessive amount of the skirt to accidental dislodgement. In practice, it is found that the provision of a single gap is sufficient to allow the lid to be removed without difficulty, and it is preferred that only one gap be provided to minimise the risk of accidental dislodgement of the lid. The step 11 provides a stiffening of the mouth of the container so that its circular shape is maintained. - 5 - J • \ 2 8 APR 1986 v </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> 202607 WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A container of the kind having a mouth which is closeable by a lid having a depending skirt which is engageable with a wall surrounding the mouth, and a ledge extending outwardly of and surrounding the wall at sufficient distance from the mouth to allow the engagement of the skirt • with that portion of the wall lying between the ledge and the mouth to protect the skirt from accidental dislodgement; characterised in that the ledge has only one gap in its course about the wall, exposing a portion of an end face of the skirt of the lid in use, the gap being less than two centimeters in length.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a step is provided in .the wall to stiffen the mouth.

3. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompany ing drawings. TECPAK PLASTICS LIMITED by its authorized agents, J. D. HARDIE & COMPANY per: 6 </div>