NZ588596A

NZ588596A - A container closure with an inverted peripheral skirt that fits over the container rim, while a distal end of the skirt will engage a wall formation within the container

Info

Publication number: NZ588596A
Application number: NZ588596A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: David Alexander Woinarski
Original assignee: Innovative Design Co Pty
Priority date: 2005-03-31
Filing date: 2006-03-31
Publication date: 2012-05-25

Abstract

A closure 10 for a container 12 that comprises a base 13 and peripheral wall 15, with a rim 16 forming an upper margin of the wall 15 and surrounding an opening of the container 12. The closure 10 comprises a wall 19 that is adapted to extend across and to overlie the container opening when the closure 10 is mounted to the container 12, the wall 19 extending inwardly from an inside wall 20 of an inverted peripheral channel section 22 of the closure 10 that is adapted to mount to the container rim 16. A peripheral skirt 24 projects at an obtuse angle from the closure wall 19 at or adjacent to its junction with the channel section 22 such that a distal end 28 of the skirt 24 can engage a wall formation 30 within the container 12 when the closure 10 is mounted on the container 12.

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> Received at IPONZ on 12 April 2012 James & Wells Ref: 12861ODIV/3 PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Fee No. 4: $250.00 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Divisional Application From NZ 561750 James & Wells Ref: 12861 ODIV/3 CONTAINER CLOSURE WE Innovative Design Co Pty Limited, an Australian company of 1604/81 Macleay Street, Potts Point, New South Wales 2011, Australia hereby declare the invention for which I/We pray that a patent may be granted to me/us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 1 Received at IPONZ on 12 April 2012 James & Wells Ref: 12861 ODIV/3 CONTAINER CLOSURE Technical Field An improved closure for a container is disclosed, the closure being adapted in 5 a manner that ameliorates entrapment at an underside of the closure of flowable substances that may be stored within the container. Background Art Plastic and metal containers such as pails are used for holding chemicals, 10 many of which are flowable including liquids such as paints, solvents and oils; flowable solids such as powders etc. Some known closures for such containers include a so-called stacking skirt, being a wall that protrudes from an underside of the lid around and adjacent to its periphery. The stacking skirt can engage with an internal step or rebate defined in an interior of the container adjacent to its opening, whereby loading 15 forces applied to the closure can be transmitted via the stacking skirt to the container. For example, AU 488194 discloses a container lid 11 that is provided with a stacking wall 31 that engages, at its distal end, an internal peripheral step defined inside the container 10. However, as clearly shown in Figure 8 of AU 488194, the orientation of the wall 31 defines a groove or channel 34 at the underside of lid 11, the 20 groove extending around the lid adjacent to the wall 31. This groove or channel can act as a trap for flowable substances that may be stored within the container, especially for a liquid that has a viscosity that results in a surface tension tending to cause it to be retained in the groove or channel. WO 2002/30780 discloses a container lid 11 that is provided with two different 25 stacking walls. In Figures 2 and 5, a vertical stacking wall 40 engages, at its distal end, an internal peripheral step 24 defined inside the container at wall 15. This wall is connected to the wall 42 by discrete webs 43. In Figure 4, the distal end of an angled stacking wall 40 engages the internal peripheral step 24. In each case a trap for flowable substances is defined between the stacking skirt and the wall 42. The webs 30 43 in actual fact provide an enhanced entrapment function. Similarly, WO 2004/106185 discloses a container lid 11 that is provided with a stacking skirt 52 that engages, at its distal end 52A, an internal peripheral step 54 defined inside the container 10. Again, as clearly shown in Figure 3 of WO 2004/106185, the orientation of the skirt 52 defines a groove or channel at the 35 underside of lid 11 that extends around the lid adjacent to the skirt 52, and that can act 2 Received at IPONZ on 12 April 2012 James & Wells Ref: 12861 ODIV/3 as a trap for flowable substances that may be stored within the container. As an example of an entrapment problem, when the container is used to store paint, the lid may be removed to add a tinting agent ("tint"). When the lid is replaced, and when the now closed container is shaken to disperse the tint, the tint can become 5 entrapped in such a groove or channel, or against any webs, and not be dispersed in the paint. The resulting paint in the container can then have an incorrect colour for an unsuspecting user. The reference to the prior art documents above is not an admission that the documents form a part of the common general knowledge of a skilled person in the art, 10 either in Australia or elsewhere. Summary of the Present Disclosure A closure for a container is disclosed that comprises a base and a peripheral wall, with a rim forming an upper margin of the wall and surrounding an opening of the 15 container. The closure for the container comprises a wall that is adapted to extend across and to overlie the container opening when the closure is mounted to the container. The wall extends inwardly from an inside wall of an inverted peripheral channel section of the closure that is adapted to mount to the container rim. 20 A peripheral skirt projects at an obtuse angle from the closure wall at or adjacent to its junction with the channel section and such that a distal end of the skirt can engage a wall formation within the container when the closure is mounted thereto. The peripheral skirt can function as a stacking skirt, as defined in the Background. However, because the peripheral skirt projects from the closure wall at or 25 adjacent to its junction with the channel section, to a distal end that engages a container wall formation, no groove or channel is defined in the closure underside that may then act as a trap for a flowable substance stored within the container. In one form the peripheral skirt can project from the closure wall at the junction with the channel section. 30 When the closure is mounted to the container, the skirt distal end can engage an internal peripheral step especially defined in the container wall. This step can help to promote the skirt stacking function. In one form the inverted peripheral channel section can have, in cross-sectional profile, an inverted general U-shape. Then, the closure wall can extend laterally from 35 an inside stem of the U-shape, and the rim can be received within the U-shape so as to 3 Received at IPONZ on 12 April 2012 James & Wells Ref: 12861 ODIV/3 be surrounded at is periphery by an outside stem of the U-shape. A shorter peripheral skirt may be provided that projects from an inside face at the inverted U-shape around the periphery of the closure underside. The shorter skirt can be adapted to engage an inside surface of the rim when the closure is mounted to 5 the container, to promote a more secure mounting of the closure to the container. Further, the outside stem of the U-shape can define a skirt that is inwardly adapted (eg. shaped) so as to interlockingly engage with a formation defined externally on the rim, when the closure is mounted to the container. 10 Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding other embodiments which may incorporate some or all of the features as outlined in the Summary, a number of specific closure embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 15 Figure 1 shows a side view of an assembled closure and container; Figure 2 shows a side sectional view through part of the assembled closure and container of Figure 1, the view showing a first closure embodiment in cross-sectional profile; 20 Figure 3 shows a view similar to Figure 2 but for a second closure embodiment. Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments Referring to Figure 1, a container having a closure mounted thereto is 25 generally depicted. The closure is provided in the form of a lid 10 and the container is provided in the form of a pail 12. Typically the lid and pail are circular. The pail and lid may each be moulded from polypropylene or high density polyethylene. The pail may be moulded in any desired size and may have a volumetric capacity in the order of eg. 0.5 to 20 litres. The pail may also be formed from a metal 30 material. In addition, the lid arrangements as hereafter described can be used with both tapered (Figure 1) and straight-sided pails. The pail 12 has a base 13 which is sized so that it can be located within a recess defined in the lid. A peripheral wall 15 extends up from the base, with a rim 16 forming an upper margin of the wall 15 and surrounding an opening of the pail. A 35 peripheral flange 17 protrudes out from the pail adjacent to but set lower than a distal 4 Received at IPONZ on 12 April 2012 James & Wells Ref: 12861 ODIV/3 edge 16A of the rim 16. A number of discrete finger recesses 18 may be provided around the flange 17 to help facilitate removal of the lid from the pail (eg. by manually peeling it off). The lid in each of the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3 comprises a generally flat 5 central wall 19 which is generally sized to cover the majority of the opening when the lid is mounted to the pail, but which may also be sized so that the base of an overlying pail can be positioned thereat. This then enables a number of pails to be stacked one upon another. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the wall 19 extends inwardly from an inside wall 10 portion 20 that is part of an inverted U-shaped peripheral channel 22 that defines an external part of the lid, and that adapts the lid for mounting to the rim 16. A peripheral stacking skirt 24 projects from the wall 19 at a junction 26 with the wall portion 20, although it may alternatively project from wall 19 at a location that is adjacent to (ie. inset from) the junction. When the lid is mounted to the pail, a distal end 15 28 of the skirt 24 is shaped to engage an internal peripheral step 30 defined in the pail wall 15, the step being located within the pail. Because the skirt 24 projects from the wall 19 at (or inset from) the junction 36, and because the skirt's distal end 28 engages the pail wall 15 at step 30, no groove or channel is defined in the lid underside that may then act as a trap for a flowable 20 substance stored within the pail. In Figure 2 it will be seen that the rim 16 is received within the U-shaped channel 22, such that it is surrounded at is periphery by an outside skirt 32 of the U-shaped channel. The skirt 32 comprises an inwardly projecting ledge 34 that interlockingly engages with a bead formation 36 defined externally on the rim 16 when 25 the closure is mounted to the container. A shorter peripheral skirt 38 may also be provided to project from an inside face of the U-shaped channel around the periphery of the lid underside. When the closure is mounted to the container the shorter skirt can be adapted to interlockingly engage an internally projecting peripheral bead 40 defined adjacent to the rim distal end 16A. In 30 this regard, it will be seen that the rim distal end 16A is thus received into a second and smaller inverted U-shaped channel defined between the skirt 32 and the skirt 38. Referring now to Figure 3, where like reference numerals are used to denote similar or like parts, it will be seen that the lid 10 is essentially the same as that shown 35 in Figure 2. However, the shorter peripheral skirt 38' is modified to project more 5 Received at IPONZ on 12 April 2012 James & Wells Ref: 12861 ODIV/3 vertically. Also, the bead 40 is replaced with a peripheral bump 52. Thus, the engagement between skirt 38' and bump 52 is frictional rather than interlocking. Again, no groove or channel is defined in the lid underside. In the embodiments described the lid is formed from deformable and/or 5 deflectable materials to facilitate its mounting onto and removal from the pail. On the other hand, and as required, the pail may be formed from deformable or non-deformable materials such as plastic or metal etc. Whilst a number of embodiments have been described, it will be appreciated that the lid arrangements described can be embodied in many other forms. 10 In the claims which follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments. 15 6 Received at IPONZ on 12 April 2012 James & Wells Ref: 12861 ODIV/3 </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> CLAIMS:

1. A closure for a container that comprises a base and peripheral wall, with a rim forming an upper margin of the wall and surrounding an opening of the 5 container; the closure comprising a wall that is adapted to extend across and to overlie the container opening when the closure is mounted to the container, the wall extending inwardly from an inside wall of an inverted peripheral channel section of the closure that is adapted to mount to the container rim; 10 wherein a peripheral skirt projects at an obtuse angle from the closure wall at or adjacent to its junction with the channel section and such that a distal end of the skirt can engage a wall formation within the container when the closure is mounted thereto. 15

2, A closure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peripheral skirt projects from the closure wall at the junction with the channel section and, when the closure is mounted to the container, the skirt distal end engages an internal peripheral step defined in the container wall. 20

3. A closure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the inverted peripheral channel section generally has, in cross-sectional profile, an inverted U-shape, whereby the closure wall extends laterally from an inside stem of the U-shape, and whereby the rim is received within the U-shape so as to be surrounded at is periphery by an outside stem of the U-shape. 25

4. A closure as claimed in claim 3, wherein a shorter peripheral skirt projects from an inside face at the inverted U-shape around the periphery of the closure underside, the shorter skirt being adapted to engage an inside surface of the rim when the closure is mounted to the container. 30

5, A closure as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the outside stem of the U-shape defines a skirt that is inwardly adapted so as to interlockingly engage with a formation defined externally on the rim when the closure is mounted to the container. 35 7 Received at IPONZ on 12 April 2012 James & Wells Ref: 12861 ODIV/3

6. A closure for a container, the closure being as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. INNOVATIVE DESIGN CO PTY LTD By its attorneys James & Wells Intellectual Property 8 </div>