NZ709077A - Container stacking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided paint tin stacking apparatus (10) including a body portion (25) formed with a peripheral resilient flange (27) clipping to a rolled base bead portion (14) of a paint tin (11) and extending to underlie the base wall (13) and support it via a bearing portion (26). The underside of the apparatus (10) includes an annular locating ridge portion (30) formed on the body portion (25) and engaging corresponding annular step (24) comprising the peripheral rolled edge (43) of a paint tin lid (22) of a second paint tin (31). he apparatus (10) includes an annular locating ridge portion (30) formed on the body portion (25) and engaging corresponding annular step (24) comprising the peripheral rolled edge (43) of a paint tin lid (22) of a second paint tin (31).

Description

CONTAINER STACKING APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to container stacking apparatus. This invention has particular application to container stacking apparatus for use with straight sided, metal cans of the type used to contain paint and other liquids, and for illustrative purposes the invention will be described with reference to this application.

However, we envisage that this invention may find use in other applications such as straight-sided containers otherwise.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the referenced prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

The most conventional of containers for materials such as paint are straight sided steel cans. These cans may include a generally 4-part construction wherein a side wall is formed into a cylinder from sheet metal, a base wall is roll-joined to one end of the cylinder exposing a downward-depending lower peripheral bead, and a roll formed rim portion is roll-joined to the other end of the cylinder exposing an upward-depending peripheral flange. The rim portion is formed with an annular sealing groove to accept a press rolled ridge formed in the fourth part, a press-fit lid, the ridge being bound by a peripheral bead and presenting a re-entrant annular groove when the closed container is viewed from above.

An inherent problem with the straight sided steel can is that the respective peripheral beads are of the same diameter. This means that the cans stack bead to bead. This is an unstable edge, meaning that straight sided cans cannot stack safely. This inherent disadvantage of form has been dealt with in the past by acceptance of risk, or by stacking layers with a cardboard or wood composite interlayer, the effect of which is to distribute misaligned vertical load between the layers. However, interlayers are unsightly and limit access to lower layers in a particular vertical stack.

Other technical solutions to the general problem of providing stacking containers such as the use of tapered and necked-base containers add complexity and cost to the manufacture of the container per se.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the present invention resides broadly in container stacking apparatus for use with containers having a side wall portion joined to a base wall portion, a base bead portion extending below said base wall portion, a peripheral upper bead formed at the junction of a rim portion and said side wall portion, and an annular step disposed inward of said peripheral upper bead, and including: a body portion supporting said base wall portion and extending to underlie said base bead portion; a peripheral resilient flange supported on said body portion and adapted to snap engage said base bead portion; and an annular locating ridge portion formed on said body portion and adapted to engage a corresponding said annular step of a second container.

The container may comprise a straight sided paint container, wherein a sheet metal side wall portion is joined to a base wall portion by a rolled base bead portion extending below the base wall portion. The rim portion in this case is a component that extends between an inner rolled bead defining a top opening and an outer bead formed by rolling together the rim portion and the side wall portion.

In this case a rolled-in groove formed between the inner and outer beads is adapted to receive the can closure, usually in the form of a lid having a pressed annular bead adapted to sealably press-fit into the groove. In this embodiment the annular step is conveniently provided by the recess formed as the obverse of the annular bead.

However, it is envisaged that a plastic facsimile of the metal paint can may include a snap-over lid, in which case the relevant groove may comprise a form-stiffening step formed in the lid. In addition, it is anticipated that the invention may find application in, for example, stacking cooking oil and other non-round-section cans.

The container stacking apparatus may comprise an integral body portion, peripheral resilient flange and annular ridge portion. For example, the container stacking apparatus may be integrally formed of polymer material or metal.

In the case of a metal apparatus, the integral form may comprise an annular sheet metal body having a rolled, inner, base-wall-supporting peripheral portion, and an outer rolled flange, turning up to extend over the base bead to the side wall portion, an upper portion of the flange being folded over to form the snap engagement over the base bead.

In the case of polymer apparatus, the integral form may comprise a moulded apparatus of thermoplastic or thermoset resin or composites thereof. For example the apparatus may be injection moulded in polyolefin or other thermoploymer, polymer, or fibre reinforced thermoplastic, or may be moulded in fibre reinforced settable resin such as sheet or bulk moulding compounds. Preferably the thermopolymer is selected from polyethylene, polypropylene and copolymers thereof, or ABS or polystyrene copolymers.

The body portion supporting the base wall portion may take any suitable form, including extending over substantially all of the underside of the base wall. For example, the body portion may comprise a lattice of radial and concentric ring portions having a peripheral flange extending under the base bead portion.

However, the usual paint cans are not so supported in normal use.

Accordingly it is preferred that the body portion comprise an at least part annular web supporting the peripheral resilient flange and extending under the base bead portion to terminate in a bearing portion that bears on the base wall under surface.

The at least part annular web may comprise a continuous annulus or may comprise a plurality of annular segments interconnected by the resilient flange.

The bearing portion may include a substantially continuous or intermittent annular bearing member of any selected section. Where the annular web is discontinuous the bearing portion is preferably substantially continuous. The section may be selected having regard to the crush forces anticipated and in this context may comprise a solid section. The section may on the other hand be coupled with the material choice to provide a resilient bearing portion. In certain embodiments the bearing portion comprises a substantially annular ridge extending toward the underside of the base wall and having a bearing section forming a re-entrant between the bearing section, ridge and web. Apart from bracing the apparatus against the base wall the re-entrant provides a secondary use by clipping over the inner rolled bead of a paint tin as described hereunder.

The peripheral resilient flange may comprise a continuous flange or a plurality of flange portions. Where the annular web is discontinuous the peripheral resilient flange is preferably substantially continuous. The section of the peripheral resilient flange may include a flange body extending from its attachment to the web over the base bead portion to a terminal section which is shaped to clip over the base bead portion adjacent the side wall.

The web space between the peripheral resilient flange and the bearing portion may include one or more additional intermediate bearing ribs, each concentric with the flange and bearing portion. The, or each of the, intermediate bearing ribs may be continuous or intermittent.

The shape of the terminal section may include a lower face substantially perpendicular to the side wall in use, an inner face substantially abutting the side wall in use, an outer surface comprising an extension of the flange body outer surface and an upper surface connecting the inner surface and outer surface.

The lower face may in the alternative be ramped, for purposes that include tolerance, and camming the apparatus snugly into the lower bead portion.

The upper surface may be formed with one or more recesses or lugs or a continuous ridge or groove to form a finger pull portion, to assist in removing the apparatus from a can base.

The annular locating ridge portion formed on the body portion may take any form dictated by the nature of the annular step of the second container. The annular locating ridge portion may comprise a continuous ridge or an intermittent ridge. In the case of metal apparatus, the ridge portion is preferably a continuous press- rolled annular ridge. In the case of polymer embodiments the annular locating ridge portion is preferably integrally formed with the body portion.

In the case of apparatus for use with straight-sided containers of the nature of paint containers, the locating ridge may be of a substantially square section whereby one or both surfaces perpendicular to the body portion engage respective inner wall surfaces of the re-entrant annular groove presented by the lid of a closed container.

However, since the re-entrant annular groove is annular, the ridge need only locate against any one of the respective inner wall surfaces. With one ridge surface located against a corresponding inner wall surface in use, the other opposed ridge surface may be sloped whereby the ridge section tapers away from its base. This may be useful for reasons that will become apparent hereinafter.

As the ridge cooperates with the step, the height of the ridge is determined relative to the nature and scale of the step. In some embodiments the height may be finely calibrated to ensure that the principle vertical load is borne by the body bearing on the upper bead of the container below. In other embodiments the ridge may extend to the bottom of the step or re-entrant annular groove, as the case may be, whereby the vertical loads may be transmitted through the ridges.

In practice, metal paint cans are closed with the peripheral rolled edge of the lid sitting slightly proud of the plane of the container top proper. The body may be relieved for a portion of the distance between the ridge and the bearing of the upper bead of the lower can to accommodate the lid rolled edge.

The apparatus may be configured to be reversible on, for example, a paint can to provide for stackability when clipped onto the base of the can, and to act as a guard for the top opening when reversed and clipped on to the top of an opened can. A guard in this context serves to act as a drip guard, whereby paint is substantially excluded from the rolled-in groove formed between the inner and outer beads. This is useful when pouring from the can or brushing from the can, where paint is likely to enter the rolled-in groove formed between the inner and outer beads where, upon hardening, it may prevent proper closure of the can.

In one embodiment of the invention the body portion may be inverted over the top opening of the can, whereby the bearing portion may be adapted to clip over the inner bead of the rim portion of a paint can, the peripheral resilient flange being adapted to snap engage the upper bead portion. To this end the bearing portion may comprise a substantially annular ridge extending from the body and having a bearing section forming a re-entrant between the bearing section, ridge and body, the re-entrant being adapted to clip over the inner rolled bead of a container.

The inner rolled bead is usually a round single rolled edge and accordingly the re- entrant may include a radiused inner corner to snug-fit the apparatus to the inner rolled bead. The re-entrant may be sized to closely fit the inner rolled bead in the re-entrant portion.

While the locating ridge may have a sheer locating face, the face presenting to the can opening when used as a can guard may be sloped to form a means for controlling the loading of paint on a brush.

In embodiments having an intermediate bearing rib deployed in a container stacking apparatus forming a guard for the top opening when reversed, the location may be selected such that, when used in the container stacking mode, the intermediate rib provides additional support for the can base. The location may also be selected whereby the rib corresponds with the location of the annular locating ridge portion to enhance form stiffness. The location may further be selected whereby the rib is accommodated by the rolled-in groove when the apparatus is used as a can lip guard. the location of the intermediate bearing rib may be selected to depend into the rolled-in groove formed between the inner and outer beads, which groove ordinarily engages the can lid. Alternatively, the intermediate bearing rib may be frangibly formed with the web, whereby it may be removed to allow the stacking apparatus to be reversed and installed as a guard for the top opening.

In a further aspect the invention resides in a guard for the top opening of a container having a side wall portion and a peripheral upper rim portion extending between an inner bead defining a top opening and an outer bead formed at the connection of the rim portion and said side wall portion, and including: a body portion extending inward of said flange over said upper rim; a peripheral resilient flange adapted to snap over said outer bead; and an inner resilient flange formed on said body portion and adapted to snap engage said inner bead.

The container may comprise a straight sided paint container, wherein a sheet metal side wall portion is joined to a rim portion that extends between an inner rolled bead defining a top opening and an outer bead formed by rolling together the rim portion and the side wall portion. In this case a rolled-in groove formed between the inner and outer beads is adapted to receive the can closure in the form of a lid having a pressed annular bead adapted to sealably press-fit into the groove. Removal of the lid exposes the rolled-in groove.

The guard may comprise an integral unit of plastic, polymer composite or metal, or may comprise a fabricated or assembled unit. For example, the guard may be an integral moulding of plastic. Preferably the guard is integrally moulded from thermopolymer selected from polyethylene, polypropylene and copolymers thereof, or ABS or polystyrene copolymers. Preferably, the material of the guard is selected to be resistant to the solvent system used in the paint and/or for clean- up, whereby the guard may be cleaned for reuse.

The body portion preferably comprises a continuous annular web to substantially occlude the rolled-in groove formed between the inner and outer beads, in use.

The substantially continuous annular web may support a substantially continuous or interrupted peripheral resilient flange and a substantially continuous or interrupted inner resilient flange.

The upper surface of the body may be configured to act as a brush loading control, whereby an overloaded brush may be wiped over the feature for paint removed from the brush to fall back into the tin. For example, there may be provided a continuous or partial annular ridge on the body portion upper surface, preferable disposed toward the inner flange.

The inner resilient flange may comprise a substantially annular ridge extending over the inner bead and having an enlarged section forming a re-entrant between the enlarged section ridge and web, clipping over the inner rolled bead of the paint tin. The inner rolled bead is usually a round single rolled edge and accordingly the re-entrant may include a radiused inner corner to snug-fit the apparatus to the inner rolled bead. The re-entrant may be sized to closely fit the inner rolled bead in the re-entrant portion.

The peripheral resilient flange may have a section including a flange body extending from its attachment to the web over the upper bead portion to a terminal section which is shaped to clip over the upper bead portion adjacent the side wall.

The shape of the terminal section may include an upper face substantially perpendicular to the side wall in use, an inner face substantially abutting the side wall in use, an outer surface comprising an extension of the flange body outer surface and a lower surface connecting the inner surface and outer surface. The upper face may in the alternative be ramped, for purposes that include tolerance, and camming the apparatus snugly into the upper bead portion.

The lower surface may be formed with one or more recesses or lugs or a continuous ridge or groove to form a finger pull portion, to assist in removing the apparatus from a can top.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described with reference to the following non-limiting embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings and wherein: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of apparatus in accordance with the present invention, in a first application as a stacking apparatus; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, in a second application as a guard apparatus; Fig. 3 is a separated view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 interposed between two paint cans in a stack; Fig. 4 is a separated view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in its application as a guard; Fig. 5 is a detail section of a second embodiment of stacking apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 6 is a detail section of the apparatus of Fig. 5, when used as a can lip guard.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT In Fig. 1 there is provided a container stacking apparatus 10 for use with a straight sided paint container 11, wherein a sheet metal side wall portion 12 is joined to a base wall portion 13 by a rolled base bead portion 14 extending below the base wall portion 13. A rim portion 15 is a component that extends between an inner rolled bead 16 defining a top opening 17 and an outer bead 20 formed by rolling together the rim portion 15 and the side wall portion 12. A rolled-in groove 21 formed between the inner 16 and outer 20 beads is adapted to receive the lid 22 having a pressed annular bead 23 adapted to sealably press-fit into the groove 21.

The pressed annular bead 23 forms an obverse recess presenting to the top of the closed container and providing an annular step 24.

The container stacking apparatus 10 is integrally formed by injection moulding in polyethylene copolymer ( H DPE) for solvent resistance. The container stacking apparatus 10 comprises a body portion 25 adapted in use to support the base wall portion 13 and extending to underlie the base bead portion 14. A bearing portion 26 is located at the inner periphery of the body portion 25 and bears on the base wall 13 in use. A peripheral resilient flange 27 is supported on the body portion 25 and snap-engages the base bead portion 14. An annular locating ridge portion 30 formed on the body portion 25 is adapted to engage the annular step 24 presented by the re-entrant annular groove in the lid of a second container 31.

The bearing portion 26 is a substantially continuous annular ridge 32 extending toward the underside of the base wall 13 and having a bearing section 33 forming a re-entrant 34 between the bearing section 33, ridge 32 and body portion 25.

The peripheral resilient flange 27 comprises a continuous flange of section including a flange body 34 extending from its attachment to the body portion 25 over the base bead portion 14 to a terminal section 35 which is shaped to clip over the base bead portion 14 adjacent the side wall 12.

The terminal section 35 includes a lower face 36 that is ramped, for purposes that include tolerance, and camming the apparatus snugly into the lower bead portion.

The terminal section 35 includes an upper surface 37 that may be formed with a continuous ridge 40 to form a finger pull portion, to assist in removing the apparatus from the can base.

The annular locating ridge portion 30 formed on the body portion 25 includes a surface 41 perpendicular to the body portion 25 adapted to engage a corresponding inner wall surface 42 of the annular step 24 presented by the re- entrant annular groove in the lid of a second container 31. The engagement of the surfaces 41, 42 laterally locates the respective containers.

The peripheral rolled edge 43 of the lid 22 sits slightly proud of the plane of the container top proper. The body portion 25 is relieved at 44 to accommodate the lid rolled edge. By this means the vertical load is carried principally through the abutment of the base bead portion 14, body portion 25 and outer bead 20.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the apparatus 10 can act as a guard for the top opening when reversed and clipped on to the top of an opened can. In this usage, the bearing portion 26 is adapted to clip over the inner rolled bead 16 while the peripheral resilient flange 27 snap engages the outer bead 20. The re-entrant 34 between the bearing section 33, ridge 32 and body portion 25 is adapted to clip over the inner rolled bead 16 by including a radiused inner corner 45 to snug-fit the apparatus 10 to the inner rolled bead 16.

The annular locating ridge portion 30 has a face 46 presenting to the can opening 17 that is sloped to form a means for controlling the loading of paint on a brush.

In the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6, like numerals indicate components in substance in common with components of Figs. 1 to 4. In this embodiment, an intermediate bearing rib 50 is formed on the body potion 25 and is located intermediate the peripheral resilient flange 27 and the ridge 32. The location is selected such that, when used in the container stacking mode, the intermediate rib 50 provides additional support for the can base 13. The location is also selected whereby the rib 25 corresponds with the location of the annular locating ridge portion 30. The location is further selected whereby the rib 50 is accommodated by the rolled-in groove 21 when the apparatus is used as a can lip guard.

Apparatus in accordance with the foregoing embodiment has the advantage of making round, straight wall cans stackable. The foregoing embodiment includes the dual purpose of also acting as a drip guard. In its stacking application it is a safety feature. The stacking feature optimises retail space. The stacking feature maximises brand exposure at point-of-sale (P OS). The embodiment is readily clipped on and off. As a guard, there is no ring contamination. There is accordingly good reseal integrity. Product integrity is maintained over the life of the product after opening. There is accordingly less product wastage. There is less cleaning/maintenance. The apparatus is reusable as required. The product protects the double seam and protects the can decoration. There is therefore a marketing advantage. The apparatus may be fitted by the can filler for dual purpose application or be sold at retail outlets for single purpose (g uard) application. The embodiment is value adding for packaging provider, filler and consumer. The concept is useful over a wide range of standard paint can sizes, including 63 mm to 224 mm diameter cans.

It will of course be realised that while the above has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is set forth in the claims appended hereto.

Claims (34)

1. Container stacking apparatus for use with containers having a side wall portion joined to a base wall portion, a base bead portion extending below said base wall portion, a peripheral upper bead formed at the junction of a rim portion and said side wall portion, and an annular step disposed inward of said peripheral upper bead, and including: a body portion supporting said base wall portion and extending to underlie said base bead portion; a peripheral resilient flange supported on said body portion and adapted to snap engage said base bead portion; and an annular locating ridge portion formed on said body portion and adapted to engage a corresponding said annular step of a second container.

2. Container stacking apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the container is a straight sided paint container comprising a sheet metal side wall portion joined to a base wall portion by a rolled said base bead portion, the rim portion extending between an inner rolled bead defining a top opening and said peripheral upper bead formed by rolling together the rim portion and the side wall portion, a rolled-in groove formed between the inner and peripheral upper beads being adapted to receive a lid having a pressed annular bead adapted to sealably press-fit into the rolled in groove, said annular step being provided by a recess formed as the obverse of the pressed annular bead.

3. Container stacking apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the body portion, peripheral resilient flange and annular locating ridge portion are formed integrally of metal or polymer materials.

4. Container stacking apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the material is selected from polyethylene, polypropylene and copolymers thereof, or ABS or polystyrene copolymers.

5. Container stacking apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body portion comprises an at least part annular web supporting the peripheral resilient flange and extending under the base bead portion to terminate in a bearing portion that bears on the base wall under surface.

6. Container stacking apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the bearing portion includes a substantially continuous or intermittent annular bearing member.

7. Container stacking apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the bearing portion comprises a substantially annular ridge extending toward the underside of the base wall and having a bearing section forming a re-entrant between the bearing section, ridge and web.

8. Container stacking apparatus according to any one of Claims 5 to 7, wherein the peripheral resilient flange is selected from a continuous flange or a plurality of flange portions.

9. Container stacking apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein a section of the peripheral resilient flange includes a flange body extending from an attachment to the web over the base bead portion to a terminal section which is shaped to clip over the base bead portion adjacent the side wall.

10. Container stacking apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the shape of the terminal section includes a lower face being inclined from perpendicular to the side wall, sufficient to provide tolerance, and camming the apparatus snugly into the lower bead portion.

11. Container stacking apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein an upper surface of the terminal section is formed with one or more recesses or lugs or a continuous ridge or groove to form a finger pull portion, to assist in removing the apparatus from a can base.

12. Container stacking apparatus according to any one of Claims 5 to 11, wherein the annular locating ridge portion is selected from a continuous ridge and an intermittent ridge.

13. Container stacking apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein the container is a paint tin and wherein the locating ridge is of a section whereby one or both opposed ridge surfaces are perpendicular to the body portion and engage respective inner wall surfaces of a re-entrant annular groove presented by a lid of a closed second container.

14. Container stacking apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein one ridge surface is located against a corresponding inner wall surface in use, and the other opposed ridge surface is sloped whereby the ridge section tapers away from its base.

15. Container stacking apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bearing portion is adapted to clip over the inner bead of the rim portion of an open paint can, and the peripheral resilient flange being adapted to snap engage the upper bead portion.

16. Container stacking apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein the bearing portion comprises a substantially annular ridge extending from the body and having a bearing section forming a re-entrant between the bearing section, ridge and body, the re-entrant being adapted to clip over an inner rolled bead of the paint can.

17. Container stacking apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein the inner rolled bead is a round single rolled edge and the re-entrant includes a radiused inner corner to snug-fit the apparatus to the inner rolled bead.

18. Container stacking apparatus according to Claim 17, wherein a locating ridge surface facing said opening is sloped whereby the ridge section tapers away from its base.

19. Container stacking apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a web space between the peripheral resilient flange and the bearing portion includes an intermediate bearing rib concentric with the flange and bearing portion.

20. Container stacking apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said body portion, said peripheral resilient flange and said annular locating ridge portion are adapted to be reversed to form a guard for the top opening of a container having a side wall portion and a peripheral upper rim portion extending between an inner bead defining a top opening and an outer bead formed at the connection of the rim portion and said side wall portion, whereby said body portion extends inward of said flange over said upper rim, said peripheral resilient flange is adapted to snap over said outer bead; and said annular locating ridge potion is adapted to snap engage said inner bead.

21. Container stacking apparatus according to Claim 20, wherein a web space between the peripheral resilient flange and the bearing portion includes an intermediate bearing rib concentric with the flange and bearing portion.

22. Container stacking apparatus according to Claim 21, wherein the location of the intermediate bearing rib is selected such that, when used in the container stacking mode, the intermediate rib provides additional support for the can base, is located whereby the rib corresponds with the location of the annular locating ridge portion, and the location is further selected whereby the rib is accommodated by the rolled-in groove when the apparatus is used as a can lip guard.

23. A guard for the top opening of a container having a side wall portion and a peripheral upper rim portion extending between an inner bead defining a top opening and an outer bead formed at the connection of the rim portion and said side wall portion, and including: a body portion extending inward of said flange over said upper rim; a peripheral resilient flange adapted to snap over said outer bead; and an inner resilient flange formed on said body portion and adapted to snap engage said inner bead.

24. A guard according to Claim 23, wherein the container is a straight sided paint container comprising a sheet metal side wall portion joined to a base wall portion by a rolled said base bead portion, the rim portion extending between an inner rolled bead defining a top opening and said peripheral upper bead formed by rolling together the rim portion and the side wall portion, a rolled-in groove formed between the inner and peripheral upper beads being adapted to receive a lid having a pressed annular bead adapted to sealably press-fit into the rolled in groove, said annular step being provided by a recess formed as the obverse of the pressed annular bead.

25. A guard according to Claim 24, wherein the guard comprises an integrally moulded unit of thermopolymer selected from polyethylene, polypropylene and copolymers thereof, or ABS or polystyrene copolymers.

26. A guard according to Claim 25, wherein the material of the guard is selected to be resistant to the solvent system used in the paint and/or for clean-up, whereby the guard may be cleaned for reuse.

27. A guard according to any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein the body portion comprises a continuous annular web to substantially occlude the rolled-in groove formed between the inner and outer beads, in use.

28. A guard according to Claim 27, wherein the substantially continuous annular web support a substantially continuous or interrupted peripheral resilient flange and a substantially continuous or interrupted inner resilient flange.

29. A guard according to Claim 27 or 28, wherein there is provided a continuous or partial annular ridge on the body portion upper surface.

30. A guard according to any one of claims 24 to 29, wherein the inner resilient flange comprise a substantially annular ridge extending over the inner bead and having an enlarged section forming a re-entrant between the enlarged section, ridge and body portion, adapted to clip over the inner rolled bead of the paint tin.

31. A guard according to Claim 30, wherein the inner rolled bead is a round single rolled edge and the re-entrant includes a radiused inner corner to snug-fit the apparatus to the inner rolled bead.

32. A guard according to any one of claims 24 to 31, wherein the peripheral resilient flange has a section including a flange body extending from its attachment to the web over the upper bead portion to a terminal section which is shaped to clip over the upper bead portion adjacent the side wall.

33. A guard according to Claim 32, wherein the shape of the terminal section includes an upper face inclined to the side wall in use, an inner face substantially abutting the side wall in use, an outer surface comprising an extension of the flange body outer surface and a lower surface connecting the inner surface and outer surface, inclined upper face providing tolerance and camming the apparatus snugly into the upper bead portion.

34. A guard according to Claim 33, wherein the lower surface is formed with one or more recesses or lugs or a continuous ridge or groove to form a finger pull portion, to assist in removing the apparatus from a can top. 25 50