WO1991007331A1

WO1991007331A1 - Improvements in storage means

Info

Publication number: WO1991007331A1
Application number: PCT/AU1990/000539
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernd Walter Sager
Original assignee: Bernd Walter Sager
Priority date: 1989-11-10
Filing date: 1990-11-09
Publication date: 1991-05-30

Abstract

A container for marketable products, commodities and the like, and a closure therefor, with container and closure having mating or co-operating threaded means thereon, said threaded means each including at least one protrusion adapted to co-operate with a mating protrusion on the other of said container and closure so as to prevent 'backing off' or unwanted leakage.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN STORAGE MEANS

The present invention relates, in general terms, to improvements in containers and closure means therefor. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to an improved form of jar and lid especially intended for the storage, for sale and subsequent use, of marketable products, commodities or the like.

Throughout the ensuing description reference will be made to an especially preferred embodiment of the present invention, involving a closable jar, or the like container and a separate, and separable, closure means therefor. It should be understood, however, that such is given by way of example only and that the invention is not to be considered to be restricted to the preferred embodiment described.

Nowadays a substantial number of products are made available to the public in what might be termed re-usable containers. All types of products are marketed in such containers, including cosmetics, medicines, foodstuffs, drinks etc. Almost invariably it will be the case that the entire contents of the container will not be exhausted in a single use and, under such circumstances, it then becomes imperative that the container is capable of being closed, resealed or the like. This is especially the case, of course, when the contents of the container are of a perishable nature. It is also desirable that such a container be closable whereby to minimise (at least) the possibility of unwanted wastage in the instance of accidental tipping over when not in use, during cartage or whatever.

Prior art configurations for re-usable containers of the type under consideration have generally involved the provision, on the neck portion or uppermost free edge portion of the container, of a threaded section adapted, in use, to releasably receive and co-operate with a complementary threaded portion of a cap or the like closure means for the overall container. Such arrangements, have, however, suffered from the disadvantage of exhibiting a tendency to what is called "backing off", or in other words an unwanted and at least partial unscrewing of the cap from the container itself. Such "backing off" can arise for a variety of reasons, as for example as a result of impacts - single or more often than not repeated - of the type that can be expected to be encountered during movement and or storage of the container. Once the initially applied seal is broken then when the entire contents are not used at the first usage or instance the remainder will be stored for subsequent use. The stored container will then be subject to "abuse" in a variety of ways as for example impact damage during transport or storage, tipping over, etc. The end result can be, however, an unwanted at least partial egress from the container of the contents thereof. Such a result is undesirable both physically - in terms of loss and associated wastage of contents - and economically. The present invention seeks to overcome the problems and disadvantages associated with the prior art by providing a container and a closure means or mechanism therefor which is substantially proof against "backing off", such that there can be no unwanted loss of contents during movement, storage etc., of the overall sealed or capped container, more especially once the original seal has been broken.

In accordance with the present invention, therefore, there is provided a container and a closure means therefor, wherein both said container and said closure means each include means adapted, in use, to prevent relative separation therebetween, thereby preventing unwanted egress of product from the container.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to preferred embodiments of a container and associated closure means in accordance with the invention. The ensuing description is given by way of non-limitative example only and is with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a container and associated cap or closure means in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the container and closure means of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a further exploded view showing a container and associated closure means in their in-use condition. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in Fig. 1, in accordance with the present invention there is provided a container, generally designated 1, which includes a main body portion 2 and, towards the uppermost open end thereof, a so-called neck portion 3, preferably of a reduced diameter when compared with the body- portion 2 of the container 1. The arrangement in accordance with the present invention also includes a closure means or cap member generally designated 10, adapted to co-operate with the container 1. The container 1 and closure means 10 are adapted to be releasably interconnectable in any known manner, whereby to allow for repeated use thereof.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated the neck portion 3 has provided thereon, in any known manner, a circumferentially extending screw- thread or the like means 4. In an alternative embodiment not illustrated, there may be provided at least one, and preferably a plurality, of separate, circumferentially disposed, spaced apart protrusions, arranged symmetrically or in some predetermined pattern or order around the circumference or periphery of the neck portion 3. Again in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the screw thread 4 or the or each protrusion is formed integrally with the neck portion 3. In a practical sense the overall container 1 according to the present invention is formed of any suitable material, more preferably a plastics material, in a single moulding operation. It must be realized however, that the method of manufacture is not of the essence of the invention.

The screw-threaded portion 4, as illustrated in Figs 1 and 2, is made up of a lead-in section 5 and terminates in a portion or section 6 disposed towards the vicinity of the top of the neck portion 3. That portion 6 serves, in use, as a stop means for the cap or closure means, to be described in more detail hereinafter. As illustrated the screw-threaded portion 4 also includes in said top section 6 and towards the free-end thereof, and preferably extending along at least one side thereof, a plurality of serrations or discontinuities 7. A cap or closure means 10 in accordance with the present invention is designed specifically to co-operate with the neck portion 3 of the container 1 and the screw-threaded portion 4 thereof. In this regard the cap or closure means 10 includes, on the internal periphery thereof, a screw-thread 11 of a complementary shape to that of the container 1. In an alternative embodiment again not shown, the closure means 10 can include at least one protrusion, more preferably an equivalent number to the number of protrusions on the neck portion 3 of the container 1, intended, in use, to co-operate with such protrusions of the container. In other words, and as in the preferred embodiment illustrated, the cap or closure means 10 includes an internal screw- threaded portion 11 complementary to the screw thread provided on the neck 3 of the container 1 and adapted, in use, to co-operate therewith. To this end the screw thread 11 on the cap or closure means 11 also includes a plurality of serrations 12 of a similar size and shape to those appearing on the threaded portion 4 of the container 1. The arrangement is such that, when the cap or closure means 10 is located on the container 1, the serrations 12 from the cap or closure means 10 engage with the corresponding serrations on the neck portion 3 of the container 1, thereby preventing "backing off" or unwinding. Indeed, in a practical sense the mating serrations will function to prevent relative movement between container 1 and closure means 10 until such time as those serrations have been disengaged. The serrations and screw-threads can then be seen to themselves constitute a means of sealing the container against unwanted leakage, even after breakage of the "initial" seal.

In an alternative embodiment, not illustrated, the serrations may be replaced by one or more lugs or the like members and corresponding or complementary slots, bore holes or the like provided on the respective container 1 and closure means 10. In the preceding description mention has been made of preferred embodiments of the present invention, each involving at least one mating pair of discrete elements, arranged in a pre-determined order on the periphery of the neck portion 3 and closure means 10 respectively. In yet a further preferred embodiment (not shown) the neck portion 3 may have an external thread formed thereon, that thread including a plurality of serrations, or lugs extending over at least a part thereof and adapted, in use, to co-operate with a mating thread, or a complementary-shaped slot or aperture, provided on the cap or closure means 10. Once again the arrangement will be such that, in use, interaction between the respective serrations, or inter-engagement between lugs and slots or apertures, will prevent unwanted "backing-off" of the closure means from the container.

In dosing, it should be understood that the preceding description refers to preferred embodiments of the arrangement in accordance with the present invention and that variations and modifications will be possible thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A means for the storage of marketable products, commodities or the like, induding a container for said marketable products, commodities or the like and a dosure means therefor, wherein both said container and said dosure means eadi indude means adapted, in use, to prevent relative separation therebetween, thereby preventing unwanted egress from said container of the contents thereof.

2. The storage means as dai ed in daim 1, induding a main body portion and a neck portion, wherein said neck portion is of a reduced internal diameter as compared with same main body portion.

3. The storage means as daimed in daim 2, wherein both said container and said dosure means each indude mating and complementary means adapted, in use, to prevent said separation.

4. The storage means as daimed in daim 3, wherein said container indudes, on said neck portion thereof and extending circumferentially thereon, an external screw thread, and wherein said dosure means indudes an internal screw-thread of a complementary shape to that of said container.

5. The storage means as daimed in daim 3, wherein said container indudes, on said neck portion thereof, at least one externally directed protrusion adapted, in use, to co-operate with at least one complementary internally directed protrusion of said dosure means.

6. The storage means as daimed in daim 4, wherein said screw threads of both said container and said dosure means each indude a lead-in portion and a tail or end portion and wherein each said tail or end portion indudes a plurality of mating or complementary serrations or discontinuities.

7. The storage means as daimed in daim 5, wherein the or eadi protrusion of both said container and said dosure means indudes a plurality of mating or complementary serrations or discontinuities.