WO1996009217A1

WO1996009217A1 - Stackable container comprising pail and removable lid

Info

Publication number: WO1996009217A1
Application number: PCT/AU1995/000620
Authority: WO
Inventors: Keith Boxall; Swee Yew Teo; Melissa Helen Mcculloch; Peter John Menhenett
Original assignee: Viscount Consolidated Industries Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1994-09-23
Filing date: 1995-09-22
Publication date: 1996-03-28
Also published as: AUPM836894A0

Abstract

A stackable container comprising an injection moulded pail (2) and an injection moulded removable lid (12). The lid has a generally C-shaped projection (42) and the bottom of the container includes a shallow annular recess (32) defined by skirt (23) and rib (26), the arrangement being such that when the containers are stacked, the projection of the lid is received within the recess of the next uppermost pail, the lid including an outlet spigot (40) and removable cap (49) which in stacked arrangement are located within the annular recess of the upper pail. The upper surface of the removable lid (12) including the area surrounding the spigot is moulded in such a way that the lid is inherently self-draining.

Description

STACKABLE CONTAINER COMPRISING PAIL AND REMOVABLE LID

This invention relates to a stackable container.

More particularly, the invention relates to a stackable container in the form of a pail and a removable lid, the bottom of the pail and the top of the lid being provided with formations which facilitate stable stacking of the containers.

According to the present invention there is provided a stackable container made from moulded plastics material, said container comprising a pail and a removable lid, the pail having a top rim which is interlockable with the lid, and wherein the bottom of the pail includes one or more bottom formations and the top of the lid includes one or more top formations which is or are generally complementary to the bottom formation or formations whereby when the containers are stacked the bottom of the upper pail is supported against lateral displacement by the top formations of the lower container.

Preferably the bottom formations define a generally annular recess.

In a preferred embodiment, the lid includes an outlet spigot and a cap removably mounted thereon, the arrangement being such that when the containers are stacked the cap of the lid of the lower pail is located in the annular recess of the upper pail.

Preferably, the lid includes a peripheral annular portion on its upper surface and wherein said spigot projects from a base part of the upper surface which permits drainage of fluid spilled or falling onto the upper surface of the lid to said annular portion. In a further preferred embodiment, the outlet spigot is integrally moulded with a tearable sealing member.

Preferably, the sealing member comprises a diaphragm joined to the inner surface of the spigot at a line of weakness.

Preferably, the pail is downwardly tapered so that pails with their lids removed can be nested and wherein the pail includes a projection or projections from its outer surface which is or are engagable with the top rim of a nested pail so as to limit the extent of nesting and thereby facilitate separation of the nested pails.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a pail of the invention; Figure 2 is a view of the bottom of the pail;

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3;

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the lid;

Figure 6 is a side view of the lid; Figure 7 is an underside view of the lid;

Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8;

Figure 9 illustrates in section stacked and nested containers;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view of a seal; and

Figure 11 is a cross-section along the line 11-11.

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a pail 2 constructed in accordance with the invention. It is preferably integrally moulded from plastics material such as polypropylene or polyethylene by injection moulding. It comprises a bottom 4, sidewall 6 and top rim 8. The sidewall 6 is tapered in the downward direction so as to permit nesting of the containers as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 9. The sidewall 6 is formed with an upper projecting rib 10 which cooperates with a lid 12, which is illustrated in Figures 5 to 8. The sidewall 6 also includes a lower rib 14, the purpose of which is to impart strength to the upper part of the sidewall and also to limit the degree of nesting of the pails so that they can be easily separated. The rib 14 comprises a laterally extending leg 16 and a downtumed skirt portion 18 and a plurality of strengthening webs 20. When empty pails 2 are nested, as shown in Figure 9, the lower edges of the webs 20 engage the top rims 8 of the lower pails. This prevents a substantial degree of contact between the sidewalls 6 of the nested pails which would have the effect of making them difficult to separate.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the shape of the bottom 4 of the pail. It will be seen that it comprises a transverse bottom surface 22 which joins with the sidewall 6. The bottom 4 includes a skirt 23 which is contiguous with the sidewall 6. A plurality of strengthening webs 24 join the skirt 23 to the adjacent parts of the bottom surface 22. The bottom 4 further includes an annular projecting rib 26 which is concentric with the axis of the pail. The lower edge 28 of the rib 26 does not extend as far as the lower edge 30 of the skirt 23 beneath the bottom surface 22. The skirt 23 and rib 26 define an annular recess 32.

The lid 12 is illustrated in more detail in Figures 5 to 8. The lid 12 is preferably injection moulded from the same material as that which is used to form the pail 2. The lid has an upper surface 34 integrally formed with a downtumed skirt 36 which terminates with a tear off strip 38. As best seen in Figure 8, the tear off strip is joined to the skirt 36 by a line of weakness 37. The strip 38 includes a tab 39 which enables the user to grip the tab and commence tearing the strip 38 from the skirt 36. The lower edge of the strip 38 is formed with an inwardly directed flange 41 which engages the lower face of the rib 10 of the pail so as to form a secure lock therewith. The integrity of the strip 38 and flange 41 provide a visual indication whether or not there has been tampering therewith. A broad part-annular projection 42 projects upwardly from the upper surface 34 of the lid. The dimensions of the projection 42 are such that when containers (with lids on the pails) are stacked, as shown in Figure 9, the projection 42 of the lid of a lower container is received generally within the recess 32 of an upper pail. The lid 12 includes a threaded outlet spigot 40 which is normally sealed by means of an integrally moulded sealing diaphragm 44. The diaphragm 44 is connected to the inner surface of the spigot 40 by means of a line of weakness 46. A tab or ring 48 is moulded with the diaphragm 44 so that when it is pulled by the user it tears away from the inner surface of the spigot 40 so as to enable liquid to pass through the spigot 40.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate an alternative arrangement for the moulded diaphragm 44 and ring 48. Figure 10 shows a fragmentary underside view of the diaphragm. It will be seen that the diaphragm 44 includes an inner line of weakness 70 which extends from a starting point 72 through about 270° to a curved portion 73 which joins with a generally radial portion 74 which, in turn, joins with the line of weakness 46. The curved portion 73 is beneath the base of the ring 48. A strip 76 is thus defined between the lines of weakness 46 and 70. When the user pulls the ring 48, a tear will start near the junction of the line 74 with the line 46 to enable the strip 76 to be separated around the periphery of the diaphragm 44 to ensure correct removal of the diaphragm 44. Normally a threaded cap 49 is provided for the spigot 40, as seen in Figure 9. The dimensions of the spigot 40 and cap 49 are such that when the cap 49 is closed on the spigot it is received within the recess 32 of a pail stacked thereon so that it does not interfere with the stackability of the containers.

The lid has a central generally circular raised portion 50 which is at a level intermediate of the upper surface 34 and the part-annular projection 42. The arrangement is such that if any liquid spills or falls onto the central portion 50 or onto the generally annular portion 52 of the surface 34 which suπounds the spigot 40, the liquid does not accumulate on the lid and can flow radially outwardly towards the skirt 36 and therefore run off the lid.

The relative heights of the upper surface 34 and portion 50 are such that when the containers are stacked, the lower edge 30 of the skirt engages the upper surface 34 outwardly adjacent to the projection 42 and the lower edge 28 of the rib engages the portion 50 inwardly adjacent to the projection 42, as seen in Figure 9. The upper surface of the projection 42 and the top of the cap 49 normally do not contact the lower surface of the bottom 22.

The interengagement of the projections on the lid and base provide for stable stacking of the lidded containers. In particular the arrangement is such that the interfitting parts provide for lateral stability whilst, at the same time, the configuration of the top of the lid is such that it is inherently self-draining.

The inner face of the skirt 36 is provided with a tapering locking projection 56. The lower face of the upper surface 34 is provided with a skirt portion 58 which is adjacent to the projection 56 so as to define a recess 60 which receives the top rim 8 to form an interlocked connection therewith, as seen in Figure 9. A sealing element 62 can be located in the recess 60 so that it is sealingly clamped between the rim 8 and underside of the upper surface 34 of the lid.

As best seen in Figures 7 and 8, the skirt 58 is strengthened by a plurality of strengthening webs 64 and the underside of the lid may be formed with a lesser number of longer strengthening ribs 66 which help to impart rigidity to the lid.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A stackable container made from moulded plastics material, said container comprising a pail (2) and a removable lid (12), the pail having a top rim (8) which is interlockable with the lid, and wherein the bottom (4) of the pail includes one or more bottom formations (23, 24, 28) and the top of the lid includes one or more top formations (42) which is or are generally complementary to the bottom formation or formations whereby when the containers are stacked the bottom of the upper pail is supported against lateral displacement by the top formations of the lower container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom formations define a generally annular recess (32).

3. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein the top formation includes a projection (42).

4. A container as claimed in claim 3 wherein the lid includes an outlet spigot (40) and a cap (49) removably mounted thereon, the arrangement being such that when the containers are stacked the cap of the lid of the lower pail is located in the annular recess of the upper pail.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4 wherein the lid has an upper surface (34) from which said projection (42) and said spigot (40) project.

6. A container as claimed in claim 5 wherein said projection is part annular.

7. A container as claimed in claim 6 wherein the upper surface (34) includes a central raised portion (50) which is at a level intermediate of the peripheral part of the upper surface and the part annular projection whereby said lid is self-draining.

8. A container as claimed in claim 7 wherein the generally annular recess is defined by an outer skirt (23) and a projecting rib (26).

9. A container as claimed in claim 8 wherein the pail includes a sidewall (6) which is tapered in a downward direction and wherein said skirt is contiguous with the sidewall.

10. A container as claimed in claim 9 wherein the bottom edges of the skirt contacts said peripheral annular portion and the bottom edge (28) of the rib contacts said central raised portion (50) when the containers are stacked.

11. A container as claimed in claim 10 wherein the outlet spigot is closed by an integrally formed sealing diaphragm (44).

12. A container as claimed in claim 11 wherein the diaphragm is joined to the spigot by a line of weakness (46).