The present invention relates to a container and in particular to An improved container cover and container body locking mechanism which will prevent contents from the assembled container from flowing out when the container is displaced from its vertical axis.
The invention further relates to a container cover and container body locking sealing-mechanism which does not separate or leak when the container is subjected to a free fall around its axis from a height of about 1.0 meter.
Furthermore the invention relates to a container cover which may be easily, safely and ergonomically detached from the container pail by using another embodiment of the invention being the detachable plastic handle grip. When the plastic handle grip is removed from the fitted wire handle it may be used as a lever to firstly pivotally and partially separate and or shear the integral lever panel of the container pail hoop which when in motion turns the container cover outer annular, angular and elastic shirt locking profiles upwards and outwards towards a ninety degree perpendicular position from its closed position. This dynamic action and movement effectively disengages the containers corresponding container cover annular flange away from the container body notch groove profile which allows easy and ergonomic opening of the container. This manipulation is provided normally by the container end user being of average adult human strength and to gain access to the packaged product.
Upon refitting of the container closure firstly onto and within the container body the container closure inverted elastic locking skirt may be pushed in a downwards motion reengaging the corresponding container body and container closure corresponding annular flange and annular groove in a helical motion.
Furthermore no member part of the whole container needs to be removed and no compromising of the locking mechanism physical strength occurs when opening the container. Upon first removal of the container closure from the container body tamper evidence is clearly and visually evident due to the partial separation of the levered container body integral hinged level panel from the container body outer annular skirt.
Even furthermore the invention incorporates a unique internal air pressure bleeding profile which allows higher than normal air pressure within the closed and sealed container to escape through venting grooves and ports without leakage of the packaged fluid product. Those familiar in the art of wide mouth packaging design and usage will understand the need for such a venting system which firstly allows a faster container closure fitment onto the container body particularly when the container body member parts is closed on a high speed product capping machine. Displacement of trapped air is a major problem and bulging of the container closure top centre panel is the adverse result. Furthermore those familiar with the fitting of such wide mouth closures understand the existing problems and refer to such removal of built up internal pressure as burbing the container. The invention, as such, does not require burping to relieve the internal air pressure as any buildup of internal pressure, and for whatever reason, is gradually and effectively evacuated from the container head space chamber commonly known as the container ullage space.
Still furthermore, and due to the improved advancements and developments in the rheology of plastic polymers and injection moulding processes, it is now possible to produce thinner and more malleable elastic part profiles particularly in the regions were sealing and locking is critical. The invention profiles are designed and fashioned accordingly to achieve vastly improved performance when compared to existing prior art designs and similar wide mouth packaging locking and sealing integral mechanisms.
Ordinary prior art wide-mouthed plastic pail and closure containers suffer distinct disadvantages with regard to meeting various known and consumer requested performance and handling market expectations. Typical containers that are in popular use for the packaging of a wide variety of products such as emulsion based paints, lubricants, greases and food products normally cannot effectively be resealed after the closure has been opened once. Prior art containers which have effective sealing devices are usually elaborately designed and are relatively expensive to manufacture due to the need to have vulcanized rubber O-ring seals to achieve effective and reliable seal-ability.
Furthermore conventional plastic container locking mechanisms cannot withstand force exerted externally during normal use. Conventional plastic containers also are not capable of being stacked one on top of another in a warehouse, as the lower units become distorted due to the increased top load weight mainly due to lid deformation.
Still furthermore ordinary plastic containers, particularly used to package industrial products such as paints, may be opened quite easily without any visual sign of tamper evidence in spite of the fact that tamper evident removable tear strips and tabs are in place.
Even furthermore conventional prior art container designs that comply with market tamper evidence requirements are often extraordinarily difficult to open with the need to use tools such as knives, cutters and levers which may cause serious injury.
Still furthermore, and due to the removal of such prior art tamper evidence strips and tabs, responsibility must be taken by the manufacturing supplier to ensure that these parts are recovered and sent for recycling and according to ISO 14,000 and Cradle to Grave laws.
Another most serious negative disadvantage of ordinary prior art containers, and those that achieve absolute internal leak proof and air tight seal ability, is the negative affect when the air space above the packaged liquid and the underside of the container lid, commonly known as the container ullage, is exposed and or subjected to increased external heat and or when there is a change in the outer atmospheric pressure. Container cover bulging and distortion including the ultimate leakage of the packaged fluid will occur when the filled containers are transported, for instance sake, from sea level to higher altitudes and over rough terrain.
Furthermore, and when these containers are exposed to an increase in external ambient heat the container cover centre recessed panel bulges outwards making stacking of multiple containers (4-5 high) in a single unsupported column impossible.
The present invention provides solutions to all the above mentioned negative aspects of existing prior art wide mouth plastic container body and container cover assemblies.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a container cover and container body locking mechanism whereby a tight and leak proof seal is created.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a container cover and container body locking mechanism which can withstand a strong force when applied across and along the vertical and/or radial axis of the corresponding container body and closure locking mechanisms.
Other objects of the present invention are to provide a seal-able container to hold flow-able substances, which is inexpensive to manufacture, is reusable, provide a reliable airtight and liquid tight locking and sealing mechanism and continue to do so when opened and closed a great number of times and when in use.
Still furthermore, another object of the invention is to achieve visible tamper proof evidence of first opening without the need to remove any part of the lid or pail outer skirt which is common practice with most other prior art container designs. New cradle to grave international recycling laws now are enforcing that any container detachable member part is the responsibility of the packaging manufacturer with taxes applicable for the recovery of the detached packaging part.
Another preferred embodiment of the invention has a sealable container comprising a container body and a sealable container lid which is completely fit-able thereto. The container body has an open top with a rim there around, an annular flange spaced apart in a selected spatial relationship and extending radially outwards from the external wall of container body. The annular flange is integrally formed with the container body. The annular flange which is integrally connected to the container body rim includes an annular skirt extending radially outwards from an underneath part of the annular flange. The cover lid has an annular skirt which includes annular angled ring band formed thereon in the same spatial relationship as that of the annular flange notch groove of the container body, whereby the annular angled ring band is snap fasten-able over and within the corresponding container body annular flange notch groove. The cover lid further includes annular curtains disposed from the undersurface of the lid and configured to fit in a close size for size contact with the inner and outer wall of the container body upper ring annular curtain.
In another aspect of the invention a plurality of strengthening fins are disposed between the annular skirt of the container body and the external wall of the container body, the fins being integrally formed with the annular skirt and the container body.
A plurality of strengthening fins are disposed between the first annular curtain of the container closure and the underneath portion of the lid cover, and a plurality of second fins being integrally formed with the lid outer skirt and the second annular curtain respectively.
The annular skirt of the container lid includes an annular, angular and elastic ring band which after engagement onto the container body in its locked and scaled condition may be physically inverted and folded upwards and away from the corresponding container body outer skirt annular notch groove enabling container opening in a safe, easy and ergonomic manner.
Still furthermore the container may be opened using the provided snap fasten able multipurpose plastic moulded carry handle grip/container opening tool. This leverage tool, and after complete removal of the closure, may be reattached to the mating container body steel rod handle assembly in readiness for its container carrying application.
Even furthermore the present invention includes a plurality of air pressure evacuation vent channels and ports to aid in the normalization of the internal pressure of the container and when subjected to various atmospheric and ambient temperature conditions particularly when being transported on an open back lorry or stored in direct sunlight.
Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In order that the invention may be easily understood and carried into effect, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings as an example of an embodiment of the invention, wherein:
The container body [10] has an open top [12] with a rim [14] there around. An annular skirt [24] extends radially outwards adjacent to the base of the rim wall [14] which includes a radially upward and outward annular flange [16] with an inner annular flange [18] and an outward annular flange [20] in a concentric spaced apart relation to the inner annular flange. Preferably the outer annular flange [20] is angled at the top outer corner so as to allow for engagement with the container closure [30] mating profile [45].
The container body [10] annular flange [22] includes an annular notch [25] which creates an engagement recess slot for the container closure [30] corresponding annular and angled elastic flange [45] which creates the effective locking and sealing condition and upon container member part engagement.
To provide rigidity and to provide a means to absorb lateral impact force applied to the skirt [22] a plurality of strengthening ribs [26] is provided to connect the underside of the shirt [22] and the container body [10]. The fins [26] comprise a plurality of substantially vertical fins extending from the extreme lower inner edge of the skirt [22] connecting with annular flange [16] and annular flange [25]. From a side elevation view the fins are clearly observable in
The container cover [30] best observed in axial cross sectional view in
It will be observed that the container cover [30] annular flanges and curtains are designed and dimensionally configured to provide a tight fitting, leak proof and air tight condition when fitted over and within the container body [10] inner and outer top hoop profiles and outer flange recess. In another aspect of the invention, a portion of the container body [10] annular skirt member [22] has a semi detachable lever panel [2] provided which is integrally hinged [4] with two adjacent āVā shaped grooves [3] which when manually levered upwards and outwards in an arc motion will partially separate from the container body annular skirt [22] along the length of the two grooves [3]. These weakened sectional āVā shaped grooves [3] are substantially perpendicular to the integral hinge [4].
Yet another aspect of the invention is the use of the container plastic hand grip [37] which is manually detachable from the provided metal road handle/grip assembly [38].
Once removed the plastic handled grip may be inverted with one section positioned over and on top of the container closure [30] uppermost top panel perimeter profile [80] and hooked on the inner side of the container body lever panel [2] and for the purpose of levering the container body [10] lever panel [2] upwards in an arc motion partially separating the lever panel [2] from the main container body [10] annular notch groove [25] and annular outer skirt [22] and as illustrated in
This action transmits motion and may be used to safely and ergonomically remove the container cover [30] from the container body [10]. As shown in
Yet another preferred embodiment of the invention is the ease at which the container cover [30] can be reapplied to the container body [10] in a leak proof, air tight condition. When the container has been opened the container cover [30] annular and outer annular, angled elastic ring band [45] is in an inverted position when compared to its closed position and when engaged with the corresponding container body annular groove [25]. To reclose the container the closure [30] is placed over the container body [10] and when downward pressure is applied over and around the annular, angled and elastic rings bands [45] the annular rings bands will flip back into position in a helical motion engaging with the container body [10] annular notch groove [25]. This practice may be repeated numerous times without compromising the integrity of the fit between the two mating container member profiles.
It will be appreciated that the container cover locates easily over the container body. When pressure is applied downwards from the top of closure towards the container, the plurality of annular curtains [44, 40 and 43] slide snugly within the container body [10] corresponding annular groove [60] and the container closure [30] annular and outer angled flange [45] engages into its lockable and leak proof orientation with the container body [10] annular notch flange [25].
Once in a closed position, the container closure [30] cannot be removed from the container body [10] unless the lever panel [2] has been partially disengaged from the container body annular skirt member [22] and as described. Once this partial disengagement has occurred the lever panel [4] cannot be completely re-attached in its first manufactured position to the container body [10] annular skirt [22] therefore showing evidence of tampering or most importantly pre-sale opening. What is particularly visually obvious is the two adjacent weakened thinner grooves [3] have been sheared away causing separation from the container body [10] annular skirt member [22] therefore proof of container opening is clear and to the naked eye tamper evident.
Still further more the invention member profiles may be adapted to any shape wide mouth container body and container closure and more specifically to any size ranging from 1 litre capacity to 30 litre capacity. As shown in
Even further more, and when market performance requirements do not include increased side wall and lateral impact and top load performance, the strengthening fins and as shown in the
Furthermore, the invention member part [51], and as illustrated on
Yet another aspect of the present invention and as illustrated on
Another aspect of the present invention is the multiple load bearing points and when the container closure [30] and the container closure annular recessed center panel [71] is subjected to top load weight. As illustrated on
Yet another aspect of the present invention is the positioning of a plurality of notch grooves [76] in a perpendicular relationship to the container closure [30] top panel surface and positioned on the outer surface of the annular, angled elastic ring bands [45]. The addition of such notch grooves [76] allows for easier part ejection from the injection mould and or easier container closure [30] removal from the container body [10] and upon opening of the container assembly.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the number of annular flanges on the container body and the corresponding number of annular notches and rings in the lid need not be limited to and as written and illustrated in the above described preferred embodiment.
Whilst the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it must be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various modifications and applications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and forms and as permitted under the law.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it should be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited by the terms of the appended claims.
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Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/TH2016/000069 | 8/11/2016 | WO | 00 |