Closure unit for a container, combination of such a closure unit and a container and method for closing a container

Abstract

Closure unit for a container, comprising a substantially flat cover element, for closing off the aperture in the container which cover element is provided with a tension element, for creating a pressure force that presses the cover element to a rim that surrounds the aperture of the container. The invention also prides a closure unit and a container as well as to methods for closing and opening a container with such a closure unit.

Claims

1. A closure unit for a container which closure unit is suitable to be re-used repeatedly for the container, and which closure unit comprises a substantially flat cover element for closing off the aperture in the container, which cover element is provided with a tension element, for creating a pressure force that presses the cover element to a rim that surrounds the aperture of the container in the situation wherein the closure unit is applied onto the container for closing off the aperture; which tension element is provided with couplings for cooperation with the container in order to create the pressure force, wherein the tension element in a closed position is enclosing at least the perimeter of the substantially flat cover element and is pressing the substantially flat cover element at least at one contact surface while the couplings of the tension element are in cooperating contact with the container; wherein the tension element is composed of at least two mutually displaceable parts, the mutually displaceable parts being moveable from an open position to the closed position, as well as being conversely movable from the closed position to the open position which allows a user to alternate between the closed position and the open position repeatedly, which open position and closed position achieve respectively an open configuration and a closed configuration of the tension element which allows for a respective opening and closing of the aperture of the container onto which the closure unit is applied and thus allows for the consequent repeated re-use of the closure unit for the container, wherein the closed position of the mutually displaceable parts, in the situation wherein the couplings of the tension element are in cooperating contact with the container, results in at least one contact surface of the tension element being pressed in a direction having at least a pressure force component perpendicular to the flat cover element, wherein the at least two mutually displaceable parts of the tension element are rotatably connected by a hinging connection, which hinging connection abuts an abutment structure provided on the upper side of the cover plate in order for the hinging connection to function as a lever.

2. The closure unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the movement of the mutual displaceable parts of the tension element towards the closed position results in a movement of at least one contact surface of the tension element being displaced in a direction towards the flat cover element.

3. The closure unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the rotatably connected mutually displaceable parts of the tension element in the closed position are lying in a single plane.

4. The closure unit according to claim 1, wherein the tension element is detachably connected to the cover element.

5. The closure unit according to claim 4, characterised in that the cover element is provided with a groove for at least partially receiving the aperture surrounding rim of the container.

6. The closure unit according to claim 5, characterised in that the cover element is provided with a gasket for contacting the aperture surrounding rim of the container.

7. The closure unit according to claim 6, characterised in that the cover element and the tension element are made out of a polymeric material.

8. The closure unit according to claim 7, characterised in that the closure unit has a substantially rectangular or circular shape.

9. A combination of the closure unit according to claim 8 and a container, wherein the container is provided with at least one aperture surrounded by an aperture rim and wherein the closure unit fits the aperture rim.

10. The combination of a container and closure unit according to claim 9, characterised in that the container is an substantially 3d rectangular shaped box having a substantially rectangular open top or the container is an substantially drum shaped having a substantially circular open top.

11. The combination of a container and closure unit according to claim 10, characterised in that the container is provided with cooperating counter-couplings that cooperate with the couplings of the closure unit in such a way that in the closed configuration of the tension element an interlocking of the couplings and counter-couplings is achieved which creates a pressure force that presses the cover element onto the container.

12. A method for closing a container, comprising the method steps of: A) providing an open topped container; B) placing a closure unit according to claim 1 on the container with the tension element in an open configuration, so that a cover element contacts an aperture surrounding rim the container, whereby couplings of the closure unit are aligned with counter couplings on the container for mutual interlocking; C) moving mutually displaceable parts of the tension element of the closure unit from an open position to a closed position whereby an interlocking of the couplings and counter-couplings is accomplished such that a pressure force is exerted by the tension element onto the cover element in the direction towards the container.

13. A method for opening a container closed off by a closure unit according to claim 1, wherein the container is closed off by a pressure force that is exerted by the tension element onto the cover element in the direction towards the container by virtue of the mutual interlocking of couplings and counter-couplings, comprising the method steps of: X) moving the mutually displaceable parts of the tension element of the closure unit from the closed position to the opened position whereby the mutual interlocking of the couplings and counter-couplings is unlocked; and Y) removing the closure unit from the container such that the aperture of the container is rendered free.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be further elucidated on the basis of the non-limitative exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures. Herein shows:

(2) FIG. 1A an exploded view on a combination of a container and closure unit according the invention;

(3) FIG. 1B a perspective view on the combination of the container and closure unit according FIG. 1A in an assembled and closed configuration;

(4) FIGS. 2A-2C detailed sectional views of subsequent stages of closing of the combination of the container and closure unit according FIGS. 1A and 1B;

(5) FIGS. 3A and 3B perspective views of two variants of stacked container and closure assemblies according the FIGS. 1A and 1B;

(6) FIGS. 4A and 4B two detailed perspective views of variations of temper proof construction parts incorporated in the closure assemblies according the FIGS. 1A-3B;

(7) FIG. 5A an exploded view on an alternative embodiment of a combination of a container and closure unit according the invention; and

(8) FIG. 5B a perspective view on the combination of the container and closure unit according FIG. 5A in an assembled state and in a closed configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) FIG. 1A shows a container 1 with an aperture 2 in the top. The aperture 2 in the container 1 is surrounded by a rim 3, around which rim 3 counter-couplings 4 are provided. Above the container 1, in an exploded view, a closure unit 5 is depicted. The closure unit 5 comprises a substantially flat cover element 6 that fits the rim 3 of the aperture 2 in the container 1. In the substantially flat cover element 6 a groove (that is not visible in this figure) is provided having dimensions so that it may partially receive the rim 3 of the aperture 2 in the container 1, in this groove also a gasket 8 may be housed, which gasket 8 may be made out of a flexible material. The closure unit 5 further comprises a tension element 7 that is composed of two mutual displaceable tension element parts 7A, 7B. These two mutually displaceable tension element parts 7A, 7B are rotatably connected and their operation will be further disclosed in relation to FIGS. 2A-2C.

(10) The underside of the tension element part 7B has a profiling 71 which can be snapped onto the raised profile 61 that surrounds the cover element 6. As such, the tension element is detachably connected to the cover element, thus forming a closure unit. Part 7A and 7B are rotatably connected by virtue of hinging parts 74 resp. 75 which together form a hinging connection. On the upper side of the cover plate, an abutment structure 80 is provided against which the hinging part 74 abuts in order for the hinging connection to additionally function as a lever.

(11) The profiling 71 of the tension element is such that it allows for a minor sliding movement of the tension element over the cover plate in the plane of the cover plate when snapped onto the raised profile 61.

(12) FIG. 1B shows the combination of the container 1 and closure unit 5 according FIG. 1A in an assembled state. The closure unit 5 herein closes off the aperture 2 in the top of the container 1.

(13) FIG. 2A shows a detailed sectional view of a first stage of the closing off of a container by the closure unit 5 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The closure unit 5 is brought above an open top surrounding rim 3 of the container 1, while the second tension element part 7A is in a upward turned orientation (full open position). Further, the lower inside wall of the tension element part 7B is provided with cams 30 which function as couplings for cooperation with the counter couplings 4 of the container 1.

(14) In a subsequent stage shown in FIG. 2B, the closure unit 5 is pressed downwardly by a user onto the container so that the surrounding profile on the underside of the cover plate is fitted onto the rim 3 of the container 1. During the downward movement of the closure unit 5, the cams 30 of tension element 7B are also moved downward, and are aligned with the counter couplings 4 of the container.

(15) By movement of the tension element part 7A towards the left, the tension element part 7B is also drawn to the left because of the hinging connection, while the cover plate is maintained in place onto the rim 3 of the container. Because of this movement of the tension element part 7B, the cams 30 are forced underneath the counter-couplings 4 of the container, and the tension element part 7B is pulled against the cover plate, thus pressing the cover plate more firmly against the rim.

(16) The final stage of closing is shown in FIG. 2C, wherein the cams 30 are in their end position underneath the counter couplings 4, achieving a most firmly pressed cover plate 6 against the rim of the container 1.

(17) In FIG. 3A two closed combinations of the container 1 and closure unit 5 are depicted in a stacked situation, showing that the top of the closure assemblies 5 is provided with a recess 9 for receiving a bottom 10 of the container 1, thus providing a stack of closed containers 1 more stability.

(18) In FIG. 3B an open container 1′ is nested with a second closed container 1″ and onto the closure unit 5″ of the closed container 1″ is an individual closure unit 5′ stacked. This FIG. 3B shows a further variation of efficient stacking combinations of containers 1, 1′, 1″ and closure assemblies 5, 5′, 5″ in various configurations.

(19) FIG. 4A shows a temper proof construction of the container 1 and closure unit 5 combination according the previous figures. In the container a hole 11 is provided and also in the second tension element part 7A a cooperating hole 12 is provided. In the closed orientation of the container 1 and closure unit 5 a—not depicted—sealing may be fed through these holes 11, 12.

(20) FIG. 4B shows an alternative embodiment of a temper proof construction of the container 1 and closure unit 5 combination according the previous figures. Here a “push button” 13 that is moveable connected to the container 1 and that fits in a matching aperture 14 provided in the second tension element part 7A. The presence of the “push button” 13 in the aperture 14 prevents the uncontrolled upward movement of the second tension element part 7A and thus prevents uncontrolled opening of the container 1.

(21) FIG. 5A shows an exploded view on an alternative embodiment of a combination of a container 20 and closure unit 21 according the invention. Also the container 20 has an aperture 22 in the top. Above the container 20, in an exploded view, the closure unit 21 is depicted. The closure unit 21 comprises a substantially flat cover element 23 that fits a rim 24 of the aperture 22 in the container 20. The substantially flat cover element 23 also here has a groove (again not visible in this figure) that fits the rim 24 of the aperture 22 in the container 20. According the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B also here in the groove a gasket 25 may be housed. The closure unit 21 also includes a tension element 27 that is composed of four mutual displaceable tension element parts 27A, 27B, 27C, 27D. These four mutual displaceable tension element parts 27A, 27B, 27C, 27D are now rotatable and translatable connectable (instead of only rotatable). For closing the tension element 27 the tension element parts 27A, 27B, 27C, 27D are moved towards each other and for opening the tension element parts 27A, 27B, 27C, 27D are moved away from each other. In FIG. 5B the combination of the container 20 and the closure unit 21 according FIG. 5A is shown in an assembled and closed configuration.