Container with a screw cap

Abstract

A container, preferably in the form of a bucket, includes a closure for closing the container. The closure includes a closed lid plate that is placeable on a container rim bounding a container opening in order to cover the container opening. A lock ring is placeable over the lid plate and screwable to the container. The lid plate is fixable to the container with the lock ring. A seal ring is arranged between the container rim and lid plate for sealing the container opening. The lid plate has a rim portion with a receiving portion, in particular U-shaped, that receives the container rim and encompasses the container rim radially from the inside and outside.

Claims

1. A container comprising: a container rim bounding a container opening; and a closure comprising: a lid plate that is closed and placeable on the container rim to cover the container opening; a lock ring that is placeable over the lid plate and screwable to the container, the lid plate being fixable to the container via the lock ring; and a seal ring arranged between the container rim and the lid plate for sealing the container opening, the lid plate comprising a first rim portion with a first receiving portion that receives the container rim and encompasses the container rim radially from inside and outside, the lid plate further comprising at least one first projection provided in a circumferential direction protruding radially outward from the first receiving portion, the lock ring comprising at least one second projection provided in the circumferential direction protruding radially inward towards the first receiving portion, and the at least one first projection and the at least one second projection interacting in a form-fitting manner in an axial direction during an opening of the container and the lid plate is lifted with the lock ring, the lock ring comprising a second rim portion with a second receiving portion that receives the first receiving portion of the lid plate and encompasses the first receiving portion radially from inside and outside, the lock ring defining an annular contact area for stacking an identically constructed or compatible second container on the closure, a plurality of centering portions projecting radially inwardly from the second receiving portion and spaced apart in the circumferential direction for centering the identically constructed or compatible second container on the closure, the annular contact area and the plurality of centering portions extending radially inwardly from the second receiving portion, the lock ring resting with a side opposite the annular contact area in an annular recess in the lid plate on a lid surface, and the lid plate comprising a raised central portion that is flush with the annular contact area.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lid plate has a reinforcement portion that is annular and extends radially inside the first receiving portion to reinforce a radially inner part of the first receiving portion enclosing the container rim from the inside, wherein the reinforcement portion is formed as a circumferential beading with a plurality of reinforcement ribs extending in a radial direction and spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

3. The container according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcement portion is v-shaped.

4. The container according to claim 3, wherein the second receiving portion is u-shaped.

5. The container according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcement ribs are v-shaped.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein a radially outer end of the second receiving portion is adjoined by a first collar that reaches over the lid plate and has an internal thread portion that is screwable to an external thread portion of a second collar of the container arranged below the container rim.

7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the lock ring has a first radial step and the container has a second radial step that contacts the first radial step when the lock ring is screwed onto the container, limiting rotation of the lock ring relative to the container.

8. The container according to claim 7, wherein the first radial step is arranged between the second receiving portion and the internal thread portion.

9. The container according to claim 7, wherein the second radial step is arranged between the container rim and the external thread portion.

10. The container according to claim 1, wherein the second receiving portion has a circumferential bulge on an inside which, when the lock ring is screwed onto the container, presses from the outside onto the first receiving portion and presses the seal ring onto an upper edge of the container rim in a sealing manner.

11. The container according to claim 1, wherein: the lock ring has a first latching geometry and the container has a second latching geometry that interlocks with the first latching geometry in a form-fit engagement when the closure is fully screwed shut to prevent rotation of the closure relative to the container, and wherein at least one of the first latching geometry and the second latching geometry is spring-elastic such that the form-fit engagement is releasable.

12. The container according to claim 11, wherein the first latching geometry is a recess.

13. The container according to claim 11, wherein the second latching geometry is a rib.

14. The container according to claim 1, further comprising a first feed-through and a second feed-through that are aligned when the closure is fully screwed shut, so that the lock ring and the container are sealable with an anti-tamper seal.

15. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is made from plastic.

16. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a bucket or the first receiving portion is u-shaped.

17. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lid plate is retained within the lock ring by the at least one second projection of the lock ring, the lid plate being retained in an axially movable arrangement in which the lock ring is axially movable relative to the lid plate.

18. The container according to claim 17, wherein the lock ring is axially movable relative to the lid plate between a first position, in which the at least one second projection of the lock ring directly engages the at least one first projection of the lid plate, and a second position, in which the at least one second projection of the lock ring is axially spaced from the at least one first projection of the lid plate.

19. A container comprising: a container rim bounding a container opening; and a closure comprising: a lid plate that is closed and placeable on the container rim to cover the container opening; a lock ring that is placeable over the lid plate and screwable to the container, the lid plate being fixable to the container via the lock ring; and a seal arranged between the container rim and the lid plate for sealing the container opening, the lid plate comprising a first rim portion with a first receiving portion that receives the container rim and encompasses the container rim radially from inside and outside, the lock ring comprising a second rim portion with a second receiving portion that axially receives the first receiving portion of the lid plate and encompasses the first receiving portion radially from inside and outside, the lock ring comprising an annular contact area that extends radially inwardly from the second rim portion to form a stacking surface for stacking an identically constructed or compatible second container on the lock ring, the annular contact area comprising a resting surface opposite the stacking surface, the resting surface configured to rest on the lid plate, the lid plate being connected to the lock ring in an axially movable arrangement in which the lock ring is axially movable relative to the lid plate between a first axial position, in which the resting surface directly contacts the lid plate, and a second axial position, in which the resting surface is axially spaced from the lid plate by an axial clearance.

20. The container according to claim 19, wherein: the lid plate comprises at least one first projection provided in a circumferential direction and protruding radially outwardly from the first receiving portion, the lock ring comprises at least one second projection provided in the circumferential direction and protruding radially inwardly towards the annular contact area, the at least one second projection of the lock ring directly engages the at least one first projection of the lid plate when the lock ring is in the first axial position, and the at least one second projection of the lock ring is axially spaced from the at least one first projection of the lid plate when the lock ring is in the second axial position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a container according to the disclosure having a closure;

(2) FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the closure and the container according to the disclosure;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a side view of the container according to the disclosure having the closure;

(4) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the container according to the disclosure with a raised closure;

(5) FIG. 5 shows a detailed side view of the container according to the disclosure;

(6) FIG. 6 shows a sectional view through the container according to the disclosure with a seal ring according to a first embodiment;

(7) FIG. 7 shows a sectional view through the container according to the disclosure with a seal ring according to a second embodiment;

(8) FIG. 8 shows a sectional view through the container according to the disclosure with a seal ring according to a third embodiment;

(9) FIG. 9 shows an isometric view of the lock ring;

(10) FIG. 10 shows an isometric view of an open container according to the disclosure;

(11) FIG. 11 shows a detailed side view of the closed container with the closure;

(12) FIG. 12 shows an isometric view of the closed container; and

(13) FIG. 13 shows a sectional view through the container according to the disclosure with the closure partially open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) FIG. 1 shows a container 1. The container 1 is, for example, a round plastic bucket and is closed with a lid or closure 2. The closure 2 is rotationally symmetrical and has a lid plate 4, a seal ring 6 and a lock ring 8.

(15) FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the closure 2 and of the container 1. The lid plate 4 is placeable on a container rim 10, which bounds a container opening and covers the container opening. The lock ring 8 is in turn placeable over the lid plate 4 and screwable to the container 1. The lid plate 4 is thus fixable to the container 1 via the lock ring 8. The seal ring 6 is arranged between the container rim 10 and the lid plate 4 and seals the container opening.

(16) The lid plate 4 has a rim portion with a first receiving portion 12, in particular u-shaped, which can receive the container rim 10. The first receiving portion 12 surrounds the container rim 10 radially from the inside and outside. The first receiving portion 12 extends vertically upward toward the container rim 10 and extends vertically downward outside the container 1 along a container wall. Inside the first receiving portion 12, the lid plate 4 has an annular reinforcement portion 14. The annular reinforcement portion 14 reinforces the radially inner part of the first receiving portion 12 and the part of the first receiving portion 12 that surrounds the container rim 10 from the inside. The reinforcement portion 14 has a circumferential beading 16. The beading 16 is preferably v-shaped. The beading 16 has a plurality of reinforcement ribs 18 extending in the radial direction and spaced apart in the circumferential direction. The reinforcement ribs 18 are preferably v-shaped and extend vertically upward from the beading 16. The lid plate 4 further has an (inner) raised central portion in the middle.

(17) The lock ring 8 has a rim portion with a second receiving portion 22. The second receiving portion 22 is preferably u-shaped and can receive the u-shaped first receiving portion 12 of the lid plate 4. Thereby, the second receiving portion 22 encompasses the first receiving portion 12 radially from the inside and outside due to its U-shape. The lock ring 8 has a collar 24 at the radially outer end of the second receiving portion 22, wherein the collar 24 engages over the lid plate 4. The collar 24 protrudes (vertically downward) from the second receiving portion 22. The collar 24 protrudes in the direction of the container 1. The collar 24 has an internal thread portion 26, which can be screwed to an external thread portion 28 of a collar 30 of the container 1 arranged below the container rim 10.

(18) The lock ring 8 further includes an annular contact area 32 radially inside the second receiving portion 22 for stacking an identically constructed or compatible second container 1 on the closure 2. A plurality of centering portions 34 project radially inward from the second receiving portion 22. The centering portions 34 are circumferentially spaced and center the identically constructed or compatible second container 1 on the closure 2. A side (axially) opposite the contact area 32 rests on the lid surface of the lid plate 4. The central portion 20 of the lid plate 4 is flush with the contact area 32 of the lock ring 8. The raised central portion 20 of the lid plate 4 corresponds to a central recess in the lock ring 8 and completes it to a common (planar) surface (shown in FIG. 1). The lid plate 4 has a kind of recess radially outside the central portion 20 in which the contact area 32 rests.

(19) The container 1 is approximately cylindrical, has a round container bottom, a container wall 36 which projects vertically from the container bottom, and the upper container rim 10 which bounds the (round) container opening. The container wall 36 has at its upper end the collar 30 which protrudes radially from the rest of the container wall 36. The collar 30 has the external thread portion 28 for screwing the closure 2 onto the container 1. The container 1 further comprises a handle 38 for carrying the container 1. The handle 38 is rotatably attached to the collar 30.

(20) FIG. 3 shows a side view of the container 1. The container 1 has a latching geometry, in particular a rib/projection 40. The rib 40 is formed on an upper side of the collar 30 of the container 1 and preferably extends vertically upward toward the closure 2. FIG. 4 shows a side view of the opened closure 2. The closure 2 is rotated compared to FIG. 3. The external thread portion 28 of the container 1 is shown. The lock ring 8 has a latching geometry, in particular a recess 42. The latching geometry of the lock ring 8 is complementary to the latching geometry of the container 1. When the closure 2 is fully screwed shut, the rib 40 of the container 1 engages in a form-fit manner in the latching geometry (recess 42) of the lock ring 8. This engagement prevents relative rotation of the closure 2 with respect to the container 1, wherein at least one of the latching geometries is configured in a spring-elastic manner and the form-fit closure can thus be released, in particular for opening the closure 2. The engagement is shown in the detailed view of a side view of the closed container 1 in FIG. 5. In addition, the lock ring 8 and the container 1 each have a feed-through 44, which are aligned with each other when fully screwed shut, so that the lock ring 8 and the container 1 can be sealed with an anti-tamper seal 46.

(21) FIG. 6 shows a section of a longitudinal cross-section through the closure 2 on the container 1. The lid plate 4 has the central portion 20 extending from the inside to the radially outside. The beading 16 with the reinforcement ribs 18 is arranged radially outward adjacent to the central portion 20. The first receiving portion 12 encloses the container rim 10 from radially inside and outside. To this end, the first receiving portion 12 extends vertically upward toward the container rim 10 and extends vertically downward in the opposite direction outside the container 1. Thus, the first receiving portion 12 extends outside the container 1 along the container rim 10. Thus, the first receiving portion 12 forms the u-shape or the shape of an inverted U.

(22) The lock ring 8 has the contact area 32 radially on the inside, which extends radially inward from the second receiving portion 22. The lock ring 8 has the centering elements 34 radially outside the contact area 32. The second receiving portion 22 is adjacent to this radially on the outside. The lock ring 8 has the collar 24 at the radially outer end of the second receiving portion 22. The internal thread portion 26 is arranged on the collar 24 and screws the lock ring 8 to the external thread portion 28 of the container 1.

(23) The second receiving portion 22 of the lock ring 8 has a circumferential bulge 48 on the inside which, when the lock ring 8 is screwed onto the container 1, presses from the outside onto the first receiving portion 12 of the lid plate 4 and presses the seal ring 6 in a sealing manner onto the upper edge of the container rim 10. The bulge 48 is thereby positioned inside the u-shaped second receiving portion 22 and extends vertically downward. The lock ring 8 has a radial step 50 arranged in particular between the second receiving portion 22 and the thread portion 26. The container 1 also has a radial step 52 positioned in particular between the container rim 10 and the thread portion 28. The radial steps 50, 52 contact each other when the lock ring 8 is screwed onto the container 1 and thus limit the screwing process.

(24) The lid plate 4 has a circumferential projection 54 or multiple projections provided in the circumferential direction, which interact in a form-fit manner with a circumferential projection 56 or multiple projections provided in the circumferential direction or a rib on the lock ring 8 in the axial direction. As a result, when the lock ring 8 is lifted from the container 1, the projections 54, 56 come into contact and the lid plate 4 is lifted with the lock ring 8. The lock ring 8 and the lid plate 4 have such an axial clearance that the lock ring 8 can be moved axially by a certain amount relative to the lid plate 4, for example when it is screwed to the container. Nevertheless, the lock ring 8 and the lid plate 4 can be detached from each other when they are removed from the container.

(25) The lock ring 8 may also have another, in particular u-shaped, receiving portion radially outside the second receiving portion 22, which receives a circumferential rib on the collar 30 of the container 1 and encompasses it radially from the inside and outside.

(26) In a first embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the seal ring 6 has a semicircular cross-sectional shape. The seal ring 6 is compressed between the receiving portion 12 and the container rim 10 and seals the container opening. When the seal ring 6 is compressed, one sealing point on the container rim 10 is established. However, the seal ring 6 can take different shapes.

(27) FIG. 7 shows the seal ring 6 according to a further embodiment. In this embodiment, the seal ring 6 extends along the container rim 10. The seal ring 6 has two separate sealing points. A first sealing point 60 is positioned between the container rim 10 and the first receiving portion 12 of the lid plate 4. A second sealing point 62 is positioned between an outer surface of the container or container rim 10 and the inner surface of the first receiving portion 12. Thus, the second sealing point 62 is positioned on the inner surface of the u-shaped arm of the first receiving portion 12 that extends along the outer side of the container rim 10. Two sealing points can seal the container closure 2 better than one and therefore may increase the sealing capacity of the seal ring 6. Especially, when one sealing point loses its contact with the container 1 or lid plate 4, the other redundant sealing point can still prevent a loss of sealing capacity.

(28) FIG. 8 shows the seal ring 6 according to a further embodiment. The seal ring 6 is drop-shaped and extends along the container rim 10. In this way, the seal ring 6 ensures that no liquid can drip out of the container 1. The drop-shaped seal ring 6 may establish the two separate sealing points 60, 62 that are spaced apart from each other. However, the two separate sealing points 60, 62 can also be combined into one single longer sealing line or sealing surface. The long sealing surface may increase the sealing capacity of the seal ring 6.

(29) FIG. 9 shows an isometric view of the lock ring 8. The collar 24 protrudes from the contact area 32. The internal thread portion 26 is arranged inside the collar 24. The (spring-elastic) recess 42 is arranged at one end of the collar 24. The recess 42 is compressible in an (axial) direction, i.e. toward or away from the container 1. For this purpose, the recess 42 is configured, for example, as a spring tongue. As a result of the compression, the rib 40 and the recess 42 are no longer in mutual engagement and the closure 2 can be screwed open. In the circumferential direction of the lock ring 8, the feed-through 44 for the anti-tamper seal 46 (shown in FIG. 11) is arranged next to the recess 42.

(30) FIG. 10 shows the open container 1. The plurality of ribs 40 are formed on the collar 30 projecting radially outward from the container wall 36. The ribs 40 are preferably arranged vertically. The collar 30 also has a holder 58 for the handle 38. FIG. 11 shows in particular the rib 40 engaged with the recess 42. The anti-tamper seal 46 is drawn through the aligned feed-throughs 44 and functions as a seal. The seal can be used to determine whether the container 1 has already been opened. FIG. 12 shows an isometric view of the closed container 1. The plurality of ribs 40 and the plurality of recesses 42 are each engaged with each other. The plurality of ribs 40 are engaged with the plurality of recesses 42.

(31) FIG. 13 shows the closure 2 partially unscrewed from the container 1. The projection 54 of the lid plate 4 protrudes radially outward from the first receiving portion 12. The projection 56 of the lock ring 8 projects radially inward from the collar 30. The two projections 54, 56 interact in such a way that they are both in axial contact with each other when the lock ring 8 is unscrewed. This is also shown in FIG. 13. If the lock ring 8 is then lifted upward, the projection 56 takes the lid plate 4 with it. The lid plate 4 is thus lifted off together with the lock ring 8.