A CONTAINER WITH A LID AND A SECURING RING

Abstract

A container includes a container body and a lid, which has an outer lid wall portion surrounding a central portion. The outer lid wall portion provides a lid-side sealing surface, which engage with body-side sealing surface, when the lid is applied to the container body to close the container. The container further includes a securing ring inserted within the outer lid wall portion. The securing ring having a lower portion and an upper flange portion extending from the lower portion at an acute angle (α) of less than 80° from vertical.

Claims

1. A container comprising a container body, a lid, and securing means for securing the lid on the container body if the container falls upside down, said container body having a bottom, a side wall and an opening at a top opposite the bottom, said opening having a closing area with a body-side sealing surface, said lid having a central portion and an outer lid wall portion, said outer lid wall portion being circumferential and surrounding the central portion, a rim portion and an annular ledge being provided at an upper end of said outer lid wall portion, said outer lid wall portion providing on an outer side thereof a lid-side sealing surface, said lid-side sealing surface engaging with said body-side sealing surface, when the lid is applied to the opening of the container body to close the container, the container further comprising as at least part of said securing means a securing ring inserted within said outer lid wall portion, said securing ring comprising a lower portion accommodated within the outer lid wall portion, wherein the securing ring further comprises an upper flange portion extending from the lower portion above the annular ledge at an acute angle of less than 80° from vertical.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein a body-side securing portion diverging in a downwards direction is provided at the body-side sealing surface and a lid-side securing portion diverging in the downwards direction is provided at the lid-side sealing surface, said lid-side securing portion engaging with said body-side securing portion, when the lid is applied to the opening of the container body to close the container; said lower portion has an outer portion comprising a third securing portion; and said lower portion is extending at least down to, preferably beyond and below, the level of the lid-side securing portion.

3. The container according to claim 2, wherein said third securing portion is arranged for engagement with an inner surface of the outer lid wall portion at the level of the lid-side securing portion.

4. The container according to claim 2, wherein said third securing portion is in engagement with an inner surface of the outer lid wall portion at the level of the lid-side securing portion.

5. The container according to claim 2, wherein the third securing portion extends continuous circumferentially along the inner surface of the outer lid wall portion.

6. The container according to claim 2, wherein the third securing portion comprises a bead projecting outwardly from the outer portion of the lower portion of the securing ring.

7. The container according to claim 2, wherein the third securing portion is provided by a bead projecting outwardly from the outer portion of the lower portion of the securing ring.

8. The container according to claim 2, wherein the securing ring is secured within the outer lid wall portion by engagement between the third securing portion and the inner surface of the outer lid wall portion.

9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the securing ring extends substantially to a horizontal wall portion adjacent the outer lid wall portion.

10. The container according to claim 1, wherein the securing ring comprises an annular concave portion engaging an upturned surface portion of the ledge.

11. The container according to claim 1, wherein the upper flange portion is conical upwardly diverging and has a lower inner side connected integrally with the lower portion and a free upper outer side.

12. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the securing ring fits within the outer lid wall portion with a tight fit.

13. The container according to claim 1, wherein a circumferential trough portion comprising an inner trough wall, a trough bottom and said outer lid wall portion is surrounding the central portion of the lid.

14. The container according to claim 13, wherein the lower portion of the securing ring fits around the inner trough wall with a loose fit.

15. The container according to claim 1, wherein the securing ring is recessed.

16. The container according to claim 1, wherein said acute angle is less than 70°.

17. The container according to claim 1, wherein the closing area is unilateral.

18. The container according to claim 1, wherein the securing ring is a permanent securing ring.

19. The container according to claim 1, wherein said acute angle is in the range 35° to 55°.

Description

[0027] In the following the invention will be described in further detail having reference to the accompanying schematic drawings showing an example of an embodiment, wherein

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art container comprising a container body and a lid,

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a section along the line II-II in FIG. 1,

[0030] FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 but showing the lid lifted from the container body,

[0031] FIG. 4 shows schematically a securing ring according to the invention applied to the lid of FIGS. 1 to 3,

[0032] FIG. 5 is a top view of the securing ring, and

[0033] FIG. 6 is an enlarged section of the securing ring of FIG. 5.

[0034] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a container 1 with a container body 3 and a lid 5. The container body 3 has a side wall 7, a bottom 9 and an opening at the top 11 opposite the bottom 9. Further the container body 3 is provided with a handle 13. The container is in FIGS. 1 to 3 shown in an upright position and terms like “up” and “down”, etc. as used herein refer to the container in that position unless otherwise is specifically indicated.

[0035] The container body 3 has at its opening a closing area with a body-side sealing surface 15 and a body-side securing portion 17, the latter diverging in the downwards direction.

[0036] In the embodiment shown the closing area is provided by a ring 19 assembled with the material of the side wall 7 by means of a joint 21. The body-side securing portion 17 is provided by a bend 23 of the material of the ring 19 at a transition 25 between the ring 19 and the side wall 7. In the alternative the closing area might be provided by folding the material of the side wall 7 at the top as it is known in the art.

[0037] In the embodiment shown the lid 5 has a central portion 27 surrounded by an outer lid wall portion 29. At an upper end of the outer lid wall portion 29 a rim portion 31 is provided by a more or less tightly rolled edge and an annular ledge 33 with an upturned surface portion 35 is provided by the material of the lid 5 being bend at the upper end of the outer lid wall portion 29.

[0038] The outer lid wall portion 29 has an outer side 37, a part of which provides a lid-side sealing surface 39, and an inner surface 41. The outer lid wall portion 29 is provided with a bead 42 which in the embodiment shown is projection outwardly i.e. away from central portion 27 of the lid and thus away from a central vertical axis of the container (not shown). The bead 42 provides a lid-side securing portion 43 diverging in the downwards direction.

[0039] At a lower end of the outer lid wall portion 29 a horizontal wall portion 45 is provided.

[0040] In the embodiment shown the lid 5 comprises a circumferential trough portion 47 surrounding the central portion 27, said circumferential trough portion 47 being provided by the outer lid wall portion 29, an inner trough wall 49 and a trough bottom 51, the latter thus providing in the present embodiment the horizontal wall portion 45.

[0041] At the closing area of the container and at the rim portion of the lid sealing beads 53 are provided as disclosed in WO-A-92/04248 to which document reference is made in that respect.

[0042] The body-side sealing surface 15 and the lid-side sealing surface 39 are both annular and extend substantially vertically in the present embodiment.

[0043] When the lid 5 is applied to the container body 3 to close the opening of the latter the bead 42 will slide over the body-side sealing surface 15 facilitated by elastic deformation of the material as it is well known in the art and the bead 42 will rest in the small hollow provided by the transition 25 between the ring 19 and the side wall 7, the lid-side securing portion 43 engaging with the body-side securing portion 17 to secure the position of the lid 5, and the lid-side sealing surface 39 will engage with the body-side sealing surface 15 in a sealing manner as it is well known per se in the art and as shown in FIG. 2.

[0044] In the embodiment shown the container body 3 and the lid 5 are both made of steel sheet. The inner surface 41 of the outer lid wall portion 29 has a depression 54 opposite the bead 42.

[0045] According to the present invention a securing ring 55 is applied to the lid 5 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0046] The securing ring 55 comprises a lower portion 57 and an upper flange portion 59. The lower portion 57 is accommodated within the outer lid wall portion 29 and the upper flange portion 59 extends above the annular ledge 33 at an acute angle α (from vertical) which in the embodiment shown is approximately 45°. The lower portion 57 has an outer portion 61 comprising a third securing portion 63 (third to the body-side and lid-side securing portions that is). The third securing portion 63 engages the inner surface 41 of the outer lid wall portion 29 at the level of the lid-side securing portion 43 i.e. an area of said surface directly opposite the lid-side securing portion and immediately adjacent above.

[0047] In the embodiment shown the third securing portion 63 comprises a second bead 65 projecting from the outer portion 61. When the securing ring 55 is applied to the lid 5 as shown in FIG. 4 the second bead 65 rests in the depression 54 and secures thereby the securing ring 55 to the lid 5.

[0048] It should be understood that in the embodiment shown the securing ring 55 is accommodated within the outer lid wall portion 29 with a tight fit even though a small play is shown only for the sake of illustrating the different parts.

[0049] As in the embodiment shown the lid 5 comprises a circumferential trough portion 43 the lower portion 57 is accommodated within said trough portion 43 and in the embodiment shown the lower portion 57 fits around the inner trough wall 49 with a loose fit.

[0050] In the embodiment shown the securing ring 55 comprises an annular concave portion 67 situated at a lower inner side 69 of the upper flange portion 59, at which lower inner side 69 the upper flange portion 59 is integral with the lower portion 57. By virtue of the annular concave portion 67 the securing ring 55 may abut on the upturned surface portion 35. Opposite the lower inner side 69 the upper flange portion 59 has a free upper outer side 71.

[0051] The invention works as follows within the embodiment described so far:

[0052] The container 1 is filled with an amount of a substance, e.g. a liquid such as paint or another chemical, and the lid 5 fitted onto the container body 3 in accordance with normal procedure to close the container. The securing ring 55 is applied to the lid 5 either before or after the lid 5 is applied to the container body 3.

[0053] If the filled container falls to the ground in an upside-down position whereby a force F of impact is applied at a circumferential point of impact 73 (FIG. 5) to the free upper outer side 71 of the upper flange portion 59 of the securing ring 55 the following happens:

[0054] The force F has a vertical component F.sub.v and a horizontal component F.sub.h. The vertical component F.sub.v will tend to press the securing ring 55 downwards and by virtue of the engagement between the securing ring 55 at the annular concave portion 67 and the upturned surface portion 35 the lid 5 will likewise be pressed downwards at the circumferential point of impact 73 to enhance the securing of the seat of the lid 5 in the container body 3 at the circumferential point of impact. The horizontal component will tend to press, at the circumferential point of impact 73, the securing ring 55 towards the centre of the lid, see FIG. 5. Due to rigidity of the securing ring 55 the horizontal component F.sub.h of the force F will be directed circumferentially through the securing ring 55 as indicated by arrows F.sub.c and consequently the securing ring 55 will along its circumference, apart from at the circumferential point of impact 73 exert a radial outwards force F.sub.r against the inner side 41 of the outer lid wall portion 29. This radial force F.sub.r will further enhance the pressure of the lid-side securing portion 43 against the body-side securing portion 17 along the other portions of the circumference than at the circumferential point of impact thus providing enhanced securing of the lid 5 in its seat in the container body 3 along the circumference apart from the circumferential point of impact.

[0055] As a reaction to the impact the momentum of the liquid inside the container will result in an upwards force F.sub.l on the inner side of the lid 5 tending to lift the lid 5 off the container body 3. However due to the effect of the securing ring 55 described above the lid 5 is able to withstand a force F.sub.l substantially larger than hitherto possible.

[0056] Depending on the actual size and direction of a given force F of impact the securing ring 55 may be pressed off the upturned surface portion 35 and the ledge 33 at the circumferential point of impact to be pressed deeper down into the trough portion to make contact with the trough bottom 51 at the circumferential point of impact. This will only enhance the effects described above.

[0057] Apart from the above effect the upper flange portion will per se provide a cushioning effect that enhances the height from which the container may be dropped without leaking as a result of the impact.

[0058] The securing ring 55 should have a sufficient strength and rigidity to provide the effects and function described above. Thus a suitable material for the securing ring 55 is polypropylene, but other materials providing a suitable rigidity and strength may be used. Using a material like polypropylene, which apart from having strength and rigidity also has some resilience and elasticity, the upper flange portion will provide a good cushioning effect.

[0059] Further though an acute angle α of approximately 45° is used in the embodiment shown different acute angles may be used e.g. up to 80° or 70° from the vertical. Normally the acute angle will be in the range of 35° to 55° from the vertical. However, in combination with the rigidity of the material, the geometry of the profile of the securing ring 55, including the acute angle α should be designed for the upper flange portion 59 to withstand collapsing when the container is dropped from a given maximum height of expected “survival” i.e. a maximum height from which the container is expected to be able to drop without leaking. Withstanding collapse the securing ring 55 will protect an upper rim part of the container body most effectively from direct impact. However even a smaller benefit of the invention may be obtained even in case of the upper flange portion collapsing since the upper flange portion still will absorb part of the energy of the impact.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows the profile of the securing ring 55 of the present example of an embodiment. The profile comprises a major annular recess 75, which provides for stacking filled containers as such containers would be stacked without the securing ring 55. Thus the annular recess 75 provides space for accommodating a circumferential joint at the bottom of a container stacked on top of the container shown.

[0061] As it appears from FIG. 4 the part of the lower portion 57 below the annular recess 75 has a substantial thickness compared to the parts above of the securing ring 55. To facilitate production of the securing ring 55 by injection moulding the securing ring 55 may be recessed e.g. as indicated in FIGS. 4 and 6 by providing bores 77 in the part of the lower portion 57 below the annular recess 75 thus reducing the local wall thickness in said part. The bores 77 may as indicated in FIG. 4 be provided as through holes, as blind holes, or as a mixture thereof. FIG. 6 shows a small sector 79 provided with bores 77 but it should be understood that preferably such bores 77 are distributed evenly along the entire circumference of the securing ring 55.

[0062] When designing recesses for the securing ring 55, care should be taken not to weaken the securing ring to a degree that would ruin the function and effects described above. Thus in an embodiment the outer portion 63 is void of recesses to provide for the second bead 65 to extend continuously circumferentially along the inner surface 41 of the outer lid wall portion 29.

[0063] Due to the fact that the upper flange portion 57 extends at an acute angle α above the annular ledge 33 it is possible, even without removing the securing ring 55, to open the container 1 in the usual manner by inserting a screw driver-like tool 81 below the rim portion 33 of the lid 5 as indicated in FIG. 4 and lift the lid 5 from the container body 3 using the screw driver-like tool 81 as a lever. The insertion of a screw driver-like tool 81 may however be facilitated by recessing the upper flange portion, which thus may be interrupted in sectors of e.g. 2 cm along the periphery of the securing ring 55.

[0064] The second bead 65 of the securing ring 55 may be omitted. In such case the area of the third securing portion 63 positioned immediately above the second bead 65 as seen in FIG. 4 will by its abutment against the inner surface 41 of the outer lid wall portion 29 provide for the effect of enhancing the pressure of the lid-side securing portion 43 against the body-side securing portion 17 as well as providing for enhancing the pressure of the lid-side sealing surface 39 against the body-side sealing surface 15.

[0065] When the second bead 65 is omitted other means may be provided for securing the securing ring 55 to the lid 5. Such other means are e.g. disclosed in a co-pending application by the present applicant and inventor.

[0066] Further the provision of the annular concave portion 67 for abutting on the upturned surface portion 35 may be omitted. When this is the case and also the second bead 65 is omitted the securing ring 55 will rest on the trough bottom 51. In such case the securing ring 55 may be provided for supporting containers stacked on top of the present container, since the securing ring 55 will in such case provide a firm support.