AU686235B2

AU686235B2 - Double-lock pail

Info

Publication number: AU686235B2
Application number: AU77645/94A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Herbert
Original assignee: CHT DESIGN SERVICES Pty Ltd
Current assignee: CHT DESIGN SERVICES Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1990-06-19
Filing date: 1994-11-03
Publication date: 1998-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 2011-06-19
Also published as: AU7764594A

Description

116-11-11091? I'll-06 Lif-IRKER LILENIOWHIP EJM~ER ILLk INW F'h4HW?64 P. Uo2 -1I- DOUBLE LOCK PAIL The present invenition relates to pails and the like containers that have means for indicating that hie container seal has not been tampered with prior to use, Specifically the present invention provides a tamper evident pail with a double Io;king system, Tamper evident pail,; and other like containers are well known in the art.

:Such containers getierally are provided with a tear-away strip having frangible edges that arc broken upon the first removal of the lid from the pail or container.

Known containers E.re also generally provided with a locking system whereby the lid of the container has a skirt which snaps over an upper outwardly extcnding rim on the side wall of the container in ord- r to lock :and seal the contents within the container.

However difficulties arise with these known containers in that through moemet, andlng nd r~nporation the inertia of the conte is of the container can somclimes dislodge the lid from the container. Stich a situation arises for ex:ample if a pail of paint is dropped from a truck. The contents rebound thioreby creating an internal upwardly directed force which is capable of popping open the lid of the container.

Also the provision of the tamper evident strip causei constructional restrictions upon the design of the lid and the locking strua~ure formed between the lid and the lip, Whilst stronger scaling arrngements are known they are not tamper evident.

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It is an object of thie present invention to substantially overcome or ameliorate the abovernentioned difficulties through provision of a tamper evident closure systcrm that acts to prevent dislodgement ,f the lid under foreseeable handling and transportation operations.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a pail having a sido wall, a lid and a closure arrangement configured to to 9:permit interengagernent between said side wall and said lid to close said :pail, said closure arvangemrent comprising an exterior peripheral annular skirt on said lid en~agable at a first location against an underside an

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too upper rim of said side wall, an annular frangible portion extending from said skirt and engegable against an underside of an exterior annular too excursion of said side wall at a second location distanced from said first location; an annular flange extending downwardly from a surface of the lid adapted to engage a portion of the upper interior side of the pail; the interior side of the pail including an annular step defining an abutment surface with which a lowe~r portion of said annular flange can engage if the lid is urged onto the pail with excessive force which jeopardises the integrity or correct ealing of the lid.

U.4 ~NTO 0 -2- An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings In which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art pail and lid in the sealed condition, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the opened prior art pail showing the underside of the lid, Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view along the line III-Ill of Fig. 1, and Figs, 4-6 are corresponding views but of the pail and lid of the preferred embodiment.

The prior art pail 1 of Fig. 1 comprises a generally cylindrical side wall 2 and a lid 3. The side wall 2 has a stiffening flange 4 that adds to the strength and rigidity of the pail 1. A handle 5 is also provided typically attached at the flange 4.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the side wall 2 ends in an upper rim 6 that Is adapted to engage the lid 3. As seen in Fig. 3, the lid 3 Includes an interior flange 7 and an exterior peripheral skirt 8 that folds around the rim 6. The exterior skirt 8 also includes a rib 9 that provides locking of the lid about the rim 6. The flange 7 stiffens the lid 3 and together with ridge 14 acts to seal the pail 1., Also provided on the lid 3 is a peripheral rim 10 connected to the exterior skirt 8 by a frangible section 11. The frangible section 11 is made such that when the lid 3 is first removed from the side wall 2 It is necessary to tear the section 11 thus disengaging the peripheral rim 25 from the skirt 8. Evidence of tampering with the pail 1 is thus indicated by damage to, or the lack of, the peripheral rim The lid 3 is also provided with Interior and exterior webs 12 and 13 respectively that also stiffen the lid 3, As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, an aperture 15 in the peripheral rim 10, or in some cases in the exterior skirt 8, is provided to facilitate the insertion of a screwdriver or other like implement in order to break the fra,,:jei a section 11 when first removing the lid 3 from the pail.

Figs. 4 to 6 are corresponding illustrations of the pail of the preferred embodiment with like elements being designated by a numeral increased by 100. The pail 101 includes a substantially vertical side wall 102 and a lid 103. A stiffening flange 104 is also provided on the exterior of the wall 102. As with the prior art pail, the side wall 102 IAD/895o -3ends in an upper rim 106 about which an exterior skirt 108 of the lid 103 locks at a first location by means of a lip 109. The lid also comprises a peripheral rim 110, interior webs and frangible section 111 as before.

However, the D'eferred embodiment pail 101 is distinguished from the prior art by the peripheral rim 110 the extremity of which engages the side wall 102 in an annular recess 116 formed in the stiffening flange 104. The rim 110 has formed at its extremity a bulbous section 117 that snap engages with the recess 116, It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the lid 103 is locked onto the side wall 102 at two locations. This arrangement results in a substantial improvement in the ability of the pail 101 to prevent the dislodgement of the lid 103 under all foreseeable circumstances, for example as earlier described.

As also seen in Fig. 6 the interior flange 107 Is not provided with an interior ridge but however mates with a curved end shoulder 118 of the interior of the wall 102. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that this arrangement acts to expel any material caught between the flange 107 and the shoulder 118. In the prior art pail illustrated in Io"" Fig. 3, it is possible for material to be caught in the space 16 between 20 the skirt 7 and side wall 2. In the case of paint being the material contained in the prior art pail, the lid 3 tends to stick to the pail 2 due to paint setting Oithin the space 16. In the preferred embodiment, the action of lid 103 contacting the side wall 102 acts to expel any such paint from between the seal.

25 Also seen in Fig. 6, the flange 107 extends downwards along the •interior of the wall 102 and approaches a ledge or step 114. The step 114 acts as an abutment surface with which the flange 107 can engage on S" sealing the pail 101 with the lid 103. The step 114 thus prevents the lid 103 being forced onto the pall 101 which can break the frangible section 111. Also, the provision of the step 114 adjacent the stiffening flange 104 or between the flange 104 and the upper rim 106 provides increased flexibility to the upper rim 106 thus providing for easier engagement with the lid 103 at the lip 109 and the recess 116.

Also in the preferred embodiment, a stiffening ridge 113 is provided in the lid 103 and replaces the exterior webs 13 of the prior art pail I. The ridge 113 is preferred over the webs 13 as it is a smooth surface and not likely to be caught by objects that may dislodge the lid 103. Also, the ridge 113 forms an extension of the webs 112.

IAD/895o -4- The operation of the various features of the double locking provided at the lip 109 and the recess 116 acts to overcome the deficiency of the prior art, In particular, should the paint, for example, contact and rebound from the lid 103, forces resulting from the contact cause a pivoting action of the lid 103 about the lip 109 that increases engagement between the bulbous section 117 and the recess 116 which acts to prevent dislodgement of the lid 107 from the wall 102.

The preferred embodiment can be manufactured from a variety materials, of which, resiliently flexible plastics material is preferred.

The present invention and it's various embodiments are useful for carrying various products or substances such as paint, dry chemicals, liquid chemicals, water and the like, The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and other embodiments, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

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Claims

1. A pail having a side wall, a lid and a closure arrangement configured to permit interengagemrent between said side wall and said lid to clo.,c said pail, said closure arrangement comprising an exterior peripheral annular skirt on said lid engagable at a first location againut an underside of an upper rim of said side wall; an annular frang 1 le portion extending from said skirt and engagable against an un( erside of an exterior annular excursion of said side fee: wall at a second location distanced from said first location; an annular flang- extending downwardly fRom a surface of the lid adapted to engage a portion of the upper interior side of the pail,- the interior side of the p,;1l including an annular step defining arn jutment surflice with which a lower portion of said annular flange to can engage if thne 11A is urged onto the pail with excessive force which jeopardises the integrity or correct sealing of the lid

2. A pail in accordance with claim I hercof wherein the upper rim of too* the container includes a curved shoulder on an interior side of said wall adapted to engage the entire radius of a complementary portion of the annular flange extending downwardly from a surface orthe lid

3. A pail as claimed in claim 1 wherein said exterior annular excursion comprises a recess within which a bulbous portion of said peripherai rim is crngagable, 114, 4T

4. A pail as claimed in I wherein upon contact between any contents of said pail with said lid, forces resulting from said contact cause a pivoting claimi action of said lid about said first location that increases the ingage~ment at said second location, thus preventing dislodgement said lid from said side wall. S. A pail as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the side wall is provided with a stiffening flange upon which said cxteflor annular excwrsion is Conned adacn sadsifeig lne

6. A pail as clairied in claim 5 wherein said annular stop is arranged adjacnsaid stiffening flange adsi pe i 8, A pail as claimied in cam on ofhepreceidg cnnlaritems riraid sufc of btwc said lsidn weang axtndinsait ape ridufc ofr

9. A pail as clainied in any one of the preceding claims whecrein said lxidr fli'ea anlrsirthe comprises a pliait othasaragdt supporta engages a complementary annular corner formed on said upper rim, A pail as claimed in any one of the prcccding claims formed of resiliently flex ble plastics material, jT I -7- 11, A pail substan'ially as described hercin with reference to figures 4 to 6 of the drawings. DATED this 6th day of November 1997 S S. S. S 0** S S. *5 S S *9 S., CuIT DESIGN SERVICES PTY LTD by their Patent Attorneys Barker Blenkinsliip Associatesq J a. III I I I s I i t1l I I l0,1PIII I HI, IM '1111, I I I I II IA I I I I 1, 1, 1 -8- ABSTRACT 44 4* 4 *1 4 a 4 *a.e a. 4 4 4 S qe.. 44 *4S 4 .4 i aa 4 9*. 44a* 4, 4. 4 454a44 4 44*444 4 4. 4a 44 4 4044 A pail having a sido wall, a lid and a closure arirangemlent configured to permit intercrngagernent between said side wall and said lid to close said pail, said closure arrangement comprising an exterior peripheral annular skirt on said lid enjagable at a first location against an underside of an upper rim of said side wall; an annular Frangible portion extending from said skin and engagable against an underside of an exterior annular ex~cutsijon of said sile wall at a second location distanced from said first location; an annulat flange extending downwardly from a surface of the lid adapted to cnigag;e a portion. of the upper interior side of the pail, the interior side of the pail including an annular step defining an~ abutment surface with which a lower portion of said annular flange can engage if the lid is urged onto the pail with excessive force which jeopardises the integrity or correct WrInctioning of the lid, ~4 .4 ~JT VrTr L