GB2116952A

GB2116952A - Container closures

Info

Publication number: GB2116952A
Application number: GB08208482A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter B Ayling; Brian Luck; Paul Ronald Cox; David John Fletcher; Ronald Davis
Original assignee: Ranks Hovis McDougall Ltd
Current assignee: Ranks Hovis McDougall Ltd
Priority date: 1982-03-23
Filing date: 1982-03-23
Publication date: 1983-10-05
Also published as: GB2116952B; IE830622L; IE53975B1

Abstract

A closure for a drum-like container, comprises a rim 1 which fits within an open end of the container and a lid 2 connected to the rim by a hinge 3 and the entire closure being formed as a one-piece moulding in plastics, the rim having a tapered internal surface 6 for co-operation with a less tapered external surface 12 of the lid, the rim and lid having registering portions 18, 19 for a snap-action closure of the lid and the lid having a finger recess 17 formed beneath a web 16 to enable easy opening of the lid. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A closure for a container Introduction This invention relates to a closure for a container, particularly although not exclusively, for a container made from board and in the form of a cylindrical drum, the intended use of which is for the storage of granulated foodstuffs.

Prior art Many different types of closures for containers have previously been proposed. With containers which are made from board, a simple bowl-like closure which has an interference fit with the board drum, has been known for very many years. Such closures have several disadvantages, for example, the seal made by the closure with the drum may be poor and the closure may inadvertently become detached from the drum and perhaps lost.

Previous proposals have included the provision of a rim attached to the open end of the drum. This rim strengthens the open end of the drum and receives the lid. Very complicated constructions have peviously been devised for providing a good seal between the lid and the rim, but of course in general the more complicated a construction becomes, the more costly it is to produce.

Combined rims and lids have also previously been proposed. Such constructions have the advantage that the lid cannot inadvertently become lost, but generally the seal provided by such a construction is poor and the closure is expensive to manufacture.

Object It is the main object of this invention to provide a one-piece closure including a rim and lid which is simple in construction and efficient in operation.

Statement ofinvention According to the present invention there is provided a closure for a container comprising a generally cylindrical rim and a bowl-like lid connected by a hinge formed as a one-piece moulding in plastics, in which the rim has a cylindrical outer surface and a tapered inner surface, one end ofthe rim having an inverted U-shaped annular edge to receive an end portion of the drum of a container, the lid has an external surface of more gradual taper than the taper of the inner surface of the rim with which it co-operates to close a container, an annular flange extending externally from near to the lip of the lid to bear on the annular edge of the rim in the closed position and a web which defines a finger recess to permit opening of the lid, the rim and lid having registering portions which provide a snap-action closure of the lid.

The invention also includes a closure as defined above in which one or more annular rings project from the external surface of the rim to hold the rim securely on the drum. Such ring or rings may be tapered in cross section to bite into the material of the drum.

The invention also includes the rim being provided at its other end with an inwardly extended annular flange for rigidity. This other end of the rim may be of reduced external diameter and with a rounded edge, both of which features assist in the mechanical handling of a rim and drum when the container and closure are being assembled.

The invention further includes the hinge having a portion of reduced thickness, about which portion opening and closing of the lid is effected.

Still further the invention includes the annular edge of the rim being recessed in the neighbourhood of the hinge to enable the hinge to lie entirely within the circumference of the rim when the lid is closed.

Drawings Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show one embodiment of closure according to the invention.

Figure lisa plan view of an enclosure in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II - II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section of a part of the closure of Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 4 is an enlarged scrap section of another part of the enclosure of Figures 1 and 2 showing the hinge.

Detailed description A closure in accordance with the invention comprises a generally cylindrical rim 1, and a bowl-like lid 2, the rim and lid being connected by a hinge 3.

The entire closure is formed as a one-piece moulding in plastics, preferably polypropylene. The closure of the invention is intended to be attached to a drum madefrom board in any manner known per se.

The drum may be spirally wound or convoluted.

The rim 1 has a cylindrical outer surface 4 and projecting from this outer surface are two (there may be one or more) annular rings 5 which assist in holding the rim firmly on the drum. The rim 1 has a tapered inner surface 6 and conveniently the taper is 3,.

One end of the rim 1 which is destined to be the outer end of the container, has an inverted U-shaped annular edge 7 which receives the end portion of the drum. The width of recess 8 defined by the annular edge 7, will be about equal to the thickness of the board which makes up the drum. The other end of the rim 1 is provided with a portion of reduced diameter at 9, and with a rounded corner 10, both of which features assist in the mechanical handling of the closure when the closure and drum are being assembled. This other end of the rim is provided with an inwardly extending annular flange 11 for rigidity. The shape and dimensions of the flange 11 must be such as not to interfere with the free flow and accessibility of the contents of the container.

The lid 2 has an external surface 12 of more gradual taper than the taper of surface 6 and conveniently the taper of surface 12 is 11/2". Surfaces 6 and 12 cooperate generally in the area indicated at 13, to form a seal and close the container. The lid 2 is also provided with an annularflange 14which extends externally from near to the lip 15 of the lid, which flange 14 bears on the annular edge 7 of the rim when the lid is in the closed position as illustrated in Figure 3. A web 16 is also provided which defines a finger recess 17 to permit ease in opening the lid.

Diametrically opposite the hinge 3, the rim and lid are provided with means which enable a snap-action closure of the lid to be effected. For this purpose the rim 1 is provided with a projection forming a detent 18 and the lid 2 is provided with a co-operating and complementary projection 19.

As shown more particularly in Figure 4, the hinge 3 has a portion 20 of reduced thickness, about which portion opening and closing of the lid is effected. In Figure 4, the lid 2 is shown in full lines in its open position and in dotted lines in its closed position.

It is important for stacking and packaging purposes, that the hinge 3 does not extend beyond the confines, i.e. the circumference of the rim when the lid 2 is in the closed position. For this purpose, the annular edge 7 of the rim is recessed at 21 in the neighbourhood of the hinge. Thus, when the lid 2 is in the closed position, the radially outer extremity 22 of the bentover portion 23 of the hinge, does not extend beyond the periphery 24 of the annular edge 7.

It will be appreciated that although the closure has been described above in relation to a container the intended purpose of which is for storing foodstuffs, the closure may be used in other contexts, and although polypropylene has been mentioned as the ideal material for moulding the closure, other plastics may be found suitable.

CLAIMS (Filed 21/1/83) 1. A closure for a container comprising a generally cylindrical rim and a bowl-like lid connected by a hinge formed as a one-piece moulding in plastics, in which the rim has a cylindrical outer surface and a tapered inner surface, one end of the rim having an inverted U-shaped annular edge to receive an end portion of the drum of a container, the lid has an external surface of more gradual taper than the taper of the inner surface of the rim with which it co-operates to close a container, an annular flange extending externally from near to the lip of the lid to bear on the annular edge of the rim in the closed position and a web which defines a finger recess to permit opening of the lid, the rim and lid having registering portions which provide a snap-action closure of the lid.

2. A closure as claimed in Claim 1, in which one or more annular rings project from the external surface of the rim to hold the rim securely on the drum.

3. A closure as claimed in Claim 2, in which said ring or rings are tapered in cross-section to bite into the material of the drum.

4. A closure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the rim is provided at its other end with an inwardly extending flange for rigidity.

5. A closure as claimed in Claim 4, in which said other end of the rim is of reduced external diameter and with a rounded edge.

6. A closure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the hinge has a portion of reduced thickness about which portion opening and closing of the lid is effected.

7. A closure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the annular edge of the rim is recessed in the neighbourhood of the hinge to enable the hinge to lie entirely within the circumference ofthe rim when the lid is closed.

8. A closure for a container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. extends externally from near to the lip 15 of the lid, which flange 14 bears on the annular edge 7 of the rim when the lid is in the closed position as illustrated in Figure 3. A web 16 is also provided which defines a finger recess 17 to permit ease in opening the lid. Diametrically opposite the hinge 3, the rim and lid are provided with means which enable a snap-action closure of the lid to be effected. For this purpose the rim 1 is provided with a projection forming a detent 18 and the lid 2 is provided with a co-operating and complementary projection 19. As shown more particularly in Figure 4, the hinge 3 has a portion 20 of reduced thickness, about which portion opening and closing of the lid is effected. In Figure 4, the lid 2 is shown in full lines in its open position and in dotted lines in its closed position. It is important for stacking and packaging purposes, that the hinge 3 does not extend beyond the confines, i.e. the circumference of the rim when the lid 2 is in the closed position. For this purpose, the annular edge 7 of the rim is recessed at 21 in the neighbourhood of the hinge. Thus, when the lid 2 is in the closed position, the radially outer extremity 22 of the bentover portion 23 of the hinge, does not extend beyond the periphery 24 of the annular edge 7. It will be appreciated that although the closure has been described above in relation to a container the intended purpose of which is for storing foodstuffs, the closure may be used in other contexts, and although polypropylene has been mentioned as the ideal material for moulding the closure, other plastics may be found suitable. CLAIMS (Filed 21/1/83)

1. A closure for a container comprising a generally cylindrical rim and a bowl-like lid connected by a hinge formed as a one-piece moulding in plastics, in which the rim has a cylindrical outer surface and a tapered inner surface, one end of the rim having an inverted U-shaped annular edge to receive an end portion of the drum of a container, the lid has an external surface of more gradual taper than the taper of the inner surface of the rim with which it co-operates to close a container, an annular flange extending externally from near to the lip of the lid to bear on the annular edge of the rim in the closed position and a web which defines a finger recess to permit opening of the lid, the rim and lid having registering portions which provide a snap-action closure of the lid.