CA2199203A1

CA2199203A1 - Pail and plastic lid

Info

Publication number: CA2199203A1
Application number: CA002199203A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Stephen H. Arshinoff; Peter J. Lovell
Original assignee: Industrial Containers Ltd
Current assignee: Industrial Containers Ltd
Priority date: 1996-03-07
Filing date: 1997-03-05
Publication date: 1997-09-07
Also published as: GB2310848A; US6021917A; GB9604808D0; GB9704611D0

Abstract

A plastic lid for a pail. The lid has a substantially planar central section and a peripheral channel. The channel fits over the pail to effect closure thereof. The central section is spaced from the channel by a groove and a ridge, each of which extend around the lid juxtaposed to the channel, with the groove being adjacent to the channel. The pail is intended for transportation of goods.

Description

- 1 2~ 99203 PAIL AND PLASTIC LID

The invention relates to a plastic lid for a pail and in particular to a plasticlid for a plastic pail, and the reslllt~nt pail with lid. The term "pail" is used herein to in~iC~te a cylindrical cont~in~r, which may be tapered especially towards 5 its base, and which is closable at one end with a lid. It is understood that the lid may be such that during normal use it is either removable or not readily removed, as ~ cllssed herein.
Metal pails and plastic pails are used in the transportation of goods, with the type of pail used depending particularly on the type of goods being 10 transported. Regardless of the type of goods being transported, it is important that the lid for the pail be capable of being closed in a manner that retains the closure of the pail as a result of any internal pleS~ul'e, and especially if the pail isdropped, during transportation and storage of the pail. In particular, if the pail is dropped on its side or its ends or especially on an edge, it is hllpGll~ll that the lid 15 not only remain on the pail but also do so in a leak-free manner. Moreover, the lid must be such that it will not leak during normal use.
Drop testing of filled and closed pails is commonly carried out by dlopping a filled pail from a plesclibed height onto a hard surface in various different orientations, especially including dropping the pail on an edge. A variety of 20 regulations govern the specifications or ~lOp~ .lies of pails and other containers that may be used in transportation of goods, especially the regulation known as UN
lH2/Yl.5/40, and related regulations which are i..tell.dlional regulations for transport of goods between countries.
The dropping of a pail or container on an edge can result in considerable 25 ples~u~e being exerted on the lid by the goods within the pail. Lids are known which exhibit flex properties int~nl1ed to wi~ the effect of such pres~u~e, without causing the lid to pop off of the pail or co..l~inFr. Nonetheless, combinations of internal pail pres~ure~ popping off of lids or distortion of the lids can result in leakage or spillage of goods from the pail, especially when the goods 30 are in a liquid forrn.

2 ! 992 0 3 A lid has now been found that further resists distortion and ten~lçnries to pop off a container when the container is dropped.
Accordingly the present invention provides a plastic lid for a pail, said lid having a subst~nti~lly planar central section and a peripheral channel, said channel fitting over the pail to effect closure thereof, said central section being spaced from the channel by a groove and a ridge, eachof which extend around the lid juxtaposed to the channel, with the groove being a(lj~cent to the channel.
The present invention further provides a plastic lid for a pail, said lid having a subst~nti~lly planar central section and a peripheral channel, said channel fitting over the pail to effect closure thereof, said central section being spaced from the channel by a groove and a ridge, eachof which extend around the lid juxtaposed to the channel, with the groove being adj~ce~t to the channel, said groove having a plurality of non-linear flexible ribs therein extending across the width of the groove.
The present invention also provides a plastic lid for a pail, said lid having a subst~nti~lly planar central section and a peripheral channel, said channel fitting over the pail to effect closure thereof, said central section being spaced from the channel by a groove and a ridge, eachof which extend around the lid juxtaposed to the channel, with the groove being a~j~cçnt to the channel, at least one projection exten~ling from said lid down the outside of the pail, said projection being subst~nti~lly planar and having a forked lanceolate tip.
In a pleÇe,led embodiment of the lid, said forked lanceolate tip colll~rises two tynes that are inwardly flexible.
In further embo~lim~ntc, the lids are int~nrled for plastic pails.
In other embo~lim~nt~, the lid has both a plurality of non-linear flexible ribs and said projection with forked lanceolate tip.
The present invention also provides a plastic pail with a plastic lid, said lid having a subst~nti~lly planar central section and a peripheral channel, said ~~h~nn~ol fitting over the pail to effect closure thereof, said central section being spaced from the channel by a groove and a ridge, eachof which extend around the lid ju~posed to the channel, with the groove being adjacent to the ch~nnrl~
said lid optionally having a groove with a plurality of non-linear flexible ribs5 therein extending across the width of the groove;
said lid further optionally having at least one projection exten-ling from said lid down the outside of the pail, said projection being subst~nti~lly planar and having a forked lanceolate tip passed through an orifice and locked therein to prevent retraction of said tip through said orifice.
The present invention is illustrated by the embodimrnt~ shown in the drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a schrrn~tir rcplese..l~lion of a cross-section of a pail lid ~tt~rhrdto a pail;
Fig. 2 is a schrm~tic repic3e.l~tion of elevational views of embodiments of the non-linear flexible ribs;
Fig. 3A and 3B are srhrm~tic leprese~ iQns of the end of the projection that forms part of an embodiment of the lid;
Fig. 4 is a schrrn~tir replese,l~tion of a projection of Fig. 3A in a pail latch; and Fig. S is a schematic repiesent~tion of an alternative embodiment a cross-section of a pail lid ~tt~rhrd to a pail.
Fig. l shows a lid, generally in~lic~ted by 1, ~tt~rhrd to a pail generally indicated by 2. As will be appreciated, only sections of lid 1 and pail 2 are shown.
Lid 1 has a central planar section 3, which extends substantially across the width of the lid 1. Central planar section 3 is connrcted to ridge 4, which in turn is adjacent to, in sequence, groove 5 and channel 6. The periphery of lid 1 passes from ch~nnel 6 and extends down pail 2 in projection 7. Non-linear flexible ribs 8 are located in groove 5, as more clearly shown elsewhere.
Pail wall 11 extends upwards and te.. ~ es in pail rim 12. Sealant 13 is located within çh~nnPl 6 and above pail rim 12, to aid in sealing the contents of the pail within the pail. In ~d~1itiQn~ pail wall 11 has pail latch 14 extending 2 1 ~q20~

externally thelerlolll. Projection 7 of lid 1 extends through latch orifice 15 located in pail latch 14.
Projection 7 is described herein as being subst~nti~lly planar. In particular, projection 7 should be planar on its face towal.ls wall 11 of pail 2, especially for 5 ease of m~mlf~ctllre. The surface of projection 7 disposed away from wall 11 could be non-planar, especially rounded. However, it is prerelled that projection 7 be planar on both faces, for both ease of m~nnf~ctllre and strength of projection 7, especially re~ e to breakage on impact. Projection 7 tç..,.i..~tçs in forked lanceolate tip 22, ~ cussed in greater detail below.
Fig. 1 shows optional lip 19 located on projection 7, within cll~nn~l 6, on the inner exterior wall thereof. As shown, pail rim 12 is located above lip 19, ext~n~ling over lip 19.
Fig. 2 shows non-linear flexible ribs located within groove 5. The ribs in Fig. 2 are viewed from above lid 1, looking down into groove 5. In particular, 15 Fig. 2 shows four dirÇ~lelll examples of non-linear flexible ribs. It is understood that groove 5 would contain a plurality of non-linear flexible ribs that would normally be of the same shape and construction, not the assortment shown in Fig.2 as examples of embo~iments of the non-linear ribs. Non-linear flexible ribs 8 are int~nded to undergo flexing when compiessed, and to exert a force opposing 20 such conlplession.
In Fig. 2, walls 16 and 17 are the opposing walls of groove 5. Non-linear flexible ribs are indicated by 18, with rib 18a being subst~nti~lly U-shaped, 18b being subst~nti~lly sinusoidal in shape, 18c being subst~nti~lly S-shaped and 18d being subst~nti~lly V-shaped. It is understood that other non-linear flexible shapes 25 could be used. Linear ribs transversely located between walls 16 and 17 i.e.
exten-ling across groove 5 s~lbst~nti~lly at right angles to the walls of groove 5, are not included within embo-lim~nt~ of the invention.
Fig. 3A shows an embodiment of projection 7 which tçl...i.~tçs in forked lanceolate tip 22, which is also shown in side view in Fig. 1. Forked lanceolatetip 22 is formed by tip heads 21a and 21b on se~alale tynes of tip 22, which aresepal~led by tip gap 24. Tip heads 21a and 21b each form tip lip 23 that extendsoutwardly from projection 7.

2 1 992~3 Fig. 3B is of similar construction to Fig. 3A, except that tip gap 25 is narrower in width than tip gap 24 shown in Fig. 3A. It is to be understood that the width of tip gaps 24 and 25 may be varied, but that a tip gap 24 as illustrated in Fig. 3A is ple~lled to the narrower tip gap 25 shown in Fig. 3B.
Fig. 4 shows pail wall 11 with pail latch 14 exten-1ing thererrolll. In the embodiment shown, pail latch 14 is part of a rib that extends circumferentially around the entire pail, with pail latch 14 being a slot in such rib. It is to beunderstood, however, that pail latch 14 could be a projection on the exterior of the pail i.e. ~tt~rlle~ to pail wall 11, or it could allelll~lively be part of the housing for a handle on a pail with the handle of the pail being attached exterior to projection 7.
Forked lanceolate tip 22 is shown as having passed through pail latch orifice 15 such that tip lips 23 have passed through latch orifice 15 and have become locked on the underside of pail latch 14.
In Fig. 4, projection 7 is shown as ext~on~ling do~vllw~dly from lid 1.
Fig. S shows an ~ltern~tive embo-1im~nt of the present invention. In this embo-iiment, lid edge 27 of lid 1 extends dowll~,v~ud, being shown as subst~nti~lly parallel to pail wall 11. The length of lid edge 27 may be varied. However, in contrast to the embodiment of Fig. 1, latch orifice 15 and pail latch 14 have been omitted, and thus there is no projection. Thus, lid edge 27 tel.~ es at edge rim26, without passing through a latch orifice or otherwise being locked onto pail 2 by a latch e~ten~ling from pail wall 11. It will be noted that in the embodimentshown, lid edge 27 has optional lip 19 that engages pail rim 12. It is understood that lid edge 27 would normally extend cifculllrerelllially around lid 1.
In use, a pail is filled with goods that are to be transported, and lid 1 is placed on the pail. If lid 1 has a projection 7, and the pail has a corresponding pail latch 14 with latch orifice 15, then projection 7 is inserted into latch orifice 15. The tip of projection 7 is constructed such that on being pushed through latch orifice 15, the tynes that form forked lanceolate tip 22 of projection 7 are urged inward towards each other as a result of contact of tip head 21a and 21b with the sides of latch orifice 15. When tip lip 23 has passed through latch orifice 15, the respective parts of tip head 21a and 21b spring apart, as a result of the elasticity 219~0~

within projection 7 and its tip, such that tip lips 23 become locked beneath pail latch 14. The result is that lid 1 cannot be removed or otherwise come off a pail without breaking of projection 7 or deliberately urging tip heads 21a and 21b together to effect removable of lid 1.
On impact of a pail having the lid as described herein with for in~ctanre a hard surface, ples~u~ may be exerted on lid 1 as a result of movement of the con~enLs of the pail. The central planar section 3 of lid 1 will tend to bow upwards. However, such ples~ule exerted by the co~.le,.~ on the lid is normally minor colllpalCd with the direct effects of impact of an edge of the lid with a hard surface. Such an impact would result in channel 6 tending to disengage, rapidly,from sealant 13 and pail 2. In particular, the wall of the lid e~tçn-ling down from çh~nnPl 6 into groove 5 would tend to dicçngage from lid 1. In the absence of groove 5, lid 1 can easily pop off pail 2. Groove 5 in association with ridge 4 absorbs energy of impact. Moreover, the presence of non-linear flexible ribs 8 further absorbs the energy of impact, reducing the tendency for lid 1 to pop offpail 2. The section of groove 5 in contact with wall 11 of pail 2 is urged further into contact with wall 11, inc~eashlg the friction between the wall of groove 5 and wall 11, thereby making it more difficult to remove lid 1 from the pail. However, the effect of the impact is not fully and suddçnly trancmit~çd to the junction of the wall of groove 5 and wall 11, which might result in the popping off of lid 1 from pail 2. The non-linear flexible ribs 8 located within groove 5 absorb energy, and lessen the effect of the impact and especially lessen the potential effect of the impact to remove or sepalate lid 1 from pail 2.
Projection 7 in latch orifice 15 also resists the popping off of lid 1, either sep~dlely or in combination with non-linear flexible ribs.
It is understood that lid 1 may be used without a projection 7 that is intçn-led to pass through latch orifice 15 located on the pail wall. However, in a prere.l~d embodiment lid 1 has both non-linear flexible ribs 8 and projection 7.It is understood that a~plopliate means could be provided within lid 1 to allow the contellts of the pail to be removed without removal of lid 1 from pail 2.
For in~tanre~ lid 1 could have an opening therein with a removable screw cap through which the conl~n~s could be poured. Alternatively, lid 1 could be equipped with a suitable spout system for use in removal of the contell~s.
However, the lid may be such that it must be removed, even if cut off, in order to remove the contents of the pail.
It is believed that use of the ridge and groove disclosed herein, optionally 5 with the non-liner flexible ribs, provides ~irr"~ss to the lid and will result in an ability to reduce the thickness of central planar section 3 of lid 1, for economic benefits while still ..~ g accepktble pelrol,llance.
The pail with lid is useful in the transportation of goods.

Claims

1. A plastic lid for a pail, said lid having a substantially planar centralsection and a peripheral channel, said channel fitting over the pail to effect closure thereof, said central section being spaced from the channel by a groove and a ridge, eachof which extend around the lid juxtaposed to the channel, with the groove being adjacent to the channel.

2. A plastic lid for a pail, said lid having a substantially planar centralsection and a peripheral channel, said channel fitting over the pail to effect closure thereof, said central section being spaced from the channel by a groove and a ridge, eachof which extend around the lid juxtaposed to the channel, with the groove being adjacent to the channel, said groove having a plurality of non-linear flexible ribs therein extending across the width of the groove.

3. A plastic lid for a pail, said lid having a substantially planar centralsection and a peripheral channel, said channel fitting over the pail to effect closure thereof, said central section being spaced from the channel by a groove and a ridge, eachof which extend around the lid juxtaposed to the channel, with the groove being adjacent to the channel, at least one projection extending from said lid down the outside of the pail, said projection being substantially planar and having a forked lanceolate tip.

4. The plastic lid of Claim 2 in which the non-linear flexible rib is U-shaped.

5. The plastic lid of Claim 2 in which the non-linear flexible rib is sinusoidal.

6. The plastic lid of Claim 2 in which the non-linear flexible rib is S-shaped.

7. The plastic lid of Claim 2 in which the non-linear flexible rib is V-shaped.

8. The plastic lid of any one of Claims 2 and 4-7 in which the lid has both a plurality of non-linear flexible ribs and at least one projection extending from said lid down the outside of the pail, said projection being substantially planar and having a forked lanceolate tip.

9. The plastic lid of Claim 3 or Claim 8 in which said forked lanceolate tip comprises two tynes that are inwardly flexible.

10. The plastic lids of any one of Claims 1-9 in which the lids are intended for plastic pails.

11. A plastic pail with a plastic lid, said lid having a substantially planar central section and a peripheral channel, said channel fitting over the pail to effect closure thereof, said central section being spaced from the channel by a groove and a ridge, eachof which extend around the lid juxtaposed to the channel, with the groove being adjacent to the channel.

12. A plastic pail with a plastic lid, said lid having a substantially planar central section and a peripheral channel, said channel fitting over the pail to effect closure thereof, said central section being spaced from the channel by a groove and a ridge, eachof which extend around the lid juxtaposed to the channel, with the groove being adjacent to the channel, said groove having a plurality of non-linear flexible ribs therein extending across the width of the groove.

13. A plastic pail with a plastic lid, said lid having a substantially planar central section and a peripheral channel, said channel fitting over the pail to effect closure thereof, said central section being spaced from the channel by a groove and a ridge, eachof which extend around the lid juxtaposed to the channel, with the groove being adjacent to the channel, at least one projection extending from said lid down the outside of the pail, said projection being substantially planar and having a forked lanceolate tip passed through an orifice and locked therein to prevent retraction of said tip through said orifice.

14. A plastic pail of Claim 12 or Claim 13 having both said non-linear flexible ribs and said projection.

15. The plastic pail of Claim 12 in which the non-linear flexible rib is U-shaped.

16. The plastic pail of Claim 12 in which the non-linear flexible rib is sinusoidal.

17. The plastic pail of Claim 12 in which the non-linear flexible rib is S-shaped.

18. The plastic pail of Claim 12 in which the non-linear flexible rib is V-shaped.