Multipurpose lids for closing containers, in particular paint containers
A lid for closing a container, particularly a paint container, provided with a skirt including an upper rim. The lid includes a dish and a peripheral zone integral with the dish and provided with an outer edge in sealed co-operation with the upper rim and the dish includes a side wall and a base, part of the wall forming a pour spout with height H relative to the peripheral zone, to facilitate transfer of the product. The base includes an orifice or recess delimited by a rim and forming an opening, so as to allow through an instrument, and the lid includes a cap for sealing said orifice, so as to enable the orifice to be manually closed or opened as many times as necessary. The invention provides easy use, reduces paint losses and stains, and enables incorporation of numerous other functions in the lid.
The invention relates to closure of receptacles containing typically fluid products that can be applied manually using an instrument, and typically paint pots, protective mixes or coloured coatings, or varnishes or adhesives that can be applied using a brush or a roller.
The following description refers to paint pots simply as a typically example of the domain of this invention.
STATE OF THE ARTCommercially available paint pots are usually formed by a body with an opening at the top forming a rim closed by a lid that click fits into the rim, the only way for the pot to be opened is to separate the lid from the rim, typically using a tool such as a screwdriver.
However, there are patents that describe paint pot lids that in particular are easier to open and may provide additional functions.
Thus, patent GB 2 205 082-A describes a lid comprising lines of weakness capable of forming an edge at the time of the first opening, on which the brush can be wiped.
Furthermore, there are many patents related to accessories adaptable to paint pots to facilitate their use, including two types of accessories:
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- firstly, “standard” pots may include accessories to facilitate application of the paint, for example as described in patents U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,331 or 3,298,561,
- secondly, these accessories may be independent of the paint pots and can be used by putting them on paint pots after opening, as described in patents U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,568, U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,662, U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,802, U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,338, U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,107, U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,813, U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,867, U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,319, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,013.
Although the state of the art includes a large number of manufactured products, this state of the art leaves a number of problems unsolved, since although every manufactured product is designed to solve a particular problem, it leaves another problem unsolved or worse it may itself introduce a new problem.
Concerning accessories, they should be considered to form complementary parts with a cost additional to the cost of the “standard pot”, although it is true that other specific functions are added.
Providing an accessory for each paint pot is a very expensive solution, but not providing it and using a specific accessory is not a practical solution to the extent that, like all objects only used occasionally, special accessories unfortunately have a nasty habit to get lost!
Furthermore, concerning the functions provided by known lids, for example as described in patent GB 2 205 082-A, they are very limited because they mainly concern the possibility of wiping the brush.
The purpose of the invention is a lid for pots that simultaneously:
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- is not an accessory and therefore performs the sealed closure function of the pot, such that the total cost is very little different from the cost of a “standard pot”,
- includes several of the functions required by the user and particularly at least three of the means or functions described below in a) to g), and possibly other functions as will become clear later:
- a) means of facilitating pouring paint from the receptacle,
- b) means of opening the receptacle without the use of tools,
- c) means of reopening and reclosing the receptacle at will,
- d) means of wiping the brush,
- e) means of stacking pots and lids,
- f) means of recovering the product and preventing unwanted dripping,
- g) means of manual gripping.
- be compatible with industrial manufacturing of lids and receptacles, particularly paint pots, the lids typically being stored in a stack, with their use in the paint industry (closure of pots filled with these lids) and also with the storage of pots once they have been filled.
The lid according to the invention will close a receptacle, typically intended to contain a fluid product such as a paint or a powder, to be applied manually using an instrument such as a brush, the said receptacle comprising a body provided with a bottom, a skirt with an upper rim delimiting an upper opening with area S typically varying from 25 cm2 to 2500 cm2 and with its largest dimension D typically varying from 5 cm to 50 cm, and designed to be closed off by the said lid.
This lid is characterised in that:
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- a) the said lid comprises a dish with area S′ and its largest diameter D′ and a peripheral strip fixed to the said dish and provided with an outer edge cooperating in a sealed manner with the said upper ring, the said area S′ typically varying from 0.1S to 0.9S and the said largest dimension D′ typically varying from 0.1D to 0.9D,
- b) the said dish comprises a sidewall and a bottom, a part of the said wall forming a pouring spout with height H above the said peripheral strip, so as to facilitate pouring of the said product,
- c) the said bottom comprises an orifice or a recess delimited by a rim and forming an opening with area S″ and its largest dimension D″, the said area S″ typically varying from 0.1S′ to 0.9S′ and the said largest dimension D″ typically varying from 0.1D′ to 0.9D′ so as to enable passage of the said instrument,
- d) the said lid comprises a manually removable closing means, typically a cap, designed to close off the said orifice, so as to be able to manually close or open the said orifice as many times as necessary, typically by rotation of the said removable closing means.
The combination of means a) to d) according to the invention solves the problems that arise. This combination of means firstly:
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- facilitates pouring from the receptacle, due to the presence of a pouring spout,
- enables the receptacle to be opened without the use of tools due to the presence of a manually removable closing means,
- enables the receptacle to be reopened and reclosed at will using this same removable closing means (means c),
- recovers the product and eliminates unwanted dripping of this product, due to the presence of a dish around the orifice.
As will become clear later, this combination of means also makes it possible to form means providing complementary functions.
The invention also provides an economic solution adapted to the general consumer market typically represented by the paint pot market.
Finally, the invention provides a completely new solution to the domain of lids for paint cans, pots or buckets, and opens up the way for a wide variety of practical embodiments as will become clear from the detailed description of the invention and the figures that accompany it.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Variants of the upper rim (23) corresponding to the part inside the rectangle shown in chain dotted lines in
In
In
In
In
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- external shapes or peripheries corresponding to the shapes of the outer edge (50), and to the shapes of the upper rims (23) of the bodies of the receptacles (2) to be closed, are illustrated in
FIGS. 4 a, 5a and 6a corresponding to rectangular, round or oval shapes respectively. These peripheries delimit a surface S with largest dimension D; - external shapes or peripheries of a dish (4) are shown in a dark line on the corresponding FIGS. 4b, 5b and 6b. These peripheries delimit an area S′ with largest dimension D′;
- shapes or peripheries around the orifice (43) delimited by rims (44) are shown on the corresponding
FIGS. 4 c, 5c and 6c. These rims (44) that delimit an area S″ with largest dimension D″ are designed to cooperate with caps with a corresponding shape (6) not shown on the figures. In these Figures, the pouring spout (41) is shown particularly with an inclined inner surface (410).
- external shapes or peripheries corresponding to the shapes of the outer edge (50), and to the shapes of the upper rims (23) of the bodies of the receptacles (2) to be closed, are illustrated in
The wall (40) of the dish (4) is shown in a thick line, with a full line for the “top” part (400) and a dashed line for the “bottom” part (401). The auxiliary stacking means (80) is shown in a thick full line, and forms a upper horizontal plane (81) with the said “top” part (400), in particular so that lids can be stacked as illustrated in
The lids (1) in
In
In
Furthermore in
In
In
This
In
In
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- according to a first embodiment, a sealing layer (84) makes the auxiliary stacking means (80)—a parallelepiped shaped element made of plastic, fixed to the upper surface of the peripheral strip (5), a flexible tab (62) making the cap (6) fixed to the stacking means (80). In this case, the cap (6) can be opened by pulling on the tab (67).
- according to a second embodiment, the sealing layer (84) is missing, the stacking means (80) is then fixed to the cap (6) by a typically rigid arm (83). In this case, neither the cap (6) nor the stacking means (80) are fixed to the lid (1) since there are separated from it when the cap (6) is opened, for example by pulling on the stacking means (80).
According to
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- firstly, the stacking means (80) is fixed to the dish (4) by a tab (85),
- secondly, the stacking means (80) includes a manual gripping means, for example an orifice (800) through which at least one or several fingers can pass, as illustrated in
FIG. 12 c, - the said pouring spout (41) also comprises a bi-stable tab (412) due a thinned part (411) with an appropriate radius of curvature R. The tab (412) is shown folded down in
FIG. 12 a and extended inFIG. 12 b. - finally
FIGS. 12 a and 12b illustrate an embodiment of the cap (6) in which the hinge (10) is located in the said dish (4) and has an upper opening, such that the said cap can be click fitted by an axial movement as shown by an arrow inFIG. 12 a representing the cap (6) in the closed position, while the cap is in the open position inFIG. 12 b, the cap (6) being held in its vertical position typically by click fitting or a vertical positioning means (600) fixed to the cap (6) into a recess (405) formed in the sidewall (40) of the dish (4), particularly so as to offer its inner surface (66) as a surface for wiping the said instrument.FIG. 12 b shows a double arrow showing the possibility of separating the cap (6) from the lid (1), the cap (6) being in the open position, and then once again assembling it to the lid by reversible click fitting.
In this embodiment of a lid (1), the removable closing means comprises a closing cap forming a drawer (403), two parallel sides of the wall (40) being fitted with slides (403) along which the drawer translates along the direction of the arrows in
The drawer (403) is closed in
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the said removable closing means (6) may comprise a means of fixing (60) to the said dish (4) or to the said peripheral strip (5), the said fixing means being either permanent or removable.
Depending on the case, it may be advantageous for this closing means (6) to be inseparable from the lid (1) (unless it is deliberately separated) so as to eliminate the risk of it falling off or getting lost.
However, as illustrated by the second embodiment in
As illustrated in
This fixing means (60) may be permanent and include a flexible tab (61) typically forming a single piece part with the said dish (or with the said peripheral part (5)) as illustrated in
According to another embodiment, the said fixing means (60) may include a flexible tab (62), or a rigid arm (63), fitted with an end (64) comprising means of cooperation (65) with the said dish (4) or with the said peripheral strip (5), typically by bonding or click fitting, so as to form a permanent or typically removable fixing means depending on the case.
Bonding, as a permanent fixing means, was illustrated by the second embodiment in
Click fitting as a possible removable fixing means was illustrated in
As illustrated in
Preferably, as illustrated in
Advantageously, this hinge (10) may be formed by simple axial click fitting of the cap (6) in the dish (4).
According to the invention and as illustrated for example in
However, the disadvantages related to this type of run are also avoided when the hinge is located in the dish, as illustrated in
According to the invention and as illustrated in
According to another embodiment of the lid according to the invention shown in
Preferably, the drawer sealing means (69) comprises an overthickness at its end with fairly low strength so that it can be inserted into the recess (404) at the bottom of the wall (40), but strong enough to prevent it from being separated from the said wall (40) when it is opened.
Regardless of the embodiments of the invention and as illustrated in
This wiping bar (46) may form a partition of the said orifice (43), a main part (430) of the said orifice being intended for passage of the said instrument, a secondary part (431) adjacent to the said pouring spout being designed to allow flow of the said product when the said product is transferred.
The said secondary part (431) may have a typically triangular section with a vertex forming part of the said pouring spout (41) as illustrated in
As illustrated in
According to the invention, the height H of the said part of the sidewall (40) forming the said pouring spout (41) may vary from 5 mm to 30 mm and typically be located at a distance d from the said upper rim (23) varying from 1 to 50 mm, and typically varying from 5 to 15 mm. See
As illustrated in
This radius of curvature R will typically vary from 30 mm to 100 mm.
Preferably, and as illustrated in many FIGS. (4c, 5c, 6c, 7a, 7b, etc.), the part of the said wall (40) forming the said pouring spout may include an inner surface (410) forming an angle of less than 90° with the horizontal plane, for example the average horizontal plane (12), and typically varying from 45° to 75°, to facilitate transfer of the said product.
Depending on the embodiment of the lid (1), the said sidewall (40) may include a so-called “top” part (400) with height H comprising the said pouring spout (41), the said wall having a length or size L, so as to form a stacking means (8) of the said lid forming a thickness shim for stacking the said lid in a stack (3) and/or the said receptacle in a stack after it has been filled and closed by the said lid.
The said wall (40) may include a so-called “bottom” part (401) with height H, particularly to enable or facilitate the said rotation or access to the said orifice (43).
In the Figures, the said upper part (400) has been shown by a continuous thick line, while the lower part (401) is shown by a discontinuous dark line, as can be seen in
Typically, the said bottom (42) may be a bottom (420) inclined towards the said rim (44) like a funnel, such that the said fluid product that drops inside the said dish (4) or onto the said bottom (42) can flow by gravity towards the said orifice (43) and thus drop into the said body (2).
As illustrated in many Figures, and for example particularly in
As illustrated in
According to the invention, and particularly when the said dish (4) has a surface area S′ very much less than S and typically where S/S′>2, or when the said dish (4) is offset by a maximum amount with respect to the lid (1), the said peripheral strip (5) may include an auxiliary stacking means (80) for the said lids (1), typically formed by one or several pads or elements in relief, typically with the same height H above the said peripheral strip (5) as the height of the said top part (400) or the said pouring spout (41) and at a distance equal to at least D/2 from the said pouring spout in an average horizontal plane of the said peripheral strip, such that in particular the said lids (1) can be put into a stable stack (3) of lids (1) or receptacles (2) fitted with the said lids.
When the dish has a large surface area S′ compared with the surface area S of the lid, and is also well centred with respect to the lid—for example
However if this is not the case, as shown in
As shown in
Typically, the said upper part (400) of the said dish and the said element in relief (80) may have the same height H, so as to give an upper stacking plane (81) that is horizontal, the said height H typically being chosen to be equal to at least the depth H′ of the said hollow outer part (200), and form or comprise at least three parts at their periphery or radial end forming the radial stops (402, 82) that will cooperate with the said outer hollow part, so as to prevent any radial displacement of one receptacle with respect to another in a stack and thus increase its stability.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
According to one embodiment of the invention illustrated for example in
According to another embodiment illustrated, particularly in
Typically, the said dish (4) may form a part made of plastic, and the said peripheral strip (5) may form a metallic or annular metalloplastic part with an inner edge (51) fixed to the said dish (4) or to the said outer projection (48), typically by crimping, bonding, click fitting or insert moulding.
But it is also possible to form elements of the lid either made from a plastic material by moulding or thermoforming or based on metal, and to assemble them typically by heat sealing.
Plastic elements such as polyolefin (for example PE, PP) may be heat sealed to each other in the same way as a metal based material, typically a PE/metal/PE type of multiple layer, the outer layers or PE or thermoplastic material then enabling assembly by heat sealing. Elements of the lid can also be assembled by bonding, due to the addition of an adhesive between the elements to be assembled.
However when the said dish (4) and the said peripheral strip (5) are composed of different materials, it is advantageous if the said assembly means forming the junction (11) is a reversible assembly means, so as to enable subsequent separation of the said dish (4) and the said peripheral strip (5) to enable recycling of the materials from which the said lid is made.
This can be achieved by solidarising the said dish (4) and the said peripheral strip (5) at a predetermined mechanical force F (for example these two elements can be separated by applying a tension force), for example by varying the width 1 of the overlap area (110) between the said dish (4) or its outer projection (48) and the inner edge (51) of the said peripheral strip (5)—see
According to the invention, and particularly as a function of the nature of the packaged product or the sealing or permeability requirements for the lid, a closer (9) may cover or close at least the said orifice (43), the said closer (9) typically being a closer made of a barrier material for the said product, the said closer (9) typically heat sealed to the said lid (1), has to be removed or torn off the first time that the said lid (1) is opened. Many Figures (see
The said closer (9) may be a closer heat sealed on the inner surface (13) of the said lid and extends beyond the said dish and seals the said junction area (11) between the said dish (4) and the said peripheral strip (5). For example, see
In this case, and as illustrated for example in
As illustrated in
Thus, according to the invention, it is possible to have a lid (1) with two sealing levels: an “absolute” seal can be achieved during storage of the packaged product (for example a paint rich in volatile solvents) using an aluminium sheet closer to cater for a variable storage duration or variable storage conditions, while after the closer has torn at the time of the first opening, the seal will be made by the cap but possibly to a lesser degree because once paint pots or buckets have been opened, they will be used within a fairly short time.
Thus, according to the invention, considering the possibility of using a closer and particularly when the paints are aqueous dispersions, it is possible to have a cap with a much lower quality seal that simply forms a mechanical obstacle to prevent any foreign body from getting into the paint, such that the extra cost necessary for the closer (9) can be compensated by a more economic production of the assembly formed by the dish (4) and the cap (6).
According to the invention, at least the said dish (4) may be composed of a moulded or thermoformed part made of a thermoplastic material, typically PE, PP, PET, PVC or PA, chosen with a nature and thickness to have firstly the mechanical properties and secondly gas barrier properties required for use and an adapted chemical resistance to the said product.
The lids according to the invention are applicable to any type of receptacle body (2). The said outer edge (50) of the said peripheral strip (5) may have a profile capable of cooperating with the said upper rim (23) of the said receptacle (2) to be closed, typically by crimping, heat sealing or force fitting, the said upper rim (23) being either a plane rim (230, 233), or an inclined rim (231, 234), or a rolled rim (232, 235), the said plane, inclined or rolled rim possibly being inside or outside the said skirt, the said outer edge (50) typically comprising a seal or a sealing layer (54) to make a seal between the said lid (1) and the said body (2).
As illustrated in
See
See
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, a manual gripping means (14) may be fixed to the said lid (1), to the said dish (4) or to the said peripheral strip (5) so that there is no longer any need for a handle fixed to the said receptacle as is usually the case for 2-litre or larger pots or buckets.
It is even more advantageous if this gripping means is formed using another means already present in the lid, for example the stacking means (8) as illustrated in
Another purpose of the invention consists of a receptacle for which the body (2) is closed by a lid (1) according to the invention.
EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
The lids according to
For lids according to
These peripheral strips were made particularly using standard lids made of steel according to the state of the art, and cutting out the area S′ corresponding to the dish (4).
A series of lids (1) was thus made by cutting out the same surface area S′ from a series of lids with different shapes and dimensions, and assembling with the same dish (4) to obtain a complete series of lids (1) as illustrated in
According to the three methods of assembly of the peripheral strips (5) and dishes (4) (as shown for example in
Furthermore, different types of dishes (4) were manufactured in which the cap could be built in (see
If the cap (6) forms a separate part, it is then made separately and assembled by simple axial click fitting as can be seen in
However, in the case of the assembly shown in
In the cases shown in
The lids (1) according to the invention have very many advantages, firstly because they simultaneously solve the many problems encountered by paint users, and in particular offer the following for every receptacle body (2) closed by these lids (1):
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- a dish (4) forming a “retention tank” surrounding the orifice, so as to limit risks of losing paint and causing drips, the two usually being related,
- a removable cap (6) typically fixed to the lid so that it cannot get lost,
- a pouring spout (41) integrated into the said dish to avoid paint runs onto the body of the receptacle,
- a means of stacking pots leading to stable stacks, to limit the floor occupancy of paint pots,
- a means of preventing runs from the cap in the open position,
- a means of wiping brushes, and rollers,
- a means of temporary support for these brushes,
- a means of recycling lids.
Furthermore, these lids also have advantages for the manufacturer and designer of lids and packagings for conditioning of paint, namely:
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- adaptation of these lids (1) to any type of receptacle body,
- adaptation of these lids (1) to any type of product contained in the pot, to achieve the required seal during storage and/or during use,
- high speed industrial manufacturing on a production line simplified by its modular aspect, by axial assembly of the elements making up the lid (1),
- stacking of the lids (1),
- the possibility of manufacturing a large number of lids (1) with different dimensions and shapes starting from a single model of a dish (4) and cap (6),
- the possibility of incorporating a variable number of means that solve user problems, as a function of the order of priority of these problems, which can vary depending on the country or the continent,
- the possibility of having a completely renewed offer in a relatively traditional domain by varying the appearance of the lid, or having the possibility of offering lids (1) in which the high technology used is clearly visible, for marketing, which is very advantageous in a particularly consumer-oriented domain in which a product is purchased not only as a result of technical considerations about the content, but also depending on the visual aspect or technical performances of the container.
Claims
1. Lid (1) that will close a receptacle, typically intended to contain a fluid product such as a paint or a powder, to be applied manually using an instrument such as a brush, the said receptacle comprising a body (2) provided with a bottom (20) typically provided with a hollow outer part (200), a skirt (21) with an upper rim (22) delimiting an upper opening (23) with area S typically varying from 25 cm2 to 2500 cm2 and with its largest dimension D typically varying from 5 cm to 50 cm, and designed to be closed off by the said lid (1), characterised in that:
- a) the said lid (1) comprises a dish (4) with area S′ and its largest diameter D′ and a peripheral strip (5) fixed to the said dish (4) and provided with an outer edge (50) cooperating in a sealed manner with the said upper ring (22), the said area S′ typically varying from 0.1S to 0.9S and the said largest dimension D′ typically varying from 0.1D to 0.9D,
- b) the said dish (4) comprises a sidewall (40) and a bottom (42), a part of the said wall forming a pouring spout (41) with height H above the said peripheral strip (5), so as to facilitate pouring of the said product,
- c) the said bottom (42) comprises an orifice or a recess (43) delimited by a rim (44) and forming an opening with area S″ and its largest dimension D″, the said area S″ typically varying from 0.1S′ to 0.9S′ and the said largest dimension D″ typically varying from 0.1D′ to 0.9D′ so as to enable passage of the said instrument,
- d) the said lid (1) comprises a manually removable closing means, typically a cap (6), designed to close off the said orifice (43), so as to be able to manually close or open the said orifice (43) as many times as necessary, typically by rotation of the said removable closing means.
2. Lid according to claim 1 in which the said removable closing means comprises a means of fixing (60) to the said dish (4) or to the said peripheral strip (5), the said fixing means (60) being either permanent or removable.
3. Lid according to claim 2 in which the said fixing means (60) is permanent and includes a flexible tab (61) typically forming a single piece part with the said dish (4) or with the said peripheral part (5).
4. Lid according to claim 2 in which the said fixing means (60) includes a flexible tab (62), or a rigid arm (63), fitted with an end (64) comprising means of cooperation (65) with the said dish (4) or with the said peripheral strip (5), typically by bonding or click fitting, so as to form a permanent or typically removable fixing means depending on the case.
5. Lid according to claim 4 in which the said click fitting means forming the said cooperation means (65) includes male or female parts, one being fixed to the said removable closing means (650), the other (450) being fixed to the said dish (4) or the said peripheral strip (5).
6. Lid according to claim 2 in which the said fixing means (60) forms a hinge (10) for the said cap (6).
7. Lid according to claim 1 in which the said dish (4) or the said peripheral strip (5) or the said cap (6) includes a horizontal positioning means (7), typically a stop, such that when the said cap (6) is open, its inner surface (66) forms a typically horizontal plane (70) and this avoids running of the said product sticking to its inner surface.
8. Lid according to claim 1 in which the said dish (4) typically forms a vertical positioning means, typically due to the said sidewall (40), or inclined at an angle >90° such that when the said cap (6) is open, its inner surface (66) forms a vertical or inclined plane, enabling the product to flow towards the said orifice and also providing a wiping surface for the said instrument.
9. Lid according to claim 1 in which the said sidewall (40) includes parallel slides (403) and a recess (404) to enable translation of a drawer sealing means (69) comprising a handle on the outside of the said dish.
10. Lid according to claim 1 in which the said dish (4) includes a bar typically passing through the said orifice (43) so as to form a wiping bar (46) for the said instrument.
11. Lid according to claim 10 in which the said wiping bar (46) forms a partition of the said orifice (43), a main part (430) of the said orifice being intended for passage of the said instrument, a secondary part (431) adjacent to the said pouring spout being designed to allow flow of the said product when the said product is transferred.
12. Lid according to claim 11 in which the said secondary part (431) has a typically triangular section with a vertex forming part of the said pouring spout (41).
13. Lid according to claim 11 in which the said secondary part (431) is closed off by a possibly removable grid (47).
14. Lid according to claim 1 in which the height H of the said part of the sidewall (40) forming the said pouring spout (41) varies from 5 mm to 30 mm and is typically located at a distance d from the said upper rim (23) varying from 1 to 50 mm.
15. Lid according to claim 14 in which the said pouring spout (41) includes a bi-stable flexible tab (412) in the folded down position when the said lid (1) or the said receptacle fitted with the said lid forms a stack, in the extended upwards position so that the said product can be transferred, the said pouring spout (41) having a thinned upper end (411), with a flexibility and radius of curvature R adapted so as to obtain a tab (412) with two stable positions, so that when the said tab is extended, the height H′>H and is equal to at least 1.30 H.
16. Lid according to claim 1 in which the part of the said wall (40) forming the said pouring spout includes an inner surface (410) forming an angle of less than 90° with the horizontal plane, and typically varying from 45° to 75°, to facilitate transfer of the said product.
17. Lid according to claim 14 in which the said sidewall (40) includes a so-called “top” part (400) with height H comprising the said pouring spout (41), the said wall having a length or size L, so as to form a stacking means (8) of the said lid forming a thickness shim for stacking the said lid in a stack (3) and/or the said receptacle in a stack after it has been filled and closed by the said lid.
18. Lid according to claim 17 in which the said wall (40) includes a so-called “bottom” part (401) with height H, particularly to enable or facilitate the said rotation or access to the said orifice (43).
19. Lid according to claim 1 in which the said bottom (42) is a bottom (420) inclined towards the said rim (44) like a funnel, such that the said fluid product that drops inside the said dish (4) or onto the said bottom (42) can flow by gravity towards the said orifice (43) and thus drop into the said body (2).
20. Lid according to claim 1 in which the said rim (44) comprises an inner projection (440) delimiting the said orifice (43), so as to typically cooperate with the said cap (6) particularly by forming an axial and/or radial stop for the said cap (6).
21. Lid according to claim 1 in which the said orifice (43) has a horizontal profile or periphery comprising at least one straight portion and at least two angular portions with radii of curvature R1 and R2, such that the said rim and/or the said projection may be used as a wiping means for a flat brush and for two round brushes with radii of curvature typically equal to approximately R1 and R2 respectively, where R1 and R2 typically vary from 5 mm to 50 mm.
22. Lid according to claim 1 in which the said peripheral strip (5) includes an auxiliary stacking means (80) for the said lids (1), typically formed by one or several pads or elements in relief, typically with the same height H above the said peripheral strip (5) as the height of the said top part (400) or the said pouring spout (41) and at a distance equal to at least D/2 from the said pouring spout in an average horizontal plane of the said peripheral strip, such that in particular the said lids (1) can be put into a stable stack (3) of lids (1) or receptacles (2) fitted with the said lids.
23. Lid according to claim 22 in which the said auxiliary stacking means (80) also forms the said vertical positioning means (7).
24. Lid according to claim 22 in which the said upper part (400) of the said dish and the said element in relief (80) have the same height H, so as to give an upper stacking plane (81) that is horizontal, the said height H typically being chosen to be equal to at least the depth H′ of the said hollow outer part (200), and form or comprise at least three parts at their periphery or radial end forming the radial stops (402, 82) that will cooperate with the said outer hollow part, so as to prevent any radial displacement of one receptacle with respect to another in a stack and thus increase its stability.
25. Lid according to claim 22 in which the said element in relief (80) and the said peripheral strip (5) form a single piece part.
26. Lid according to claim 22 in which the said element in relief (80) and the said dish (4) form a single piece part.
27. Lid according to claim 22 in which the said element in relief (80) and the said cap (6) form a single piece part.
28. Lid according to claim 1 in which the said dish (4) and the said peripheral strip (5) form a single piece part, typically a plastic moulded or thermoformed part.
29. Lid according to claim 1 in which the said dish (4) and the said peripheral strip (5) form two parts fixed by an assembly means, typically using an external projection (48) from the said dish (4), so as to form a typically scaled junction area (11).
30. Lid according to claim 29 in which the said dish (4) forms a part made of plastic, and the said peripheral strip (5) forms a metallic or annular metalloplastic part with an inner edge (51) fixed to the said dish (4) or to the said outer projection (48), typically by crimping, bonding, click fitting or insert moulding.
31. Lid according to claim 29 in which when the said dish (4) and the said peripheral strip (5) are composed of different materials, the said assembly means forming the junction (11) is a reversible assembly means, so as to enable subsequent separation of the said dish and the said peripheral strip to enable recycling of the materials from which the said lid is made.
32. Lid according to claim 1 in which a closer (9) covers or closes at least the said orifice (43), the said closer (9) typically being a closer made of a barrier material for the said product, the said closer (9) typically heat sealed to the said lid (1), having to be removed or torn off the first time that the said lid (1) is opened.
33. Lid according to claim 30 in which the said closer (9) is a closer heat sealed on the inner surface (13) of the said lid and extends beyond the said dish and seals the said junction area (11) between the said dish (4) and the said peripheral strip (5).
34. Lid according to claim 33 in which the said closer (9) comprises at least one line of weakness (90) typically running along the said orifice, such that when manual pressure is applied on the said closer (9) at the time of the first opening, for example with the said instrument, the said closer (9) tears so as to provide access to the said product, the said torn off closer folding inside the said body.
35. Lid according to claim 30 in which the said closer (9) is a heat sealed closer on the upper surface of the lid and typically on the surface (441) of the said inner projection (440), the said closer comprising a gripping tab (91) that is typically used to separate the closer (9) from the lid (1).
36. Lid according to claim 1 in which at least the said dish (4) is composed of a moulded or thermoformed part made of a thermoplastic material, typically PE, PP, PET, PVC or PA, chosen with a nature and thickness to have firstly the mechanical properties and secondly gas barrier properties required for use and an adapted chemical resistance to the said product.
37. Lid according to claim 1 in which the said outer edge (50) of the said peripheral strip (5) has a profile capable of cooperating with the said upper rim (23) of the said receptacle (2) to be closed, typically by crimping, heat sealing or force fitting, the said upper rim (23) being either a plane rim (230, 233), or an inclined rim (231, 234), or a rolled rim (232, 235), the said plane, inclined or rolled rim possibly being inside or outside the said skirt, the said outer edge (50) typically comprising a seal or a sealing layer (54) to make a seal between the said lid (1) and the said body (2).
38. Lid according to claim 37 in which the said outer edge (50) of the said peripheral strip (5) has a profile capable of cooperating with an intermediate part (24) assembled to the said upper rim (23) of the said body (2).
39. Lid according to claim 1 in which a manual gripping means (14) is fixed to the said lid (1), to the said dish (4) or to the said peripheral strip (5) so that there is no longer any need for a handle fixed to the said receptacle.
40. Receptacle comprising a body (2) closed by a lid (1) according to claim 1.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 1, 2003
Publication Date: Jun 29, 2006
Inventors: Guy Druesne (La Fleche), Benoit Deshaies (La Fleche), Philippe Gimenez (Le Mans), Marc Langouet (Saint Coulomb), Antoine Planque (Moras En Valloire)
Application Number: 10/529,769
International Classification: B65D 51/18 (20060101); B65D 25/00 (20060101); B65D 1/40 (20060101);