CLOSURE WITH A LOCKING RIM HAVING A SEALING RIB

A closure includes an annular base to be fixed to an upper rim of a container and a lid moveable relative to the annular base between a closed position and an open position. The annular base includes a peripheral skirt with an integral non-removable end portion adapted to be arranged over the upper rim of the container and a peripheral locking rim integrally formed on the end portion of the peripheral skirt. A proximal end of the peripheral locking rim is hingedly connected to the peripheral skirt, allowing the peripheral locking rim to be folded inwardly towards an inner surface of the end portion of the peripheral skirt and allowing the distal end to move beyond and engage under the peripheral ledge of the container to lock the annular base to the upper rim of the container. The locking rim includes a surface radially inwardly and circumferentially extending sealing rib.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a closure for a container, said container having an open top side defined by an upper rim comprising an outwardly extending peripheral ledge surrounding said open top side, where the closure comprises an annular base to be fixed to the upper rim of the container and defines an access opening to the container, and the closure further comprises a lid moveable relative to the annular base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

WO 96/19388 discloses a closure made of a plastics material and including a circumferential skirt having a lower portion where a locking member of a conical form is formed. The neck of the container includes an outwardly directed ledge. When the closure is assembled onto the neck of the container, the locking member strikes the ledge of the container and the locking rim is rotated about a hinge into an upwardly directed position. Upon further axial movement of the closure, the locking member rides over the ledge until it enters an undercut such that the free end thereof seats under the ledge. When the locking member is seated under the ledge the closure is effectively locked in place, whereby the skirt cannot be separated from the neck of the container without breaking or damaging the locking means or the container.

A similar closure as the one disclosed in WO 96/19388, including the same locking mechanism is disclosed in WO 2016/022744.

The invention has for an object to provide a better sealing between the closure on a container.

This object is achieved by a closure according to the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A closure for a container, said container having an open top side defined by an upper rim comprising an outwardly extending peripheral ledge surrounding said open top side. The closure comprises an annular base to be fixed to the upper rim of the container and defines an access opening to the container, and the closure further comprises a lid moveable relative to the annular base between a closed position, in which the lid covers the access opening, and an open position, in which the access opening is unblocked by the lid. The annular base comprises a peripheral skirt which has an integral non-removable end portion adapted to be arranged over the upper rim of the container, and furthermore comprises a peripheral locking rim integrally formed on said end portion of the peripheral skirt, said peripheral locking rim having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the peripheral locking rim is hingedly connected to the peripheral skirt, allowing the peripheral locking rim to be moved to a folded state, in which the peripheral locking rim is folded inwardly towards an inner surface of the end portion of the peripheral skirt, such that, when the locking rim is in the folded state, the distal end thereof can move beyond and engage under the peripheral ledge of the container to lock the annular base to the upper rim of the container. The locking rim has a surface facing radially inwardly in the folded state, wherein at least one circumferentially extending sealing rib is formed on said circumferential surface.

The sealing provided by the at least one sealing rib facilitates a better preservation of the contents of the container. The exact dimensions of the outer surface of the container relative to the dimensions of the annular base of the closure may vary, for example due to manufacturing tolerances. The at least one sealing rib allows that the locking rim can always engage the outer peripheral surface of the container under the ledge. This provides a seal between the circumferential wall of the container and the locking rim, even if the locking rim is somewhat deformed.

Furthermore, the sealing rib also allows to eliminate play in radial direction between the locking rim and the outer surface of the container caused by manufacturing tolerances. This benefits the sealing function, but also gives the connection between the closure and the container a sturdy feel and touch.

In a possible embodiment the sealing rib has a triangular cross section. This shape of the sealing rib facilitates the adaptation of the ribs to the actual distance in radial direction between the locking rim and the outer surface of the container, which may vary due to manufacturing tolerances.

In a possible embodiment the sealing rib is spaced apart from the distal end of the peripheral locking rim. This has the effect that distal end can engage the outer surface of the container and provide a first sealing and the sealing rib provides a further sealing.

In a preferred embodiment the locking rim has two spaced apart parallel sealing ribs. The two ribs in practise improve the sealing function.

In a possible embodiment the sealing rib(s) is/are located closer to the distal end than to the proximal end of the locking rim. By this location at least the sealing function can be better warranted.

The invention will be further explained in the following description with reference to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

InFIG.1is shown a possible embodiment of a closure1for a container containing a powdered or granular product, such as for instance baby formula. The closure1comprises an annular base2and a lid3which can be opened such that the inside of the container is made accessible. The annular base2defines an access opening to access the inside of the container. The closure1may be made by an injection moulding process from a suitable plastics material, e.g. PP or PE.

The embodiment of the closure2shown inFIG.1may comprise a hinge (not shown) such that the lid3can be swivelled from a closed position, shown inFIG.1to an open position. The hinge may be a living hinge which is integrally formed with the annular base2and the lid3. Another option is to form the lid and the annular base separately and join them by hinging means. However, also an embodiment is possible wherein the lid is not coupled to the annular base by a hinge and can be entirely removed from the annular base. The way the lid and the annular base are arranged with respect to each other is not essential for the invention.

On a front side, diametrically opposite from the side where the hinge is located, a locking tab4is formed, to lock the lid in closed position.

The annular base2is adapted to be arranged over the open top of the container. The container comprises an upper rim, which includes a peripheral ledge which extends radially outward with respect to the outer surface of the container wall.

The annular base2comprises a peripheral skirt5. As can be seen in FIG. the peripheral skirt5has a lower end portion6that can be arranged over the upper rim of the container. The end portion6of the peripheral skirt5includes a locking rim7extending circumferentially from a lower end of the peripheral skirt5as can be seen best inFIGS.2and3. The locking rim7is integrally formed with the skirt5.

The locking rim7is connected to the peripheral skirt5at a proximal end8of the locking rim7. The locking rim7also has a distal end9, which is remote from the proximal end8and is a free end (seeFIG.3).

The proximal end8of the peripheral locking rim7is hingedly connected to the peripheral skirt5. The proximal end8includes a circumferential hinge region10as can be seen inFIG.6. The hinge region10allows that the peripheral locking rim7can be moved from an initial state, which is shown inFIGS.1,2and3, towards a folded state, which is shown inFIGS.4and5.

In the initial state (cf.FIGS.2and3) the locking rim7extends away from the lower end of the skirt5and thus the distal end9of the locking rim7is remote from the end portion6of the peripheral skirt5. In the folded state (cf.FIGS.4and5) the peripheral locking rim7is folded inwardly towards the inner surface6A of the end portion6of the peripheral skirt5.

Preferably, the locking rim7is brought to the folded state by a device before the closure1and the container are assembled. In particular, the locking rim7may be brought to the folded state just after the closure1is removed from the mould it is formed in. The closure1thus has the locking rim7in the folded state, shown inFIGS.4and5, when the closure1and the container are assembled together. The manufacturer of the closures1can thus supply the closures1in the state illustrated inFIGS.4and5to the filler company, which fills the container and assembles the closure1and the container. During assembly the locking rim7slides with an outer surface of the ledge of the container and the locking rim7is pushed outwardly towards the inner surface6A of the skirt5to be able to move beyond the ledge.

The exact dimensions of the upper rim of the container relative to the dimensions of the annular base2of the closure1, might vary, for example due to manufacturing tolerances. Consequently there might be a gap between the infolded locking rim7and the inner surface when the locking rim7passes the ledge.

The distal end9of the locking rim7resiliently hinges back to engage under the peripheral ledge of the container when the distal end9has passed beyond the peripheral ledge. This state is shown inFIG.5, in which the container and the ledge are drawn is dashed lines. The container is indicated by reference numeral20and the ledge by21. In this state the locking rim7prevents that the annular base2can move upwardly relative to the upper rim22of the container20. The annular base1is thus locked to the upper rim22of the container20.

The annular base furthermore comprises an inner skirt17which is coaxial with the peripheral skirt5and is integrally connected with the peripheral skirt5at an upper side. The inner skirt17has a lower end17A which in the fixed state on the container is spaced above the upper rim of the container20. In the fixed state on the container, the inner skirt17is located radially inward from the upper rim of the container20.

Axially extending ribs11are formed on the inner side of the peripheral skirt5. The axial ribs11have an end12near the end portion6of the peripheral skirt5. The end12of the axial ribs11form a stop for the upper side of the upper rim22of the container as can be seen inFIG.5. The axial distance between the end12of the axial ribs11and the distal end9of the peripheral locking rim7in the inwardly folded state is larger than the height of the peripheral ledge21of the container20as is visible inFIG.5. In other words, when the axial ribs11rest with their ends12on the upper rim22of the container, there is a small spacing (max. 1 mm) between the distal end9of the locking rim7and the lower side of the ledge21, which is visible inFIG.5. This measure allows that even though variations in the height of the ledge21can occur in practise, for example due to manufacturing tolerances, the annular base2always fits on the upper rim of the container20, albeit with a little play.

The peripheral locking rim7has a surface13facing radially inwardly in the folded state as shown inFIGS.4-6. On said circumferential surface13a pair of spaced apart circumferentially extending sealing ribs14and15are formed, which are parallel to each other. The sealing rib15is spaced apart from the distal end9of the peripheral locking rim7. The pair of sealing ribs14,15is located closer to the distal end9than to the proximal end8of the locking rim7.

The sealing ribs14,15have a triangular cross section, which is best seen inFIG.6. The triangle has a side14A,15A that in the folded state faces downwardly. This side14A,15A is under an angle α with the surface13wherein α<90°, preferably 80°<α≥40°, in the figure about 45°.

The sealing ribs14,15allow that the locking rim can always engage the outer peripheral surface of the container under the ledge. This provides a seal between the circumferential wall of the container20and the locking rim7, but also allows to eliminate play in radial direction between the locking rim7and the outer surface of the container20, even if the exact dimensions of the outer surface of the container relative to the dimensions of the annular base2of the closure1, might vary, for example due to manufacturing tolerances. This gives the connection between the closure1and the container20a sturdy feel and touch.