Plastic container with closure and device for actuating same

Abstract: A plastic container (1) with a bottom and, connecting continuously onto the edge thereof a standing wall of random shape on the upper circular edge portion of which can be placed a cover (2) provided with a peripheral groove (8) for receiving said edge portion and wherein the cover and the edge portion are provided with co-acting locking means (12), being formed on the one hand by a number of L-shaped locking members distributed uniformly over the periphery, the one leg (13) of which is fixed to the cover or the edge portion of the container such that the one leg is oriented perpendicularly to the bottom, and on the other hand by an outward pointing lip (14) on the edge portion or the cover against which the other leg of the locking member can be placed, so facilitating the maneuverability of the cover during filling of the container since it has only to be lifted up, while for its permanent closure the cover has to be turned through a determined distance relative to the container in order to place all the locking members simultaneously in contact with the co-acting lip, whereby the cover is locked onto the container.

Description: The invention relates to a combination of a plastic container and a cooperable cover as defined by the first part of claim 1. A combination as described above is disclosed in US-A-4 723 686. Such plastic containers are frequently used for receiving chemical waste which has to be burned together with the container. For this purpose it must on the one hand be possible for the user to remove the cover during filling of the container, while on the other it is locked during transport to the incineration location such that it cannot come loose. The combination of a container and cover according to the invention is distinguished and actuating device as defined by the features of the second part of claim 1. As a result of this embodiment the maneuverability of the cover is facilitated during filling of the container since it has only to be lifted up, while for its permanent closure the cover has to be turned through a determined distance relative to the container in order to place all the locking members simultaneously in contact with the co-acting lip, whereby the cover is locked onto the container. Moreover, using said device, placing, fastening and, conversely, re-opening the cover on the container is facilitated since only a few operations are necessary for closing or opening the container. It is further recommended to embody the container with an outward pointing flange provided with through-holes, the number of which is equal to the number of locking members, this such that a part of the peripheral flange forms the lip-like locking part. In order to obtain a sealing closure, there is arranged in the peripheral groove of the cover a sealing means of resilient material against which the upper wall of the container comes to rest, wherein it is recommended to embody the lip in the contact surface with the L-shaped locking member with a recess for receiving the nose-like member formed on the L-shaped locking member. The above mentioned invention will be further elucidated in the figure description of an embodiment following hereinafter. In the figure: figure 1 shows a perspective side view of a container arranged in an actuating device according to the invention; figures 2, 3 and 4 show respectively a side view of a detail of the locking means, a top view along the arrow III-III in figure 2 and a standing section along the arrow IV-IV in figure 2. In the figures the container according to the invention is designated with 1 and the cover with 2. The container has a bottom part 3 onto the edge of which connects the wall part 4, which is provided at the top with a circular edge 5. This latter is embodied inter alia with an outward pointing flange part 6, into which are recessed openings 7. The cover 2 is dish-shaped and the upstanding outer edge thereof has on the underside an annular groove 8, in the bottom of which is arranged a sealing element of resilient material 9. The edge part 5 of container 1 ends at the top in a zigzag-shaped edge strip 10, the top surface of which presses against the resilient material 9 when the cover is placed on the edge 5 of container 1. The outer peripheral portion of cover 2 is provided at regular mutual intervals with a locking member 12 which in the embodiment shown is L-shaped (see figure 2). The one leg 13 of the locking member points towards the bottom 3, while the other portion 14 thereof has a length corresponding with the length of the through-hole 7 in the edge flange 6. This leg 14 co-acts with the bottom face of the edge flange 6, doing so along a limited lip-like portion 17 embodied on the underside with a recess 18. The leg 14 of the L-shaped locking member is embodied with a nose-like member 19 of a size such that it can fall into the recess 18, as shown in figure 2. In figure 3 can be seen that the leg 14 is displaced slightly outward relative to the leg 13 in order to preserve a space 20 between the peripheral edge 11 of the cover 2 for the purpose of remaining free of the portion of the flange 6 lying adjacent to the edge strip 5 (see figure 4). Figure 1 shows that a large number of L-shaped locking members 12 are arranged, this number corresponding with the number of through-holes 7 in flange 6. Each L-shaped locking member 12 can thus be placed through an opening 7 of flange 6 and locking can be effected by turning the cover 2 relative to the container 1, since all legs 14 of the locking members 12 come to lie against the underside of flange 6, wherein the nose-like member 19 can fall into the recess 18, thus permanently locking the cover 2 onto container 1. The locking is brought about inter alia because the resilient material 9 is temporarily compressed and springs back again as soon as the nose-like member 19 falls into the recess 18. A permanent sealing of the container content is nonetheless ensured so that the container 1 with a cover 2 arranged thereon is secure for transport of chemical or toxic material stored in the container 1. The container with cover can be incinerated in the combustion furnace together with the content thereof. It will be apparent from the above that arranging the cover 2 on container 1 manually can be quite irksome on account of the large number of locking members 12 necessary for secure sealing. For this purpose the invention proposes an actuating device, which is shown schematically in figure 1. This device consists of a frame 30 provided at the bottom with a supporting plate 31 whereon the bottom 3 of container 1 can be placed. The bottom plate 31 is embodied with stops 32 which prevent a turning of the container 1 relative to the supporting plate 31 and also localize the container in the correct position. The frame 30 is further provided at an interval above the supporting plate 31 with a pressure member 33 in the form of a plate which can be moved in the direction towards and away from the support 31 with a moving mechanism 34 to be further designated below. The moving mechanism 34 consists of a fixed arm 35 attached to frame 30, which arm ends in a screw eye 36. In the screw eye fits a threaded spindle 37 provided at the top end with a crank 38 which can be operated manually. The threaded spindle 37 is embodied on the other side with a ball hinge 39 which is close-fittingly accommodated in a ball holder 40 of the pressure member 33. By moving the spindle 37 downward in the eye 36 with the crank 38 the cover 2 can be pressed uniformly onto the container 1. By a simple turning through a small angle the locking can then be effected according to the above described system. In order to facilitate the turning the plate-like pressure member 33 is embodied with a hand-grip 41 with which it is possible to turn the pressure member 33 round the spindle axis A-A standing perpendicularly of the supporting plate 31. The friction between the plate-like pressure member 33 and the cover 2 can transmit the turning onto the cover. If this friction is not sufficient the pressure member 33 can also be provided with recesses 42 into which fit stubs 43 forming an integral part of the upper rim of cover 2. In the embodiment shown are depicted three stubs 43 with recesses 42. It will however be apparent that another number is also possible. It should be noted for the sake of completeness that the frame 30 is embodied with travel wheels 45 in addition to a handle 46 for easy transport of the container to a place of collection or use. A number of variants to the above described embodiments are of course possible within the scope of the claims. It is particularly worth noting that the outward pointing flange 6 on the outside of container 1 can be replaced by a number of lips which corresponds with the number of locking members 12 and which are arranged on the outside of the container 1 in a manner similar to a flange 6.

Claims: The combination of a plastic container (1) and a cooperable cover (2), said plastic container comprising a bottom (3) having a peripheral edge and a wall (4) which is connected continuously to the peripheral edge of said bottom and extending upwardly therefrom, said wall (4) defining a circular upper edge (5) having an outwardly-extending lip (6); said cover defining a circular outer edge cooperating with said circular upper edge (5) and being provided with L-shaped locking means (12) having first (13) and second (14) legs attached to said outer edge, said first leg (13) extending downwardly when said cover is positioned on the upper edge (5) of said container and said second leg (14) being lockable against said outwardly extending lip (6) of said container when said cover is positioned on said container and rotated relative to said container characterized by an actuating device (30) for connecting or disconnecting the cover with respect to the container comprising a supporting plate (31) on which the bottom of said container is adapted to be positioned, a frame member (30) which extends away from said supporting plate, an arm (35) which extends away from said frame member (30), and a pressure member (33) which is movably attached to said arm so as to be capable of pressing said cover (2) against said container (1) when said container is positioned on said support plate and wherein said cover (2) and pressure member (33) include first and second engagement means (42, 43) when said pressure member (33) is pressed against said cover, and handgrip means (41) connected to said pressure member to facilitate manual rotation of said pressure member and consequently rotation of said cover relative to said container when said pressure member is pressed against said cover. The combination according to claim 1, characterized in that said lip (6) includes a recess (17) and the second leg (14) of said locking means (12) includes a nose portion (18) which fits into said recess (17). The combination according to claim 1, characterized in that said lip (6) comprises an annular flange having an opening (7) for the first leg of the locking means. The combination according to claim 1, characterized in that said first engagement means comprise stub protrusions (43) on a top surface of said cover (2). The combination according to claim 4, characterized in that said second engagement means of said pressure member includes recesses (43) in which said stub protrusions are positioned. The combination according to claim 1, characterized in that said cover includes a peripheral groove (8) containing a resilient sealing material (9) against which the upper edge of said container is positioned. The combination according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuating device (30) includes support wheels (45) connected to said frame member. The combination according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuating device includes a handle (46) connected thereto.

Inventors: JONKERS GODEFRIDUS HUBERTUS JO, JONKERS, GODEFRIDUS HUBERTUS JOSEFUS
Applicants: WIVA BV, WIVA VERPAKKINGEN B.V.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B65F1
IPC codes: B65F1