Lid retaining clip and container filled therewith

Abstract: A container, for example a paint can, comprises a cylindrical side wall (10), a lever ring (12) and a lid (18). An overclosure clip (22) extending around substantially the whole circumference of the container has three depending portions (24, 28, 30). The outermost portion (24) engages below a lip (14) on the lever ring, the middle portion (28) is a tight resilient fit in a recess (16) between the lever ring and the lid, and the innermost portion (30) is a tight resilient fit in a groove (20) in the lid. The clip (22) includes a circumferential cushioning ring (36), preferably of flexible plastics material. A sealing ring is seated in a groove in the outer wall of the lid and effects a seal between that face and a facing surface of the lever ring.

Description: This invention relates to the securement of lids to containers, particularly containers such as paint cans. Various methods are known for securing lever lids to containers having a lever ring. GB-A-2096107 describes a clip for securing a lever lid to a lever ring of a container, where the clip comprises a moulded or extruded element or elements of plastics material which are applied to the container in a generally downwardly vertical direction such that the inherent resilience permits arm members of the clip to engage substantially simultaneously with associated surfaces of the lever ring and the lever lid. By this means the clip, although firmly securing the lid to the ring, can easily be detached therefrom without the need for special tools. The preamble of claim 1 is based on this prior art. EP-A-0334514 describes a lid-retaining collar which comprises a generally annular ring which has a radial slit therein so that the collar can more easily be parted from the can. The collar has a peripheral skirt portion with a snap-fit bead which engages below the double seam between the lever ring and the can body. In these and other lid-retaining devices the major problem is maintaining a complete seal against leakage of the contents if the can is dropped or otherwise subjected to impact or pressure. Particularly for cans which are used to contain flammable liquids there are specific standards which must be met. With overclosures of the types referred to above, leakage of the contents can still occur if for example the can is dropped in a particular attitude. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved can closure which is more resistant to leakage. In accordance with the invention there is provided a container having a cylindrical side wall, a lever ring secured to the upper margin of the side wall, a lid fitted into the lever ring, a circumferential recess between the lever ring and the lid, a circumferential groove in the lid adjacent to the radially outer edge thereof, and an overclosure clip fitted to the lever ring and lid and extending around substantially the whole circumference of the container, wherein the clip has three depending portions engageable with the lever ring and the lid, and wherein the radially outermost portion of the clip engages below a lip on the lever ring and the two inner portions fit respectively in said circumferential recess and said circumferential groove, characterised in that the innermost portion of the clip is a tight resilient fit in said groove with two spaced ribs in engagement with the circumferentially inner face of the groove and an intermediate web in engagement with the circumferentially outer face of the groove. The clip preferably includes a circumferential cushioning ring outwardly of the lever ring. In a preferred embodiment the clip is provided with a plurality of slots equispaced circumferentially around the clip from the radially inner margin of the clip outwards to create a plurality of radially inwardly projecting tongues. It is an important preferred feature of the invention that the outer wall of the container lid is recessed and carries sealing means engageable between the lid wall and a facing surface of the lever ring. In order that the invention may be more fully understood, one presently preferred embodiment of can closure in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view through the portion of a can where the can wall, lever ring and can lid meet; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through a securing clip adapted to be fitted to the can shown in Fig. 1; and, Fig. 3 shows a can lid modified in accordance with the invention to include a circumferential seal and for use in combination with the clip of Fig.2. Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown part of a cylindrical can wall 10 having a lever ring 12 secured thereto by a seaming operation which defines the periphery of the can. As shown, the lever ring 12 has a lip 14 outwardly of the cylindrical can wall. The lever ring 12 has an inturned portion radially inwardly of the cylindrical wall 10 and which defines a circumferential recess 16. A can lid, indicated generally at 18, is a socket fit within the lever ring 12 and has a circumferential lip 19 which overlies the inner portion of the lever ring 12 and thus faces the recess 16. The lid 18 includes a circumferential pocket 20. As shown in Fig. 2, an overclosure or clip, indicated generally at 22, is designed and shaped to fit over and into the can rim as shown in Fig. 1. The clip 22 comprises a vertically extending skirt 24 which has an inwardly and upwardly directed tongue 26 which is adapted to engage below the lip 14 on the lever ring 12. The clip 22 has an arm portion extending inwardly from the skirt 24 and adapted to make contact both with the recess 16 and with the pocket 20. A protuberance 28 extending downwardly from the clip is designed to seat resiliently within the circumferential recess 16. The radially most inward portion 30 of the clip is designed to seat resiliently within the circumferential pocket 20. The portion 30 has two ribs 31 and 32 which engage the circumferentially inner face 33 of the pocket 20 and a surface 34 which engages the circumferentially outer face 35 of the pocket 20. In contrast to the inner arm member of the clip shown in GB-A-2096107, the portion 30 of the clip 22 is a tight, resilient fit within the circumferential pocket 20. By making the protuberance 28 a tight resilient fit within the recess 16 and by making the portion 30 a tight resilient fit within the circumferential pocket 20, allied with the engagement of the tongue 26 with the lip 14, the clip 22 is located fixedly in place when positioned on the can and prevents relative movement of the component parts, particularly in the direction at right-angles to the longitudinal axis of the can. The clip 22 as shown in Fig. 2 includes an outer circumferential cushioning ring 36 to aid in absorbing impacts if the can is dropped on its rim. The cushioning ring 36 is preferably tubular and may be made of the same material or a different material from that of the rest of the clip 22. In one preferred embodiment of the invention the cushioning ring 36 is made of a flexible PVC material, whereas the remainder of the clip is made of a high impact PVC material. The clip 22 is desirably extruded and the cushioning ring 36 and the remainder of the clip can be co-extruded, with the cushioning ring keyed to the basic part of the clip in the extrusion process. It is also to be noted that the clip 22 is shaped so that the clip is of substantially constant thickness throughout, i.e. the thickness of the skirt 24 and of the radially inwardly projecting arm and of the cushioning ring 36 are all of substantially the same dimension. This assists the extrusion of the clip so that one does not get areas or zones which are of different temperature to others. Although not shown in the drawings, the radially inwardly projecting arm portion of the clip is provided with a plurality of slots spaced circumferentially around the arcuate clip at equal intervals. These may be saw cuts through the thickness of the arm in order to create a plurality of radially inwardly projecting tongues. These slots in the clip preferably extend from the ribs 31 and 32 to approximately the position indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 2. This gives the individual tongues a degree of resilience which enables them more easily to locate within the recesses 16 and 20. It also assists in the fitting of the clip by enabling it to be pushed on to the can, instead of having to be hammered on. In order to aid the sealing of the can, in combination with the clip 22, the can lid 18, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with auxiliary sealing means. The outer wall 38 of the can lid 18 is provided with a circumferential groove 40 which serves as a locator for an O-ring seal 42. In one preferred embodiment of the invention the O-ring seal 42 has a diameter of approximately 1.58 mm (1/16th inch) and the distance x by which the O-ring seal projects beyond the surface of the lid wall 38 is between 0.125 mm (0.005 inch) and 0.25 mm (0.010 inch). However, these dimensions are given by way of example only. The use of this O-ring seal 42 in combination with the clip 22 provides a double mechanism by means of which the can is securely sealed against leakage.

Claims: A container having a cylindrical side wall (10), a lever ring (12) secured to the upper margin of the side wall, a lid (18) fitted into the lever ring, a circumferential recess (16) between the lever ring and the lid, a circumferential groove (20) in the lid (18) adjacent to the radially outer edge thereof, and an overclosure clip (22) fitted to the lever ring (12) and lid (18) and extending around substantially the whole circumference of the container, wherein the clip (22) has three depending portions (24, 28, 30) engageable with the lever ring and the lid, and wherein the radially outermost portion (24) of the clip engages below a lip (14) on the lever ring (12) and the two inner portions (28, 30) fit respectively in said circumferential recess (16) and said circumferential groove (20), characterised in that the innermost portion (30) of the clip (22) is a tight resilient fit in said groove (20) with two spaced ribs (31, 32) in engagement with the circumferentially inner face (33) of the groove (20) and an intermediate web in engagement with the circumferentially outer face (35) of the groove (20). A container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the clip includes a circumferential cushioning ring (36) outwardly of the lever ring (12). A container as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the cushioning ring (36) is tubular. A container as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the cushioning ring (36) is of a flexible plastics material and the remainder of the clip is of a high impact plastics material. A container as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the cushioning ring (36) and the remainder of the clip are co-extruded. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the outermost depending portion (24) comprises a skirt having an inwardly and upwardly directed tongue (26) in engagement with the lip (14) on the lever ring. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the outer wall (38) of the container lid (18) is recessed and carries sealing means (42) engageable between the lid wall (38) and a facing surface of the lever ring (12). A container as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the clip is provided with a plurality of slots equispaced circumferentially around the clip from the radially inner margin of the clip outwards to create a plurality of radially inwardly projecting tongues. A container as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the sealing means comprises an O-ring (42) projecting beyond the surface of the lid wall (38) by between 0.125 mm and 0.25 mm.

Inventors: CLARKE ALAN ROY, HUNNAM PETER MALCOLM, CLARKE, ALAN ROY, HUNNAM, PETER MALCOLM
Applicants: PECHINEY PACKAGING FOOD AND GE, PECHINEY PACKAGING FOOD AND GENERAL LINE LIMITED
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B65D45
IPC codes: B65D45, B65D25, B65D43