A CONTAINER

Abstract: A container (1) of the kind formed with an open void (3) separate from the main containment volume thereof characterised in that selectively removal means (6) are provided to substantially close said void (3) thereby defining a second containment volume (8). Any desired material, such as printed promotional material (9), coupons, operating instructions, spare parts, or even a second active ingredient may be packaged with the container (1). The selectively removal means may take the form of a membrane and may be adhered directly to the rim (3) or at an edge (5) located between the rim (4) and the depression (3). The membrane may be located at the top of a ring pull can in which case the second containment volume (8) covers the ring pull so as to provide a can top and ring pull free from contamination.

Description: TITLE: A CONTAINER FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to packaging containers and more particularly containers of the kind formed with an open void separate to the main containment volume. Examples of such containers are metal cans formed with a generally concave or domed void in the base and which are commonly used for soft drinks, beer and a wide variety of other products. Cans of this type usually have a second void formed adjacent to the top or opening area of the can and defined by a peripheral rim. Other examples of containers of the kind to which this invention relates include pressurised containers, again formed with a concave void in their base due to structural considerations. Certain glass and plastic containers such as bottles are also formed with a concave void in their base. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the packaging of a wide variety of goods there is a need to have the ability to package with, but separate to the primary goods, other articles and/ or printed material. These articles and materials can take the form of, for example, operating instructions, promotional goods, spare parts or even a second active ingredient. In the past the ability to package these articles or provide the printed material has generally been limited to the extent to which information can be printed on the exterior of the container or a visible portion of the interior. Alternatively, an adhesive label or a second package adhered to the container is required. The printing of information is, of course, limited by the available space visible to the end user. In the case of separately adhered packages, difficulties are often encountered in ensuring that the separate package remains affixed during transport, storage, and display for sale. It is an object of this invention to provide a container which will overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the foregoing disadvantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the invention provides a container of the kind formed with an open void separate to the main containment volume thereof characterised in that selectively removable means are provided to substantially close said void thereby defining a second containment volume. The container according to this invention preferably has the open void formed in the container wall in such a way that it protrudes into the main containment volume. Voids of this kind are typically formed in the base or bottom of metal beverage cans, the bottom of some wine bottles and the bottom of pressurised containers. The tops of cans generally have an open void also. The selectively removable means can take the form of a membrane secured to the container by pressure, friction, adhesives or through the application of heat, by shrink wrapping or other suitable process. Preferably, the membrane is formed from materials such as aluminium or metal foil, plastic, paper, cardboard or a combination of these materials. The membrane can be transparent or opaque depending upon the selected application and can have printing on one or both sides. Preferably, the membrane is formed so as to be clearly tamper evident. The membrane may be provided with a protruding tab which may be grasped and pulled to tear the membrane for removal. Perforations may also be provided in the membrane to assist with this process. In an embodiment the open void includes a generally concave depression terminating in a peripheral outer rim and a periphery of the membrane is adhered to an exposed surface of the depression and/or rim to seal or close the second containment volume. In one preferred form of this embodiment the container is a can with a generally cylindrical edge provided between the depression and the rim. In this form a periphery of the membrane is adhered to an exposed surface of the depression and/or edge and the closed or sealed membrane is contained in the open void within the original container boundary. In another preferred form the container is a bottle and the periphery of the membrane is adhered directly to the exposed surface of the depression. In a third preferred form the container is a can or bottle and the membrane is adhered directly to the rim. In this third form the membrane is disposed exterior to the original can or bottle boundary. In a variation of the above embodiment the open void includes a generally flat recessed depression terminating in a peripheral outer rim. An example of this being the top of a beverage can that includes the ring pull. In a preferred form of this variation the membrane is adhered directly to the rim. In another preferred form the membrane may comprise two or more layers sealed together to define an airtight package to contain such items as printed information, marketing materials or edible goods. In yet another preferred form the membrane may be provided with air holes to assist with the application of the membrane to the container or to address considerations such as changing air volume, the need for the container to stack and/or the possibility of condensation forming under the membrane. It will be appreciated that the invention includes within its scope the provision to have the membrane itself as the printed information carrying medium. The membrane may also provide access to a sterile or at least clean second containment volume, for example, adjacent the opening of can. This is useful for sealing a void of a sterilised container for containing an eating or drinking utensil. As the sealed void remains free from external exposure until the membrane is removed its contents remain sterilised even if the container itself is not. It will be apparent that the container according to this invention has a wide range of applications for the packaging of numerous goods. In a strongly preferred form the container takes the form of an aluminium or steel beverage can. It is preferred that the membrane is sufficiently flexible to allow stacking of the cans by deflecting sufficiently to accommodate the ring pull of a lower can. Other examples of the applications include the containers for non-consumable goods such as insect sprays, hair sprays, household cleaning products and a range of other pressurised or non-pressurised containers containing consumer products. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of this invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :- Figure 1 is an inverted side view of a container according to a first embodiment of this invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the container shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a sectional side view of the container shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is a bottom view of the container shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the container shown in Figure 1 with the membrane in the sealed or closed configuration; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the container shown in Figure 1 with the membrane in the open configuration; Figure 7 is a partial enlarged sectional view of the base of the container shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 8 is an inverted perspective view of a container according to a second embodiment of this invention; Figure 9 is a sectional side view of the container shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 is an exploded side view of the container shown in Figure 8; Figure 11 is a bottom view of the container shown in Figure 8; Figure 12 is a partial enlarged sectional view of a container according to a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 13 is a partial enlarged sectional view of a container according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; and Figure 14 is a partial enlarged sectional view of a container according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring to Figure 1 , the container 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention comprises an aluminium metal can of the kind commonly used for the packaging of beverages. The container 1 is shown in an inverted position and, as best shown in Figure 3, has a base 2 with a generally concave depression 3 terminating in a peripheral outer rim 4 with a cylindrical edge 5 therebetween. A metal foil membrane 6 is an exposed surface of the edge 5 attached by means of any suitable adhesive (not shown). Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the metal foil membrane 6 is provided with a tab 7 which protrudes slightly from the periphery of the can. In use, the membrane 6 is applied to the container 1 during production process to close the void formed by the depression 3 and thereby define a second containment volume 8. Any desired material, such as printed promotional material 9, coupons or other articles can be placed in the depression during the production process. It is a simple matter for the end purchaser of the product to grasp the tab 7 and at least partially remove the membrane to allow access to whatever may be contained in the second containment volume 8. It will be appreciated that the metal foil 6 is not easily resealed and is, therefore, tamper evident to the purchaser. In this first embodiment, as best shown in Figure 7, an outer lip 10 of the membrane 6 is glued to the edge 5 between the depression 3 and the outer rim 4. In this way, the membrane does not protrude from the original can boundary thus permitting the can to travel through standard production machinery and be easily stacked on other cans with minimal risk of damage to the membrane. This embodiment can also be stacked without any increase over the stacked height when compared to a similar number of stacked conventional cans. Figures 8 to 11 show a second embodiment of a container according to the invention which again takes the form of an aluminium beverage can of known type. The corresponding parts have been labelled with the same reference numbers as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment the membrane is glued directly to the outer rim 4 of the can. The membrane 6 is provided with sufficient flexibility to deform about the ring pull of a lower can, when stacked, without rupturing. This second embodiment provides a larger second containment volume 8 than the first but more care must be taken in handling as the membrane is disposed exterior the original can boundary. Figure 12 shows a third embodiment of the invention, similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 7, in which the membrane 6 is adhered to an exposed surface 12 of a concave depression 13 formed in the base of a bottle 14. Figure 13 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention, similar to that shown in Figures 8 to 11, in which the membrane 6 is adhered directly to the outer rim 15 surrounding the depression 13 formed in the bottle base 14. Figure 14 shows a fifth embodiment of the invention in which the top 16 of the can 1 includes a generally flat recessed depression 17 terminating in a peripheral outer rim 18. The membrane 6 is adhered directly to the rim to provide a second containment volume 19 in which the ring pull 20 is located. This embodiment provides a smaller containment volume to those previously described and is particularly useful, for example, in keeping the can top and ring pull free from contamination. The foregoing describes only five embodiments of the invention and it will be readily appreciated that the invention is applicable to numerous other containers.

Claims: CLAIMS:- 1. A container of the kind formed with an open void separate to the main containment volume thereof characterised in that selectively removable means are provided to substantially close said void thereby defining a second containment volume. 2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the open void is formed in the container wall such that it protrudes into the main containment volume. 3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the selectively removable means is a membrane secured to the container by pressure, friction, adhesives or through the application of heat, by shrink wrapping or by a combination of any of these processes. 4. A container as claimed in claim 3 wherein the membrane is formed from materials such as aluminium or metal foil, plastic, paper, cardboard or a combination of any of these materials. 5. A container as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the membrane is transparent or opaque. 6. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the membrane includes printing on one or both sides. 7. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein the membrane is formed so as to be clearly tamper evident. 8. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein the membrane is provided with a protruding tab which may be grasped and pulled to tear the membrane for removal. 9. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8 wherein the membrane includes perforations. 10. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 9 wherein the open void includes a generally concave depression terminating in a peripheral outer rim and a periphery of the membrane is adhered to an exposed surface of the depression and/or rim to seal or close the second containment volume. 11. A container as claimed in claim 10 wherein the container is a can with a generally cylindrical edge provided between the depression and the rim and the periphery of the membrane is adhered to an exposed surface of the depression and/or edge. 12. A container as claimed in claim 10 wherein the container is a bottle and the periphery of the membrane is adhered directly to the exposed surface of the depression. 13. A container as claimed in claim 10 wherein the container is a can or bottle and the membrane is adhered directly to the rim. 14. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 9 wherein the open void includes a generally flat recessed depression terminating in a peripheral outer rim. 15. A container as claimed in claim 14 wherein the container is a can and the membrane is adhered directly to the rim. 16. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 15 wherein the membrane comprises two or more layers sealed together to define an airtight package. 17. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 16 wherein the membrane is provided with air holes. 18. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 17 wherein the membrane carries printed information. 19. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 18 wherein the membrane provides access to a sterile or at least clean second containment volume. 20. A container as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 19 wherein the membrane is sufficiently flexible to allow stacking of the cans by deflecting sufficiently to accommodate the ring pull of a lower can.

Inventors: VON KOHORN STEVEN, VON KOHORN, STEVEN
Applicants: KOHORN INTERNATIONAL PTY LIMIT, VON KOHORN STEVEN, KOHORN INTERNATIONAL PTY. LIMITED, VON KOHORN, STEVEN
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65D77
IPC codes: B65D23, B65D25, B65D51