A non-detachable snap-fit connection between a lid and a container

Abstract

A non-detachable snap-fit connection between a lid and a container, incorporating snap-fit profiles formed in an upper part of the container, and snap-fit profiles formed in the lid, where the said snap-fit profiles interlock. The lid (2, 200) has a side wall (2a, 200a) with at least one snap-fit profile (3, 300) formed thereon, and the container (1, 100) ends with a neck (la, 100a) with at least one snap-fit profile (4, 400) formed thereon, and the snap-fit profile (4, 400) interlocks with the snap-fit profile (3, 300) of the lid (2, 200).

Description

[0001] A non-detachable snap-fit connection between a lid and a container

[0002] The invention concerns a non-detachable snap-fit connection between a lid and a container. The solution is intended especially for containers and lids formed of plastics and used particularly for carbonated beverages.

[0003] Since recycling of materials has presently become an important factor in packaging production and sale, it is highly desirable to produce packaging of one and the same material.

[0004] One of the problems faced when producing plastic containers is to ensure that they are properly connected with their lids, where the connection will be sufficiently safe and resistant so as to sustain the pressure inside, produced by carbonated beverages.

[0005] Since plastic containers are given different shapes, it is desirable to provide a standardised connection which will meet the above-specified requirements, and to ensure that the mounting of the lid on the container is simple.

[0006] Disclosed in patent document US 4,487,326 A, is a plastic container closed with a lid of flexible plastic, intended for pressurized beverages. The lid is bulged on the surface facing the inside of the container, where the lid rim incorporates an annual axial wall, a radial wall, and a circumferential wall which interlocks with the rim wall of the container. In addition, the lid has a sealing surface.

[0007] Known from document US 4,640,435 A is a plastic can for carbonated beverages, fitted with a plastic lid which snaps on the can. The can has a neck part ending in a blocking flange which curves outwards, its shape that of the reversed V letter in cross-section. The upper wall of the lid is concave and it fits into the can opening; the wall is fitted with a circumferential rim curving outwards and downwards thus forming a down-facing blocking groove in the shape of a reversed V letter in cross-section.

[0008] Known from patent document EP 4 161 842 Bl is a snap-fit non- detachable connection between a lid and a container, comprising snap-fit profiles formed on the frontal surface in the upper part of the container, the profiles taking the form of segments around the opening for filling the container, and snap-fit profiles formed in the upper part of the lid in the shape of openings with a snap ledger formed on their side surface, where the said container segments lock into the said openings in the lid and fit tightly therein.

[0009] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a universal tight and non-detachable snap-fit connection between a lid and a container, which enables simple assembly and elimination of threaded connections.

[0010] According to the present invention, a non-detachable snap-fit connection between a lid and a container, incorporating snap-fit profiles formed in an upper part of the container and snap-fit profiles formed in the lid, where the said snap- fit profiles interlock, is characterised in that the lid has a side wall featuring at least one snap-fit profile formed thereon and the container ends with a neck with at least one snap-fit profile formed thereon, and the latter profile interlocks with the snap-fit profile of the lid.

[0011] Preferably, the lid features a snap-fit flange formed on its side wall along the circumference, and the container neck features a snap-fit flange bending towards the inside of the container, where the snap-fit flange of the lid locks under the snap-fit flange of the container neck. In addition, the container neck features at least one bearing element on which the lid rests, formed on its inner side surface along the circumference. Preferably, the bearing element takes the form of a flange. Moreover, preferably, the container neck features notches and / or cut-outs along its edge, penetrating the snap-fit flange.

[0012] In another variant of the invention, the lid preferably features snap-fit openings in its side wall along the circumference and the container neck features snap-fit protrusions formed on its outer side surface, where the snap-fit protrusions lock into the snap-fit openings. Preferably, the snap-fit protrusions of the container neck are in the shape of a triangle, preferably its apexes rounded and pointing towards the neck rim of the container opening, and the snap-fit openings in the lid are correspondingly in the shape of a triangle, preferably its apexes rounded and pointing towards the upper surface of the lid, or preferably the snap-fit protrusions on the container neck are given the shape of a triangle, preferably its apexes rounded and pointing towards the container bottom, and the snap-fit openings in the lid are, correspondingly, given the shape of a triangle, preferably its apexes rounded and pointing towards the bottom surface of the lid. In addition, preferably, the free edge of the lid side wall features notches and / or cut-outs.

[0013] Preferably, there is a sealing element between the lid and the container neck.

[0014] The technical means employed in the solution according to the present invention are attainable in standard thermoplastic forming processes and they allow using the existing devices which serve closing the container with the lid. The above guarantees no need to develop new production infrastructure, and enables the attainment of high process efficiency.

[0015] The invention is presented in embodiments on drawings, where: Fig. 1 to Fig. 6 present the invention in its first embodiment, where:

[0016] Fig. 1 presents the lid and the container before the assembly, in three- dimensional view;

[0017] Fig. 2 presents the container with the lid mounted in place, in three-dimensional view;

[0018] Fig. 3 presents the lid in another embodiment variant, in three-dimensional view;

[0019] Fig. 4 presents the lid and the container before the assembly, in cross section; Fig. 5 presents the lid and the container in the course of the assembly, in cross section;

[0020] Fig. 6 presents the container with the lid mounted in place, in cross section.

[0021] Fig. 7 to Fig. 11 present the invention in its second embodiment, in variant one, where:

[0022] Fig. 7 presents the lid and the container before the assembly, in three- dimensional view;

[0023] Fig. 8 presents the container with the lid mounted in place, in three-dimensional view;

[0024] Fig. 9 presents the lid and the container before the assembly, in cross section;

[0025] Fig. 10 presents the lid and the container in the course of the assembly, in cross section;

[0026] Fig. 11 presents the container with the lid mounted in place, in cross section.

[0027] Fig. 12 do Fig. 16 present the invention in the second embodiment in another variant, where:

[0028] Fig. 12 presents the lid and the container before the assembly, in three- dimensional view;

[0029] Fig. 13 presents the container with the lid mounted in place, in three- dimensional view;

[0030] Fig. 14 presents the lid and the container before the assembly, in cross section; Fig. 15 presents the lid and the container in the course of the assembly, in cross section;

[0031] Fig. 16 presents the container with the lid mounted in place, in cross section.

[0032] The embodiments of the invention

[0033] An example of the snap-fit non-detachable connection between the lid 2, 200 and the container 1, 100, incorporates snap-fit profiles formed in the upper part of the container 1, 100, and snap-fit profiles formed in the lid 2, 200, where the said snap-fit profiles interlock. The lid 2, 200 has a side wall 2a, 200a, with at least one snap-fit profile 3, 300, formed thereon, and the container 1, 100 ends with a neck la, 100a with at least one snap-fit profile 4, 400, formed thereon, where the latter interlocks with the snap-fit profile 3, 300, of the lid 2, 200.

[0034] In the first embodiment shown on Fig. 1 to Fig. 6 the lid 2 features a snap- fit flange 3 formed on its side wall 2a along its circumference, and the neck la of the container 1 features a snap-fit flange 4 formed which is bent towards the inside of the container 1 , where the snap-fit flange 3 of the lid 2 locks under the snap-fit flange 4 of the neck la of the container 1. Formed on the inner surface, along the circumference of the neck la of the container 1 is a bearing flange 5 on which the lid 2 rests. Along its rim, the neck la of the container 1 features notches and / or cut-outs 6 which penetrate the snap-fit flange 4 and facilitate the mounting of the lid 2 on the neck la of the container 1, or the snap-fit flange 3 of the lid 2 features notches and / or cut-outs 7 which facilitate the mounting of the lid 2 on the neck la of the container 1, as shown on Fig. 3.

[0035] The stages of mounting the lid 2 on the neck la of the container 1 are presented, correspondingly appropriate, on Fig. 4 to Fig. 6. Under force, the snap-fit flange 3 of the lid 2 locks under the snap-fit flange 4 of the container 1 , where the lid 2 rests on the bearing flange 5 of the container 1 forming a non- detachable connection.

[0036] In the second embodiment, the lid 200 has snap-fit openings 300 along the circumference of its side wall 200a, and the neck 100a of the container 100 has snap-fit protrusions 400 formed on the outer side surface, where the snap-fit protrusions 400 lock into the snap-fit openings 300. The snap-fit protrusions 400 of the neck 100a of the container 100 are given the shape of a triangle, preferably, its apexes rounded, and correspondingly the snap-fit openings 300 in the lid 200 are given the shape of a triangle with rounded apexes.

[0037] In one embodiment variant shown on Fig. 7 to Fig. 11, the apexes of the snap-fit protrusions 400 of the container 100 point towards the edge of the neck 100a of the container opening 100, and the apexes of the snap-fit openings 300 of the lid 200 point towards the upper surface of the lid 200. In another embodiment variant shown on Fig. 12 to Fig. 16, the apexes of the snap-fit protrusions 400 of the container 100 point towards the bottom of the container 100, and the apexes of the snap-fit openings 300 of the lid 200 point towards the lower surface of the lid 200. The shape of the snap-fit openings 300 and of the snap-fit protrusions 400 facilitates the mounting of the lid 200 on the neck 100a of the container 100.

[0038] In addition, the free edge of the side wall 200a of the lid 200 features notches and / or cut-outs 700 which facilitate the mounting of the lid 200 on the neck 100a of the container 100.

[0039] The stages of mounting the lid 200 on the neck 100a of the container 100 are presented, correspondingly, on Fig. 9 to Fig. 11 and on Fig. 14 to Fig. 16. Under force, the snap-fit protrusions 400 of the container 100 lock into the snap- fit openings 300 of the lid 200 forming a non-detachable connection.

[0040] In all embodiments, there is a sealing element 8, 800 between the lid 2, 200, and the neck la, 100a, of the container 100.

[0041] List of numerical references

[0042] 1 - container la - container neck

[0043] 2 - lid

[0044] 2a - side wall of the lid

[0045] 3 - snap-fit flange of the lid

[0046] 4 - snap-fit flange of the container

[0047] 5 - bearing flange of the container neck

[0048] 6 - notches / cut-outs in the container neck

[0049] 7 - notches / cut-outs in the snap-fit flange of the lid

[0050] 8 - sealing element

[0051] 100 - container

[0052] 100a - container neck

[0053] 200 - lid

[0054] 200a - side wall of the lid

[0055] 300 - snap-fit flanges of the lid

[0056] 400 - snap-fit protrusions of the container

[0057] 700 - notches / cut-outs in the free edge of the side wall of the lid

[0058] 800 - sealing element

Claims

Claims1. A non-detachable snap-fit connection between a lid and a container, incorporating snap-fit profiles formed in an upper part of the container and snap- fit profiles formed in the lid, where the said snap-fit profiles interlock characterised in that the lid (2, 200) has a side wall (2a, 200a) featuring at least one snap-fit profile (3, 300) formed thereon, and the container (1, 100) ends with a neck (la, 100a) with at least one snap-fit profile (4, 400) formed thereon, and the latter profile interlocks with the snap-fit profile (3, 300) of the lid (2, 200).

2. The connection according to claim 1, characterised in that the lid (2) features a snap-fit flange (3) formed on its side wall along the circumference (2a), and a neck (la) of the container (1) features a snap-fit flange (4) bending towards the inside of the container (1), where the snap-fit flange (3) of the lid (2) locks under the snap-fit flange (4) of the neck (la) of the container (1).

3. The connection according to claim 2, characterised in that the neck (la) of the container (1) features at least one bearing element (5) on which the lid (2) rests formed on its inner side surface along the circumference.

4. The connection according to claim 3, characterised in that the bearing element (5) takes the form of a flange.

5. The connection according to claim 2, characterised in that the neck (la) of the container (1) features notches and / or cut-outs (6) along its edge, penetrating the snap-fit flange (4).

6. The connection according to claim 2 or 5, characterised in that the snap-fit flange (3) of the lid (2) features notches and / or cut-outs (7).

7. The connection according to claim 1, characterised in that the lid (200) features snap-fit openings (300) in its side wall along the circumference (200a), and a neck (100a) of the container (100) features snap-fit protrusions (400) formed on its outer side surface, where the snap-fit protrusions (400) lock into the snap-fit openings (300).

8. The connection according to claim 7 characterised in that the snap-fit protrusions (400) of the neck (100a) of the container (100) are in the shape of a triangle, preferably its apexes rounded and pointing towards the rim of the neck (100a) of the opening of the container (100), and the snap-fit openings (300) in the lid (200) are correspondingly in the shape of a triangle, preferably its rounded apexes and pointing towards the upper surface of the lid (200).

9. The connection according to claim 7 characterised in that the snap-fit protrusions (400) on the neck (100a) of the container (100) are given the shape of a triangle, preferably its apexes rounded and pointing towards the bottom of the container (100), and the snap-fit openings (300) in the lid (200) are, correspondingly, given the shape of a triangle, preferably its apexes rounded and pointing towards the bottom surface of the lid (200).

10. The connection according to any one of Claims 7 to 9, characterised in that a free edge of the side wall (200a) of the lid (200) features notches and / or cut-outs (700).

11. The connection according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that there is a sealing element (8, 800) between the lid (2, 200) and the neck (la,

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