AU2003238560A1

AU2003238560A1 - A pouring and sealing attachment

Info

Publication number: AU2003238560A1
Application number: AU2003238560A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Oliver Clemens Robert Kratzer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-06-27
Filing date: 2003-06-27
Publication date: 2004-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-27
Also published as: AU2003238560B8; ZA200500074B; EP1534601A1; AU2003238560B2; EP1534601A4; NZ537369A; WO2004002847A9; AUPS323702A0; CA2490917A1; WO2004002847A1; US20050236442A1

Description

WO 2004/002847 PCT/AU2003/000819 1 A POURING AND SEALING ATTACHMENT TECHNICAL FIELD 5 This invention relates to a new pouring and sealing attachment of the kind adapted to be mounted on a can and, more particularly, a paint can, but not limited thereto. BACKGROUND ART Paint can attachments are well known for a variety of purposes. There are two broad types of 10 paint pouring attachments, including a clip on spout, which facilitates pouring only, and a decanting spout which is usually formed as part of a container lid (e.g. as used with automotive tints). However, they must be removed to reseal the container, and the stacking of containers with a spout is not possible. 15 Paint can attachments may also function as a brush wiper for removing excess paint from the brush after it has been dipped into the paint and usually also facilitates the outpouring of paint from the can. However, most known attachments suffer from the disadvantage that they must be detached 20 from the can to facilitate reclosing thereof which is necessary to prevent the deterioration of any remaining paint and to prevent the ingress of contaminants. This step is time consuming and can be very messy. The prior art is represented by Australian Patent Nos. 737661 and 638039; US Patent Nos. 25 4,724,979; 5,975,346 and 6,360,909; and International Patent Publication Nos. WO 02/49931 and WO 95/15861. All of these prior art publications disclose containers with hinged lids which have inherent design faults which restrict their use in the sealing and resealing of fluid products (liquids or powders). 30 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an alternative pouring and sealing attachment for a container, such as a paint can or other similar can, which overcomes or at WO 2004/002847 PCT/AU2003/000819 2 least ameliorates the above disadvantages of the prior art, or at least provides a clear alternative choice for consumers. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 5 According to one embodiment of the invention there is provided a pouring attachment adapted to be mounted on an annular rim of a can and which receives a lid allowing sealing and re sealing of said can with said lid, said pouring attachment including an outer annular rim defining an annular space and inner circumferential wall against which lid sealingly abuts and lid retaining means for releasably securing the lid in the annular space for sealing and 10 resealing of the can. The invention also relates to containers which include a pouring attachment of the type described. The lid is a purpose-built lid for the pouring attachment, ideally integrally moulded therewith from solvent-resistant plastics material. Preferably, the lid is hinged to the can in such a 15 manner that it hinges from the closed position to the open position(s) with the aid of an inbuilt cam and cam follower means. This is preferably supplemented by one or more other clips peripherally spaced abut the rim of the pouring attachment to securely hold the lid in sealing engagement with the rim of the pouring attachment. 20 Preferably, the lid includes means whereby the lid may be propped open substantially perpendicular (from about 800 to about 900 to the plane of the outer rim of the pouring attachment, to facilitate self-draining of paint from the underside of the lid back into the main paint container. 25 Preferably, the outer rim of the pouring attachment incorporates a forwardly or outwardly extending pouring spout and a brush-wipe edge extending radially inwardly towards the central annular space of the pouring attachment.

WO 2004/002847 PCT/AU2003/000819 3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings relating to some non-limiting embodiments of the invention: 5 FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a container, such as a paint can, according to one embodiment of the present invention wherein the upper end closure of the can includes a pouring attachment with integral spout and a hinged lid for sealing/ re-sealing of the container, and hinged lid retaining clips. The peripheral groove on the upper outer surface of the lid facilitates stackability or nesting; 10 FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the container of Fig. I with the lid hinged in the open position; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectioned side elevational view of the container of Fig. 2, with the lid in the 15 open position; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectioned side elevational view of the container of Fig. 1, with the lid in the closed position; 20 FIG. 5 is a top plan or top elevational view of upper end closure of Figs. 1-4, with the lid hinged fully open; FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the closure of Fig. 5; 25 FIG. 7 is a cross-sectioned side elevational view of the closure of Fig. 6; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectioned side elevational view through the hinge of Fig. 5; FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectioned elevational view through a typical section of the upper 30 rim of the container and upper end closure in the closed position.

WO 2004/002847 PCT/AU2003/000819 4 FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional elevation view through a section of the upper rim of the container with the upper end closure hinged in the open position. 5 FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of two containers according to an embodiment of the invention, demonstrating vertical stackability. In the drawings, the following legend applies to the use of reference numerals. 10 LEGEND 1. Container with closure (e.g. paint can) 2. Container 3. Upper end closure 15 4. Annular rim 5. Lid 5a. Pouring spout 6. Spout cover 7. Clip 20 8. Clip engagement lug 9. Hinge 10. Annular groove 11. Base rim 12. Handle 25 13. Handle hinge 14. Upper face of lid (with brand logo) 15. Annular opening 16. Inner rim 17. Sealing flange 30 18. Draining rim of flange WO 2004/002847 PCT/AU2003/000819 5 19. Paint drops 20. Rolled lip 21. Lid held in draining position 22. Sealing flange for spout on lid 5 23. Sealing flange or rim on spout 24. Sealing extension on lid for spout 25. Sealing rib 26. Sealing face 27. Flexible seal 10 28. Camming surface 29. Lid engagement means (open position) 30. Nesting engagement ramps This embodiment is preferably a one piece plastic moulding incorporating the lid, a two stage 15 hinge (which doubles as a hold-down clip) and the sealing/pouring spout. It features three positive action clips which could include a tamper-evident seal. An optional handle is provided, which folds up for use in carrying the container, and which may be folded down to either the spout side or to the opposite side of the container when not in use. 20 The components of the pouring attachment are suitably fabricated by standard injection moulding techniques. Some of the main features and benefits of the invention may perhaps be conveniently summarized as follows: 25 e easy controlled pouring - no drips or runs down the side of the can; * paint is not trapped in the rim of the can - the sealing edge is self-draining; * large opening to allow proper stirring, mixing and the use of large brushes; e self-draining straight-edge for controlled brush wiping; e interlocks when stacking cans on top of each other (palette, retail-display or at home); 30 e lid is locked positively into position by two clips - does not rely on friction; WO 2004/002847 PCT/AU2003/000819 6 e does not increase palette footprint; e provides a self-draining seat for the lid while in use; e integrated cover or lid prevents contact and dirt ingress to all surfaces covered with paint; 5 * works with paint tins with handles; * does not rust and is solvent resistant; " resilient construction retains shape even when dropped Although the invention has been described with reference to paint containers it is not limited 10 thereto. The invention is also suitable for the packaging of other fluid products, including both liquids and powders. The invention is also adaptable to the packaging of other products in general. Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be 15 apparent to those having ordinary skills in the art that a number of changes, modifications or alterations to the invention described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit of the present invention. All such changes, modifications and alterations should therefore be seen as being with the scope of the present invention. 20 It should be apparent that the present invention provides a substantial advance in the field of container manufacture, providing all of the herein-described advantages without incurring any relative disadvantages.

Claims

1. A pouring attachment adapted to be mounted on an annular rim of a container and which receives a lid allowing sealing and re-sealing of the container with said lid, said 5 pouring attachment including an outer annular rim defining an annular space or opening and an inner circumferential wall against which the lid sealingly abuts, and lid retaining means for releasably securing the lid in the annular space for the sealing and re-sealing of the can. 10

2. A pouring attachment according to claim 1 wherein the lid is hingedly attached to the annular rim of the pouring attachment.

3. A pouring attachment according to claim 1 or claim 2 substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated. 15

4. A container including a pouring attachment as defined in any one of the previous claims.

5. A container according to claim 4 substantially as hereinbefore described and 20 illustrated.