US20070289978A1

US20070289978A1 - Container

Info

Publication number: US20070289978A1
Application number: US11/455,406
Authority: US
Inventors: Dieter Fuchs
Original assignee: DF World of Spices GmbH
Current assignee: DF World of Spices GmbH
Priority date: 2006-06-19
Filing date: 2006-06-19
Publication date: 2007-12-20

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container comprising a glass vessel and at least one plastic top on the glass vessel, characterised in that the glass vessel is substantially circular in cross-section and has a floor and a peripheral side wall, the upper circumferential edge of the peripheral side wall being formed as an annular bead extending outwards, and that a plurality of notches extending radially are provided on the upper circumferential edge, at least in the outer portion thereof, and that the plastic top is substantially ring-shaped with a side wall and an inner ring spaced apart from the upper and lower edges of the ring shape and having upper and lower sides, the side wall having a peripheral snap-in projection beneath the inner ring, projecting inwardly, which, when the glass vessel is connected with the plastic top, is snapped in behind the annular bead of the glass vessel, wherein rib-like lands project radially on the lower side of the inner ring in the area of the connection between the inner ring and the side wall, their number corresponding to that of the notches in the glass vessel, and which lands engage in the notches of the glass vessel when the glass vessel and the plastic top are connected.

Description

The present invention relates to a container comprising a glass vessel and at least one plastic top on the glass vessel.
Numerous containers consisting of a glass vessel and a plastic top, such as a plastic lid, are known in the state of the art. For example, containers are known in which there are threads in the upper portion on the outside of the glass vessel and on the inside of a plastic lid, by means of which the lid and the glass vessel can be screwed together.
Similarly, containers made of glass with a plastic top are known, in which the plastic top has projections pointing inwards, which can be clipped over an annular bead on the upper peripheral edge of the glass vessel.
One disadvantage of such connections, however, is that it is never possible to manufacture absolutely circular glass vessels, but that they are always slightly oval. A consequence of this is that an air-tight clip connection between the glass vessel and the circular plastic top cannot be guaranteed. An improved lock between the glass vessel and the plastic top can, however, be achieved if a harder plastic is used. On the other hand, the disadvantage of this is that, because of the powerful stress in the region of the snap-in projections, the plastic quickly breaks, so that the entire container then becomes unfit for use. Similar disadvantages also exist in the case of a screw connection between the glass vessel and the plastic top.
A further disadvantage of the known snap-in connections between the glass vessel and the plastic top is that the plastic top can be freely turned on the glass vessel, which can likewise impair the tightness of the seal in the connection and the handling of the container.
The invention is based on the problem of improving the generic type of container in such a way that the disadvantages of the prior art are overcome. In particular, it is intended to provide a container that enables an improved seal to be achieved in the connection between the plastic top and the glass vessel, especially also over a lengthy period. Finally, the container is intended to provide a stable connection between the glass vessel and the plastic top, and in particular it should not be possible to turn the plastic top on the glass vessel.
The problem is solved in accordance with the invention in that the glass vessel is substantially circular in cross-section and has a floor and a peripheral side wall, the upper circumferential edge of the peripheral side wall being formed as an annular bead extending outwards, and that a plurality of notches extending radially are provided on the upper circumferential edge, at least in the outer portion thereof, and in that the plastic top is substantially ring-shaped, with a side wall and an inner ring spaced apart from the upper and lower edges of the ring shape and having upper and lower sides, the side wall having a peripheral snap-in projection beneath the inner ring, projecting inwardly, which, when the glass vessel is connected with the plastic top, is snapped in behind the annular bead of the glass vessel, wherein rib-like lands project radially on the lower side of the inner ring in the area of the connection between the inner ring and the side wall, their number corresponding to that of the notches in the glass vessel, and which lands engage in the notches of the glass vessel when the glass vessel and the plastic top are connected.
In this connection, it is preferred that the diameter of the glass vessel is not constant over the entire height of the vessel.
It is also proposed that the notches on the circumferential edge of the glass vessel are spaced evenly apart from one another.
It is particularly preferable that the glass vessel should be about 3 to about 10 cm in diameter, preferably 4 to 6 cm, and that about 10 to about 50 notches, preferably 20 to 35 notches, should be provided on the circumferential edge.
In one embodiment, each notch extends radially over the entire circumferential edge.
In addition, it is preferable for the plastic top to have a base area with at least one opening.
It can also be provided that the side wall of the plastic top has a thread on its outside.
Finally, it is particularly preferred that it should be possible for at least one further moulded plastic part to be received in the plastic top, preferably on the upper side of the base area, and for it to be connected to the plastic top, preferably by being attached, such as snapped in.
It has surprisingly been found in accordance with the invention that, in the case of a container consisting of a glass vessel and a plastic top, the stability and strength of the connection between the two components can be improved considerably if notches are provided on the circumferential edge of the glass vessel, in which corresponding lands on the plastic top can engage. As a result of this engagement of notches and lands, enormous torque is required if the plastic top is to be turned on the glass vessel, if that is possible at all. In addition, it has been found that, with the container of the invention, the exclusion of air from the contents of the container can be improved considerably. This is particularly interesting when substances sensitive to oxidation, such as spices, are to be stored in the container.
It goes without saying that it is also possible to provide notches on the plastic top and projections on the circumferential edge of the glass vessel in order to achieve the same technical effect.
The number of notches needed in order to achieve a satisfactory attachment of the plastic top to the glass vessel can easily be determined by routine work by a man skilled in the relevant art. It has been found that, when the glass vessel is about 3 to 10 cm in diameter, about 10 to 50 notches are needed in order to achieve a sufficiently stable connection. In accordance with the invention, further components can preferably be joined to the container over the plastic top, such as a lid, which can be screwed onto the plastic top by means of a thread. It can likewise be provided for a further moulded part to be inserted into the plastic top, which can be connected to the plastic top by an attachment means.
A further advantage of the construction of the invention is that the internal diameter of the glass opening is not reduced to any great extent by the plastic top, since the inner surface of the glass neck is not needed as an attachment aid. Only in this way can a metering device placed on top, and used as the plastic top, perform its function with no restrictions.

Further benefits and features of the container according to the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a glass vessel for a container in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a lower side of a plastic top with an inner ring, a base area and a peripheral side wall for the container of the invention; and

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an upper side of the plastic top shown in FIG. 2 with a base area and a peripheral side wall of the ring shape.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a glass vessel 1 for a container in accordance with the invention. The glass vessel has a floor area (not shown) and a peripheral side wall 2, the diameter of the glass vessel 1 varying over the height of the vessel. In the upper portion of the glass vessel 1 there is an upper circumferential edge 3, in the form of an annular bead 4 extending outwardly. On the upper side of the circumferential edge 3 or the annular bead 4, a plurality of notches 5 are illustrated, which extend radially. These notches are preferably only provided in the outer portion of the annular bead 4, though they may equally extend radially over the entire upper surface of the annular bead 4.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a lower side 12 of a plastic top 6 for a container of the invention. The plastic top 6 has a ring shape with a side wall 7, from which an inner ring 16 extends substantially at a right-angle thereto, the inner ring 16 being spaced apart from the upper and lower edges of the side wall 7. Towards the inside, there may be, adjacent to the inner ring 16, a base area 8, which preferably has at least one opening 9, from which the contents of the container can be poured. The base area 8 has ribs 14 extending radially outwards, which improve the stability of the plastic top 6. In the lower circumferential portion of the side wall 7, there is provided a peripheral snap-in projection 10, which projects inwardly and which, when connected to the glass vessel 1, as is shown in FIG. 1, can snap over the annular bead 4 of the glass vessel 1, in order to retain the plastic top 6 on the glass vessel 1. On the lower side of the inner ring 16, in the region of the connection between the inner ring 16 and the side wall of the ring 7, there are rib-like lands 11, which are arranged radially and spaced apart from one another. These rib-like lands 11 are designed such that, when the glass vessel 1 and the plastic top 6 are connected together, they can be engaged with the notches 5 in the glass vessel 1. As a result of this engagement, an extremely high degree of torque is required in order, on the one hand, to turn the plastic top 6 on the glass vessel 1 at all, or to separate the plastic top 6 from glass vessel 1 again.
The base area 8 shown in FIG. 2 merely has one central opening 15, over which it is possible to insert further moulded parts into the plastic top 6, and one lateral opening 9, via which the contents of the container can be dispensed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art concerned that, for a connection between the glass vessel 1 and the plastic top 6, a base area 8 need not necessarily be provided. If these are omitted, an extremely large opening is provided, because the plastic top is then constructed only from the side wall 7 and the peripheral inner ring 16, in order to make it extremely easy to dispense the contents of the container.
When the glass vessel 1 and the plastic top 6 are connected, the inner ring 16 rests against the glass vessel 1 from the inside, after it has been snapped in. The inner ring 16 makes a major contribution to guiding the construction.
When the glass vessel 1 and the plastic top 6 are connected, the plastic top 6 is first of all pressed onto the glass vessel 1 over the annular bead 4, so that the snap-in projection 10 behind the annular bead 4 of the glass vessel 1 snaps in. If the rib-like lands 11 are not yet in engagement with the notches 5 at this stage, the plastic top 6 is twisted slightly, so that the rib-like lands 11 in effect lock into the notches 5, as a result of which the stable and in particular air-tight connection between the glass vessel 1 and the plastic top 6 is achieved.
As a result of the connection described, it is virtually impossible for the plastic top 6 to be lifted back off the glass vessel 1 by reaching under the lower edge of the side wall 7, since the inner ring 16, which is stabilised by means of the lands 11, acts against this.
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the plastic top 6, in which an upper side 13 of the plastic top is illustrated. It can be clearly learned from FIG. 3 in combination with FIG. 2 that the inner ring 16 is spaced apart from the upper or lower edge of the side wall 7, in order firstly to form the peripheral snap-in projection 10 and the rib-like lands 11 and secondly to receive further moulded plastic parts on the upper side 13 of the base area 8.
It will be readily apparent to a man skilled in the relevant art which plastic materials can be chosen for the plastic top 6. On the one hand, the plastic must be soft enough to be able to snap over the annular bead 4 of the glass vessel 1, and on the other hand, the plastic top 6 needs to have sufficient stability and rigidity.
The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the claims and in the drawings can be essential to implementing the invention in its various embodiments both individually and in any combination.

Claims

1. A container comprising a glass vessel (1) and at least one plastic top (6) on the glass vessel (1), characterised in that the glass vessel (1) is substantially circular in cross-section and has a floor and a peripheral side wall (2), the upper circumferential edge (3) of the peripheral side wall (2) being formed as an annular bead (4) extending outwards, and that a plurality of notches (5) extending radially are provided on the upper circumferential edge (3), at least in the outer portion thereof,

and in that the plastic top (6) is substantially ring-shaped with a side wall (7) and an inner ring (16) spaced apart from the upper and lower edges of the ring shape and having upper and lower sides (13, 12), the side wall (7) having a peripheral snap-in projection (10) beneath the inner ring (16), projecting inwardly, which, when the glass vessel (1) is connected with the plastic top (6), is snapped in behind the annular bead (4) of the glass vessel (1), wherein rib-like lands (11) project radially on the lower side (12) of the inner ring (16) in the area of the connection between the inner ring (16) and the side wall (7), their number corresponding to that of the notches (5) in the glass vessel (1), and which lands (11) engage in the notches (5) of the glass vessel when the glass vessel (1) and the plastic top (6) are connected.

2. The container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the diameter of the glass vessel (1) is not constant over the entire height of the vessel.

3. The container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the notches (5) on the circumferential edge (3) of the glass vessel (1) are spaced evenly apart from one another.

4. The container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the glass vessel (1) is about 3 to about 10 cm in diameter, preferably 4 to 6 cm, and that about 10 to about 50 notches (5), preferably 20 to 35 notches, are provided on the circumferential edge (3).

5. The container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each notch (5) extends radially over the entire circumferential edge (3).

6. The container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the plastic top (6) has a base area (8) with at least one opening (9, 15).

7. The container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the side wall (7) of the plastic top (6) has a thread on its outside.

8. The container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that at least one further moulded plastic part can be received in the plastic top (6), preferably on the upper side (13) of the base area (8), and can be connected to