AU1830101A - Container with a peel-off lid - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

Name of Applicant: Irwin and Sheehan Pty. Ltd.

of Comer Joynton and O'Dea Avenues, Waterloo, New South Wales 2017, Australia Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne 3000, Victoria, Australia "Container with a peel-off lid" Details of Associated Provisional Application No: PQ5814 filed 24 February 2000 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: -1- Q:\OPER\DH\JAN OI\CoFFEE CAPDOC 311/01 P:\OPER\D\coffem capdoc-02102/101 -2- CONTAINER WITH A PEEL-OFF LID Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container with a peel-off lid particularly, but not exclusively, with a degassing feature which makes it suitable for storing coffee.

Background of the Invention It is known to provide a container, such as an aluminium or tin can, with a peel-off lid.

The lid is generally in the form of a disc with a pull-tab, to facilitate separation of the lid from the remainder of the container, and a degassing valve or puncture region which is provided to allow for egress of gas from within the container prior to opening.

10 A disadvantage associated with such a container is that removal of the lid exposes a fairly sharp peripheral score edge, where the lid was originally joined to the container and a person attempting to, for example, spoon out contents of the container may sustain cuts 00oo0 from the edge.

*looo Summary of the Invention The present invention seeks to avoid the above disadvantage.

"In accordance with the invention, there is provided a container with a closure including a C removable lid portion and a support portion for coupling the lid portion relative to a wall of Soo.the container, arranged whereby an opening is defined by a peripheral edge of the support portion, upon removal of the lid portion so as to provide access to an interior of the container, wherein a flanged element is provided in the container so as to project inwardly of the container wall, beyond the peripheral edge of the support portion, to thereby protect a hand of a person from contacting the peripheral edge when scooping out contents of the container.

Preferably, the flanged element is in the form of a bead, roll-formed into the container.

P:\OPER\DHcofTe cap.doc-O02/02/OI -3- Preferably, the support portion of the closure is in the form of an annular ring secured at one end of the container and the flanged element is provided adjacent the ring.

Preferably, the lid portion is in the form of a peel-off lid which most preferably includes a pull tab and a degassing valve for puncturing prior to peeling off the lid.* Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container, in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container of Figure 1, taken along the line A-A, 10 with a lid removed.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment S •A container 1, as shown in Figure 1, includes a cylindrical wall 2 with a base 3 at one end 4 and a closure 5 at a second end 6. The closure is formed of a removable lid portion 7 in S"the form of a disc shaped peel-off lid 8, coupled relative to the container 1 via an annular support portion 9, which is preferably swaged onto the end 6 of the container.

The lid 8 and support portion 9 may be connected via any form of suitable frangible seal or, alternatively, a score line 10 may be utilised to assist in separating the lid 8 from the support portion 9. For that purpose, a pull tab 11 is provided which may be lifted and pulled in order to separate the lid 8 from the support portion 9, as indicated by phantom lines 12. A central degassing valve 13 may also be provided to allow the lid 8 to be punctured for egress of gas which may have built up within the container, prior to peeling off the lid 8. In the case where the container is used for storing coffee, puncturing the degassing valve 13 may also serve to release a coffee aroma to provide a purchaser with a pleasant coffee smell prior to opening the container.

Removal of the lid portion 7 in the above manner exposes a peripheral edge 14 of the support portion 9, so as to define an opening 15 through which a person must insert their hand in order to scoop out contents of the container, as indicated by phantom line 16 in P:\OPER\DH\cofee cap.doc-02/02/01 -4- Figure 2. In order to protect the user's hand 17 from cuts or abrasions which may result if the edge 14 is contacted directly, an inwardly flanged element 18 is provided, in the form of a bead 19 which is preferably roll-formed from the wall 2 of the container 1. The bead 19 projects inwardly of the wall 2, beyond the peripheral edge 14 of the support portion to thereby protect the hand 17 from direct contact with the edge 14. The bead 19 is preferably formed in substantially underlying and adjacent relation to the support portion 9 however a greater spacing may be accommodated provided the bead 19 continues to serve a protective function in inhibiting contact of the hand with the peripheral edge 14.

The container 1 has been described by way of non-limiting example only, and many modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinbefore described.

a

Claims (6)

1. A container with a closure including a removable lid portion and a support portion for coupling the lid portion relative to a wall of the container, arranged whereby an opening is defined by a peripheral edge of the support portion, upon removal of the lid portion so as to provide access to an interior of the container, wherein a flanged element is provided in the container so as to project inwardly of the container wall, beyond the peripheral edge of the support portion, to thereby protect a hand of a person from contacting the peripheral edge when scooping out contents of the container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flanged element is in the form of a bead, roll-formed into the container.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support portion of the closure is in the form of an annular ring secured at one end of the container and the flanged element is provided adjacent the ring.

4. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lid portion is in the .15 form of a peel-off lid. S*

5. A container as claimed in claim 4, including a pull tab and a degassing valve for S.puncturing prior to peeling off the lid.

6. A container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 31st day of January, 2001 Irwin Sheehan Pty. Ltd. By DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys for the applicant