GB2286174A

GB2286174A - Container for wood filler

Info

Publication number: GB2286174A
Application number: GB9502364A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Pernick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-02-08
Filing date: 1995-02-07
Publication date: 1995-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2015-02-07
Also published as: CA2142031A1; GB9502364D0; NZ270427A; CA2142031C; AU1151895A; GB2286174B; ZA945437B; ES2114433A1; ES2114433B1

Abstract

A container with wood filler in it, the container including a tub 12 and a lid 14 which fits in an airtight manner on the tub, the tub and the lid, or one of the tub and lid, being of transparent material so that the colour of the wood filler can be seen without opening the container. In the preferred form it is the tub that is transparent, the lid being of transparent, translucent or opaque material. The tub can be injection moulded or deep drawn, and the lid is injection moulded. <IMAGE>

Description

THIS INVENTION relates to the packaging of wood fillers.

To the best of Applicant's knowledge wood fillers are, on a worldwide basis, sold in containers which completely conceal the colour of the wood filler.

Generally, the containers are plastic tubs with plastic lids, and the containers and lids are generally opaque in colour. the purchaser is left to determine the exact colour of the wood filler in the tub either by means of a sticker on the container (which can easily fall off) or by comparing the name on the container with a colour chart. Neither the sticker or the colour chart can be entirely accurate and the name of the product, such as light oak or dark oak is not necessarily very revealing as to the contents of the container. The result is that the customer, if not sure of the colour, resorts to opening the container to check the colour. If the colour is not correct, the container is returned to the shelf. Quite often the customer does not re-seal the container properly with the result that the product dries out.This is a substantial source of returns to the manufacturer from the retail outlet, and the manufacturer must absorb substantial losses from this source.

The main object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages set out above by making it possible for the customer to determine the exact colour of the wood filler in a container without opening the container.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a container with wood filler in it, the container including a tub and a lid which fits in an airtight manner on the tub, the tub and the lid, or one of the tub and lid, being of transparent material so that the colour of the wood filler can be seen without opening the container.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a plurality of containers each with a wood filler therein, the wood fillers being of various colours and each container including a tub and a lid which fits in an airtight manner on the tub, the tub and the lid, or one of the tub and lid, being of transparent material so that the colours of the wood fillers can be seen without opening any of the containers.

Preferably the tub is of transparent material. The lid can in this form be transparent, opaque or translucent.

Desirably the lid and tub have interengaging sealing formations, the lid being a press fit on the tub. It is possible, however, for the lid and tub to be secured together by means of screw threading or by means of a connection of bayonet-type.

The tub and lid can be injection moulded.

Alternatively the tub can be formed by a deep drawing process.

Any suitable transparent synthetic plastics material can be used for the tub. The material must meet the requirement that it does not, because of its own colouring or any opacity, disguise the true colour of the wood filler.

Glass can also be used but is not as desirable a material as synthetic plastics material for this purpose.

By packaging wood filler in the way described, a potential purchaser can see the actual colour of the filler. He does not have to be guided by the name (eg pine, light pine, mahogany, oak, light oak, dark oak) or by a sticker on the container (which can fall-off) or by a colour chart which does not necessarily truly reproduce the colours of the various fillers.

Commercially available fillers are water, PVA or solvent based, and all dry out when exposed to the atmosphere for a sufficient period of time.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing in which the single Figure is a pictorial view of a container with wood filler in it.

The container illustrated is generally designated 10 and comprises a tub 12 and a lid 14 which fits in an air tight manner on the tub 12. The lid and the tub, or one of the tub or the lid, are of transparent synthetic plastics material so that the colour of the wood filler W can be seen without opening the container. It is preferred that the tub be transparent because the wood filler contacts this on the inside and makes colour determination very easy.

Between the tub and the lid there is generally an air gap A and, when looking through the lid, the wood filler material is being viewed across the air gap.

This can result in colour distortion. Also, moisture can condense out on the top surface of the wood filler W again resulting in colour distortion.

The tub 12 and the lid 14 have rib and groove sealing formations 16, the lid 14 being a press fit on the tub 12.

The fact that the wood fillers of various colours are visible in a stack of containers 10 gives a pleasing visual presentation, and Applicant has found that this pleasing appearance generates unexpectedly large sales of wood filler.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A container with wood filler in it, the container including a tub and a lid which fits in an airtight manner on the tub, the tub and the lid, or one of the tub and lid, being of transparent material so that the colour of the wood filler can be seen without opening the container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tub is of transparent material.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lid is opaque or translucent.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the lid and tub have interengaging sealing formations, the lid being a press fit on the tub.

5. A container as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the tub and lid are injection moulded.

6. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tub is formed by a deep drawing process.

7. A plurality of containers each with a wood filler therein, the wood fillers being of various colours and each container including a tub and a lid which fits in an airtight manner on the tub, the tub and the lid, or one of the tub and lid, being of transparent material so that the colours of the wood fillers can be seen without opening any of the containers.

8. A plurality of containers as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tub of each container is transparent.

9. A plurality of containers as claimed in claim 8, wherein the lid of each container is transparent, translucent or opaque.

10. A container with wood filler in it, the container being substantially as hereinbefore described.

11. A plurality of containers each with wood filler in it, the containers being substantially as hereinbefore described.