GB2565533A

GB2565533A - Container

Info

Publication number: GB2565533A
Application number: GB1712748.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arnett Anthony
Original assignee: Moordale Foods Ltd
Current assignee: Moordale Foods Ltd
Priority date: 2017-08-09
Filing date: 2017-08-09
Publication date: 2019-02-20
Also published as: GB201712748D0

Abstract

Stackable container 10 having a cylindrical side wall 14 and a lid 16. The lid 16 is hingedly mounted to the open end 18 of the container body 12 by hinge 22. A round the base 20 is a circumferentially extending rim 24 that is downwardly depending away from the open end 18. The lid has a platform 32 upon which the rim 24 of another container may sit. The volume between the base (20, figure 2) and the edge of the rim 26 is sufficient to accommodate any profile that the lid 16 may have, for example a dome profile 33 or patterned profile. The side walls may be polygonal and the container 10 and lid 16 may be made of tin and/or steel. The lid 16 could contain an elastically deformable seal (42, figure 4) that engages with the open end 18 of the container and the lid may be fastened with a latch 50.

Description

CONTAINER

The present invention relates to containers. In particular, the present invention relates to containers for food stuffs. More particularly, the present invention relates to stackable containers for food stuffs.

It is known to provide storage containers for food stuffs having a container body closed at one end and open at the other having a closable lid that is attached to permit a user to open and the close the container to access its contents. Such containers are widely used in the food industry for storing biscuits, cakes, tea and the like.

Certain containers have decorative or ornamental lids which increase the visual impact of the container and the associated value in a consumer’s eye.

However, when storing, displaying or transporting such products and their containers, it can prove difficult to effectively and efficiently stack them resulting in increased storage and transportation costs. Further, when displaying the containers and their contents for sale the fact that such containers cannot be stacked diminishes the potential impact of the branding and any decoration applied to the container.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container having a body comprising a base and at least one side wall defining a chamber open at one end, the chamber being closable by a lid moveably attached/mounted to the body, wherein the lid has a platform extending around at least a portion of the perimeter of the lid to form a platform and the base has a correspondingly shaped rim which can be received on the platform to facilitate stacking.

The container body may have a cylindrical side wall or may have a plurality of side walls having a polygonal cross-section. The container body may have a plurality of side walls having triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal or octagonal cross-section.

The base and lid may be correspondingly shaped.

The lid may have an ornamental profile, such as a dome and/or pattern in raised relief. The base may have a recess to receive the ornamental profile whilst the rim is located on the platform of the lid of an adjacent container.

The ornamental profile may further provide means for locating the rim of a first container in the desired location on the platform and to align and stack correctly a second container on top of the first.

The lid may be pivotally mounted to the container body.

The container may comprise fastening means to releasably fasten the lid closed or else permit the lid to be opened.

The fastening means may comprise a latch. The latch may comprise a catch associated with the lid and a lever for engaging with the catch and urging the lid in a closed configuration associated with the container body.

The open end of the container body may comprise a deformable flange for providing improved sealing when the lid is closed and fastened in place. The flange may sit between the lid and the open end of the container when closed.

The flange may be elastically deformable to facilitate repeated use and effective sealing.

The container and lid may be made from the same or different material.

The container and lid may comprise a metal and/or metal alloy. The material may comprise steel, tin and/or a combination of tin and steel.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a container in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows the container of Fig. 1 from below and to one side;

Fig. 3 shows a plan view from above of the container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows the container of Fig. 1 open; and

Fig. 5 shows the container of Fig. 1 stacked on another container in accordance with the present invention.

Figs. 1 to 4 show Container 10 having a container body 12 having a cylindrical side wall 14 and a lid 16. Container body 12 has an open end 18 and a closed end 20 forming the base. The lid 16 is hingedly mounted to the open end 18 of the container body 12 by hinge 22.

Extending around the circumference of the base 20 is a circumferentially extending rim 24 that is downwardly depending away from the open end 18. The rim is sized so as to accommodate in the volume between the base and the edge of the rim, 26, upon which the container stands in normal use is sufficient to accommodate and profile that the lid 16 may have.

The Lid 16 has a circumferentially extending lip 30 that extends from the outer edge of the lid 16 towards the centre and is sized such that it forms a platform 32 upon which the rim of another container may sit.

The lid has a dome profile 33 whose outer edge terminates at the inner edge 34 of the lip 30.

The height of the dome is such that it does not contact the base 20 but is proximal thereto when a container is stacked thereon.

Extending circumferentially around the inner face 40 of the lid 16 is a deformable seal 42 that engages with the lip 44 of the open end of the container body 12. The seal helps create a more effective seal between the lid and container body when closed to improve shelf life of the products housed in the container.

The container further has a latch mechanism for keeping the lid closed during transit and storage. There is a catch 50associated with the lid 16 and a lever 52 associated with the container body 12.

To keep the lid closed and engage the lip of the open end with the seal of the lid, the lever hooks the catch and is downwardly displaced away from the open end of the container to close the lid.

Fig. 5 shows two containers in accordance with the present invention, one stacked on top of the other.

The foregoing description is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.

Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the foregoing exact construction and operation as shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A container having a body comprising a base and at least one side wall defining a chamber open at one end, the chamber being closable by a lid moveably mounted to the body, wherein the lid has a platform extending around at least a portion of the perimeter of the lid to form a platform and the base has a correspondingly shaped rim which can be received on the platform to facilitate stacking.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the body has a cylindrical side wall or may have a plurality of side walls having a polygonal cross-section.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the container body has a plurality of side walls having triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal or octagonal cross-section.

4. The container of claim 2 or 3 wherein the base and lid are correspondingly shaped.

5. The container of any one of the preceding claims wherein the lid has a profile.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein the lid has a dome-shaped profile and/or pattern in raised relief disposed thereon.

7. The container of any one of the preceding claims wherein the base has a recess to receive the profile of the lid.

8. The container of any one or more of claims 5 to 7 wherein the lid comprises means for locating the rim of a second container in the desired location on the platform and to align and stack correctly a second container on top of the first.

9. The container of any one or more of the previous claims wherein the lid is pivotally mounted to the container body.

10. The container of any one or more of the previous claims wherein the container comprises fastening means to releasably fasten the lid closed.

11. The container of claim 10 wherein the fastening means comprises a latch.

12. The container may comprise a seal disposed between the lid and open end of the container body when in a closed configuration.

13. The container of claim 12 wherein the open end of the container body comprises a deformable flange for providing a seal.

14. The container of claim 12 wherein the seal is disposed in the lid and engages with the open end of the container body in a closed configuration.

15. The container of any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the seal is elastically deformable.

16. The container of any one of the previous claims wherein the container and lid are made from the same or different material.

17. The container of claim 16 wherein the lid and/or container body are manufactured from any one or more of the following: steel, tin and/or a combination of tin and steel.