Fluid containers

Abstract

A closure ( 30 ) for a container is designed to facilitate the mixing of a first material within the container with a second material within the closure at the point of use. The first and second materials are generally chemically reactive. The plastics material closure ( 30 ) has a base ( 32 ) and a lid ( 34 ). The base ( 32 ), which is circular, has an annular peripheral rim ( 36 ) defining an annular recess ( 38 ) by which the closure ( 30 ) may be clipped onto a container ( 10 ). Radially inwardly of the rim ( 36 ) is an upstanding peripheral wall ( 40 ) defining a chamber ( 42 ) for containing the second material. A plunger ( 44 ) is affixed to the base ( 32 ) centrally of a convex button ( 50 ). When mixing of the first and second materials is required, the container ( 10 ) is positioned so that the base ( 32 ) of the closure is uppermost, and the button ( 50 ) is pressed to move the plunger ( 44 ) to push the lid ( 34 ) out of the opening of the chamber ( 42 ).

1 . A fluid container for use as a closure, the fluid container comprising a base, a peripheral wall upstanding from the base and defining a chamber for containing fluids, the free end of the peripheral wall defining an opening of the chamber, and a lid received within said opening to tightly close said chamber, and the fluid container further comprising means operable by pressing the base to push the lid out of its tightly closed position to enable exit of fluid from the chamber.  
     
     
         2 . A fluid container as claimed in    claim 1   , wherein the closure is arranged to clip onto a receptacle to close a cavity therein.  
     
     
         3 . A fluid container as claimed in    claim 1    or    claim 2   , wherein the base of the fluid container is provided with a peripheral rim, and said upstanding peripheral wall is arranged on the base inwardly of the peripheral rim.  
     
     
         4 . A fluid container as claimed in    claim 3   , wherein said peripheral rim is appropriately shaped to clip onto a receptacle to close a cavity therein.  
     
     
         5 . A fluid container as claimed in    claim 3    or    claim 4   , wherein the fluid container is circular, and the peripheral rim is annular.  
     
     
         6 . A fluid container as claimed in    claim 5   , wherein an annular groove is defined in the base, radially inwardly of the peripheral rim.  
     
     
         7 . A fluid container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fluid container is circular, and wherein the peripheral wall is arranged radially inwardly of the peripheral rim and defines a substantially cylindrical, fluid containing chamber.  
     
     
         8 . A fluid container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said lid snap fits into the chamber opening.  
     
     
         9 . A fluid container as claimed in any of    claims 1    to    7   , wherein the periphery of the lid is formed with an upstanding rim arranged to engage within the opening of the chamber.  
     
     
         10 . A fluid container as claimed in    claim 9   , wherein the inner surface of the lid and its peripheral rim are shaped such that any increase in the pressure of the fluid within the chamber tends to urge the rim into closer contact with the opening of the chamber.  
     
     
         11 . A fluid container as claimed in    claim 9    or    claim 10   , wherein one or more circumferential ribs are provided to extend around the rim of the lid.  
     
     
         12 . A fluid container as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a plunger affixed to the base and upstanding therefrom, the plunger being in, or near, contact with the lid such that depression of the base adjacent the plunger causes the plunger to push the lid out of its tightly closed position.  
     
     
         13 . A fluid container as claimed in    claim 12   , wherein the plunger is arranged substantially centrally of the base.  
     
     
         14 . A fluid container as claimed in    claim 12    or    claim 13   , wherein the plunger is integrally formed with the base and is clipped or otherwise engaged with the lid.  
     
     
         15 . A fluid container as claimed in any of    claims 12    to    14   , wherein the plunger is mounted on the base by way of a button formed in the base.  
     
     
         16 . A fluid container as claimed in    claim 15   , wherein the button is molded integrally with the base.  
     
     
         17 . A fluid container as claimed in    claim 15    or    claim 16   , wherein the button is defined by an annular groove and has a domed shape.  
     
     
         18 . A container for facilitating mixing of first and second materials, said container comprising a receptacle for the second material, and a closure for closing the receptacle and for containing the first material, wherein the closure comprises a fluid container as claimed in any preceding claim.  
     
     
         19 . A container as claimed in    claim 18   , wherein the first and second materials are chemically reactive.  
     
     
         20 . A container as claimed in    claim 18    or    claim 19   , wherein the closure is arranged to clip onto the receptacle.  
     
     
         21 . A container as claimed in any of    claims 18    to    20   , wherein the receptacle is a can, and the closure is used in the top opening of the can such that the base of the closure will define the top of the can.  
     
     
         22 . A container as claimed in any of    claims 18    to    21   , wherein both the receptacle and its closure have a substantially circular periphery, and wherein the peripheral rim of the closure is annular and defines an annular groove receiving an edge of the receptacle.  
     
     
         23 . A self-heating or a self-cooling container having an external cavity for containing material for the self-heating or self-cooling process, the external cavity being closed by a closure which comprises a fluid container as claimed in any of    claims 1    to    17   .  
     
     
         24 . A self-heating or a self-cooling container having a tubular peripheral wall, a top member closing one end of the peripheral wall, and a base member closing the other end of the peripheral wall, an internal cavity for the contents of the container being defined within the peripheral wall, wherein the base member is indented to define an external cavity which extends within the peripheral wall but is separated from the internal cavity, said container further comprising a closure for said external cavity, said closure having a fluid container closed by a lid which extends within and across said external cavity, and wherein said closure further comprises means operable to push the lid out of its closed position whereby contents of the fluid container are released into said external cavity.  
     
     
         25 . A fluid container for use as a closure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         26 . A container for facilitating mixing of first and second materials substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         27 . A self-heating or a self-cooling container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.