Relockable closure for a container

Abstract

The present invention relates to a relockable closure ( 1 ) for a container, in particular for metal containers for storage of e.g. chemicals/solvents. The relockable closure comprises a non-plastic cover (e.g. a metal cover) ( 3 ) covering the opening of the container and a non-metallic skirt (e.g. a plastic skirt) ( 4 ) a part of which is foldable between a locking position and a unlocking position. When the foldable part of the skirt is in the locking position, locking means ( 8 ) of the skirt engage a curl portion or a projection the container.

1 . A relockable closure for a container having a sidewall terminating in a peripherally extending curl portion encircling an opening to be closed, the closure comprising; 
 a non-plastic cover covering at least said opening and having a circumferentially extending sealing area adapted to form a seal with an upper edge of the container,    at least one non-metallic skirt attached to at least a part of a peripheral edge portion of the cover, the skirt extending along said sidewall of said container and having locking means to be engaged with at least a part of said curl portion of the container, so as to lock the closure to the container, and    wherein the skirt comprises a first part attached to the cover and a second part being foldable between a locking position where said locking means engages said curl portion and an unlocking position where said locking means is out of engagement with said curl portion.    
   
   
       2 . A relockable closure for a container having a sidewall with one or more peripherally outwardly extending projections and terminating in a peripherally extending curl portion encircling an opening to be closed, the closure comprising; 
 a non-plastic cover covering at least said opening and having a circumferentially extending sealing area adapted to form a seal with an upper edge of the container,    at least one non-metallic skirt attached to at least a part of a peripheral edge portion of the cover, the skirt extending along said sidewall of said container and having locking means to be engaged with at least a part of said curl portion of the container and/or said one or more projections, so as to lock the closure to the container, and    wherein the skirt comprises a first part attached to the cover and a second part being foldable between a locking position where said locking means engages said curl portion and/or projections and an unlocking position where said locking means is out of engagement with said curl portion and/or projections.    
   
   
       3 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the second part is adapted to be retained in the unlocking position and/or the locking position.  
   
   
       4 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the second part in some positions is adapted to be biased towards the unlocking position.  
   
   
       5 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the skirt extends along an outer surface of the curl portion.  
   
   
       6 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a wall portion engageable with an internal surface of the container defined by its sidewall, said wall portion and skirt defining a cavity for said curl portion of the container.  
   
   
       7 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking means comprises a peripherally extending rib engageable with a part of said curl portion and/or projections, so as to define an engaging surface.  
   
   
       8 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said curl portion defines contact surfaces for said cover and locking means.  
   
   
       9 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein a compound is placed between the cover and said curl portion so as to provide a tight closure.  
   
   
       10 . A closure according to  claim 6 , wherein a compound is placed between the sidewall of the container and said wall portion of the cover so as to provide a tight closure.  
   
   
       11 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein a compound is placed between the skirt and the sidewall of the container so as to provide a tight closure.  
   
   
       12 . A closure according to  claim 9 , wherein the compound is attached to said cover or skirt.  
   
   
       13 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises metal and/or cardboard and/or composites and/or glass and/or wood.  
   
   
       14 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the skirt is seamed to said cover.  
   
   
       15 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the skirt is injection moulded with said cover.  
   
   
       16 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the skirt is glued to said cover.  
   
   
       17 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the skirt is clicked on to said cover.  
   
   
       18 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the skirt is made of a resilient plastic, such as PELD, PP, PEHD, PET, PMMA, PA, elastomers or rubber.  
   
   
       19 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure and container is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       20 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the locking means is detachable.  
   
   
       21 . A closure according to  claim 7 , wherein the engaging rib comprises a first part and a second part, and wherein the engaging surface of a cross-section of the first part is bigger than the engaging surface of a cross-section of the second part.  
   
   
       22 . A closure according to  claim 21 , wherein the first part of the rib is detachable.  
   
   
       23 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises gripping means.  
   
   
       24 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the skirt consists of two or three or four or more individual skirts.  
   
   
       25 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the skirt extends continuously along the entire circumference of the container.  
   
   
       26 . A closure according to  claim 25 , wherein said skirt comprises one or more peelable perforations extending transverse to the circumferential direction of the skirt.  
   
   
       27 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said skirt comprises one or more slits extending transverse to the circumferential direction of the skirt.  
   
   
       28 . A closure according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the skirt is detachable from the cover.  
   
   
       29 . A method for manufacturing a closure for a container having a sidewall terminating in a peripherally extending curl portion encircling an opening to be closed, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a non-plastic cover having a peripherally extending edge portion defining attachment part(s) for a skirt, the cover having a circumferentially extending sealing area adapted to form a seal with an upper edge of the container,    providing a non-metallic skirt,    attaching the skirt to said attachment part.    
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the step of attaching comprises seaming the skirt to the attachment parts.  
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the step of attaching comprises gluing the skirt to the attachment parts.  
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the step of attaching comprises injection moulding the skirt to the attachment parts.  
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the step of attaching comprises clicking the skirt on to the attachment parts.  
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the step of providing the skirt comprises extruding the skirt.