Container-Closure Arrangement

Abstract

In an arrangement of a container ( 10 ) and a closure ( 11 ); the container ( 10 ) has a base ( 13 ), a peripheral wall ( 15 ), a rim ( 16 ) forming an upper margin of the wall and surrounding an opening of the container, and a flange ( 19 ) formed integrally with and extending out from the wall below the rim; the closure has a central portion ( 14 ) that is arranged to overfit the opening of the container ( 10 ), and a skirt ( 26, 29, 31 ) formed integrally with the central portion and arranged to surround the rim ( 16 ) when the closure is fitted to the container. The skirt is positionable adjacent to the flange when the closure is fitted to the container. A plurality of discrete projections ( 70 ), each extending from the skirt, and each being insertable into a respective opening in the flange are arranged such that, once a given projection has been inserted into a respective opening ( 72 ) in the flange, a portion ( 74, 94 ) of that projection is caused to assume an orientation by a corresponding formation ( 85, 100, 101 ) of the flange, or a portion ( 81 ) of the flange is caused to assume an orientation by a corresponding formation ( 73 ) of the projection, such that removal of that projection from the opening is resisted.

1 . A container-closure arrangement comprising: 
 (i) a container having a base, a peripheral wall, a rim forming an upper margin of the wall and surrounding an opening of the container, and a flange formed integrally with and extending out from the wall below the rim;    (ii) a closure having a central portion that is arranged to overfit the opening of the container, a skirt formed integrally with the central portion and arranged to surround the rim when the closure is fitted to the container, the skirt being positionable adjacent to the flange when the closure is fitted to the container; and    (iii) a plurality of discrete projections, each extending from the skirt, and each being insertable into a respective opening in the flange;    wherein, once the closure has been fitted to the container, whereby a given projection has been inserted into a respective opening in the flange, a portion of that projection is caused to assume an orientation by a corresponding formation of the flange, or a portion of the flange is caused to assume an orientation by a corresponding formation defined in the projection, such that removal of that projection from the opening is resisted.    
   
   
       2 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each projection comprises a portion that is deflectable relative to a remainder of the projection by the corresponding formation of the flange such that, once inserted into the opening, the formation maintains the portion in a deflected orientation to thereby resist projection removal from the opening.  
   
   
       3 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 2  wherein once deflected, the deflectable portion typically assumes a locking position whereat the projection is locked in and against the flange, thereby locking the closure to the container.  
   
   
       4 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the deflectable portion locks at full insertion of the projection into the opening.  
   
   
       5 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the corresponding formation of the flange comprises a discrete protrusion formed within the flange, or is defined by an internal wall of the flange or an external wall of the container.  
   
   
       6 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 2  wherein, once inserted into the opening, the deflectable portion is deflected laterally towards or away from the container wall, and into a latching position with respect to the flange.  
   
   
       7 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 2  wherein each projection is defined by a tab extending from the skirt, with the deflectable portion then comprising a tongue formed within the tab.  
   
   
       8 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the tongue is attached along one of its edges to a remainder of the tab to define a tongue hinge.  
   
   
       9 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 7  wherein, in profile, the tongue has the same thickness as a remainder of the tab, and the protrusion is a boss formed integrally with and projecting out from an inner wall of the flange within the opening, or projects out from an external wall of the container, such that, when the projection is inserted into the opening, the boss engages against the tongue and deflects it into a locking position with respect to the flange.  
   
   
       10 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the boss is generally dome-shaped to facilitate tongue movement therepast, or is defined as a ridge.  
   
   
       11 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 8  wherein, in profile, the tongue has a thickness greater than the remainder of the tab, and the internal wall in the flange opening is located to deflect the tongue into a locking position once the projection has been inserted into the opening.  
   
   
       12 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the tongue, in profile, tapers outwardly from tongue hinge such that, as the projection is inserted into the opening, the tongue interferes with and is deflected by an internal wall of the flange into a locking position, or interferes with and is deflected by an external wall of the container to cause the tongue to pivot into a locking position.  
   
   
       13 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the portion of the flange is located adjacent to the corresponding formation of the projection, with the formation of each projection comprising a recess or aperture into which the formation of the flange can extend such that, when the projection is inserted into the opening, the formation is first deflected by the projection until it aligns with the recess or aperture and, once so aligned, moves into the recess or aperture such that the projection then resists removal from the flange.  
   
   
       14 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the formation is defined as a latch which, in profile, tapers outwardly from a location adjacent to an entrance to the opening, to a location remote from the opening entrance.  
   
   
       15 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the remote part of the latch defines a shoulder, with the latch taper facilitating projection movement therepast until the latch aligns with and then moves into the recess or aperture, such that an edge of the recess or aperture latches under the shoulder and locks the projection within the flange.  
   
   
       16 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 13  wherein each projection is defined by a tab extending from the skirt, with the recess or aperture being defined centrally within the tab.  
   
   
       17 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the portion or corresponding formation is formed at or on the container and projects therefrom to interact with the projection once it has been inserted into the flange opening.  
   
   
       18 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the skirt comprises two or three skirt portions frangibly coupled together, with each projection extending from a distal end of the distal skirt portion.  
   
   
       19 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 18  wherein three skirt portions are employed, with a middle one of the skirt portions defining a removable tear strip, whereby removal of this tear strip frees the closure for removal from the container.  
   
   
       20 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 18  wherein two skirt portions are employed, with a line of severance being defined between these portions, such severance along this line then frees the closure for removal from the container.  
   
   
       21 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the flange extends peripherally right around the container wall, or is defined as a series of respective discrete flanges corresponding in location to each projection when the closure is mounted to the container.  
   
   
       22 . A container-closure arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  wherein, in addition to the plurality of projections (at locations other than where the projections are located), the skirt or a distal skirt portion is adapted for fastening at the flange.