Container closure

Abstract

A closure ( 1 ) comprises an attachment member ( 10 ) for releasably attaching the closure to a container ( 2 ), a cover member ( 20 ) for extending over an open top of the container, and a handle member ( 30 ). The open top of the container terminates at a peripheral lip ( 3 ). The attachment member ( 10 ) also comprises a closed loop ( 22, 25 ) having a flexible loop portion ( 22 ) which, in use, is contractible to secure the loop to the lip and to thereby attach the closure to the container. The cover member has a first edge portion which is attached to the attachment member, and a second edge portion which is opposite the first edge portion and is attached to the handle member. The cover member also comprises an elastic portion ( 21 ) which is contractible to draw the opposite edge portions of the cover member toward one another. The handle member has a hand grip portion ( 31 ) for manipulating the cover member. The handle member has an elongate rigid portion ( 32 ) which is adapted for engaging with a portion of the lip to secure the cover member in a closed position over the open top of the container. One preferred embodiment of the closure is to secure recyclable materials in a container in readiness for roadside collection.

1 . A closure for a container having an open top which terminates at a peripheral lip, the closure comprising an attachment member for releasably attaching the closure to the container, a cover member for extending over the open top of the container, and a handle member; the attachment member comprising a closed loop having a flexible loop portion which in use is contractible to secure the loop to the lip and to thereby attach the closure to the container, the cover member having first and second opposite edge portions, the first edge portion being attached to the attachment member and the second edge portion being attached to the handle member, the cover member comprising an elastic portion which is contractible to draw the opposite edge portions of the cover member toward one another, the handle member having a hand grip portion for manipulating the cover member, the handle member having an elongate rigid portion adapted for engaging with a portion of the lip and thereby securing the cover member in a closed position over the open top of the container in use. 
   
   
       2 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the flexible loop portion is elastic and is contractible to secure the loop to the lip and to thereby attach the closure to the container. 
   
   
       3 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the flexible loop portion is inelastic and comprises a fastening means by which the inelastic loop portion can be contracted in length and maintained in a contracted state to secure the loop to the lip and to thereby attach the closure to the container. 
   
   
       4 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the elongate rigid portion of the handle member is U-shaped, comprising a middle portion and two end portions which extend transversely in a common direction from opposite ends of the middle portion. 
   
   
       5 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the lip is an outwardly open channel and in use the loop is locatable in the channel and the flexible loop portion is contractible to secure the loop in the channel and thereby attach the closure to the container, and the rigid portion of the handle member is releasably locatable in the channel at said portion of the lip to thereby secure the cover member in the closed position over the open top of the container. 
   
   
       6 . A closure as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the loop comprises an elongate rigid loop portion the ends of which are respectively connected to opposite ends of the flexible loop portion. 
   
   
       7 . A closure as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the rigid loop portion is U-shaped, comprising a middle portion and two end portions which extend transversely in a common direction from opposite ends of the middle portion of the rigid loop portion. 
   
   
       8 . A closure as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the first edge portion of the cover member is attached along the rigid loop portion and the second edge portion of the cover member is attached along the rigid portion of the handle member. 
   
   
       9 . A closure as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the cover member comprises two elastic side lines which respectively connect the ends of the rigid loop portion to the ends of the rigid portion of the handle member. 
   
   
       10 . A closure as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the cover member comprises a net, and respective edge portions of the net extend along and are attached to the elongate rigid portion of the handle member, the elongate rigid loop portion and the two elastic side lines. 
   
   
       11 . A closure as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the loop comprises two elongate rigid loop portions, each rigid loop portion having first and second opposite ends, the first ends being respectively connected to opposite ends of the flexible loop portion and the second ends being respectively connected to opposite ends of another portion of the loop. 
   
   
       12 . A closure as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the peripheral lip is quadrilateral and the rigid loop portions are L-shaped for fitting in the channel at respective corners of the peripheral lip. 
   
   
       13 . A closure as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the first edge portion of the cover member is attached to the rigid loop portions and the second edge portion of the cover member is attached along the rigid portion of the handle member. 
   
   
       14 . A closure as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the cover member comprises two elastic side lines which respectively connect the first ends of the rigid loop portions to the ends of the rigid portion of the handle member. 
   
   
       15 . A closure as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the cover member comprises a net, and respective edge portions of the net extend along and are attached to the elongate rigid portion of the handle member, the elongate rigid loop portions and the two elastic side lines. 
   
   
       16 . A closure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the lip is an outwardly projecting bead, the loop comprises first and second elongate rigid loop portions each having a U-shaped transverse cross-section shaped for fitting over respective portions of the bead, each rigid loop portion having first and second opposite ends, the first ends being respectively connected to opposite ends of the flexible loop portion and the second ends being respectively connected to opposite ends of another portion of the loop, and in use the first and second rigid loop portions are engagable over the respective portions of the bead, and the elastic loop portion is contractible to secure the loop to the peripheral lip and thereby attach the closure to the container. 
   
   
       17 . A closure as claimed in  claim 16  wherein at least one of the rigid loop portions is U-shaped comprising an intermediate portion and two end portions which extend transversely in a common direction from opposite ends of the intermediate portion. 
   
   
       18 . A closure as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the first edge portion of the cover member is attached along a portion of the loop between the two rigid loop portions and the second edge portion of the cover member is attached along the rigid portion of the handle member. 
   
   
       19 . A closure as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the rigid portion of the handle member has a U-shaped cross-section shaped to fit over a portion of the bead. 
   
   
       20 . A closure as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the first edge portion of the cover member is attached along the first rigid loop portion and the second edge portion of the cover member is attached along the rigid portion of the handle member. 
   
   
       21 . A closure as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the rigid portion of the handle member has a U-shaped transverse cross-section shaped to fit over the second rigid loop portion. 
   
   
       22 . A closure as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the cover member comprises two elastic side lines which respectively connect the ends of the first rigid loop portion to the ends of the rigid portion of the handle member. 
   
   
       23 . A closure as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the cover member comprises a net, and respective edge portions of the net extend along and are attached to the rigid portion of the handle member, the first rigid loop portion and the two elastic side lines. 
   
   
       24 . A closure as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the peripheral lip is quadrilateral and the rigid loop portions are L-shaped for fitting in the channel at respective corners of the peripheral lip. 
   
   
       25 . A closure as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the first edge portion of the cover member is attached to the two rigid loop portions and the second edge portion of the cover member is attached along the rigid portion of the handle member. 
   
   
       26 . A closure as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the rigid portion of the handle member has a U-shaped transverse cross-section shaped to fit over a portion of the bead. 
   
   
       27 . A closure as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the cover member comprises two elastic side lines which respectively connect the first ends of the rigid loop portions to the ends of the rigid portion of the handle member. 
   
   
       28 . A closure as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the cover member comprises a net, and respective edge portions of the net extend along and are attached to the rigid portion of the handle member, the rigid loop portions and the two elastic side lines.