This invention relates to a fluid-tight pail arrangement comprising a base portion and a lid portion, the base portion having a closed end and an open end, the lid portion having a main body and a rim extending around the periphery of the main body and being adapted to engage with, and be secured to, the open end of the base portion.
Closable containers for lubricants and other materials are often referred to as "pails". These are typically cylindrical containers with a base portion, a lid portion for closing the pail and a handle. Made from thermoplastic materials, such as polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), or metal, such as stainless steel, such pails are also employed after emptying of lubricant for many other uses. To facilitate this, the lid portion of the pail is usually removable. However, providing a removable lid creates the issue of whether or not it is possible to determine whether a container has been tampered with prior to sale. For example, if the lid portion can be removed easily, then it is possible to refill the pail with other liquids or lubricants, replace the lid and resell the pail and its contents. This is concerning from the point of view of preventing counterfeit products, products that have been tampered with and low quality refilled products from entering the market.

The lid portion of the pail falls into two main categories: inner lid fitments and outer lid fitments. An inner lid fitment comprises a lid portion that engages with the inside of the base portion. An outer lid fitment comprises a lid portion that engages with the outside of the base portion. In both cases it may be possible to tamper with and/or remove the lid portion from the pail using suitable tools. Since the lid portion is a relatively low-cost packaging item, even if damaged when removed it can be replaced easily.

Various tamper-evident mechanisms have been proposed to take account of these issues. For example, removable tear-strips can be utilised to indicate when a lid portion comprising an inner lid fitment has been removed. Initially, the lid portion is secured to the base portion including a tamper-evident seal, such as a removable tear-strip. The removable tear-strip may be provided with a tab that extends from the lid portion and may be gripped by a user. To remove the tear-strip the user pulls the tab to separate the tear-strip from the lid portion along areas of pre-defined weakness in the material of the lid portion. However, provision of such tamper-evident mechanisms alone may not prevent the removal of the lid portion from the base portion by suitable tools.

Embodiments of the present invention aim to address these issues by providing a fluid-tight pail arrangement comprising a base portion and a lid portion, the base portion having a closed end and an open end, the lid portion having a main body and a rim extending around the periphery of the main body and being adapted to engage with, and be secured to, the open end of the base portion in a fluid-tight relationship; wherein the lid portion further comprises an internal tamper-evident band extending around at least a portion of the rim; the base portion further comprises a flange extending around the open end, the flange being provided with an external tamper-evident band; and the flange is positioned to shield the interior tamper-evident band when the lid portion is secured to the base portion.

The external tamper-evident band may comprise a removable tear strip.

The internal tamper-evident band may comprise a removable tear-strip.

The flange may be provided with a plurality of apertures adjacent the open end of the base portion.

A plurality of hooked protrusions may extend from the rim adjacent the internal tamper-evident band perpendicular to the rim of the lid portion.

Each of the hooked protrusions may comprise a first hooked portion, distal to the internal tamper-evident band, which engages with each of the plurality of apertures provided in the flange, and wherein each of the first hooked portions is shaped to create a one-way fit with each of the apertures to secure the lid portion to the base portion.

On removal of the internal tamper-evident band, the hooked protrusions may remain engaged with the apertures in the base portion.

At least one of the hooked protrusions may further comprise a second hooked portion, located on the same side of the hooked protrusion as the first hooked portion, but positioned between the internal tamper-evident band and the rim of the lid portion.

At least one of the hooked protrusions may further comprise a third hooked portion, located opposite the second hooked portion and proximate the rim of the lid portion, and the base portion may be provided with a ledge, proximate the open end of the base portion, with which the third hook portions engage.

The hooked protrusions may comprise at least one hooked protrusion of a first size and at least one hooked protrusion of a second size.

The flange may shield the hooked protrusions on the lid portion when the first hooked portions are engaged with the plurality of apertures.

The flange may be opaque and mask the internal tamper-evident band.

The base portion may be cylindrical and the lid portion is substantially square in shape.

The closed end of the base portion may be provided with at least one easy-grip indent.

The base portion may be provided with a handle, mounted on the base portion proximate the open end, and the handle may engage with the base portion at engagement positions located 180° apart.

The lid portion may further comprise a spout. The spout may be positioned within the lid portion and accessed by a removable tamper- evident band. The spout may be attached to the lid portion by a screw fitment.

The lid portion may comprise at least one alignment marker, such that the spout is positioned at 45° to the handle engagement positions.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fluid-tight pail arrangement in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a base portion of a fluid-tight pail arrangement in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the base portion of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the underside of a lid portion of a fluid-tight pail arrangement in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid-tight pail arrangement in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the closed end of a base portion of a fluid-tight pail arrangement in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 7 is a plan view of a lid of a fluid-tight pail arrangement in accordance with embodiments of the present invention illustrating alignment marks.

Embodiments of the present invention are concerned with a fluid-tight pail arrangement comprising a base portion and a lid portion. Typically, the base portion has a closed end and an open end, and the lid portion has a main body and a rim extending around the periphery of the main body. The lid portion is also adapted to engage with, and be secured to, the open end of the base portion. The lid portion further comprises an internal tamper-evident band extending around at least a portion of the rim, which provides a first element of the taper-evident design of embodiments of the present invention. The base portion further comprises a flange extending around the open end, the flange being provided with an external tamper-evident band. This provides a second element of the tamper-evident design of embodiments of the present invention. In addition, the flange is positioned to shield the interior tamper-evident band when the lid portion is secured to the base portion. This prevents access to the internal tamper-evident band and therefore removal of the lid portion by external means such as tools. In other words, the lid portion cannot be forced off the base portion with the internal tamper-evident band still attached and unbroken or unopened. If the flange is formed from a transparent plastics material a user will be able to see the internal tamper-evident band on a lid portion formed from an opaque plastics material and therefore know whether this is intact or not. If the flange is formed from an opaque plastics material the internal tamper-evident band will be masked, and therefore out of sight of a person intending to interfere with the fluid-tight pail arrangement.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fluid-tight pail arrangement in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The fluid-tight pail arrangement 1 comprises a base portion 2 and a lid portion 3. The base portion 2 has a closed end 4 and an open end 5, with the lid portion 3 being adapted to engage with and be secured to the open end 5 of the base portion 2.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a base portion of a fluid- tight pail arrangement in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The base portion 2 is generally cylindrical in shape, with a wall 6 extending between the closed end 4 and the open end 5. The open end 5 takes the form of a square opening having rounded corners. The benefit of such a design is discussed in more detail below. The base portion 2 is provided with a flange 7 that extends around the open end 5 of the base portion 2. The flange 7 extends parallel to the wall 6 of the base portion, and is positioned adjacent to and displaced slightly from the open end 5of the base portion 2. The region of the base portion 2 exposed between the flange 7 and the open end 5is designed to accept the lid portion 3 in an external fitment.

Figure 3 is a further perspective view of the base portion of Figure 2. This shows the structure of the flange 7 in more detail. The flange 7 comprises a strip 8 of material held apart from the wall 6 of the base portion 2 by a plurality of struts 9a, 9b....9n. These in turn cause the formation of a plurality of apertures, 10a, 10 ...10η, such that the flange 7 is provided with a plurality of apertures 10a, 10b...10η adjacent the open end 5of the base portion 2. The flange 7 is provided with an external tamper-evident band 11. This takes the form of a removable tear strip 12 extending around the flange 7, and provided with a grip 13 to assist in removal of the removable tear strip 12 by a user.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the base of a lid portion of a fluid-tight pail arrangement in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The lid portion 3 comprises a main body 14 and a rim 15 extending around the periphery 16 of the main body 14. An internal tamper-evident band 17 extends around at least a portion of the rim 15. This internal tamper-evident band 11 also comprises a removable tear strip 18, which is provided with a grip 19 to assist in removal of the removable tear strip 18 by a user. A plurality of hooked protrusions 20a, 20b...20n extends from the rim 15 of the lid portion 3, adjacent the internal tamper-evident band 17 and perpendicular to the rim 15 of the lid portion 3. Each of the hooked protrusions 20a, 20b...20n is dimensioned to fit within one of the plurality of apertures 10a, 10b... lOn provided in the flange 7. In particular, each of the hooked protrusions 20a, 20b...20n is dimensioned to engage with one of the plurality of apertures 10a, 10b...10η. In certain embodiments it may be desirable to have each of the hooked protrusions 20a, 20b...20n, and therefore each of the plurality of apertures 10a, 10b ....1 On be of the same dimensions. However, in certain embodiments it may be desirable to have at least one hooked protrusion 20a of a first size and at least one hooked protrusion 20b of a second size, with at least one aperture 10a being of the first size and at least one aperture being of the second size 10b. Such an arrangement may help in aligning the lid, since by having hooked protrusions 20a, 20b and apertures 10a, 10b of different sizes the orientation of the lid portion may be apparent. In the example embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, a total of twenty-eight hooked protrusions are provided, with four hooked protrusions 20a of a first size provided at the cardinal points of the lid portion 3, spaced apart by 90°. The remaining twenty-four hooked protrusions 20b are of a second size and distributed between those of a first size in groups of five. This ensures that the lid portion 3 can be orientated in one of four ways for fitting onto the base portion 2. The plurality of hooked protrusions 20a, 20b...20n will now be described in more detail and with reference to Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid-tight pail arrangement in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. This illustrates the purpose of the flange 7 and the outer fitment of the lid portion 3 on the base portion 2 in more detail. The apertures 10a, 10b.... lOn in the flange 7 have an open end 21 and a closed end 22, with the open end 21 being proximate the open end 5 of the base portion 2, and the closed end 22 being distal the open end 5 of the base portion 2. The open end 21 is provided with a return 23 on the inside of the flange 7 and a return 24 on the wall 6 of the base portion 2, this latter forming a ledge 25 around the base portion 2 proximate the open end 5. The closed end 22 of the aperture 10a is provided with a return 26 on the inside of the flange 7 and a return 27 on the wall 6 of the base portion 2. The closed end 22 of the aperture 10a remains closed until a hooked protrusion 20a is inserted into the aperture 10a. The open end 21 of the aperture 10a remains open regardless of whether a hooked protrusion 20a is inserted.

Each of the hooked protrusions 20a, 20b...20n comprises a first hooked portion 28, adjacent the internal tamper-evident band 17, which engages with each of the plurality of apertures 10a, 10b... lOn provided in the flange 7. Each of the first hooked portions 28 is shaped to create a one-way fit with each of the apertures in order to secure the lid portion 3 to the base portion 2. Once the hooked protrusion 20a is pushed into the aperture 10a the first hooked portion 28 engages with the return 26 at the closed end 22 of the aperture 10a. Pushing the hooked protrusion 20 into the closed end 22 of the aperture 10a causes the closed end 22 to open to accept the first hooked portion 28. Consequently, once the internal tamper-evident band 17 is removed, the hooked protrusions 20a remain engaged with the apertures in the flange 7.

The hooked protrusions 20a, 20b....20n also comprise a second hooked portion 29 located on the same side of the hooked protrusion 20a, 20b...20n as the first hooked portion 28, but positioned between the internal tamper-evident band 17 and the rim 15. This second hooked portion 29 engages with the return 23 on the inside of the flange 7 at the open end 21 of the aperture 10a, 10b... AOn. This also acts to prevent removal of the lid portion 3 from the base portion.

The hooked protrusions 20a, 20b...20?? also comprise a third hooked portion 30

located opposite the second hooked portion 29 and proximate the rim 15 of the lid portion 3. This engages with the ledge 25 on the wall 6 of the base portion 2, proximate the open end 5 of the base portion 2. In certain embodiments it may be desirable for the third holed portion 30 to be omitted, for example, if the hooked protrusion 20a, 20b...20n is in a position adjacent the internal tamper-evident band 17, or being used as an alignment means (such that the hooked protrusion 20a is a different size to at least one other hooked protrusion 20b). The third hooked portion 30 is also shaped to create a one-way fit with each of the apertures 10a, 10b... AOn to secure the lid portion 3 to the base portion 2.

The combination of the first 28, second 29 and third 30 hooked portions acts as a triple locking mechanism for the external fitment of the lid portion 3 on the base portion 2. This ensures that the lid portion 3 engages with and is secured to the base portion 2, causing the fluid-tight pail arrangement 1 to be fluid-tight. Thus fluids stored within the base portion 2 will not escape once the lid portion 3 is engaged with the base portion 2. The flange 7 shields the hooked protrusions 20a, 20b...20n on the lid portion 3 when the first hooked portions 28 are engaged with the plurality of apertures 10a, 10b...10η. This prevents the removal of the lid portion using a tool, since there is nowhere exposed for a tool to be inserted. Even if the flange 7 is levered up and damaged it is still not possible to remove the lid portion 3 from the base portion 2. Therefore the use of an external tamper-evident band 10 on a flange 7 provided on a base portion 2 and an internal tamper-evident band 17 on a lid portion 3 provides a tamper-proof and tamper- evident closure means for a fluid-tight pail arrangement 1. In addition, once both the external 10 and internal 11 tamper-evident bands are removed, a portion of the hooked protrusions 20a, 20b...20n provided on the lid portion 3 remain within the apertures 10a, 10b... lOn provided in the flange 7. This gives a visible indication to a user that the lid portion 3 has been removed from the base portion 2, and that the original fluid provided within the fluid-tight pail arrangement 1 has been removed. The regions of the hooked protrusions 20a, 20b....20n provided below the internal tamper-evident band 17 remain within the apertures 10a, 10b... lOn, creating a visible residue around the outside of the base portion 2. There is no mechanism to remove these regions without further damage to the base portion 2.

Therefore if a user attempts to remove these regions there will be clear evidence that the base-portion 2 is not in its original condition.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the fluid-tight pail arrangement 1 comprises a generally

cylindrical base portion 2 and a substantially square lid portion 3. This has several advantages. Firstly, commonly used printing mechanisms, such as screen printing, in-mould labelling, heat transfer printing, digital printing or other similar techniques can be used, and in addition a variety of designs can be incorporated onto the outer surface of the wall 6 of the base portion 2. The use of a substantially square lid portion 3 improves the ease with which several fluid-tight pail arrangements 1 may be stacked together. However, it may also be desirable, in some embodiments, to employ additional features within the fluid-tight pail arrangement 1 to ensure that actions such as pouring and filling may be simplified.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the closed end of a base portion of a fluid-tight pail arrangement in accordance with the present invention. The closed end 5 of the base portion 2 is provided with at least one easy-grip indent 31. This indentation is positioned on the closed end 4 of the base portion 2 near to the wall 6, and is sized to accept the fingers of a user. The indentation may be strengthened by the provision of struts, crenelated walls, variations in thickness of the material of the base portion 2 or other suitable means. In the example illustrated two easy-grip indents 31, 32 are provided, spaced apart around the edge of the closed end 4 of the base portion 2 adjacent the wall 6 by 180° such that they are substantially opposite one another. This enables a user to hold, grip and manoeuvre the fluid-tight pail arrangement 1 more easily.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the fluid-tight pail arrangement 1 is also provided with a handle 33, to enable the user to lift, carry and pour the fluid-tight pail arrangement 1. The handle may be metal, such as stainless steel, or plastic, in construction. The base portion 2 is provided with the handle 33, mounted on the base portion 2 proximate the open end 5. The handle 33 engages with the base portion 2 at engagement positions 34, 35 located 190° apart.

The lid portion 3 may also further comprise a spout 36. Such spouts 36 are well known in the art, and are attached to the lid portion 3 by fluid-tight means, such as, but not limited to, ultrasonic welding, melting, moulding, crimping or bonding (including adhesive and thermal bonding), or a mechanical fitment, for example, a snap fit, interference fit or screw fit. In the above example, the spout 36 is formed separately from the lid portion 3, and attached to the lid portion 3 by means of a screw fitment (not shown). The spout 36 is positioned within an aperture in the lid portion 3 that is provided with an interior wall on the underside of the lid portion 3adapted to receive a threaded ring (not shown). The threaded ring screws over the periphery of the spout 36 inserted within the aperture and onto the interior wall, thus holding the spout 36 firmly in position. Seals are provided on the spout 36 and/or the aperture to ensure that the attachment is fluid-tight. The spout 36 may be positioned within the lid portion 3, and accessed by a removable tamper-evident band. Figure 7 is a plan view of a lid of a fluid-tight pail arrangement in accordance with embodiments of the present invention illustrating alignment marks. The lid portion comprises at least one alignment marker 37, such that the spout 36 is positioned at 45° to the handle engagement positions 34, 35. This enables easier pouring of the fluid from inside the fluid-tight pail arrangement 1 in use. Typical fluids held within the fluid-tight pail arrangement 1 include lubricants, such as lubricants for vehicles, industrial machinery, marine use and power generation machinery. However whilst the use of a 45° angle may be illustrated in the present examples, it may be desirable to position the spout 36 at a different angle, particularly if the base portion 2 or the lid portion 3 are of different shapes to the examples described above. As an alternative to the spout 36, a simple screw cap or other closure means (not shown) may be used to seal an aperture in the lid portion 3 that may be used for pouring the contents of the fluid-tight pail arrangement 1.

Both the base portion 2 and the lid portion 3 may be formed from a plastics material, such as HDPE and PP, by techniques such as injection moulding. The removable tear strips 12, 18 are also formed from the same materials and moulded into the base portion 2 or the lid portion 3 respectively. The material on either side of the removable tear strips 12, 18 is weakened, for example, by being of a lower thickness than that of the tear strip 12, 18 itself, encouraging easy tearing and separation of the tear strip 12, 18 from the base portion 2 or the lid portion 3 respectively. The base portion 2 and/or the lid portion 3 may be formed from a transparent plastics material or an opaque plastics material. If the base portion 2 is formed from an opaque plastics material then the flange 7 will be opaque and will mask the internal tamper-evident band.

In the above examples, the base portion 2 is cylindrical and the lid portion 3 is substantially square. However, the base portion 2 and the lid portion 3 may be of any suitable shape, for example, the base portion 2 may be substantially cuboid and/or the lid portion 3 may be circular.

CLAIMS
1. Fluid-tight pail arrangement comprising a base portion and a lid portion, the base portion having a closed end and an open end, the lid portion having a main body and a rim extending around the periphery of the main body and being adapted to engage with, and be secured to, the open end of the base portion in a fluid-tight relationship; wherein

the lid portion further comprises an internal tamper-evident band extending around at least a portion of the rim;

the base portion further comprises a flange extending around the open end, the flange being provided with an external tamper-evident band; and

the flange is positioned to shield the interior tamper-evident band when the lid portion is secured to the base portion.

2. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the external tamper-evident band comprises a removable tear strip.

3. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the internal tamper-evident band comprises a removable tear-strip.

4. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the flange is provided with a plurality of apertures adjacent the open end of the base portion.

5. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein a plurality of hooked protrusions extends from the rim adjacent the internal tamper-evident band perpendicular to the rim of the lid portion.

6. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the hooked protrusions comprises a first hooked portion, distal to the internal tamper-evident band, which engages with each of the plurality of apertures provided in the flange, and wherein each of the first hooked portions is shaped to create a one-way fit with each of the apertures to secure the lid portion to the base portion.

7. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein on removal of the internal tamper-evident band, the hooked protrusions remain engaged with the apertures in the base portion.

8. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in 5, 6 or 7, wherein at least one of the hooked protrusions further comprises a second hooked portion, located on the same side of the hooked protrusion as the first hooked portion, but positioned between the internal tamper-evident band and the rim of the lid portion.

9. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in any of claims 5 to 8, wherein at least one of the hooked protrusions further comprises a third hooked portion, located opposite the second hooked portion and proximate the rim of the lid portion, and wherein the base portion is provided with a ledge, proximate the open end of the base portion, with which the third hook portions engage.

10. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in any of claims 5 to 9, wherein the hooked protrusions comprise at least one hooked protrusion of a first size and at least one hooked protrusion of a second size.

11. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in any of claims 5 to 10 wherein the flange shields the hooked protrusions on the lid portion when the first hooked portions are engaged with the plurality of apertures.

12. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flange is opaque and masks the interior tamper-evident band.

13. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base portion is cylindrical and the lid portion is substantially square in shape.

14. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the closed end of the base portion is provided with at least one easy-grip indent.

15. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base portion is provided with a handle, mounted on the base portion proximate the open end, and wherein the handle engages with the base portion at engagement positions located 180° apart.

16. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in claim 15, wherein the lid portion further comprises a spout.

17. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the spout is positioned within the lid portion and accessed by a removable tamper-evident band.

18. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in claim 17, wherein the spout is attached to the lid portion by a screw fitment.

19. Fluid-tight pail arrangement as claimed in any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the lid portion comprises at least one alignment marker, such that the spout is positioned at 45° to the handle engagement positions.