(19)
(11) EP 3 059 183 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
21.10.2020 Bulletin 2020/43

(21) Application number: 16156002.4

(22) Date of filing: 16.02.2016
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B65D 51/18(2006.01)

(54)

VENTED LID

BELÜFTETER DECKEL

COUVERCLE VENTILÉ


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30) Priority: 18.02.2015 ES 201530195 U

(43) Date of publication of application:
24.08.2016 Bulletin 2016/34

(73) Proprietor: ZENIT Estudio de Diseño e Innovación S.L.
46010 Valencia (ES)

(72) Inventor:
  • BLASCO FEO, VICENTE
    46003 Valencia (ES)

(74) Representative: Soler Lerma, Santiago 
Vitoria de Lerma International Dept. C/ Poeta Querol n°1 pta 10
46002 Valencia
46002 Valencia (ES)


(56) References cited: : 
EP-A1- 1 621 477
EP-A1- 2 463 211
EP-A1- 1 702 859
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] As indicated by the title, the invention relate to a vented lid for containers for volatile liquids or solids, such as air fresheners, having a vented lid.

    [0002] The vented lid, which communicates the outside and inside of the container, allows the volatile substances contained inside the container to reach the atmosphere.

    [0003] This type of vented lid is particularly useful in the field of air fresheners or insecticides.

    BACKGROUND



    [0004] There are various types of vented lids in the market, particularly in the field of dispensers of volatile substances such as air fresheners or insecticides.

    [0005] The term 'vent' refers to any area of the lid with perforations, orifices, slits or any cut-out that crosses the lid, communicating the spaces separated by the lid.

    [0006] Whenever a lid is meant to contain a volatile substance to release once the product is in use, said volatile substance must be contained within the container until the destination thereof is reached.

    [0007] There are many ways to close a container, most of which have no relation with the type of closure of the present invention.

    [0008] Volatile substances meant to be evaporated are sometimes included in small solid volumes, such as flower petals, impregnated supports or perfumed pearls.

    [0009] In these cases it is convenient to provide the container with a vented lid such that, although the volatile substances with the aromas or insecticides among others can easily reach the atmosphere when the device is in use, an accidental tipping of the container will not make the contents fall out.

    [0010] The problem relates to conserving said volatile substances during the transport and storage of the product such that when it reaches the final user, the contents essentially maintain the properties at the time of packaging.

    [0011] This is currently performed by using a lid provided on the upper base thereof with a number of orifices, said upper base normally closed by an adhesive sticker that is easily removed.

    [0012] The patent EP1621477 refers to a flexible container to contain food products, particularly in powder and granular form. That container for food products comprises a closure with a base member with a grating, a membrane seal provided with at least one graspable tongue and a closing cap. That kind of closure are not useful for closing volatile substances since the thermal adhesive used to fix them is not resistant to the composition of the volatile substances and there is a serious risk that volatile substances melt the adhesive and let some liquid out of the container.

    [0013] During the transport and handling operations for storage, it is common for the product contained inside the container to touch the inner face thereof and for part of the moisture of said content to reach the adhesive label that seals the assembly.

    [0014] When the assembly includes a cardboard commercial presentation, such as a box, strip or label, said leaks leads to moisture marks on the packaging and the rejection thereof by the consumer.

    [0015] To solve the aforementioned drawbacks, a perforated lid has been developed with a separation between the position of the vents or perforated area and the outer commercial packaging, as described below.

    DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION



    [0016] Having described the problem and the known antecedents, the proposed solution will be described below.

    [0017] The proposed invention relates to a lid for a container for volatile substances comprising:
    1. 1. A body provided with a peripheral wall and two open bases, a top base and a bottom base.
    2. 2. A fixed, preferably horizontal, perforated wall dividing the internal space of the aforementioned body into two cavities, an upper cavity and a lower cavity.
    3. 3. A removable partition, preferably horizontal, located in the upper cavity.
    4. 4. Gripping means located on the top part of said removable partition.


    [0018] For the purposes of this invention, the top base is understood to mean the opening of the lid, in contact with the outside, and the bottom base is understood to be that adjacent to the container.

    [0019] Similarly, the description of a partition as 'fixed' or 'removable' refers to the fixed or removable nature of the lid in the normal use thereof, although it may be that in maintenance or replacement operations, particularly for reusable containers, the fixed partition can be separated from the body of the lid.

    [0020] The part comprising the aforementioned elements can be used to close containers containing volatile substances which also have a certain moisture, since as there is a space between the removable partition and the top base, even in case of small accidental leakage the moisture will not reach the outer packaging, which is generally in contact with the top part of cans and containers, preventing the stains that lead to the rejection thereof by the public.

    [0021] The removable partition can be attached to the rest of the lid by pressure as the outer perimeter thereof fits snugly in the inner perimeter of the peripheral wall, breaking points, adhesive or any other method providing an easily removable attachment.

    [0022] The removable partition covers entirely the area of the fixed partition that is perforated.

    [0023] To simplify removal, the removable partition is provided on the top face thereof with a gripping element such as a tab, ring, handle or any other suitable means.

    [0024] The elements contained in the lid during the transportation and storage stages are no higher than the plane of the top base.

    [0025] The lid as described must be attached to the container with volatile substances.

    [0026] Depending on the intended use, the lid should be attached permanently or removable.

    [0027] The lid should be attached permanently if the contents of the container must be prevented from contacting animals or persons, or even ingested by these.

    [0028] Instead, it may be convenient to attach the lid removable in containers that will be reused.

    [0029] In either case, there are many means for obtaining both fixed and removable unions, none of which specifically correspond to the subject matter claimed, although the different embodiment options, fixed and removable, are discussed.

    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



    [0030] To aid the comprehension of the proposed invention, the following FIGURES are provided.

    FIGURE 1 shows an exploded view of the lid (1) representing the peripheral wall (2), the fixed partition (3) with perforations that is joined to the peripheral wall, the removable partition (4) on the top part of which is the ring (5) which, in this case, is attached to the removable partition by two breaking points (6) that detach when the user pulls on the ring, and a solid union (7) that carries with it the removable lid when the user pulls the ring.

    FIGURE 2 shows the lid with the removable partition (4) housed in the upper cavity thereof, sealing the assembly and revealing the ring (5).

    FIGURE 3 shows a cross section view of the lid, where the removable partition is not represented, revealing the peripheral wall (2), the fixed partition (3) that divides the inner space of the lid into an upper cavity (8) and a lower cavity (9).


    DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION



    [0031] An embodiment of the invention will be described that is not unique, such that the scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein.

    [0032] The invention relates to an improved lid for containers for volatile substances, of the type comprising a perforated area communicating the inside and the outside of the container such that certain features of the volatile substances contained therein can pass to the atmosphere.

    [0033] The proposed lid comprises:
    1. 1. A body defined by a peripheral wall (2) and two bases, a top base and a bottom base.
    2. 2. A fixed partition (3) that divides the inner space into two cavities, an upper cavity (8) and a lower cavity (9).
    3. 3. A removable partition (4) placed in the upper cavity but not on the upper end.


    [0034] The removable partition (4) is provided on the top part thereof with a ring (5) attached to the removable partition by two easily detached breaking points (6) and a stronger point (7).

    [0035] The removable partition (4) is attached to the rest of the lid by pressure as the outer perimeter thereof fits snugly in the inner perimeter of the peripheral wall (2).

    [0036] The removable partition (4) and the ring (5) are located at a height lower than that of the top base of the lid.

    [0037] The lid constructed in this way allows an empty space to exist between the removable partition (4) and the top base of the lid, such that the small accidental leaks that may occur during transport or storage of the container with the volatile substance inside, if any, will not contact the outer packaging, normally made of cardboard, thereby preventing the appearance of stains and moisture marks.


    Claims

    1. LID FOR CONTAINERS FOR VOLATILE SUBSTANCES of the type comprising a body defined by a peripheral wall and two open bases, a top base and a bottom base, a fixed perforated partition dividing the internal space of the aforementioned body into two cavities, an upper cavity and a lower cavity, a perforated area that communicates the inside and the outside of the container and anchoring means to the container characterised by comprising:

    1. A removable partition (4) arranged in the upper cavity (8) that fully covers the perforated area of the fixed partition wherein the removable partition (4) is attached to the lid by pressure as the outer perimeter thereof fits snugly in the inner perimeter of the peripheral wall (2).

    2. At least one handle (5) accessible from the top part of the removable partition (4).


     
    2. LID FOR CONTAINERS FOR VOLATILE SUBSTANCES according to claim 1, characterised in that the handle (5) comprises a ring attached to the removable lid (4) by at least one solid attachment point (7).
     
    3. LID FOR CONTAINERS FOR VOLATILE SUBSTANCES according to claim 1, characterised in that in the transportation and storage position, all of the elements included in the lid are beneath the plane of the top base.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. DECKEL FÜR BEHÄLTER FÜR FLÜCHTIGE STOFFE des Typs, der Folgendes umfasst: einen Körper, der durch eine Umfangswand und zwei offene Böden, einen oberen Boden und einen unteren Boden, definiert ist, eine feste perforierte Trennwand, die den Innenraum des Körpers in zwei Hohlräume, einen oberen Hohlraum und einen unteren Hohlraum, unterteilt, einen perforierten Bereich, der das Innere und das Äußere des Behälters in Verbindung bringt, und Mittel zur Verankerung am Behälter, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass er umfasst:

    1) eine entfernbare Trennwand (4), die im oberen Hohlraum (8) angeordnet ist und den perforierten Bereich der festen Trennwand vollständig bedeckt, wobei die entfernbare Trennwand (4) durch Druck am Deckel befestigt ist, da ihr Außenumfang festsitzend in den Innenumfang der Umfangswand (2) passt;

    2) mindestens einen Griff (5), der vom oberen Teil der entfernbaren Trennwand (4) aus zugänglich ist.


     
    2. DECKEL FÜR BEHÄLTER FÜR FLÜCHTIGE STOFFE nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Griff (5) einen Ring umfasst, der mittels mindestens einer eine stabile Befestigung realisierenden Stelle (7) an der entfernbaren Abdeckung (4) befestigt ist.
     
    3. DECKEL FÜR BEHÄLTER FÜR FLÜCHTIGE STOFFE nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass in der Transport- und Lagerungsposition alle im Deckel enthaltenen Elemente unterhalb der Ebene des oberen Bodens liegen.
     


    Revendications

    1. Couvercle pour contenants pour substances volatiles du type comprenant un corps défini par une paroi périphérique et deux bases ouvertes, une base supérieure et une base inférieure, une cloison perforée fixe divisant l'espace interne du corps susmentionné en deux cavités, une cavité supérieure et une cavité inférieure, une zone perforée qui fait communiquer la partie interne et la partie externe du contenant et un moyen d'ancrage pour le contenant caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend :

    1. une cloison amovible (4) agencée dans la cavité supérieure (8) qui recouvre entièrement la zone perforée de la cloison fixe où la cloison amovible (4) est attachée au couvercle par pression à mesure que son périmètre externe s'adapte parfaitement dans le périmètre interne de la paroi périphérique (2).

    2. au moins une poignée (5) accessible depuis la partie supérieure de la cloison amovible (4).


     
    2. Couvercle pour contenants pour substances volatiles selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la poignée (5) comprend un anneau attaché au couvercle amovible (4) par au moins un point d'attache solide (7).
     
    3. Couvercle pour contenants pour substances volatiles selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'en position de transport et de stockage, tous les éléments inclus dans le couvercle se trouvent sous le plan de la base supérieure.
     




    Drawing














    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description