Gasketless closure for open-top pails

A container package comprising:

• a container including an annular sidewall having an annular container wall, a top rim extending from the annular container wall, and a downwardly extending container wall extending downwardly away from the top rim;
• and
• a lock-on closure configured to couple to the container in a fixed position relative to the container, the lock-on closure including:
• a body including a channel portion including an inner annular wall, an outer annular wall, and a top annular wall extending between and interconnecting the inner annular wall and the outer annular wall so as to form a channel, wherein the inner annular wall includes a primary seal for cooperation with the annular container wall, the primary seal including a plurality of annular sealing ridges to lie sealingly against the inner annular container wall to form the primary seal, wherein the outer annular wall defines an upper inwardly facing surface defined between an annular ledge and the top annular wall, wherein a majority of the upper inwardly facing surface of the outer annular wall is configured to contact an outwardly facing surface of the top rim when the top rim is fully inserted into the channel;
• and
• a single, flexible sealing wiper appendage extending away from the top annular wall of the channel portion,
• wherein, in response to the annular sidewall of the container being outside of the channel, the sealing wiper appendage is in a first position in which the sealing wiper appendage extends downwardly from the top annular wall and is angled inwardly toward the inner annular wall and the primary seal such that a terminal end of the sealing wiper appendage is freely suspended within the channel,
• wherein, in response to the annular sidewall of the container being fully inserted into the channel, the sealing wiper appendage is in a second position in which the terminal end contacts the inner annular wall and in which the sealing wiper appendage contacts a top outer surface of the top rim to form a secondary seal with the container, and
• wherein, in response to the annular sidewall of the container being fully inserted into the inverted annular U-shaped channel and the sealing wiper appendage being in the second position, the lock-on closure is entirely spaced apart from an entirety of the top outer surface of the top rim.

A method, comprising:

• providing a container including an annular sidewall having an inner annular container wall with a top annular edge, a top rim extending radially outwardly from the top annular edge, and a downwardly extending container wall extending downwardly away from a radially outer end of the top rim;
• providing a lock-on closure for the container, the lock-on closure including a plastic body including a center deck and an annular peripheral channel portion arranged radially outward of and integrally with the center deck, the annular peripheral channel portion including an inner annular wall, an outer annular wall radially spaced apart from the inner annular wall, and a top annular wall extending between and interconnecting top edges of the inner annular wall and the outer annular wall so as to define an inverted annular U-shaped channel configured to receive lockingly the top rim of the annular sidewall of the container, the downwardly extending container wall, and a portion of the inner annular container sidewall in a plug fit;
• arranging an annular ledge on the outer annular wall, the annular ledge extending radially inwardly away from a radially inwardly facing surface of the outer annular wall and configured to abut lockingly an under surface of the downwardly extending container wall in response to the annular sidewall of the container being fully inserted into the inverted annular U-shaped channel, wherein the outer annular wall defines an upper inwardly facing surface defined between the annular ledge and the top annular wall, wherein a majority of the upper inwardly facing surface of the outer annular wall is configured to contact an outwardly facing surface of the top rim when the top rim is fully inserted into the channel;
• arranging a primary seal including a plurality of annular sealing ridges on a radially outwardly facing surface of the inner annular wall to lie sealingly against a radially inwardly facing surface of the inner annular container wall to form the primary seal;
• arranging a single, flexible sealing wiper appendage extending away from an interior facing surface of the top annular wall of the annular peripheral channel portion, wherein, in response to the annular sidewall of the container being outside of the inverted annular U-shaped channel, the sealing wiper appendage is in a first position in which the sealing wiper appendage extends downwardly from the interior facing surface of the top annular wall and is angled radially inwardly toward the inner annular wall of the annular peripheral channel portion and the primary seal such that a terminal end of the sealing wiper appendage is freely suspended within the inverted annular U-shaped channel;
• and
• inserting fully the annular sidewall of the container into the inverted annular U-shaped channel such that the annular ledge lockingly abuts an under surface of the outer side wall and such that the sealing wiper appendage moves to a second position in which the terminal end contacts the inner annular wall and in which the sealing wiper appendage contacts a top outer surface of the top rim to form a secondary seal with the container which secondary seal reacts to pressure within the container to increase in sealing effect,
• wherein, in response to the annular sidewall of the container being fully inserted into the inverted annular U-shaped channel and the sealing wiper appendage being in the second position, the lock-on closure is entirely spaced apart from an entirety of the top outer surface of the top rim.