and its mating protrusion 124 that effectively locks these members together. Advantageously, this interference fit can prevent the tabs 122 from becoming inadvertently detached from the lid 104. Optionally and as shown, the receptacle 127 is an aperture that passes through the tab 122. Alternatively, the receptacle 127 may extend only part way through the tab 122 and include undercut features that engage and retain the oversized head 125 of the protrusion 124 when the latch 120 is in its closed (i.e, latched) position.

Preferably, the latching members that comprise the latches 120, particularly the tabs 122, hinges 121, and protrusions 124, have a suitable configuration, size and material strength whereby the liner 108 can be filled to its capacity with a high solids, low VOC fluid and then suspended securely from the lid 104 without risk of detachment and/or leakage. In some embodiments, the liner 108 has a fluid capacity of at least about 830 milliliters (28 fluid ounces), at least about 1180 milliliters (40 fluid ounces), or at least about 1900 milliliters (64 fluid ounces). In some embodiments, the liner 108 has a fluid capacity of at most about 1000 milliliters (34 fluid ounces), at most about 1900 milliliters (64 fluid ounces), or at most about 2400 milliliters (80 fluid ounces).

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the liner 108 and the lid 104, respectively, as individual components to reveal additional details of this exemplary embodiment. For example, the liner 108 has a cylindrical side wall 126, flat bottom wall 128, and open end 130 that generally conform to corresponding inner surfaces of the cup 102 when the container 100 is assembled. With the container 100 assembled, the open end 130 of the liner 108 is generally aligned with the open end 107 of the cup 102.

Generally, the liner 108 has relatively thin walls that enable the liner 108 to collapse under positive external pressure and/or negative internal pressure as its fluid contents are withdrawn and dispensed from the spraying apparatus. It is also preferable, however, that the liner 108 has sufficient structural rigidity to stand entirely self-supported on a horizontal surface to allow an operator to pour a fluid into its open end 130 without deforming its shape. Alternatively, the liner 108 could be configured to deform to, for example, increase its fluid capacity for the application at hand.

The lid 104 preferably has a configuration that is compatible with that of the liner 108. FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of the lid 104, revealing an optional inner collar 132 located on the bottom side of the lid 104. The inner collar 132 extends along the outer perimeter of the lid 104 and includes a raised ridge 134 that extends along the circumference of the inner collar 132. When the lid 104 and the liner 108 are fully secured to each other (as illustrated in FIG. 2A), the outer surface of the inner collar 132 contacts the inner surface of the liner 108. In this embodiment, the raised ridge 134 is sized to produce a snug, interference fit along these contact surfaces between the inner collar 132 and the liner 108 when the container 100 is assembled.

In some embodiments, the latch 120 includes a camming member that operates to pry the liner 108 and the lid 104 apart from each other as the latch 120 pivots from its closed position to its open position. This can be especially advantageous when there is resistance to separating the lid 104 from the liner 108, as may be the case if there is an interference fit between these components. As another possibility, the tabs 122 can act as an anchor points (that may be pinched between thumb and forefinger, for example) for facilitating release of the lid 108 from the liner 108 when there is a tight engagement between these components. The existence of these anchor points can allow a user to hold the liner 108 during separation of the liner 108 from the lid 104 without deforming the liner 108 and potentially spilling its contents.

As shown in subsequent figures, the latches and latching members can implement various types of retaining features. FIGS. 7A and 7B, for example, show a container 200 according to an alternative embodiment. Like the container 100, the container 200 has a liner 208, lid 204, and a pair of latches 220 that releasably couple the lid 204 and liner 208 to each other. The container 200 is distinguished from the prior embodiment in that each latch 220 includes opposing surfaces 240, 242 having inverse microreplicated surfaces. These microreplicated surfaces are characterized by three-dimensional features 244, 244′, located on a tab 222 and an opposing surface on the lid 204, that mechanically interlock with each other. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the features 244, 244′ are tiny cylindrical posts and matching cylindrical cavities. Other types of microreplicated surfaces include, but are not limited to, pyramids, grooves, cones, prisms, spheres, and ellipsoids. Various microreplicated surfaces are described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,851 (Mazurek et al.).

In some embodiments, the opposing surfaces 240, 242 on the lid 204 and liner 208 include features having undercuts that provide at least some degree of mechanical retention between these opposing surface 240, 242 along directions normal to the mating surfaces. Such undercuts could be provided by either microreplicated or non-microreplicated surfaces. One such microreplicated surface, characterized by mushroom-type hooks, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,375 (Miller, et al.). In other embodiments, the opposing surfaces 240, 242 may be asymmetric. For example, the opposing surfaces 240, 242 could engage each other using a hook-and-loop mechanism, such as described in European Patent No. EP 0258015 (Ott, et al.).

FIG. 8 shows a container 300 according to still another embodiment having a liner 308 with a pair of hinged tabs 322 similar to those of containers 100, 200. The container 300, however, uses a latch 320 based on a releasable adhesive coupling between the tabs 322 and opposing surfaces of the lid 304. In some embodiments, a pressure sensitive adhesive 342 extends over either or both of the opposing surfaces of the tab 322 and lid 304, conveniently allowing finger pressure to secure the latch 320. Suitable pressure sensitive adhesives include, for example, 300LSE High Strength Acrylic, 300MP High Strength Acrylic, and 350 High Holding Acrylic double-coated adhesive tape provided by 3M Company (St. Paul, MN). Preferably, the pressure sensitive adhesive 342 has sufficient shear bond strength to provide a secure coupling between the lid 304 and the liner 308, yet can be subsequently detached from the lid 304 (or liner 308) to allow an operator to refill the container 300.

Yet another possibility is to provide a latch with a tabbed configuration similar to those in latches 220, 320, but using a hook and loop mechanism to secure the tab to the lid. For example, the tab could include a multiplicity of tiny hooks, while a mating surface on the lid includes a multiplicity of tiny loops that interlock and fasten these surfaces together.

In general, the latches 220, 320 can be released by grasping the distal edge of the tab 222, 322 and gently peeling it away from its opposing surface on the lid 204, 304. In some embodiments, the latch 220, 320 can use microreplicated surfaces, a hook and loop mechanism, or adhesive that is engineered to have a peel bond strength significantly lower than its shear bond strength. This feature can help preserve reliable retention of the lid 204, 304 on the liner 208, 308 under normal operating conditions (which subject the latch 220, 320 to shearing forces) while facilitating peel removal of the tab 222, 322 upon demand.

Use of microreplicated patterns and adhesives need not be exclusive or independent of each other. For example, the opposing surfaces on the tabs 322 and lid 304 could optionally have interlocking microreplicated features, like the latches 220 in the container 200. In some embodiments, one or more latches could use a pressure sensitive adhesive that is itself formed into a microreplicated pattern, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,215 (Mazurek, et al.). Advantageously, the combination of the pressure sensitive adhesive 342 and interlocking microreplicated features could further enhance the retention between the lid 304 and the liner 308, while retaining the ability to easily release the latch 320.

Further aspects of the containers 200, 300 are essentially analogous to those already described with respect to the container 100 and shall not be discussed here.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show a container 400 according to yet another embodiment, in which a latch 420, that couples a lid 404 to a liner 408, has an essentially static configuration. In this mechanism, the latch 420 is integrated into the lid 404 and includes a multiplicity of penetrating features 460 that pierce a flange 414 of the liner 408. By extending at least partially through the flange 414, the penetrating features 460 releasably couple the lid 404 to the liner 408 in the manner shown in FIG. 9A. In this embodiment, the penetrating features 460 are generally conical and rely on frictional engagement between the penetrating features 460 and the flange 414 to prevent accidental disengagement between the lid 404 and liner 408. Optionally but not shown, the features 460 could have undercuts to provide increase mechanical retention, as discussed earlier with respect to the microreplicated features of the latch 220.

As another option, the flange 414 of the liner 408 could have registered receptacles (not shown) that engage with the penetrating features 460 when the latch 420 is engaged. The receptacles could be sized to facilitate mutual engagement and disengagement of the lid 404 and the liner 408. Optionally, the receptacles could be disposed in a resilient polymeric material that elastically expands and contracts to facilitate passage of the penetrating features 460 without permanent damage to the flange 414 of the liner 408. As a time-saving feature, the penetrating features 460 could have a configuration whereby the act of securing the outer collar to the rigid cup (for example, by screwing the outer collar onto the cup) induces the latch 420 to assume its closed position by urging the lid 404 towards the liner 408.

It is noted that the penetrating features 460 are distinguishable from features of prior art embodiments because the penetrating features 460 pierce the flange 414 to secure the liner 408 and lid 404 to each other in a reversible manner (e.g. if desired, the penetrating features 460 can be subsequently plucked out of their openings in the flange 414 to remove the lid 404). To avoid interference between the penetrating features 460 and the rim of an outer cup surrounding the liner 408, the rim of the outer cup could include an annular groove that receives the penetrating features 460 when the flange 414 of the liner 408 is compressively secured between the lid 404 and the outer cup.

Yet another embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 10, which shows an enlarged view of a latch 520 integrally formed on a side wall 512 of a liner 508 used with a fluid container 500. Optionally, the latch 520 is made from the same material as the liner 508.

As shown, the latch 520 includes a tab 522 that is coupled to the side wall 512 by a hinge 521 represented by a strip of material with a reduced cross-sectional thickness to facilitate pivoting of the tab 522 relative to the side wall 512. The tab 522 has a generally flat body 568 and a terminal end 570 optionally provided with a friction enhancing texture 572 to assist an operator in grasping the tab 522 between thumb and forefinger without slippage when securing and releasing the latch 520. Located between the body 568 and the terminal end 570 is a clasping feature 574 that has an undercut configuration enabling the clasping feature 570 to extend over the outer edges of the lid 504 when the latch 520 is in its closed position.

To retain the tab 522 in its closed position, in which the latch 520 secures the lid 504 and liner 508 to each other, the side wall 512 of the liner 508 further includes a pair of flexible clips 576. The flexible clips 576 are resilient, clasp-like stubs that project outwardly from the cylindrical side wall 512 and include terminal hooks 578 pointing inwardly toward each other. The hooks 578 engage the lateral sides of the body 568 of the tab 522 in an interference fit when the latch 520 is in its closed position (not shown). Advantageously, the flexible clips 576 allow the latch 520 to be maintained in its closed position even when the tab 522, owing to its resilience, has a bias for springing back toward its open position, shown in FIG. 10. The flexible clips 576 also decrease the likelihood that the tab 522 will spontaneously disengage when suspending the liner 508 by the lid 504, as might be encountered when lifting the liner 508 out of a corresponding cup, particularly when filled with a high-solids coating fluid.

Optionally and as shown, there is a recess 582 in the peripheral edge of the lid 504 to accommodate the tab 522 when the latch 520 is in its closed position. In the depicted embodiment, the recess 582 matingly engages the clasping feature 574 of the tab 522 to help provide a secure coupling. Such a recess may also be present in any of the earlier described lid embodiments to provide sufficient clearance for the hinging of the tab. If so desired, this portion of the tab 522 can be received in the recess 582 such that the tab 522 is flush against the adjacent portion of the lid