CA1179639A - Container closure - Google Patents

Abstract

CONTAINER CLOSURE

Inventor: John W. Von Holdt ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A container having an open mouth is proportioned to receive a snap-on lid. An annular flange extends inwardly from the inner wall of the container about its circumference adjacent the mouth, with the flange extending toward the open mouth at an angle of 15° to 60° to the inner wall, to define an annular pocket between the flange and inner wall for re-ceiving the snap-on lid.

Description

BACKGROUND OF TH~ INVENTION
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This application relates to a new closure design for securing a lid to the mouth o~ a container. The design is easily molded, without co~plexities and multiple -steps as in ~nany prior art closures. The lid, once installed, may be designed to be nonremovable, or, alternatively, it may be of a removable design as shown herein. Also, the lid is easily insertable, but, once inserted, the filled container can resist the shock of being dropped, without the lid popping out from its position in the mouth of the container.
The container of this invention can be readily utilized as a container for motor oil or other liquid, containin~ a quart or a liter of liquid, or, alternatively, it may be used for large, one-gallon or five-gallon paint or chemical 15 containers or drums. It may also be used in other containers of various si~es for holdin~ any desired material.
In the Von Holdt copendiny C~nadian Application Serial No.
366,258, file~ Decem~ex 5, I980 and en~itled "PLASTIC BUCKET
DEFINING ANNUL~R, X~IWARDLY-PROJECTING RIDGE AND METHOD", a bucket i8 disclosed having an annular, inwardly-projecting ridge adjacent the mouth in which the ridge extends inwardly in essentially perpendicular relation to the wall of the con-tainer.
Mirasol, Jr. Patent No. 3,485,436 discloses a container and lid type structure in which the container carries an outer channel in which an annular, outer flan~e of the lid fits.
NDrton iJ.S. Patent No. 4,090,636 discloses a container lid with a .springy, convoluted end that fits within an annular -channel of a bucket having a double-walled lip.
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''.; ~' 7 3 t; ~1 , h ., ~ cDonald Patent Mo. 3,566,946 S~OW9 a bucket lid seal havin~ an outwardlg facin~ angled flange.
Von ~.oldt Patent No. l~,210,258, at ~i~ure 8, shows a bucket and lid with an annular, angled rib extending toward the mouth of the bucket, the radially inner edge of the rib being gripped by the lid.
In this invention, distinct advantages have been found in the use of an annular flange which is typically straigh~
and which extends inwardly from the inner wall of the con-tainer, while extending at an acute angle of substantiallyless than 90 to the inner wall.

DESC~IPTI~N OF ~1~ IMVEI~TION
In accordance with this invention a container is pro-vided havin~, an open mouth ~roportioned to receive a snap-on lid. A typically straight annular flange extends inwardly from the inner wall of the container about its circumference adjacent the mouth. The 1an~e extends toward the open mouth at an an~le of essentially 15 to 60~ to the inner wall, to define an annular pocket between the 1an~e and inner wall for receiving the snap-on lid. Preferably the angle oE the flange is 20 to 40 or 45, and the lid has a perlpheral, annular enlar~ement proportioned to Eit in ~he annular pocket.
It is also preerable for an inwardly extending annular step to be positioned above the annular pocket to define an annular recess with the pocket. As an equivalen~ to this, ~5 spaced step members distributed in an annular array in the same position may be used, being substantially equivalent to the inwardly extending annular step specifically shown herein, but with possibly less effective sealing.

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- Accordingly, when the peripheral, annular enlargement of ~he lid is forced into the pocket - particularly when the annular step is present to serve as a lock - the lip of the bucket is pushed outwardly as the lid is applied. Normally, it would be necessary to strongly reinEorce the lip of the bucket to prevent excessive outward stretching at a cost of added plastic material necessary in each bucket to reinforce the lip for added hoop strength. This also would result in an unorthodox appearance in the container if if it is intended ior use as a paint bucket or the like.
In accordance with this invention, the flange extending outwardly of the mouth at a 15 to 60 angle serves as a counter-balancing aid as the lid is forced into position, when the lid is proportioned to press in its installed position against the outer surface of the flange. Thus, upon the installation of the lid, the perlpheral, annular enlargement presses the lip of the bucket outwardly. However, the enlargement also presses the inwardly-extendlng flange of the bucket inwardly, providing a counterbalancing ~orce, thus reducing the overall outward stretching of the bucket adjacent its lip. This provides added strength to the closure since the flange tends to be under inward stress by the presence of the lid, while the lip of the bucket is under outward stress with the flange serving as a counterbalance. Accordingly, the lip of the bucket does not have to be made as strong as would be otherwise required, due to the presence of the flange, while the container can stiil strongly resist accidental opening through dropping and the like.
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The radially inner side of the annular flange is prefer-ably sub`stantially free of retentive contact with the lid.
It may be desired for the inner side of the annular flange and the inner wall of the container to be connected with longitudinal reinforcing ribs to limi~ inward bendïng of the flange. Likewise, radial ribs can connect the peri-- p:leral annular enlargement of the lid with the under surface of the lid, to also limit inward bending of the annular en-largement.
Slot means may be provided extending longitudinally of the container through the annular enlargement of the lid to permit removal of the lid by screwd~iver or the lik~.
Alternatively, no removal means may be prov~ded, under which circumstance the lid can be designed to be effectively non-removable except by destructive techniques.
The lid may be adapted to form a flexible wall a~ou~
a port, which can alternatively occupy an inner, convolut~d position for s~orage and an outwardly extending position to serve as a pour spout in a manner analogous to the disclosure of Von Holdt Patent No. 4,280,976.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
-Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the container of this application with the lid attached.
2S Figure 2 is a plan view of the container of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

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Fi~ure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3, show-in~ the spout of t~e container in its extended coniguration.
Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the sectional view of Figure 3.
Figure 6 is an enlar~ed, fra~mentary plan vie~7 of another embodiment of the container and lid of this invention.
Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 are fragmentary, sectional views of other embodiments of the container and lid of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figures 1-5, an em~odiment of this inven-tion is disclosed which i5 a plastic bottle or can having an integral, extendible pour spout and which may be used for hold-ing motor oil, chemicals, soft drinks, or any other materials as may be desired~
Container 10 may be an injection-molded, preferably straight-walled plastic bottle or bucket having an open mouth and proportioned to receive in such open mouth a snap-on lid 12, which may al.so be made of molded, flexible plastic. As shown in Fi~ure 3, the spout 14 of lid lZ may be in a retracted position, with portions of the lid forming an annular convolution 16 about spout 14. For example, the container of this invention may be stacked in this confi~uration with another container o~
similar design lOa shown in phantom lines, stacked on top of container 10. Lid 12 is ~enerally permanently attached to container 10 in this embodiment.
Spout 14 carries a sealing wall 18 having a peripheral, weakened portion 20 where the plastic is thinner. The weakened .

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portion may comprise thin spots stron~ enou~h to retain the - seal, but thin enough to permit easy tearin~ removal of ~ealing wall 18 when tab 22 is pulled by the fingers. Thus, one grasps tab 22 with the fingers while the container is in the conf~.gura-tion of Figure 3, pulling it to cause the ~pout 14 to advance.
As annular convolution 16 unfolds as spout 14 has advanced, further pulling can cause perihperal, weakened ar~a 2~ to be.
ruptured, and sealin~ wall 18 to be re~oved so that the con-tents of the container may be poured o~t th~ough the spout.
In this invention the lid may be, in 50~ ~ircumstance~, ~ade of metal or other material a~s desired, but i~ this pr~ent embodiment is ~shown to be made of plastic.
The plastic lid 12 has a peripher~lr annular er~lar~e~ent 24, which fits in an annular pocket 26 as c~efined adJæcent: t~e lip of container 10, in t~e interior thereof.
Referring particularly to Figure 5 or detail~ of th~.
sealing connection between annular enlarge~en~ 24 of lid. 12 and annular pocket 26 of container 10, the periphera'~, ann~l.ar enlargement 24 of snap-on lid 12 compris~s, in cross 8~C~;.OI~, a generally U-shaped double wall including inner wal'l 2~ arld outer wall 30 connected wi~h inner wall 28 at bottom area 32 and havin~ generally parallel sections (at leas~ with~n 10~ of each other). ~ngled section 29 of inner wall 28 provides a wide ~eal with annular 1an~,e 34.
The U-shaped. double wall system 28, 30 is proportioned to fit into annular pocket 26, which in turn, is defined by annular flange 34 which extends inwardly from the inner wall 36 of container lO and extends about its inner circu~ference adjacent the mouth 38 of the container. Flange 34 extends toward open mouth 38 at an an~le of 15 to 60 (and preferably about 30) to the inner wall to define the annular pocket 26 . .

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describe~ above. It has been found chat the existenc~ of flange 34 significantly improves the hoop strength of the mouth of container 38, and makes it possible to produce a sturdy con-tainer with reliable sealing, with the use of less plastic in the general vicinity of open mouth 38.
It is also preferred for the concainer ~o define an inwardly extending annular step 40 positioned above the annular pocket 26 to define an annular recess with the pocket, which may be occupied for example by outer wall 30 of the ~id. for locking relationship between lid 12 ~n~ container 10. T~us, as shown, lid 12 may snap into position as i~ is inst~l~ed.
Outer wall 30 as shown in phantom will be bent inwar~y by annular step 40, and correspondingly lip 38 of bucket ~.0 will be bent outwardly. However, as lid 12 i.s snapped ~nt~ position, inner wall 28 presses against annular f~ange 34, causin~ the above-described counterbalancing force urging the retraction of lip 38 back to its normal position and te~ding ~o hold it there.
Annular flange 34 may be optionally connected ~.o lon~i tudinal reinforcin~ ribs 42 which cotmect the inner side of annular flange 34 with the inner wall 36 oE ~he bucket to limit inward bending of the flange. Ribs 42 are shown in phantoTn to emphasize the fact that their presence is optional, but preferred, and that their number and shape can equally be varied to properly adjust the rigidity of 1ange 34 to a desired level.
Similarly, inner wall 28 of the peripheral annular en-largement of lid 12 may carry optional radial ribs 44 extending between a radially inward facing surface ~5 of wall 28 and the ..
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under surface of lid 12 as shown, ~nd optionally abutting against annular ring 46. Radial ribs 44 are likewise shown in phantom lines to emyhasize their optional (but preferred) nature, and the fact that the number present and their shape S can be varied as desired to provide the proper characteristics of rigidity to inner wall 28 of the peripheral annu~ar enlarge-ment. Radial ribs 45 may also be used for further rei.nforcement, if desired.
It can be seen from Figures 1-5 that lid 12 i~ essen-tially nonremovable. Thus the container 10 may be f~lled withits contents, and lid 12 applied in conventional manner by snapping into the relationship shown in Figure 5. A l.o~g, com-pressed sealing surface may be provided along the ju~c:tion line of wall 28 and annular flan~e 34, and also the junction line 15 of wall 30 and the inner bucket wall of bucket 10, s~ that ~ood sealing may be provided.
An integral spou~ may also be present as shown and an easily removable sealing wall or tab 18. The materi.sLs used in this container may be polypropylene, polyethylene, poly~thylene terephthalate, or other known plastic materials as may be desired to obtain the desired physical prQperties for ~he con~
tainer.
It may be desired to shorten the distance of bucket 10 and annular enlargement 24 between points 45 and 47, for example by about one third, if one wishes to have a stiffer, less flexible closure system.
Referring to Figures 6 and 7, a variant in the design of the container of this invention is disclosed. This particular design may be useful for a paint bucket or the like where the lid 12b may be removed.

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In a manner analogous to the previous embodiment, con-tainer lOb is provided with an annular flange 34b extending at an angle of about 30 to the inner wall 36 of the bucket, thus defining a pocket 26b similar to pocket 26 of ~igure 5.
Inwardly-extending annular step 40b i~ also provided, and lid 12b includes the peripheral, annular enlar~eme~ 50 which in this instance is made of essentially solid p-lasti~. Bucket lip 38b is also shown.
In t-his particular instance, ane or mo~e l.ongitudiDal slots 52 are provided in the an~ular enla.rge~ant 50. Thus one may insert a screwdriver or the like l}ltQ 51~t~ 52, past annular step 40b, prying a~ainst the wall 54 of the bucket to iorce lid 12b out of its snap-fit, l~cked p~si.tion for opening of the container.-Referring to Figure 8, a~ e~hodime~ o~ t~e container of this invention is disclosed ir~ whic~ ~ co~tai.~e.r lOc, which may be injection-molded out ~f plasti.c, c~rri.es ~ sheet metal lid 12c. As in the previous P~bo~ ents, ~lanF,~ 34c i8 provided in the same angular relation to the inner wall 36c of the cvn-tainer to achieve the bene~its of this :lnvention. Pocket 32c - is thu~ deflned, with inwardly-extendin~ annular step 40c bein~
positioned at an angle, relative to the prior e~amples of the annular step, and proportioned ~o retain peripheral annular enlarge~ent 24c, which includes two annular walls 60, 62 o~ the sheet metal lid, folded into an~ular arrangement when viewed in cross section.
Annular convolution 64 is provided for flexibility of the lid 12c. An optional annular recess havine spaced, verti~al ribs 58 distributed about the container periphery may also be provided as shown.
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As in the previous embodiments, flange 34c pro~ides hoop strength to the lip area of the container, and reinforces outer lip 38c so that it does not bend unduly outwardly when lid 12c is snapped into place.
Lid 12c may carry a conventional spout, a part, or the like, or longitudinal slots similar to slots 52 may be defined in bucke~ lOc to permit removal of lid 12c. It shoul~ be noted that longitudinal slots extending in from the lip of ~he con-tainer are preferred over transverse slots which cut through the entire wall of the container in the are~ of the ~.i.p, since that tends to reduce the hoop strength of the container.
All of the previous embodLments include lids which d~
not extend over the lip of the container but are tot~ y retained within the mouth of the container.
Referring to Figure 9, a container o~ a~ ~eralL type similar to that shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,210,25g and che previously cited U.S application is shown. Bucket ~Od carries a similar inwardly-project;ng annular ~ nge 34d, similar in function to the previously describe~1anges. Bucket lid 12d carries peripheral annular enlargement 24d and beyond . it an added flange 64 to defille an annular recess 66 which is proportioned to receive the lip 68 of the bucket. Annular en-largement 24d is proportioned to ~it securely within annular pocket 32d bu~ does not necessarily follow its exact contours.
Thus, annular enlargement 24d is firmly retained in pocket 32d between annular flange 34d and inwardly-extending annular step 40d for retention in a manner similar to the previous embodi~ents.

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. i Optional ribs 68, 69 may be used, if desired, as in previous embodiments.
In Figure 10, another design is shown. Container 10e has annular flange 34e as in previous embodiments. Lid 12e has its peripheral enlargement 24e as before. An annular added outer flange 70 is also provided.
Annular recess 72 is also provided, plus a plurality of spaced vertical ribs 74 distributed in annular recess 72 for strength.
The annular enlargements 24 of the various lids 12 also provide a blunt, noncutting ed~e, which is an advantage over a cut metal can top.
The above has been offered for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention of this application which is as defined in the claims below.

Claims (30)

THAT WHICH IS CLAIMED IS:

1. In a container having an open mouth proportioned to receive a snap-on lid, an annular straight flange extending inwardly from the inner wall of said container about its cir-cumference adjacent said mouth, said flange extending toward said open mouth at an angle of 15° to 60° to the inner wall.
for receiving said snap-on lid, and an inwardly-extending annular step positioned above said annular pocket to define an annular recess with said pocket.

2. The container of Claim 1 in which said angle is 20° to 45°.

3. The container of Claim 1 which carries a lid having a peripheral, annular enlargement proportioned to fit in said annular pocket.

4. The container of Claim 3 in which the radially inwardly-facing lateral surface of said flange is free of retaining contact with the lid.

5. The container of Claim 1 in which longitudinal reinforcing ribs connect the inner side of said annular flange and the inner wall to limit inward bending of said flange.

6. The container of Claim 1 which carries said snap-on lid, said lid having a peripheral, annular enlargement com-prising, in cross section, a generally U-shaped double wall.

7. The container of Claim 6 in which said peripheral annular enlargement is of U-shaped double wall cross section defining an outer annular wall of the U-shaped cross section, said outer wall fitting in said pocket in a position whereby the free edge abuts said inwardly-extending annular step for firm retention of the snap-on lid in the container mouth.

8. The container of Claim 6 in which said peripheral, annular enlargement is connected to radial ribs extending between a radially inwardly-facing surface of said enlarge-ment and the under surface of said lid, to limit inward bending of said annular enlargement.

9. The container of Claim 1 which carries said snap-on lid, said lid having a peripheral, annular enlargement, and slot means extending longitudinally through said annular en-largement to facilitate opening of the container.

10. The container of Claim 3 in which said peripheral, annular enlargement is made of solid plastic.

11. The container of Claim 3 in which said peripheral, annular enlargement is made of folded metal sheet.

12. In a container having an open such proportioned to receive a snap-on lid, an annular flange extending inwardly from the inner wall of said container about. its circumference adjacent said mouth, said flange extending, toward said open mouth at an angle of 15° to 60° to the inner wall, to define an annular pocket between said flange and inner wall receiv-ing said snap-on lid, and an inwardly-extending annular step positioned above said annular pocket to define an annular recess with said pocket, said lid having a peripheral, annular enlargement, proportioned to fit in said annular pocket, the radially inwardly-facing lateral surface of said flange being free of retentive contact with said lid.

13. The container of Claim 12 in which radial ribs extend between a radially inwardly-facing surface of said annular enlargement and the undersurface of said lid, to limit inward bending of said annular enlargement.

14. The container of Claim 13 in which said angle is 20° to 45°.

15. The container of Claim 14 in which longitudinal reinforcing ribs connect the inner side of said annular flange and the inner wall to limit inward bending of said flange.

16. The container of Claim 14 in which the cross section of said peripheral annular enlargement of the lid defined a gen-erally U-shaped double wall.

17. The container of Claim 14 in which said peripheral annular enlargement is made of solid plastic.

18. The container of Claim 17 in which slot means extend longitudinally through said peripheral annular enlargement to facilitate opening of the container.

19. The container of Claim 14 in which said peripheral annular enlargement is made of folded metal sheet.

20. In a container having an open mouth proportioned to receive a snap-on lid, an annular flange extending inwardly from the inner wall of said container about its circumference adjacent said mouth, said flange extending toward said open mouth at an angle of 20° to 50° to the inner wall to define an annular pocket between said flange and inner wall for receiving said snap-on lid, said container carrying a lid having a peripheral, annular enlargement proportioned to fit in said annular pocket, and an inwardly extending, annular step positioned above said annular pocket to define an annular recess with said pocket into which the peripheral annular enlargement fits.

21. The container of Claim 20 in which longitudinal reinforcing ribs connect the inner side of said annular flange and the inner wall to limit inward bending of said flange.

22. The container of Claim 20 in which said peripheral annular enlargement comprises, in cross section, a generally U-shaped double wall.

23. The container of Claim 22 in which said peripheral annular enlargement is of U-shaped double wall cross section defining an outer annular wall of the U-shaped cross section, said outer wall fitting in said pocket in a position whereby the free edge abuts said inwardly-extending annular step for firm retention of the snap-on lid in the container mouth.

24. The container of Claim 22 in which said peripheral annular enlargement is connected to radial ribs extending between a radially inwardly-facing surface of said enlargement and the under surface of said lid, to limit inward bending of said annular enlargement.

25. The container of Claim 24, having slot means ex-tending longitudinally through said annular enlargement to facilitate opening of the container.

26. The container of Claim 20 in which said peripheral, annular enlargement is made of solid plastic.

27. The container of Claim 20 in which said lid is made of metal sheet, with said peripheral, annular enlargement being made of folded metal sheet as an integral part of the rest of said lid.

28. The container of Claim 27 which carries an annular convolution at a position radially inward from said annular enlargement to increase the flexibility of said lid.

29. The container of Claim 20 in which said lid carries an openable port and a flexible wall about said openable port which can alternatively occupy an inner, convoluted position for storage and an outwardly-extending position to serve as a pour spout.

30. The container of Claim 1 in which said lid carries an openable port and a flexible wall about said openable port which can alternatively occupy an inner, convoluted position for storage and an outwardly-extending position to serve as a pour spout.