DE1942436A1 - Container lock - Google Patents

Description

DR. ING. F. WUBSTIIOFF 8 MUNICH 9O

DIPIj. ING. G. PULS SOHWEIOEHSTRASSE 2

DRJB-v.PECHMANN iiurox 22 06 Sl DR. ING. D. BBHRENS telkobammadhisse: PATENT LAWYERS PMtIOIPiTlHI MÜNOHUN

1A-36 018

Description of the patent application

ΒΕΝΗΕΤΪ INDUSTRIES, INC., Peotone, Illinois, U.S.A.

regarding container neglect.

The invention relates to containers and more particularly relates to one for use in connection with plastic or metal containers suitable repeatedly usable plastic closure

Although there is generally considerable interest in plastics for use in containers, in particular Shipping containers to make suitable, however, numerous difficulties arise in attempting to do so to replace metal used in such containers with plastic. Some plastics are soft and pliable, and when making containers from such plastics, it is difficult to create a closure that Keeps container tightly closed even when exposed to rough handling. on the other hand exists in certain containers, e.g. buckets made of plastics of greater rigidity, the There is a risk that they will be damaged by rough handling.

It has already been proposed to reinforce the closures intended for such containers with metal in order to prevent the to achieve the required rigidity and a more permanent one

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Ensure sealing. ^{More recently} , a one-piece, molded plastic cover has been proposed which comprises a central portion forming a recess with an inverted U-shaped channel extending along its edge, and in which a retaining or latching projection on the inside of the outer wall of the U-shaped channel is provided which can cooperate to anchor the lid with a bead formed near the open end of the container body. It is true that such constructions, such as those described in US Pat. No. 2,339,343 and 2,977,019, have been used for many years.

k ren used, but have in recent times Attempts carried out to apply these known design principles to containers made of plastic, considerable Difficulties arise. Although these known arrangements ensure a relatively reliable seal, which is shown in each pail must be achieved, and which is appropriate to the construction of the container closure and the use Materials for the production of the closures is due, but such tight closures can be used separate from the container body only with great difficulty, it is usually necessary here to remove the closure to damage and there is not a sufficient tree between the closure and the container contents, so

ί that there is a risk of explosion if the contents are heated or otherwise caused to expand.

The object of the invention is now to provide a To create new and improved container closure made of a plastic that is easy to touch by hand a container can be attached, and just as easily with can be separated from the container by hand and without the use of tools. The invention also provides a novel and improved container lock that can be easily removed from the container by hand, and in which the closure when re-closing the

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Container, can be connected to the container in the same way as when the container was closed for the first time. Furthermore, Ue ?: Invention sees a new and improved, closable container or a container construction in which the tightly sealing connection between the closure and the open end of the container comprises several associated files which mutually reinforce one another! and provide rigidity to the open end of the container such that the container can withstand the rough handling expected of shipping containers. In a further feature, the invention provides a novel and improved reclosable container assembly which is relatively; simple farm and construction, so that it can be both easy to manufacture the container and AEEN cap using known methods _f and in which the number of the shutter-forming ^x rush 'is reduced to the kleinstfflögliche number "Further, the invention provides a plastic . Manufactured container closure before »which can be used both in connection with container bodies made of metal and with those made of plastic. Finally, the invention provides a novel and improved reclosable container assembly which is not only simple in construction, but which is inexpensive to manufacture and easily attached to a container body regardless of whether it is small, medium or large in size can be·

To accomplish its task, the invention provides a Plastic closure in front, which is detachable with the open end a container comprising a side wall construction The closure according to the invention can be connected a middle section, an inverted U-shaped channel, which by an inner flange, an outer flange and an ax connecting both flanges and thus from one Pieces of existing upper section, with the inner flange adjoining the middle section, while the lower part of the outer flange in the form of numerous

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rather more flexible tongues is formed, as well as anchoring devices formed on the inside of the tongues which can cooperate with the side wall structure of the container body for the purpose of locking; the tongues are usually so arranged, but the anchoring devices engage the container body and the tongues can be moved outward from their normal position, to bring you outward engagement with the container body * furthermore uie assembly according to the invention comprises a holding device, by means of which the tongues are normally held in their normal position so that the latch with remains connected to the container body.

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The invention and advantageous details of the invention are explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments using schematic drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side view of an assembly according to the invention having a container body and an attached thereto ten lock. .

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial section along the

line 2-2 in Mg. 1.

Pig. 3 is similar to Pig. 2, however, shows the cooperating '- ^ hurry in an exploded view.

Pig. 4 is similar to Pig. 2, however, shows the location of the parts when the closure is approaching its final position in relation to the container.

Pig. , Fig. 5 shows a side view of a part of a modified embodiment of the invention.

A container body can be seen in the drawings 10 and a closure 11 · The container is in the form of a Bucket and can be filled with all kinds of products. .Uer container body 10 is preferably

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made of a plastic, e.g. a high density polyethylene, but it could also be made of other plastics or be made of metals. Since the plastic is chemically relatively neutral, the container body can with the most diverse liquid or powdery materials are filled. The shutter 11 is preferably made of one Plastic is made, and the following is a closure for use with one made of the same material Container body described, however, is the closure can also be used with a container body made of metal

The container body 10 includes a side wall structure 12, which in the present Pail has a cylindrical shape, but possibly also a square, rectangular or other cross-sectional shape can be obtained.

At the open end of the container body, a rounded bead 15 is formed, which is shown in FIG. 2 at the top Hand of the container body preferably extends outward. True, Pig shows. 2 a massive bead 13, as is preferred is provided for a container made of plastic, but the bead could also be used for a container body made of metal be formed by an outwardly beaded or rolled edge.

The closure part used according to the invention is preferably made of a suitable semi-rigid plastic, whose strength is sufficient to withstand damage from the rough handling that a shipping container normally receives exposed to impossible to do. A linear plastic is considered to be a particularly suitable plastic for this purpose Called high-density polyethylene copolymer, but other plastics from the group of polyolefins could also be used or the petrochemical group. As awesome Polyethylene with a specific weight of 0.94-1 to 0.965 is suitable (ASTM test D-15O5-63T) and a melt index of 0.1 to 25.0 (ASTM test specification

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1942435

D-1238-62T). If such a polyethylene to Production of a closure to be produced by the injection molding process is used, the melt index is preferably between 4.0 and 25.0. Of course, the closure part could also be made from various other suitable materials and manufacture using a wide variety of processes, e.g. injection molding

Along the edge of the closure 11 extends an inverted U-shaped channel 23 »which partially through a running in the circumferential direction, without gaps and rela— ^ tiv flat inner flange 15 is delimited, the un- The lower section 16 is the inner surface of the side wall structure 12 of the oil container body touches when the closure 11 associated with it. An upper section 17 of the Flanscües 15 includes an outwardly sloping portion 18 into which a hat 19 extends into it, which makes it possible to give all the sections mentioned the same wall thickness as possible give to an easier manufacture of the closure part enable and to ensure a higher accuracy and reliability of the execution of the injection process · A disc-shaped portion 20 extends along the inner edge of the inner flange 15 and is related to the axis of the closure part is arranged between the outer and the inner end of the flange. To increase the Strength, a plurality of circumferentially spaced reinforcement ribs 21 are provided, which are between the inner surface of the lower flange portion 16 and the underside of the disc-shaped portion 20 extend

The outer. Boundary of the inverted U-shaped channel 23 is formed by a relatively flat outer flange 22, which runs substantially parallel to the inner flange 15, but at a distance therefrom, and one has a length comparable to the length of the inner flange. The channel 23 extends upwards and ends in one

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Apex portion 24 extending from the lower part of the canal through an inwardly preexiting bead 25 is separated.

According to Fig. 1, the lower portion of the outer Flanscnes 22 is with a relatively large number of circumferentially spaced distributed, a corresponding number of spaced tongues 27 delimiting slots. According to l'ig. 2, the slots extend from the bottom edge of the outer flange 22 from up to the seams of the apex section 24, so that they also subdivide the bead 25. According to FIG. 2, an upper section of the outer flange 22 extends without gaps over the entire circumference of the closure part 11.

Near the upper section 28 is a radially extending over the upper edge of the ^ closure part 11 externally protruding flange 30 is provided, the top side 31 of which is relatively flat or planar. In the outer surface of the outer A singing groove 32 is formed directly below the flange 30 of the flange 22. The other or lower end of the outer flange 22 also carries a radially extending over the entire circumference of this flange externally projecting flange 33 'and directly above this flange the outer flange 22 has a further annular groove 34 on.

* According to Fig. 1 to 4, a holding device in the form of a coherent wire ring 35 is provided, the Diameter is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the outer flange 22. Wire ring 35 can be received in annular groove 32 when the closure is removed from the container or to be attached to this, and it can be pushed down along the outer flange 22 and in Engagement with the annular groove 34 can be brought when the closure is set on the container in its closed position shall be. It is “expedient if the parts of the tongues 27 adjacent to the flange 33 have a somewhat greater thickness

00983 6 /, 1ü 2 9 ..........

have so that the tongues when inserting the wire ring 35 ■ are pressed somewhat radially inwards into the annular groove 34. In order to provide a handle which makes it easier to remove the closure, the tongues 27 are at their lower ends provided with rounded sections 36 so that you can see the free ends of the tongues at the lower end of the outer flange can more easily grasp.

In order to ensure a tight seal when attaching the closure to the container body, an im essentially annular seal 37 is provided as a separate elastic, in the apex portion 24 of the U-shaped Channel to be arranged ring can be formed, or in its place you in some cases a pourable Can use sealing material that is soft enough to deform and work between them Surfaces of the bead 13 on the container body and the apex portion 24 of the canal to spread.

When attaching the closure to the container body, the inner flange 15 and the outer flange 22 are against the inside or the outside of the bead 13 is pressed. Since the thickness of the bead 13 is greater than the width of the Channel 23, here the flanges according to FIG. 4 are temporarily spread apart. Since the outer flange 22 in the tongues 27 is divided, the tongues easily bend outwards, as is the case for pushing the bead 25 of the outer flange over the Wmlst 13 on the container body is required. Once the bead 13 from the upper section 24 of the channel or pocket is received, the springs Flanscne due to the natural elasticity of the material essentially in the position shown in FIG return. The same movement causes the seal 37 to be compressed and in firm engagement with the bead 13 and is brought to the bottom of the bag. Y / uring the attachment of the fastener in the // iron 'just described

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is the wire ring 35 according to Pig. 4 in the annular groove 32 so that the free ends of the tongues 27 to the outside unhindered can be bent. After the tongues have roughly returned to their position, according to Pig. 2, you press the Wire ring 35 out of the annular groove 32 and pushes it down along the outer surfaces of the tongues until it is in the annular groove 34 engages and its downward movement is interrupted at the same time by the splash 33 forming a stop is · To the mechanical downward sliding of the wire ring 35 into its closed position to ü'ig. 2 to facilitate can in the plan 30, a set of circumferentially spaced Cutouts 38 can be provided into which the matching pingers of a device (not shown) engage can. As soon as the position after Pig. 2 is reached, the wire ring 35 prevents any outward deflection of the tongues 27, so that the closure 11 is held in fixed connection with the container body 10.

When the closure is to be removed, the wire ring 35 is manually or otherwise disengaged from brought the annular groove 34 and pushed along the outer surface of the outer plansches 22 upwards until it comes to rest comes to the splash 30 and engages in the annular groove 32. Certain tongues 27 can be bent outward so far that that the bead 25 comes out of engagement with the bead 13. It is enough if you have two or three tongues this way 27 pulls outwards. Since the wire ring 35 has been moved upwards and brought into contact with the splash 30, is a deflection of the tongues outward in no way prevented as soon as the tongues disengaged from the Bead 13 have been brought, the closure 11 can be lifted off the container body 10.

Since the tongues 27 have only been bent outward when the closure is removed, the closure can just as easily as it was initially attached

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be connected again to the container body to this The purpose is to press the outer and inner plugs in the manner shown in Mg. 4 against the bead 13 until the Bead sections 25 of all tongues have passed the bead 13, whereupon the tongues return to the pig. 2 position shown take so that likes. remove the wire ring 35 again from the annular groove 32 and slide it down and into engagement can bring with the annular groove 34 to reattach the closure in the original manner on the container body. Because of the natural flexibility and elasticity of the plastic from which the closure is made, can ™ the closure is removed from the container as often as desired and to be reconnected with him.

In 3? 5 shows a second embodiment of the invention with a modified construction of the holding device. According to Fig. 5, a band of a rigid flat material is provided. which can be pushed over the tongues 27, after the ^v Closure has been placed on the container body to hold the tongues in their closed position. The ends 41 and 42 of a tether 40 can be anchored together by passing the end 42 through a slot 43 in the end of the tether and then bending it to hold the tether in place serves to hold the tongues 27 in the closed position, no special fastening devices need to be provided, it is only necessary to fasten the ends of the strap together in order to keep the strap in flat contact with the outer flange 22 of which the -öand can be easily removed when the closure is to be lifted from the container body.

_ ·: In addition to the embodiment according to i'ig. 1 to 4, wherein the side wall 12 of the container body 10 carries a bead 13 at its upper end, the invention provides one

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Arrangement in which the upper end of the side wall of the Container body runs essentially in a straight line and on its outside is provided with one or more grooves running in the circumferential direction, in which a bead or several beads corresponding to the bead 25 can engage around the closure when it is attached to the container body to anchor.

In summary, it can be stated that the invention provides a safe, reliable closure Provides plastic which is conveniently but reliably repeatedly attached to the open end of a container body can be.

Patent claims:

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Claims (11)

Plastic cover for repeatedly closing one Container with a flat lid part and the other way around U-shaped circumferential lid edge, which the container edge in the channel between its inner leg and its outer Receives legs, on the inside of which a locking mechanism cooperating with the container wall is provided, thereby g e k e ηη ζ e i c h η e t that the lower part of the outer lid edge leg (22) through slots distributed over its circumference in several flexible elastic after outside bendable tongues (27) is divided, on the inner surfaces the locking parts (25) are formed, and that a releasable locking part (35, 40) for holding the tongues in place is provided in the closed position, in which the locking parts interact with the container wall (12 or 13). 2. plastic lid according to claim 1, characterized in that g e k e η η ζ e i c h η e t that the locking parts (25) on the tongues (2?) A bead extending in the circumferential direction and interacting with the container wall (12 or 13) in a form-fitting manner (25) form. J. Plastic lid according to claim 2, characterized ge ke η η ζ eich η et that the locking bead (25) running in the circumferential direction interacts in the closed position with a bead (13) formed on the upper band of the container wall (12), the thickness of which in the substantially corresponds to the distance between the inner and the outer lid edge limb · (15, 22). ^{: 7} 4. Plastic lid according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking bead (25) extending in the circumferential direction engages in a groove formed in the container wall (12) in the closed position. "'" - ""' - '' ■ 00 9 8 ^ 6/1 029 "''" ' ORIGINAL iNSPECTID 5. _. Plastic cover according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the detachable locking part a tape (40) to be arranged over the tongues (27) and releasably with one another connectable ends (41, 42) is. 6. Plastic lid according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the detachable locking part is a circumferentially extending ring (35) which over the outer surface of the outer lid edge leg (22) extends and axially movable between the closed position in which the tongues (27) are held and a release position in which the tongues can be bent out of their normal position. 7., plastic lid according to claim 6, characterized in that the outer lid edge limb (22) limit stops (30, 33) are provided for the axial movement of the ring (35). 8. Plastic lid according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at the inner end (24) of the channel (23) a sealing ring (37) is arranged between the inner and the outer cover edge limb (15, 22). 9. Plastic lid according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that several at circumferential distances distributed reinforcing ribs (21) are provided, which are located between the inner lid edge leg (15) and the extend flat cover part (20). 10. Plastic lid according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the tongues (27) to facilitate their bending out on their inside in the Area of the free ends have an undercut rounding (36). 11. Plastic cover according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the flat cover part (20) 009836/1029 between the upper and lower ends of the inner lid rim flange (15) merges into this. 0098 3 6/1029