GB2237607A - Containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A container 1, for storage and dispensing of a product comprises a tubular body 2, closed at one end (3) (Fig 1) by an end wall (3), having an aperture (16) therein, and at the other end of the body a ring 5, which makes sealing engagement with a plug lid 11. The plug lid 11 has a peripheral flange 12/13, which makes a sliding seal with the interior of the body as the lid is pushed into the body to displace product which is dispensed through the aperture (16). A benefit is that the dual functions of primary closure and subsequent piston action served by the lid 11 avoid the expense of the extruder disc used in prior art cans used to pack automotive grease. <IMAGE>

Description

"CONTAINERS" This invention relates to containers adapted to dispense a product by displacement of a piston within the container body.

A widely used container for automotive grease comprises a cylindrical body, closed at one end by a can end which is fixed to the body by a double seam, and having at the other end of the body a ring adapted to receive a plug fit lid. z circular plate having a peripheral flange of diameter appropriate to permit sliding motion in the body is retained in the body between the can end and ring. The circular plate has a central aperture so that when the container is being filled the grease is inserted through the aperture in the disc and the disc "floats" upwards until the container is full.

The flanged plug lid is then fitted to the ring with the flange outside and adjacent the double seam of the ring to the body. Such lids are called lever lids because the lid is removed by levering it out of the ring.

These lever lid tins are used to fill the barrel of a grease gun by pressing the open mouth of the barrel onto the circular plate so that grease extrudes through the plate aperture to fill the barrel. However, there are many occasions when one wishes to dispense grease-like substances onto a surface (not into a hollow barrel) so the extrusion from the disc is not at all convenient.

Accordingly this invention provides for a container comprising a tubular body closed at one end by an end wall peripherally attached to the tubular body by a double seam, and at the other end a ring attached to the body by a double seam and having an aperture therein to receive a plug lid having a peripheral flange characterised in that there is an aperture in the end wall; and the plug lid is fitted in the ring with the flange inside the tubular body in slidable engagement with interior surface of the tubular body.

The tubular body is preferably made from a rectangular sheet of metal formed to a cylinder and then seamed by a longitudinal seam. The seam may be an interfolded lock seam or alternatively a welded lap seam.

In one embodiment the plug lid has a peripheral curl of peripheral diameter to make slidable, but sealing contact with the interior surface of the tubular body.

The aperture in the end wall is preferably defined by an outwardly convex annular bead which reinforces the aperture to receive a snap-fit lid. This small lid may be made of metal or alternatively a moulded plastics lid may be used.

The benefits rising from this invention include a) avoidance of the expense of an extruder disc; b) provision of a container that can be fitted in an apparatus to hold the container whilst a plunger pushes the plug lid along the interior of the body to dispense a desired quantity of product from the container.

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.l is a side view of a first embodiment of the container, part cut away; Fig.2 is a plan view of the container of Fig.l; Fig.3 is an underplan view of the container of Fig.l; Fig.4 is a side view of a filled container during dispensing of a product; and Fig.5 is a side view of a second embodiment part cut away.

Fig.l shows a container 1, comprising a tubular body 2, closed at the top by an end wall 3, peripherally attached to the tubular body by a double seam 4. At the bottom of the tubular body (as drawn) a ring 5 is attached to the body by another double seam 6. A substantially cylindrical wall 7 of the ring extends into the body to a frustoconical annulus 8, that flares outwardly to support a cylindrical portion 9 that terminates in a curled free edge 10 inside the container.

The cylindrical portion 9 is adapted to receive a plug lid 11.

The plug lid comprises a peripheral curl 12, an annular flange 13 extending radially inwards from the curl, a cylindrical plug wall 14 dependant from the interior of the annular flange, and a closure panel 15 spanning the plug wall.

It will be noticed in'Figs. 1 and 4 that the end wall includes an aperture 15 defined by an outwardly convex annular bead 17 to receive a snap-fit lid 18.

The peripheral curl 12 of the plug lid 11 is substantially equal in diameter to the internal diameter of the tubular body so that in the "containment position" shown in Fig.l, the plug wall 13 of the lid and cylindrical portion 9 of the ring, constitute a primary closure.

The container shown in Fig.l is filled through the aperture 16 which is then closed by fitting of the snap fit plug 18.

Fig.4 shows the dispensing of a product from the container of Figs. 1,2 and 3. In Fig.4, the lid 18 has been removed and a plunger 19 has been applied to the exterior surface 15 of the lid 11. A pressure "P" is applied to the top end 3 of the container so that the lid 11 has been displaced from the "containment position" to act as a piston which displaces product 20 through the aperture 16. As shown in Fig.4 the plunger may be a block of wood supported on a workshop bench and the pressure "P" applied manually. However, the container may be made to dimensions that permit fitting into known "mastic dispensing guns" which comprise a support frame and a plunger movable along the frame by a lever.

Typically the container body 2, end wall 3, ring 5, and lid 11, are manufactured from tinplate having a tin coating of E25/E25 on both sides. Typical tinplate thicknesses are: body 0.21 mm ring 0.26 mm lid 0.25 mm for a container of overall dimensions 99 mm diameter by 180 mm tall. However, these thicknesses may need to be varied for cans of other sizes. The exterior of the tubular body may be made from printed tinplate or other sheet metal if desired.

Fig.5 shows a second embodiment of the container 21 in which body 2, ring 5, and double seam 6 are as described with reference to Figs.l to 4. As shown in Fig.5 the top end wall 22 has a central opening defined by a threaded neck 23. This neck may be made from drawn tinplate and soldered to the end wall 22 as shown: alternatively the neck may be made of injection moulded plastics material. In both cases the neck is closed during transit by a screw cap denoted 24.

In Fig.5 the lid 25 is shown, on a modified plunger l9A, at a location near the top end wall 22 in order to demonstrate how the lid shape is adapted to drive out substantially all the product (not shown in Fig.5). The lid 25 comprises a peripheral curl 26, a flat annular flange 27 extending inwardly from the curl, a channel portion 28 the outer side of which serves, during storage, as a plug in the ring 5 and the inner surface of which supports a raised centre panel 29. If desired the raised centre panel may include an annular trough (not shown) to receive with clearance the lower edge of the tinplate neck 23.

Accordingly the modified lid 25 is able to make face to face contact with the top end 22 to drive out substantially all the product.

Whilst a conventional neck component is- depicted in Fig.5 because such necks are commonly used, an alternative neck and end profile drawn from a single sheet metal blank may be used if production quantities required are large enough to justify the cost of tools for a transfer press.

The integral neck will not protrude into the container volume so the lid will be able to make face to face contact at all but the narrow channel portion of the lid.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS:

1. A container comprising a tubular body closed at one end by an end wall peripherally attached to the tubular body by a double seam, and at the other end a ring attached to the body by a double seam and having an aperture therein to receive a plug lid having a peripheral flange characterised in that there is an aperture in the end wall; and the plug lid is fitted in the ring with the flange inside the tubular body in slidable engagement with interior surface of the tubular body.

2. A container according to claim 1, characterised in that the tubular body is cylindrical and includes a longitudinal welded seam.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the plug lid has a peripheral curl of peripheral diameter to make slidable, but sealing contact with the interior surface of the tubular body.

4. A container according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the aperture in the end wall is defined by an outwardly convex annular bead.

5. A container according to claim 4, characterised in that the aperture in the end wall is closed by a plug snap-fitted into the convex annular bead.

6. A container substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.