US2236302A - Container - Google Patents

Description

March 25,1941.. y H, A, SCOT? 2,236,302

y CONTAINER 1 mied June 19, 19:59

, INVENTOR fla/ry A. 560%?? A iBY y v ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE amsn T l CONTAINER Application June 19, 1939, Serial No. 279,925

3 Claims. (Cl. 220-61) My invention relates to containers. It has to do, more particularly, with a retaining or clamping ring adapted to be applied to the end of a cylindrical container in lorder to retain a re.-

5 movable head or closurevin position at the end of the container. y

This invention is particularly applicable to containers of :the general -type disclosedv inI the copending application of Hans A. Eggerss, Serial o No. 158,768, illed August 12, 1937, although it is not necessarily limited thereto. 'Ihe container disclosed in said co-pending application embodies a cylindrical body portion having a metalhead for closing the end thereof, a retaining and clamping ring being provided for retaining the head in position. This invention specifically relates to the retaining and clamping ring. Although the retaining and clamping ring disclosed in said application has a number of desirable features, the retaining ring constituting this invention has a number of additional advantages.

One of Ithe objects of my invention is to provide a retaining and clamping ring of the type indicated which is of such a nature that it may be readily applied to the container and will securely hold the head in position and may bel readily removed in order to permit removal of the head. e

' Another object of my invention 'is -to provide a retaining and clamping ring of the type indicated which is such a nature that it may be used over and-over again since it is so constructed that it will not be injured during its application to the container, during its useon the container..

or during its removal from the container.

Another object of my invention is to provide a retaining 'and clamping ring `of'the type indicated which vis split to facilitate application'to l the container and removal therefrom, -novel 40 means being provided in association with the ends of thering forcontracting it around the container and for locking it in contracted condition.

Another object of my invention is to provide a split retaining and clamping ring of the type indicated which is of such a nature that a separate tool is not required for applying it to and contracting it around the container and which does not have any loose locking parts for locking the ends of the ring together.

Another object yof my invention is to provide a split retaining and clamping ring of the type indicated wherein the ring contracting vand locking means is so located and ofy such a nature that there will be no projecting or exposed portions which will be'subject to injury or which will injure a person handling the container.

In its preferred form my invention contemplates the provision, in association with a split ring of the type indicated, of mechanism for contracting the ring around the container and for v locking it in contracted condition. This mechanism comprises a lever pivoted to one end oi' the' ring and a link pivoted' -to the opposite end of thering. lThe link is also pivoted to the lever at a 1o point spaced from the point where the lever is 'pivoted to the end of the ring. Wheny the ring is in expanded condition, the lever and the link project outwardly therefrom. However, when the lever is swung inwardly, the ends of the ring 15 are moved into abutting relationship and the l ring is contracted. At this time the lever andl link are substantially ilush with the ring. The ring is provided with a curved rib or bead and the lever and link are provided with similarly 'gn curved portions which embrace the rib. The

curved portion on the link overlaps the adjacent ends oi' the ring and holds them in augment. Suitable means is also associated with the ring for holding the lever in the position it occupies 23 when the ring is contracted.

The preferred embodiment'of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view lshowing a retaining ring having my invention associated therewith applied to the upper end of the container.

Figure 2 is a perspective view, partly cut away, 35

showing the means which I preferably provide for contracting the ring and locking it in con-V tracted condition.

Figure 3 is a top lplan view illustrating the device shown in Figure 2, the operating lever w thereof being swung outwardly to cause expansion of the ring.

Figure 4 is a similar view but showing the lever l swung inwardly to contract the ring.

' although it may be made oi.' other material.

The retainingl ring III which I provide for retaining the head 2 in position on the body portion I is a split retaining and clamping ring. It is adapted to be contracted around -the upper end of the container and is provided with a portion adapted to cooperate with the head and a portion adapted to cooperate with the body portion of the container so that the head will be held securely in position. It is also provided with novel means for contracting it around the container and for locking it in contracted condi-tion.

As villustrated in the drawing, the retaining ringhas an inwardly projecting portion II on its lower edge which isadapted to extend into an external grooveformed by bending the body portion of lthe container in the manner described in said co-pending application. The upper edge of the retaining ring has a portion I4 formed `thereon which is adapted to embrace a corresponding portion of the head 2 in order to retain the head in position. Between these upper and lower portions I4 and II' is an outwardly curved or convex rib portion I 6. 'I'his portion I6 cooperated with a bead formed on the head 2 in order to retain it in position. When the split retaining ring I0 is positioned on the container and is contracted, the head will be held securely in position on the container.

In order to contract the ring around the container and to hold it in contracted condition, I preferably provide the structure illustrated in Figures l to 7, inclusive. This structure is associated with the ends of the split ring which are adapted to be brought into abutting relationship with each other.

This structure comprises an operating lever I1 which has its inner end pivoted .to one end ol.' the split ring III as at I8. 'I'his lever I1'ls pivotally connected at the point I6, spaced from the point I8, to the outer end of a link 26. This link 20 has its inner end pivotally connected at 2| to the opposite end of `the split ring I0. `It will be `noted that the lever I1 is bowed throughout its length to a curvature corresponding substantially to that of the ring I6. The same is true .of thelink 20. It will also be noted that the lever I1 has a cross-section substantially corresponding to that of the rib I6 of the ring s0 that it willl t over and embraceA the rib when it is swung inwardly. Thus, the lever I1 is substaiziially U-shaped in cross-section as indicated at the lever terminates at the point 23 close to the pivot point Il so as not to interfere with the swinging movement of the lever. The link `2l is provided with a similar portion 24 of U crosssection adapted to `embrace the rib I6. This portion 24 is so located, as will appear later, that itwill overlap and embrace both ends of the ring at the point where they abut each other.l The portion 24 terminates at a point 25 so as not lto interfere with the relative swinging movements of the lever I1 and link 26.

In order to lock the lever I1 in position when it is swung inwardly, I provide the locking lever 26. This lever 26 is pivoted to the same end or l the ring as the lever vi1 at the POint 21 which is I However, this U-shaped body portion of located from the point I8 a distance slightly greater than the lengthv of the lever I1. This locking lever 26 is bowed throughout its length to the same curvature as the ring I0. It is also of U-shaped cross-section, as indicated at 21a, and is adapted to embrace the lever I1. At its pivot point 21, lever 26 has an eccentric cam portion 21b formed therein. This cam portion will engage a notch 21c'in the end of lever I1. When lever 26 is swung inwardly the cam 21h and notch 21e produce a camming action which serves to force lever I1 inwardly against the ring and lock it in position. Lever 26 is also provided with a projection 28 on the inner surface of its lower portion which' is adapted to snap into a cooperating opening 29 formed in the lower portion of the lever I1 when the lever 26 is swung into embracing relationship with the lever I1. The lever 26 is also provided on its outer end with a depending lug 3|! which will lie adjacent la depending lug 3| on lever I1 when the lever 26 embraces lever I1. These lugs are provided with lopenings through which a wire seal 32 may be passed in the manner illustrated in Figure 5.

When the retaining ring l0 is applied to the container it will be in expanded condition and the various parts of my device will be in the positions illustrated in 'Figure 3. After the retaining ring is positioned on the container, the operating lever I1 is swung inwardly. This will cause the link 20 to pull the end of the ring to which it is connected towards the other end of the ring and will cause the inner end of the lever l1 tc push the end of the ring to which it is connected towards the end to which the link is connected. The lever I1 will be swung inwardly until it embraces the ring. The portion 24 of the link 20 will also embrace the ring. This portion will extend over the joint between the adjacent ends of the ring. Thus, the portion 24 will serve to align the ends of the ring and keep them in alignment. It will be noted that the pivot point I9 is so located that as the lever I1 swings inwardly to its nnal position, the pivot point I9 moves inwardly beyond the pivot points I8 and 2i. This tends to cause the levez` I1 to snap into its final position and exerts a force tending to cause it to stay in such position. When the lever I1 reaches its iinal position, the lever 26 is swung inwardly until it embraces the lever I1, the cam 21h engages with the notch 21e which locks lever I1 in its iinal position. and the projection 26 snaps into the opening 29 which will hold the lever 26 in locking position. Then the wire seal 32 may be applied.

I'his structure has many advantages. some of structure the ring can be used over and over again. No tool is required in applying the ring.

I1 and no loose locking parts, which might be lost, are required. The levers and link are shaped to tightlyembrace the ring so that they will be out of the way and will be protected from injury. Having the levers and the link of U-shaped cross-section increases the rigidity thereof; Inaddition, due to the fact that the lever I1 embraces the curved rib I6 of the rim, the tendency for -the lever to bend downwardly, caused by the pivot point I8 being lower than the pivot point I6, will be offset. Also, the U-shaped cross-section portion of. the ,link embraces the ends of the ring and keeps-them in alignment.

It will be apparent from the above description vantages. Most of the advantages have been y that I have provided a device having many ady lprojection which others will bev apand the iollowinl discussed herein. However. parent i'rom the drawing claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A split ring adapted to be applied to a container or similar article, said split ring having ends which areadapted to be disposed adjacent each other when in contracted condition, means for contracting and expanding said ring, saidmeans comprising 'a lever pivoted to one end ot said ring, a link pivoted to the other end ot said ring and to said lever intermediate its ends, means for locking said lever after it has been moved inwardly into its nal position. said means comprising a second lever pivoted to saidA ring adjacent the free end of said ilrst lever, the pivoted end of said second lever comprising a cam eccentricaily rotatable on said pivot, the adiacent free end oi said ilrst lever having a projec v tion which in operative position substantially contacts said cam, said projection and said cam cooperating to aid in moving into final locking position said rst lever as said second lever is moving into its ilnal position.

2. A split ring adapted to be applied to a container or similar article, said split ring having an outer surface which is substantially U-shape, said ring being adapted to have its ends adiacent each other when in contracted condition, means for contracting and expanding said ring. said means comprising a lever pivoted to one end of said ring, a'link pivoted lto the other end Vof said ring and to said. lever intermediate its ends.

said lever being substantially U-shape in crosssection so that when it is swung inwardly into contact with said ring it will ilt around and-embrace said ring, said link also being substantially U-shape in cross-section so that when itA is swung inwardly into contact with said ring it will fit around and embrace said ring, said link being so disposed that whenit has been swung inwardly it will overlap the adjacent ends of said ringand will hold them in alignment. with each other, means for locking said-lever after it has' been moved inwardly into .its nnai'position, said means comprisingl a second lever pivoted to said ring adjacent the free end of said first lever.

the pivoted end of said second lever-' a cam eccentrically rotatable on pivot, the, adjacent i'ree endo! said nrst lever having! cooperating to inoperative position substantially contactssaid cam, said projection and said cam cooperating to aidin moving into final locking position said first lever as said second lever is moving into its, nnai position, said second lever being substantially .U-shape in cross-section similar to the first lever` so that it will em-` brace said ilrst lever when swung inwardly to lock it in position. Y l

3. A split ring adapted to be applied to a container or similar article, said split ring having an outer surface which is substantially U-shape, said ring being adapted to have its ends abutting each other when in contracted condition, means for contracting and expanding said ringsaid means comprising a lever pivoted to one end of said ring, a link pivoted to the other end oi said ring and to said lever intermediate its ends, said lever being substantially U-shape in cross-section so that when it is swung inwardly into contact with said ring it will fit around and embrace said ring. said link also having a portion which is substantially U-shape in cross-section so that when it isswun'g inwardly into contact with said ring it will nt around and embrace lsaid ring, said portion being so disposed that -it will overlap the adjacent ends of said ring and will hold them in alignment with eachother,

means for locking said lever after it has been f moved inwardly into its ilnal position, said means comprising a second lever pivoted to said ring adjacent the tree end of said' iirst lever, the pivoted end of said second lever comprising a cam eccentrically rotatable on said pivot, the

adjacent free end o't said first lever having aprojection which in operative position substantially contacts said cam, said projection and said cam aid in moving into iinal locking position said rst moving into its nal positi said second lever being substantially U-shape in cross-sectionsim- -ila to the ilrst lever so that it will embrace said first-lever when swung inwardly to'lock it in position, andmea'ns for locking said second lever in embracing relationship to the rst lever, said means comprising interiltting portions formed on adjacent surfaces of the two 'levers tothe iirst lever.

lever as said second lever is `which frictionally engage each other when the second lever is swung into embracing relationship y vmuster A. sco'i'r.

Images