US2365099A - Portable container - Google Patents

Description

Deg. 12, 1944. F. J. OBRIEN 2,365,099

PORTABLE CONTAINER Filed Aug. 13, 1942 Patented Dec. 12, 1944 PORTABLE CONTAINER Frank J. OBrien, Pelham, N. Y., assignor to 0011- tinental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 13, 1942, Serial 454,695- 2' Claims. (or 220-92) 1 This invention relates to portable containers and more particularly to closed top containers equipped with carrying bails.

Conventionally constructed containers of the class referred to are equipped with a generally semi-circular bail extending across the container and having its opposite ends projected downwardly for connection to mounting ears secured to the container side wall or walls at a level somewhat below the top of the container. When the bail is not used for carrying, for example during storin or shipping of the container, the ball is folded down against the side of the container. This not only interferes somewhat with the compact storing of containers but is apt to result in bending or otherwise damaging the balls, or in scratching or marring labels or markings on the containers.

It heretofore has been proposed to eliminate or minimize these difiiculties by constructing and mounting the bail in such manner that when not in use it will be turned or folded down against the top of the container. Still more'particularly the present invention relates to this class of bailequipped container construction and the general aim or purpose of the invention is to provide an improved, simple, and strong construction in which a bail is so mounted on or connected toa container that when in use for carrying the container, the bail will be disposed in the same or substantially the same position as a conventional bail, and when not in use may be positioned-snugly with respect to the top of the container without extending across or around the container side wall.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable closed top container with a carrying bail so mounted on the container as to be capable of being folded down against the container top wall and below the top edge of the container side wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container of the character described in which the connection of the bail to the container is effected by strong and simple bail anchors adapted to be securely afiixed to the container but being easily detachable therefrom to facilitate removal of the container top.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable container of the kind referred to having bail mounting or anchoring means especially adapted or suited for connection to a container of the type wherein a top wall is double seamed to a side wall, the top wall being disposed somewhat below the top edge of the seam.

Other objects will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description, the appended claims, andthe accompanying drawmg. y

In'the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container and bail type carrying means embodying the invention, a part of the contained side wall and bottom being broken away.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view drawn on an enlarged scale and showing anchoring means for attaching a carrying bail to a container. a

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section drawn on an enlarged scale, a bail anchor and a portion of the bail being shown in elevation.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing a modification; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view modification shown in Figure 4.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive,a bail generally designated A is hinged to bail anchor members 13 which are connected or secured in any suitable manner to a container C.

The container includes a side wall I, and top and bottom walls 2 and 3 secured to the side wall by double seams of well known form shown respectively at 4 and 5. The top wall 2 is disposed below the top of the side wall I, thereby providing a recess or depression 6 surrounded by the seam. lor, otherwise stated, by the upper portion of the side wall I.

In accordance with the invention, the'bail A is hinge-connected to the container within the depression 6 and is so-shaped and sized that when not in use for carrying the container, the bail may be folded down against the top wall 2 and to then be nested within the depression 6 so as not to protrude above the container. For so mounting the bail, the anchors B are connected to the container at opposite sides of the latter. Each anchor may comprise a member formed of strip or wire-like material bent at its lower end to provideahook 1 extending into the opening 8 of a horizontally apertured ear 9 appropriately secured to the container somewhat below the seam 4. Each anchor member B further includes a portion Ill extending vertically from the hook I alongside of thewall l and seam 4, a portion l l extending inwardly overthe seam 4, a, portion [2 extending downwardly in'contactwith the inside of the seam 4 and into the depression 6, a portion l3 extending horizontally in contact with the inside of the seam 4, a portion [4 extending of the horizontally and inwardly away from the portion l3, and a vertically disposed eye l5 at the end of the portion M. The bail A is provided with eyes H5 at its opposite ends respectively looped through the anchor eyes l5 for hinging the bail to the container.

When the container is to be stored or shipped, the bail A may be folded down to the position shown in full lines in Figure .1 wherein .it .is disposed within the depression 6 so as not to interfere with stacking or boxing of a plurality of containers. When a container is to be carried individually, the bail is turned up to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 wherein it disposed relatively to the containerin the same general manner as a conventional carrying i-bail.

The anchors B are stout enough to reenforce the connection between the side and top walls I and 2, thereby reducing the danger ordamaging the seam 4 sufficiently. to cause a leak. However, the anchors may be made with a lightness or yieldability suilicient to permit their being sprung loose .and removed when it is desired toopen the container. The anchors may be removed easily by inserting any simple instrument or tool between the vertically extending anchor portion 1 0 and the sidewall l and then prying outwardly to dislodge the hook .1 from the ear '9. Removal of i the anchors would not be necessary, however, when the invention :is enihodied'in cans equipped with a friction top structure including a ring portion seamed to the top of the can body and a closure portion frictionally held within the ring portion.

The modified embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 is similar to that described above with the exception that in the modification specifically different anchors B are provided. These parts of the modified construction which are the same as parts in the construction first described are .designated by corresponding reference characters. The bail anchors B are of -modified construction, each including a hook 1' extending into the aperture 8 of the associated ear 9, a vertically extending portion I0 disposed alongside and in contact with the outside of the seam l, a portion H extending inwardly over the scam I, a portion l2" extending downwardly alongside and in contact with the inner face of the seam I and a horizontally disposed eye I5 through which the eye IQ of the contiguous end of the ball is looped.

It will be observed that in .both illustrative embodiments of the invention, the anchors are shaped to embrace the outside, .top, and inside faces of the double seam 4 in yieldable clamping relation therewith, therebysecurely attaching the anchors to the container and reenforcing the joint between the side and top walls I and 2.

The constructions shown herein embody the invention in the forms now preferred but it will be understood that changes maybe made without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a container having a side wall, and a top wall secured thereto; of a bail type'carrying means comprising two hori-' zontally apertured ears secured to said. container side wall at opposite sides of the container and spaced below the top of the container; two bail anchors connected respectively to said ears, each of said anchors comprising a hook having its free end portion extending inwardly toward said side wall into the aperture in the associated ear and being detachable from said ear by movement of said hook outwardly from said side wall,- a porbail type carrying means comprising two horizontally apertured ears secured to said container side wall at oppositesides of the container and spaced below the top of the container; two bail anchors connected respectively to said ears, each of said anchors comprising -a hook having its free end portion extending inwardly toward said side wall into the aperture in the associated ear and being detachable from .said ear by movement of said hook outwardly from said sidewall, a portion extending vertically from :said .hook alongside and in "yieldable clamping relation to said side wall, a portion extending inwardly over and in yieldable clamping relation to the top of said side wall, and a portion extending from said last named portion and being disposed over and in yieldable clamping relation to the container top wall and terminating in an eye, and a bail having its opposite ends looped through the anchor eyes respectively.

,8. The combination with a container having a sidewall, and a top wall disposed below the top edge of the side wall to provide a depression surrounded by the upper portion of the side wall; of a bail type carrying means comprising two horizontally apertured ears secured to said container side wall at opposite sides or the container and spaced below the top of the container, two bail anchors connected respectively to said ears, each of said anchors comprising a hook having its free end portion extending inwardly toward said side wall into the aperture in the associated ear and being detachable from said ear by movement of said hook outwardly from said side wall, a portion extending vertically from said hook alongside said sidewall, a portion extending inwardly over the top of said side wall, and a portion extending thence downwardly into said depression and terminating in an eye, and a bail having its opposite ends looped through the anchor eyes respectively.

4. The combination with a container having a side wall, a top wall, and a double seam conneotion between said side and top walls, the top wall being disposed below the top edge of said seam connection to provide a depression surrounded by said seam connection; of a bail type carrying means comprising two horizontally apertured ears secured to said container side wall at opposite sides of the container respectively, two bail anchors connected respectively to said ears, each of said anchors comprising a, hook engaged in the aperture of the associated ear and extending from said hook upwardly 'in contact with the outside of said double seam, thence over and in contact with the top of said double seam, thence downwardly and in contact with the inside of said double seam and terminating in an eye disposed over said top wall, and a bail having its opposite ends looped respectively through the anchor eyes.

5. The combination with a container having asidewall, a top wall, and a double seam connection between said side and top walls, the top wall being disposed below the top edge of said seam connection to provide a depression surrounded by said seam connection; of a bail type carrying means comprising two horizontally apertured ears secured to said container side wall at opposite sides of the container respectively, two bail anchors connected respectively to said ears, each of said anchors comprising a hook engaged in the aperture of the associated ear and extending 10 from said hook upwardly in contact with the out-

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