US2971686A

US2971686A - Container for storing and transporting pourable materials

Info

Publication number: US2971686A
Application number: US698308A
Authority: US
Inventors: Muhlhoff Friedrich
Original assignee: Mauser KG
Current assignee: Mauser KG
Priority date: 1957-01-11
Filing date: 1957-11-22
Publication date: 1961-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 1978-02-14

Description

Feb. 14, 1961 MUHLHQFF 2,971,686

CONTAINER FOR STORING AND TRANSPORTING POURABLE MATERIALS Filed NOV. 22, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 f I v CONTAINER FOR STORING AND TRANSFORTING POURABLE MATERIALS Filed Nov. 22, 1957 Feb. 14, 1961 F. MUHLHOFF 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I/VVE/VTOR Feb. 14, 1961 v F. MUHLHOFF 2,971,686

CONTAINER FOR STORING AND TRANSPORTING FOURABLE MATERIALS Filed Nov. 22, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 '//////////////I/47III United States Patent (ZONTAINER FOR STORING AND TRANSPORT- ING POURABLE MATERIALS Friedrich Miihlholf, Koln-Bickendorf, Germany, assignor to Mauser Kommandit-Gesellschaft, Koln-Ehrenfeld, Germany Filed Nov. 22, 1957, Ser. No. 698,308 Claims priority, application Germany Jan. 11, 1957 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-7) The invention relates to a combination container structure for storing and transporting liquids or other pourable materials, wherein an .inner container, made preferably of thin-walled synthetic material, is. inserted into and surrounded by an outer container, generally, but not exclusively, made of paperboard. i

Double-walled containers are well known in which the inner walls are made ofplastic or plastic composition and the outer walls are made of another material. These knowncontainers have the disadvantage in that it is impossible to exchange or replace the inner container and further in that corrosion or deterioration can very easily occur between the inner and outer Walls.

Formation and maintenance of a fluid-tight or air-tight connection between these containers also presents con siderable difiiculties. Furthermore, such known containe'rs often are of round cross section withinherent disadvantages that they inefiiciently utilize the'shipping or storage floor space. Y

It is, thereforefan aim of the present invention to eliminate the aforesaid and other disadvantages heretofore encountered in containers of the aforesaid type for storing and transporting liquids or other pourable substances, and to provide a sturdy combination container which is inexpensive to manufacture, which will keep its shape and remains tightly closed even during rough handling.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means ensuring protectionof a container assembly from tampering with the pouring or filling opening thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means affording the construction of a weather-tight and durable container which can be easily and readily manipulated.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide means conducive to stacking or storage of such containers in superposed or'juxta-positionl with a minimum of unutilized floor space.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide means redounding ,to a combination inner and outer container structure which reduces to a minimum any contact-corrosion between the walls thereof.

Still another object of the present invention 'is to provide means ensuring sufficient displacement or. play between an inner and outer container whilemaintaining substantially yieldable retention of the inner container relative to the outer container.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide means permitting fillingland emptying of an inner container without removing the same from its protective outer container.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide means conducive to an assembly of containers in such a manner that great savings in space during storage or transportation of such containers will be afforded, while the inner container may be filled to maximum capacity. r r 7 Yet another object of the present invention is to provide means contributing to an elficacious reinforcement 2,971,686 Patented Feb. 14, 1961 and protection of the bottom or base of an outer container from any possible deleterious ambient operational conditions, such as moisture, corrosive liquids, etc.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide means ensuring a simple, inexpensive fluid-tight junction between an inner and outer container for storing or transporting liquids, semi-liquids or the like.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means affording easy insertion of an inner container into an outer protective container, its securement in position therein and prevention of tampering with its discharge outlet or filling opening.

Yet a further object of the invention resides in the provision of means striving for an assembly of receptacles or containers which has an inner container of flexible and expandable material for receiving to utmost capacity liquid or like fluid substances either before or after said inner container has been inserted in or coupled with an outer container, the latter being preferably made of a material which withstands to a high degree pressures, stresses and other rough conditions during storage or handling, is sufi'iciently stable and rigid and may carry on its outer surface any advertising or directions of use for the said substance enclosed in said inner container, which inner container due to its expansibility will abut or generally conform to the inner wall surface of said outer container.

These and other objects of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, showing preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings: v

Fig. l is aperspective view of a closed container according to the inventiontwith the bottom shown partially broken away;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a double container according to the invention with the cover lid and jacket flap shown partially open in order to illustrate the inner container and the filling and pouring openings of same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross section of the upper portion of the container taken along line 3--3 of Fig. 2, with flaps closed and showing the rim and cover adjacent the spout;

Fig. 4 illustrates another embodiment of-the invention and is a fragmentary vertical cross section through the upper portion of a container structure according to the invention;

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary schematic showings of a container in top plan view and in elevation, respectively, according to the invention, provided with an intermediate spacing layer between the walls of the inner and outer containers;

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary cross sections of two separate embodiments of the container structure provided with a device for facilitating stacking and for supporting the bottom of the container structure.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is disclosed in Fig. 1 a combination container structure having an outer jacket 1, and having a substantially quadrangular or other suitable cross section. Receivable within the jacket or outer container 1 is an inner container 2 having a filing opening 3 and a pouring opening or spout 4. Preferably, but not essentially, the outer container 1 may be made of an inexpensive material such as paperboard, and has two or more laterally arranged handles 5 for carrying same. A cover 6 provided with a rim 7, may be connected along a portion of said rim 7 to the outer jacket of container 1 by stitching, stapling, cementing'gluing, or other well known joining or fastening means after the inner-container 2 has been inserted into position within the outer container. A flap or covering 8 is positioned and made part of the cover or lid 6 so as to overlie both the filling opening 3 and pouring spout 4. A hinge or sharply bent fold 9 is formed in the lid 6 so as to permit swinging or moving of flap 3 relative to the. top of the inner container, The front wallgof the outercontainer 1 is provided with ajacket flap 10, which, when open, uncovers the spout 4 of the inner container.

The hinged cover part or flap 8 and jacket flap 10 may be mutually secured and sealed in their closed positions by means of a closing or sealing wire, cord or like element 11. To this end, the upper rim of the outer jacket 1, the rim 7 of lid 6, and the rim of the flap 8 are all provided with matching or registering holes or openings 11a through which said sealing element .11 is threaded. A fusible or fracturable seal 11b of known structure may be used to join and secure the ends of element 11, thus discouraging or preventing tampering with the contents of the inner container by unauthorized persons. -Flap 10 is provided with a hinge or sharply bent fo'd 12 which permits said flap to be swung or tipped forwardly beyond the normal confines of container 1 to uncover the pouring spout 4 for discharge or pouring of the contents of the inner container 2. As may be seenfrom the partial cross section at the lower p0rtion of Fig. 1, the joint between the outer wall of container 1 and the bottom 13 of the outer container is strengthened and stabilized by a reinforcement strap or rim 14. The outer container 1 is further provided, near its bottom 13 with discharge holes or drainageopenings 15, which serve to remove any condensation water or other deposits which may form or beretained in the space between the walls of the inner and outer .containers.

As may be seen in Fig. 3, the cover or lid 6 (which may include flap 8) is preferably positioned close to the, top of inner container 2 so as to closelyoverlie filling opening 3 thereby firmly securing in position any closing cap or plug (not shown in Fig. 3) seated in said opening.

Fig. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which the filling opening and emptying spout 16 is formed to project above the main body of container 2 and through the level portion of cover or lid 6. Clap 17, forming a portion of the lid, serves to enclose the projecting portion of the filling and emptying spout 16, is detachable or removable and is supported by the main or level portion of lid 6. Also indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 is a layer of spacing material 18, which may be a resilient or shock-absorbing material, such as corrugated paperboard, cardboard, corrugated plastic material, or springy inserts, or rubber or other elastic material, or any other suitable air-permeable means between the container walls or bottoms, or both, for retaining the inner container, if desired, in somewhat spaced position in relation to the outer container so as to allow little play or yieldable retention of the inner container relative to the outer container for the reasons set forth below.

It is desirable, for the purpose of most efiicient utilization of space, to keep this space between the inner and outer containers at a minimum. However, especially in the case of larger container structures, while assembling the inner container with the outer container, there may be difiiculty in releasing air which may otherwise become trapped between the inner and outer container tainers will be made possible, since the intermediate or spacing layer also compensates for differences or tolerwalls. To overcome this difiiculty the invention provides 55 for an air-permeable spacing material, preferably cor rugated paperboard or corrugated plastic substance inserted at least between the lateral walls of the outer and inner container, and also, if desired, between the bottoms of said containers. The intermediate layer 18 also en sures that the inner container may be guided during its this rnanner a close'proxirnity of the walls of the two conances occurring in the dimensions or shaped the inner and outer containers.

In an example of this invention, where the outer container is made of steel or other metal, such intermediate layer 18, for example, may be corrugated paperboard, which has a further function and advantage in preventing contactor surface-corrosion or other deterioration heretofore experienced withjmetal containers. i

As best illustrated in Fig. 5, it is advisable to arrange the intermediate layer 22 between the wall-21 of the inner container jacket and wall 20 of the outer jacket in such manner that the aforesaid layer 22 extends at the top of the structure to'a shoulder 23 andinwardly turned projection M et the upper portion of the outer metal wall 20, and the configuration of the inner jacket wall 21 is formed to closelyfollow the inner surface contour of said outer wall and to thus provide an open able rim 2111 which will be weatherproof and preventundesirable materials from abovefrom falling into the. space between the aforesaid inner and outer containers;

According to an example .utilizing the concept of the present invention, a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of a combination container is shown'in Fig. 6, which has an intermediate layer 22, for example, of corrugated paperboard or other yieldable or corrugated, non-metallic material loosely placed or confined between the inner jacket wall 21 and the outer jacketwall 20 of the combination container structure. v For facilitating stacking as well as. for providing a sturdy base or support for the bottom of the novel container structure. there is disclosed in the Fig. 7 a' fragmentary section of two superposed or stacked containers made according to the invention. a I

From the upper container structure having jacket wall 101, an end piece 119 of reinforcement ring 114a pro jects beyond a downwardly turned rim 1134 of bottom 113 of said upper container. End piece 119 extends also beyond upwardly turned rim 107 attached to jacket Wall 101a, whereby

containers

101 and 101a may be brought into nesting engagement with each other. Rim 107 forms part of a cover 106 of the lower container whose outer jacket 101a is partly indicated. The projecting end' piece or portion 119 of reinforcement ring 114a assumes preferably a tapered or slightly frustro-conical shape, so as to' facilitate centric mounting of the aforesaid container one upon another.

If, according to the present invention, the

outer jacket wall

1 or 101 is made of paperboard or' like non-metallic layer 118 of corrugated paper or air-permeable'm'a'terial,

similar in structure and function to layer 18, (Figs., 3 and 4) as above described, may be located betweenwalls 101 and 102.

Another example for facilitating the stacking ofthe combination containers is illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein the bottom or base 113 of downwardly turned rim 113a projects below the confines of jacket wall 101 of an upper container structure, while jacket wall 101a of a lower container structure is provided with a prolongation piece which projects beyond rim 107 of the upwardly turned top or cover 106 of the lower container structure. This arrangement thus produces a simple centered engagement or nesting of adjacent containers, irrespective of what material the jacket walls 101 or 101d, or the bottoms 113 or covers 106, are made. In addition to the examples illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the inverse relationship may alternatively be employed, with projections provided on the lower container structure instead of on thebottom of the upper container, as shown.

Although the container structure of the ypresentin' vention may be of any suitable shape, polygonal or round as illustrated in Fig. 6, it is preferably constructed in a substantially quadrangular or rectangular shape so as to greatly economize storage and shipping space when a number of such containers are placed adjacent one another. The inner container is preferably made of synthetic, semi-flexible material such as, for example, polyethylene or like plastic, and the outer container is preferably made of inexpensive material such as, for example, paperboard or pasteboard, although the outer container may also be made of thin-walled steel, sheet metal or other metal or material.

The projection of rim 119 (Fig. 7), or 113a (Fig. 8) at the bottom of the container structure provides means for protecting the container structure when placed on said rim, against the effects of any ambient moisture, liquids, or any other possible deleterious ambient conditions.

It can thus be seen, that there has been provided according to the invention a double-walled container structure for storing and transporting pourable substances, which structure includes an outer container having outer jacket forming walls and a bottom or base, an inner container having a top and receivable within said outer container, said inner container being defined by walls and provided with a filling opening and pouring spout, a top cover for said outer container insertable substantially over the top of said inner container and in contact with said jacket walls of said outer container, said top cover being provided with an upstanding rim, at least a portion of which is joined to said jacket forming walls, cap means forming a portion of said top cover for overlying said fill ing opening, said outer jacket Walls being provided with means for draining a condensate collected between said inner and outer containers, spacing material positioned intermediate the walls of said outer and inner containers, and reinforcing means connected with and for facilitating stacking one double-walled container in superposed position above another container therebelow, said reinforcing means including rim means projecting beyond said bottom or base of said one double-walled container and for nesting engagement with an adjacent portion of said other container therebelow.

In some instances the covering lid 6 may be so shaped at its hinged portion or flap 8 that it will normally overlie and close up the filling opening 3 as well as the pouring spout or opening 4.

Obviously, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A double-walled container assembly comprising an outer container having outer jacket walls and a base, an inner container provided with a filling opening and pouring spout, said inner container being disposed Within said outer container and spaced from said outer. jacket walls, said inner container having a top and being defined by inner jacket walls connected to said top, a top cover for said outer container insertable substantially on the top of said inner container and in contact with said jacket walls of said outer container, said top cover being provided with a rim, at least a portion of said rim being jointed to said outer jacket walls, a portion of said top cover being movable and forming a lid, said lid being pivoted to the rest of said top cover and being adapted to overlie said filling opening, sealing means attachable to said portion for prevention of tampering with said filling opening, a hinged spout-closing flap overlying said pouring spout, said hinged spout-closing flap being pivoted to one of said outer jacket walls of said outer container contiguous to said spout and operably arranged on said one of said jacket walls to be fastenable by said aforementioned sealing means to prevent tampering with said spout, said sealing means including matching holes in said lid, said flap and in said outer jacket walls in registering alignment with each other, and a fracturable sealing element threaded through said holes.

2. A double-walled container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said outer jacket walls are provided with discharge means for draining a condensate collected between said inner and outer containers, spacing material positioned intermediate the walls of said outer and inner containers, and reinforcing means connected with the base of said outer container for stacking the same in superposed position on another container, said reinforcing means including rim means projecting beyond said base of said outer container, thereby facilitating nesting with a rim of the top cover of said other container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 919,838