US3023927A

US3023927A - Protector seals

Info

Publication number: US3023927A
Application number: US822498A
Authority: US
Inventors: George L Ehman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-06-24
Filing date: 1959-06-24
Publication date: 1962-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 1979-03-06

Description

Filed June 24, 1959 Geo/ye 1.. 56/7700 INVENTOR. KM

ATTORNEY 3,023,927 PROTECTOR SEALS George L. Ehman, Pasadena, Tex. Filed June 24, 1959, Ser. No. 822,498 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-66) This invention relates to sheet metal receptacles or cans and has particular reference to a novel form of closure therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved hermetically sealed can in which the seam between the lid and the can body are so constructed and arranged that contents of the can are uncontaminated when the lid is severed by conventional can opening means.

Another object is to provide a hermetically sealed can wherein the end closure is so formed that a cutter blade severing the lid does not come into contact with the contents of the can.

Still another object is to provide a can end seam comprising a folded flange bead and a Wall portion adjacent thereto forming a seal between the lid and can body and providing a blade receiving channel so that the blade of a severing tool will not come into contact with the contents of the can.

These and other objects will become more fully apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail showing a lid-tobody seam in one form of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 2 but showing an alternate lid-to-body seam of a can embodying the invention.

In the drawings the invention is shown embodied in a container 1 comprising the can body 2 having a flange portion interfolded with a flange on the lid or cover 3 to form a seam 4 by which the lid is secured in place. The

can embodying States atent bottom closure is secured in place by a suitable seam or head 5. In the disclosed embodiment the lid 3 is flanged eripherally at and is reversely bent at 11 proximate its edge and interfolded with body flange 12 reversely bent at 13. These interfolded portions are pressed or rolled to firm the seam or bead 4 by which the lid 2 is held in p ace.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the lid 3 is annularly depressed closely adjacent the bead 4 to form an inwardly extending ridge 15 on the lid. Similarly a circumferential groove 16 is formed in the body 1 just below the bead 3 and the inwardly displaced metal forms a tongue 17, the inner end of which presents an annular surface 18 closely juxtaposed with a complemental surface 19 on the ridge 15 on the lid. A suitable sealant 20 was initially placed upon the surface 18 or the surface 19 or both, and thus when the lid 2 is placed in position upon the can body 1 an annular seal is formed between the ridge 15 and the tongue 17.

It should be recognized that parts are shown greatly enlarged in FIGS. 2 and 3 and thicknesses and spacing of parts are exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the invention. Suflice it to say that the wall portions 21 and 22 on the can body 1 and the lid 2 are closely spaced sufliciently that the tip of a severing tool 23 may enter the channel 24 formed inwardly and below the head or seam 4.

It is apparent that the severing tool 23 cannot come into contact with the contents of the container 1. This serves a dual purpose, namely, foreign matter on the severing tool 23 is not carried to the contents of the can, and such tool is kept free from contact with the contents of the can. These features are of particular importance as they avoid an unsanitary condition from contamination by germs or other undesirable matter carried by the tool 23 and also avoid corrosion of the tool because of contact with contents of the container.

It is known that frequently the severing tool 23 causes minute slivers or flakes of metal to form and fall into the contents of the can. *In this invention such slivers or flakes fall into the channel 23 and tend to remain therein as the contents are removed from the can 1. To facilitate retention of such slivers or other undesirable particles as may enter the channel 24, a tacky material 25 may be placed within and form a coat upon the bottom and sidewall of the channel.

The operation and utility of the structure of the disclosed embodiment seem apparent but by way of amplification it is pointed out that the can body 2 and the lid 3 are initially provided with the tongue 17 and ridge 15, respectively, and with flanged edges which interfit when the lid is placed upon the can body preliminary to interfolding in the conventional manner to formthe bead 4. Likewise, the sealant 20 was applied previous to closure of the container so that a seal inwardly from the bead 4 is produced when closure is effected.

The modification shown in FIG. 3 is similar to that of FIG. 2 except that the groove 16' extends upwardly and inwardly a sufficient distance that the end surface 18 on the tongue 17 is juxtaposed to the inner surface 19 on the bead 15' on the lid 3. The sealant 20 interposed between these surfaces forms the seal inwardly from the bead 4 and thereby forms the channel 24 into which the severing tool 23 enters as the lid is cut. After the cutting or severing tool has performed its function the severed portion of the lid may be removed whereby access is had to the contents of the can.

It is to be noted that the disclosed structure is such that a conventional end-cutting can opener may be used with the invention. That is to say the severing tool 23 incises the lid or cover 3 adjacent the seam 4. 'If desired, as is common the severing tool may also be instrumental in folding down alongside the wall 21 or 21' the narrow rim of metal 25 outwardly from the incision produced by tool 23.

Broadly the invention comprehends a closure for hermetically sealed containers, such closure being so constructed and arranged as to prevent contamination of contents of the container when the lid is severed for removal from the container.

The invention claimed is:

1. A sheet metal container for comestibles comprising a one-piece body member having an end flange, a cover member having a peripheral flange, said flanges being interfolded to form a seam between the members, an inwardly formed annular ridge of metal on each of said members, said annular ridges being closely spaced from said seam, extending substantially normal to the body and cover members in which they are formed and having at their innermost portions annular, complemental surfaces which move into sealing engagement when said seam is formed, thereby providing inner and outer seals and an intermediate free space of substantially rectangular cross-section adapted to be entered by the cutting blade of a conventional can opener during the opening operation.

2. A sheet metal container for comestibles comprising a one-piece body member having an end flange, a cover member having a peripheral flange, said flanges being interfolded to form a seam between the members, an inwardly formed annular ridge of metal on each of said members, said annular ridges being closely spaced from said seam, extending substantially normal to the body and cover members in which they are formed and having at their innermost portions opposed, annular complemental surfaces, and a sealant interposed between said complemental surfaces forming a seal therebetween when the 10 423 39 cover is moved to closure position and said seam is formed, thereby forming inner and outer seals and an intermediate free space of substantially rectangular crosssection adapted to be entered by the cutting blade of a conventional can opener during the opening operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Karl Jan. 14, 1936 Socke Oct. 7, 1947