US3219230A

US3219230A - Container liner

Info

Publication number: US3219230A
Application number: US322800A
Authority: US
Inventors: Housz Jan Floris Ingen; Fehres Hans
Original assignee: Inland Steel Co
Current assignee: Inland Steel Co
Priority date: 1962-11-15
Filing date: 1963-11-12
Publication date: 1965-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-23
Also published as: SE304949B; GB1000634A

Description

Nov. 23, 1965 J. F. l. HOUSZ ETAL CONTAINER LINER Filed NOV. l2, 1963 United States Patent 3,219,230 CNTAINER LINER .Ian Floris Engen Housz, Heemstede, and Hans Febres, Amstelveen, Netherlands, assigner-s to Inland Steel Company, Chicago, 111 a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 322,86* Claims priority, application Great Britain, Nov. 15, 1962, tazas/62 7 Ciaims. (Ci. 22d-63) The present invention relates generally to containers and, more particularly, to -an improved .shipping container, and method of manufacture thereof, of the type used in packaging, storing and transporting fluid, powdered or particulate commodities. In its principal aspects, the invention is concerned with a shipping container Aof the type 'having a rigid outershell or overpack and `a nonetallic inner shell or liner, the liner having one or more inlet or outlet necks projecting outwardly through the outer shell.

It is a general aim of the present invention to provide effective, yet simple, securement ymeans for fixing the nonmetallic liner of a lined container relative to the outer container shell.

A related object of the invention is the provision of an improved container construction of the type employing a non-metallic `liner having an outwardly projecting, internally threaded neck and characterized in that displacement of the liner and its neck relative to the outer container shell is effectively precluded, yet wherein no separate fasteners or other securing components are required. In this connection, it is an object lof the invention to provide a lined shipping container having relatively few component pieces and characterized in that the non-metallic liner and the outer shell are shaped so that they are retained in iixed positions relative to one another by the resiliency of one or both of the component parts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an economical lined container construction which is reliable in use and which permits of ease in assembly.

An ancillary object of the invention is the provision of an improved container construction which facilitates sealing the container and its contents in a tamperproof and pilferproof manner.

In another of its important aspects, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved method of assembling a liner shipping container.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of a container embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. l and illustrating details of the improved container closure prior to bending of the skirt of a seal cap to effectively close the container in a tamperproof and pilferproof manner;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section similar to FIG. 3 after aflixing the seal cap to the container; and,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section similar to FIG 3 but with the seal cap removed, here depicting a slightly modified container construction also embodying the features of the present invention.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the `drawing and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications,

3,219,236 Patented Nov. 23, 1965 ICC equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring n-ow to the drawing, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary shipping container, generally indicated at 1d, embodying the features of the present invention. As here shown, the exemplary container includes a generally cylindrical outer wall or shell 11 which is effectively closed at its uper end by means of an end wall or lid 12. To effect such a closure, the free extremities of the wall 12 and shell 11 are, in a conventional manner well known to those skilled in the art, curled together to form an upper chime 14. The opposite end of the container 1t) (i.e., the lower end as viewed in FIG. 2) is also closed by means of an end wall (not shown) which may be secured t0 the shell 11 in a similar manner to form a lower chime 15.

To facilitate lling the container 10 and subsequent dispensing of the container contents, the container includes at least one bunghole and closure arrangement, generally indicated at 16, which may conveniently be l0- cated in one wall of the container-here the end wall 12. The container body is lined internally with a non-metallic inner shell or liner, a portion of which is best illustrated at 18 in FIGS 3 and 4. The inner shell 18 includes an integral neck 19 which projects outwardly through an opening 2() formed in the end wall 12. An annular collar 21 is coaxial with and surrounds the opening 20, with the neck 19 of the inner shell or liner 18 being dimensioned to extend axially beyond the extremity of the collar. Of course, it will be understood that the collar 21 may be either integral with and bent out of the plane of the end wall 12 or, alternatively, it may be constituted Iby a separate r-igid annulus secured `to the end wall 12 in any suitable manner (not shown). Preferably, at least one of the container end walls (i.e., the upper wall 12 or the lower wall) is detachably secured to the outer cylindrical shell 11, thus permitting removal of the inner shell 1S from the outer shell 11 for the purpose of inspection or cleaning of either shell.

As the ensuing description proceeds, those skilled in the art will appreciate that while the present invention is not directed to particular materials for the manufacture of shipping containers, it is, nonetheless, advantageously applicable to containers wherein the outer shell 11 is made of a generally rigid material such, for example, as sheet metal, liber, plywood or other natural or synthetic materials, while the inner shell 18 is preferably formed of a plastic or thermoplastic material such as polyethylene.

In accordance with one of the important aspects of the present invention, the inner and outer shells are formed so as to facilitate their assembly into a substantially unitary lined container construction wherein relative shifting of the respective shells, particularly relative axial shifting thereof, is effectively precluded. In the illustrative form of the invention, this is accomplished by forming the collar 21 with an outwardly flaring extremity 22. The neck 19 of the inner shell 1S has a peripherally disposed ridge 24 formed adjacent its free end yand positioned so as to overlie, and snugly conform to, the outwardly flared collar extremity 22. The arrangement is such that the neck 19, and hence the inner shell 18, is supported by the collar 21 and its flared extremity 22, thus preventing the neck and inner shell from slipping, or from being inadvertently pushed, inwardly into the interior of the outer shell 11.

The foregoing construction not only provides an axially secure connection between the inner and outer shells, but, in addition, it simplifies the method of assembling the shells during the initial manufacture of the container and subsequent to inspection and cleaning operations When the two shells have been disassembled. Thus, it is simply necessary to push the neck 19 axially through the opening 20 and the collar 21 until the peripherally disposed ridge 24 on the former snaps over the flared collar extremity 22. Alternatively, the wall 12 and collar 21 may be pushed downwardly over the neck 19 until the ridge 24 snaps into place, securely locking the two components together. While both the collar 21 and the neck 19 are rigid in the sense that they are shelf-supporting, it will be understood that either one or both components are sufciently resilient to permit passage of the latter through the former.

It has also been discovered that the foregoing method of assembly can be still further facilitated in accordance with another feature of the invention. To this end, the innermost end of the annular collar 21 is also flared outwardly as indicated at 25 in FIGS. 3 and 4. The arrangement is such that the collar 21 and flared portion 25 which define the opening 2t) in the end wall 12 form an inverted, generally funnel-shaped mouth for receiving the neck 19 of the inner shell 18. Thus, the funnelshaped mouth serves to center Iand guide the neck 19 as the latter is pushed through the collar 21. Moreover, the flared mouth minimizes the danger of cutting or otherwise damaging the flared extremity 24 of the non-metallic neck 19.

In carry out the present invention, provision is made for sealing the container 10 in a tamperproof `and pilferproof manner. To this end, a seal cap 26 having a skirt portion 28 is .positioned on top of the neck 19 with the lower edge 29 of the skirt extending below the lower flange-like radial surface 3f) of the flared collar extremity 22. As a consequence of this construction, the lower edge 29 of the skirt 28 may be turned, wheeled, crimped, or otherwise bent inwardly under the annular downwardly facing surface 30 of the collar (as shown in FIG. 4), thus forming a tamperproof, pilferproof closure-that is, a closure which must be damaged, broken or destroyed upon opening of the container.

In order to provide a fluid tight esal for the container, a gasket 31 (FIG. 3) may be interposed between the seal cap and the flared extremity 24 of the neck 19. It will be appreciated that the gasket may be either a separate member or, alternatively, it may be cast, molded or otherwise formed in situ (for example, within the seal cap 26). Thus, when the seal cap is applied by bending the skirt 28 inwardly beneath the flange surface 30, the gasket will be substantially uniformly deformed between the cap 26 and the flared neck extremity 24.

As a further precaution against leakage of the contents of the container 10, a closure plug 32 may be inserted into the neck 19 either prior to application of, or in lieu of, the seal cap 26. In this instance, a packing or sealing ring 34 formed of resiliently deformable material such, merely by Way of example, as rubber, is interposed between the plug 32 and the neck 19. As here shown, the exemplary plug 32 is externally threaded as indicated at 35 for cooperation with internal threads 36 formed in the neck 19. Of course, other types of plugs can be utilized if desired other than threaded plugs. In the event that a seal cap is not employed, the resulting closure may still take the form of a tamperproof and pilferproof closure simply by employing a different type of conventional seal which is Well known to those skilled in the art and which must be broken, damaged or destroyed before the plug can be removedfor example, a sealing wire passed through aligned opening (not shown) in the plug and the collar.

A slightly modified container construction, also embodying the features of the presen-t invention, has been shown in FIG. 5. In this construction, the flared extremity of either the neck 19 or collar 21, or both, may be shaped to define a seat for reception of a sealing gasket 38 made of a resiliently deformable materialthe gasket 38 here being interposed between the flared collar extremity 22 and the ridge 24. This construction is particularly advantageous when the container is used to store and transport aggressive fluids that might tend to attack the outer shell 11 since it provides a fluid-tight seal which inhibits seepage of the container contents into the space between the inner and outer shells.

We claim as our invention:

1. A shipping container comprising, in combination, a rigid hollow outer shell, an end wall secured to one extremity of said shell and having an opening formed therein, an annular collar formed on said wall and surrounding said opening, a non-metallic inner shell positioned within said outer shell, said inner shell having a neck extending outwardly through said opening and said collar and projecting axially beyond 4said collar, said inner shell and neck being formed of the same material and defining a unitary one-piece liner for said outer shell and said collar, the free extremity of said collar being flared radially outwards, and said neck having an outwardly extending peripheral ridge overlying only the upwardly facing surface of said flared collar extremity so that said collar supports said neck and relative axial movement therebetween is inhibited, at least one of said collar and said neck being formed of resilient material so that upon insertion of said inner shell into said outer shell, said shells are resiliently and separably secured to one another.

2. A shipping container comprising, in combination, a rigid hollow outer shell, an end wall secured to said shell and having an opening formed therein, an annular collar formed on said wall coaxial with said opening, a non-metallic inner shell positioned within said outer shell, said inner shell having a selfsupporting integral neck extending outwardly through said opening and said collar, said inner shell and neck being formed of the same material and defining a unitary one-piece liner for said outer shell and said collar, said collar and said neck having complementary cross-sectional shapes. which are progressively larger toward the free extremities thereof so that said neck is axially fixed relative to said collar and is lsupported thereby.

3. A shipping container comprising, in combination, a rigid hollow outer shell, an end wall secured to one extremity of said shell and having an opening formed therein, a collar formed on said wall surrounding said opening, a non-metallic inner shell positioned within said outer shell, said inner shell having a neck extending outwardly through said opening and said collar and projecting axially beyond said collar, said inner shell and neck being formed of the same material and defining a unitary onepiece liner for saidouter shell and said collar, the free extremity of said collar being flared radially outwards, means formed on said neck projecting outwardly therefrom and at least partially overlying only the upwardly facing surface of said flared collar extremity so that said collar supports said neck and relative axial movement therebetween is inhibited, and means formed on said collar defining a downwardly facing flange-like surface.

4. A shipping container as set forth in claim 3 further characterized in that a seal cap is afllxed to the top of said neck, said seal cap having an annular depending skirt, said skirt being bent inwardly beneath said downwardly facing flange-like surface.

5. A shipping container as set forth in claim 4 further characterized in that a sealing gasket is interposed between Isaid seal cap and said neck.

6. A shipping container as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that a sealing gasket is interposed between said ridge and the flared extremity of said collar.

7. The method of forming a lined shipping container comprising the steps of forming an opening in a container end wall, forming a collar on said end wall surrounding said opening and projecting outwardly therefrom, bending the outer extremity of said collar outward- 1y to form a flaring free edge thereon, bending the inner extremity of said collar outwardly to form an inverted funnel-shaped mouth, forming a necked non-metallic liner, creating a peripheral ridge on the neck of the liner having an external dimension greater than the internal dimension of the collar, and projecting the neck through the mouth and the collar until said ridge snaps over the flaring free edge on the collar.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A SHIPPING CONTAINER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A RIGID HOLLOW OUTER SHELL, AND END WALL SECURED TO ONE EXTERMITY OF SAID SHELL AND HAVING AN OPENING FORMED THEREIN, AN ANNULAR COLLAR FORMED ON SAID WALL AND SURROUNDING SAID OPENING, A NON-METALLIC INNER SHELL POSITIONED WITHIN SAID OUTER SHELL, SAID INNER SHELL HAVING A NECK EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID OPENING AND SAID COLLAR AND PROJECTING AXIALLY BEYOND SAID COLLAR, SAID INNER SHELL AND NECK BEING FORMED OF THE SAME MATERIAL AND DEFINING A UNITARY ONE-PIECE LINER FOR SAID OUTER SHELL AND SAID COLLAR, THE FREE EXTERMITY OF SAID COLLAR BEING FLARED RADIALLY OUTWARDS, AND SAID NECK HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PERIPHERAL RIDGE OVERLYING ONLY THE UPWARDLY FACING SURFACE OF SAID FLARED COLLAR EXTREMITY SO THAT SAID COLLAR SUPPORTS SAID NECK AND RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN IS INHIBITED, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID COLLAR AND SAID NECK BEING FORMED OF RESILIENT MATERIAL SO THAT UPON INSERTION OF SAID INNER SHELL INTO SAID OUTER SHELL, SAID SHELLS ARE RESILIENTLY AND SEPARABLY SECURED TO ONE ANOTHER.