US3341058A

US3341058A - Container and end closure therefor

Info

Publication number: US3341058A
Application number: US378396A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roy M Martin
Original assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Current assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Priority date: 1964-06-26
Filing date: 1964-06-26
Publication date: 1967-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1984-09-12

Description

Sept. 12, 1967 R. M. MARTIN I CONTAINER AND END CLOSURE THEREFOR F'iled June l26, 1964 S am. n m. QM. U/ m 5mm. mw. Nm. I m NW N @1W H l W UnitedStates Patent O 3,341,058 CONTAINER AND END CLOSURE THEREFOR Roy M. Martin, Henrico County, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 26, 1964, Ser. No. 378,396 8 Claims. (Cl. 220-66) This invention relates to an improved container or the like as well as to an improved closure for such a container or the like.

It is well known that metallic end closures have been provided -for various types of Ycontainer bodies, such as container bodies formed of composite fiber board and the like as well as container bodies formed of all metallic material or the like.

Such end closures normally have a bead-forming peripheral portion for attaching the end closure to the open end of the container body.

However, it has been found that such prior known containers each has a tendency to weaken the securement between the end closure and the container body when such container is dropped on the end thereof or the like because of the end thrust force created inside the dropped container.

According to the teachings of this invention, however,

ice

inafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable to provide an improved container or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any lcombination thereof to provide end closures for other types of containers or the like.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved container of this invention is generally indicated by the reference an improved end closure for such container bodies or the like is provided wherein the same sets up outwardly directed radial forces when the container is dropped, the radial forces tending to tighten the end seam of the end closure on the container body and thereby withstanding the internal forces in the container.

In particular, this invention provides an end closure having a depressed central portion so `constructed and arranged that the same has a surface area greater than 50% 0f the inside axial cross-sectional surface area of the container body and when attempted to be flattened by the internal forces caused by the dropping of the container, the component radial forces on the end closure tightens the end seam thereof on the container body. In addition, a relatively large radius is provided in the end closure of this invention closely adjacent the initial point of panel depression of the end closure and near the inside container body wall which reduces the stiffness of the end closure in this area and enhances the springlike properties of the end closure during its flattening operation. Thus, it can be seen that the end closure of this invention operates in substantially the` same manner as a leaf spring to increase the securement of the end closure on the open end of the container body when that container is dropped on that end or the like.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved container having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved end closure for such a container or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of the improved container of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is anenlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view-illustrating one method -for forming the end closure of this invention.

While the various features of this invention are herenumeral 10 and comprises a substantially cylindrical container body 11 having opposed open ends 12 and 13 respectively closed by like end closures 14 and 15 of this invention.

Since the end closures 14 and 15 for the container 10 of this invention are identical, only the end closure 14 will be further described and the details thereof can be applied to the end closure 15 or the like.

However, it is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to a container which has like end closures as one of the open ends 12 and 13 of the container 10 of this invention could be closed by an end closure having a configuration different than the end closures of this invention or the same may include a comple'tely different type of closing means, such as an integral bottom wall of the container body.

One method for forming the end closure 14 of this invention is illustrated in FIGURE 4 wherein a flat blank of metallic material, such as aluminum alloy 5154-H38 having a thickness between 0.0094 of an inch and 0.0105 of an inch is adapted to be drawn between a pair of cooperating die means 16 and 17 to form the completed end closure 14 of this invention.

' While specic examples of the various dimensions and composition of the end closure 14 of this invention has been given before and hereinafter, it is to be understood that such dimensions and composition are merely for purposes of illustration to point out the advantages of this invention withouty imposing a limitation on the appended claims.

As illustrated in FIGURE 4 the die member 16 has an annular depending portion-18 provided with a substantially flat surface 19 joined to an annular vertical portion 20v at a circular corner 21. The corner 21 of the die member 16 has a sharp edge thereof slightly rounded to prevent scoring of the end closure 14 subsequently formed between the die members 16 and 17.

An annular flat surface 22 surrounds the cylindrical,

projection 18 of the die means 16 and joins a vertically extending annular wall 23 at a rounded corner 24.

The annular wall 23 of the die member 16 joins with a substantially flat annular outer wall 25, the outer wall 25 being above the flat wall 1-9.

An outer -annular auxiliary die member 26 is carried by the die means 16 and is movable relative thereto to form a curl on the end closure 14 in a manner hereinafter described.

The die member 17 has a central circular flat portion provided with an upper surface 27. A raised annular portion 28 surrounds the central portion 27 .and has a substantially flat horizontal upper surface 29 joined to an arcuately cross-sectioned surface 30 formed on a large radius, the flat surface 29 being disposed above the central surface 27 of the die member 17.

The die member 17 includes an annular auxiliary die member 31 having an upper arcuately, cross-sectioned surface 32 terminating at the corners thereof with a small inside and outside corner radius. The ydie member 31 has vertically disposed side Walls 33 and 34.

While the die means 16 and 17 have each been illustrated as having only two parts, it is to be understood that each die means 16 and 17 can be formed from one or any desired number of parts as desired.

When a flat blank of material forming the end closure 14 of this invention is disposed between the open die means 16 and 17 and, thereafter, formed into the end closure 14 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4, it can be seen that the die means 16 and 17 cooperate together to form the end closure 14 in a unique coniiguration having many advantages as will be apparent hereinafter.

In particular, the formed end closure 14 has a substantially iiat horizontal center wall portion 35. The outer edge 36 of the central wall portion 35 is integrally joined to the inner edge 37 of an `annular slanting flat band-like wall portion 38 which extends upwardly from the central portion 35.

The outer edge 39 of the slanting wall portion 38 is integrally joined to an arcuately cross-sectioned annular band-like wall portion 40 at its inner edge 41, the arcuately cross-sectioned portion 40 being formed on the larcuately shaped surface 30 of the die means 17.

The outer edge 42 of the arcuate wall portion 40 is integrally joined to the inner edge 43 of a substantially at horizontal annular band-like wall portion 44 having its outer edge 45 integrally joined to the lower edge 46 of a substantially vertically extending annular band-like wall portion 47 by an arcuately cross-sectioned portion 48 formed at the corner of the

surfaces

22 and 23 of the die means 16.

The upper edge 49 of the wall portion 47 is integrally joined to a bead-forming portion 50 of the end closure 14.

The bead-forming portion 50 of the end closure 14 normally has a curl 51 at the outer edge thereof while the central portion thereof forms a searning panel joined to the vertically extending wall portion or chuck wall 47 by a seaming panel radius. Similarly the arcuate portion 48 of the end closure 14 is normally dened as a chuck wall radius while the substantially at horizontal wall portion 44 is termed a chuck panel.

Accordingly, it can be seen that the end closures 14 and of this invention can be readily formed by the die means 16 and 17.

The end closure 14 is adapted to be secured to one of the open ends 12 and 13 of the container body 11 in any suitable manner.

For example, reference is made to FIGURE 2 wherein the container body 11 is formed of fiberboard laminations and the like whereby the vertical wall portion 47 of the end closure 14 is disposed inside the internal peripheral surface 52 of the container body 11 and the beadforming portion 50 thereof is seamed inwardly to grip the open end 12 of the container body 11.

Alternately, the container body 11 can comprise metallic material or other composite material in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 and have the upper end 53 thereof turned in a seaming fashion with the curl portion 51 of the closure 14.

Therefore, it can be seen that the end closure 14 of this invention can be readily attached to the open ends 12 and 13 of the container body 11 in any conventional manner.

By forming the end closure 14 of this invention in the configuration illustrated in the drawings, it has been found that the end closure 14 withstands greater abuse than conventional end closures having the same gage or heavier gages than the gage of the end closure of this invention.

In particular, when the container 10 of this invention is dropped on the end closure 14, the contents of the container 10 provide an end thrust force that tends to flatten the end closure 14. However, this end thrust force is transferred into an outwardly directed radial force on the end closure 14 that tends to tighten the vertical wall 47 of the end closure 14 against the internal peripheral surface 52 of the container body 11 whereby the securement between the end closure 14 and the container body 11 is increased at the time the force is tending to force the end closure 14 off the open end 12 or 13 of the container body 11.

Thus, it can be seen that the depressed central portion of the end closure 14 of this invention when forced outwardly permits the slianting wall portion 38 and arcuate wall portion thereof to tend to act as a leaf spring to urge the vertical wall portion 47 thereof into tight contact with the ends 12 or 13 of the container body 11.

Since the arcuate wall portion 40 is provided with a relatively large radius adjacent the initial point of end closure depression, the same reduces stiffness in this area of the end closure and enhances the spring-like properties of the end closure 14.

In particular, it has been found that in comparison tests between the end closure 14 of this invention and conventional end closures, the end closures of this invention had greater abuse resistance results than the conventional end closures.

For example, the conventional end closure was formed of 0.0105 of an inch thick metallic material while end closures 14 of this invention were formed of like material having various thicknesses ranging from 0.0094 of an inch thick to 0.0105 of an inch thick.

The test containers were dropped on the end walls thereof from a distance of approximately 36 inches wherein the conventional end closure failed after an average of 19.1 drops while the 0.0094 of an inch thick end closure of this invention had a failure after an average of 78 drops, the 0.010 of an inch thick end closure 14 of this invention had a failure after an average of 88.1 drops and the 0.0105 end closure of this invention had failure after an average of 48.8 drops.

Thus, it can be seen that the depressed end closure 14 of this invention has improved properties over conventional end closures even when the end closure of this invention is formed of a thinner gage material than the conventional end closure.

Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention not only provides an improved container having increased abuse resistance over conventional containers, but also this invention provides improved end closures for such containers or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A container closure or the like having an outer peripheral bead forming portion, a substantially vertical band-like wall portion integrally joined at its top edge to said bead forming portion and having its bottom edge adapted to be disposed against the interior side wall means of a container, a substantially at horizontal bandlike wall portion integrally joined at its outer edge to the bottom edge of said vertical wall portion, an arcuately cross-sectioned band-like wall portion integrally joined at its outer edge to the inner edge of said at band-like wall portion, said arcuate band-like wall portion having its concave side adapted to face into the interior of said container and having its outer edge defining the highest point of said arcuate band-like wall portion, a slanting substantially straight-line cross-sectioned band-like wall portion integrally joined at its outer edge tothe inner edge of said arcuate band-like wall portion with its outer edge being the highest point of said slanting band-like wall portion, and a substantially flat horizontal center wall portion integrally joined at its `outer edge to the inner edge of said slanting band-like wall portion and defining the lowest point of said closure.

2. A container closure or the like as set forth in claim 1 wherein all of said band-like wall portions are annular and said center wall portion is circular.

3. A container closure or the like as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arcuate band-like wall portion has its cross-sectional arc defined by a relatively large radius.

4. A container closure or the like as set forth in claim 1 wherein said center wall portion has a surface area greater than 50% of the surface area of said fiat, arcuate and slanting band-like wall portions.

5. In combination, a container body having an end and interior side wall means, a closure secured to said end of said container body, said closure having an outer peripheral bead-forming portion attached to said end of said container body, a substantially band-like vertical Wall portion integrally joined at its top edge to said beadforming portion `and having its bottom edge disposed against said interior side wall means of said container, a substantially flat horizontal band-like wall portion integrally joined at its outer edge to the bottom edge of said vertical wall portion, an arcuately cross-sectioned band-like wall portion integrally joined at its outer edge to the inner edge of said fiat band-like wall portion, said arcuate band-like Wall portion having its concave side facing into the interior of said container and having its outer edge defining the highest point of said arcuate bandlike portion, a slanting substantially straight-lined crosssectioned band-like wall portion integrally joined at its outer edge to the inner edge of said arcuate hand-like wall portion with its -outer edge being the highest point of said slanting band-like wall portion, and a substantially fiat horizontal center wall portion integrally joined at its outer edge to the inner edge of said slanting band-like wall portion and defining the lowest point of said closure.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein al1 of said band-like Wall portions of said closure are annular and said center wall portion thereof is circular.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said arcuate band-like wall portion of said closure has its cross-sectional arc defined by a relatively large radius.

8. A combination as set forth in claim S wherein said center wall portion of said closure has a surface area greater than of the cross-sectional surface area of said container body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 1,383 1/ 1863 Wilson et al. 220-72 1,987,817 1/1935 Burns 220-66 2,321,408 6/ 1943 Mills et al. 220-67 2,810,492 10/1-957 Bergen et al. 220-6-7 X 3,105,765 10/1963 Greegan 2.20-66 X 3,111,240 11/ 1963 Whitton 220;-67 3,208,625 9/ 1965 Trabacchi 220'-67 X FOREIGN PATENTS 25,537 12/ 1935 Australia. 873,169 7/ 1961 Great Britain. 291,071 12/ 1931 Italy.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

JAMES R. GARRETT, Examiner.

Claims

1. A CONTAINER CLOSURE OR THE LIKE HAVING AN OUTER PERIPHERAL BEAD FORMING PORTION, A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL BAND-LIKE WALL PORTION INTEGRALLY JOINED AT ITS TOP EDGE TO SAID BEAD FORMING PORTION AND HAVING ITS BOTTOM EDGE ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED AGAINST THE INTERIOR SIDE WALL MEANS OF A CONTAINER, A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT HORIZONTAL BANDLIKE WALL PORTION INTEGRALLY JOINED AT ITS OUTER EDGE TO THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID VERTICAL WALL PORTION, AN ARCUATELY CROSS-SECTIONED BAND-LIKE WALL PORTION INTEGRALLY JOINED AT ITS OUTER EDGE TO THE INNER EDGE OF SAID FLAT BAND-LIKE WALL PORTION, SAID ARCUATE BAND-LIKE WALL PORTION HAVING ITS CONCAVE SIDE ADAPTED TO FACE INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER AND HAVING ITS OUTER EDGE DEFINING THE HIGHEST POINT OF SAID ARCUATE BAND-LIKE WALL PORTION, A SLANTING SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT-LINE CROSS-SECTIONED BAND-LIKE WALL PORTION INTEGRALLY JOINED AT ITS OUTER EDGE TO THE INNER EDGE OF SAID ARCUATE BAND-LIKE WALL PORTION WITH ITS OUTER EDGE BEING THE HIGHEST POINT OF SAID SLANTING BAND-LIKE WALL PORTION, AND A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT HORIZONTAL CENTER WALL PORTION INTEGRALLY JOINED AT ITS OUTER EDGE TO THE INNER EDGE OF SAID SLANTING BAND-LIKE WALL PORTION AND DEFINING THE LOWEST POINT OF SAID CLOSURE.