US3357551A

US3357551A - Package of cans and a clip for interconnecting cans

Info

Publication number: US3357551A
Application number: US174655A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr James C De Shazor
Original assignee: COMBI CLIP CO
Current assignee: COMBI CLIP CO
Priority date: 1962-02-12
Filing date: 1962-02-12
Publication date: 1967-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 1984-12-12

Description

Dec, 12, N5? J DE SHAZOR, JR

PACKAGE OF CANS AND A CLIP FOR INTERCONNECTING CANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 1962 m ra/vraz filmy C 0.9 5474/ Dec. 12 1%? J13. DE SHAZOFE. JR

A CLIP FOR INTERCONNECTING CANS CANS AND PACKAGE OF 3 Sheets-$heet Filed Feb. 12, 1962 E @W H. LAM J. c. DE SHAZOR, JR 3,357,553

PACKAGE OF CANS AND A CLIP FOR INTERCONNEGTING CANS Filed Feb. 12, 1962 5 Sheets$heet United States Patent 3,357,551 PACKAGE 0F CANS AND A CLIP F012 INTERQONNECTING CANS James C. De Shazor, Jra, Van Nuys, Califi, assignor to Comhi-Clip Co., Hollywood, (Ialifi, a corporation of California Filed Feb. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 174,655 14 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) This invention relates to a clip or fastening device for releasably securing together a plurality of peripherally beaded cans to create a unitary group of cans for handling as a single package.

This is a continuation-in-part of copending application Serial No. 100,618, filed April 4, 1961, by James C. De Shazor, Jr., for Clip for Interconnecting Cans, now abandoned.

it is desirable to market canned goods in multiple-unit packages, and it is a common practice to use paper cartons for this purpose. Paper cartons, however, are relatively expensive to make and to assemble with cans therein. Paper cartons, moreover, completely conceal the cans. In addition, paper cartons lack strength and are vulnerable to weakening by moisture.

Because of these disadvantages, various types of sheet metal clips for interconnecting cans have been suggested, but for various reasons, none have been accepted for widespread usage. One serious disadvantage is that sheet metal stampings for this purpose have relatively sharp edges that too often cut through the protective coatings of the metal cans and permit subsequent corrosion, Another disadvantage is that the sharp edges of a sheet metal clip are exposed when the clip is removed by a purchaser.

The invention avoids these disadvantages by providing a molded plastic clip having unique configuration features. The sharp edges of a plastic clip cannot gouge or otherwise damage the protective coatings of cans. A feature of the invention, moreover, is the concept of providing guard projections adjacent the sharp edges to reduce the likelihood of anyone being injured by the sharp edges after the clip is removed by a purchaser from a group of cans.

Another teaching of the invention is that a plastic clip molded for this purpose may be formed to any desired configuration and may be thickened in various parts of the configuration for strength or for ornamental appearance. A sheet metal stamping cannot be formed with locally thickened portions and, therefore, cannot have the structural and ornamental advantages of a clip molded of plastic.

Another advantage is found in a carrier clip that has a central finger hole to facilitate the carrying of a multiple-unit package by a purchaser. If the clip is made of sheet metal, the finger hole has a metal edge that may be a source of discomfort to a person carrying the package. Flanging or rolling the sheet metal edge is not a satisfactory solution. If the clip is made of plastic, however, the finger hole may be formed with relatively wide rounded edge that cannot cause discomfort.

Another difficulty with many of the prior art can clips, especially those which were formed for metal stampings and the like, relates to the problem of ease of assembly and disassembly of the carried containers. It will be apparent that metal stamping per se provides relatively rigid structure and, accordingly, special bending operations and the like were required to assemble the clip to the cans. Additionally, after assembly, the relatively rigid clip made it difiicult for the ultimate user to disassemble the cans from each other. As noted above, the metal clips frequently had relatively sharp edges and a disassembly operation by the user presented potential hazard in re personal injury. Further, the general flexibility of the dis- 3,357,551 Patented Dec. 12, 1967 closed arrangement contributes to safety in carrying the can arrangements. That is, for example, when a group of six cans are associated with one of the herein disclosed clips, it will be seen that opposed finger holes are provided whereby the user may grasp the associated cans by using his thumb and the middle finger. In the carrying action, of couse, the thumb and finger direct pressure toward each other and against the associated clip. Thus, the natural carrying action and the flexibility of the clip tends to bias the cans together tightly in a group which avoids accidental disassociation during user transport.

Further features of the disclosed invention relate to appropriate camming structure in the design of the clip per so which, when combined with the inherent flexibility of the clip, provide easy assembly of the clip to the can. In effect, the bead associated with the can end is naturally guided into assembled and locking relationship with the clip. Of course, the inherent flexibility of the arrangement also accommodates ready disassembly by the user in view of the fact that the cooperating parts of the clip which provide can retention may be easily biased away from each other and Without the use of excessive pressure or a hand tool whereby the can simply and easily demounts from the clip. For this purpose, certain disclosed embodiments'of the invention provide readily accessible tabs. These and other features of the disclosed invention will be readily appreciated by a complete review of the specification and drawings.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of marginal tongue portions shaped to facilitate disengagement of the clip from the cans of a group. The flexible tongues are tapered on their undersides to facilitate manual lifting of the tongues by the purchaser. The features and advantages of the invention may be understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, which is to be regarded as merely illustrative:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a group of six cans interconnected by two plastic clips in accord with the teachings of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan View of one of the plastic clips of FIGURE 1 showing how the plastic clip interconnects a group of four cans;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken as indicated by the line 33 of FIGURE 2 and showing the cross-sectional configuration of hook elements of the clip;

FIGURE 4 is a similar cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4- of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view similar to FIG- URE 2 showinghow the clip may be constructed to interconnect only two cans;

FIGURE 6 is a similar view of a third embodiment of the clip for interconnecting three cans;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary plan view on a reduced scale of a case of metal cans with the first embodiment of the invention in use to interconnect cans in the case;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken as indicated by the line 88 of FIGURE 5 and showing a projecting guard rib adjacent a tooth;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the invention and illustrating a multiple clip unit;

FIGURE 10 is a partially sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 1111 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along line 1313 of FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 1414 of FIGURE 9.

The first embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive, comprises a single body of plastic of suitable strength and flexibility, for example, an impact-type polystyrene. This particular embodiment of the invention is constructed to interlock four symmetrically arranged, tangentially abutting tin cans, the individual cans being indicated by the letter C. As best shown in FIGURE 3, the top of the can has a peripheral bead which forms a downwardly facing outer circumferential shoulder 12.

The plastic body is formed with four radial portions 14 to overlap top portions of the four cans respectively. Each of these radial portions 14 is formed with an arcuate shoulder 15 on its underside, the shoulder being curved to fit snugly against the inner side of the bead 10 of the corresponding can as may be seen in FIGURE 3. Each of the radial portions 14 is further formed with la plurality of downwardly-extending, hook-shaped teeth 16 to engage the outer circumferential shoulder of the corresponding bead in the manner shown in FIGURE 3. In the construction shown there are two sets on each of the radial portions 14 comprising two pairs of teeth on opposite sides of the center of the radial portion. As may be seen in FIGURE 3, each tooth 16 has a pointed end or end edge 18, the tooth being tapered to provide an inclined face 20 for cam action by the bead of a can. Thus, to assemble the plastic body to a can, it is merely necessary to position the plastic body correctly relative to the cam and then to force the plastic body or clip downward. As the inclined face 20 of a tooth moves against the bead of a can, the bead flexes the tooth radially outwardly of the can by cam action, the tooth subsequently snapping back into engagement with the bead;

A feature of the invention is the concept of providing an aperture 22 in the plastic body adjacent the root of each of the teeth 16, the aperture being on the hook side of the tooth, as may be seen in FIGURE 3. The provision of such an aperture lends flexibility to the corresponding tooth 16 with respect to flexure of the tooth away from the bead of a can. Thus, apertures 22 facilitate the assembling of a plastic clip to a group of cans. In the construction shown, a slit or slot 24 extends from each aperture 22 along each side of the corresponding tooth 16 to provide further freedom for flexure of a tooth. Thus, the deflection of a tooth by a bead of a can in the assembling of the clip to a can is accomplished. principally by flexure of the toothin the root region indicated by numeral 25 in FIGURE 3.

Two of the plastic clips in this first embodiment of the invention may be used to secure together a group of six cans in the manner indicated in FIGURE 1. It is contemplated that the plastic clips employed for this purpose will have relatively large central apertures 26 so that the group of cans shown in FIGURE 1 may be readily picked up by a person by inserting a forefinger into the central aperture 26 of one of the two clips and inserting the thumb of the same hand into the central aperture of the other clip. In this embodiment of the invention, the plastic body is further provided with a downwardly extending flange or skirt 28 around the rim of the central aperture 26 and the bottom edge of this flange is suitably rounded as indicated, to, avoid discomfort to a person carrying the group of cans. A feature of the invention is that the skirt 28 is closely adjacent the downwardly extending teeth 16 of the plastic clip and extends beyond the pointed ends of the teeth to serve as guards for the pointed ends. Thus, if a plastic clip is removed from the cans by a purchaser and is placed upside down on a support surface with the sharp ends of the teeth pointing upward, the cylindrical flange 28 will minimize the possibility of a person being inadvertently injured by the pointed teeth.

It is desirable to make the central aperture 26 of the plastic clip relatively large. In this regard, a feature of this first embodiment of the invention is that the two pairs of teeth of each of the radial portions 14 are spaced apart with a relatively large gap, It is apparent that with this spacing the central aperture 26 may be made of larger diameter than would otherwise be possible.

It is to be noted that each of the radial portions14 forms a marginal tongue 30 that extends beyond the bead 10 of the corresponding can to overhang the top wall 32 of the can. As may be seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, each of these marginal tongues may be tapered on its underside as indicated at 34 to facilitate manual removal of the plastic clip from a group of carg. The can may also be separated from the plastic clip by simply swinging the lower ends of the cans away from each other to cause the top walls 32 of the cans to rock against the tongues 30.

An important advantage of the described embodiment of the invention is that it may be assembled to cans that are packed tightly together in a case. FIGURE 7 shows a number of cans in a case 35 and shows the relative positions of the plastic clips for interlocking groups of cans in the case, each group consisting of two rows of three cans each. With the cans packed, together in the case, it is merely necessary to position the plastic clips as shown and then force the clips downward to engage the cans with the previously described snap action. High impact styrene is sufficiently rigid to secure the cans together with such effectiveness as to unit the cans to function as a single package. On the other hand, there is sufficient flexibility in high impact styrene to permit the toothshaped teeth 16 to function in the described manner.

FIGURE 5 shows how the invention may be embodied in a plastic clip 26 for interconnecting a pair of cans. The plastic clip 36 has two opposite radial portions 38 which are constructed and function in the same general manner as the radial portions 14 of the first embodiment of the invention. In this instance, each of the radial portions 38 has two sets of three teeth 16 spaced apart on its opposite halves. Each of the radial portions has the usual arcuate shoulder 15 on its underside to engage the inner side or inner circumference of the bead 10 of the corresponding can. Each of the radial portions 38 is formed with a tongue 40 which serves the same purpose as a previously described tongue 30, the underside of the tongue 40 being tapered back to the dotted line 42.

It is contemplated that the plastic clip 36 will project downwardly adjacent the teeth 16 to guard the pointed ends of the teeth as heretofore described. For this purpose the underside of the plastic clip 36 may be formed with a V-shaped flange 44. As may be seen in FIGURE 8, the flange 44 is formed with a rounded edge and extends below the pointed ends of the teeth 16.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a plastic clip 50 for interconnecting three symmetrically positioned tangentially abutting cans. The plastic clip 50 has three radial portions 52 that are constructed and function as previously described. Thus, each of the radial portions is provided with a plurality of teeth '16 and is further provided with an arcuate shoulder 15 on its underside to engage the inner circumference of the head of the corresponding can. In this instance each of the radial portions 52 is provided with three pairs of the teeth 16. Each of the radial portions is formed with a tongue 54 of the same configuration as the tongues 40 of the plastic clip 36.

The plastic clip 50 may project downwardly to guard the pointed ends of the teeth 16. For this purpose, the plastic clip is provided with three flanges 55 on its underside and is further provided with a central tubular flange 56. Each of these flanges is of the cross-sectional shape and relative depth indicated in FIGURE 8.

FIGURES 9 to 14, inclusive, illustrate an alternate embodiment of the disclosed clip and, considering FIGURE 9, it will be seen that a unitary multiple segment clip is indicated generally at 60. Specifically, the multiple segment comprises a first clip segment 62 and a second clip segment 64. The clip segments 62 and 64 are integrally joined by collar 66 which is connected at opposed ends to the respective segments. For purposes of the disclosure herein, it will be understood that the segments 62 and 64 are identical in structure and, accordingly, a description of only one segment need be set out. Considering the clip segment 62, it will be understood that a base or central planar portion 68 is provided, the upper surface of which will be considered as a reference plane for the subsequent structural description. Centrally of the segment 62, the planar portion 68 is provided with an integral, downwardly-extending wall 70. The wall 70 is generally circular in form as well as being annularly continuous to provide a finger hole for appropriate grasping of the clip-associated containers. Specifically, the integral unit of FIGURE 9 is provided with two apertures 72 and 74 respectively associated with the clip segments 62 and 64. As in the earlier described embodiments, the wall 70 extends downwardly substantially below the tip of the hook-like container gripping segments and thus provide the heretofore mentioned safety feature. Semiarcuate depressions 76, 76 may be provided in each wall 70 and have a measure of utility as guide cavities for use in automatic packaging of cans which is not here disclosed because it is not per so within the purview of the article invention here described. The clip 62 further comprises quadrantally arranged radial portions 78, 78. Each radial portion 78 comprises an upraised wall segment 80 extending above the planar portion 68 and in the form of an are, as best seen in FIGURE 9, said arc being provided with a radius equivalent to that of the containers to be packaged. The upraised wall 80 extends outwardly to a terminal point whereat it is bent generally downwardly to form an integral, downwardly-extending wall 82, said wall 82 defining, together with a portion of the upraised segment 80, an arcuate internal cavity 86, (FIG- URE 14). The cavity 86 is provided with a continuously arced corner 88 which, as in the previous embodiments, serves to firmly engage the arcuate bead of the related carried containers. Returning to the planar section 68, it will be noted that apertures 90, 90 are provided in the planar segment 68 at spaced points and immediately above the internal cavity 86. As is best illustrated in FIGURE 13, the planar section 68 communicates with a downwardly-projecting, hook-like can retainer element 92 by integral formation with the wall 68 and immediately adjacent the respective apertures 90. Again, this construction of each hook-like element being formed immediately adjacent a related aperture 90, adds flexibility to the hook-like structure. As best seen in FIGURE 11, each hook-like segment 90 comprises downwardly tapered sides 94 and 96 which terminate at the bottom thereof in a relatively sharp point 98. The bottom surface of each hook-like segment 92, and beginning with the terminal point 98, is provided with an upwardly-directed cam surface 100, said cam surface 100 being directed toward an upwardly-directed secondary cam surface 102 defined on the lower end of the wall 82. It will further be understood that the hook-like segment 92 is biased radially outwardly, in its normal position, while the wall 82 is normally biased inwardly. Thus, the hook-like segment 92 and the wall 82 are biased toward each other and define therebetween an opening 104 which communicates with the cavity 86. Additionally, the cam surfaces 100 and 102 are in angular converging relation to each other and are both directed to the opening 104, the cam surface 100 being located below the cam surface 102, as seen in vertical elevation.

As another feature of the invention, the hook-like segment 92 is provided with a tip 110 which is raised above the adjacent communicating surface, as seen in the elevational view of FIGURE 13, to provide a sharp line of contact with the underside of the adjacent head of the can. Thus, the tip 110 under the flexing action of the hook-like segment 92 is pressured into intimate engagement with the line of juncture between the bead segment of the can lid and the related adjacent wall section of the container.

As an additional feature of the disclosed embodiment of the invention, it will be noted that the upraised segment communicates centrally of each radial portion 78 with a pronounced outwardly-extending finger tab 112. The lower surface 114 of the finger tab 112 is preferably located at or slightly above the upper surface of the planar segment 68 when seen in elevational view. Thus the undersurface of the tab 112 is readily accessible to the finger of the user, thus facilitating container disassembly, as will be subsequently described.

Certain inherent advantages in use will readily be apparent from the structure just described. For example, the particular location of the cam surfaces and 102 facilitates easy assembly of the clip to the related cans. For example, when the clip is brought downwardly against the generally arcuate bead of the related can top, the bead initially engages the lower cam surface 100 of the flexible hook-like segments 92. By virtue of the cam action of this engagement, the bead is moved toward the surface 102 of the wall 82. Upon contact with the cam surface 102, the bead is automatically positioned for proper entry into the cavity 86. Additionally, concurrent abutting engagement with the cam surfaces 100 and 102 by the head of the container tends to bias the downwardly-extending, hook-like segments 92 and the wall 82 away from each other, increasing the aperture opening 104 to provide proper admission of the bead. Thus, both the wall and the hook-like segment flex away from each other to admit the head into the cavity 86 and, upon complete admission into the cavity 86, they snap back to approximately their original location and maintains a biasing pressure on the inner and outer areas of the bead. The importance of this relatively easy and accurately automatic location of the container bead relative to its receiving cavity 86 will be more clearly understood when consideration is given to the tremendous volume of cans which are currently processed and packaged. Specifically, the relatively automatic location of the bead relative to the retaining hook-like segment 92 and the cavity 86 saves time and importantly improves the eificiency of multiple container packaging.

Additionally, after the packaging operation has been completed, the described form and structure of the hooklike segment 92 as well as the adjacent cooperating portion of the wall 82, being in a flexed condition, tend to pressureengage the associated bead on opposed sides thereof, thus providing safe and positive can packaging and eliminating the possibility of accidental disassociation during user transport.

The additional feature of the pronounced release tabs 112 will become apparent when consideration is given to the fact that upward pressure on the tab '112 and consequent upward motion thereby induces the counter-clockw1se or outward bending of the immediately adjacent connected wall 82, thus flexibly biasing the wall 82 out of engagement with the inner surface of the related can bead and enlarging the aperture 104 between the wall 82 and the hook-like segment 92. With this in mind, it will be apparent that convenient and easy disassembly of a given container from the clip is accomplished by this tab action. Further, the normal pressure during transport of the users fingers located in the apertures 72 and 74 is directed against the walls 70 and toward each other. This pressure tends to buckle or bow the over all clip unit 60, thus biasing the carried containers or cans toward each other into a closely related, composite group.

From the above, it will be understood that the disclosed invention provides an important advancement in the art of container packaging, not only from the standpoint of economy and efficiency in container packaging, but also from the standpoint of increased utility to the ultimate container user. My description in specific detail of the selected embodiments of the invention will suggest various changes,

substitutions and other departures from my invention within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fastening device for releasably securing together a plurality of symmetrically positioned cans, each having at its upper end a peripheral bead forming a downwardlyfa'cing outer circumferential shoulder, said device comprising:

a body of resiliently flexible plastic material for positioning at the center of the plurality of cans to overlap a portion of the top of each can,

said body having arcuate shoulders on its underside to engage the inner sides of the beads of the respective cans and having a plurality of downwardly-extending, resiliently-flexible, hook-shaped teeth for cooperation with each of said arcuate shoulders to hook under the outer circumferential shoulder of the corresponding head,

said body being apertured adjacent the root of each of said teeth on the hook side of the tooth to facilitate fiexure of the tooth for engaging a bead of a can,

said teeth being tapered in thickness with downwardly pointed ends for cam action by the head of the corresponding cans,

said body projecting downward adjacent said teeth below the ends of the teeth to guard the pointed ends of the teeth when the body is removed from the pinrality of cans.

said body having marginal tongue portions to overlie the respective cans to facilitate disengagement of the body from the cans,

said body of plastic material being completely preformed for effective engagement with the plurality of cans whereby the body can be engaged with a plurality of cans simply by merely forcing the body against the ends of the cans to cause each of said teeth to flex outward to pass said outer circumferential shoulder of a can and then to flex inward into engagement with the circumferential shoulder.

2. A fastening device as set forth in claim 1,

which has a central aperture large enough to admit a finger for carrying the plurality of cans,

said central aperture being formed with a downwardlyextending flange, said flange being adjacent said teeth and constituting the downward projection of the body to guard the teeth.

3. A fastening device for releasably interconnecting a pair of tangentially abutting cans, each having at its upper end a peripheral bead forming a downwardly-facing outer circumferential shoulder, said device comprising:

a body of resiliently-flexible plastic material with two opposite portions to overlap portions of the tops of the two cansrespectively,

each of said portions of the body having an arcuate shoulder on its underside to engage the inner side of the head of the corresponding can,

said portions of the body having two pairs of downwardly-extending, resiliently-flexible, hook-shaped teeth lying respectively on opposite sides of its center to hook under the outer circumferential shoulder of the head of the corresponding can,

said teeth being tapered in thickness with downwardly tapered ends for cam action by the bead of the corresponding cans,

each of said portions of the body having downward extensions adjacent the teeth thereof and spaced therefrom extending downward at least as far as the teeth to serve as guards for the teeth when the body is removed from the cans,

each of said portions of the body being formed with a central marginal tongue to facilitate removal of the body from the cans,

said body of plastic material being completely preformed for effective engagement with the plurality of cans whereby the body can be engaged with a plurality of cans simply by merely forcing the body against the ends of the cans to cause each of said teeth to flex outward to pass said outer circumferential shoulder of a can and then to flex inward into engagement with thecircumferential shoulder.

4. A fastening device for releasably securing together a plurality of symmetrically positioned cams, each having at its upper end a peripheral bead forming a downwardlyfacing outer circumferential ledge, said fastening device comprising:

a body of resilient plastic material positioned intermediate the .plurality of cans, said'body including radial portions each overlying one of said cans, each radial portion including a cavity arranged to receive and hold said bead, said cavity being defined by a shoulder engaging the inner surface of the related bead, said body having an opening above a substantial portion of said cavity, each radial portion having at least one downwardlyextending resilient'hook-shaped tooth to underlie said head and engage said downwardly-facing ledge, and, said tooth having a sloped lower end portion to guide the bead to the cavity during assembly of the device to the cans by relative axial movement between the cans and device such that said shoulder and said tooth are flexed away relative to each other to admit said bead into said cavity, and each body opening being immediately above one of said hook-shaped teeth and dimensioned so as to permit flexing of the associated tooth and shoulder to permit the fastening device to be secured to the cans with a minimum stressing of the plastic material thereof. 5. A device according to claim 4 wherein: said shoulder has a sloped lower end portion, and the sloped lower end portions of the shoulder and tooth are inclined toward each other and said cavity to guide the can bead to the cavity during assembly of the device .on the cans by relative axial movement between the cans and device such that said shoulder and said tooth are flexed away relative to each other to admit said head into said cavity. 6. A device according to claim 5 wherein: the sloped lower end portion on said tooth is positioned below the sloped lower end portion on said shoulder. 7. A one-piece, entirely preformed, fastening device for releasably securing together a plurality of symmetrical positioned cans each having at its upper end a peripheral bead forming a downwardly-facing outer circumferential shoulder, said device comprising:

a body of resiliently flexible plastic material for positioning at the center of the plurality of cans, said body having a radial portion to overlap each can of the plurality of cans, each of said radial portions being formed with a shoulder on its underside to engage the inner side of the bead of the corresponding can, each of said radial portions being formed with at least one downwardly-extending, resiliently-flexible, tooth having a shank portion and a hook-shaped portion on the lower end of the shank to hook under the outer circumferential shoulder of the head of the corresponding can, i

said shank portion being spaced from said shoulder along its length to provide a cavity in which said bead is positioned, said hook-shaped portion extending toward said shoulder and being spaced therefrom a distance less than the radial thickness of the can head,

said body having a continuous slot immediately above said hook-shaped portion of the tooth,

said body of plastic material being completely preformed for effective engagement with the plurality of cans such that the body can be engaged with a plurality of cans by merely forcing the body toward the ends of the cans to cause said tooth and shoulder to flex apart relative to each other to admit said can bead into said cavity and then to flex inward relative to each other to grip the can bead.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein each radial portion has an integral outwardly extending tab which is manually engaged by the users fingers and swung toward the body of the device.

9. A fastening device for releas-ably securing together a plurality of symmetrically positioned cans each having at its upper end a peripheral bead forming a downwardlyfacing outer circumferential shoulder, said device comprising:

a body of resiliently flexible plastic material for positioning at the center of the plurality of cans,

said body having a radial portion to overlap each can of the plurality of cans,

each of said radial portions being for-med with a shoulder on its underside to engage the inner side of the head of the corresponding can,

each of said radial portions being formed with a plurality of downwardly-extending, resiliently-flexible, hook-shaped teeth to hook under the outer circumferential shoulder of the bead of the corresponding can, said teeth being tapered in thickness with downwardly pointed ends and a portion of said body projects downward adjacent the teeth below the ends of the teeth to guard the pointed ends of the teeth when the body is removed from the plurality of cans,

said plurality of teeth comprising at least one tooth on the two halves respectively of the radial portion,

10. A preformed, unitary plastic clip adapted for application to a plurality of cans to assemble the cans to form a package, said cans each having a peripheral bead extending radially outward and upward from at least one end thereof, comprising:

(a) a substantially unitary body portion,

() a plurality of legs integral with and extending radially outward from said body, the number of said legs being equal to the number of cans to be assembled,

(c) a downwardly extending tooth-like structure integral with the outer extremity of each leg and engageable with the outer face of said can head,

(d) a connector unit integral with each of said legs and extending outwardly therefrom, each connector unit being above, spaced from, and vertically remote from said tooth-like structure,

(e) an extension on each connector unit, said extension being spaced from said tooth-like structure, and

(f) a downwardly extending shoulder integral with each extension and engageable with the inner face of said can head, said tooth-like structure and said shoulder being flexible relatively away from each other to admit said can head therebetween upon the clip being moved axially toward said cans, and each of said extensions on each connector unit being spaced from an associated tooth-like structure by an opening positioned immediately thereabove and dimensioned so as to permit said relative flexing of the clip with a minimum stressing of the plastic material thereof.

'11. A clip according to claim 10 wherein said connector unit includes two spaced flexible elements, one element being located immediately beyond the end of each tooth-like structure.

12. A clip according to claim '10 wherein said toothlike structure has a downwardly tapering bottom face to guide the can head to a position between the shoulder and structure when the clip is moved axially toward said cans.

13. A clip according to claim 10 wherein each of said tooth-like structures and shoulders have a downwardly tapering bottom face, the taper of said tooth-like structure being toward the shoulder and vice versa, to guide the can head between the shoulder and structure when the clip is moved axially toward the cans.

14. A clip according to claim 13 wherein the tapered bottom face of the tooth-like structure extends downwardly below the tapered bottom face of the shoulder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,800,109 4/1931 Selig 206- 2,170,204 8/ 1939 Lemoine 24-138 2,566,804 9/ 1951 La Plamme et al. 24-81 2,815,855 112/ 1957 Fisher 24-81 2,838,818 6/1958 Brennan 24-81 2,876,897 3/1959 Taylor 206-65 3,002,612 10/ 1961 Poupitch 206-65 3,022,888 2/ 196 2 Brunsing 24-81 3,199,908 8/1965 'Poupitch 206-65c XR THERON E. CONDO'N, Primary Examiner,

A. G. STONE, M. H. WOOD, 112., D. G. STOCKING, Examiners.

L. O. MAASSEL, D. S. GRIFFIN, Assistant Examiners.

Claims

1. A FASTENING DEVICE FOR RELEASABLY SECURING TOGETHER A PLURALITY OF SYMMETICALLY POSITIONED CANS, EACH HAVING AT ITS UPPER END A PERIPHERAL BEAD FORMING A DOWNWARDLYFACING OUTER CIRCUMFERENTIAL SHOULDER, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: A BODY OF RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE PLASTIC MATERIAL FOR POSITIONING AT THE CENTER OF THE PLURALITY OF CANS TO OVERLAP A PORTION OF THE TOP OF EACH CAN, SAID BODY HAVING ARCUATE SHOULDERS ON ITS UNDERSIDE TO ENGAGE THE INNER SIDES OF THE BEADS OF THE RESPECTIVE CANS AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF DOWNWARDLY-EXTENDING, RESILIENTLY-FLEXIBLE, HOOK-SHAPED TEETH FOR COOPERATION WITH EACH OF SAID ARCUATE SHOULDERS TO HOOK UNDER THE OUTER CIRCUMFERENTIAL SHOULDER OF THE CORRESPONDING BEAD; SAID BODY BEING APERTURED ADJACENT THE ROOT OF EACH OF SAID TEETH ON THE HOOK SIDE OF THE TOOTH TO FACILITATE FLEXURE OF THE TOOTH FOR ENGAGING A BEAD OF A CAN, SAID TEETH BEING TAPERED IN THICKNESS WITH DOWNWARDLY POINTED ENDS FOR CAM ACTION BY THE BEAD OF THE CORRESPONDING CANS, SAID BODY PROJECTING DOWNWARD ADJACENT SAID TEETH BELOW THE ENDS OF THE TEETH TO GUARD THE POINTED ENDS OF THE TEETH WHEN THE BODY IS REMOVED FROM THE PLURALITY OF CANS. SAID BODY HAVING A MARGINAL TONGUE PORTIONS TO OVERLIE THE RESPECTIVE CANS TO FACILITATE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE BODY FROM THE CANS, SAID BODY OF PLASTIC MATERIAL BEING COMPLETELY PREFORMED FOR EFFECTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PLURALITY OF CANS WHEREBY THE BODY CAN BE ENGAGED WITH A PLURALITY OF CANS SIMPLY BY MERELY FORCING THE BODY AGAINST THE ENDS OF THE CANS TO CAUSE EACH OF SAID TEETH TO FLEX OUTWARD TO PASS SAID OUTER CIRCUMFERENTIAL SHOULDER OF A CAN AND THEN TO FLEX INWARD INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL SHOULDER.