US3476289A - Bail-attachment ear for metallic containers - Google Patents

Description

Vmr. 4, 1969 T, A, MccoY 3,476,289

BAIL-ATTACHMENT EAR FOR METALLIC cox'mnlmns Filed June 28, 1968 Fig. J

INVENTOR Thomas AMCCoy' BY wm @faam ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,476,289 BAIL-ATTACHMENT EAR FOR METALLIC CONTAINERS Thomas A. McCoy, Stockton, Calif., assignor to Carando Machine Works, Stockton, Calif., a partnership Filed .lune 28, 1968, Ser. No. 740,890 Int. Cl. B65d 25/32 U.S. Cl. 220-91 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A metallic, bail-attachment ear adapted to be electrowelded to t-he side of a metallic container-suchas a pail-having an external coating of relatively dielectric material such as Ipaint or plastic; the ear being preformed with projections arranged to penetrate such coating and establish electrical contact, for such welding, with the metal of the `container upon the ear being forcefully pressed against the side thereof.

Background of the invention The use of projections, on a bail-attachment ear, to penetrate arelatively dielectric coating on a metallic container when the ea-r is forcefully pressed against the side thereof, and for the purpose of providing electrical contact with the metal of such container, is a known expedient as evidenced-for example-by United States Patent No. 2,845,522, issued July 29, 1958, to P. M. Hall. Previously, however, the projections on the bailattachment ear were preformed by a pointed circular punch driven through the ear and which formed a round hole surrounded by projections comprised of a multiplicity of jagged points of varying height, no `one of which was supported from the ear in a predictable manner. With the projections thus formed, wholly effective penetration of the dielectric coating on the container, and electrical contact with the metal thereof for welding, was not always accomplished. The present invention was conceived in the course of endeavors seeking a solution to such problem.

Summary of the invention The present invention provides, as a major object, a bail-attachment ear for a metallic container-such as a pail-which includes preformed, inwardly extending projections, of novel configuration, for attainment in a most ecective manner of the requisite penetration of the dielectric coating on the container and the making of positive electrical contact with the metal thereoffor welding-upon the ear being forcefully pressed against the side of such container.

The present invention provides, as an additional object, a lbail-attachment ear, as in the preceding paragraph, wherein the projections (which are formed on opposed flanges of the ear) are each lip-like with a substantially straight, continuous, sharp or chisel-like outer edge; there being, on each flange, a pair of such projections disposed in spaced parallel relation, with an opening therebetween. Such projections are formed by a punch of special shape.

The present invention provides, as another object, a bail-attachment ear, as above, wherein the projections assure of better electrical conductivity between the ear and the container and, consequently, improved electro-welding of the ear on said container.

The present invention provides, as a further object, a bail-attachmet ear which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture, and ready electro-welding to a metallic container.

The present invention provides, as a still further ob- 3,476,289 Patented Nov. 4, 1969 ject, a practical and reliable bail-attachment ear, and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. l is an elevation-from the outsideof the improved 'bail-attachment ear.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal plan of the ear; the view, taken 4substantially on line 2 2 of FIG. l, being partly broken away and partly in section.

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken substantially on line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the method of forming the projections on the ear.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal plan similar to FIG. 2, but shows the ear in initial engagement with the side of a container.

FIG. 6 is also a similar view, but shows the ear as deformed by pressure so as to closely engage and follow the contour of the container, and with the projectionsas penetrated through the dielectric coatingwelded to said container.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the bailattachment ear is stamped out Vof sheet metal and cornprises a body indicated generally at f1; such body including a circular, outwardly projecting cup 2 provided with a central opening 3 in its outer face, and through which opening a bail end (not shown) is adapted to be projected in coupling engagement.

The body 1, on opposite sides of the cup 2, also includes generally fiat laterally projecting flanges 4, each of like configuration. The body 1, as a whole, has an initial longitudinal curvature, the radius of which is somewhat less than that of the side of the container 5 to which the bail-attachment ear is to be welded.

Centrally thereof, each flange 4 is formed with a relatively small rectangular opening 6 which is somewhat elongated lengthwise of the ear; i.e. in a plane peripherally -of the container. Along the side or opposed longitudinal edges of the opening 66, each flange 4 is provided with outwardly and equally rearwardly extending, lip-like projections 7; each such projection having a straight, continuous, sharp or chisel-like outer edge as shown. While the projections 7 of each pair thereof are disposed in adjacent but spaced parallel relation, they are also angled in inwardly converging relation. See FIG. 3.

Each opening 6 and the related pair of projections 7 are simultaneously formed, during the manufacture of the ear, by means of a sharp-edged chisel-like punch 8 mounted to work into an opening in a backing die 9 on which one of the fianges -4 rests. Upon the punch 8 being forcefully power advanced toward the backing die 9, such punch penetrates the die-supported flange 4, and thus forms the projections 7 in the shape previously described.

Each ear is attached to the side of the container in the following manner:

The ear is first brought into engagement with the' side of the container at the point where such ear is to be welded thereto (see FIG. 5); the straight, continuous, and sharp outer edges of the projections 7 on each flange 4 then being in engagement with the dielectric coating 10 on the container, and which coating may be paint, plastic, or the like.

As thus initially engaged with the side of the container, the body 1 of the ear is not then concentric thereto; this because of the difference in their radial size, as previously described.

Nextly, with a rigid backing member 11 in the container in engagement therewith directly inwardly of the ear, an opposed outside pressure member 12 is brought into engagement with the flanges 4 from the outside. Forceful pressure is then exerted against the member 12, and hence against the flanges 4. Upon such forceful pressure being applied against the flanges 4, the longitudinal curvature of the body 1 becomes that of the side of the container, and the anges 4 spread apart somewhat and lie flush against said side. When this occurs, the straight, continuous, sharp outer edges of the projections 7 cut through or penetrate the dielectric coating 10, and thence engage and scrape along the metal of the container as said projections collapse. This assures of a positive metal-to metal electrical contact between the flanges 4 and the metallic container 5.

The members 11 and 12 are the actual welding electrodes, and the assembly of which is energized in predetermined timed relation to penetration of the projections 7 through the dielectric coating 10 and the making of the electrical contact by said projections with the metal of the container. Thus, the electrode members 11 and 12 act to cause an electro-welding, as at 13, of each flange 4 to the container in the immediate zone of the' collapsed projections 7.

The effectiveness of the ultimate weld is assured by reason of the particular form of the projections 7, including the straight, continuous, sharp outer edges thereof, whereby the dielectric coating on the container is not only cleanly penetrated but also a positive electrical conta-ct is made with the metal of the container upon the ear being disposed in position and then forcefully clamped between the electrode members 11 and 12.

By virtue of the fact that the projections 7 are lip-like with full-length backing by the related flange, they are stronger and more pressure' can be applied to them to cut through or penetrate the coating on the container, than heretofore.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a bail-attachment ear for metallic conta-iners as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specifi-cation sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the bail-attachment ear for metallic containers, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A metallic, bail-attachment ear, for electro-welding to a metallic container having a relatively dielectric coating thereon, which includes a central member for reception ofvone end of a bail, substantially flat flanges projecting in opposition from the central member, and inward projections formed integrally on the flanges and adapted to penetrate the coating and establish electrical contact with the metal of the container upon the flanges being forcefully pressed thereagainst; characterized by the projections each having a substantially straight, continuous, sharp outer edge, there being a pair of said inward projections on e'ach ange, the projections of each pair being disposed in adjacent but spaced parallel relation, each flange including a substantially rectangular opening in a direction lengthwise of the ear, and the project-ions of each pair extending inwardly from the corresponding flange at the related longitudinal edges of the opening.

2. A bail-attachment ear, as in claim 1, in which the projections of each pair thereof are disposed in inwardly converging relation from said longitudinal edges of the opening.

3. A bail-attachment ear, as in claim 1, in which the projections of each pair extend inwardly an equal distance.

4. A metallic, bail-attachment ear, for electrowelding to a metallic container having a relatively dielectric coating thereon, which includes a central member for reception of one end of a bail, substantially flat flanges projecting in opposition from the central member, and inward projections formed integrally on the flanges and adapted to penetrate the coating and establish electrical Contact `with the metal of the container upon the flanges being forcefully pressed thereagainst; characterized by the projections each having a substantially straight, continuous, sharp outer edge, there being a pair of said inward projections on each flange, and the projections of each pair being disposed `in adjacent but spaced parallel relation, extending inwardly from the corresponding flange an equal distance, and being disposed in inwardly converging relation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,670,131 5/1928 Allerton 220-91 2,450,655 10/ 1948 Goldsworthy 219-93 2,845,522 7/1958 Hall 219-93 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner JAMES R. GARRETT, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 219-93

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