US3712530A

US3712530A - Drum-like container set up from a folded flat of sheet material

Info

Publication number: US3712530A
Application number: US00111946A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Croley
Original assignee: Corco Inc
Current assignee: Corco Inc
Priority date: 1971-02-02
Filing date: 1971-02-02
Publication date: 1973-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-23
Also published as: CA934720A

Abstract

A drum-like container set up from a flat blank of sheet material which is scored to provide a plurality of vertically disposed panels connected together at scored vertical fold lines, with the panels bent relatively at such score lines to provide a drum-like structure. Panels at the respective ends of the blank laterally overlap and are secured together. The blank is folded flat about two of the vertical fold lines to provide superimposed sections, each section consisting of a plurality of connected vertical panels. This folded and collapsed flat can be set up for use by expanding it into polygonal tubular form with upper and lower open ends. These respective ends receive substantially rigid rings, each of which may be a part of an end closure or separate therefrom, which interlock therewith in such a manner as to impart to and to maintain the drum-like form of the expanded structure.

Description

United States atent 1191 Croley 1 1 Jan. 23, 1973 [54] DRUM-LIKE CONTAINER SET UP FROM A FOLDED FLAT OF SHEET Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorhead MATERIAL Attorney-Mahoney, Miller & Stebens [75] Inventor: Thomas Croley, Worthington, Ohio [57-] ABSTRACT [73] Assignee: Corco, Ine., Columbus, Ohio Filed:

Feb. 2, 1971 Appl. No.: 1l1,946

19 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures [52] ..229/4.5, 229/57 511 1 11. c1. ..B65d 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..229/4.5, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8

[56] 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,134,984 11/1938 Page ..229 5.7 1,943,568 1 1934 Ware..... ...229 5.5 2,306,255 12/1942 SCOII.. ...229/5.s

2,226,178 12 1940 Page ..229/5 5 2,053,679 9/1956 Page 229 45 x 2,671,593 3 1954 Page 229 45 x 1,955,865 4/1934 Wellman ..229 5.5

PATENTEDJAH 23 ms SHEET 2 BF 5 INVENTOR.

THOMAS E. CROLE Y BY MAHONEY. ILLER & STEBENS ATTORNEYS PATENTED m 23 I975 SHEET 3 OF 5 Bio.

a .w m

MAHONEY, MILLER 8. ST ENS romvsvs PATENTEDJANZB ma 3,712,530

sum u 0F 5 [NVENTOR THOMAS E. CROLEY ATTORNEYS BY MAE-IYONEY, MILLER 8- S7:

PATENTEDJAH 23 I975 SHEET 5 or 5 INVENTOR. THOMAS E. CROLEY BY H0g$Y,M/LLR/8 TEB s ing/was L DRUM-LIKE CONTAINER SET UP FROM A FOLDED FLAT OF SHEET MATERIAL At the present time, there is a well-known type of container made which is called a fiber drum or barrel. This is a container which usually has a cylindrical body portion made of laminations of paper or fiberboard, generally spirally or helically wound convolutions, and having suitable closures at top and bottom. The upper closure is usually removable and is normally held in place by a split clamping band with a releasable lock.

One great advantage of fiber drums or barrels of the type indicated, results from the fact that they can be readily handled by rolling on their chimes. One great disadvantage is the space they occupy in storage and shipping. Another great disadvantage is their high cost. This invention provides a structure similar to the usual fiber drum or barrel which is supplied as a collapsed folded flat but which can be set up easily as a drum-like container when it is to receive the product.

The structure of the present invention, as a folded or collapsed fiat, has all the advantages for shipment and storage as the usual folded or collapsed fiberboard box flat. However, when expanded and set up, the resulting container has the advantages of the usual fiber drum as to strength, being easy to handle, by rolling on its chimes, stacking, etc. and issubstantially less costly.

According to this invention, the body of the drumlike container is made from corrugated fiber board, solid fiber board, paper board, or other sheet material capable of being scored and folded. It is preferably made from a single blank of such sheet material. This blank is scored to provide a plurality of panels which fold relatively at vertical score lines, a large number of sides or panels being preferred so that when set-up, the body of the container will approach a circular drumlikeform, as much as possible, butwill still be made of the plurality of the panels connected at the vertical scored fold lines. Two or more of the adjacent vertical panels, which will be at the respective ends of the blank, will be disposed in laterally overlapping relationship and be secured togetherto provide a lapped vertical seam or joint. This structurebefore settingup, may be in a collapsed folded flat condition and is referred to as a flat herein. When set up into polygonal tubular form, it will receive substantially rigid rings at its respective upper and lower open ends which will interlock therewith so as to impart to it, and maintain, a

drum-like form having upper and lower ends. These rings are applied to the top and bottom open ends in such a way that there will be produced end extremities which will provide substantially circular chimes on which the drum-like container can be rolled or rested.

The rings may be a part of or separate from closure structures at the respective ends of the drum-like container. v

The best mode contemplated in carrying out this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view, partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation, illustrating one form of the drum-like container produced according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a sheet of material scored to provide a blank suitable for use in producing the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the upper and lower edges of the blank folded to provide ring-retaining shoulders, and the moving of the vertical ends of the blank into overlapping relationship.

. FIG. 4 is a similar view but showing the blank ends overlapped and secured together to provide the vertical lap or seam and showing the body-forming flat in the folded and collapsed condition in which it is supplied to the user.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view showing the flat expanded into polygonal tubular form to receive the end rings.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged axial or vertical sectional view showing the positioning of the upper ring on the upper shouldered end of the expanded tubular flat.

FIG. 7 is a similar view showing the positioning of the lower shouldered end of the expanded flat in the lower rmg.

FIG. 8 is a similar view, but showing the rings finally positioned on both the upper and lower ends of the expanded flat.

FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 9 9 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a disc which may be positioned in the bottom end closure for the container as shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a similar view, but showing an end closure disc of two laminations.

' FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view showing a bottom end closure with a disc similar to that of FIG. 1 positioned therein in a different way.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 but showing the lower ring as part of the bottom closure of the drumlike container.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing another form of the container.

With specific reference to the drawings, in FIG. 1, a finished set-up drum-like container embodying this invention is illustrated and includesthe polygonal tubular body 15, the bottom closure 16, the lower ring 17, the upper ring 18, the top closure 19, and the split clamping ring 20 which may be provided with the usual lever lock and ring contracting means (not shown) at'its adjacent split ends.

The body 15 is of polygonal tubular form throughout most of its axial extent, produced from sheet material, with the vertical scored fold lines 21 formedtherein at circumferentially spaced intervals to provide vertical panels 21a connected together at these scored lines. At its lower end extremity, the body material is turned upwardly outwardly to provide the upstanding flange 22 in contact with the outer surface of the'body wall. This will provide an outer ring-retaining shoulder 23 spaced upwardly from the lower end of the body. At the upper end extremity, the body material is similarly turned downwardly outwardly to provide the depending flange 24 in contact with the outer surface of the body wall so as to provide the outer ring-retaining shoulder 25 spaced downwardly from the upper end of the body. The

respective flanges

22 and 24 may have their inner surfaces glued or cemented, or otherwise secured, to the adjacent outer surfaces of the body 15. The

flanges

22 and 24 are turned at the respective scored

fold lines

26 and 28 to providethe curved end lips 27 and 29.- The lower andupper ends of the body 15 are received in and retained in the respective rings 17 andl8- and the rings are so formed that they properly receive the ends and interlock with the

respective shoulders

23 and 25 so that they will be held on the body.

The

rings

17 and 18 are preformed substantially rigid or semi-rigid so that they will hold their annular shape under the pressures met in forcing the ends of the body thereinto and thereafter functioning as chimes but may have some resiliency. A preferred ring material is steel, although other metal or plastic material of proper characteristics could be used. In any case, the rings are sufficiently rigid that when the ends of the tubular body are inserted therein, the body ends will be expanded into substantially annular tubular form and will be retained in that shape. The

rings

17 and 18 are provided at their outer-most extremities with continuous axially inwardly opening

socket portions

30 and 31, respectively, for receiving the curved

body end lips

27 and 29, respectively.

The parts so far described are the essential elements constituting the basic combination of this invention. The type of closure used at the bottom is a matter of choice depending on the usage of the container. In some cases, no closure is used at the top but if one is used, this is also a matter of preference. If no closure is used at the top of the container, the top ring may be substantially the same as that of the bottom ring 17 without its closure support flange. If a top closure 19 (FIG. 1) is used, the ring 18 will be of special form to provide means for locking the closure in position on the container.

With reference to the specific bottom closure 16 shown in FIG. 1, it comprises a flat disc 32 which may be of suitable material and is of annular outline and of a size to tightly fit within the lower end of the tubular body 15 and aid in imparting an annular form thereto. The ring 17 is provided with a continuous annular shelf 33 on which the disc 32 rests and which is spaced both radially inwardly and axially inwardly of the continuous ring socket portion 30. The shelf 33 is connected to the socket portion 27 by means of an outwardly angled connecting flange 34.

With reference to the specific top closure 19 shown in FIG. 1, it comprises a removable lid 35 made completely of metal comprising a central disc-like body having an inwardly turned V-shaped continuous annular supporting flange 36 which will rest on the upper curved surface of the socket portion 31 of the preformed ring 18. If desired, a sealing gasket 37 may be provided beneath the flange 36. To retain the lid 35 on the ring 18, the usual split clamping ring of channel cross-section may be provided, as indicated, and may be of the releasable lever-lock type. However, as explained above, this is an example of only one type of closure which can be used, but ifit is used, the ring 18 must be formed with a retaining shoulder 38 at its exterior. This shoulder is precisely formed in the exterior of the ring, spaced axially inwardly from its upper extremity, so that it will cooperate with the inwardly turned lower retaining lip 39 on the clamping ring 20 which is of inwardly turned channel-shape cross-section. The upper inwardly turned lip 40 will engage and rest on the associated downwardly and outwardly portion of the closure flange 36. Thus, the top closure 19 will be held in place and will be removable when the clamping ring 20 is of the releasable type. However, the ring 20 could be of the non-replaceable type which is clamped in place and is not adapted to be removed except by suitable tools which cut it or pennanently separate it at its fastened split ends.

The container body 15, shown in FIG. 1, is produced in the form of a folded and collapsed flat from a sheet 15a of suitable material which, as previously indicated, is a sheet of material capable of being scored and folded. According to this invention, the material is preferably corrugated fiber board, but may be solid fiber board, paper board or other suitable flexible material which is cut to the proper outline and size and is suitably scored. It is provided with the vertical scored fold lines 21 at uniformly spaced intervals throughout the length of the sheet which result in the formation of vertically extending panels 210 integrally joined at the fold lines. Any number of score lines 21 may be provided, but it is preferred to use a large number in order to provide a large number of panels 210, so they will be narrow, to facilitate subsequent formation of the blank into the annular tubular body 15. Since the panels are so narrow, they will be substantially rigid transversely. Adjacent its lower and upper edges, respectively, the sheet is provided with the fold lines 26 and 28 which provide for outwardly folding the

flanges

22 and 24 as shown in FIG. 3. It is preferred that these lines be continuous scored lines, but, if desired, they may be other lines to facilitate folding, such as intermittent scored lines, slits in the face sheet only at one side of corrugated board, perforations, etc., but in any case, they should be of such a nature that the flanges are still integrally joined to the sheet. If desired, for maximum strength, the

flanges

22 and 24 may be glued or otherwise secured in outwardly turned laminated relationship to the outer surface of the blank. The flanges are preferably continuous but they could be slit in alignment with the fold lines 21. As indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the

flanges

22 and 24 may terminate adjacent one end of the blank sheet 15a so that any number of the end panels 210 will not have these flanges thereon. This will provide for the other end of the blank to laterally overlap these panels to provide the lapped vertical joint or seam 21b shown in FIG. 4. This seam is preferably crushed, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, so that it is substantially the same thickness as adjacent material of the resulting body 15. The overlapping panels at this seam are glued or otherwise secured together and the body 15 will now be in the form shown in FIG. 4 where it is a collapsed flat folded at two of the opposed vertical fold lines 21. It will consist of superimposed flat sections, each section consisting of a plurality of integrally joined panels. In this form, it will be shipped and supplied to the prospective user. When desired, the flat can be readily expanded into polygonal tubular form, as illustrated in FIG. 5. When so expanded, the panels 21a will fold relatively about the fold lines 21 and the more fold lines and resulting panels provided, the more closely the unfolded and expanded body structure can approach a tube of annular cross-sectional form. Also, as will appear below, the

rings

17 and 18 applied to the open ends of the tubular body 15 under relative axial pressure will serve to expand and form those ends into substantially annular form and will even distort the substantially rigid panels radially so as to curve them transversely and more closely approach or reach the annular form. As stated, the lesser the width of each of the panels 21, the easier it will be to approach the annular form.

The manner in which the lower end of the tubular body is inserted into the lower ring 17 is illustrated in FIG. 7. It will be noted from this Figure that the ring 17 is so formed that its shoulder flange 17a projects radially inwardly to such an extent that its inner extremity 17b is located substantially in vertical alignment with the centerline C of the continuous socket groove a of the socket portion 30. It will be noted that this groove is of a width slightly less than the double thickness of material of the body 15 at its folded lower extremity which produces the lip 27. As the lower end of the polygonal tubular body 15 is inserted into the ring 17, it is constricted slightly to pass the shoulder flange 17a. Further downward movement of the body end under axial pressure will cause the lip 27 to strike the angular flange 34 which will serve as a cam to bend and force the end outwardly until the lip 27 is directed into the socket 30a. As the lipped end 27 goes into the socket groove 30a, it is compressed to permit further forcing thereinto until it bottoms or rests on the curved bottom of the socket, at which time, the shoulder flange 17a will snap over the shoulder 23 of the flange 22 of the body, as shown in FIG. 8. It will be apparent that the flange 22 will be of a height substantially equal to the vertical distance from the lower surface of the shoulder flange 17a to the inner bottom surface of the socket groove 30a. Thus, when the lower end of the body 15 is pushed into the ring 17, the end is cammed into the annular socket groove 30a and is caused to assume that annular form. Also, as the end reaches its flnal position in the socket groove 30a, the flange shoulder 23 snaps beneath the ring shoulder 17a and will thereafter retain the ring on the end of the body by preventing outward axial movement of the ring relative to the body. Thus, there is a snap-lock action between the end of the body and the ring. Thereafter, the substantially rigid pre-formed ring 17 will maintain the annular shape of that end of the body 15.

The manner in which the upper end of the polygonal tubular body 15 is inserted in the upper ring 18 is illustrated in FIG. 6. The ring 18 is so formed that its shoulder flange 18a projects radially inwardly to such an extent that its inner extremity 18b is located sub stantially in vertical alignment with the centerline C of the continuous socket groove 31a of the socket portion 31. It will be noted that this groove also is of a width slightly less thanthe double thickness of material of the body 15 at its folded upper extremity which produces the lip 29. It will further be noted that the inner wall or ring flange 41 of the socket portion31 of the ring 18 is extended downwardly lower than the opposed inwardly directed shoulder 38 and is flared inwardly to provide a cam surface 41a leading into the groove 31a. Also, it will be noted that there is a restricted throat between the inwardly turned shoulder 38 shoulder38 and the opposed wall 41 of the socket portion 31, which is of less width than the double-thickness. of body material, but through which that thickness can be forced. As the upper end of polygonal tubular body 15 is inserted into the ring 18, the body end is constricted slightly to pass the shoulder flange 18a. Further movement of the ring 18 onto the body or upward movement of the body into the ring under axial pressure, as indicated in FIG. 6,

will cause the lip 29 to strike the cam surface 41a, which will cause the body end to bend outwardly about the point 18b until the lip 29 is directed into the socket groove 310, being compressed slightly and the flange 41 yielding inwardly to permit passage into the socket groove 31a. The lip end 29 will eventually be fully positioned in the socket groove in contact with the upper curved wall thereof, at which time, the shoulder flange 18a will snap over the shoulder 25 of the flange 24 of the body, as shown in FIG. 8. It will be apparent that the flange 24 will be of a height substantially equal to the vertical distance from the upper surface of the shoulder flange 18a to the inner surface of the upper curved wall of the socket groove 310. Thus, when the ring 18 is positioned on the upper end of the body 15, the polygonal body end is cammed into the continuous annular socket groove 31a and is caused to assume that annular form. Also, as the end reaches its final position in the socket groove 31a, the flange shoulder 25 snaps over the ring shoulder 18a and will thereafter retain the ring on the end of the body by preventing outward axial movement of the ring relative to the body. Thus, there is a snap-lock action and substantially rigid pre-formed ring 18 will maintain the annular shape of the adjacent end of the body 15.

It will be apparent that with a ring 18 of the type indicated,'some distortion of the material of the upper laminated end of the body 15 is necessary adjacent the shoulder 38, but the shoulder is so precisely formed that this will not be extensive. However, the annular continuous shoulder 38 will be sufficiently definite that it can interfit with the retaining flange 39 of the channel-shaped retaining ring 20. As previously indicated, in some cases, a lid may not be required for the drumlike container and there may be no need for the shoulder 38 in the ring. In that case, a ring identical with ring 17 can be employed and can be applied on the upper end of the body in the same manner as it is applied on the lower end. As indicated, the rings are preformed and may be continuous or be split with ends suitably joined.

The application of the lower and upper preformed rings in the'manner indicated will produce the drumlike structure indicated in FIGS. 1 ands. The ends of the angular body 1S will be distorted into substantially annular form but the greater portion of the length of the body will still be of angular or polygonal cross section and the panels 21a and score-lines 21 will still be apparent. The more panels provided, the more closely the cross-section will approach a circle.

If the lower closure is of the type indicated in FIG. 1', the disc 32 previously mentioned will now be inserted in the lower ring 17. This disc 32 may be of the same material as the blank sheet 15a or of any other suitable material and is preferably substantially rigid. As previously indicated, each end of the body 15' is formed into and maintained in annular cross-section by inserting it into the annular groove of the respective end rings 17 and 18. This insertion will even cause transverse distortion of the panels 21a so that the resulting expanded body end is of substantially circular cross section; Therefore, the edge 45 of the disc 32 is made substantially circular and the disc is of such a diameter that it will tightly fit within the expanded annular end of the body 15. The disc 32 will have a circumference equal to the peripheral extent of the polygonal body at its inner surface. The disc will be inserted in the lower end of the body until it rests on the continuous flat annular shelf 33 provided on the ring 17, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 9. This disc will have its edge vertically aligning with the inner wall of socket 30 and will aid in maintaining the circular form of the lower end of the body 15. If desired, the disc 32 may be of laminated structure as indicated in FIG. 11 at 32a.

It is also possible to use a disc 32b which is cemented or otherwise secured to the upper flat surface of the flange 33 before the resulting closure 16a receives the lower end of the body 15, as shown in FIG. 12. In this instance, the disc is made of lesser diameter and terminates at the edge 45a spaced radially inwardly from the body 15 so that it does not extend over the cam flange 34. Since it will be secured to the ring 17 before the lower end of the body 15 is inserted therein, it must terminate at an inward point to permit the flange 34 to have a camming action on the adjacent end of the body.

In FIG. 13, there is another bottom closure arrangement indicated at 16b. In this case, the entire closure is formed of metal with the central disc 32b being integrally joined to the ring 17b by means of the connecting cam flange 34b. The lower end of the body 15 will be inserted in the socket portion 30b of the ring 17b in exactly the same manner as with the ring 17 previously described.

In FIG. 14, there is illustrated a modification of the container in which the lower ring 17c and the upper ring 18c are formed to fit inside the polygonal tubular body 15c rather than on the outside. Therefore, the ends of the body are turned inwardly rather than outwardly, to provide the inner flanges 22c and 240, respectively, these flanges being provided with the respective ring-retaining

shoulders

23c and 25c. This produces the end lips 27c and 290, respectively, as before.

The lower ring 170 is formed with the socket portion 30c which opens upwardly and which has an outer wall with an outwardly flared lip 34c. It is also formed with a connecting angularly disposed inner flange 50c which angles inwardly and upwardly and connects to a horizontal shelf portion 33c. A closure disc 32c may rest on this shelf portion and may be secured thereto either before or after positioning the ring 170 on the lower end of the body. The upper edge of the ring is provided with the outwardly directed shoulder flange 17d. In applying this ring 17c to the lower end of the body 150, it will be apparent that the body lip 27c will engage the outwardly flared lip 340 of the socket portion 30c and will be directed or cammed into the socket portion. As the end of the body 15c moves into its final position in the socket, the shoulder 230 will snap beneath the shoulder flange 17d of the ring and the ring will thereby be locked in place on the lower end of the body.

The upper ring 180 has the socket portion 310 formed thereon which opens downwardly. The outer wall of the socket portion is flared to provide a lip at 38a not only for guiding the end 29c of the body 15c into the socket, but also, to provide means with which a locking ring (not shown) can interflt. This locking ring may be similar to the locking ring shown in FIG. 1.

The lower edge of the ring is provided with the outwardly directed shoulder flange 18d. It will be apparent that in positioning this ring on the upper end of the body 150, the end 29c will engage the flared lip 38a and will be directed or cammed inwardly into the socket 310. As the end of the body reaches its final position in the socket, the ring flange 18d will snap under the shoulder 25c and will lock the ring in place on the end of the body.

It will be apparent from the above that the rings 17c and will function in substantially the same manner as the

rings

17 and 18 previously described.

It will be apparent that the drum-like container produced, as described above, will have all the advantages of the usual fiber drum. The upper and lower rings result in chime structures of annular form on which the drums can be rolled to facilitate handling. Also, the lower ring provides a chime on which the drum ordinarily firmly rests. Each drum body, although made of a folded blank sheet, is held in expanded tubular form by the substantially rigid end rings and will have considerable compressive strength in an axial direction to permit stacking without axial crushing. Also, the rings will impart to the drum body substantial strength which will resist the radial pressures tending to radially distort the body. These advantages will result even though the drum is of substantially low cost.

Even though the final drum has the advantages indicated above, it can be supplied to the prospective user with the body in knocked-down or folded flat condition. It will be shipped to the user in this flat form, along with the rings and necessary closure parts. It can be readily set up merely by positioning the rings on the ends, these rings being so formed as to facilitate insertion of the respective body ends thereinto. Each of the opposed end rings is provided with an inwardly directed continuous annular socket groove with an associated flared entrance or mouth that will direct or cam the body end into the groove and cause it to assume an annular shape corresponding thereto. Also, each ring is provided with an annular shoulder or flange which cooperates with an annular shoulder on the body, to lock the ring in position thereon and prevent axial displacement. Thus, there is a snap-lock action and crimping of the ring and body end together is not necessary.

Because the drum is produced and supplied in knock-down or flat form, along with the rings and closure parts which will be relatively flat, it will be readily apparent that great savings in shipping and storage space will result.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed 1. A drum-like container comprising a tubular body having open lower and upper ends, said tubular body being of polygonal transverse cross-section throughout the greater portion of its axial extent and consisting of a plurality of vertical panels joined at vertical fold lines, substantially rigid body-expanding lower and upper rings disposed on the lower and upper ends of said body, said rings being of substantially annular form with socket portions which provide continuous grooves opening axially inwardly towards each other in which the respective ends of said body are positioned and are deformed into substantially annular form corresponding to the grooves, said body ends and said rings having interengaging locking portions to prevent relative axial movement so that the rings will be prevented from moving axially outwardly off the respective ends of said body, said interengaging locking portions comprising a ring-retaining shoulder formed on each of said body ends and spaced axially inwardly from the extremity thereof and a shoulder lip on the cooperating ring which engages with said shoulder, each of said rings being of channel form opening axially inwardly of the body to provide the socket portions with the inwardly opening continuous grooves, a flange on each end of said body extending axially inwardly along the adjacent vertical surface thereof to provide said ring retaining shoulder at its inner edge, the adjacent wall of the socket portion having said shoulder lip formed thereon and extending radially over said ring-retaining shoulder.

2. A container according to claim 1 in which the said flanges on the ends of the body are provided by turning the body material at its ends axially inwardly into contact with the adjacent vertical surface of the body so as to provide end lips on the body which engage with'the .inner portions of the respective grooves and to provide the respective ring-retaining shoulders at the inner edges of the inwardly turned flanges.

' 3. A container according to claim 2 in which said radially extending shoulder lip 'on each ring is located axially inwardly on said wall of said socket portion a distance substantially equal to the axial extent of said flange so that it-extends radially inwardly over said ring-retaining shoulder on said flange.

, 4. A container according toclaim 3 in which the opposite wall of said socket portion of the ring is of less axial-extent than the first wall thereof and is flared radially at its extremity to guide the end of the body into the groove thereof.

- 5. A container according to claim 4 in which the flanges on the ends of the body are located outside the body and extend along. the outer vertical surface thereof, the outer wall ofthe socket portion of the ring extending" axially inwardlyv in contact with and along said flange and havingits shoulder lip extending radially inwardly over said ring-retaining shoulder.

6. A container according to claim 5 in which the upper ring'has a locking shoulder inwardly formed in said outer wall intermediate the height thereof for interlooking with a locking ring adapted to be disposed on the upper end of the container.

. '7. A container according to claim 6 in which-the inner wall of the socket portion of said ring terminates at substantially the same level as said locking shoulder so that its flared extremity is at substantially the same level as said shoulder.

body are positioned and are formed into substantially annular form corresponding to the grooves, said body ends and said rings having inter-engaging locking portions to prevent relative axial movement so that the rings will be prevented from moving axially outwardly off the respective ends of said body, said interfitting portions comprising ring-retaining shoulders on the inner edges of axially inwardly turned flanges on the ends of said body, and radially extending shoulder flanges on said rings extending radially over said shoulders.

10. A container according to claim 12 in which the body is of sheet-like material having opposed ends and upper and lower edges and provided with a series of laterally spaced vertically extending fold lines with vertically extending panels therebetween, said opposed ends extending vertically and disposed in cooperating adjacent relationship and joined together to provide a vertical joint, said body having its upper and lower edges turned axially inwardly about a foldline toward each other into overlapping relationship to the body to provide said flanges, said flanges terminating axially inwardly of the respective fold lines to provide said ringengaging shoulders.

11. A container according to claim 10 in which each of the superimposed sections of the tubular body has additional vertically extending fold lines between the said two fold lines to provide a series of adjacent, vertically extending panels therebetween.

12. A container according to claim 11 in which each of said rings is of channel cross-section to provide one of said continuous grooves for receiving an edge of the tubular body, one wall of the channel being of a depth corresponding substantially to the axial inward extent of the flange on the cooperating edge of the body and having the radially extending shoulder flange as a lip extremity to snap over the shoulder on said flange.

13. A container according to claim 12 in which the opposite wall of the said channel is of substantially less depth than the first wall and is flared to guide the edge of the body into the groove thereof.

14. A container according to claim 4 in which the inner extremity of said shoulder lip of each ring is in alignment with the centerline of said groove and the width of the groove is slightly less than the total v thickness of the body and flange.

8. A container according-to claim 4 in which the lower. ring is part of a closure structure, said ring having a closure. supporting flange inwardly of its socket portion.

9. A drum-like container comprising a tubular body having open lower and upper ends, substantially rigid body-expanding lower and upper rings disposed on the lower and upper ends of said body, said rings being of substantially annular form with socket portions'which provide continuous grooves opening axially inwardly towards each other in which the respective ends of said 15. A container according to claim 4 in which the flanges on the ends of the body are located inside the body and extend along the inner vertical surface thereof, the inner wall of the socket portion of the ring extending axially inwardly in contact with and along said flange andhaving its shoulder-lip extending radially outwardly over said ring-retaining shoulder.

16. A container according to claim 15 in which the lower ring is part of a closure structure, said ring having a closuresupporting flange inwardly of its socket portion.

. 17. A container according to claim 15 in which the outer wall of the socket portion is provided with a camming extremity which directsthe end of the body into said groove.

18. A container according to claim 17 in which the inner extremity of said shoulder lip of each ring is in alignment with the centerline of said groove and the groove is slightly less in width than the total thickness of the body and flange.

into said groove.

Claims

1. A drum-like container comprising a tubular body having open lower and upper ends, said tubular body being of polygonal transverse cross-section throughout the greater portion of its axial extent and consisting of a plurality of vertical panels joined at vertical fold lines, substantially rigid body-expanding lower and upper rings disposed on the lower and upper ends of said body, said rings being of substantially annular form with socket portions which provide continuous grooves opening axially inwardly towards each other in which the respective ends of said body are positioned and are deformed into substantially annular form corresponding to the grooves, said body ends and said rings having interengaging locking portions to prevent relative axial movement so that the rings will be prevented from moving axially outwardly off the respective ends of said body, said interengaging locking portions comprising a ring-retaining shoulder formed on each of said body ends and spaced axially inwardly from the extremity thereof and a shoulder lip on the cooperating ring which engages with said shoulder, each of said rings being of channel form opening axially inwardly of the body to provide the socket portions with the inwardly opening continuous grooves, a flange on each end of said body extending axially inwardly along the adjacent vertical surface thereof to provide said ring retaining shoulder at its inner edge, the adjacent wall of the socket portion having said shoulder lip formed thereon and extending radially over said ring-retaining shoulder.

2. A container according to claim 1 in which the said flanges on the ends of the body are provided by turning the body material at its ends axially inwardly into contact with the adjacent vertical surface of the body so as to provide end lips on the body which engage with the inner portions of the respective grooves and to provide the respective ring-retaining shoulders at the inner edges of the inwardly turned flanges.

3. A container according to claim 2 in which said radially extending shoulder lip on each ring is located axially inwardly on said wall of said socket portion a distance substantially equal to the axial extent of said flange so that it extends radially inwardly over said ring-retaining shoulder on said flange.

4. A container according to claim 3 in which the opposite wall of said socket portion of the ring is of less axial extent than the first wall thereof and is flared radially at its extremity to guide the end of the body into the groove thereof.

5. A container according to claim 4 in which the flanges on the ends of the body are located outside the body and extend along the outer vertical surface thereof, the outer wall of the socket portion of the ring extending axially inwardly in contact with and along said flange and having its shoulder lip extending radially inwardly over said ring-retaining shoulder.

6. A container according to claim 5 in which the upper ring has a locking shoulder inwardly formed in said outer wall intermediate the height thereof for interlocking with a locking ring adapted to be disposed on the upper end of the container.

7. A container according to claim 6 in which the inner wall of the socket portion of said ring terminates at substantially the same level as said locking shoulder so that its flared extremity is at substantially the Same level as said shoulder.

8. A container according to claim 4 in which the lower ring is part of a closure structure, said ring having a closure supporting flange inwardly of its socket portion.

9. A drum-like container comprising a tubular body having open lower and upper ends, substantially rigid body-expanding lower and upper rings disposed on the lower and upper ends of said body, said rings being of substantially annular form with socket portions which provide continuous grooves opening axially inwardly towards each other in which the respective ends of said body are positioned and are formed into substantially annular form corresponding to the grooves, said body ends and said rings having inter-engaging locking portions to prevent relative axial movement so that the rings will be prevented from moving axially outwardly off the respective ends of said body, said interfitting portions comprising ring-retaining shoulders on the inner edges of axially inwardly turned flanges on the ends of said body, and radially extending shoulder flanges on said rings extending radially over said shoulders.

10. A container according to claim 12 in which the body is of sheet-like material having opposed ends and upper and lower edges and provided with a series of laterally spaced vertically extending fold lines with vertically extending panels therebetween, said opposed ends extending vertically and disposed in cooperating adjacent relationship and joined together to provide a vertical joint, said body having its upper and lower edges turned axially inwardly about a foldline toward each other into overlapping relationship to the body to provide said flanges, said flanges terminating axially inwardly of the respective fold lines to provide said ring-engaging shoulders.

14. A container according to claim 4 in which the inner extremity of said shoulder lip of each ring is in alignment with the centerline of said groove and the width of the groove is slightly less than the total thickness of the body and flange.

15. A container according to claim 4 in which the flanges on the ends of the body are located inside the body and extend along the inner vertical surface thereof, the inner wall of the socket portion of the ring extending axially inwardly in contact with and along said flange and having its shoulder lip extending radially outwardly over said ring-retaining shoulder.

16. A container according to claim 15 in which the lower ring is part of a closure structure, said ring having a closure supporting flange inwardly of its socket portion.

17. A container according to claim 15 in which the outer wall of the socket portion is provided with a camming extremity which directs the end of the body into said groove.

19. A container according to claim 1 in which one of the walls of the socket portion is provided with a camming extremity Which directs the end of the body into said groove.