US3333728A

US3333728A - Container with sealing cover

Info

Publication number: US3333728A
Application number: US460741A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Ralph V Burdick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-06-02
Filing date: 1965-06-02
Publication date: 1967-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 1984-08-01

Description

g- 1, 1967 R. v. BURDICK, JR 3,333,728

CONTAINER WITH SEALING COVER Filed June 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 241 PH 1/. 5020/6441'8.

ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 a z 4 9 I M 3 f A Rm. .fw I O m E m" M g H H" I w ,o l I] mm 7 o m m m M b (Y m u maww F n H a w 6 6" 5 5 I; II! I a v :1: I l I 1-1.1. n I] 0 a 5 J Aug. 1, 1967 R. v. BURDICK, JR

CONTAINER WITH SEALING COVER Filed June 1965 United States Patent 3,333,728 CONTAINER WITH SEALING COVER Ralph V. Bun-dick, Jr., Colonial Green, Loudonville, N.Y. 12211 Filed June 2, 1965, Ser. No. 460,741 6 Claims. (Cl. 220-60) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container comprising a bottom portion and a hermetically scalable cover portion therefor in which the bottom portion includes an upwardly extending circular side wall, a curl formed on the top peripheral edge of the side wall, an outwardly and upwardly directed ledge forming an acute angle with the side wall provided thereon and an outwardly directed bead formed on the side wall intermediate the curl and the ledge, and a cover portion having a depending skirt, a circular top, an upwardly directed bead between the skirt and the top adapted to receive the curl therein and an inwardly directed bead formed on the skirt adapted to embrace the outwardly directed bead at the lower edge thereof and the cover being slidable upon a portion of the inwardly directed bean being drawn upwardly over said outwardly directed bead so that a portion of the lower edge of the skirt can be received within the angle between the ledge and the side wall.

This invention is described in terms of a container for packaging paints for simplicity of description, however, it should be recognized that the particular description is not limiting and the container described herein can be used for packaging any product which could normally be packaged within a metallic container. The invention, of course, is particularly useful where semi-solids are involved.

Containers which are used for packaging paints and other volatile materials must be designed to maintain a substantially air-tight fit between the cover and the container portion. The cover is generally designed to provide with the periphery of a bead of the bottom a sealing fit. The fact that such airtight engagement between cover and bottom portion to obtain a substantially hermetic seal is required often makes it difiicult and inconvenient to remove the cover from the box. The inwardly directed flange of the bottom occupies space making it difficult to remove the contents from the container and results, particularly when paint is involved, with materials adhering to the top of the container. Thus, it is diflicult to consume all of the paint within the container and also it is difficult to clean the top of the container whereat the seal is eifected.

This invention has as its principal object the provision of a container for packaging volatile materials, such as paint, wherein an airtight friction fit is insured between the cover and the zone of the bottom adjacent the cover.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a sealing fit in which the sealing zone does not obstruct access to the interior of the bottom of the container and which does not result in the materials of the container adhering to the portions of the bottom which provide the sealing fit.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide such a container which can be readily opened by the user without undue effort and without special tools and which can be readily closed in the same manner.

In addition to the objects set forth above, a further principal object of this invention is to provide such a container which possesses features, properties and relation of elements which will accomplish the objects for which the container is designed in such a manner that the external surfaces of the container will remain substantially free at all times of the contents of the box.

A container with sealing cover embodying the invention and the manner of using the same is described herein with references to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a container with sealing cover constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the container shown in FIG. 1 with a portion of the cover cut away;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectional view taken along the line 33 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the container with a gasket applied for additional sealing;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a container embodying an alternate form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view, partly broken, of another form of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7, but of the side of the container not seen in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the container shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a partially sectional view taken along the line 1010 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of the container shown in FIG. 7.

One form of container constructed in accordance with this invention is shown in FIGS. 1-3 wherein bottom 10 of the container 11 has a cover 12 applied thereto in sealing engagement. The bottom includes a cylindrical side wall 13 and lower circular surface 14. The uppermost edge of side wall 13 is terminated in an outwardly expanded, trolled-over curl 15 around which proper seal is effected by engagement with cover 12 as will be described below.

The bottom is also provided with an outwardly and upwardly directed peripheral ledge or flattened bead which provides, with cylindrical recess or undercut portion 17, an upwardly facing channel spaced from curl 15 the height of cylindrical recessed portion 17. The recessed portion 17 is provided with a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the remaining part of the cylindrical bottom for a purpose which will be explained below.

The cover 12 which is circular is provided with a depressed central portion 18 and a downwardly directed skirt 19 joined thereto by upwardly directed bead 20 having a radius such that curl 15 can be received therein in the assembled condition of the container. The peripheral edge of skirt 19 is curled upwardly and inwardly as indicated in the figures by the numeral 21. An inwardly directed bead 22 is provided in skirt 19 between bead 20 and edge 21. This inwardly directed bead 22 provides a circular ring which can be referred to as a lock ring. Lock ring 22 in the assembled condition of the container engages the bottom side wall at the break between curl 15 and recessed wall 17 beneath the curl 15 providing an annular seal which is indicated in the figures by the numeral 23. The positioning of lock ring 22 beneath curl 15 provides a force in the assembled condition of the container in the direction of the arrow indicated by the letter A in FIG. 3 which is downwardly and inwardly, tending to maintain the lock ring beneath curl 15 and the cover in position on the bottom.

The container is formed of a resilient material, preferably sheet metal, and in the assembled condition, addi- 3

tional seals

24 and 25 are formed at points of engagement of curl and bead 20.

In closing, the cover is snapped on with the skirt 19 allowing lock ring 21 to momentarily undergo an increase in diameter as it is forced downwardly and over curl 15 until it is beneath curl 15 and can return to its normal diameter whereat it is engaging the break between the curl 15 and recessed portion 17.

In opening this container, the top is pried off by the insertion of a stiff object beneath curl 21 and ledge 16. Upon the insertion of such an object, not shown in the figures, the skirt 19 of the cover is pried upwardly and outwardly with the portion of the skirt and the lock ring which is above the object being used to open the container, moving outwardly and as the cover above the object doing the opening is moved outwardly the opposite side of the cover is allowed to slip with the lock ring moving into the recessed portion 17 until the lock ring above the opening object passes upwardly over the curl 15 in order to break the seal.

Such a container provides rescaling upon placement of the cover on the bottom of the same degree as the original seal. Thus, the container can be used continually with the same degree of sealing being achieved each time the cover is replaced.

The container is of two-piece constructiona bottom and a top-and the opening provided by the diameter of the innermost edge of curl 15 allows the opening in the bottom to be substantially of the diameter of the bottom itself. There are no channels or grooves on the exterior or top of the bottom of the container for paint to cling to thereby a cleaner package is presented and continual use will not result in a diminished seal or a container with the contents thereof caked on the top of the container bottom. It is noted that the edge of the bottom at curl 15 is rolled over and butted against the curl to protect the raw edge from undesirable chemical action with the ingredients of the container or the fumes thereof.

In FIG. 4 a modified form of the invention is shown wherein the cover 12 is identical to the cover previously described in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. l-3, having a depressed circular portion 18', a bead 20, skirt 19', lock ring 22, and curled edge 21'. The bottom is identical to the bottom of FIGS. 1-3 and indicated in FIG. 4 by the numeral 13'. The bottom is provided with ledge 16, recessed portion'17 and peripheral curl 15. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, however, a gasket 26 is provided between the uppermost portion of curl 15' and the base of bead 20'. The gasket 26 is at all times under a continuous pressure in view of the tendency of the skirt to pull in the direction of the arrow B with the lock ring 22 in the break between curl 15' and recessed portion 17'. The closing and opening of the container disclosed in FIG. 4 is identical with that of the container disclosed in FIGS. 1-3 and the gasket which is annular can be bonded to the cover at the base of bead 20 or bonded to the bottom at the top of curl 15'. The downward pressure causes the gasket to adapt to the shape of the base of bead 20' and the top surface of curl 15. This provides, in addition to the three seals 23', 24' and 25', the additional sealing of the gasket.

In the embodiment of the container shown in FIG. 5, the bottom 13" is identical to the bottom 13 shown in FIGS. 1-3, having a curl 15", a ledge 16" and recessed portion 17".

The cover 12" differs, however, in that although circular depression 18" and bead 20" are the same as in FIGS. 1-3, a lock rib 27' with a flat horizontal lower surface 28 and curled edge 29 is provided rather than a skirt and a lock ring of the type previously described. The lock rib engages the bottom beneath curl 15" at the break between the curl 15" and the recessed portion 17" in the same zone as the lock ring 22 engages the bottom in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. The lock rib functions in a manner identical to the functioning of the lock ring previously described and the container of the embodiment of FIG. 5 is opened and closed in the same manner as the container described in the previous embodiments. In addition, the structure of FIG. 5 provides three sealing zones indicated by the numerals 23", 24" and 25".

In FIG. 6 a fragmentary view of :a container embodying an alternate form of the invention is shown in which the cover is identical to the cover shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 6 the cover is indicated by the numeral 30 and includes a depression 31 which is a circular depression, bead 32, lock rib 33, and curled edge 34. The bottom 35, however, differs from the bottom shown in FIG. 5. The bottom of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is circular and provided with an outwardly and upwardly directed peripheral ledge 36 extending from circular side wall 37 which provides with undercut portion 38 an upwardly facing channel 39 spaced from curled edge 40. The curled edge 40 is rolled outwardly in the embodiment of FIG. 6 rather than inwardly, as seen. in the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 and the edge thereof also abuts the curl. With such a configuration the raw edge of the curl is better protected than in the previous embodiment. In order to provide seals 41, 42 and 43 between the bottom and the cover, an outwardly directed bottom sealing bead 44 is provided between ledge 36 and curl 40, which outwardly directed sealing bead engages the cover enabling the cover to lock into position in the same manner as provided by the break between curl 15 and recessed wall 17 beneath the head in FIG. 3. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 the lower surface of bead 44 is indicated by the numeral 45 and provides with lock ring 33 the lock maintaining the cover in position on the bottom.

The cover is placed on the bottom in the embodiment of FIG. 6 and removed therefrom in the same manner as the device is shown in the embodiment of FIGS. l-5.

In FIG. 7 another form of the invention is shown wherein the bottom is identical to the bottom shown in FIG. 1. However, the cover is a snap-off type cover. The bottom includes a circular side wall 46, undercut portion 47, upwardly facing panel 48 formed by the undercut portion and the upwardly directed peripheral ledge 49 and inwardly directed peripheral curl 50.

The top of cover 51 is provided with a circular peripheral edge 52 which is an outwardly and upwardly directed bead joined to a second upwardly directed bead 53 by downwardly directed bead 54 and adjacent ledge 55. Bead 53 borders a dished out central circular portion 56. The center of circular portion 56 is in a plane below its periphery as shown in the figures. The peripheral bead 52 defines a circle having a diameter greater than the diameter of the circle defined by the curl 50 on the bottom. The cover has a peripheral skirt 57 which extendsdownwardly from the periphery of the top wall. The skirt portion 57 is cylindrical and defines a circle having a diameter greater than the diameter of the circle defined by the curl 50 on the botom. The cover has a peripheral skirt 57 which extends downwardly from the periphery of the top wall. The skirt portion 57 is cylindrical and it is contemplated that other resilient materials can be used as well. Skirt 57 is provided with at least one and preferably two portions that are cut out, that is, cut away as at 60 and 61, the former being of greater magnitude than the latter. In between such cut-out portions and opposite from each other the skirt terminates in two peripheral

straight edge sections

62 and 63 that are adapted to seat throughout their entire lengths against the ledge 49 and within the channel 48 when the cover is placed in sealed engagement with the bottom or container por-' tion of the box. Thus, it will appear that the larger cutout portion 60, which preferably is arcuate, has terminal ends which together with the adjacent terminal ends of the straight edges form spaced-apart fulcrum points around which to tilt the cover to unseat the same by pressure in the area of the cut-out portion 60.

While a smaller cut-out portion 61 is shown, it will be observed that the area of the cut-out portion is not sufiicient to provide functional fulcrum supports or points where the arcuate portions terminate and join the straight edges opposite the fulcrum points adjacent cut-out 60. Such points are not spaced inwardly or far enough apart to give such action but such cut-out portion relieves the tensioning of the skirt in this area whereby easier tilting or upsetting is accomplished by pressure in the area of the cut-out 61; and this is so without sacrificing any of the sealing characteristics between the curl 50 and the straight skirt 57. If it is desired, however, the cut-out portion 61 can be made larger so that fulcrum points are provided at its edges as well as the edges or end positions of the cut-out 60.

In use, when the cover is closed as shown in FIG. 7, and it is desired to open it, pressure is applied above cut-out portions 60 on the peripheral bead 52 of the cover. As such pressure is provided the cover skirt slips over curl 50 beneath cut-out 60 and the opposite side of the cover, including cut-out portion 61, slips over the portion of the curl with which it is associated as it passes upwardly until pressure is relieved when the upper portion of cutout 61 rises above curl 50. As the cover is drawn from its initial closing position to an intermediate condition of closing, the resiliency of the material from which the cover is formed allows the cover to change diameter as it is drawn over curl 50.

Upon closing of the cover the resiliency of the material allows the bead portion 59 to expand outwardly whereby the skirt 57 embraces the curl 50 in tight relationship.

Since in order to open the cover, pressure must be applied to the peripheral bead 52, in the absence of dished out portion 56, the resilient material from which the cover is formed would collapse. In other words, the cover is dished out as at 56 in order to provide strengthening for opening.

Thus, among others, the several objects in the invention, as specifically aforenoted, are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. In a container of the character described, adapted for use in containing volatile substances such as paint, which comprises a bottom container portion, and a snapofl type of hermetically sealable cover portion therefor, said container portion including an upwardly extending circular side wall with a top curled edge and an outwardly extending peripheral ledge intermediate said side wall, said cover portion having a top circular surface with a peripheral bead of greater diameter than said curled edge, a downwardly extending circular skirt of said cover with a circumference thereof having a decreased diameter sealingly to overlie and embrace said curl, a downwardly directed portion of said cover of constantly decreasing diameter joining said skirt, an inwardly directed circumferential bead formed by the juncture of said downwardly directed portion of said cover and said skirt, said circumferential bead being disposed above said curl when the cover is secured to said bottom container portion, said skirt terminating in two oppositely disposed peripheral edge sections adapted to seat throughout their entire lengths against said ledge, said sections being formed by an area of said skirt that is cut out so as to provide a space between said skirt and said ledge when said cover portion is closed over said container portion, whereby downward pressure on said peripheral head above said cut-out will unseat the same as the ends of said straight edge sections adjacent said cut-out are pivoted against said ledge, and said cover being provided with a central dished out portion.

2. A box in accordance with claim 4 in which the cover is formed of a resilient material whereby the diameter of the inwardly directed bead can change as said inwardly directed head is drawn over said curl.

3. A container in accordance with claim 2 in which a recessed portion is provided in said bottom portion beneath said curl above said ledge.

4. A container which comprises a bottom portion and a hermetically sealable cover portion therefor: said bottom portion including an upwardly extending circular side wall, a curl formed on the top peripheral edge of said side wall, an outwardly and upwardly directed ledge forming an acute angle with said side wall provided thereon and an outwardly directed bead formed on said side wall intermediate said curl and said ledge; said cover portion having a depending skirt, a circular top, an upwardly directed bead between said skirt and said top adapted to receive said curl therein and an inwardly di rected bead formed on said skirt adapted to embrace said outwardly directed bead'at the lower edge thereof; and said cover being slidable upon a portion of said inwardly directed bead being drawn upwardly over said outwardly directed bead so that a portion of the lower edge of said skirt can be received within the angle between said ledge and said side wall.

5. A container in accordance with claim 4 in which a gasket is provided between the upper surface of said curl and the base of said upwardly directed head.

6. A container in accordance with claim 4 in which said peripheral curl is in the form of the peripheral edge of said bottom portion being folded outwardly upon itself in an arc.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 649,979 5/1900 Danz 22042 2,403,030 7/ 1946 Solinsky 22042 2,977,019 6/1961 Henchert 220 3,186,579 6/1965 Meyerhoefer 22043 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner,

Claims

1. IN A CONTAINER OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONTAINING VOLATILE SUBSTANCES SUCH AS PAINT, WHICH COMPRISES A BOTTOM CONTAINER PORTION, AND A SNAPOFF TYPE OF HERMETICALLY SEALABLE COVER PORTION THEREFOR, SAID CONTAINER PORTION INCLUDING AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING CIRCULAR SIDE WALL WITH A TOP CURLED EDGE AND AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PERIPHERAL LEDGE INTERMEDIATE SAID SIDE WALL, SAID COVER PORTION HAVING A TOP CIRCULAR SURFACE WITH A PERIPHERAL BEAD OF GREATER DIAMETER THAN SAID CURLED EDGE, A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING CIRCULAR SKIT OF SAID COVER WITH A CIRCUMFERENCE THEREOF HAVING A DECREASED DIAMETER SEALINGLY TO OVERLIE AND EMBRACE SAID CURL, A DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED PORTION OF SAID COVER OF CONSTANTLY DECREASING DIAMETER JOINING SAID SKIRT, AN INWARDLY DIRECTED CIRCUMFERENTIAL BEAD FORMED BY THE JUNCTURE OF SAID DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED PORTION OF SAID COVER SAND SAID SKIRT, SAID CIRCUMFERENTIAL BEAD BEING DISPOSED ABOVE SAID CURL WHEN THE COVER IS SECURED TO SAID BOTTOM CONTAINER PORTION, SAID SKIRT TERMINATING IN TWO OPPOSITELY DISPOSED PERIPHERAL EDGE SECTIONS ADAPTED TO SEAT THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE LENGTHS AGAINST SAID LEDGE, SAID SECTIONS BEING FORMED BY AN AREA OF SAID SKIRT THAT IS CUT OUT SO AS TO PROVIDE A SPACE BETWEEN SAID SKIRT AND SAID LEDGE WHEN SAID COVER PORTION IS CLOSED OVER SAID CONTAINER PORTION, WHEREBY DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON SAID PERIPHERAL BEAD ABOVE SAID CUT-OUT WILL UNSEAT THE SAME AS THE ENDS OF SAID STRAIGHT EDGE SECTIONS ADJACENT SAID CUT-OUT ARE PIVOTED AGAINST SAID LEDGE, AND SAID COVER BEING PROVIDED WITH A CENTRAL DISHED OUT PORTION.