U.S. patent application number 10/427892 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-04 for container cover with hemmed leading edge.
This patent application is currently assigned to J.L. Clark, Inc.. Invention is credited to Offerman, Jerry D., Pietruch, Walter P..
Application Number | 20040217116 10/427892 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33310290 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040217116 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Offerman, Jerry D. ; et
al. |
November 4, 2004 |
Container cover with hemmed leading edge
Abstract
A metal slide lid for a container which is formed from a metal
blank, but in which substantially all of the raw metal edges of the
blank are shielded by formed shapes. A pair of rolled rails depend
from the top portion, are spaced by a sufficient distance to accept
a container on which the lid is to slide, and the rolls are such
that the raw metal edge is shielded within the roll. The non-rolled
portions of the container, particularly the front edge which can be
engaged by the fingers, is formed into a tight safety hemmed
edge.
Inventors: |
Offerman, Jerry D.;
(Rockford, IL) ; Pietruch, Walter P.; (Belvidere,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEYDIG VOIT & MAYER, LTD
6815 WEAVER ROAD
ROCKFORD
IL
61114-8018
US
|
Assignee: |
J.L. Clark, Inc.
Rockford
IL
|
Family ID: |
33310290 |
Appl. No.: |
10/427892 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/345.2 ;
220/345.4; 220/351 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00527
20130101; B65D 2543/00537 20130101; B65D 2543/00175 20130101; B65D
2543/00277 20130101; B65D 43/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/345.2 ;
220/351; 220/345.4 |
International
Class: |
B65D 043/12; B65D
043/20 |
Claims
1. A metal slide lid for a container comprising in combination: a
substantially planar top portion, a pair of rolled rails depending
from the top portion at two sides thereof and having finished
edges, the rolled rails being shaped and positioned to allow the
cover to slide over a corresponding lip of a container bottom, and
a forward edge of the top portion being formed with a peripheral
hem, the peripheral hem formed by folding the forward edge of the
top portion directly back onto itself, the peripheral hem extending
between the forward edges of the rails, both the rolled rails and
the hem serving to shield corresponding raw metal edges.
2. The lid as in claim 1 wherein the two sides have a forward edge
and the rolled rails at the sides of the top portion extend around
the rear thereof, whereby the rolled rail is continuous from the
forward edge of one of the two sides to the forward edge of the
other side of the two sides, and the hem is continuous between the
respective forward edges of the rolled rail.
3. The lid as in claim 2 wherein the forward edges of the rails are
angled to recess a roll portion of the rolled rail.
4. The lid as in claim 2 including at least one indentation in the
top portion positioned to define an open or closed lid
position.
5. The lid as in claim 4 including a plurality of indentations in
the top portion positioned to define both open and closed lid
positions.
6-8. (Canceled)
9. A slide lid for a container comprising in combination: a metal
blank having a substantially planar central portion and a formed
periphery, part of the periphery being formed into a roll spaced
from the underside of the central portion by a sufficient distance
to allow the lid to slide on a lip of a corresponding container,
substantially all of the remainder of the periphery being formed
into a tight hem, the tight hem formed by folding the forward edge
of the top portion directly back onto itself, whereby substantially
all raw edges of the blank are shielded by formed shapes.
10. The lid as in claim 9 wherein the part of the periphery which
is formed into a roll extends along a major portion of two sides of
the lid and around the back thereof, the hem extending around the
remainder of the two sides and the front of the lid.
11. The lid of claim 10 wherein edges of the roll at the two sides
adjacent the hem are angled from the planar central portion to the
roll in a direction away from the hem to recess the roll.
12. The lid of claim 10 including indentations in the central
portion positioned to define, when the lid is placed on a
container, predetermined open or closed positions of the lid.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to container lids, and more
particularly to a metal slide lid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A typical container which uses this type of lid is a low
profile container having a formed upper edge which fits into formed
tracks in the lid. The lid can thereby be slid back from the closed
position, without removing it from the container, to allow
dispensing of the container contents. Containers of this sort can
be used with pills, candies, and breath strips for example. The lid
can also be used with taller containers having the same type of top
opening for example, for dispensing bandage strips.
[0003] The prior art has produced close fitting slide lids, but at
the expense of exposed raw metal edges and sharp corners often
capable of cutting the fingers, or of cutting or snagging the
pocket or purse liner.
[0004] For example, FIG. 1 shows a typical prior art container 20
with slide lid 21. The container 20 has a rolled lip 22 positioned
to be engaged by the slide portions of the lid 21. The lid 21 has
inwardly bent edges 24 to form, with the planar cover, a pair of
fairly closely fitting channels 23. The fit of the channels 23 over
the lip 22 is such that the lid can be readily manipulated by hand
to be slid back to open the container or forward to close it. The
channels 23 are formed by downwardly turned peripheral edges 24,
which leave a raw edge 23a. Similarly the forward edge 25 of the
container lid is positioned to engage the fingers if the fingers
are placed into the container when the lid is open. The raw edge
23a of the channels 23 also exposes a sharp corner 23b which is
also capable of snagging or cutting. The back end of the lid (see
FIG. 2) also has raw metal edges 27 which are also capable of
cutting or snagging. However, the benefits of such a lid, including
the closely fitting nature of the lid to the container, are
sufficiently attractive that it is sometimes desirable to use lids
of this sort in spite of the exposed raw metal edges.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In view of the foregoing, it is a general aim of the present
invention to provide an improved slide lid for a container,
sometimes called a safety lid, in which the disadvantages of the
raw metal edge are reduced or substantially eliminated.
[0006] In that regard, an object of the present invention is to
provide a metal slide lid for a container which minimizes the
presentation of raw edges to the user of the container, while still
providing a close tight fitting slide lid which closely mates its
associated container.
[0007] In accordance with the method aspects of the invention, an
object is to provide a simplified process for forming a safety lid
as described above.
[0008] The invention provides a metal slide lid for a container in
which a pair of rolled rails depend from a substantially planar top
portion at two sides of the top portion, and have finished edges.
The rolled rails are shaped and positioned to allow the cover to
slide over a corresponding lip of a container bottom. A forward
edge of the top portion is formed with a peripheral hem which
extends between the forward edges of the rails. As a result,
substantially all of the raw edges of the metal blank are
shielded.
[0009] The invention also has method aspects which include the
steps of forming from sheet metal, from operations including a
punch and draw operation, a metal blank having a planar lid portion
and a drawn edge sections depending from the periphery thereof. A
first portion of the drawn edge sections is of a first height, and
a second portion is of a lesser height. The drawn blank is then
engaged with a punch which inwardly curls both drawn edge sections.
The curled first portion is then engaged with a tool adapted to
roll the first drawn portion into a roll spaced from the underside
of the lid by an upstanding section. The upstanding section is of
sufficient height to cause the rolled portion to engage an edge of
a container for sliding the cover onto and off the container. The
tool also engages the curled second portion to form a hem tightly
engaging the underside of the planar surface to provide a
protective edge to the forward portion of the lid.
[0010] In the preferred practice of the method the step of forming
and drawing a metal blank includes performing a flat piercing
operation around a portion of the periphery and then a blank and
draw operation.
[0011] Finally, the invention provides a slide lid for a container
in which a metal blank has a substantially planar central portion
and a formed periphery. Part of the periphery is formed into a roll
spaced from the underside of the planar portion by a sufficient
distance to allow the lid to slide on a lip of a corresponding
container. Substantially all of the remainder of the periphery is
formed into a tight hem. As a result all of the raw edges of the
blank are shielded by formed shapes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] These and other objects will become apparent from the
following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
drawings in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art container with
slide lid;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a partial rear perspective view of the container
of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container having a lid
constructed in accordance with the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.
3 showing the lid interfitting with the container;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.
3 showing the tightly formed hem;
[0018] FIGS. 6-9 illustrate the steps of the preferred method of
forming a lid according ot the invention;
[0019] FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspective views of an additional
embodiment of the invention.
[0020] While the invention will be described in connection with
certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to
those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all
alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 3 shows a safety slide lid
31 in partly opened position on a container 30. Both the container
and the lid are rectangular in the illustrated embodiment, although
other shapes are possible, so long as two parallel sides for
operation of the slide lid are provided. The container 30 has a
bottom 32 and upstanding sides 33, as is conventional. The
upstanding sides 33 terminate in a formed upper feature, shown
herein as a rolled lip 34. The rolled lip 34 projects outwardly
from the sides 33 (see FIG. 4) so as to provide means for
interfitting into the slide lid. Preferably the sides 33 and the
rolled lip 34 are continuous around the periphery of the container.
However, as noted above, the main requirement for interfitting with
the slide lid, is that a pair of opposed sides carry lips
projecting at their upper edges for interfitting with a safety
slide lid, to allow the lid to slide on and off the container.
[0022] The lid 31 has a planar top 41 formed much like the top 21
of FIG. 1. In contrast to FIG. 1, however, substantially all of the
edges of the lid 31 are formed in such a way as to shield the raw
material edges. Thus, in practicing the invention, the parallel
sides which form the rails have depending sections 42 having
elongate portions 44 of sufficient length to extend past the rolled
lip 34 of the container (see FIG. 4). The depending sections 42
then are terminated in rolled portions 45 in which the raw material
edge is rolled to a position very close to the inward side of the
depending sections 42, to shield that raw material edge. The depth
44 of the depending sections 42, and the position of the roll 45 is
selected such that a slip fit is achieved in the channel 46 formed
between the top of the formed roll 45 and the underside of the top
portion 41, which is adequate to slidingly receive the formed edge
34 of the container. In addition the edges 47 of the rolled
portions 45 are not perpendicular to the top 41, but are angled
toward the roll 45 so as to shield, to the extent possible, the
edges 47. The construction, with the angled edge 47 tends to recess
the roll of the roll portion 45 behind the edge of the depending
portion 44.
[0023] In the illustrated embodiment, not only are both side
portions formed as just described, but the back portion is as well,
such that the back channel provides a stop member to define the
closed position of the cover. A nib 46 is located in the top
section to provide a detent for holding the cover in the closed
position. Additional detents can be formed in the cover for
defining the open position.
[0024] Also in contrast to the prior art, the front section of the
slide lid is configured in such a way as to shield the raw material
edge. To that end, the front edge 50, and portions of the side edge
51, 52, extending to the channel 46 are formed in a tight hem 53,
in which the material is folded back on itself and crimped. In this
way, the forward edge 55 presented by the slide lid will be a blunt
double section of material where the material is folded back on
itself. Preferably the hem is formed (see FIG. 8) such that it
shields the base (where it joints the planar lid) of the rolled
portion.
[0025] It will now be apparent that the slide lid as illustrated in
FIG. 3 has far superior characteristics to the prior art
illustrated in FIG. 1 in that the chances of cutting the fingers or
snagging the clothing is substantially reduced.
[0026] The manufacturing techniques for forming the container are
also greatly simplified and will be described in connection with
FIGS. 6-9. Note that FIG. 6 is drawn to a slightly smaller scale
then FIGS. 7-9.
[0027] The lid is stamped from thin (0.008 to 0.010 inch) sheet
steel in an efficient process employing a minimum number of metal
forming operations. In the preferred practice of the invention, we
will refer to separate piercing, and punch and draw operations.
However, for different shapes and using different equipment, the
blank might be formed from only a single set of operations, and we
will generically refer to that process as forming a blank from
sheet metal by way of operations including a punch and draw
operation. The first operation or set of operations operates on raw
sheet metal 80 (usually already decorated), and forms a blank
having a substantially planar lid portion and drawn edge sections
depending from the periphery thereof. The final product of this set
of steps is shown in FIG. 7. In the preferred practice this first
set of operations is made up of two individual operations,
primarily for convenience as a result of the shape being formed. In
other cases, only a single punch and draw operation might be
needed. However, using the shape shown in the drawings, the
preferred practice first performs a flat pierce operation which
forms the hem periphery. A piercing tool removes a small section of
material to form an opening 81 which defines the hem edge 82, in
preparation for forming the remainder of the blank outline (see
phantom lines 83) with a subsequent, blanking operation. A second
operation, blank and draw, is performed, in which a blank and draw
tool set engages the raw sheet stock 80 to form the shape 60
illustrated in FIG. 7. As is well known, a blank and draw tool set
will first cut a blank from the sheet stock, then form the blank by
a drawing operation to produce a drawn shape established by the
dimensions of the tool set. In the present instance the shape
includes the cover having a planar top 41', in which the prime
numerals indicate similar portions to that illustrated in FIG. 3,
with the difference being in the relative dimensions of the parts
to form a cover of somewhat different shape and size. The draw
operation also forms a U-shaped set of depending sides 61 which
will form the side rails and back rail, and a smaller U-shaped
depending section 62 which will form the hemmed edge. A dimple 63
is also formed in this second operation. Also of note are the
angled portions 64 which, when the rolls are formed, will create
the angle of the roll edge previously described.
[0028] The next operation, typically referred to as start curl and
start hem, is then performed as shown in FIG. 8. The workpiece 60
is transferred either to a different station of the same press or
to a separate press for performance of this operation. A punch
engages the upstanding members 61 and 62. The punch has an angled
surface which is intended to produce a start curl and start hem
configuration in which the upper edges of the curl 65 and the upper
edges of the hem 66 are bent slightly inwardly as illustrated in
FIG. 8.
[0029] The workpiece is then transferred to a final station where a
curl die and hemming die engage the workpiece. The curl die engages
the curled edge 65 of the start curl portion and is so-shaped as to
roll the edge downwardly into a continuous roll 68 as illustrated
in FIG. 9. This is performed around the entire periphery of the
U-shaped channel 61, at the upward internally turned edge 65 to
form a continuous roll as shown in FIG. 9. The die also has a hem
section which engages the upper curled portion 66 of the short
upstanding member 62 to produce a thin flattened hem 69 as
illustrated in FIG. 9. The cover is now completed, with the
exception of any cleaning or filling operations. It will be seen
from an examination of FIG. 9 that the curl is formed without any
crude transitions, such that the sheet metal to which the users
fingers are exposed is completely smooth. Similarly, the hem 69 is
tight such that the raw edge 70 of the material is closely
positioned with respect to the underside of the cover section 41',
and is not in a position to cut the finger or snag the
clothing.
[0030] The cover produced by the practice of the invention thus
resolves a number of the deficiencies in prior art slide covers.
The method of production, requiring only four relatively simple
punching steps, adds to the cost effectiveness of the inventive
solution.
[0031] FIGS. 10 and 11 show an additional embodiment, currently
believed to be preferred, of a safety lid according to the present
invention. It is in all aspects important to the invention the same
as the embodiment of FIG. 3, except for the relative proportions.
Whereas FIG. 3 presents a lid which is longer and narrower, the
FIGS. 10 and 11 embodiment is somewhat more boxlike. But like the
FIG. 3 embodiment, the lid of FIGS. 10 and 11 has a substantially
planar cover 41 rolled sections 45 angled backwardly at 47 and
positioned to create a gap 44 of sufficient dimension between the
top of the roll 45 and the bottom of the planar cover 41 to accept
a rolled lip of an associated container. The forward edge 55 of the
lid is doubled and hemmed as in the FIG. 3 embodiment. In minor
contrast to FIG. 3 which has only a single dimple 46 for defining a
closed position, the FIGS. 10 and 11 embodiment also has dimples
46a for defining a container-open position.
[0032] All references, including publications, patent applications,
and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to
the same extent as if each reference were individually and
specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set
forth in its entirety herein.
[0033] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar
referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in
the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover
both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein
or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising,"
"having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as
open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,")
unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are
merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring
individually to each separate value falling within the range,
unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is
incorporated into the specification as if it were individually
recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in
any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise
clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples,
or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is
intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not
pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise
claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as
indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of
the invention.
[0034] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described
herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying
out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may
become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading
the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to
employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for
the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all
modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the
claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover,
any combination of the above-described elements in all possible
variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise
indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
* * * * *