U.S. patent application number 12/765257 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-17 for plastic pry off paint can assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to LETICA CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Wayne J. HARPER, Anton LETICA, John R. SELINA.
Application Number | 20110036843 12/765257 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43587994 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110036843 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LETICA; Anton ; et
al. |
February 17, 2011 |
PLASTIC PRY OFF PAINT CAN ASSEMBLY
Abstract
An all plastic paint container assembly comprising a container,
a ring assembly attached to the rim of the container and a pry-off
plastic closure having a dual sealing arrangement with the ring
member and an undercut lock at a location which provides maximum
circumferential area. Containers of this design can be stacked both
with and without the ring members attached. Three embodiments are
disclosed, providing double and triple closure locks and multiple
seals.
Inventors: |
LETICA; Anton; (Bloomfield
Hills, MI) ; SELINA; John R.; (Brighton, MI) ;
HARPER; Wayne J.; (Macomb Township, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG BASILE
3001 WEST BIG BEAVER ROAD, SUITE 624
TROY
MI
48084
US
|
Assignee: |
LETICA CORPORATION
Rochester
MI
|
Family ID: |
43587994 |
Appl. No.: |
12/765257 |
Filed: |
April 22, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12540585 |
Aug 13, 2009 |
|
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12765257 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/319 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/0217 20130101;
B65D 43/0206 20130101; B65D 21/0212 20130101; B65D 2543/00074
20130101; B65D 1/165 20130101; B65D 43/0204 20130101; B65D
2543/00462 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/319 |
International
Class: |
B65D 43/02 20060101
B65D043/02 |
Claims
1. A pry-off plastic closure assembly for an open top container
comprising: a container with a bottom and a side wall forming an
annular top rim; an annular plastic ring having a peripheral
portion adapted to be secured to said top rim, and an integral
inner portion forming an upwardly opening U-shaped channel defined
by inner and outer walls for receiving a complemental closure
channel; a plastic closure having an inner deck bounded by an
annular portion having inner, middle and outer walls, the inner and
middle walls forming an inverted U-shaped channel, and the middle
and outer walls forming an upwardly opening U-shaped annular
channel; said upwardly opening U-shaped channel being complemental
to the U-shaped channel of said annular plastic ring so as to fit
sealingly therein; seals formed between the outer ring walls and
the inner surfaces of said inverted U-shaped closure channels; and
an undercut lock formed between the outer closure wall and the
outer ring wall.
2. A pry-off plastic closure assembly as defined in claim 1 further
comprising a pry flange formed on the outer closure wall.
3. An assembly as defined in claim 2 further including a
downwardly-extending lip on the pry flange.
4. A pry-off plastic closure channel assembly as defined in claim 2
further comprising a step between the peripheral portion of the
ring member and the U-shaped ring channel to form a clearance with
the flange.
5. A container assembly as defined in claim 4 further comprising a
radial clearance between the step and the upwardly opening U-shaped
channel.
6. A pry-off plastic container assembly as defined in claim 1
wherein the container bottom has radially adjacent inner annular
tongue and outer annular groove portions, said tongue fitting into
said radial clearance when stacked with the container having a ring
member attached, said groove receiving the rim in stacked
relationship when containers are stacked without a ring member
attached.
7. A pry-off plastic container assembly as defined in claim 1
further including a second undercut lock between the inner annular
wall of the closure and the inner surface of the outer ring
wall.
8. A pry-off plastic container assembly as defined in claim 1
further including a third undercut lock formed between the outer
surface of the outer ring wall and the inner surface of the closure
inner wall.
9. A pry-off plastic container assembly comprising: a container; a
ring member attached to the top rim of the container and defining
an upwardly opening U-shaped channel with inner and outer walls;
and a closure with integral walls defining both upwardly and
downwardly opening U-shaped channels, said closure as ring members
providing three radially spaced undercut locks therebetween.
Description
RELATED CASE INFORMATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 12/540,585 filed under attorney docket no.
LTC-138-A on Aug. 13, 2009, currently pending. The content of the
U.S. patent Ser. No. 12/540,585 is incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to containers and more particularly
to a container assembly which is particularly well suited for paint
and which comprises a pry off plastic closure sealingly nested into
a ring attached to the top rim of a container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Paint cans and lids have been traditionally been made of
steel. There are a number of disadvantages associated with steel
paint cans including cost, weight, a propensity to rust, and
disposal issues.
[0004] As a result, a number of steps have been taken toward the
development of plastic container assemblies for paint. In general,
such an assembly comprises the container itself; an annular ring
adapted to be attached to the top rim of the container and defining
an upwardly opening U-shaped channel to receive a closure, and a
closure or lid having an annular feature which is formed to
complementally fit into the upwardly opening U-shaped channel in
the ring member to produce a seal. An example is shown in U.S. Pat.
No. 6,588,618 assigned to Letica Corporation of Rochester,
Mich.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a container assembly of the
type generally described above but having a number of features and
advantages over prior plastic container assemblies.
[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, the ring
assembly adapted to be attached to the top rim of the container has
an upwardly opening U-shaped channel defined by inner and outer
radially spaced concentric walls. The closure comprises an inner
deck portion and a "corrugated" peripheral portion defining annular
inner, middle, and outer walls, all made integral with one another
by radial, curved bridge sections, and defining both an outermost
upwardly opening U-shaped channel at an innermost downwardly
opening or "inverted" U-shaped channel. The upwardly opening
channel defines a smooth, annular surface which is complemental to
and fits nestingly within the upwardly-opening U-shaped channel of
the ring member whereas the inverted U-shaped channel receives the
upstanding innermost end wall of the ring member and provides seals
on both inner and outer surfaces thereof to prevent paint or other
contained fluid from entering the space between the two
complemental U-shaped channels.
[0007] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a
closure adapted to fit complementally into a snap ring as described
above wherein a downwardly-extending lip is added to the radially
outermost element of the closure. This lip extends downwardly
toward, but does not touch, the top surface of the ring just inside
of the rim-engaging portion and provides several advantages
hereinafter described.
[0008] In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention,
an undercut-type lock is formed between the outermost wall of the
closure and the outer wall of the ring assembly thereby locating
the lock in that portion of the overall combination of components
which has the largest circumferential dimension thereby giving the
lock greater surface area and improving drop test performance. In
addition, locating the lock in this area takes advantage of the
natural spring effect between the ring member and the outer wall of
the closure thereby making it easier to remove the closure.
However, in an alternative embodiment, an additional lock may be
provided between the inner surface of the inner ring wall and the
adjacent closure wall. In this embodiment, multiple locks and
multiple seals are provided. The term "lock" is used herein to
refer to an undercut, interference fit between two radially
adjacent plastic walls which makes disengagement of those walls
from one another more difficult, but not impossible, to achieve.
This term is commonly used in this manner in the plastic container
technology.
[0009] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the
bottom of the pail or container is formed with a downwardly
projecting annular tongue and, radially outwardly thereof, an
annular groove. The radius of the annular groove is such that, when
two such containers are stacked atop one atop the other, before the
ring member is attached to the container, the top rim of the
container fits into the grove and enhances the stackability of the
two containers. At the same time, the downwardly projecting annular
tongue fits into a radial gap between the closure and a step formed
between the peripheral portion of the ring member and the outer
wall of the ring member so as to provide a laterally stable
stacking relationship between two containers when a ring member is
attached to the bottommost container in the stack. Therefore, as a
result of the invention, assembled containers can be stacked both
with and without attached ring members while lateral stability in
the stack is provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The description herein makes reference to the accompanying
drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts
throughout the several views, and wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a side view of a container assembly embodying the
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the closure detail for the
container assembly of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a side view showing stacked containers; and
[0014] FIG. 4 is a detail of the stacked containers showing the
stackability of the containers with a ring member attached;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a detail of stacked containers before the ring
member is attached.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment
providing a double lid lock;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a second alternative
embodiment with a double lid lock;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a third alternative embodiment
with a triple lid lock; and
[0019] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a lid with a lip feature as
described above.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT
[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a container assembly 10
comprising a molded plastic, one gallon cylindrical container 12
having an essentially non-tapered, cylindrical side wall 14 and an
integral closed bottom 16. The container side wall 14 terminates in
an embedded upper peripheral rim 18. The container assembly 10 is,
in this instance, made entirely of high density polyethylene but it
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other plastic
materials and blends thereof may be used.
[0021] In accordance with the invention, an annular ring member 20
is secured to the top rim 18 of the container 12 by means of
adhesive. Again, other attachment methodologies may be used
including spin welding, heat welding and snap-tight interference
fits.
[0022] The ring member 20 comprises a peripheral portion 22 having
a downwardly opening annular groove 23 which is adapted and sized
to receive the upper rim portion 18 of the container side wall 14
therein. The ring member 20 further comprises a radially innermost
portion defining an upwardly opening U-shaped channel having a
radially outer annular wall 24 and, concentric therewith, a
radially inner annular wall 26. The walls 24, 26 are made integral
by means of a bight or bridge section 27. A step 28 on the inside
of the peripheral portion 22 results in a recessed land 30 which
leads into an undercut tab 34 on the inner surface of the outer
wall 24 to provide a lock between the ring 20 and a closure 36,
hereinafter described.
[0023] Continuing with the description of FIG. 2 embodiment, the
injection molded plastic closure 36 comprises an inner planar deck
portion 38 and a series of radially spaced annular walls 40, 42 and
44 of which wall 40 is the innermost wall, wall 42 is a middle wall
and wall 44 is the outermost wall. Wall 44 terminates in a flange
46 which, when the closure 36 is installed in the ring member 20,
exhibits a radial clearance from the step 28 as well as a uniform
360.degree. vertical clearance from the land 30 such that a plying
tool may be inserted between the flange and the ring member to pry
the closure 36 from the ring member to access the contents of the
container 12.
[0024] The complemental second half of the undercut lock is
provided by means of a tab 48 formed on the outer surface of the
outer closure wall 44 so as to interfit with the tab 34 to provide
an undercut lock of large circumferential dimension when the
upwardly opening U-shaped channel 36 is complementally interfit
into the upwardly opening U-shaped channel of the ring member
20.
[0025] A first seal 50 is formed by firm radial contact between the
radially innermost wall 26 of the ring member 20 and the inner
surface of the inner radially innermost wall 40 of the closure 36.
A second seal is formed by close and firm radially contacting
relationship between the inner surface of the innermost wall 26 of
the ring member 20 and an annular tab 52 on the middle wall 42 of
the closure 36. This dual seal arrangement prevents paint from
entering into the space 54 between the ring member 20 and the
closure 36 thus providing a cleaner paint-free closure when it is
first removed from the container by the end user. The closure
channel does not bottom out in the ring channel.
[0026] Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the relationship between
two containers 12, 12' in stacked relationship on the two
conditions will be illustrated and described. In FIG. 4, the lower
container 12 has the ring member 20 attached to the container and a
closure 26 attached to the ring member 20. The bottom 16 of the
uppermost container 12' is shown to exhibit an upwardly opening
groove 55 and, radially inwardly thereof, a land 58 which is
adjacent a downwardly projecting annular tongue 56. As shown in
FIG. 4, with the ring member 20 attached to the container 12, the
downwardly projecting tongue 56 fits into the radial clearance
between the flange 46 and the step 28 to provide lateral stability
between the two containers in the stacked relationship.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 5, when containers are stacked without the
ring member 20 being attached to either containers, the top rim 18,
being of the same radial dimension as the groove 55, fits into the
groove such that the outermost ring 60 provides lateral stability
preventing movement between the two stacked containers.
[0028] FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate alternative embodiments of the
invention providing additional closure (lid) locks and seals. In
all cases, the container 12 remains unchanged, as do the details of
how the ring members 20', 20'' and 20''' are attached to the
container 12.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 6, the ring member 20' has the lock 34'
identical to lock 34 of the FIG. 2 embodiment, but has a lock/seal
area 70 formed on the inside surface of the outer annular wall 26'.
The closure 36 has the "corrugated" or serpentine, double-channel
periphery like the FIG. 2 embodiment, but the lock feature 52 here
interacts with the feature 70 on the ring to provide a second lid
lock as well as an additional seal to seal area 50.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 7, the container 12 receives a ring
structure 20'' and the ring structure 20'' again receives the
closure (lid) 36. Like the FIG. 6 embodiment, locks are provided at
both 72 and 74. However, the upstanding annular wall 26' is made
thicker and seals with both inside surfaces of the lid 36 when the
lid is fully engaged with the ring 20''; i.e., the seals are at 76
and 78.
[0031] In FIG. 8, the ring 20''' has undercuts 80 and 82 on both
sides of the wall 26'', thus providing a triple lid lock as well as
a triple seal; i.e., seals are formed between the closure (lid) and
ring at all of 84, 86 and 88.
[0032] FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment to include a
container 12a, a snap ring 20a and a closure 36a. The elements are
similar to the corresponding elements 12, 20 and 36 of FIG. 2 and
interact in essentially the same way. The exception is the addition
of the lip 90 to the radially outermost element of the closure 36a.
Lip 90 extends downwardly toward, but does not contact the deck 30a
of the ring 20a. The lip 90 provides these additional advantages:
[0033] (1) it adds structural strength to the closure; [0034] (2)
it aids in securing an opening tool such as a pry bar to remove the
closure 36a from the ring; and [0035] (3) it acts as a splash guard
when replacing the closure 36a on the ring 20a in the event paint
has collected in the U-shaped channel just to the left of the ring
section 20a shown in FIG. 9 (also shown at 54 in FIG. 2.)
[0036] FIG. 9 also shows a slight clearance between the top of the
container 12a and the inner surface of the ring channel which
receives it. An undercut 92 provides a snap fit.
[0037] It will be understood that the invention has been described
with reference to a specific embodiment thereof and with various
features, proportions and dimensions of the embodiment shown can be
changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *