U.S. patent application number 12/917864 was filed with the patent office on 2011-08-04 for three piece thermoplastic container.
Invention is credited to Maxwell Bushby, Vince Ciccone.
Application Number | 20110186572 12/917864 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44340720 |
Filed Date | 2011-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110186572 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ciccone; Vince ; et
al. |
August 4, 2011 |
Three Piece Thermoplastic Container
Abstract
A container for a material, wherein the container has a body, a
base, and a lid is presented. The base may be with or without a
tamper-evident feature, depending on requirements, while the lid is
made preferably of a clear, transparent plastic. The body has a
bottom and a tubular element defining sides of the body and
extending upwardly from a periphery of the bottom. An upper portion
of the tubular element forms an aperture of the body. The base has
an externally directed annular protrusion which engages a recess in
the aperture-forming portion of the tubular element of the body. In
this way, a permanent seal is made at the top of the body after
filling with the material. A lid is adapted to removably engage a
top portion of the base.
Inventors: |
Ciccone; Vince; (Kleinburg,
CA) ; Bushby; Maxwell; (Sydney, AU) |
Family ID: |
44340720 |
Appl. No.: |
12/917864 |
Filed: |
November 2, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61257118 |
Nov 2, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/212.5 ;
220/214 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00435
20130101; B65D 2251/0018 20130101; B65D 53/02 20130101; B65D 21/022
20130101; B65D 43/0204 20130101; B65D 25/28 20130101; B65D
2251/0093 20130101; B65D 43/0254 20130101; B65D 11/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/212.5 ;
220/214 |
International
Class: |
B65D 53/02 20060101
B65D053/02; B65D 25/28 20060101 B65D025/28 |
Claims
1. A container for holding a material, the container comprising: a
body having a bottom and a tubular element defining sides of the
body and extending upwardly from a periphery of the bottom, wherein
an upper portion of the tubular element forms an aperture of the
body; a base having an externally directed annular protrusion which
engages a recess in the aperture-forming portion of the tubular
element of the body thereby effecting a permanent seal at the top
of the body after filling thereof; and a lid adapted to removably
engage a top portion of the base.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein one or more of the body, the
base, or the lid are formed from a thermoplastic material.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein one or more of the body, the
base, or the lid are fabricated from a Polyolefin such as PET or
PEN.
4. The container of claim 2, wherein one or more of the body, the
base, or the lid is transparent.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein the aperture-forming portion
of the tubular element further comprises an internally directed
annular protrusion configured to stop further insertion of the base
when the base is inserted into the aperture of the body and
contacts the internally directed annular protrusion.
6. The container of claim 1, wherein the externally directed
annular protrusion extends externally and upwardly and is therefore
capable of flexing inwardly whilst being introduced into the
aperture of the body of the container prior to coming to rest in
the recess.
7. The container of claim 1, wherein the resistance to permanent
inward deformation of the externally directed protrusion exceeds
the resistance to permanent outward deformation of the recess due
to the radially externally directed protrusion being fabricated
from thicker thermoplastic material than that present in the
recess.
8. The container of claim 1, wherein the radially externally
directed protrusion comprises 3 surfaces each of which, when the
base is disposed in the aperture of the body, forms a seal with a
corresponding surface of the aperture-forming portion of the
tubular element of the body.
9. The container of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises: an
inner annular projection extending upward; and a horizontal
continuous panel for enclosing the material in the container.
10. The container of claim 8, wherein the body further comprises a
handle disposed on the horizontal continuous panel, and the
horizontal continuous panel is configured to be removed from the
base by applying force to the handle.
11. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid further comprises a
continuous central panel, continued to enclose the material in the
container when the lid is engaged with the base.
12. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid further comprises a
first downwardly projecting portion for sealing engagement with an
inner surface of a rim of the base and a second downwardly
projecting portion for sealing engagement with an outer surface of
the rim of the base.
13. The container of claim 1, wherein a base-engaging portion of
the lid comprises 3 surfaces each of which, when the lid is affixed
to the base, forms a seal with a corresponding surface of a rim of
the base.
14. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a bump on a
top surface of the lid, the bump configured for stacking a second
containers.
15. The container of claim 1, wherein when the lid is engaged with
the base, the lid also contacts the body.
16. A method of enclosing a material in a tamper evident container,
the method comprising the steps of: providing a body, the body
having a bottom and a tubular element extending upwardly from a
periphery of the bottom; placing the material into the body;
inserting a base into a top aperture of the body, the base having a
tamper-evident horizontal continuous panel, wherein the base is
configured to be permanently affixed to the body once inserted; and
engaging a removable lid on the base.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/257,118 filed Nov. 2,
2009, now pending, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein
by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to the field of containers, and more
particularly to thermoplastic cans for shipping and storing
materials.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The current application incorporates by reference the
Thermoplastic Can presented by U.S. Pat. No. 7,419,068, hereinafter
referred to as the '068 patent, granted on Sep. 2, 2008 to Maxwell
Bushby; international publication no. WO/2003/055754 (info
enclosed). International counterparts are as follows: Australian
Patent No. 2002351876 (info enclosed); South African Patent No.
2004/5794; Australian Design Registration No. 152397 (info
enclosed); New Zealand Patent No. 533257 (info enclosed); Indian
Patent No. 208441 (info enclosed); Philippines Patent Appl. No.
12004450967; and Malaysian Patent No. 20042500. The Abstract of
patent '068 specifies: "A thermoplastic can (1) comprising a
thermoplastic body (2) having a disc like top (3) molded as one
with a tubular element (5) defining the sides of the body (2) and
extending downwardly from the peripheral portions of the top (3);
an openable portion associated with the top to facilitate use of
the can contents by an end user, a thermoplastic base member (7)
having an externally directed protrusion (8) engaged in a
relatively thin walled recess (9) in the radially internally facing
lower peripheral portion of the body thereby effecting a permanent
seal at the base of the container after filling thereof; the
resistance to permanent inward deformation of the externally
directed protrusion exceeding the resistance to permanent outward
deformation of the thin walled recess; the wall thickness of the
lower peripheral portion of the body below the thin walled recess
exceeding that of the thin walled recess."
[0004] The majority of paints on the market are supplied in tin
cans with tin covers, either lacking tamper-evident features or
having tamper-evident features constructed of a different material,
such as plastic, the combination of materials not only requiring a
complicated manufacturing and installation process, but rendering
such containers un-recyclable in facilities where separation cannot
be achieved by use of machinery.
[0005] The present invention relates to a thermoplastic can of a
three piece design comprising a paint can (container), a base, and
a lid, wherein a permanent base to container seal is effected
between a peripheral portion of the base and an internally facing
surface adjacent the aperture of the can (similar with the seal of
the '068 patent), further presenting an openable attachment of lid
to base, the lid being made of preferably transparent plastic to
allow visibility to the contents of the can package. Paint can,
base and lid are made of thermoplastic material, hence being
recyclable as a unit.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present application builds on the design of the '068
thermoplastic can, presenting a can-to-base closure with three
circumferential seals similar in principle to the seal of the '068
patent, and further adding a lid-to-base closure with another set
of three circumferential seals. The base may be with or without
tamper-evident feature, depending on requirements, while the lid is
made preferably of a clear, transparent plastic that allows instant
color verification (i.e. a re-opening of the lid for color
verification is not necessary). While the object of the present
invention is intended for use as paint can package, it may be used
for any applications where it is desired for the contents of the
can to be visible without opening the lid. No particular comments
are made regarding the size of the paint can package, other than to
specify it is envisioned for a comprehensive range of sizes as to
be commercially useful.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the
invention, reference should be made to the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0008] FIG. 1 (prior art) presents the thermoplastic can of patent
'068 (copy of Sheet 1 of 4 of '068 patent, showing FIGS. 1 and
3).
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the paint can, base and lid
in accordance with the present invention, shown before
installation.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the paint can, base and lid
in accordance with the present invention, shown after
installation.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-section through the opening of the paint
can, showing its key features.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross-section through the periphery of the base
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, showing its
key features.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a cross-section through the periphery of the lid,
showing its key features.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a cross-section through the closure of the paint
can, base and lid of a preferred embodiment of the invention,
showing the three circumferential seals between lid and base, and
the three circumferential seals between base and body of paint can,
the base having tamper-evident feature.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a cross-section through the closure of the paint
can, base and lid of a second embodiment of the invention,
presenting a base without tamper-evident feature.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] A detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the
invention follows with reference to FIGS. 2-7.
[0017] As can be seen in FIG. 7, the easy-mix paint can package is
formed by a paint can 10, a base 12, and a lid 14.
[0018] With reference to FIG. 4, paint can 10 has an aperture 16
presenting an annular protrusion 18 having an angular surface 20
projecting upwardly and radially inwardly from the paint can wall,
with an angle between 0.degree. and 45.degree. measured from the
horizontal, but preferably 15.degree.-25.degree.. A periphery 22 of
paint can further presents sloped surfaces 24 and 26, followed by a
thickened rim 28. Sloped surfaces 24 and 26 form a thin walled
recess or undercut 25, the thickness of the membrane 25a between
corner of undercut 25 and outer surface of paint can 10 being
substantially thinner than the thickness of rim 28.
[0019] As can be seen in FIG. 5, base 12 has a somewhat U-shaped
periphery, with a bottom portion 30 having a bottom surface 32
sloped to match surface 20 of the paint can. An externally directed
annular protrusion 36 of base 12 extends upwardly and outwardly,
having sloped surfaces 38 and 40 matching sloped surfaces 24 and 26
of the paint can.
[0020] As base 12 is installed in paint can 10 at the aperture 16,
protrusion 36 flexes inwardly to ride over the inner surface of rim
28, flexing outwardly again to bite into recess 25 while its sloped
bottom surface 32 comes into contact with sloped surface 20 of
paint can. The thickness differential between membrane 25a and rim
28 allows the membrane to flex radially outwardly as base 12 is
installed. Once protrusion 36 comes to rest in recess 25, the
superior `memory` of the thickened rim 28 returns it to its
original diameter. Similar to the behavior explained in the '068
patent, this succession of motions is possible due to the fact that
the thin membrane 25a undergoes some plastic deformation, while the
thickened rim 28 undergoes an elastic deformation during
installation of base into paint can. A membrane thickness of
0.006'' to 0.032'' is recommended in order for the thin walled
recess to deform outwardly during installation of the base and
thereafter.
[0021] Once installation has thus been achieved, base 12 and paint
can 10 form a first seal 34 at surfaces 20 and 32, a second seal 42
at surfaces 24 and 38, and a third seal 44 at surfaces 26 and
40.
[0022] The thickness of annular projection 36 is such that its
resistance to permanent inward deformation exceeds the resistance
to permanent outward deformation of thin walled recess 25 due to
the fact that protrusion 36 has a 30-35% thicker cross-section than
that of thin walled recess 25. It is obvious that once the base is
installed in the paint can, it cannot be disengaged without
permanently damaging these two components.
[0023] The outermost edge 39 of protrusion 36 (which bites into
thin walled recess 25) should preferably be rounded. While a larger
radius would ease installation of base into paint can, it should
however be sufficiently small to not overly reduce the surface area
coverage of seals 42 and 44, values of R0-0.030'' being a suitable
compromise.
[0024] Similar to the design of the '068 patent, the paint can and
base should preferably have a slight interference or friction fit,
such that when the base is secured between surfaces 20 and 26 of
paint can, there is an interference of 0.000''-0.002''. With
reference to the embodiment presented here, surfaces 26 and 40
should have an angle between 15.degree. and 45.degree. with the
horizontal, but preferably 24.degree.-32.degree.. Further similar
with the '068 patent, the angle of protrusion 36 is recommended to
be between 20.degree. and 45.degree. with the vertical.
[0025] Furthermore, the maximum diameter of protrusion 36 is larger
than the maximum diameter of recess 25 into which it is fitted.
This interference fit is critical to the seal of the paint can,
and, while dependent on capacity and size of paint can, it is
preferably in the range of 0.004'' to 0.028''.
[0026] Further with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, base 12 has an
inner annular projection 46 extending upwardly into a thickened rim
48. Rim 48 has outer sloped surfaces 50 and 52, a flat top surface
54, and an inner sloped surface 56 meeting the predominantly
vertical inner surface of annular projection 46. A preferred
embodiment of the invention presents base 12 with a horizontal
continuous panel 58, connected to the inner surface of annular
projection 46 by a thin tear-tab membrane 60. On the top surface of
panel 58, an easy-pull tear-tab handle 62 projects towards the
aperture side of the paint can. When color mixing is desired, panel
58 is removed from base 12 by pulling on tear-tab handle 62 and
breaking the tear-tab membrane 60 all around its circumference.
[0027] As can be seen in FIG. 6, lid 14, preferably made of
transparent plastic, has a continuous central panel 64 and a
substantially reinforced periphery 66. Periphery 66 presents two
downwardly-projecting portions, a first portion in the shape of a
ridge 68 with a tapered surface 70 matching that of surface 56 of
base 12, followed by a flat portion 72, and a second
downwardly-projecting portion 74 having sloped surfaces 76 and 78,
surface 78 with an angle matching that of surface 50 of base. Lid
14 further has two downwardly projecting ridges 80 and 82, and an
external, substantially horizontal projection 84. As lid 14 is
installed on base 12 (itself installed on paint can 10), lid and
base form a first seal 86 at surfaces 50 and 78, a second seal 88
at surfaces 54 and 72, and a third seal 90 at surfaces 56 and 70.
Therefore, and with reference to FIG. 7, when the paint can, base
and lid are fully assembled, no fewer than six circumferential
seals protect the contents of the can.
[0028] In order for the thickened rim 48 to snap into its seat in
the lid, surface 52 rides along the tip and inner surface of ridge
80, slightly flexing radially inwardly while forcing ridge 80 to
flex radially outwardly. As rim 48 reaches up and into contact with
ridge 68 of lid, it is guided along both sides into its seat. As
can be seen in FIG. 6, to allow such installation, all edges
involved in contact and guiding should preferably be rounded. Edge
51 of thickened rim 48 should preferably be rounded to help it ride
against inner surface 79 of ridge 80. The bottom of ridge 80 should
preferably be fully rounded, while inner surface 79 should
preferably be sloped at an angle of 5.degree.-15.degree.,
preferably 7.degree.-10.degree. to the vertical. Furthermore, inner
edge 77 (formed between sloped surfaces 79 and 78) should be
rounded.
[0029] As rim 48 snaps into its seat in the lid, it is held snugly
between surfaces 78, 72, and 70, forming the three circumferential
seals described above.
[0030] As can be seen in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, surfaces 52 and 76 are
designed with clearance, and while parallel to each other in the
embodiments presented here, they need not necessarily be so. The
only requirement is that they not interfere with each other, the
angle of surface 52 being selected mainly with the purpose of
easing installation in the manner described above, while keeping
the thickness of rim 48 sufficiently substantial for long term
performance of the closure, a value of 15.degree.-45.degree. from
the vertical being recommended. The angle of surface 76 should
derive accordingly, to allow sufficient clearance, ideally
0.020''-0.040''. A similar clearance should be achieved in the
space between seals 34 and 42 of container to base, as can be seen
in FIG. 7.
[0031] The overwhelming majority of paint cans on the market are
tin cans with tin lids, having no tamper-evident feature. White
paint is supplied, with the tint being added upon sale of the
paint. After color blending, the seller typically opens the lid to
reveal the color to the customer, and may smear a smidge of paint
on the lid as further visual proof of the content.
[0032] The invention presented here brings considerable improvement
over existing art. Firstly, panel 58, molded integrally with base
12, provides a tamper-evident feature over current designs. The
three circumferential seals of base 12 to paint can 10, together
with the three circumferential seals of base 12 to lid 14, protect
the paint while preventing leaks.
[0033] Another major improvement of the present invention is that
by using a transparent lid, the color is visible without
necessitating a re-opening of the paint can for color verification.
This provides not only for faster service, but also prolongs the
life of the paint by preventing air or contaminants from entering
the paint can cavity until the end user accesses the paint.
[0034] As can be seen in FIG. 6, lid 14 is provided with an annular
bump 92 on its top surface, near the periphery, the purpose of this
bump being to center paint cans for stacking purposes, as is common
procedure in the field of plastic containers and lids.
[0035] A second embodiment of the invention is presented with
reference to FIG. 8. The base 12' is similar with base 12 of the
preferred embodiment, less the central panel 58. This is an
alternative for applications not requiring a tamper-evident
feature, also allowing for a more economical option by reducing the
amount of plastic injected in the base.
[0036] The closure of the '068 design presented in FIG. 1 (prior
art) is at the bottom of the container. The embodiments presented
here have the closure at the top end of the container, allowing
installation, capping and filling in the same orientation, hence
simplifying the filling process, which ultimately results in
financial savings.
[0037] As can be noticed in FIG. 7, the paint can is shaped with a
neck-like portion 94 below seal 34, to minimize wall thickness
while allowing a sufficiently sturdy construction of annular
protrusion 18 to support the base without buckling during
installation or usage. The wall outline projects along the same
line above and below the neck-like portion. This feature minimizes
the overall diameter of the paint can, reducing spatial
requirements with regards to transportation and storage.
[0038] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the paint can is provided with a
handle of a suitable construction for safely lifting and carrying
the weight of the filled can.
[0039] Furthermore, while the embodiments presented here are of
circular design, it should be understood that rectangular, square,
oval and oblong cross-sections are also considered.
[0040] Although the present invention has been described with
respect to one or more particular embodiments, it will be
understood that other embodiments of the present invention may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention. Hence, the present invention is deemed limited only by
the appended claims and the reasonable interpretation thereof.
* * * * *