Container

Abstract

A container has a cylindrical body and a cover attached to an end thereof. The end has an annular thicker portion. The cover has a substantially circular plate portion with a substantially cylindrical portion and a circumferential projecting edge surrounding the plate portion forming an annular space. The end is inserted into the annular space. The cylindrical portion is provided on the outer surface with an annular step portion corresponding to an inner end of the annular thicker portion. An end portion of the cylindrical portion is widened so that the outer diameter of the end portion is larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body. The cover is attached to the end of the cylindrical body by using an inserting means having a tapered inner surface. The cover cannot be reattached once it is detached from the container.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

[0003] Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIALS SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

[0004] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] 1. Field of the Invention

[0006] The present invention relates to a container for containing foods, medical and pharmaceutical products, etc. More particularly, the present invention relates to a container having a cover, said cover being attached to an end of said container, said cover being not attachable again to said end of said container once said cover is detached from said end of said container.

[0007] In the present invention, foods, medical and pharmaceutical products, etc. contained in the container are hereinafter referred to as "contents".

[0008] In the present invention, a cover may be attached to an upper end, lower end or any other end of the container.

[0009] 2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.

[0010] Various containers having a cover and made of a paper or synthetic resin, have been used for containing contents such as foods and medical and pharmaceutical products.

[0011] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 9-20354, published on Jan. 21, 1997, discloses a cover for a paper can. Said cover is attached to an open end of a cylindrical paper can. Said paper can may be used for containing foods, medical and pharmaceutical products, etc.

[0012] The cover of the abovementioned conventional containers can be easily detached from the container. The containers are shipped, transported, warehoused and displayed with the contents contained therein. Therefore, a third person may detach the cover from the container; illegally put a harmful object, filthy thing or other foreign matter into the container or illegally remove the contents from the container, and then reattach the cover to the container.

[0013] In the abovementioned conventional containers, it is easy to detach the cover from the container and attach the cover thereto again. Even if the cover has been detached from the container and attached thereto again, this fact cannot be confirmed by the appearance alone of the cover or the container. As a result, a purchaser may take the contents out of the container and eat or drink the contents without knowing said fact. The foreign matter illegally put into the container by the third person may give an adverse result to the purchaser. Furthermore, the purchaser is likely to be anxious that a foreign matter may have been illegally put into the container before he purchases the product.

[0014] Thus, in the abovementioned conventional containers, it is impossible to give consumers safety and freedom from anxiety.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] It is an object of the invention to provide a container having a cover, said cover being attached to an end of said container, said cover being not attachable again to said end of said container once said cover is detached from said end of said container.

[0016] It is another object of the invention to provide a container which gives consumers safety and freedom from anxiety.

[0017] These and other objects have been achieved by the following container.

[0018] The present invention is a container having a cylindrical body and a cover attached to an end of said cylindrical body. Said end of said cylindrical body is provided on the inside with an annular thicker portion. Said cover comprises a substantially circular plate portion, said plate portion being provided on one side with a substantially cylindrical portion. Said plate portion being provided on said one side with a circumferential projecting edge surrounding said plate portion so as to form an annular space between the outer surface of a base portion of said substantially cylindrical portion and the inner surface of said circumferential projecting edge. Said end of said cylindrical body is inserted into said annular space. Said substantially cylindrical portion is provided on the outer surface with an annular step portion corresponding to an inner end of said annular thicker portion in said end of said cylindrical body. An end portion of said substantially cylindrical portion of said cover is widened so that the outer diameter of said end portion is larger than the inner diameter of said cylindrical body. Said cover is attached to said end of said cylindrical body by using an inserting means having a tapered inner surface.

[0019] The substantially cylindrical portion of said cover may be provided on the outer surface between said base portion and said annular step portion with an annular projection.

[0020] When the cover is attached to said end of the cylindrical body by using said inserting means having a tapered inner surface, the end of the cylindrical body is inserted into said annular space between the outer surface of said base portion of the substantially cylindrical portion and the inner surface of the circumferential projecting edge. Also, the inner end of the annular thicker portion in the end of the cylindrical body is engaged with the annular step portion provided on the outer surface of the substantially cylindrical portion. The annular step portion prevents the cover from coming out of the cylindrical body. Thus, the cover is firmly secured to the end of the cylindrical body.

[0021] Even if a third person could manage to remove the cover from the end of the cylindrical body, he will not be able to reattach the cover to the end of the cylindrical body because the end portion of the substantially cylindrical portion of the cover is widened so that the outer diameter of said end portion is larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body.

[0022] There can be a possibility that a third person removes the cover from the cylindrical body at a store, puts a foreign matter into the cylindrical body and attaches the cover again to the end of the cylindrical body by using an inserting means having a tapered inner surface prepared in advance. However, it is actually inconceivable that a person should dare to attach the cover again to the end of the cylindrical body by using an inserting means having a tapered inner surface at a conspicuous place such as a store.

[0023] Thus, the present invention gives safety and freedom from anxiety to consumers who buy containers containing foods, medical and pharmaceutical products, etc.

[0024] The annular projection formed between the base portion and the annular step portion of the substantially cylindrical portion of the cover is pressed against the annular thicker portion on the inside of the cylindrical body so as to make the container airtight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a cylindrical body and a cover.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line II-II of FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-III of FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a front view of the cover.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the cover attached to an end of the cylindrical body.

[0030] FIG. 6 is sectional view showing the cover being attached to the end of the cylindrical body by using an inserting means.

[0031] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the cover attached to the cylindrical body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] A container according to the present invention comprises a cylindrical body 1 and a cover 5 attached to an end 3 of said cylindrical body 1.

[0033] The cylindrical body 1 is made of a paper or a synthetic resin such as polypropylene and polyethylene. The cover 5 is made of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene and polyethylene.

[0034] Said end 3 of the cylindrical body 1 is provided on the inside with an annular thicker portion 7. If the cylindrical body 1 is made of a paper, the annular thicker portion 7 is formed by folding back said end 3 of the cylindrical body 1.

[0035] Said cover 5 comprises a substantially circular plate portion 9, said plate portion 9 is provided on one side 9a with a substantially cylindrical portion 11, said plate portion 9 is provided on said one side 9a with a circumferential projecting edge 13 surrounding said plate portion 9 so as to form an annular space 17 between the outer surface 15a of a base portion 15 of said substantially cylindrical portion 11 and the inner surface 13a of said circumferential projecting edge 13. Said end 3 of said cylindrical body 1 is inserted into said annular space 17. Said substantially cylindrical portion 11 is provided on the outer surface 11a with an annular step portion 19 corresponding to an inner end 7a of said annular thicker portion 7 in said end 3 of said cylindrical body 1. An end portion 21 of said substantially cylindrical portion 11 of said cover 5 is widened so that the outer diameter 23 of said end portion 21 is larger than the inner diameter 25 of said cylindrical body 1. See FIG. 1.

[0036] Said cover 5 is attached to said end 3 of said cylindrical body 1 by using an inserting means 33 having a tapered inner surface (conical inner surface) 31. See FIG. 6.

[0037] The substantially cylindrical portion 11 of said cover 5 may be provided on the outer surface 11 a between said base portion 15 and said annular step portion 19 with an annular projection 35. The annular projection 35 may have a triangular section. See FIG. 1.

[0038] As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A container having a cylindrical body and a cover attached to an end of said cylindrical body, said end of said cylindrical body being provided on the inside with an annular thicker portion, said cover comprising a substantially circular plate portion, said plate portion being provided on one side with a substantially cylindrical portion, said plate portion being provided on said one side with a circumferential projecting edge surrounding said plate portion so as to form an annular space between the outer surface of a base portion of said substantially cylindrical portion and the inner surface of said circumferential projecting edge, said end of said cylindrical body being inserted into said annular space, said substantially cylindrical portion being provided on the outer surface with an annular step portion corresponding to an inner end of said annular thicker portion in said end of said cylindrical body, an end portion of said substantially cylindrical portion of said cover being widened so that the outer diameter of said end portion is larger than the inner diameter of said cylindrical body, said cover being attached to said end of said cylindrical body by using an inserting means having a tapered inner surface.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substantially cylindrical portion of said cover is provided on the outer surface between said base portion and said annular step portion with an annular projection.