Safety Can

Abstract

A tubular container having an end wall with a removable central portion, the latter having the exposed edge thereof guarded by a liner extending along the wall of the container after the central portion has been removed. The liner may be separable from the container body, and may be folded upon itself, so that the inner face of the liner may extend inward of the exposed edge an extra amount to provide a more effective guard than that incident to the thickness alone of the liner.

Description

This invention relates to fiberboard or metal containers of the type commonly used for the packaging of food stuffs and many other articles. A growing trend in the production of these containers has been the provision of an end wall, the central portion of which may readily be detached and removed from the remaining portion.

A problem which has arisen in connection with this feature is the danger of cuts and abrasions to one inserting his hand into the container, caused by the contact with the free, raw edge of the remaining portion of the container end which is exposed after the central portion has been removed.

It is an object of this invention to provide a protective structure for shielding or covering the exposed raw edge to prevent such injuries.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in a container of the type described, of a protective structure disposed under the open end of the container and projecting slightly inwardly beyond the raw edge of the container closure which is exposed when the removable portion is detached therefrom.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the container top closure illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are perspective views showing the steps in forming a liner element for the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view showing the liner element in position in the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a step in preparing another form of liner element according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the liner element of FIG. 7 being inserted into a container body;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another form of liner element in situ in a container, and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a liner element for the embodiment of FIG. 9.

A safety can having a liner element therein is referred to by the reference numeral 15 is formed from either fiberboard or metal, and has upper and lower end walls 16 and 17 secured to a container body 18. End wall 17 has an outer annular flange 19 crimped to a body 18 in the usual fashion and a panel portion 21 detachably connected to the flange 19 along a weakened score line 22.

A pull tab 20 permits panel portion 21 to be pulled up and detached from flange 19 at score line 22. When panel portion 21 is removed, a free edge 23 of raw metal is exposed. This presents the danger of cuts to the hand of a person upon contact therewith, but for the provision of structure which now will be described.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in a container of the type described, of a protective structure disposed under the open end of the container and slightly inwardly beyond the exposed raw edge of the container closure when the removable portion is detached therefrom.

A liner construction, referred to by reference numeral 25, for the interior of container body 18 is preferably formed from paper comprised of a fluted ply and may be made of glazed paper of a liner variety. The flutes of layer 26 give a certain amount of resiliency and flexibility to the liner 25.

The liner is formed in such a fashion that any dimension between spaced portions thereof is less than the corresponding dimension between cut line 23. Liner 25 is accordingly cut along a line 28 on the fluted ply 26, and scored along a line 29 on ply 27. Liner 25 is folded along score line 28 to provide a double thickness of liner 25 along the top thereof, as seen in FIG. 5.

When liner 25 is inserted in container body 18, the raw edge 23 is guarded thereby when central panel 21 is removed as seen more clearly in FIG. 6.

In FIG. 7 there is shown another embodiment referred to by reference numeral 25A. A hot melt adhesive applying head 31 applies a strip of hot melt 32 to film 27, liner structure 25A being formed into a cylinder as seen in FIG. 8 and inserted into container body 18. By reason of the dimension of glue strip 32, liner 25A has flutes 26 thereof providing protection against raw edge 23.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 there is shown another embodiment indicated by reference numeral 25B. In this form spots 33 of hot melt are applied to ply 27, enabling the liner 25B to be held in place to the interior of container body 18.

As with the embodiment of FIG. 7, the dimension of spots 33 and the flutes 26 afford protection against raw edge 23.

It will be seen from the description foregoing that the liner protects users from the sharp, raw edge remaining after removal of panel 21. The structure shown makes unnecessary expensive moulded protection rings. Moreover, the liner structure has the property of absorbing shock to protect fragile food items such as potato chips, or the like, the liner having both flexibility and resiliency.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a protective arrangement for a container having a container body and a closure, wherein the closure is characterized by a panel which is removed to provide a remaining closure portion presenting a raw edge susceptible of injuring a user:

a. the improvement in said protective arrangement which comprises;

b. a liner for said container body extending along the wall of said container body and adjacent the lower side of said remaining closure portion;

c. said liner being deformed to present a thickness which is greater than the thickness of the material of the liner;

d. said liner being folded upon itself adjacent said remaining closure portion to present a double thickness thereof extending inward of said raw edge and affording protection upon removal of said closure.