Dispensing Container For Plastic Materials

Abstract

The dispensing container comprises a cylindrical body having end closure members one of which is securely though releaseably positioned to an end of the cylindrical body in such a manner as to be displaced therefrom and progressively advanced axially into and through the body, incident to advancement of a platen against the closure member for initially dislodging it from the cylinder body while simultaneously causing it to overlie the lower face and side edges of the platen, to extrude the contents of the container through an opening in the other closure member, or through a dispenser valve lid which replaces or which engages openings in the other closure member, incident to advancement of the platen into the container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Heretofore polyester-type auto body fillers and the like have been packaged in cylindrical containers having a removable lid and a fixed bottom. In order to dispense the contents of such containers it has been the practice to replace the removable lid with a dispenser valve lid after which the container was turned up-side-down for disposing the fixed bottom uppermost. The fixed bottom was then severed from the container by a grinding operation which freed or released the bottom from its original fixed relationship with the end of the side walls of the container. The severed container bottom was in the form of a substantially flat disc of a diameter just slightly less than the inside diameter of the container.

The contents of the container were adapted to be extruded through the dispenser valve lid by advancing a flat, press platen into the container and against the upper surface of the severed bottom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention the need for severing a fixed closure member from an end of a cylindrical container by grinding, cutting, or the like, has been completely eliminated by providing a top lid which when initially applied to the open top of the container will effectively seal the contents therein. The top lid is adapted to be automatically released from its initially closed or sealed relationship with an end edge of the container and be displaced into the interior of the container incident to the application of an axial force by the lower axial face of a platen. In other words, advancement of the platen against the top lid displaces it downwardly into the interior of the container while simultaneously breaking the sealing relationship which the lid initially had with the top end edge of the container. Those portions of the lid which initially project outwardly over the end edge of the container are automatically turned or flexed upwardly to be received within the container as the platen is advanced into the container. The top lid will thus constitute the lower face and side edges of a piston which, when lowered into the container, will extrude the contents thereof through openings in the bottom of the container or through a dispenser valve lid secured to the opposite end of the container.

In accordance with the present invention, top lid of the cylindrical container is preformed of a relatively soft material such as plastic, aluminum, or the like, and has a deformable circumferential outwardly turned flange surrounding a deformable raised central portion or platform. At one or both ends of a diameter, the top lid may have an extended ear or tab which enables the lid to be applied to the open top of a container by means of an automatic lid dropper mechanism which accurately positions the lid on the top open end of the container after which the lid is pressed into sealing relationship with the top end edge of the container. The ears and tabs normally overlie the upper edge and portions of the outer surface of the container wall. The flange aforesaid normally overlies said upper edge in sealing contact therewith.

The lower edge end portions of the container may be provided with either a removable, or a fixed end closure member for association with a conventional dispenser valve lid through which the contents of the container may be extruded.

To extrude the contents of the container, a flat press platen is advanced flatwise against the outer face of the platform of the top lid or movable closure member, thereby to bodily advance said member axially into and through the container. The force of platen advancement initially against the movable closure member results in an inward displacement of the flange and the tabs thereof over the back face of the platen. By this means, there is produced automatically a connection between the press platen and the movable closure member, coincidentally with initial advancement of the movable closure member by the platen, whereby any forward or retractile movement of the platen is imparted to the movable closure member.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a dispensing container with a top lid or closure member which is displaceable from a sealing relationship with an end edge of the container to an embracing relationship with a press platen whereby to constitute the face and side edges of a piston movable through the container for extruding the contents of the container through a suitable discharge port in the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closed cylindrical container embodying the means of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-section of the same, taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1, and showing a press platen in readiness for depressing and advancing a metallic end closure member axially through the container.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and showing the press platen in two stages of advancement of the closure member through the container, to extrude the contents through a bottom opening or delivery port.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-section showing details of the first stage of closure member advancement illustrated by FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing the closure member in a further state of advancement.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the container, partly broken away, and showing the closure member joined to the platen according to FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-section of a container like that of FIG. 8, having applied thereto an end closure member formed of a plastic material.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, showing the plastic closure member moved within the container to a state of advancement by the platen.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Containers of the kind herein disclosed are useful for the packaging, shipping, and dispensing of plastic substances such as putty-like polyester or fiberglass fillers and the like. The container usually is of hollow cylinder formation and may be fabricated preferably of any suitable metallic sheet material.

One end of the cylindrical container may be closed by means of a disc-like closure member 14 having formed therein a delivery opening 16 through which the contents of the container may be dispensed by extrusion. Delivery opening 16 normally is closed by a displaceable cap 18 which is adapted to be removed by the purchaser or user. The closure member 14 may be permanently mounted upon an end of the container in any appropriate manner. In the example illustrated, a peripheral crimp 20 is suggested as a satisfactory means for securing the member 14 in place.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, the closure member 14 may be considered a bottom wall or bottom closure member, for the reason that the container in use will ordinarily be supported with the circumferential crimp 20 resting upon a horizontal ring or open frame which leaves the delivery opening 16 unobstructed for dispensation of the plastic contents. The ring or open frame, not shown, may constitute the stationary bed or table of a common press which includes a movable platen, or pressure plate 22, selectively movable toward and from the bed or table in parallelism therewith.

Platen 22 may be in the form of a circular disc of rigid metal, upon which is fixed an operating plunger 24 which may be selectively advanced and retracted axially of the container, the cylindrical wall of which is denoted 26 in all of the drawing views. The diameter of the platen is somewhat less than the inside diameter of container wall 26.

The reference numeral 30 indicates generally an end closure member, or lid, which is to close that end of the container which is opposite the closure member 14. Lid 30 is circular of form, and may be fabricated of a suitable metal or a suitable molded plastic material. When the lid is formed of metal, it is preferably a light ductile metal such as aluminum or an alloy thereof which will bend and deform more easily than sheet steel.

Lid 30 may be formed to include an annular outer wall 32 defined by an outwardly directed annular flange 34 (FIG. 4), which flange is continuous about the periphery of the lid so as to overlie at all points a roll or bead 36 defining the top opening of the container. The flange 34 is disposed at an angle to the upright wall 32 of the lid structure as initially formed. Lid wall 32 may be substantially parallel to container wall 26.

At opposite ends of a diameter of the lid, the flange 34 may be extended to provide a pair of ears or tabs 38, 38, which during application of the lid in closing the container, are turned downwardly against the outer face of the container wall according to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The major area of the lid circumscribed by wall 32 is bulged upwardly in the process of manufacture, to provide a substantially planar platform 40. The outer limit of the platform is defined by a downwardly and outwardly sloping annular wall 42 which is subject to distortion by the platen, FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

To use the dispensing container, the cap 18 may first be removed to expose the plastic contents; then the container may be inverted with its lower edge or bottom member resting upon a suitable stationary support so constructed as to permit unobstructed downward extrusion of plastic material through delivery opening 16.

With the container so supported, the platen 22 may be lowered onto the raised portion or platform 40 of the lid. Continued lowering or advancement of the platen causes it to distort or somewhat flatten the lid, and thereby tend to expand the lid diameter within the cylindrical wall of the container.

As the platen advances, it projects the lid forcefully downwardly into the container, with the result that the container rim, being unyielding, displaces inwardly the annular flange 34 and tabs 38, as illustrated by FIGS. 7 and 8. Such advancement of the platen, coupled with increasing friction at the side wall 32 of the lid, results in a substantially complete flattening of platform 40 and a displacement of the lid metal upwardly along the peripheral outer edge of the platen. As this displacement of metal occurs, the tabs 38 and the annular flange 34 turn inwardly over the back face of the platen in accordance with FIGS. 7 and 8, thereby to automatically effect a connection between the lid and the platen, effective to grip and enforce a retractile movement of the lid with the platen whenever the platen at the will of the user is lifted or retracted. Such concurrent retraction of the platen and lid is advantageous for preventing overrun of plastic material at the delivery opening 16. Moreover, expansion of the lid by the flattening action of the press platen greatly minimizes the possibility of wasteful leakage of plastic material past the lid and onto the upper face of the platen, during compression and extrusion of the material incident to delivery.

It may here be noted that the platen 22 preferably is dimensioned to fit with a small amount of clearance, the space encompassed by annular wall 32 at the top face of the lid platform.

In the modification exemplefied by FIGS. 9 and 10, the container 26 and platen 22 are unchanged, but the lid 130 is a preformed plastic lid having an upright annular wall 132, and an annular exterior skirt 133 depending therefrom at an arch 134 wherein may be deposited a small quantity of sealant or adhesive shown at 135. The skirt 133 may be of uniform depth all around the lid, and being of plastic, will yield and turn inwardly over the platen as the platen flattens the lid platform 140 and wall 142, substantially as previously explained in describing FIGS. 1 through 8.

Due to the flexibility or ductility of the container lid, it may easily be stripped from the platen when finally withdrawn from the container, to prepare the platen for subsequent use. This may be accomplished by grasping a tab 38 or skirt 133 with pliers or another suitable tool.

When the top lid has been displaced or released from its initial sealing relationship (FIGS. 3, 4 and 9) with the top edge 36 of the container as the platen 22 is lowered, the lid will overlie the lower face and side edges of the platen whereby to constitute the lower and side faces of a piston in conjunction with the platen, FIGS. 7, 8 and 10.

Bottom closure member 14 has been illustrated in FIG. 2 with an opening 16 having a displaceable closure member 18 therein, however, it should be noted that in certain instances the bottom closure member is continuous, in which event suitable openings will be provided therein such as by piercing by any suitable means, such as, by way of example, with a church key, or the like, when the container is used. In other instances the lower closure member may comprise a removable lid such as the top lid of conventional paint cans. Whatever type of bottom closure member is used it is either removed, or provided with one or more discharge openings after which a conventional dispenser valve lid is secured to the lower end of the container for enabling the user to control the amount of material dispensed from the container.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. The combination which comprises: a dispensing container having a cylindrical side wall, a bottom closure member, and an open top; a lid normally closing the open top of the container, said lid being formed of flexible material and comprising a deformable annular wall slidable within the cylindrical side wall of the container; and means on the lid responsive to the action of a press platen advanced against the lid to project the lid bodily through the cylindrical container, for displacing said deformable annular wall into overlying gripping engagement with said platen, thereby to enforce bodily movement of the lid with the platen when retracted.

2. The combination as defined by claim 1, wherein the lid includes at least one bendable tab normally depending from the deformable annular wall of the lid to overlie a portion of the container side wall, said tab being influenced by the platen advancement to overlie the platen within the circumference of the container side wall.

3. The combination as defined by claim 1, wherein the means last mentioned includes a collapsible central platform on the lid subject to deformation by the platen in effecting said wall displacement.

4. The combination as defined by claim 3, wherein is included an annular displaceable flange on the side wall of the lid adapted normally to overlie an annular edge of the container side wall, said flange being displaceable with the deformable annular wall of the lid into overlying gripping engagement with the platen.

5. The combination as defined by claim 1, wherein the means last mentioned includes an annular displaceable flange on the side wall of the lid adapted normally to overlie an annular edge of the container side wall, said flange being displaceable with the deformable annular wall of the lid into overlying gripping engagement with the platen.

6. The combination as defined by claim 5, wherein said means last mentioned includes a collapsible central platform on the lid subject to deformation by the platen in effecting displacement of said lid wall and said flange.

7. The combination as defined by claim 6, wherein the lid includes at least one bendable tab normally depending from the deformable annular wall of the lid to overlie a portion of the container side wall, said tab being influenced by the platen advancement to overlie the platen within the circumference of the container side wall.

8. The combination as defined by claim 4, wherein the lid includes at least one bendable tab normally depending from the deformable annular wall of the lid to overlie a portion of the container side wall, said tab being influenced by the platen advancement to overlie the platen within the circumference of the container side wall.

9. The combination as defined by claim 1, wherein the lid is preformed of a plastic material, and includes a displaceable annular skirt depending from the deformable annular wall of the lid to overlie normally a portion of the container side wall, said skirt being flexible and displaceable with the annular wall of the lid into overlying relationship with the platen.

10. The combination as defined by claim 9, wherein said annular skirt meets the deformable annular wall of the lid as an arch, and said arch contains a sealant to contact the annular top edge of the container side wall.

11. The combination as defined by claim 10, wherein the skirt prior to displacement depends uniformly from said top edge of the container side wall.

12. The combination as defined by claim 9, wherein the means last mentioned includes a collapsible central platform on the lid subject to deformation by the platen in effecting said lid wall displacement.

13. The combination which comprises: a dispensing container having a cylindrical side wall, a bottom closure member, and an open reinforced top, said bottom closure member having an opening therein for delivery by extrusion of a thick plastic material from the container; a lid normally closing the open top of the container, said lid being formed of flexible material and comprising a deformable annular wall slidable within the cylindrical side wall of the container from end to end; an annular displaceable flange on the side wall of the lid to normally overlie the annular top edge of the container side wall; said lid including a collapsible central portion encompassed by the annular flange aforesaid; and means on the lid responsive to the action of a press platen advanced against the collapsible portion of the lid to project the lid bodily through the cylindrical container, for gripping the platen and enforcing bodily movement of the lid with the platen when retracted.

14. A lid for closing the open top of a bottom-vented cylindrical plastic-dispensing container; said lid being formed of flexible material and comprising a deformable annular wall slidable lengthwise within the container; an annular displaceable flange on the side wall of the lid to overlie the top edge of the container top opening; said lid having a collapsible central portion encompassed by said annular side wall flange, the central portion of said lid serving upon collapse to exert radial force against the deformable annular wall of the lid tending to expand the diameter of said wall and serving to displace the side wall flange inwardly when circumferentially confined.

15. The lid as defined by claim 14, wherein is included at least one bendable tap extended outwardly from the side wall flange.

16. The lid as defined by claim 14, wherein is included an annular skirt depending from the side wall flange of the lid, the entire lid including the skirt being of preformed flexible plastic material.

17. The plastic lid as defined by claim 16, wherein the width of the skirt is substantially uniform about the perimeter of the lid.