Receptacles – One-piece – reinforced open end edge – Molded
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-09
2001-07-10
Castellano, Stephen (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
One-piece, reinforced open end edge
Molded
C220S656000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257438
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a molded plastic container, bucket or pail construction of the type including a bottom wall with an integrally molded, side wall and an open top end wherein the open top end is formed with various integral molded hoops and ribs to enhance the stacking capability of the pail or bucket and to facilitate maintenance of the shape of the bucket. The design is especially usefull when incorporated in a cylindrical or circular cross section bucket or container.
Heretofore there have been various proposed constructions for molded plastic buckets or containers used for holding paint, chemicals and other materials. For example, the following patents disclose a molded plastic bucket construction wherein the bucket has an open top end:
Patent No.
Title
Inventor
Date
4,177,934
Container and Lid
Hammes et al.
Dec. 11, 1979
4,197,958
Container of Foamed
Zeni et al.
April 15, 1980
Thermoplastic Material
4,293,080
Container Construction
Letica
Oct. 6, 1981
4,367,821
Paint Pail With Depending
Holt
Jan. 11, 1983
Skirt for Label Attachment
4,429,805
Container Construction
Letica
Feb. 7, 1984
5,249,694
Tear Strip Container
Nelson
Oct. 5, 1993
Constructions of this general type are usefull and, to some extent, have been commercially adopted. However, there has remained a desire to provide a simplified construction of the open or top end of such a bucket wherein the bucket can be fabricated using simplified molds while retaining the necessary stacking strength and meet other structural requirements. Of particular interest is a bucket construction which eliminates complex reinforcing ribs, vanes, fillets and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a principal aspect, the present invention comprises a molded plastic bucket or container of the type including a bottom wall integrally molded with a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the side wall terminating at an open top which is adapted to receive and engage with a lid to close the container so that the closed container will retain paint, liquid or other material. In a preferred embodiment, the open top includes an integrally molded upper, cylindrical first hoop having first and second, vertically spaced, generally horizontal projecting ribs. Typically, the first or uppermost rib projects laterally outwardly in a horizontal direction from the vertical wall section defining the first hoop. The second rib is spaced downwardly from the first rib and also projects laterally outwardly or inwardly, or both outwardly and inwardly from the first hoop.
The open end further includes a second integrally molded wall section or second hoop positioned between the second rib and the adjacent side wall of the bucket. The second hoop has a radius which varies about the circumference of the second hoop. In a preferred embodiment, the variation of the radius of the second hoop is characterized by a sinusoidal or corrugated shape in plan view, although other variable patterns may be adopted. By varying the radius and thus varying the plan configuration of the second hoop, the stacking strength as well as the hoop strength of the bucket may be enhanced. Thus, it is possible to control the stacking strength of the container and the hoop strength of the open end of the container in a manner which does away with a requirement for additional ribs, vanes or other reinforcing members molded into the container side wall. The thickness of the second hoop may also be varied about the circumference of the bucket to provide additional strength and rigidity characteristics, particularly at the upper end of the bucket or container.
The utilization of both first and second hoops is not essential since the first uniform radius hoop may be eliminated and a variable configuration hoop alone may be adopted.
Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved molded plastic bucket or container having a specialized construction associated with the open end of the bucket to enhance the hoop and stacking strength of the bucket.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved molded plastic bucket which may be easily manufactured with appropriate mold elements.
Another object of the invention is to provide a molded plastic bucket construction which utilizes a minimum amount of mold material yet which provides maximum container strength and volume.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in a detailed description which follows.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2335260 (1943-11-01), Chamberlain
patent: 3915330 (1975-10-01), Hammes et al.
patent: 4177934 (1979-12-01), Hammes et al.
patent: 4197958 (1980-04-01), Zeni et al.
patent: 4293080 (1981-10-01), Letica
patent: 4367821 (1983-01-01), Holt
patent: 4429805 (1984-02-01), Letica
patent: 4610351 (1986-09-01), Coles et al.
patent: 5249694 (1993-10-01), Nelson
patent: 5913446 (1999-06-01), Holdt, Sr. et al.
patent: 6098833 (2000-08-01), von Holdt, Sr. et al.
Banner & Witcoff , Ltd.
Castellano Stephen
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