Receptacles – Closures – Removable closure situated by resilient distortion and...
Patent
1997-05-14
1998-11-24
Cronin, Stephen K.
Receptacles
Closures
Removable closure situated by resilient distortion and...
220782, B65D 4116
Patent
active
058396047
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to plastic containers with inwardly projecting rims and particularly to lids for sealing such containers. The invention also relates to a method of sealing plastic containers to prevent spillage when dropping the container of knocking it over.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditionally paint cans were made of metal having an invented rim, with a metal plug lid providing the closure. In recent years plastic paint containers have come on the market, which provide obvious advantages such as non-rusting, dent resistance and make them suitable for both water and solvent based paints. These containers are also easier to manufacture. One recent patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,399, discloses such a plastic container having inwardly projecting rims. This type of container has an advantage in that it provides a larger area for labelling or advertising and furthermore prevents liquid in the container from splashing over when moving the container, as for example from the filling station to the lidding station. One problem that these containers have not yet overcome is that they are prone to leakage when they are dropped of knocked over. This is due to the fact that the generally round body of the container is distorted upon impact with the ground, thus also distorting the configuration of the mouth of the container, for example from a round shape to an oval shape, with a longer diameter in one direction. The lid, on the other hand, which is subjected to pressure from inside the container, does not distort in the same fashion, thus leaving an opening between the lid edge and the container wall for the contents to leak out and often the lid pops out completely spilling the whole contents. One solution to this problem is to make the inwardly pointing rim larger, i.e. to point more inwardly, but this would make it difficult to close and open the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to provide plastic containers with inwardly projecting rims which are sealed more securely to prevent their opening and spilling upon impact, particularly lateral impact.
It is a further object of the invention to provide plastic containers which are sealed and opened more easily.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide lids for plastic containers with inwardly projecting rims which provide a better seal and render the container spill-proof on impact, especially lateral impact.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a method for sealing containers to prevent spillage on dropping or falling over to the ground.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1a is a sectional elevational view of a lidded container in accordance with the prior art;
FIG. 1b is a blown-up detailed view of section A in FIG 1a;
FIG 2a is a sectional elevational view of a lidded container in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2b is a blown-up detailed view of section B in FIG. 2a; and
FIG. 3 is a blown-up section view of a lid closure in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to FIGS. 1a and 1b, these represent a prior art container 10, generally round in configuration and having a snap-fit lid 2. The closure between lid 2 and container 10 is as follows. Wall 16 of the container 10 has an upper rim 12 extending around the inner wall of the container. This rim 12 is thicker than wall 16 and includes a top edge 22 and a lower lip 8, which forms a groove 9 in the rim 12. Lid 2 comprises a flat round central portion 4, from which there extends around the entire lid an edge portion 14 which is generally trough shaped. This edge portion 14 comprises an inner wall 15 and an outer wall 17, which are connected at the bottom of the walls 15 and 17 by a fixed bridging element 19. A circumferential flange 6 at the lower end of wall 17 is a
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Amraz Ltd.
Cronin Stephen K.
Hylton Robin A.
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