Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
RUBBER FOOT FOR METAL CONTAINER
Specification
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This invention rela-tes to containers, and more
particularly to a protective foot of resilient material
to be applied to the skirt of a container.
Containers and barrels are normally formed of a
cylindrical shell with domed shaped heads that enclose
the shell. ~n annular protective skirt or flange is gen-
erally formed integrally with the heads to extend outwardly
from each head to protect the bung opening of the con-
tainer, and to provide ease in handling the container.
During handling and shipping~ the container may be sub-
jected to considerable impact which frequently results in
deformation or fracture of the skirt resulting in a
limited ser~ice life for the container. The con~ainer may
also slide on its supporting surface colliding with
stationary objects or other containers resulting in damage
to itself, the other containers, the surrounding objects,
or the supporting surface. Metal containers may also
produce sparks when cominy in contact with other metal
surfaces presenting a safety hazard for containers filled
with flamable or explosive material. It is thus desirable
to provide an arrangement for the skirt that will protect
the skirt and container as well as provide a more stable
container ~hich will not easily slide along its supporting
surface.
It is known to use skirts composed entirely of
rubber to protect the head of containers for soft drink~
extracts. In this construction a rubber skirt is bonded
directly to the head of the container. In normal practice
a container manufacturer will ship the metal heads to a
molding facility and aEter molding the skir-ts and bonding
them to the heads, the heads are shipped back to the
manufacturer for welding to the shell. The shipment of
the heads to the molder and the subsequent return of the
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heads adds su~stan~ially to the overall cost of the con-
tainer and would be prohibitive for small rnetal con~ainers,
such as gasoline cans, water cans, trash cans, or propane
tanks.
In accordance with the present invention there
is provided a protective foot for a skirt of a metal
container, comprising an annular, channel-shaped member
of resilient material having a pair of opposing, spaced
apart side walls interconnected by a base at one of their
ends, the walls and base defining a skixt-receiving
channel, and a projection extending into said skirt-
receiving channel from one of the walls adapted to be
received within a com~lementary projection-recei~ing
portion in the container to secure the channel~shaped
member to the skirt.
The foot is comprised of a resilient
material such as r~ber, which serves to protect the
skirt and container by cushioning its impact with other
objects thereby greatly increasing the service life of
the container. The foot further protects the surface
supporting the container from damage and increases the
stability of the con-tainer. ~he foot also reduces the
safety hazard of containers filled with flamable ox
explosive material by preventing the container from
sliding and generating sparks under normal conditions.
The protective foot is annular in shape
with a circular inner wall and a circular outer wall
concentric therewith. However, the foot may take
other forms such as rectangular or polygonal depending
upon the shape of the skirt for the container.
In one form, the cross-section of the skirt-
receiving channel is rectangular for use with straight
edged skirts. In this form, the projections which hold
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the protective foot on the skirt may extend from either
side wall depending upon whether the skirt has an inside
or an outside ~lange. Preferably there are eight pro-
jections equally spaced ~rom one another that are received
within complementary projection-receiving recesses or
openings in the skirt.
In another form of the invention, the cross-
section of the skirt-receiving channel is substantially
circular for use with skirts having rolled ends. In
this form, the projections may extend from either wall
depending upon whether the rolled end o the skirt is
rolled inwardly ox rolled outwardly.
The projections of the foot preferably form
a continuous lip extending along the entire length of
the wall which interlocks with a groove formed in the
skirt. The protective ~oot may also include drain holes
in its base as well as drain openings along its inner
wall that align with openings in the skirt to allow
drainage of trapped liquid.
The protective foot of the invention can be
used with existing containers as well as newly manufactured
containers. In this regard the resilient nature of the
protective ~oot -eadily permits it to be received about
the skirt and to be removed therefrom when desired.
In drawings whicn illustrate embodiments of
the invention:
Fig. l is an end view with parts broken
away o~ a container incorporating the protec-tive foot
of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in section taken
along line 2-2 of Fig. l;
~2~
Fiy. 3 is a fragmentary detail view in section
illustrating the assemblage of one form of the protective
~oot of the present invention with the bottom skirt of
a container;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section taken
along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in sectlon similar
to Fig. 4 showing an alternate form of the invention;
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in section of a
protective foot illustrating a second embodiment of the
invention;
Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in section of a
protective foot illustrating a third embodiment of the
invention;
lS Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in section of a
protective foot illustrating a fourth embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig~ 9 is a fragmentary view in sec-tion of a
protective foot illustrating a fifth embodiment of the
present invention; and
Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in section of a
protective foot illustrating a sixth embodiment of the
present invention.
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Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2
illustrate a metal container 1 comprised of a generally
cylindrical shell 2 and having opened ends which are
closed by an upper head 3 and a lower head 4 (see Fig. 3).
As shown in Fig. 2, the upper head 3 is provided with an
axial bung hole 5 through which the container may be
filled and emptied. Each of -the heads 3 and 4 include
an annular flange 6 projecting from its peripheral edge,
and this flange 6 may be welded within the edge margins
of the open ends of the shell 2 to form an annular pxo
tective skirt 7 that extends ou-twardly from each head 3
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and 4 to protect the bung hole 5. The outer ends of the
skirt 7 may be formed in a varlety o~ different manners
depending upon the container's use. The skirt 7 shown
in ~igs. 2 and 3 has a straight edge outer end and is
neither crimped nor rol]ed, as will hereina~ter be
described.
The skirt 7 may be formed with a series of
drain openings 8 (See Fig. 10) which serve -to drain water
or other liquid from the upper head when the container 1
is in an uprigh~ position. I~ is also contemplated that
the skir-t 7 may contain hand holes (not shown) for handling
the container.
In accordance with the presen~ invention, a
protective foot, indicated generally by 9, is attached to
one or both of the skirts 7 of the container 1. Fig. 2
illustrates the assemblage of the protective foot 9 with
- the skirt 7 of the upper head 3 r and the Fig. 3 illustxates
the assemblage of the protective foot 9 with the skirt 7
of the lower head 4.
The protective foot 9 is formed of a resilient
material, such as rubber, polyurethane, neoprene or the
like and is shown in Fig. 1 as being annular. However, it
can readily be understood that the protective foot 9 may
be of other shapes in addition to circular, such as
rectangular or polygonal, depending upon the configuration
of the skirt 7. The term "annular" as used herein is
thus intended to include rectangular and other polygonal
shapes. The protective foot 9 shown in Fig. 2 is comprised
of a channel-shaped member that is substantially U-shaped~
and includes a circular inner side wall 10, a circular
outer side wall 11 spaced from the inner wall 10 and dis-
posed in opposing relation thereto, and a base 12
connecting the walls 10 and 11 at one of their ends. The
walls 10, 11 and base 12 define a skirt-receiving channel
13 that is contoured to complement the external configura-
tion of the skirt 7 and as a result is substantially
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rectangular in cross-section for the embodiment shown in
Fig. 3. The skirt-receiving channel 13 is also circular
and extends the entire longitudinal length of the protec-
.tive foot 9. The outer wall 11 is concentric with the
inner wall 10, and extends further from the base 12 than
the inner wall 10.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in
F.igs. 2 and 3, a plurality of locking projections 14
extend radially inward toward the skirt-receiving
channel 13 from the inner surface of the outer wall 11.
~here are preferably eight projections 14 equally spaced
along the inner circumference of the outer wall 11. The
pxojections 14 are received within complementary pro-
jection-receiving por-tions or recesses 15 formed in the
shell 2 of the container 1. Each projection 14 forms a
locking surface 16 which engages a complementary supporting
surface 17 formed by the projection-receiving recesses
15 to secure the channel-shaped member to the skirt 7.
Fig. 3 shows -the assemblage of the protective
ZO foot 9 on the skirt 7 of the lower head 4, and Flg. 4
shows a detailed view of the manner of attachment of -the.
projections 14 in the recesses 15. The projections 14
thus secure the foot 9 to the skixt 7 and help prevent
the skirt 7 from sliding out of the skirt-xeceiving
channel 13. Fig. 5 shows an alternative form of the pro-
jections 14. The projections 14 illustrated in Fig. 5
are of greater lon~itudi.nal or circumferential extent
than the projections 14 illustrated in Fig. 4, and as a
result will provide a better seal between the protective
foot 9 and skirt 7.
The protective foot 9 is assembled on the skirt
7 by spxeading the walls 10 and 11 and sliding the outer
end of the skirt 7 into the skirt-receiving channel 13.
The protective foot 9 may then be rotated until the pro-
jections 14 are aligned with the recesses 15 in the skirt
7. At this point, -~he projections 14 will snap into
the recesses 15 so that theîr locking surfaces 16 engage
the supporting surfaces 17 to lock the foot 9 about the
s~irt 7. The foo-t 9 may be removed from the skirt 7 by
S simply spreading the walls 10 and 11 until the projections
14 are no longer engaged within the recesses 15. Th~
foot 9 may then be removed from the skirt 7.
Fig. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the
invention. In this embodiment the protec-tive foot 9 is
adapted to be used with a skirt 7 having an inside
crimped flange at its outer end, such as those found on
small gasoline cans. ~s seen in Fig. 6, the inside
crimped flange is formed by turning the ends of the shell
2 back over the ends of the flange 6 of the heads 3 and
4 towards the center of the conkainer 1. A circular
space or groove is provided between the outer end of the
shell 2 and the outside surface of the lower head 4 which
runs the entire longitudinal extent of the skirt 7. The
outer end of the shell 2 thus forms a swpporting surface
18 for the projections of the foot 9, as will hereinafter
be described. As seen in Fig. 6 the protective foot 9
is comprised of an annular, channel~shaped member that
includes a circular inner wall 19, a circular outer wall
20 spaced from and concen-tric with the inner wall 16~ and
a base 21 connecting the walls 19 and 20 to define a
skirt-receiving channel 22. The skirt~receiving channel
22 is substantially rectangular in cross-section and
conforms to the external configuration of the skirt 7.
The foot 9 .includes a plurality of locking projections 23
extending from the inner wall 16 into the channel 22.
However, in -this embodiment the projections 23 are in the
form of a continuous circular lip received within the
circular projection-receiving space or groove of the
skirt 7O The lip forms a locking surface 24 on its
underside which engages the supporting surface 18 to
secure the foot 9 about the skirt 7.
Fig. 7 illuskrates a third embodiment of the
present invention. In this embodiment the outer end
of the skirt 7 is shown as having an outside crimped
flange, such as may be found on small gasoline cans.
The outside crimped flange is ~ormed by crirnping the ends
of the shell 2 back on itself towards its outside surface
and then curling the flange 6 of the heads 3 and 4 around
the outside of the crimped ends of the shell 2. The
ends of the flange 6 and shell 2 extend from the outside
surface of the shell 2 to form an annular supporting
surface 25 for the foot 9, as will hereinafter be des
cribed. The protective foot 9 of this embodiment is
comprised of an annular, channel-shaped member that
includes a circular inner wall 26, a circular outer wall
27 spaced from and concentric with the inner wall 26~
and a base 28 connecting the walls 26 and 27 to form a
skirt-receiving channel 29. The channel 29 is sub-
stantially rectangular in cross-section, and conforms to
the external configuration of the skirt 7 of Fig. 7.
The foot 9 includes a plurality of locking projections 30
extending radially inwardly from the outer wall 27 into
the channel 29. The projections 30 are preferably in the
form of a continuous circular lip disposed about the
outside of the shell 2. The underside of the lip forms a
locking surface 31 which engages the supporting surface
25 to secure the protective foot 9 in position about the
skirt 7.
Fig. 8 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the
present invention. In this embodiment the protective
foot 9 is comprised of an annular, channel-shaped member
that extends around the skirt 7 of an LP gas tank. The
skirt 7 has a straight edged outer end similar to that
shown in Fig. 3 for the firs-t embodiment. The protective
foot 9 shown in Fig. 8 includes a circular inner wall 32,
a circular outer wall 33 spaced from and concentric with
the inner wall 32, and a base 34 connecting the walls 32
and 33. The inner wall 32 and base 34 are thicker than
the outer wall 33 to provide added strength for the foot
9. The walls 32, 33 and base 34 de:Eine a skirt-receiving
channel 35 that is substan-tiall~ rectangular in cross-
section and conforms to the strai~ht edged con:Eiyurationof`the skirt 74 ~ plurali.ty of locking projections 36
extend radially .inwardly from the inner wall 32 into the
skirt-receiving channel 35. The projections 36 are
equally spaced from one another along the longitudinal
extent of the foot 9, and there are preferably eight pro-
jections 36 circumferentially spaced around the inner wall
32. As seen in Fig~ 8, complementary recesses or openings
37 are ~ormed in the inner wall 32 of the skirt 7 to
receive the projections 36, and each recess or opening 37
forms a supporting surface 38 along its lower edge~ Each
projec-tion 36 includes a locking surface 39 formed along
its lower edge which engages the supporting surfaces 38
of the recesses 37 to secure the foot 9 about the skirt 7
Thus, when the protective foot 9 is positioned about the
skirt 7, as shown.~in Fig. 8, the locking surfaces 39 of
the projections 36 will engage the suppor-ting surfaces
38 of the recesses 37 prevent the skirt 7 from sliding
out of the skirt-receiving channel 35. The projections 36
may also take the form of a circumferential lip in which
case its underside forms the locking surface 39, and the
recesses 37 take the form of a continuous circumferential
groove in the inner wall 32.
Fig. 9 illus-trates a fif-th embodiment of -the
invention, and shows a protective foot 9 about the skirt 7
of an LP gas tank and is formed by curling the outer end
of the rlange 6 of the heads 3 and 4 towards the center
of the container, and then forming the outer end of the
shell 2 about the curled flanges 6 in a circular configur-
ation. The external surface of the rolled end of shell 2
is spaced from the external surface of the heads 3 and 4
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to form an annular supporting surface 40 for the foot 9,
as will hereinafter be described. The protective foot 9
of this embodiment is comprised of an annular, channel-
.shaped member that includes a circular inner wall 41,
a circular outer wall 42 spaced from and concentric with
the inner wall 41, and a base 43 ~onnecting the walls 41
and 42 D The walls 41, 42 and base 43 define a skirt
receiving channel 44 that has a substantially circular
cross-section for receiving and conforming to the external
configura~ion of the rolled outer end of the skirt 7~ In
particular, the inner wall 41 has a curved groove 45 formed
along its entire circumferential extend which conorms to
the rolledouter end of the skirt 7. m e foo~ ~ includes
a plurality of locking projections 46 extending radially
outwardly from the inner wall 41 into the channel 44~ ThP
projections 46 are equispaced about the circumference of
the inner wall 41 and each include a locking surface 47
which engages the SuppQrting surface 40 to secure the
protective foot 9 in pos.ition about the skirt 7. In the
embodiment shown in Fig~ 9, the projections 46 preferably
form a continuous lip which extends into the annular space
formed between the external surfaces of the heads 3, 4
and rolled end of shell 2 to secure the foot ~ to the
skirt 7.
Fig. 10 illustrates a sixth embodiment of the
present invention and shows a protective foot 9 about the
skirt 7 of a beer barrel. The outer end of the skirt 7 of
the beer barrel is rolled inwardly with its edge spaced
from the inside surface of skirt 7 to form an annular
supporting surface 48, as shown .in Fig. 10. The protective
foo-t 9 is comprised of an annular, channel-shaped member
that includes a circular inner wall 49, a circular outer
wall 50 spaced from and concentric with the inner wall 49,
and a base 51 connecting the walls 49 and 50 along one of
their ends. The walls 49, 50 and base 51 define the skirt-
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38
receiving channel 52 tha-t is substantially circular in
cross-section and conforms to the ex-ternal configuration
of the rolled end of skir-t 7. The base 51 of the foot 9
may contain drain holes 53 clisposed in alignrnent with
openings in the rolled outer end of the skir-t 7. These
holes 47 permit drainage of liquid -that may be trapped
within the rolled outer encl of the skirt 7. The inner wall
49 is arc-shaped and substantially encloses the channel 52
along its upper endl and includes a skirt portion ~4 that
extends from the inner wall 49 generally parallel ~o the
outer wall 50. Thus, when the foot 9 is secured in
position about the skirt 7, the skirt portion 54 lies
against the inner surface of the skirt 7 of the beer barrel.
At its upper end, the skirt portion 54 contains a series
o~ drain openings 55 aligned with corresponding openings 8
in the skirt 7 to permit drainage of liquid from the heads
3 and 4 of the beer barrel. The inner wall 49 also
includes a plurality of locking projections 56 extending
into the channel 52. The projections are equispaced
about the circumference of the inner wall 49, and include
locking surfaces 57 for engagement with the annular
supporting surface 48~ Thus, when the protective foot 9
i5 in position about the skirt 7 as seen in Fig. 10, the
locking surfaces 57 engage the supporting surface 48 to
prevent the skirt 7 -Erom sliding out of the skirt-receiving
channel 52 and to secure the foot 9 to the skir-t 7. The
projections 56 are preferably in the form of an annular lip
in which case its radially inner side forms a continuous,
annular locking surface 57 which e~gages the supporting
surface 48.
Several preferred embodiments of the protective
foot of the present invention have been illustrated and
described. The protective foot has been par~icularly
described a5 being annular in shape. However, it will be
obvious to those skilled in the art that other shapes in
addition to circular may be used with the present invention,
such as rectangulax or polygonal, and the term "annular"
has been defined herein to include such shapes. Also,
.particular embodiments have been shown that are adapted
for use with skirts of containers that are straight edged,
crimped either inwardly or outwardly, or rolled either
inwardly or outwardly. However, again it will be obvious
to those skilled in the art that the protective foot of
the present invention may be adapted :for use with any
shaped skirt. ~lso, although descxi.bed in connection with
containers having domed heads, t~e invention may of course
be applied with any other type of container having a skirt.
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