Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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CONTAINER AND CLOSURE HAVING FASTENING MEANS
This application is related to Canadian Serial No.
558,972 filed February 16, 1988.
Technical Field
This invention relates to containers and in particular
to containers having a tubular sidewall.
Background Art
In one form of conventional shipping and storage con-
tainer, a tubular sidewall is formed of fibrous material.
It is conventional to provide metal securing rings at oppo-
site ends of the sidewall for securing closure walls
thereacross~ Such metal securing rings are relatively cost-
ly and heavy and are not ~ully satisfactory in the formation
of a low cost shipping and storage container.
Disclo~g~_ç~ vention
The present invention comprehends an improved container
having a tubular sidewall defining oppo~ite open ends.
The invention comprehen~s closing one end of the con-
tainer by means of a closure molded of synthetic resin in
situ in association with the end portion of the sidewall
thereat, the closure having ~ transverse center wall portion
extending across the open end of the tubular sidewall, and a
25 U-shaped annular peripheral connecting portion extending
adjacent the end portion of the sidewall and defining spaced
annular leg~ embracing the end portion. The connecting por-
tion further includes a plurality o~ securing portions ex-
tending between the legs and through a plurality of circum-
30 ferentially spaced openings in the sidewall end portion.
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The invention further comprehends the provision of an
improved removable cover for closing one end of the tubular
sidewall. The removable closure means includes a connecting
ring molded of synthetic resin in situ in association with
the end portion of the sidewall and comprising a U-shaped
annular element defining spaced annular legs embracing the
sidewall end portion and having a plurality of securing
portions extending between the legs through cir-
cumferentially spaced openings provided in the sidewall end
portion. The connecting ring includes a radially outwardly
opening annular recess and a closure is removably mounted to
the connecting ring by a portion thereof removably
interlocked with the connecting ring in the recess.
The invention as claimed in one aspect pertains to a
closure for use with a container having an annular end
portion defining a radially outwardly opening annular
recess, the closure comprising a unitary wall element formed
of molded synthetic resin and having a transverse center
wall, and a peripheral portion comprising a split annular
flange having spaced end portions and radially inwardly
projecting securing structure, and means for constricting
the flange to urge the securing structure radially inwardly.
The securing structure is adapted to be fitted into an
annular recess of a container end portion as a result of
such constriction of the flange. The means for constricting
the flange comprises a pair of radially outturned tabs
adjacent the flange end portions, and retaining means
movable to an overcenter position for adjustably drawing the
tabs toward each other and releasably locking the securing
structure in the annular recess when the retaining means is
in the overcenter position.
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The lnvention comprehends the forming of the closures
and connecting ring as by injection molding of suitable
synthetic resin, such as high density polyethylene. The
forming of the closure at one end of the tubular element and
the connecting ring at the opposite end thereof by molding
in situ these elements in retained association with the
opposite ends of the tubular element provides a low cost,
substantially improved contai,ner structure.
In one illustrated embodiment, the means for adjustably
drawing the outturned tabs towards each other to constrict
the flange comprises bolt means.
In the second illustrated embodiment of the invention,
the means for adjustably drawing the tabs toward each other
comprises a lever and connecting link means, the tabs being
provided with oppositely outwardly opening recessess adapted
to cooperate with a portion of the lever and a portion of
the connecting link, respectively, so as to retain the
closure on the drum by an overcenter disposition of the
lever and link means.
The container structure of the present invention is
extremely simple and economical, while yet providing the
highly desirable features discussed above.
Brief Description of the Drawing
Other features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following description taken in connection
with the accompanying drawing wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary exploded view of a container
embodying the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged elevation of a
portion of the removable closure;
FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary transverse section taken
substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;
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FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary section similar to that of
Figure 3, but with the removable closure secured to the con-
necting ring;
FIGURE 5 is a transverse section taken substantially
5 along the line 5-5 of Figure l;
FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of another
form of enclosure embodying the invention;
FIGURE 7 i5 a fragmentary enlarged side elevation
thereof;
FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view there-
of;
FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section
illustrating the initial mounting of the closure on the end
of a drum prior to the constrictive retention of the closure
15 thereto;
FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of the lever of the re-
taining mean~ thereof;
FIGURE 11 is a side elevation of the lever;
FIGURE 12 is a bottom plan view of the lever;
FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary elevation of the loop of the
retaining ~eans;
FIGURE 14 iR a fragmentary side elevation illustrating
the arrangement of the retaining means on the tabs of the
closure in the locked disposition; and
FIGURE lS is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating
the movement of the lever and link from an initial position
in dotted lines to the locking position in full lines.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the nvention
In the illustrative embodiment of the invention as dis-
30 closed in Figures 1-5 of the drawing, a container generally
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designated 10 is shown to include a fibrous tubular sidewall
11. In the illustrated embodiment, the sidewall defines a
right cylinder, it being understood that the sidewall may
define other suitable configurations, such as square, oval,
etc.
The sidewall defines a lower end portion 12 and an up-
per end portion 13. ~he tu~ular sidewall defines an inter-
nal storage space 14. The lower end of the storage space 14
is closed by a closure generally designated 15 fixedly se-
cured to the sidewall end portion 12, as seen in Figure 1.The open upper end of the space 14 is selectively closed by
a second closure generally designated 16 removably secured
to a connecting ring generally designated 17 fixedly secured
to the upper end portion 13 of the sidewall.
As seen in Figures 1 and 5, sidewall end portion 12 is
provided with an array of through openings 18 ad;acent the
distal end 19 thereof. Openings 18 are equidistantly cir-
cumferentially spaced about the sidewall end portion 12.
Closure 15 comprises a unitary element molded of a
suitable synthetic resin, such as high density polyethylene.
The closure is molded in situ in association with the side-
wall end portion 12 and defines a transverse center wall
portion 20 closing the lower end of the container space 14.
Closure 15 further defineR a peripheral connecting por-
tion generally designated 21 extending adjacent the sidewallend portion 12. A~ seen in Figure 1, the connecting portion
comprises a Ushaped annular peripheral portion of the clo-
sure defining spaced annular legs 22 and 23 embracing the
distal end of the sidewall end portion 12 and having a plu-
30 rality of securing portions 24 extending between legs 22 and
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23 through the openings 18 for securing the closure 15 tothe sidewall end portion 12.
As shown in Figure 1, the openings 18 are circular and
are spaced a preselected distance outwardly from the distal
end 19 of the sidewall end portion~ As further shown in
Figure 1, the closure 15 may include a downturned annular
peripheral flange 25 extending oppositely to the legs 22 and
23, such as for use in stacking the closed containers.
Legs 22 and 23 may comprise relatively thin wall flang-
es, illustratively having a thickness of approximately.100". The center wall portion 20 may have a thickness
greater than that of the legs, a~ desired.
The closure 15 may be formed in situ on the sidewall
end portion 12 as by injection molding thereof. Such forma-
tion of the closure provides improved connection of the clo-
sure to the sidewall by affording a sealed facial engagement
with the sidewall end portion. The pressure applied to the
fluid synthetic resin e~fects a compression of the sidewall
end portion, thereby providing a positive sealed connection
of the closure to the end portion, with the closure securing
portions 24 maintaining the closure against longitudinal
displacement from the sidewall end portion 12 and, in co-
operation with the clamped embracing of the sidewall end
portion by the closure legs, provides a positive sealed con-
nection of the clo~ure to the sidewall at end portion 12.
As discussed above, closure 16, at the opposite end ofthe tubular sidewall, is secured to the end portion 13
through the connecting ring 17. The connecting ring is
molded of synthetic resin in situ in association with the
end portion 13 and is generally similar to connecting por-
tion 21 of closure 15.
More specifically, sidewall end portion 13 is provided
with an array of through openings 41 similar to openings 18
in end portion 12. The connecting ring defines a pair of
legs 26 and 27 joined by the bight 28 so as to embrace side-
wall end portion 13, as illustrated in Figure 3.
Connecting ring 17 further includes a plurality of se-
curing portions 29 extending through the openings 41. The
connecting ring is preferably molded in situ to the tubular
sidewall end portion 13 as by injection molding so as to
secure the connecting ring to the sidewall end portion 13 in
sealed, clamped association similar to the association be-
tween connecting portion 21 of closure 15 and the opposite
sidewall end portion 12.
Connecting ring 17 further defines a peripheral, radi-
ally outwardly opening annular recess 30 having an outwardly
widening trapezoidal cross section. Closure 16 includes a
central portion 31 and a peripheral depending thin wall 32.
The lower distal portion 33 of wall 32 comprises a split
annular portion having opposed ends 34 and 35, as shown in
Figure 2. Wall portion 33, as shown in Figure 3, is further
provided with a radially ~nwardly projecting flange 36,
which is correspondingly split.
Flange 36 has a radially i~wardly narrowing
frustoconical cross section complementary to the cross sec-
tion of recess 30 and is adapted to be removably received in
the recess as a result of constriction of the split annular
wall portion 33.
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constriction of the wall portion 33 is e~fected by
threaded adjustment of a bolt 37 through a pair of radially
outwardly projecting tabs 38 and 39 on split wall portion 33
adjacent the spaced ends 34 and 35 thereof. As shown in
Figure 2, the shank 4Q of bolt 37 extends freely through tab
38 and is threaded into tab 39 to provide the desired ad-
justable drawing together of the tabs 3~ and 39 in securing
the closure 16 to the connecting ring 17.
The container structure of the present invention pro-
10 vides low c06t provision of the end wall closure at one endof the tubular element and removable mounting of the closure
to the opposite end of the tubular sidewall element, with
positive sealed connection of the closures to the sidewall
ends without the need for the costly and heavy metal closure
15 connecting means of the prior art. Further, the metal con-
necting means of the prior art has required the forming of
the ends of the tubular sidewall to con~orm with the unique
configuration o~ the metal securing means. The present in-
vention eliminat~s the need for such forming and utilizes,
20 in lieu thereof, the array o~ threadedly formed through
openings 18 and 41.
Re~erring now to the embodiment of FigurPs 6-15, a mod-
ified form of closure generally designated 115 is shown to
include a pair of tabs 138. Tabs 138 differ from tabs 38 in
25 that tab 138a iB provided with a circumferentially opening
recess 142 and tab 138b is provided with an oppositely open-
ing circumferential recess 143. As shown, the wall of the
respective tabs extends more than 180 about the recesses so
as to define an undercut configuration.
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The distal wall portion 133 is provided with a down-
wardly widening notch 144 between the tabs, as best seen in
Figure 7.
The inner surface 145 of the closure wall portion 133
is provided with an inwardly projectlng rib 146 adapted to
fit into an outwardly opening annular recess 147 in the end
of the drum wall 113. Thus, constriction of the closure
wall portion 133 so as to close notch 144 causes a corre-
sponding constrictlon of the rib 146 into the groove 147 to
retain the closure on the end of the drum in the same manner
as rib 36 cooperates with the annular recess 30 in closure
15.
Constriction of the wall portion 133 is effected by
drawing together the spaced tabs 138a and 138b from the
spaced po3ition of Figure 7 to the juxtaposed position shown
in full lines i.n Figures 14 and 15.
The means for constricting the wall portion 133 com-
prises a retaining means generally designated 147. The re-
taining means includes a lever 148 and a loop element 149.
Lever 148 includes a handle portion 150 at one end, a
cylindrical pivot 151 mounted to a bifurcated opposite end
152 of the lever.
A hook portion 153 is provlded at end 1~ and defines
an outwardly opening reces~ 154, which is slmilar to the
recesees 142 and 143 in having a circular crosR section ex-
tending slightly more than 180.
The lever defines an outer surface 155 pro~ided with an
outwardly projectlng longitudinally extending rib 156, and
an inner s~rface 157 provided with an inwardly projecting
30 longitudinally extending rib 158.
'~,;';~'`'
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Loop element 14g defines opposite rectilinearly extend-
ing ends 159 and 160. The loop element 149 may be provided
with a peripheral outwardly opening recess 161.
Retaining means 147 i5 mounted to the tabs 138 by
firstly positioning loop element end 159 in recess 142 of
the tab 138a with the pivot 151 of the lever received in the
recess 143 of the opposite tab 138b, and the opposite end
1~0 of the loop element received in the recess 154 of the
lever hook portion 153, as illustrated in broken lines in
Figure 15.
Handle portion 150 of the lever is then pivoted in a
counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 15, with the
pivot rotating in recess 143 of tab 138b, to an overcenter
position wherein a line 162 drawn through the center of the
loop element ends 159 and 160 lies inwardly of the axis of
the pivot 151, as seen in full lines in Figure 15. The
spacing of the recess 154 from the axi~ of the pivot 151 of
lever 148 is correlated with the length of the loop element
between ends 159 and 160 so that the notch 144 is constrict-
ed to a substantially closed disposition, as seen in Figure14, with the handle in the overcenter locking dis-
position of Figura 14 (and full line disposition in Figure15)-
As further shown in Figure 15, the lever handle portion
148 is spaced outwardly of the drum wall 113 in the lockingdisposition so as to facilitate release of the locking
means, when desired, by insertion of the userls fingers be-
tween the handle portion 148 and the drum wall portion 113.
However, as a result of the overcenter locking arrangement,
the closure is positively retained in association with the
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drum end under a substantial locking force acting between
the loop element end 159 and pivot 151 received in the tab
recesses 142 and 143, respectively.
The improved form of constricting and locking means of
the embodiment of Figures 6-15 provides the advantage of
permitting the locking of the closure to the drum end with-
out the need for tools. Thus, in many applications, the
retaining means of Figures 6-15 compriseæ a preferred em-
bodiment thereof.
Lever handle portion 148 may be provided with an in-
wardly extending projecting 163 adjacent the distal end
thereof for limiting the inward movement of the handle por-
tion and thereby avoiding pinching of the user's fingers in
swinging the lever to the overcenter locking position. As
further shown in Figure 15, if desired, drum wall liner 13
may be provided with an outwardly projecting similar projec-
tion 164.
Other than as discussed above, the constricting and
locking means of the embodiment of Figures 6-15 functions in
a manner similar to the constricting and locking means of
the embodiment of Figures 1-5.
The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is
illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by
the invention.
