Can or container with resealable lid

[57] ABSTRACT

A can or container provided with a rim adjacent the upper end of the can or container and extending exteriorly of the body of the container, a cushioned lid for closing said container, said lid being removable and resealable on said container to close said container, clip means for positively securing said lid or cover to said container, said container having a tapered body to permit stacking of the containers one within the other during transit and/or storage.

Claims, 8 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED FEB2 51975

3,868,041

SHEET 1 OF 2 4M *

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PATENTED f£82 51975

3,868,041

SHEET 2 OF 2

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3,868,041

CAN OR CONTAINER WITH RESEALABLE LID

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of this invention is to provide a can or container with an exterior rim adjacent the upper open end of the container which can be closed by a cover or lid which is resealable to permit repeated covering and uncovering of the container so that it can be used repeatedly, and in which removable clips are provided for detachably securing the cover to the container. The carrying bail is secured to the exterior rim rather than to the ears which are normally attached to the container for such a purpose. The container has a body shaped so that it can be stacked with other like containers in a telescopic or nested relationship to occupy a minimum of shipping and storage space.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container formed with a separate rim which is attached adjacent the upper open end of the container exteriorly thereof and so constructed that no portion of the rim extends within the container so that there is no interference with the upper edge of the container and this permits the containers to be telescoped or nested one within the other for storage and shipment.

This invention has particular applicability to large containers, principally the five gallon and larger capacities, although it is also applicable to containers of all sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container with the rim attached thereto and showing a lid or cover secured in sealing relationship thereto, and the detachable clip members for securing said cover.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2—2 of FIG. 1 and showing the clip members attached.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3—3 of FIG. 1 and showing the securement of the handle or bail to the rim.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a plurality of containers in a stacked relation, one nested within the other, such as when in storage or shipment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the flat strip preshaped to form the rim and before it is shaped to form an exteriorly applied annular rim.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view partly in section showing a liner inserted within the container.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a plastic can or container with the exterior rim attached thereto; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing the construction with the rim exteriorly applied to the plastic container and showing a modified clip member.

FIGS. 1 - 5

The construction shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive will be first described. The can or container generally indicated at 10 is formed preferably of metal and comprises a cylindrical body 12 closed at the bottom thereof with a bottom 14. The cyclindrical body 12 has a slight inward taper from the top towards the bottom so that the smallest diameter or circumference of the container is at the bottom and the largest at the top. This tapering body permits the containers to be stacked and nested one within the other, best shown in FIG. 4, to occupy a minimum of storage and shipment space. The upper portion of the container is open and is adapted to be closed by the cover generally indicated at 16, to be hereinafter described.

The cylindrical body of the container adjacent the top thereof has an inwardly offset annular wall portion 18 which at the lower end defines a continuous annular shoulder 20. The upper end or mouth of the container has an outwardly and downwardly turned flange 22 which is spaced from the wall 18 and which defines an inverted U-shaped top edge 23 which is adapted to receive and retain therebetween the upper portion of the rim, presently to be described.

The rim forming this invention is generally designated by the numeral 24 and is formed from a strip of flat stock of sheet metal material and from the initial flat strip is preshaped or stamped to the configuration shown in FIG. 5 and then when applied to the container is shaped to form the annular strip or rim 24.

The rim 24 is formed separately from the container and may be of a less expensive steel or material than that of the container. The rim comprises spaced upper and lower portions 26 and 28 connected by generally horizontally disposed connected upper and lower portions 29 and 30 to an intermediate offset portion 32 which gives the rim a dish-shaped configuration in transverse section, best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The lower portion 30 has an upturned lower edge 33. The intermediate offset portion 32 is provided along its length with vertically extending spaced depressions or grooves 34 for the purpose of receiving the clips, to be subsequently described.

The annular rim 24 is secured to said container body with the upper portion 26 of the rim received in the inverted U-shaped top edge 23 of the body of the container and with the lower edge 33 of the rim resting on the shoulder 20. In the formation of the body of the container, the rim 24 is applied against the upper portion of the container and then the upper edge of the container is reversely bent, as shown in FIG. 2, so that the upper portion of the rim would be confined between said inverted upper edge. The rim 24 will be retained secured to the upper end of the container by the reversely turned flange 22 at the upper end when it is crimped against the upper portion of the rim; however, the rim may be brazed or otherwise welded in addition thereto to the wall or body of the container. The rim will thus be positively and permanently secured to the top portion of the container and, as clearly seen, no portion of the rim extends within the body of the container so there is no interference with the open mouth of the container. This is important from the standpoint of stacking the containers within each other and also from the standpoint of providing a resealable cover or lid which is applied to seal the container.

The rim 24 is provided with a pair of diametrically spaced openings 36, as shown in FIG. 3, which receive the hooked ends 38 of the carrying bail 39 for carrying the container. The carrying bail as shown in FIG. 1 is in upright or carrying position; however, the bail may be rotated so that it extends on either side of the rim or body of the container in an out-of-the-way position. When the rim is secured to the top of the container it is secured in such a manner that the wall or body of the container forms the top edge 23 or the mouth of the container.

The lid or cover 16 is of circular shape and comprises a main central concave or dish-shaped portion 40

3,868,041 which continues outwardly to form a U-shaped bend 42, with the vertical wall 43 of said bend continuing horizontally as at 44 and then downwardly to form the outer peripheral flange 45 which provides an inverted U-shaped configuration generally indicated at 46. The downwardly extending flange 45 terminates in an outwardly turned edge or bead 48. A circular gasket 50 which is of an inverted U-shape in cross-section is positioned inside the U-shaped portion 46 of the cover and when said cover is positioned on the rolled-over top edge 23 of the container the gasket 50 rests on the rolled-over edge 23 and is interposed between the cover and the rolled-over edge, as best shown in FIG. 2. This provides a perfect seal for the cover or lid. When the cover is applied to the container it is foolproof against leakage or the like. The lid or cover may be applied and reapplied as often as necessary to reseal the container and when applied to the container it is held in secured position thereon by means of a plurality of detachable clips 52.

All of the clips 52 are of the same general construction and configuration and comprise a strip formed of a resilient material such as metal or the like and comprises a vertically extending flat intermediate portion 53 which is inclined inwardly as at 54 at the upper end and terminates in an inwardly hook-shaped bend 55 at said upper end to engage the outwardly extending bead 48 of the cover, as best shown in FIG. 2. Continuing downwardly from the intermediate portion 53 the clip is curved inwardly as at 56 and is provided with a reverse bend as at 57 which then continues downwardly and outwardly at an inclined angle to form the extension 58. When the clip 52 is applied to the rim it will be seated in the recesses or vertical grooves 34 so that the outer surface of the intermediate portion 53 of the clip is on the same plane as the outer plane of the rim and the lower upturned bend 56 of the clip will engage the lower bend 30 of the rim and the downwardly and outwardly inclined extension 58 of the clip will be contiguous to the upturned lower edge 33.

When the clips are applied to the cover and to the rim they lock the lid or cover to the rim and the bottom edge of the extension 58 of the clip is positioned inwardly of the exterior surface of the rim so that same cannot be accidentally engaged during shipment, as when containers are positioned contiguous to each other. With the clips in secured position and the containers positioned contiguous to each other, the rims 24 of the containers will be the only portions of the containers which can engage each other. With the clips being in the recessed grooves, they will be prevented from being accidentally disengaged from their locked position. When it is desired to remove the clip, the extension 58 is manually engaged and pulled outwardly to release the clip from the rim and and disengage the clip to disengage the cover or lid.

There is thus provided a can or container with a resealable cover which may be repeatedly resealed. Also by reason of this construction when one can is nested within the other, the rims of the nested containers will be as shown in FIG. 4, where the rims are positioned slightly spaced from each other but superimposed so that a plurality of containers can be contained in a small area during transit and storage.

FIG. 6

FIG. 6 shows a liner made of plastic, paper, and the like, generally indicated at 60, positioned inside the container. The liner has a horizontal lip 62 at the top thereof which extends over the top rolled-over edge 23 of the container. When the cover is applied thereover the lip will conform to the shape of the top edge 23 so that the cover 16 and the gasket 50 will seal the container opening.

FIGS. 7 and 8

FIGS. 7 and 8 inclusive show a modification in which the container 64 is formed preferably of a plastic material. In such instance the upper edge adjacent the top of the container is provided with an annular recess 66, providing a top horizontal shoulder 67 and a bottom horizontal shoulder 68, with the top edge 69 of the container being substantially horizontal and flush. The rim generally indicated at 24' may be made of metal and is similar to that previously described. Said rim is positioned so that the upper edge of the rim abuts against the top shoulder 67 of the container and the lower edge of the rim abuts against the lower shoulder 68 and said rim 24' is thus secured to the body. The rim 24' has spaced grooves 34' for the purpose of receiving the clips, all as previously described. The cover of the container and the cover gasket is similar to that previously described, the gasket fitting over the upper edge of the container.

The clips generally indicated at 70 are modifications of the clips 52 previously described. The clip 70 is formed of the same material as clip 52 and comprises a vertically extending flat intermediate portion 72 which is inclined inwardly as at 73 at the upper end and continues horizontally at its upper portion as at 74 and terminates in a downwardly extending lip 75. Continuing downwardly from the intermediate portion 72 of the clip is the lower end generally designated at 76 which is identical to the shape of the lower end of clip 52.

As shown in FIG. 8, the upper portion of clip 70 engages and envelops the inverted U-shaped portion 46 of the cover to detachably lock the cover to the container.

ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGES

When the cover is applied to the container, the curled bead 48 of the cover (FIG. 2) engages the top portion 29 of the rim and limits the extent to which the cover can be pressed downwardly on the container. This prevents any undue downward pressure on the gasket 50 and eliminates the cutting or mutilation of the gasket, particularly when loaded containers with their closures on are stacked on one another. With no impairment of the gasket the cover may be repeatedly used for sealing and resealing.

The positioning of the rim 24 entirely around the exterior of the container adjacent the top serves to provide additional advantages, such as, the inside wail of the container adjacent the top is clear and free of any inwardly extending surface which might otherwise reduce the diameter or circumference at the mouth of the container and impede the nesting of containers in stacking, the rim reinforces and strengthens the top of the container and thus helps to maintain the original shape of the container and prevents distortion of the shape, such as egging or ovaling, and the rim may be made of a less expensive grade of stock from that of the container thereby reducing the cost.

3,868,041

The containers may be formed either of metal or plastic with the rim formed preferably of metal. Thus, the rim may be used with either type of container. If a liner is used inside the container, as in FIG. 6, the top horizontal lip 62 of the liner will overlap the top edge of the container and will not interfere with the locking of the cover in its sealing position.

The handle or carrying bail 39 is secured to the rim rather than to the wall of the container, thereby eliminating conventional ears which have to be brazed to the container and thus prevents distortion of the container when same is carried fully loaded.