US 4,356,930 A · Container, engagement ring and cover assembly

Abstract

An upwardly open end portion of a plastic container straight sidewall is telescoped by an inverted U-shaped portion of a plastic engagement ring with a generally transverse, outward flange on the container sidewall snap interengaging with a similar engagement ring flange. An engagement ring U-shaped portion extends transversely inwardly having, in certain embodiments, either a simple or complex outer wall common with the inverted U-shaped portion and in all cases an interior wall spaced inwardly therefrom. An edge portion of a plastic cover overlies the engagement ring U-shaped portion and has a downward extension fitting therein divided into an exterior wall outwardly abutting the ring U-shaped portion outer or common wall and a transverse inward flange snap interengaging with a similar flange on the ring interior wall. The cover edge portion terminates inwardly at an interior wall which outwardly abuts the ring U-shaped portion interior wall and a cover transverse connecting part joins the edge portion interior wall vertically intermediate both the cover edge portion interior wall and the ring U-shaped portion interior wall. In the assembly, the engagement ring and cover are constructed to exert transverse pressure outwardly to outwardly abuttingly pressure seal between the cover edge portion and the engagement ring, and between the engagement ring and the container sidewall inner side. The cover edge portion terminates outwardly in a transverse flange spaced above the engagement ring and engageable by a tool for removing the cover from the engagement ring.

Claims64

Dependent claims

In an assembly of a container, engagement ring and cover, the improvements including:

the engagement ring having a generally inverted U-shaped portion telescoped downwardly over an open upper end of the container, said ring inverted U-shaped portion having interior wall means generally vertically and transversely abutting an inner side of said container upper end;
the cover terminating transversely outwardly at said engagement ring in an edge portion at said ring inverted U-shaped portion with said edge portion having an exterior wall generally vertically and transversely abutting an inner side of said ring inverted U-shaped portion interior wall means;
said engagement ring and cover being constructed and arranged exerting transverse pressure outwardly to abutting pressure seal between said cover edge portion exterior wall and ring inverted U-shaped portion interior wall means and between said ring inverted U-shaped portion interior wall means and container upper end inner side;
at least partially transversely extending interengagement means between said container upper end and ring and between said ring and cover edge portion for retaining said ring against generally vertical separation from said container and said cover against generally vertical separation from said ring.

1 more element

In a method of assembling a container and cover, the steps of:

telescoping an engagement ring downwardly over an upper edge portion of an upwardly open container sidewall;
during said engagement ring telescoping, transversely interengaging a generally upwardly facing flange of said engagement ring beneath a generally downwardly facing flange of said container sidewall to resist generally vertical separation of said engagement ring from said container sidewall;
inserting a cover downwardly with an edge portion thereof moved into contact with said engagement ring;
during said cover insertion, transversely interengaging a generally upwardly facing flange of said cover edge portion beneath a generally downwardly facing flange of said engagement ring to resist generally vertical separation of said cover edge portion from said engagement ring.

1 more element

In a method of assembling a container and cover, the steps of:

telescoping an engagement ring downwardly over an upper edge portion of an upwardly open container sidewall;
during said engagement ring telescoping, positioning a wall of said ring outwardly generally vertically and transversely abutting an inner side of said container sidewall;
during said engagement ring telescoping, interengaging said engagement ring with said container sidewall to resist generally vertical separation of said engagement ring from said container sidewall;
inserting a cover downwardly with an edge portion thereof moved into contact with said engagement ring;
during said cover insertion, positioning a wall of said cover edge portion outwardly generally vertically and transversely abutting an inner side of an engagement ring wall;
during said cover insertion, interengaging said cover edge portion with said engagement ring to resist generally vertical separation of said cover edge portion from said engagement ring;
during and after said engagement ring telescoping and said cover insertion and due to the inherent structures thereof, exerting continuous generally transverse outward sealing pressure by said cover edge portion wall against said abutted engagement ring wall and by said abutting engagement ring wall against said container sidewall.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Container, engagement ring and cover assembly

Life of this patent

Container, engagement ring and cover assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims64