Molded container and closure
OwnerJohn L. Bucinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The open end of a substantially cylindrical injection molded resilient plastic container, such as a paint pail, has a rim system integrally molded to the container wall to rigidify the open end of the container to facilitate filling the container using standard automatic filling equipment. An outer continuous rim and an inner discontinuous rim concentric with the outer rim are joined by a bridge member to form a substantially rigid rim system at the open end of the container. The rim system coacts with a closure lid to form a removable and resealable end closure on the container. Drainage or expulsion of fluid from between the inner and outer rims is provided for by drain openings or slots which make the inner rim discontinuous.
Claims23
In a plastic container having a substantially cylindrical wall portion, a bottom member sealingly closing a lower end of said cylindrical wall portion of said container and an upper end of said cylindrical wall portion being open and defined by a closure receiving and sealing rim system, said rim system comprising:
- a continuous annular resilient plastic bridge member formed integral with and extending around said upper end of said cylindrical wall;
- an outer continuous annular resilient plastic rim formed integral with said bridge member and extending axially upwardly from said bridge member;
- an inner discontinuous annular resilient plastic rim molded integral with said bridge member and extending axially upwardly from said bridge member, said inner rim being concentric with and radially inwardly spaced from said outer rim whereby said bridge member, said continuous outer rim and said discontinuous inner rim form a closure receiving and sealing container end which remains substantially radially annular and axially rigid.
A resilient plastic end closure being adapted for removably sealing a container wherein the open end of said container being of the type having a rim structure of an outer rim, and an inner rim, the inner rim being concentric with and radially inwardly spaced from the outer rim for forming an annular space between said inner and said outer rims with the lower end of said annular space terminating in a sealing surface with the end closure, said end closure comprising:
- a generally central circular body portion;
- an inner annular portion being integral with the body portion and projecting from the periphery thereof;
- an annular closure bridge member being integral with the inner annular portion and projecting radially outward therefrom;
- an annular inner closure rim being integral with said closure bridge member and projecting axially downward;
- an annular seal portion being integral with said inner closure rim and projecting radially outward from the lower end thereof;
- an annular outer closure rim being integral with the outer periphery of the seal portion projecting axially upward therefrom and radially spaced from the inner closure rim and forming in conjunction with the inner closure rim and the seal portion and downwardly extending annular seal member for insertion into the annular space between the inner container rim and the outer container rim for resilient mechanical entrapment and sealing engagement with the open end of the container and forming with the inner closure rim a pair of concentric spaced closure rims for prevention of the transfer of forces imposed on one of the pair of said rims to the other of said pair,
- said seal member, in cross section, narrowing and tapering axially upward from the seal portion and defining a substantially conical cross-section, the inner closure rim and the outer closure rim each, in cross section, narrowing downward in joining with the seal portion, thereby forming a stronger resilient seal with the container rim portion.
The combination of an end closure and a container therefor wherein:
- said container comprising:
- a cylindrical container wall;
- a bottom member sealingly closing the lower end of a cylindrical wall;
- a continuous annular container bridge member being integral with and extending around the upper end of said cylindrical wall;
- an outer continuous annular container rim being integral with said bridge member and extending axially upwardly from said container bridge member;
- an inner annular container rim being integral with said container bridge member and extending axially upwardly from said container bridge member, said inner container rim being concentric with and radially inwardly spaced from said outer container rim and forming an annular space between said inner and outer container rims, whereby said container bridge member, said continuous outer container rim and said continuous inner container rim form a rim structure which substantially rigidifies said container and accommodates said end closure;
- said closure comprising:
- a generally central circular body portion;
- an inner annular portion being integral with the body portion and projecting from the periphery thereof;
- an annular closure bridge member being integral with the inner annular portion and projecting radially outward therefrom;
- an annular inner closure rim being integral with said closure bridge member and projecting axially downward;
- an annular seal portion being integral with said inner closure rim and projecting radially outward from the lower end thereof;
- an annular outer closure rim being integral with the outer periphery of the seal portion projecting axially upward therefrom and radially spaced from the inner closure rim, forming in conjunction with the inner closure rim and the seal portion a downwardly extending annular seal member for insertion into the annular space between the inner container rim and the outer container rim for resilient mechanical entrapment and sealing engagement with the open end of the container, and forming with the inner closure rim a pair of concentric spaced closure rims for prevention of the transfer of forces imposed on one of the pair of said rims to the other of said pair,
- said seal member, in cross section, narrowing and tapering axially upward from the seal portion and defining a substantially conical cross-section, the inner closure rim and the outer closure rim each, in cross section, narrowing downward in joining with the seal portion, thereby forming a stronger resilient seal with the container rim portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.