Metal container having resilient hinged connector

A metal container comprising the combination of:

• a container lid and a container bottom formed of drawn metal each having a closed end and an upstanding wall terminated in a formed edge, the formed edges of the container lid and bottom being substantially identical and defining a peripheral container shape;
• and
• a unitary hinged connector formed of molded thermoplastic for joining the container lid and bottom at their respective formed edges to produce a closed container, the hinged connector including a fixed ring and a swingable segment formed to match the peripheral container shape for receiving the formed edges, and a hinge web joining the fixed ring and the swingable segment, the hinge web being flexible to allow pivotal movement of the swingable segment relative to the fixed ring, the fixed ring having:
• a fixed base separating a down-facing lower seat for receiving the formed edge of the container bottom and an up-facing upper seat for receiving less than all sides of the formed edge of the container lid, leaving at one side of the formed edge of the container lid free, the fixed base having an up-facing open section for receiving the swingable segment,
• the swingable segment having a swingable base which overlies the open section of the fixed base when the swingable segment is pivoted to a closed position, and an up-facing seat on the swingable base for securely gripping the free side of the formed edge of the container lid so that when the swingable segment is in the closed position the seat thereon cooperates with the upper seat on the ring member for receiving the formed edge of the container lid.

A hinged connector of molded thermoplastic for joining a metal container lid and a metal container bottom to form a hinged container, the container lid having a formed edge of a first given size and shape, the container bottom having a formed edge of a second given size and shape that matches the formed edge of the container lid, the formed edges defining a peripheral container shape, the hinged connector comprising:

• a ring member and a partial segment joined by an integrally formed hinge, the ring member and the partial segment being shaped to match the peripheral container shape,
• the ring member having a down-facing lower seat for receiving a formed edge of said second size and shape, and an up-facing upper seat for receiving a formed edge of said first given size and shape, the upper seat extending along fewer than all sides of the ring member, leaving at least a hinge side of the ring member free;
• the partial segment being joined to the hinge side of the ring member by the hinge and having an up-facing seat for securely gripping a formed edge of said first given size and shape, the hinge member being flexible to allow the partial segment to be pivoted into a closed position in which the partial segment overlies the hinge side of the ring member such that the seat of the partial segment and the upper seat of the ring member cooperate to receive corresponding portions of a formed edge of said first given size and shape.