US 5,947,320 AGranted

Molded drum, lid and ring-clamp system with enhanced containment integrity

AssigneeContainers Accessories, Inc.

InventorsPaul G. Bordner, Bret D. Bordner, Richard P. Brandt

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Abstract

A closure system including a polymeric split ring clamp and a polymeric lid for a polymeric drum. To maintain the integrity of the closure, the lid rim region is formed having an annular restraining notch which cooperates with twist inhibiting blocking components formed within the interior of a cooperating inwardly opening polymeric split ring clamp. The blocking component may be provided as a sequence of regularly spaced block-like protuberances located within the inward upwardly disposed region of the ring clamp. A secondary closure arrangement is provided with the split ring clamp which receives a polymeric banding strap to prevent one end of the split ring from disengaging with an associated pivot arm. When the split ring clamp is in a fully open or pre-clamping mode orientation, a capture groove is formed with the ring pivot shaft formed at one end of the split ring clamp. This capture groove is aligned with and engages a corresponding capturing pawl formed at the opening of the ring pivot shaft receiving notch. To facilitate cleaning and re-use, a polymeric gasket is provided which is removably insertable within a seal retainer cavity located at the rim of the lid.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A closure system for providing a removable closure over a container having a top structure with an upwardly disposed container rim and inwardly and outwardly disposed wall surfaces, comprising:

a molded lid, including:
a lid top portion extending to an outer periphery locatable adjacent said container top structure;
an annular lid rim structure integrally formed with said lid top portion at said outer periphery, having a ring band locatable in adjacency with said container inwardly disposed wall surface, an annular concave closure cavity for nestably receiving said container rim and having an annular, outwardly disposed flange portion, and said outwardly disposed flange portion being configured having a lower disposed annular outer flange surface and a restraining notch disposed upwardly and inwardly from said outer flange surface;
and
a split ring clamp for retaining said lid upon said container, including:
an inwardly opening channel-form ring formed of polymeric material with upper and lower side flange portions extending inwardly from an outer band portion with corresponding inwardly disposed surfaces mountable over said annular rim structure, and a twist inhibiting blocking component extending inwardly from said outer band portion inwardly disposed surface and located for mutually abutting contact with a surface of said restraining notch, said ring having oppositely disposed first and second ends, said first end having an outwardly extending pivot shaft receiving notch opening rearwardly toward said second end, said ring second end including a receiver channel having oppositely disposed spaced-apart sides defining an opening, said spaced apart sides having mutually inwardly facing internal surfaces moveable over said upper and lower side flange portions at said first end and including a ring pivot shaft extending between said spaced apart sides forwardly of said opening;
and
a ring pivot arm having a pivot end with a transversely disposed arm pivot shaft, a ring pivot shaft receiving notch having a shaft access opening extending to a shaft bearing surface spaced from said arm pivot shaft a distance selected for drawing together said ring first and second ends, said arm pivot shaft being configured for pivotal engagement with said pivot shaft receiving notch, and said ring pivot shaft receiving notch being configured for receiving said second end ring pivot shaft.

5 more elements

A split ring clamp for retaining a lid on the rim of a container at the interface therebetween, comprising:

an inwardly opening channel-shaped ring formed of polymeric material with upper and lower side flange portions extending inwardly from an outer hand portion with respective upper, lower, and band inner and outer surfaces, said ring having oppositely disposed first and second ends, said first end having an outwardly extending pivot shaft receiving notch opening rearwardly toward said second end and a ring contact surface, said ring second end including a receiver channel having oppositely disposed spaced apart sides defining an opening, said spaced apart sides having mutually inwardly facing internal surfaces movable over said upper and lower flange portions at said first end and including a ring pivot shaft extending between said spaced apart sides forwardly of said opening and having a capture groove formed therein opening rearwardly toward said first end;
and
a channel-shaped ring pivot arm having oppositely disposed sides and a top extending from a pivot end with a transversely disposed arm pivot shaft said top including an abutting portion, a ring pivot shaft receiving notch having a shaft access opening extending to a shaft bearing surface spaced from said arm pivot shaft a distance for drawing together said ring first and second ends and extending therefrom to form a lever, a capturing pawl formed within said ring pivot shaft receiving notch having an engaging edge, said arm pivot shaft being configured for pivotal engagement with said ring first end pivot shaft receiving notch, said ring pivot shaft receiving notch being configured for receiving said second end ring pivot shaft, said split ring clamp having a pre-clamping mode in which said ring pivot arm is pivoted to an orientation wherein said ring pivot arm abutting portion is in abutting engagement with said ring contact surface and said capturing pawl is engaged with said capture groove, said split ring clamp having a clamping mode in which said ring pivot arm is pivoted to an orientation wherein said ring pivot shaft is abuttably engaged with said shaft bearing surface and said internal surfaces of said receiver channel are positioned over said upper and lower flange portions at said first end.

A container assemblage, comprising:

a polymeric container having a top structure with an upwardly disposed container rim and inwardly and outwardly disposed wall surfaces;
a molded lid, including:
a lid top portion extending to an outer periphery locatable adjacent said container top structure, and
an annular lid rim structure integrally formed with said lid top portion at said outer periphery, having a ring band locatable in adjacency with said container inwardly disposed wall surface, an annular generally concave closure cavity for nestable positioning upon said container rim and having an annular, outwardly disposed flange portion, said outwardly disposed flange portion being configured having a lower disposed annular outer flange surface and a restraining notch disposed upwardly and inwardly from said outer flange surface, a concave annular seal retainer cavity upwardly disposed within said concave closure cavity, and a polymeric gasket removably insertable within said seal retainer cavity;
and
a split ring clamp for retaining said lid upon said container, including:
an inwardly opening channel-form ring formed of polymeric material with upper and lower side flange portions extending inwardly from an outer band portion with respective upper, lower and band inner and outer surfaces, said ring being mountable over said annular rim structure, said ring having oppositely disposed first and second ends, said first end having an outwardly extending pivot shaft receiving notch opening rearwardly toward said second end and a ring contact surface, a twist inhibiting blocking component extending inwardly from said outer band portion inwardly disposed surface and located for mutually abutting contact with a surface of said restraining notch, said ring second end including a receiver channel having oppositely disposed spaced-apart sides having mutually inwardly facing internal surfaces movable over said upper and lower side flange portions at said first end and including a ring pivot shaft extending between said spaced apart sides forwardly of said opening and having a capture groove formed therein, and
a ring pivot arm having oppositely disposed sides and a top, extending from a pivot end and with a transversely disposed arm pivot shaft, said top including an abutting portion, a ring pivot shaft receiving notch having a shaft access opening extending to a shaft bearing surface spaced from said arm pivot shaft a distance for drawing together said ring first and second ends and extending therefrom to form a lever, a capturing pawl formed within said ring pivot shaft receiving notch having an engaging edge, said arm pivot shaft being configured for pivotal engagement with said ring first end pivot shaft receiving notch, said ring pivot shaft receiving notch being configured for receiving said second end pivot shaft, said split ring clamp having a pre-clamping mode in which said ring pivot arm is pivoted to an orientation wherein said ring pivot arm abutting portion is in abutting engagement with said ring sloping contact surface and said capturing pawl is engaged with said capture groove, said split ring clamp having a clamping mode in which said ring pivot arm is pivoted to an orientation wherein said ring pivot shaft is abuttably engaged with said shaft bearing surface and said internal surfaces of said receiver channel are positioned over said upper and lower flange portions at said first end.

5 more elements

A split ring clamp for retaining a lid on the rim of a container at the interface there between, comprising:

an inwardly opening channel-shaped ring formed of polymeric material with upper and lower side flange portions extending inwardly from an outer band portion with respective upper, lower, and band inner and outer surfaces, said ring having oppositely disposed first and second ends, said first end having an outwardly extending pivot shaft receiving notch opening rearwardly toward said second end and a ring contact surface, said ring second end including a receiver channel having oppositely disposed spaced apart sides defining an opening, said spaced apart sides having mutually inwardly facing internal surfaces movable over said upper and lower flange portions at said first end and including a ring pivot shaft extending between said spaced apart sides forwardly of said opening and having a capture groove formed therein opening rearwardly toward said first end, an annular secondary connection flange extending transversely outwardly from the inwardly disposed edge of said lower side flange portion, and a band retainer assembly mounted upon said secondary connection flange for slideably receiving and retaining a banding strap;
and
a channel-shaped ring pivot arm having oppositely disposed sides and a top extending from a pivot end with a transversely disposed arm pivot shaft said top including an abutting portion, a ring pivot shaft receiving notch having a shaft access opening extending to a shaft bearing surface spaced from said arm pivot shaft a distance for drawing together said ring first and second ends and extending therefrom to form a lever, a capturing pawl formed within said ring pivot shaft receiving notch having an engaging edge, said arm pivot shaft being configured for pivotal engagement with said ring first end pivot shaft receiving notch, said ring pivot shaft receiving notch being configured for receiving said second end ring pivot shaft, said split ring clamp having a pre-clamping mode in which said ring pivot arm is pivoted to an orientation wherein said ring pivot arm abutting portion is in abutting engagement with said ring contact surface and said capturing pawl is engaged with said capture groove, said split ring clamp having a clamping mode in which said ring pivot arm is pivoted to an orientation wherein said ring pivot shaft is abuttably engaged with said shaft bearing surface and said internal surfaces of said receiver channel are positioned over said upper and lower flange portions at said first end.

A container assemblage, comprising:

a container having a top structure with an upwardly disposed annular container rim and inwardly and outwardly disposed wall surfaces;
a molded lid, including:
a lid top portion extending to an outer periphery locatable adjacent said container top structure,
an annular lid rim structure integrally formed with said lid top portion at said outer periphery, having an annular generally concave closure cavity for nestable positioning upon said container rim and having an annular, outwardly disposed flange portion, a concave annular seal retainer cavity upwardly disposed within said concave closure cavity,
said concave annular seal retainer cavity being of circular cross section of predetermined cavity radius and having a diameter of predetermined dimension, said seal retainer cavity having a partial cylindrical surface extent subtending a cavity radius defined angle greater than 180.degree. and less than 360.degree. to establish an annular seal access slot of widthwise dimension selected for the insertion of a flexible gasket within said seal retainer cavity;
and
polymeric deformable gasket, having a principal widthwise dimension corresponding with said predetermined dimension, removably slidably insertable through said access slot into said seal retainer cavity and accessable at said access slot when within said seal retainer cavity to effect contacting sealing communication with said container rim.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.