CA1259952A - Storage container closure - Google Patents
Storage container closureInfo
- Publication number
- CA1259952A CA1259952A CA000460094A CA460094A CA1259952A CA 1259952 A CA1259952 A CA 1259952A CA 000460094 A CA000460094 A CA 000460094A CA 460094 A CA460094 A CA 460094A CA 1259952 A CA1259952 A CA 1259952A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- closure
- bead
- container
- wall portion
- seal
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D31/00—Bags or like containers made of paper and having structural provision for thickness of contents
- B65D31/16—Bags or like containers made of paper and having structural provision for thickness of contents of special shape
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D39/00—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers
- B65D39/12—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers expansible, e.g. inflatable
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
- B65D43/0202—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element
- B65D43/0214—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured only by friction or gravity
- B65D43/022—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured only by friction or gravity only on the inside, or a part turned to the inside, of the mouth of the container
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
- B65D81/38—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation
- B65D81/3813—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container
- B65D81/3818—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container formed with double walls, i.e. hollow
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
- B65D2543/00064—Shape of the outer periphery
- B65D2543/00074—Shape of the outer periphery curved
- B65D2543/00092—Shape of the outer periphery curved circular
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
- B65D2543/00231—Overall construction of the lid made of several pieces
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
- B65D2543/00259—Materials used
- B65D2543/00296—Plastic
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
- B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
- B65D2543/0049—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the inside, or a part turned to the inside of the mouth of the container
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
- B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
- B65D2543/00537—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
- B65D2543/00546—NO contact
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00824—Means for facilitating removing of the closure
- B65D2543/00833—Integral tabs, tongues, handles or similar
- B65D2543/00851—Integral tabs, tongues, handles or similar on the central part of the lid
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
- Closing Of Containers (AREA)
- Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
- Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
For containers with circular openings, a closure for selectively loosely covering or tightly sealing the container. A seal member has an elastically contractible peripheral bead. The throat opening of the container decreases in diameter in two steps, forming two annular ledges and a wall portion therebetween. The peripheral bead may rest loosely upon the first, larger ledge, and, when contracted, may be seated tightly upon the second, smaller ledge.
For containers with circular openings, a closure for selectively loosely covering or tightly sealing the container. A seal member has an elastically contractible peripheral bead. The throat opening of the container decreases in diameter in two steps, forming two annular ledges and a wall portion therebetween. The peripheral bead may rest loosely upon the first, larger ledge, and, when contracted, may be seated tightly upon the second, smaller ledge.
Description
9~
TITLE OE' THE INVENTION
''Storage Container Closure"
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Inven-t;on _ . This invention relates to storage container closures, and more particularLy to an improved closure for a container having a generally cylindrical throat opening and a seal member which may selectively be placed loosely in the throat opening upon a first ledge or tig~tly upon a second ledge.
Description of the Prior Art Circumstances may arise where a sealable container is needed for medium-term or long-term storage of articles or substances, yet it is desirable for the container to be easily openable for frequent or repetitive access to its 2s contents. One common instance is the use of an ice bucke-t to store or transport ice cubes followed or preceded by use of the same bucket for dispensing ice at a social gathering such as a party or picnic. While a firm, positive seal of the bucket is desirable during transport and storage, a loose, easily opened closure of the bucket is preferred during the frequent access to the ice at the gatherlng.
Storage containers heretofore available have been provided with closures intended for either tig~t sealing or loose covering, but not both. Alt~ough it may be possible 35 to loosely cover a container wit~ a lid intended for tight sealing, typically no means are provided maintaining the lid in a proper orientation and relationship with the container, e.g., the lid may rest skewed and leave gaps or may bind or become stuck. Similarly, containers provided s~
with closures intended for loose covering ars typically not provided with means for obtaining a tight seal using the same parts.
U.S. patent number 3,75~,480, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a three-part ~ress type seal comprising a locally aistortable cLosure member contractably and distensibly constructed and ~aving an elastic memory such that it is adapted to ~ermetically seal an open-mouthed container. The seal has a peripheral bead which may be contracted from a first diameter to a second smaller diameter by depressing a plunger whic~
distorts a seal member formed integrally with t~e bead.
Also disclosed is the use of such a seal to tightly close a container having a generally circular t~roat with a cylindrical wall and an annular ledge below the wall w~ich are sealingly engaged by the seal bead.
Accordingly, there is a need for a container closure adapted for two modes of closing, a first in which the closure member rests loosely upon the container and is easily removed or replaced, yet which provides a uniform closing of the container, and a second in which t~e closure member tightly seals the container. Furthermore, it is desirable for suc~ a closure to have insulative 2s properties when used in a container with hot or cold contents.
SUMMARY OF T~E INVE~ION
The present invention meets the aforementioned needs by providing a closure for a container having a generally circular throat opening and a closure member having an elastically distortable seal member with a peripheral bead portion which is selectively contractable from a first bead diameter to a second, smaller bead diameter. The container throat is configured with a substantially cylindrical upper wall portion of a diameter greater than the first bead 5~52 diameter, and an adjacently substantially cylin~lrical lower wall portion of a diameter less than the first bead diameter but no smaller than the second bead diameter. A
first inwardly projecting annuLar ledge is situated between the upper and lower wall portions. A second inwardly projecting annular ledge is situated immediately below the lower wall portion. When the ctosure member is placed loosely on the container, the peripheral bead rests upon the first ledge encircled, but not engaged, by the upper wall portion. When the perip~eral bead ;s selectively contracted by a disto~ting force, the closure member may be inserted farther into the container throat with t~e peripheral bead resting upon the second ledge. The distorting force may then be released, and the perip~eral bead will then be sealingly engaged with lower wall portion and seated upon the second ledge.
According to a feature of a preferred embodiment of t~e invention, the closure member is provided as a three-part press type seal according to the disclosure of U.S.patent 3,7~,480. According to another feature, it is contemplated that the container may be an ice bucket or the like. In this preferred embodiment, the dead air space within the three-part press type seal is used in a noveL
2s way for its insulative value.
Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ~HE DRAWINGS
Fig. l is a perspective view of a covered ice 3~ bucket embodying the invention, Fig. ~ is a top plan view of the ice bucket of Fig. l, Fig. 3 is a sectional side view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
`\ zs~
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional vie~ similar to Fig. 3, but showing the seal in the loose resting position:
Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4, but with the seal s removed;
Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the ice bucket of Fig. l with the seal removed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
By way of disclosure of a preferred embodiment of the invention and not by way of limitation, there is shown in Figs. l and 2 an ice bucket comprising a container indicated general1y at lO and a seal lt. The container lO
is substantially cylindrical with a closed bottom and a generally circular throat opening. The seal 11, shown in the tightLy sealed position, sits within the throat of the container lO. There i5 an upper circumerential rim 12 on the container l0. The seal ll has a protruding plunger l3 in its center encircled by a flared flange 14.
As best shown in Fig. 3, the container l0 is constructed in two parts comprising an outer container l7 and an inner container 16 nested within the outer container 17. The inner l6 and outer 17 containers each respectively have a substantially cylindrical wall l8, l9 and a substantially planar bottom 2l, 22. The outer container l7 is somewhat larger than the inner container l6 30 SO that a dead air space 23 is formed therebetween.
Encircling the upper extent o~ the outer container l7 there is a flange comprising a horiztontal annular portion 24, a depending cylindrical portion 26 and an upstanding slightly outwardly flarea portion 27. Encircling the upper 35 extent of the inner container l6 there is a second horizontal annular portion 28 with a peripheral second depending portion 29. The inner l6 ana outer l7 containers are preferably made of resilient materials such as polypropylene and polyethylene so that the inner side of the second depending portion resiliently engages the outer side of the upstanding portion 27 in a well known manner thereby by forming a unitary, yet disassembleable container tO, As is most easily seen in Figs. 5 and ~, at the upper extent of the wall l8 of the inner container l~ there is formed a throat opening 25 substantially circular in plan.
Formed in the throat opening 25 there is a substantially cylindrical first wall portion 3l. Adjacent an~ betow the first wall portion 3l there is formed in the throat opening 25 a substantially cylindrical second wall portion 32 having a diamater less than that of the first wall portion 3l. Between the first 3l and ~lecond 32 wall portions there is formed an annular, inwardly exten~ing first ledge 33. Below the second wall portion 32 there is formed an annular, inwardly extending second ledge 34. Thus, there are upper and lower concentric ledges, the upper first ledge 33 having a greater diameter than the lower second ledge 34.
Referring to Fig. 3, there is illustrated a seal ll tightly covering the container 10. The seal is constructed in accordance with the disclosure of U.S. patent 3,7$6,480 which patent should be consulted for a detailed description 2s of its construction and operation. Briefly described, the seal ll includes in its general organization an elastically deformable seal member 36, a top wall 37, and a plunger 1~. About the periphery of the seal member 36 there is a bead portion 38 and an upstanding rim 39. The upper edge of the rim 39 engages the circumferencial edge of the top wall 37.
The bead portion 38 has a circumferential outer edge 4l and an underside 42. The throat opening 25 of the inner container 16 and the seal ll are dimensioned so that when the seal member 36 i5 in its relaxed, undistorted state, the inner diametar of the first wall portion 31 is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the bead outer ed~e 41, and the inner diameter of the second wall portion 32 is slightly less than the outer alameter of the bead outer ~25~i~
edge 4l. Furthermore, the inner diameter of the second wall portion 32 is substantially egllal to or slightly greater than the outer diameter of the bead outer edge 4l 5 when the seal member 36 is in its distorted state and the bead is contracted.
Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the two closing modes of the closure of the invention. In Fig. 3, the closure is in the tight sealing mode. The seal ll is readied for insertion by depressing the plunger 13 which acts upon the center of the seal member 3~ to distort the seal member 3~ and contract the bead portion 38 to a diameter small enough for the seal ll to be inserted into the throat opening 2~ with the bead underside 42 contacting the second ledge 34.
After insertion, the pLunger l3 is released and elastic forces in the seal member 36 uniformly urge the bead portion 38 outward. The container lO is thus tig~tly sealed with bead outer edge 4l firmly engaging the second wall portion 32 and the bead underside 42 seated upon the second ledge 34. The seal ll may be removed by reversing the process just described.
In Fig. 4, the closure is shown in the loose covering mode. The seal ll is insertea in its undistorted state into the throat opening 25 until the bead underside 42 2s comes to rest atop the first ledge 33. A small annular gap i5 formed between the bead outer edge 41 and the first wall portion 3l. 'rhe seal ll rests properly c~ntered and oriented horizontally without wedging or binding. No gaps are left between the bead underside 42 and the first ledge 33. The seal ll may be removed and replaced with ease.
According to the preferrea embodiment, the first leage 33, second ledge 34i and bead un~erside 4l are equa1ly sloped, thereby imposing a centering action on the seal ll. Although the first wall portion 31 and second wall portion 32 are substantially cylindrical, it is desirable to form the wall portions wit~ an upward and outward draft angle for assistance in centering the seal 11 and for facilitating unmolding of the container in its manufacture. In the preferred embodiment, the draft angle -` ~$~
is one clegree from the vertical. It is within the scope of the invention to provide other draft angLe~ or ledge slopes, although the ledges must be close enough to 5 horizontal so that no wedging action occurs.
It should be appreciated that when the invention is practiced according to the preferred emhodiment, the dead air space 43 of the seal 11 bet:ween the seal member 36 and top wall 37 is useful for thermally insulating the contents o of the container ll. It should be understood, however, that the closure of the invention is not limited to use in ice buckets or other thermal containers.
While the invention has been descri~ed with reference to a specific preferred embodiment, it should be understood that it is wished to embody within the patent warranted hereon all modifications and variations which come within the scope of this invention's contribution to the art.
TITLE OE' THE INVENTION
''Storage Container Closure"
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Inven-t;on _ . This invention relates to storage container closures, and more particularLy to an improved closure for a container having a generally cylindrical throat opening and a seal member which may selectively be placed loosely in the throat opening upon a first ledge or tig~tly upon a second ledge.
Description of the Prior Art Circumstances may arise where a sealable container is needed for medium-term or long-term storage of articles or substances, yet it is desirable for the container to be easily openable for frequent or repetitive access to its 2s contents. One common instance is the use of an ice bucke-t to store or transport ice cubes followed or preceded by use of the same bucket for dispensing ice at a social gathering such as a party or picnic. While a firm, positive seal of the bucket is desirable during transport and storage, a loose, easily opened closure of the bucket is preferred during the frequent access to the ice at the gatherlng.
Storage containers heretofore available have been provided with closures intended for either tig~t sealing or loose covering, but not both. Alt~ough it may be possible 35 to loosely cover a container wit~ a lid intended for tight sealing, typically no means are provided maintaining the lid in a proper orientation and relationship with the container, e.g., the lid may rest skewed and leave gaps or may bind or become stuck. Similarly, containers provided s~
with closures intended for loose covering ars typically not provided with means for obtaining a tight seal using the same parts.
U.S. patent number 3,75~,480, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a three-part ~ress type seal comprising a locally aistortable cLosure member contractably and distensibly constructed and ~aving an elastic memory such that it is adapted to ~ermetically seal an open-mouthed container. The seal has a peripheral bead which may be contracted from a first diameter to a second smaller diameter by depressing a plunger whic~
distorts a seal member formed integrally with t~e bead.
Also disclosed is the use of such a seal to tightly close a container having a generally circular t~roat with a cylindrical wall and an annular ledge below the wall w~ich are sealingly engaged by the seal bead.
Accordingly, there is a need for a container closure adapted for two modes of closing, a first in which the closure member rests loosely upon the container and is easily removed or replaced, yet which provides a uniform closing of the container, and a second in which t~e closure member tightly seals the container. Furthermore, it is desirable for suc~ a closure to have insulative 2s properties when used in a container with hot or cold contents.
SUMMARY OF T~E INVE~ION
The present invention meets the aforementioned needs by providing a closure for a container having a generally circular throat opening and a closure member having an elastically distortable seal member with a peripheral bead portion which is selectively contractable from a first bead diameter to a second, smaller bead diameter. The container throat is configured with a substantially cylindrical upper wall portion of a diameter greater than the first bead 5~52 diameter, and an adjacently substantially cylin~lrical lower wall portion of a diameter less than the first bead diameter but no smaller than the second bead diameter. A
first inwardly projecting annuLar ledge is situated between the upper and lower wall portions. A second inwardly projecting annular ledge is situated immediately below the lower wall portion. When the ctosure member is placed loosely on the container, the peripheral bead rests upon the first ledge encircled, but not engaged, by the upper wall portion. When the perip~eral bead ;s selectively contracted by a disto~ting force, the closure member may be inserted farther into the container throat with t~e peripheral bead resting upon the second ledge. The distorting force may then be released, and the perip~eral bead will then be sealingly engaged with lower wall portion and seated upon the second ledge.
According to a feature of a preferred embodiment of t~e invention, the closure member is provided as a three-part press type seal according to the disclosure of U.S.patent 3,7~,480. According to another feature, it is contemplated that the container may be an ice bucket or the like. In this preferred embodiment, the dead air space within the three-part press type seal is used in a noveL
2s way for its insulative value.
Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ~HE DRAWINGS
Fig. l is a perspective view of a covered ice 3~ bucket embodying the invention, Fig. ~ is a top plan view of the ice bucket of Fig. l, Fig. 3 is a sectional side view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
`\ zs~
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional vie~ similar to Fig. 3, but showing the seal in the loose resting position:
Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4, but with the seal s removed;
Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the ice bucket of Fig. l with the seal removed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
By way of disclosure of a preferred embodiment of the invention and not by way of limitation, there is shown in Figs. l and 2 an ice bucket comprising a container indicated general1y at lO and a seal lt. The container lO
is substantially cylindrical with a closed bottom and a generally circular throat opening. The seal 11, shown in the tightLy sealed position, sits within the throat of the container lO. There i5 an upper circumerential rim 12 on the container l0. The seal ll has a protruding plunger l3 in its center encircled by a flared flange 14.
As best shown in Fig. 3, the container l0 is constructed in two parts comprising an outer container l7 and an inner container 16 nested within the outer container 17. The inner l6 and outer 17 containers each respectively have a substantially cylindrical wall l8, l9 and a substantially planar bottom 2l, 22. The outer container l7 is somewhat larger than the inner container l6 30 SO that a dead air space 23 is formed therebetween.
Encircling the upper extent o~ the outer container l7 there is a flange comprising a horiztontal annular portion 24, a depending cylindrical portion 26 and an upstanding slightly outwardly flarea portion 27. Encircling the upper 35 extent of the inner container l6 there is a second horizontal annular portion 28 with a peripheral second depending portion 29. The inner l6 ana outer l7 containers are preferably made of resilient materials such as polypropylene and polyethylene so that the inner side of the second depending portion resiliently engages the outer side of the upstanding portion 27 in a well known manner thereby by forming a unitary, yet disassembleable container tO, As is most easily seen in Figs. 5 and ~, at the upper extent of the wall l8 of the inner container l~ there is formed a throat opening 25 substantially circular in plan.
Formed in the throat opening 25 there is a substantially cylindrical first wall portion 3l. Adjacent an~ betow the first wall portion 3l there is formed in the throat opening 25 a substantially cylindrical second wall portion 32 having a diamater less than that of the first wall portion 3l. Between the first 3l and ~lecond 32 wall portions there is formed an annular, inwardly exten~ing first ledge 33. Below the second wall portion 32 there is formed an annular, inwardly extending second ledge 34. Thus, there are upper and lower concentric ledges, the upper first ledge 33 having a greater diameter than the lower second ledge 34.
Referring to Fig. 3, there is illustrated a seal ll tightly covering the container 10. The seal is constructed in accordance with the disclosure of U.S. patent 3,7$6,480 which patent should be consulted for a detailed description 2s of its construction and operation. Briefly described, the seal ll includes in its general organization an elastically deformable seal member 36, a top wall 37, and a plunger 1~. About the periphery of the seal member 36 there is a bead portion 38 and an upstanding rim 39. The upper edge of the rim 39 engages the circumferencial edge of the top wall 37.
The bead portion 38 has a circumferential outer edge 4l and an underside 42. The throat opening 25 of the inner container 16 and the seal ll are dimensioned so that when the seal member 36 i5 in its relaxed, undistorted state, the inner diametar of the first wall portion 31 is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the bead outer ed~e 41, and the inner diameter of the second wall portion 32 is slightly less than the outer alameter of the bead outer ~25~i~
edge 4l. Furthermore, the inner diameter of the second wall portion 32 is substantially egllal to or slightly greater than the outer diameter of the bead outer edge 4l 5 when the seal member 36 is in its distorted state and the bead is contracted.
Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the two closing modes of the closure of the invention. In Fig. 3, the closure is in the tight sealing mode. The seal ll is readied for insertion by depressing the plunger 13 which acts upon the center of the seal member 3~ to distort the seal member 3~ and contract the bead portion 38 to a diameter small enough for the seal ll to be inserted into the throat opening 2~ with the bead underside 42 contacting the second ledge 34.
After insertion, the pLunger l3 is released and elastic forces in the seal member 36 uniformly urge the bead portion 38 outward. The container lO is thus tig~tly sealed with bead outer edge 4l firmly engaging the second wall portion 32 and the bead underside 42 seated upon the second ledge 34. The seal ll may be removed by reversing the process just described.
In Fig. 4, the closure is shown in the loose covering mode. The seal ll is insertea in its undistorted state into the throat opening 25 until the bead underside 42 2s comes to rest atop the first ledge 33. A small annular gap i5 formed between the bead outer edge 41 and the first wall portion 3l. 'rhe seal ll rests properly c~ntered and oriented horizontally without wedging or binding. No gaps are left between the bead underside 42 and the first ledge 33. The seal ll may be removed and replaced with ease.
According to the preferrea embodiment, the first leage 33, second ledge 34i and bead un~erside 4l are equa1ly sloped, thereby imposing a centering action on the seal ll. Although the first wall portion 31 and second wall portion 32 are substantially cylindrical, it is desirable to form the wall portions wit~ an upward and outward draft angle for assistance in centering the seal 11 and for facilitating unmolding of the container in its manufacture. In the preferred embodiment, the draft angle -` ~$~
is one clegree from the vertical. It is within the scope of the invention to provide other draft angLe~ or ledge slopes, although the ledges must be close enough to 5 horizontal so that no wedging action occurs.
It should be appreciated that when the invention is practiced according to the preferred emhodiment, the dead air space 43 of the seal 11 bet:ween the seal member 36 and top wall 37 is useful for thermally insulating the contents o of the container ll. It should be understood, however, that the closure of the invention is not limited to use in ice buckets or other thermal containers.
While the invention has been descri~ed with reference to a specific preferred embodiment, it should be understood that it is wished to embody within the patent warranted hereon all modifications and variations which come within the scope of this invention's contribution to the art.
Claims (8)
1. In a closure for a container (10) of the type having a generally circular throat opening (25) and a closure member (11) of the type comprising an elastically distortable seal member (36) having a peripheral bead portion (38) selectively contractible from a first bead diameter to a second, smaller bead diameter, said bead portion being releasably, sealingly engageable with the inner surface of said throat opening, the combination therewith comprising:
a first wall portion (31) formed in said throat opening having a diameter greater than said first bead diameter;
a second wall portion (32) formed in said throat opening below and adjacent said first wall portion having a diameter less than said first bead diameter and at least equal to said second bead diameter;
a first annular ledge (33) extending inwardly and disposed between said first wall portion and said second wall portion; and a second annular ledge (34) extending inwardly below said second wall portion.
a first wall portion (31) formed in said throat opening having a diameter greater than said first bead diameter;
a second wall portion (32) formed in said throat opening below and adjacent said first wall portion having a diameter less than said first bead diameter and at least equal to said second bead diameter;
a first annular ledge (33) extending inwardly and disposed between said first wall portion and said second wall portion; and a second annular ledge (34) extending inwardly below said second wall portion.
2. The closure of Claim 1 wherein the seal member is a three-part press type seal.
3. The closure of Claim 2 wherein the dead air space (43) within the three-part seal is used for thermal insulation.
4. The closure of Claim 1 wherein the container is an ice bucket.
5. The closure of Claim 1 wherein the first and second annular ledges and the bead portion underside are equally sloped downardly and inwardly.
6. The closure of Claim l wherein the first and second wall portions are substantially cylindrical.
7. The closure of Claim 1 wherein the bead portion is restable upon the first annular ledge for loose covering of the container.
8. The closure of Claim 1 wherein the bead portion is seatable upon the second annular ledge for tight sealing of the container.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US54431183A | 1983-10-21 | 1983-10-21 | |
| US544,311 | 1983-10-21 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1259952A true CA1259952A (en) | 1989-09-26 |
Family
ID=24171678
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000460094A Expired CA1259952A (en) | 1983-10-21 | 1984-07-31 | Storage container closure |
Country Status (22)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0139077B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS6090143A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR850004231A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU555249B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR8404279A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1259952A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3461521D1 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK160931C (en) |
| ES (1) | ES282136Y (en) |
| FI (1) | FI76756C (en) |
| GR (1) | GR80084B (en) |
| HK (1) | HK8788A (en) |
| IE (1) | IE55425B1 (en) |
| MA (1) | MA20207A1 (en) |
| MX (1) | MX160519A (en) |
| NO (1) | NO158571C (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ209047A (en) |
| PH (1) | PH21432A (en) |
| PL (1) | PL142979B1 (en) |
| PT (1) | PT79081A (en) |
| SG (1) | SG77587G (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA845891B (en) |
Families Citing this family (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2214631B (en) * | 1987-02-02 | 1992-04-01 | Keith Barnwell | Heat treatment cup for a beverage container |
| DE8711978U1 (en) * | 1987-09-04 | 1988-09-08 | Blechwarenfabriken Züchner GmbH & Co, 3370 Seesen | Packaging container with push-in lid |
| CA2004085A1 (en) * | 1988-11-28 | 1990-05-28 | Donald T. Goodall | Locking device |
| US5161711A (en) * | 1991-03-28 | 1992-11-10 | Dart Industries Inc. | Closure assembly with separable seal |
| NL194437C (en) * | 1994-06-27 | 2002-04-04 | Stegeman Kunststoffen B V | Reusable closing device for a product holder. |
| GB0504864D0 (en) * | 2005-03-09 | 2005-04-13 | Taylor Egbert H & Company Ltd | Insulated waste container |
| WO2014000146A1 (en) * | 2012-06-25 | 2014-01-03 | 倍恩加企业有限公司 | Airtight cover |
| KR101967523B1 (en) * | 2017-03-31 | 2019-04-09 | 조용호 | Airtight container |
| EP3969384A1 (en) * | 2019-05-16 | 2022-03-23 | Lidtek AS | A lid with a fastening mechanism for tightening a lid skirt around a sidewall of a pail and a pail for said lid and a thermally insulated compound pail |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1018102A (en) * | 1963-06-06 | 1966-01-26 | Plastic Packaging Ltd | A container with a snap-fitting lid |
| US3756480A (en) * | 1971-03-09 | 1973-09-04 | Dart Ind Inc | Three-part press type seal |
| US3749277A (en) * | 1971-11-01 | 1973-07-31 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Closure having improved resistance to unseating |
| AU517293B2 (en) * | 1978-11-03 | 1981-07-23 | Erik Kold Plast As | Sealing closure |
| US4303171A (en) * | 1979-08-03 | 1981-12-01 | Aladdin Industries Pty. Limited | Container closures |
| DE3025200A1 (en) * | 1980-07-03 | 1982-01-28 | Leifheit International Günter Leifheit GmbH, 5408 Nassau | CLEANING MACHINE WITH LID |
| JPS6345813Y2 (en) * | 1980-08-05 | 1988-11-29 |
-
1984
- 1984-04-24 EP EP84104567A patent/EP0139077B1/en not_active Expired
- 1984-04-24 DE DE8484104567T patent/DE3461521D1/en not_active Expired
- 1984-07-20 IE IE1891/84A patent/IE55425B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1984-07-24 FI FI842953A patent/FI76756C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1984-07-30 NZ NZ209047A patent/NZ209047A/en unknown
- 1984-07-30 ZA ZA845891A patent/ZA845891B/en unknown
- 1984-07-31 CA CA000460094A patent/CA1259952A/en not_active Expired
- 1984-08-02 AU AU31443/84A patent/AU555249B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1984-08-03 JP JP59163752A patent/JPS6090143A/en active Granted
- 1984-08-09 PH PH31088A patent/PH21432A/en unknown
- 1984-08-10 GR GR80084A patent/GR80084B/en unknown
- 1984-08-13 MX MX202358A patent/MX160519A/en unknown
- 1984-08-14 PT PT79081A patent/PT79081A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1984-08-20 NO NO843316A patent/NO158571C/en unknown
- 1984-08-22 MA MA20431A patent/MA20207A1/en unknown
- 1984-08-23 KR KR1019840005096A patent/KR850004231A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1984-08-28 BR BR8404279A patent/BR8404279A/en unknown
- 1984-09-21 PL PL1984249689A patent/PL142979B1/en unknown
- 1984-10-19 ES ES1984282136U patent/ES282136Y/en not_active Expired
- 1984-10-19 DK DK500084A patent/DK160931C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1987
- 1987-09-23 SG SG775/87A patent/SG77587G/en unknown
-
1988
- 1988-01-28 HK HK87/88A patent/HK8788A/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ES282136U (en) | 1985-05-01 |
| FI842953A (en) | 1985-04-22 |
| BR8404279A (en) | 1985-07-23 |
| NO158571B (en) | 1988-06-27 |
| EP0139077B1 (en) | 1986-12-03 |
| DK160931C (en) | 1991-11-04 |
| DK500084D0 (en) | 1984-10-19 |
| DK160931B (en) | 1991-05-06 |
| PH21432A (en) | 1987-10-15 |
| HK8788A (en) | 1988-02-05 |
| IE841891L (en) | 1985-04-21 |
| IE55425B1 (en) | 1990-09-12 |
| EP0139077A2 (en) | 1985-05-02 |
| AU555249B2 (en) | 1986-09-18 |
| KR850004231A (en) | 1985-07-11 |
| ZA845891B (en) | 1985-03-27 |
| PL142979B1 (en) | 1987-12-31 |
| EP0139077A3 (en) | 1985-06-12 |
| MX160519A (en) | 1990-03-15 |
| NO843316L (en) | 1985-04-22 |
| AU3144384A (en) | 1985-04-26 |
| JPH039017B2 (en) | 1991-02-07 |
| FI842953A0 (en) | 1984-07-24 |
| DK500084A (en) | 1985-04-22 |
| PT79081A (en) | 1984-09-01 |
| FI76756C (en) | 1988-12-12 |
| NZ209047A (en) | 1987-04-30 |
| NO158571C (en) | 1988-10-05 |
| PL249689A1 (en) | 1985-05-07 |
| DE3461521D1 (en) | 1987-01-15 |
| GR80084B (en) | 1984-11-21 |
| ES282136Y (en) | 1985-12-16 |
| FI76756B (en) | 1988-08-31 |
| SG77587G (en) | 1989-05-26 |
| MA20207A1 (en) | 1985-04-01 |
| JPS6090143A (en) | 1985-05-21 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |