US3516571A - Container and cover therefor - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1970 w. H. ROPER ETAL 3,515,571

CONTAINER AND COVER THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1968 5 m 2 RK mg g i W HM /H.5W a; mEY .M LEN 2 LEE 0 mwmfi aWRrvm 1 mp Z 5 %22d FIG 1 June 1970 w. H. ROPER ETAL 3,516,571

CONTAINER AND COVER THEREFOR Filed Aug. 2, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 40 I -2.2 Mg /NVEN7'0ES /Z VV/LL/AM H. ROPE/2, R0552?" 5 ROPER, /0 CHA mg? R Ra /5R /0 MA HONEY & HORA/BA K52 Filed Aug. 2, 1968 June 1970 w. H. ROPER'ETAL. 3,516,571

CONTAINER AND COVER THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 56 9L m0 //0 90 (95 I lg n 1;:

- INVENTOES W/LL/AM H. ROPER,

R0552 7, E. Rope-R, CHA R 5 R. ROPER MA HONEY Ham/5A KEE & ScH/cK A 77'02A/E Y8 United States Patent 01 fice 3,51%,571 Patented June 23 1970 3,516,571 CONTAINER AND COVER THEREFOR William H. Roper, Los Angeles, Robert E. Roper, Rossmoor, and Charles R. Roper, Sherman Oaks, Calif., assignors of one-fifth each to Frank Roper, North Hollywood, and Ralph A. Miller, Van Nuys, Calif. Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 708,943,

Feb. 28, 1968. This application Aug. 2, 1968, Ser.

Int. Cl. B65d 43/10, 21/05, 7/44 US. Cl. 220--60 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The container sidewall terminates downwardly in a recessed bottom and upwardly in outer, annular ribs and an upper end bead. The bead and an overlying sealing ring are telescoped by downward flanges of a cover U- shaped edge, the inner flange extending down into the container below a cover closing wall and the outer flange engaging a bead under side. The container annular ribs outwardly protect the container bead and cover flange engagement, and certain of vertical ribs between the annular ribs reinforce side handle attachment members which terminate downwardly in broadened stacking supports. The container recessed bottom has a central annular support member and a series of triangular ribs between the bottom and sidewall, and between the bottom and supp rt member. The cover may have either an upwardly or downwardly opening, annular recess at an inner side of the cover edge inwardly adjacent the container sidewall within which are positioned a series of circumferentially spaced, radially extending ribs stilfening the cover edge and resisting deformation of the container sidewall. This stiffening of the cover edge also provides support for a sidewall lower edge of a container positioned over and resting downwardly on the cover radially within the cover edge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 708,943, filed Feb. 28, 1968, and now abandoned entitled Container and Cover Therefor.

This invention relates to a container and cover therefor, and more particularly, to a container and cover construction particularly adaptable to molded plastic manufacture. Even more particularly, the present invention contemplates a molded plastic container and cover construction wherein the container incorporates unique reinforcing means at critical areas adapting the container and cover formed of said molded plastic usable in many applications wherein it has heretofore been possible to only use metal containers and covers.

Furthermore, the molded plastic container and cover construction of the present invention includes a novel form of container and cover engagement which is not only individually novel, but also co-operates with certain of the unique reinforcing means to provide maximum security in container and cover sealing. Still additionally, the present invention includes a unique form of cover having special reinforcing means directly inwardly of the cover edge against the inner side of the container sidewall which stiffens the cover edge and prevents deformation of the container sidewall which could cause inadvertent separation of the cover from the container. This cover edge stiifening means likewise serves as a relatively rigid support for a container sidewall lower edge of a container resting downwardly upon the cover and radially within the cover edge.

Many prior forms of container and cover constructions have been provided in all sizes and shapes and from various materials. In recent years, with the marked progress made in the molded plastic industry, it has become desirable to replace container and cover constructions previously formed of metal with similar constructions of molded plastic for reasons of economy in original manufacture and material durability in use. Such conversion attempts from metal to molded plastic have, however, presented certain major problems and particularly where the material to be packaged in the container is of a relatively heavy nature and must be packaged in relatively large quantities.

For instance, in the paint industry, paint has been supplied to the consumer for a long period of time in metal containers and in various quantities as large as five gallons. Recently, certain attempts have been made to provide the paint industry with molded plastic containers as a substitute for the previously used metal containers. Such prior attempts have not been entirely successful for various reasons, including a previous lack of rigidity of the plastic containers without resorting to plastic wall thickness of economically prohibitive magnitude, such lack of rigidity also contributing to a lack of stable sealing engagement between the plastic containers and the plastic covers which will retain the container properly sealed during storage and transportation.

As an example of the prior deficiencies, with the prior plastic containers and covers, and particularly where the material to be packaged is again of a relatively heavy nature, if a sealed container is dropped inadvertently onto a horizontal surface, there is a great danger of the cover popping from the container caused by the container sidewall deforming from the impact force. The same container and cover separation result can occur where a series of sealed containers are stacked one above another with each container being supported on the cover of the container next below. Thus, the problem is pres ented of just how it is possible to sufliciently stiffen both the container sidewall and the cover in its engagement with the container sidewall without resorting to the previously mentioned economically prohibitive plastic wall thicknesses.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefor, an object of our invention to provide a container and cover therefor which may be formed of molded plastic and has a unique form of engagement between the container and cover, preferably making use of both the inner and outer sides of the container top edge for accomplishing such engagement. According to the present invention, a sealing bead at the upper termination of the container side-wall is telescoped by an inverted U-shaped edge of the cover, an outer flange of the cover edge engaging an under side of the container bead and an inner flange of the cover edge engaging the inner side of the container sidewall inwardly of said container bead and preferably for an appreciable distance downwardly into said container. Such combined inner and outer telescoped engagement of the container head by the cover edge provides a unique sealing stability between the container and cover which has not been possible with prior molded plastic constructions.

Where even greater sealing stability is required between the container sidewall and the cover, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, the cover may be provided with a unique form of stifiening directly inwardly radially adjacent the inner flange of the covered edge and against the container sidewall. This additional cover rigidity not only resists inordinate deformation of the cover during the cover sealing engagement with the container sidewall, but also prevents similar deformation of the container sidewall which could cause a loss of cover sealing engagement therewith, thereby further augmenting the unique sealing stability between the container and cover. In one form of the cover having this increased stiffening, a downwardly opening, inverted U-shaped, annular recess is formed in the cover inwardly adjacent the cover edge inner flange, said recess containing a series of generally radially extending ribs therein, and in another form of the cover stiffening, the annular recess is formed upwardly opening, but similarly positioned and with the same general rib reinforcing.

In either of the forms of the added cover stiffening, an additional advantage is obtained beyond the direct increased sealing stability and that is one of increased horizontal supporting capabilities of the cover required for vertically stacking sealed containers one above the other. By forming the container sidewalls of inwardly tapering configuration toward the bottom edges thereof, when one sealed container is supported on the cover of an underlying sealed container, the upper container sidewall will be received on the lower container cover directly overlying the annular recess and rib stiffening of the lower container cover so that the increased cover stiffening again resists cover deformation caused by this vertical load. Furthermore, by providing a unique configuration of the container and cover sealing engagement, it is possible to form this increased cover stiffening directly vertically overlying the major portion of the container sidewall so that the load of a container positioned thereover is transmitted directly downwardly into and axially along the container sidewall in the direction of greatest container sidewall stability.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a container and cover therefor of the foregoing general character wherein a particular formation of reinforcing ribs at the top portion of the container sidewall not only serves to produce an extremely rigid container from reasonable plastic wall thicknesses, such increased rigidity further contributing to the stable sealing between the container and cover discussed in the foregoing, but also, the unique reinforcing rib formation co-operates with the cover edge formation to protect the cover against inadvertent dislodgment from sealing over the container sidewall until removal of the cover is desired. The reinforcing rib formation on the container sidewall prefer ably includes a series of spaced, annular ribs projecting outwardly from the container sidewall spaced just below the container top sealing bead, said annular reinforcing ribs also preferably being joined by vertical reinforcing ribs therebetween, all forming a maximum of rigidity for the container sidewall. Still further, the outward projection of such reinforcing ribs from the container sidewall is such that the first of said annular ribs directly beneath the container sealing bead projects outwardly beyond the cover edge outer flange when said cover is sealed over the container sealing bead so as to prevent inadvertent upward engagement with the cover, which could cause dislodgment from its stable sealing position.

It is also an object of our invention to provide a container and cover therefor particularly adapted for molded plastic manufacture and having the foregoing unique reinforcing rib formation which reinforcing rib formation co-operates with integrally formed handle attachment members and combined uniquely formed stacking supports on an outer side of the container sidewall resulting in increased handle attachment strength and maximum empty container telescoped stacking stability. Each of the handle attachment members is vertically reinforced by one or more of the vertical reinforcing ribs so as to have improved strength in the direction of maximum handle stress. At the same time, the stacking supports are joined to and project along the container sidewall beneath the handle attachment members, said stacking supports projecting laterally of the attachment members to form a considerably broadened stacking engagement when engaged with the sidewall of an empty container telescoped therewith in usual empty container stacking position.

It is an additional object of our invention to provide a container and cover therefor wherein the container is formed with a recessed bottom having particularly posi tioned and formed bottom reinforcing ribs giving a maximum of required strength With a minimum of material use, while at the same time being of particularly simple configuration adaptable to maximum simplified molding die construction. The recessed bottom is formed with a central annular support member surrounded by a series of triangular reinforcing ribs extending between said support member and the container bottom. A series of similar triangular reinforcing ribs connect the lower edge of the container sidewall and the container bottom, thereby eliminating the need for further reinforcing means and resulting in maximum simplicity of construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings which are for the purpose of illustration only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts thereof broken away and in vertical section, of one embodiment of container and cover incorporating certain of the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, bottom plan view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of the upper container extremity and the cover edge taken from the upper left-hand corner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the container and cover sections in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view taken through one of the handle attachment members and stacking supports of the container of FIG. 1 and showing a second identical container telescoped downwardly therein in stacked position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, but showing the container of FIGS. 1 through 5 having another embodiment of cover engaged therewith and a similar container stacked above and supported on said cover;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 77 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but showing a still further embodiment of cover engaged with a cooperating form of container and supporting another container stacked thereon; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 9-9 in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENTS CONTEMPLATED Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings, one embodiment of a normally upwardly open container is generally indicated at 10 and is preferably circular in horizontal cross section including a hollow cylindrical, upstanding sidewall 12 tapering slightly outwardly in usual manner toward the upward opening thereof and downwardly closed by an upwardly recessed bottom wall 14. A cover, generally indicated at 16, is adapted for downward engagement with the container 10 upwardly closing said container, said cover including a central, generally horizontally extending closing wall 18 outwardly joined to an annular, specifically formed edge 20. The container 10, except for a usual bail-like handle 22, and the cover 16 are each formed as integral plastic moldings by usual injection molding processes and from usual and appropriate plastics, depending on the material to be packaged or placed therein.

More particularly to the container 10, the container sidewall 12 terminates upwardly in an annular, outwardly projecting sealing bead 24 having an outwardly exposed under surface 26 and being spaced a determined distance above a series of three vertically spaced and horizontally outwardly projecting, annular reinforcing ribs 28. It will be noted that the reinforcing ribs 28 extend horizontally outwardly from the container sidewall 12 an appreciable distance beyond the outward extension of the sealing bead 24 for a purpose to be hereinafter discussed.

In any event, the reinforcing ribs 28 Serve to outwardly reinforce the container sidewall 12, preventing the same from deforming out of round, and the sidewall may be further reinforced by a series of vertical reinforcing ribs 30 at circumferentially spaced locations between the annular reinforcing ribs 28.

A pair of diametrically opposed and outwardly extending handle attachment members 32 are formed integrally on and project outwardly from the container sidewall 12, one of which is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. Each of the handle attachment members 32 opens downwardly and includes a front attachment portion 34 spaced outwardly from the container sidewall 12, terminating upwardly at the center of the annular reinforcing ribs 28 and at the sides at edge portions 36. Further, each of the front attachment portions 34 of the handle attachment members 32 is provided with a handle mounting hole 38 for receiving an end of the bail-like handle 22 engaged therein, as shown.

It will be particularly noted that one of the Vertical reinforcing ribs 30 vertically centrally overlies each of the handle attachment members 32 aligned with the handle mounting holes 38 thereof so as to vertically reinforce and strengthen these attachment members in the direction of greatest stress when the container 10 is supported by the handle 22. At the same time, each of the handle attachment members 32 vertically strengthens and aids in supporting a horizontally broadened stacking support 40.

Each stacking support 40 is formed by horizontally opposed engagement portions 42 secured to lower extremities of the edge portions 36 on the handle attachment members 32, extending horizontally along the container sidewall 12 oppositely away from the handle attachment members and then vertically downwardly, terminating downwardly in end engagement surfaces 44.

Thus, the container 10 may be supported in the usual manner by the handle 22 while containing an appreciable load therein without danger of damaging the handle attachment members 32 due to the unique construction and reinforcing thereof. Also, identical containers 10 may be vertically stacked, one telescoped downwardly within the other in the manner shown in FIG. and the horizontally broadened stacking supports 40 will provide stable vertical support therebetween due to the horizontal widths of said stacking supports and the backup reinforcing thereof by the handle attachment members 32. As shown in FIG. 5, the end engagement surfaces 44 on the stacking supports 40 of the upper of the containers engage downwardly against the upper extremities of the sealing bead 24 on the lower of the containers 10.

As is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upwardly recessed bottom wall 14 of the container 10 is secured outwardly to a lower edge portion 46 at an inner side 43 of the container sidewall 12, said bottom wall being formed centrally thereof with an annular, downwardly projecting support member 50. A series of equally circumferentially spaced, triangular ribs 52 extend outwardly between the support member 50 and the bottom wall 14 and a similar series of equally circumferentially spaced, triangular ribs 54 extend inwardly between the lower edge portion 46 of the container sidewall 12 and the bottom wall 14. Furthermore, as clearly shown in the drawings, the support member triangular ribs 52 are right-triangular having adjacent sides thereof integral with the outer side ofthe support member 50 and the bottom wall 14 with hypotenuses downwardly exposed, and the container side wall triangular ribs 54 are also right-triangular having adjacent sides thereof integral with the container side wall 12 and the bottom wall 14 and hypotenuses thereof downwardly exposed, the inward terminaton of the container sidewall triangular ribs 54 being spaced considerably outwardly from the outward termination of the support member triangular ribs 52.

The support member 50, therefore, downwardly sup ports the bottom wall 14, while the triangular ribs 52 and 54 provide a maximum of reinforcing between the support member and the bottom wall, and between the bottom wall and the container sidewall 12, all without the necessity of other extensive and material consuming reinforcing ribs heretofore required prior to the present invention.

The cover 16 for upwardly closing and sealing the container 10 has the generally horizontally extending closing wall 18 thereof secured to the edge 20 through an edge inner annular flange 56, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The cover closing wall 18 is connected to the edge inner flange 56 intermediate the flange vertical heights so that the flange closely outwardly abuts the inner side 48 of the container sidewall 12 from the container sealing bead 24 downwardly beyond the flange connection to the closing wall 18, providing increased secure engagement of the cover 16 within the container 10. Furthermore, the cover edge 20 extends outwardly over the container sealing bead 24 spaced above said sealing bead and has an edge outer annular flange 58 projecting downwardly outwardly of the sealing bead.

The cover edge outer flange 58 terminates downwardly beneath the container sealing bead 24 spaced only slightly above the uppermost of the container annular reinforcing ribs 28 and includes an inward annular pro jection 60 normally engaging the under surface 26 of the container sealing bead. 24. The sealing of the cover edge 20 with the container sealing bead 24 is completed by a 'hollow, resilient sealing ring 62 positioned overlying the container sealing head 24 beneath the cover edge 20 and between the edge inner and outer flanges 56 and 58. The sealing ring 62 is vertically compressed between the cover edge 20 and the container sealing bead 24 so as to exert a resilient sealing force vertically therebetween and due to deformation thereof, a horizontal sealing force between the edge inner and outer flanges 56 and 58.

As a result, not only is the cover 16 securely sealed over the container sidewall 12, but also, the cover is tightly retained in such sealing position by the vertical resilient force of the sealing ring 62 causing the inward projections 60 of the cover edge outer flange 58 to tightly engage the under surface 26 of the container sealing head 24.

A removal tab 64, relatively short in horizontal dimensions, projects generally horizontally outwardly from the cover edge outer flange 58 and beyond the outer extremities of the uppermost annular reinforcing rib 28 on the container sidewall 12. The removal tab 64 has a vertical opening 66 downwardly therethrough beyond the outer extremities of the uppermost annular reinforcing rib 28 so that the seal between the cover edge 20 and the container sidewall 12 may be broken and the cover 16 removed from the container 10 by engaging a tool in said opening 66 and outward flexing the cover edge outer flange 58 to peel the cover from the container.

Of major importance to certain of the principles of the present invention is the fact that the cover edge outer flange 58 when sealed over the container sealing head 24 is spaced inwardly from the outer extremity of the uppermost annular reinforcing rib 28 on the container sidewall 12, the only portion of the cover 16 extending outwardly beyond this reinforcing rib being the short removal tab 64, In this manner, when the cover edge 20 is in sealing position over the container sidewall 12, such sealing engagement is fully protected from inadvertent upwardly disengagement by the uppermost annular reinforcing rib 28 of the container sidewall 12. The sidewall annular reinforcing ribs 28 thereby serve the dual purpose of not only outwardly reinforcing and stiffening the sidewall 12, but also providing this protection for the sealing engagement between the cover 16 and the sidewall.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, a slightly different form of cover generally indicated at 68 is sealingly engaged downwardly over the container 10 for upwardly closing said container. The container 10 may be substantially identical to that hereinbefore described including the upwardly outwardly or downwardly inwardly, tapering sidewall 12 terminating upwardly in the outwardly projecting sealing bead 24 and terminating downwardly closed by the upwardly recessed bottom wall 14. The cover 68 again includes a similar annular, inverted U-shaped edge 70 telescoped downwardly over the upper extremity of the sidewall 12 and said sidewall sealing bead 24, with a cover edge outer flange 72 outwardly engaged with the sealing bead 24 and with a cover edge inner flange 74 downwardly within closely outwardly abutting the container sidewall 12.

A cover central, generally horizontally extending closing wall 76 is outwardly joined to the cover edge 70 intermediate the vertical height of said cover edge inner flange, with said inner flange extending appreciably downwardly of said closing wall joinder and downwardly within the container 10 closely adjacent the inner side of the container sidewall 12. Important to certain of the principles of the present invention, and the principal added construction feature of this embodiment of cover 68, is the fact that the cover closing wall 76 not only forms an annular, downwardly opening, inverted U-shaped recess generally indicated at 78 radially against the cover edge inner flange 74 but said recess contains a series of preferably circumferentially spaced and radially extending ribs 80. These cover recess ribs 80 extend radially between the closing wall 76 and the edge inner flange 74 substantially throughout the vertical dimensions of the recess 78 so as to radially stiffen the cover edge 70 and through said radial stiffening, add radial support for the container sidewall 12.

At the same time, the combined cover recess 78 and ribs 80 have a certain amount of horizontal support stiffening for the cover edge 70 which will resist vertical loads downwardly thereon caused by a container 10 supported thereover as illustrated in FIG. 6. As shown, the sidewall 12 of the container 10 is dimensioned such that the lower edge of said sidewall will be received telescoped by the cover edge 70 vertically overlying the cover recess 78 and ribs 80. The bottom edge of the container sidewall 12 preferably is received on the cover closing wall 76 spaced only slightly inwardly from the cover edge inner flange 74, but in any event, it is evident that the downward vertical load of the overlying container 10 will be transferred by the cover edge stiffening through the cover edge inner flange 74 and into the container sidewall 12 of the lower or supporting container 10.

As particularly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, therefore, the cover recess 78 as formed by the cover edge inner flange 74 and the peripheral portions of the closing wall 76 with the series of spaced ribs 80 therein form an integral assembly constituting a cylindrical reinforcing or stiffening band radially reinforcing and stiffening the cover 68 maintaining the cover edge inner flange 74 tightly abutting the inner side of the container sidewall 12, as well as adding the support against downward forces and distributing the same throughout the circumference of the reinforcing band from containers stacked thereabove and supported thereon. As particularly shown in FIG. 7, the combined recess 78 and the ribs 80 actually define a continuous series of spaced and inwardly extending voids distributed continuously along the reinforcing band inwardly of the cover edge inner flange 74 with the walls of said voids defining a continuous series of stiffeners in the form of the ribs along the band, there being a multiplicity of the voids and stiffeners continuously along each quadrant of the band. In addition, the stiffeners in the form of the ribs 80 span portions of the band in both a generally downward direction and a generally inward direction inwardly of the cover edge inner flange 74, that is, the ribs 80 from the cover edge inner flange 74 span inwardly across the recess 78 as well as downwardly within said recess to provide the required reinforcing and stiffening for the overall band assembly including the cover edge inner flange 74.

In order that proper reinforcing and stiffening will be provided for the combined reinforcing band assembly as described, and as may be particularly determined in FIG. 6, it is important that the spanning of the ribs 80 in the downward direction as determined substantially midway of the inward direction spanning thereof will be equal to at least one-half of said inward direction spanning of said ribs 80. In other words, as clearly shown in FIG. 6, the downward direction spanning of the ribs 80 as determined intermediate, preferably approximately midway, of the inward direction spanning thereof away from the cover edge inner flange 74 and the portion of the closing wall 76 forming the side limits of the recess 78, is equal to at least fifty percent or one-half of said rib inward direction spanning, this being true even at the rib maximum inward direction spanning which would be the lower rib limits of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6. Another measure of the minimum stiffening by the reinforcing band would be that the downward spanning of the ribs 80 as previously defined must at least be greater than the thickness of the cover edge inner flange 74, said flange thickness being determined from the outward extremities of the ribs 80 to the outward extremities of the flange, and it can be clearly seen in FIG. 6 that the downward extension of the ribs 80 is far greater than the thickness of the flange 74 as is required for proper reinforcing effect of the reinforcing band.

Thus, the addition of the combined cover recess 78 and ribs 80 not only adds radial stiffening for the cover edge 70 preventing deformation of said cover edge, but also adds the same stiffening for the container sidewall 12 to help add resistance to deformation of said container sidewall. In this manner, far greater sealing stability of the cover 68 with the container 10 is assured and maximum resistance to popping of the cover from the container is provided even though a filled and sealed container might be accidentally dropped. Furthermore, this added stiffness of the cover 68 provides supporting strength and stiffness for the cover to permit a series of the filled and sealed containers to be stacked one above the other.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 8 and 9, a still further embodiment of container generally indicated at 82 and cover generally indicated at 84 is illustrated, said container and cover both preferably being molded plastic as be fore. In this embodiment, the foregoing cover stiffening is provided in a slightly different form and with the container and cover sealing engagement being slightly altered to provide even further strengthening advantages.

As shown, the container 82 has an annular, downwardly inwardly tapering sidewall 86 with an upwardly recessed bottom wall 88 secured to the sidewall through a strengthening, thickened connecting part 90. The container sidewall 86 terminates upwardly in an annular, generally horizontal and outwardly projecting flange portion 92 connected outwardly to an annular, upwardly outwardly angled flange portion 94. The angled flange portion 94 forms the upper termination of the container sidewall 86 and includes the outwardly projecting annular bead 96 having the under surface 98. n

The cover 84 includes a similar annular, inverted U- shaped edge 100 having a downwardly extending, outer flange 102 telescoping the container sidewall bead 96 and engaging the bead under surface 98 deforming a sealing ring 104 overlying said bead beneath the cover edge 100. A cover edge inner flange 106 extends downwardly within the container sidewall 86 along and outwardly abutting the angled flange portion 94 of the container sidewall, said inner flange being downwardly inwardly angled conforming substantially to said angled flange portion of the container sidewall. The cover edge inner flange 106 terminates downwardly against the horizontal flange portion 92 of the container sidewall 86 where said cover inner flange is connected to a cover gene ally horizontally extending closing wall 108.

For the cover stiffening purposes hereinbefore discussed, the cover closing wal 108 forms an annular, upwardly opening, generally U-shaped recess 110 radially outwardly against the cover edge inner flange 106 and having a series of circumferentially spaced, generally radially extending ribs 112 connected between the closing wall and the edge inner flange. As best seen in FIG. 8, the ribs 112 of the recess 110 preferably terminate uniformally upwardly spaced downwardly from the upper extremities of the recess so as to support the container sidewall 86 of a container 82 positioned thereabove partially downwardly received into the recess 110 and engaged over the closing wall 108. The container sidewalls 86 are, of course, dimensioned so as to permit this partially telescoped engagemnet for the vertical stacking of a series of filled and sealed containers, but more important, it will be noted that the cover recess 110 of a given sealed container 82 partially overlies the horizontal flange portion 92 of the container sidewall 86 and thereby, partially overliesthe main part of the sidewall extending downwardly beneath the sidewall horizontal flange portion.

In this embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, therefore, as in the previous embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the recess 110 as formed 'by the peripheral portions of the cover closing wall 108 and the cover edge inner flange 106 with the spaced ribs 112 form an integrated reinforcing or stiffening band for the cover 84 maintaining the cover edge inner flange 106 tightly outwardly abutting the upper termination of the container side wall 86 as formed by the angled flange portion 94. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 9, there is a multiplicity of the ribs 112 in each quadrant of the reinforcing band with the combined recess 110 and the ribs 112 forming a continuous series of spaced inwardly extending voids distributed continuously along said band having the walls thereof defining the continuous series of stiffening ribs 112 along said band. Furthermore, as best seen in FIG. 8, for the minimum stiffening requirements of the reinforcing band, the downward direction spanning of the ribs 112 as determined intermediate, preferably midway, the inward direction spanning of said ribs is at least fifty percent or one-half of said inward direction spanning thereof even at the upper limit maximum inward direction spanning, the rib downward direction spanning also being greater than the thickness of the cover edge inner flange 106.

Thus, not only does the combined cover recess 110 and ribs 112 provide radial stiffening for the cover 84 resisting radial deformation of the cover and imparting a resistance to radial deformation to the container sidewall 86, but at the same time, such cover stiffening transfers vertical loads thereon directly vertically downwardly into the main part of the container sidewall 86. The result is that this form of container 82 and cover 84 has extreme radial rigidity to guard against popping of the cover from sealing engagement with the container sidewall 86, and extreme vertical rigidity for the support of a series of filled and sealed containers one above the other.

It is pointed out that where the terms inverted U- shaped edge, inverted U-shaped recess and upwardly opening U-shaped recess are used in the foregoing specification and following appended claims, the term U- shaped is intended in its broader sense and not restricted to an exact U configuration. By the use of such terminology, therefore, the same should be broadly construed including the inclusion of all reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof.

According to the present invention, therefore, we have provided embodiments of various forms of uniquely improved container and cover constructions particularly adapted for formation of molded plastic and having novel reinforcing in both the containers and covers at critical locations, making possible the use of the containers for receiving relatively heavy materials therein, such as paint and the like, not heretofore possible with similar molded plastic containers and particularly in relatively large capacities. Furthermore, the particular sealing engagements between the various covers and containers of the present invention make possible stable and secure sealing engagement "between said covers and containers for properly sealing the heavy materials therein, while at the same time, resisting destruction of such sealing engagement from inordinate forces against either the containers or covers. Still further, with the unique stiffening elements of the various forms of covers, not only are the container and cover sealing engagements greatly augmented, but cover stiffness adds vertical stability for the sealed containers to properly support a series of filled and sealed containers thereover.

We claim:

1. In container construction the combination of: a molded plastic side wall terminating downwardly at a lower edge portion; a molded plastic bottom wall integral with said side wall and recessed upwardly within said side wall lower edge portion exposing an inner side of said side wall lower edge portion below said bottom wall; a series of spaced substantially right-triangular ribs between an outer side of said support member and said bottom wall having adjacent sides thereof integral respectively with said support member outer side and said bottom wall and hypotenuses thereof downwardly exposed below said bottom wall; and a series of spaced substantially right-triangular ribs between said inner side of said side wall lower edge portion and said bottom wall having adjacent sides thereof integral respectively with said inner side of said side wall lower edge portion and said bottom wall and hypotenuses thereof downwardly exposed below said bottom wall, said side wall ribs terminating spaced outwardly from said support member ribs.

2. The container construction as defined in claim 1 in which said side wall and said support member are generally hollow cylindrical; in which said support member ribs extend generally radially and are substantially equally circumferentially spaced; and in which said side wall ribs extend generally radially and are substantially equally circumferentially spaced.

3. In a container and molded plastic cylindrical cover therefor received downwardly over an upwardly open hollow cylindrical side wall of said container with an annular inverted generally U-shaped cover edge downwardly telescoping an upper edge of said container side wall and forming a cover edge inner flange extending downwardly along and radially outwardly abutting an inner side of said container side wall; the improvements comprising: a cylindrical reinforcing band formed partially by and extending inwardly from said cover edge inner flange, said reinforcing band defining a continuous series of spaced inwardly extending voids distributed continuously along said band inwardly of said cover edge inner flange, walls of said voids defining a continuous series of stiffeners along said band spanning portions of said band in both a generally downward direction and a generally inward direction inwardly of said cover edge inner flange, said downward direction spanning of said stiffeners as determined substantially midway of said inward direction spanning thereof being equal to at least one-half of said inward direction spanning of said stiffeners, there being a multiplicity of said voids and stilfeners continuously along each quadrant of said band; and a closing wall connected to and extending inwardly from said reinforcing band.

4. The container cover as defined in claim 3 in which said reinforcing band defines a circumferential groove inwardly adjacent said cover edge inner flange having said stitfeners therein, said stitfeners extending inwardly from said cover edge inner flange spanning inwardly across said groove.

5. Container and cover construction as defined in claim 3 in which said hollow cylindrical container side wall terminates downwardly at a lower edge portion; in which a molded plastic bottom wall is integral with said container side wall recessed upwardly within said side wall lower edge portion exposing an inner side of said side wall lower edge portion below said bottom wall; in which an annular support member is integral with said bottom wall positioned centrally of and projecting downwardly from said bottom wall spaced inwardly of said side wall; in which a series of spaced substantially right-triangular ribs extend between an outer side of said support member and said container bottom wall having adjacent sides thereof integral respectively with said support member outer side and said bottom wall and hypotenuses thereof downwardly exposed below said bottom wall; and in which a series of spaced substantially right-triangular ribs extend between said inner side of said container side wall lower edge portion and said container bottom wall having adjacent sides thereof integral respectively with said inner side of said side wall lower edge portion and said bottom wall and hypotenuses thereof downwardly exposed below said bottom wall, said container side wall ribs terminating spaced outwardly from said support member ribs.

6. In a container and molded plastic cylindrical cover therefor received downwardly over an upwardly open hollow cylindrical side wall of said container with an annular inverted generally U-shaped cover edge downwardly telescoping an upper edge of said container side wall and forming a cover edge inner flange extending downwardly along and radially outwardly abutting an inner side of said container side wall; the improvements comprising; a cylindrical reinforcing band formed partially by and extending inwardly from said cover edge inner flange, said reinforcing band defining a continuous series of spaced inwardly extending voids distributed continuously along said band inwardly of said cover edge inner flange, walls of said voids defining a continuous series of stifieners along said band spanning portions of said band in both a generally downward direction and a generally inward direction inward of said cover edge inner flange, said downward direction spanning of said stiffeners as determined substantially midway of said inward direction spanning thereof being greater than thickness of said cover edge inner flange outwardly to said container side wall inner side and outwardly adjacent said voids and stiifeners, there being a multiplicity of said voids and stitfeners continuously along each quadrant of said band; and a closing wall connected to and extending inwardly from said reinforcing band.

7. The container cover as defined in claim 6 in which said reinforcing band defines a circumferential groove inwardly adjacent said cover edge inner flange having said stiffeners therein, said sctififeners extending inwardly from said cover edge inner flange spanning inwardly across said groove.

8. Container and cover construction as defined in claim 3 in which said hollow cylindrical container side wall terminates downwardly at a lower edge portion; in which a molded plastic bottom wall is integral with said container side wall recessed upwardly within said side wall lower edge portion exposing an inner side of said side wall lower edge portion below said bottom wall; in which an annular support member is integral with said bottom wall positioned centrally of and projecting downwardly from said bottom wall spaced inwardly of said side wall; in which a series of spaced substantially righttriangular ribs extend between an outer side of said support member and said container bottom wall having adjacent sides thereof integral respectively with said support member outer side and said bottom wall and hypotenuses thereof downwardly exposed below said bottom wall; and in which a series of spaced substantially right-triangular ribs extend between said inner side of said container side wall lower edge portion and said container bottom wall having adjacent sides thereof integral respectively with said inner side of said side wall lower edge portion and said bottom wall and hypotenuses thereof downwardly exposed below said bottom wall, said container side wall ribs terminating spaced outwardly from said support member ribs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,723,142 11/1955 Stebbins 22046 X 2,816,589 12/1957 Tupper ISO-0.5 3,209,934 10/1965 Salminer 2l541 3,258,178 6/1966 Gran 220 X 3,307,739 3/1967 Cloyd et al 22097 3,321,124 5/1967 Bank 21541 X FOREIGN PATENTS 241,329 7/ 1965 Austria. Ad. 72,034 3/ 1960 France.

1,181,121 11/1964 Germany.

GEORGE E. LOWRANCE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

2233 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent '4 16 57l Dated June 25 1970 Inventor(s) W. H. ROPER, St 3.1

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 1 of the patent at column 10, lines 28-47 inclusive, should read as follows:

1. In container construction the combination of: a molded plastic side wall terminating downwardly at a lower edge portion; a molded plastic bottom wall integral with said side wall and recessed upwardly within said side wall lower edge portion exposing an inner side of said side wall lower edge portion below said bottom wall; an annular support member centrally of and projecting downwardly from said bottom wall; a series of spaced substantially righttriangular ribs between an outer side of said support member and said bottom wall having adjacent sides thereof integral respectively with said support member outer side and said bottom wall and hypotenuses thereof downwardly exposed below said bottom wall; and a series of spaced substantially right-triangular ribs between said inner side of said side wall lower edge portion and said bottom wall having adjacent sides thereof integral respectively with said inner side of said side wall lower edge portion and said bottom wall and hypotenuses thereof downwardly exposed below said bottom wall said side wall ribs terminating spaced outwardly from said support member ribs.

mm A: "MID 4 1: m January 19 .J

(SEAL) Amt: EM Fletcher, 1:. ill I. mm. as.

(mai Offi mm at Paton

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