BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an all plastic paint container embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the top portion of the paint container shown in FIG. 1 with the tint plug removed from the lid;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view partly in section of the upper portion of the container of FIG. 1 showing the relationship between the container, the pouring spout and the lid with the tear band in place;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view partly in cross-section of the structure of FIG. 3 after removal of the tear band; and
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the container with the lid removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an all plastic container 10 for paint and other similar products comprising the combination of a cylindrical plastic pail 12 having a bail 14 attached to bail ears 16, a semi-toroidal, annular spout ring 18 which snaps onto the top rim of the pail and a bowl-shaped lid 20 which snaps onto the annular spout ring 18. The lid may have a central recess 22 within which is formed a well 24 to receive a tint plug 26. The tint plug 26 may be constructed in various ways including the constructions shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,799,813 and 5,660,302. The lid is provided with a weakened area 32 which defines a side wall tear band 28 terminating in a ridged tear tab 30 which fits within a notched out area 32 in the side wall as best shown in FIG. 2. The tab 30 is grasped with the fingers to remove the tear band.
Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4 the details of the container 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described in detail. The pail 12 terminates in an upper annular rim 13 having an external undercut 36 just below the top of the rim 13 and, below the undercut 36, an external annular shoulder 38. An internal shoulder 40 is located just above the outer undercut 36 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The pouring ring 18 has a base portion characterized by a downwardly depending outer leg 42 and a downwardly depending inner leg 44 defining therebetween an inverted U-shaped channel 46 which receivingly snaps onto the undercut portion of the container rim 13 to provide a mechanically secure and airtight fit. Supplemental adhesive or ultrasonic welding may be used to increase the integrity of the mechanical fit between the pail 12 and the ring 18.
The pouring ring 18 exhibits an upper annular shoulder 48 which flows into the inwardly and upwardly curving bell-shaped or “semi-toroidal” portion 49 which terminates in an upper pouring rim 50 having an external undercut 51. Wiper ledges 52 are formed integrally with the bell-shaped portion 49 of the pouring ring 18. As shown in FIG. 5 the wiper ledges 52 do not extend all the way around the interior of the ring, therefore leaving pouring space between the wiper ledges 52 where paint may be conveniently poured from the container after the lid 20 is removed. Reinforcing ribs 56 are formed integrally with the ring 18 to add structural strength and rigidity in the area between the bell-shaped portion 49 and the inner leg 44 defining the inverted U-shaped channel 46. The upper rim 50 of the spout ring is smaller than the diameter of the pail rim 13.
Looking now to the lid 20, it is formed with an inverted U-shaped channel 54 which is approximately 1 to 1¼ inches smaller in diameter than the inverted U-shaped channel 46 of the pouring ring 18. The inverted U-shaped channel is formed by an outer leg 56 which co-acts with the undercut 51 and an inner leg 58 such that the lid 20 snaps onto the upper rim 50 of the pouring rim 18 to secure the contents of the container. No adhesive, ultrasonic welding or other bonding agent is used in the mechanical interconnection between the lid 20 and the pouring ring 18 since it is necessary to be able to remove the lid 20 when the end user desires to make use of the contents of the container.
As also shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the tear band 28 lies approximately ¾ inch radially outboard of the curved surface of the pouring ring 18 and extends downwardly into a closely abutting relationship with the shoulder 48 so as to make it extremely difficult to place one's fingers or even a prying tool between the bottom edge of the tear band 28 and the shoulder 48 for the purpose of removing the lid 20 until the tear band 28 is physically removed from the lid 20 as shown in FIG. 4. Once the tear band has been removed by grasping the tear tab 30 and pulling the tear band off of the lid 20, there is a substantial space between the resulting exposed edge 60 of the lid 20 (FIG. 4) and the shoulder 48 which makes it very easy to manually remove and reattach the lid while paint is being used.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.
Patent Application
20080029559
