The present disclosure generally relates to containers and more particularly for a clamp ring for retaining a lid on a container.
Various types of containers require a lid to be maintained over a mouth of the container. Clamp rings are sometimes used to hold lids in place on container mouths. The clamp rings are not user friendly and require significant force to install and remove. Improvements in clamp rings for lids are needed.
In one aspect, a clamp ring for maintaining a lid on a mouth of a container comprises a collar including an arcuate collar body. The arcuate collar body includes opposite first and second end portions. The arcuate collar body defines an inner arcuate channel arranged to receive the lid and the mouth of the container. A clamping mechanism supported by the collar includes a pull and a wheel. The pull has a first segment connected to the first end portion of the arcuate collar body. The pull has a second segment engageable by the wheel and the wheel being turnable to pull the first segment of the pull toward the wheel to pull the first end portion of the arcuate collar body closer to the second end portion to change the collar from an unclamped configuration to a clamping configuration.
In another aspect, a method of installing a lid on a container comprises installing a clamp ring in an unclamped configuration on the container such that an arcuate channel of the clamp ring is located adjacent a mouth of the container and a lid on the mouth of the container. The method further comprises actuating a clamping mechanism of the clamp ring to draw end portions of the clamp ring toward each other to change the clamp ring from the unclamped configuration to a clamping configuration. The arcuate channel of the clamp ring in the clamping configuration receives the lid and the mouth in the arcuate channel and presses the lid against the mouth to form a seal therebetween. Actuating the clamping mechanism comprises turning a wheel to pull a pull to draw the end portions of the clamp ring toward each other.
Other objects and features of the present disclosure will be in part apparent and in part pointed out herein.
Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to
The clamp ring 10 includes a collar 20 sized and shaped to fit over the lid 12 and mouth of the container. The collar 20 includes a collar body defining an inner channel configured to capture the mouth of the container and the flange of the lid 12 to press the cover portion of the lid onto the lip of the mouth. The collar 20 is arcuate and includes a first end portion 20A and a second end portion 20B opposite the first end portion. In an unclamped configuration, the end portions 20A, 20B are spaced from each other, and the collar has a diameter greater than a diameter of the lid 12 and mouth such that the collar can be positioned over the lid and mouth.
The clamp ring 10 includes a clamping mechanism 30 configured to draw the end portions 20A, 20B of the clamp ring toward each other to configure the clamping ring in a clamping configuration to clamp the collar on the lid and mouth. The clamping mechanism 30 includes a pull 32, a housing 34, and a wheel 36 (
The pull 32 comprises a generally rigid bar and has a first segment 32A connected to the first end portion 20A of the collar 20 and has a second segment 32B opposite the first pull segment. The first segment 32A of the pull 32 is connected to the collar 20 by a linkage 40 (e.g., a chain link). The linkage 40 is pivotally connected by a first pin 40A to brackets on the first end segment 20A of the collar 20. The linkage 40 is pivotally connected to the first segment of the pull 32A by a second pin 40B.
The housing 34 is rigidly connected to the second end portion 20B of the collar 20. The wheel 36 is connected to the housing 34 by a pin 42 defining an axis of rotation RA about which the wheel rotates. The wheel 36 is configured to be rotated to pull the first collar portion 20A toward the second collar portion 20B by pulling the pull 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the pull 32 comprises a rack including a set of teeth 32C. The wheel 36 comprises a gear or pinion including teeth 36A configured to mesh with the teeth of the pull. The meshed teeth 32C, 36A cause the pull 32 to move in response to rotation of the wheel 36. The teeth 32C and/or 36A can be chamfered or tapered on their opposite sides to facilitate smooth operation and reduce likelihood of binding of the clamping mechanism.
The clamping mechanism 30 includes a hub 50 operatively connected to the wheel 36 for conjoint rotation with the wheel. The hub 50 defines a tool receiver for facilitating rotation of the hub and thus the wheel 36. In the illustrated embodiment, the tool receiver 50 comprises a socket sized and shaped to receive a head of a drive tool 58, and in particular a square head of a ratchet wrench or torque wrench. Other types of tool receivers can be used. As shown by comparison of
Referring to
The clamping mechanism 30 includes a lock 70 configured to maintain the collar 20 in the clamping configuration. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock 70 is configured to engage the pull 32 to limit movement of the pull out of the housing 34 to retain the collar in the clamping configuration. The lock 70 is configured to automatically lock the pull 32 as the pull advances in the housing 34. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock 70 comprises a toggle plate (broadly, “lock body”) configured to engage the teeth 32C of the pull 32 in a ratcheting manner to successively lock the pull as the pull is advanced farther into the housing 34. The toggle plate 70 includes an opening through which the pull 32 extends. The toggle plate 70 is biased by a spring 72 toward a locking position (e.g.,
In use, the lid 12 and collar 20 are positioned on the mouth of the container to be closed by the lid. A tool 58 is engaged with the tool receiver 50 and pivoted about the pivot axis PA to turn the wheel 36 and thus draw the pull 32 into the housing 34. About 180 degrees of pivoting of the tool 58 causes sufficient rotation of the wheel 36 to clamp the collar 20. The tool 58 is removed from the tool receiver 50 and the clamp ring 10 is left in the clamped configuration on the mouth. If desired, a safety tie or tamper lock (not shown) may be connected to brackets 80, 82 to ensure the collar 20 is not permitted to unclamp. When it is desired to remove the lid 12, the safety tie or tamper lock is removed (e.g., cut off). The tool 58 is engaged with the tool receiver 50 and rotated to tend to draw the pull 32 farther into the housing 34 such that the toggle plate 70 moves to the unlocking position. While the user holds the tool 58 in position, the user applies manual pressure to the toggle plate 70 (e.g., to an exposed end of the toggle plate or “release”) to maintain the toggle plate in the unlocking position, at which time the user can permit the resilience of the collar 20 to move the end portions 20A, 20B of the collar 20 apart and thus pull the pull 32 out of the housing 34. The user can control release of the collar 20 by maintaining pressure on the tool but permitting slow and smooth unclamping of the collar.
It will be appreciated that the clamping collar 10 is configured to be easily clamped by application of minimal manual force amplified by mechanical advantage of the tool lever arm and meshed engagement of the wheel 36 with the pull 32.
In another aspect, the collar 20 extends in a plane across the mouth and the clamp ring 10 comprises a prop on an underside of the housing 34 extending transverse (downward) with respect to the plane. The prop is configured to engage the container to support and locate the collar 20 in a position to clamp the mouth when the collar is received over the mouth and the wheel 36 is rotated.
It will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 62/950,628, filed Dec. 19, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62950628 | Dec 2019 | US |