In the container and closure art there are styles of closures which must be designed for removal from within a (container) lid opening and reinstalled back into the lid opening. In terms of use and handling of the container when the closure is installed, the tightness of the “fit” of the closure within the lid needs to be sufficient so as to prevent leakage of the product contents of the container during such use and handling. A closure-to-lid fit which is too tight may result in the closure being too difficult to remove and/or too difficult to reinstall and thereby unacceptable. If the closure-to-lid fit is not tight enough, then during use and handling there could be leakage of the product contents which is also unacceptable. One style of closure which is representative of the type described above is a molded plastic push-in or press-in (closure) plug for a plastic lid. By selection of appropriate materials and dimensions, a suitable or desired balance can be achieved for the degree or level of interference fit. If designed properly, at the higher end, the degree of interference fit is sufficient for sealing and at the lower end, the degree of interference fit still allows the plug to be removed (manually) and reinstalled.
A more specific example of the above style of closure is a tint plug for a paint container. The paint container typically includes a snap-on lid with a defined tint plug opening normally centered within the lid. The tint plug has a push-in or press-in construction such that it can be manually pressed into the plug opening which is defined within the lid. The installation can also be done by a machine or with machine assistance, and as desired, manually removed from and/or reinstalled in the defined plug opening of the lid. Typically, this style of tint plug includes a pull-ring bail for facilitating manual removal of the tint plug when desired.
The tint plug is removed using the pull-ring bail at the paint store so that the base paint which has been filled into the container can be tinted to the desired color. After tinting, the tint plug is reinstalled and the paint container is shaken to thoroughly mix the contents. During this mixing process, it is important that the tint plug maintain a sealed assembly in the lid so as to prevent leakage of the contents. Further, during this process, the tint plug (i.e. the closure) must be able to be removed and reinstalled. Since removal is done manually using the pull-ring bail, there needs to be a balance between the degree of interference fit for proper sealing and the degree of interference fit for ease of use involving removal and reinstallation. These two levels or degrees of interference fit are not independent functions or characteristics. There must be a balance between the two since modifying the degree of interference fit for one will have an effect on the other.
As a part of the initial container filling and lid closing process and movement of the filled paint container, particularly when part of an automated filling line, a vacuum pick up head may be used for transport and/or lifting of the paint container. The configuration specifics of the selected robotic and/or automation equipment is not critical to an understanding of the issue. A vacuum head is applied to some portion of the lid and this vacuum head encloses the outer surface of the tint plug. This vacuum head draws a suction and thereby creates a pressure difference between the one side of the tint plug and the opposite side of the tint plug. The same type of pressure difference could be created by a positive (i.e. above atmospheric) pressure on the inside of the container and the present of atmospheric pressure on the outside of the container. Whichever pressure difference condition might exist in the context of the present invention, there is a pressure difference across the tint plug (i.e. the closure) with the lower pressure being on the outside or on the outer surface of the tint plug.
If the degree of interference fit of the tint plug cannot withstand the applied vacuum and loosens or becomes dislodged, it is conceivable that the application of a vacuum over the loosened or dislodged tint plug will draw up or suck up paint from within the container. If paint enters the vacuum equipment, then the vacuum equipment could become damaged or at the very least need to be shut down and thoroughly cleaned. Even if paint is not drawn up into the vacuum equipment, if the tint plug is dislodged, the necessary handling and movement of the container can cause leakage of paint onto the lid and container. This still requires an additional paint clean-up step. If the tint plug becomes completely dislodged, it is conceivable that it might be lost as the container moves through the filling line.
In view of these potential problems as described above, the tint plug or similar closure, needs to be structurally configured to address these concerns when an elevated pressure difference exists across the closure. These concerns are addressed by the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
A closure for installation within a lid of a container is constructed and arranged to increase the degree of engagement force between the closure and a closure opening defined by the lid when there is a pressure difference across the closure. The closure opening defined by the lid receives the closure and there is contact or engagement between the two due to an interference fit. The lid may be of a plastic, snap-on design with an annular rim which fits over the upper edge of the container. In order to lessen the risk that the closure will loosen or become dislodged relative to the closure opening in the lid when there is a pressure difference across the closure, the closure of the exemplary embodiment is constructed and arranged with a novel end panel construction. This novel end panel construction deflects in response to a lower pressure on the outer surface of the closure. This deflection of the closure end panel, in response to a lower pressure across the outside surface of the closure, results in increasing the level or degree of engagement force at the point of engagement between the closure and the edge of the closure opening. This lower pressure which is seen by the outer surface of the closure may be due to a vacuum head being used on the lid for movement of the container. While there is an interference fit between the closure and the edge of the closure opening, the end panel causes a greater engagement or abutment force for this fit.
When the outer surface of the lid is exposed to this type of vacuum, the lid bows and that could create loosening or dislodgement of the closure, depending on the level of the vacuum. The typical type of vacuum head for robotic lifting or movement and the vacuum level which is applied needs to be sufficient for the desired movement or transport of the filled container. Any potential loosening of the closure within the opening is offset by the deflection of the end panel of the closure which increases its abutment force and thereby increases the resistance to removal of the closure aiding in its retention during the time that the vacuum is applied. When the vacuum is not present, the end panel does not increase the force normally needed to remove the closure. The removal of the closure is often by the use of a removal pull-ring bail or a lifting bail (handle) and this construction is not affected by the addition of the novel end panel.
Further forms, objects, features, aspects, benefits, advantages, and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from a detailed description and drawings provided herewith.
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. One embodiment of the invention is shown in great detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not relevant to the present invention may not be shown for the sake of clarity.
Referring to
For the exemplary embodiment, the paint container 22 is a generally cylindrical structure with a generally circular upper opening 28 and a closed lower panel (not illustrated). The upper opening 28 is defined by wall 30 which includes an annular lip 32 with a lower offset edge 34 for the snap-fit receipt of lid 24, see
With continued reference to
The orientation of closure 20 in
With continued reference to
Side wall 42 has an inclined inner surface 56 providing a generally frustoconical shape which is substantially straight in axial section. The outer surface 58 of side wall 42 includes three differently shaped annular sections 60, 62 and 64 positioned between lip 46 and corner 48. Starting at the lower surface 66 of lip 46, the first annular section 60 is generally cylindrical. The next annular section 62 has a wedge shape in axial section or what might be described as a tapered ramp. Shelf portion 62a extends radially outwardly beyond the outer boundary of section 60. A short cylindrical portion 62b is next, leading into frustoconical portion 62c. The third annular section 64 has a generally cylindrical shape and extends from portion 62c to the start of corner 48.
The end panel 44 includes an annular panel portion 70 which is radially inwardly of corner 48. Panel portion 70 includes an annular ring shelf 72, an annular recessed section 74 and an annular frustoconical section 76 which extends between the inner edge of shelf 72 and the outer edge of section 74. Pull-ring bail 36 is joined to frustoconical section 76. In view of the single-piece, molded plastic construction of closure 20, the portions and sections of the end panel 44 do not have separately identifiable end points, edges, or ends. References to such are simply to try and convey that a particular portion or section does at some point transition into an adjacent portion or section, consistent with a single-piece construction.
Referring now to
Lid 24 defines opening 26 and concentrically surrounding opening 26 is a radially outward, annular recess shelf 90. In the exemplary embodiment, the opening 26 is generally centered in the lid 24. This construction is what is typically found in actual use. The axial depth of the recess of shelf 90 relative to upper surface 92 of lid 24 which defines opening 26 is approximately equal to the axial height or thickness of lip 46 of closure 20. When closure 20 is pressed into opening 26 and fully seated, the lower surface 66 of lip 46 should abut up against shelf 90. If there is any noticeable separation at this interface, it means that the closure 20 has not been fully pressed into opening 26 of lid 24. In this assembled condition, the upper surface 52 of closure 20 is substantially flush with the upper surface 92. The axial thickness of shelf 90 is captured between surface 66 and shelf portion 62a. This means that the axial height of section 60 is substantially the same as the axial thickness of shelf 90 for the described assembly of closure 20 into opening 26. The wedge-shaped construction of section 62 provides a lead-in and tapered ramp for ease of installing the closure 20. As the inner annular edge 94 of shelf 90 which defines opening 26 engages section 62, the fit becomes tighter until the shelf 90 snaps into and around section 60. Removal of closure 20 from lid 24 requires some degree of plastic deflection as the inner edge 94 of shelf 90 must travel past the radially outward, annular edge of shelf portion 62a. Annular edge 94 includes a slight, frustoconical taper as is illustrated in
The
As discussed in the Background, the movement and lifting of containers filled or a least partially filled with paint during the filling and closing process may include the use of robotics and vacuum lifting/handling equipment. A vacuum head 100 for lifting and/or movement of the container 22 is diagrammatically illustrated in
While the suction due to the applied vacuum would otherwise tend to loosen the fit between the closure 20 and the opening 26, the deflection of end panel 44 creates an increased abutment force which offsets at least some of any loosening effect due to the applied vacuum (suction) and the resulting pressure difference across the closure.
Referring now to
The design of end panel 44 is such that as the suction force is applied to the closure, its effect is initially offset by deflection of the recessed section 74. The key though is as the recessed section 74 deflects it causes an increase in the abutment force between closure 20 and the inner edge of opening 26. This increase in abutment force causes closure 20 to remain securely in position in opening 26 without any level or degree of closure loosening which would result in leakage of the container contents and without actual dislodgement of the closure from within opening 26. This increase in abutment force of the engagement between closure 20 and the inner edge of opening 26 is generally dependent on or proportional to the suction force and pressure difference across the closure. When the suction force is removed, the closure returns to its normal static condition and can be manually removed from the lid and reinstalled into the lid as intended as part of the tinting process.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes, equivalents, and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventions defined by following claims are desired to be protected. All publications, patents, and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference and set forth in its entirety herein.
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2015/043420 filed Aug. 3, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/050,975 filed Sep. 16, 2014, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62050975 | Sep 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/US2015/043420 | Aug 2015 | US |
Child | 14844062 | US |