Patent Application
20080128442
Not Applicable
The present invention relates generally to containers and more particularly to an improved construction for a ring or rim used to reinforce and protect the upper edge of a large paperboard container particularly useful for food such as ice cream.
Paperboard containers are used in a variety of packaging applications, including the packaging of foods. Such a container can have a generally round mouth and can also have a general cylindrical sidewall. Relatively large diameter paperboard containers having a large capacity, several gallon capacity for example, are widely used to package food products in bulk quantities. In some cases these containers are also used on an ongoing basis to store and dispense the food product, such as in the case of the retail sale of ice cream. The edges of these large containers are susceptible to being dented, frayed and torn and are typically lacking in hoop compression strength or bending resistance at the open mouth. To address this issue, a metal reinforcing ring is ordinarily applied to the upper edge of the container to provide it with the necessary strength or bending resistance and protection to prevent the deterioration of the container opening.
These metal reinforcing rings that have been used in the past are applied to the container by crimping rolls that roll a portion of the ring over the top edge of the container. The ring is held in place on the container by an edge of the rolled portion which bites into the container wall. The ring extends along the inside surface of the container and terminates in a lower edge which lies against the inside surface of the container wall. Although this type of reinforcing ring functions well to strengthen and protect the edge of the container, it has not been entirely satisfactory in all respects. Other types of rings with varying configurations and methodologies for crimping, curling and curvature of the edges have also failed to be satisfactory in similar respects.
Most notably, the lower edge of the ring may present an exposed edge which can cut the fingers, hands or arms of persons reaching into the container. In addition, the manner in which the ring is fastened on the top of the container is lacking. The fastened ring has an edge that protrudes beyond the outside surface of the side wall of the container, thus creating an outer lip that can catch on other containers or objects placed adjacent to the container. As a result, apart from the inconvenience encountered in the placement of the container, the ring can also become dislodged or torn away from the container. The loss of the ring detracts from the structural integrity of the upper rim area of the container. A metal ring can also be permanently deformed.
There is therefore a need for a container construction with a top ring that provides versatility by reinforcing and protecting the upper edge of a container, while presenting less of a permanent deformation potential or hazard to persons who reach into the container. Even further there is a need for a ring that is easily installed, and the presence of which will not adversely impact the placement of the container in close proximity to other containers or enclosures.
The present invention addresses these needs and overcomes the limitations of the prior art. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an improved ring which is applied to the container in a manner to reduce exposed sharp edges and deleterious surfaces or edges. The ring is also held in place more securely and with less manufacturing effort, than the metal rings that have been used in the past. In a preferred embodiment, the ring does not appreciably protrude beyond the sidewalls of the container and thus does not interfere with the container placement or present the risk of having the ring detached from the container.
The present invention provides, among other things, a reinforcing ring partially located over a container edge, the ring cooperatively engaging the top portion of the container in a rib and groove snap-fit mechanical interlock. The container has a side wall with a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion defines an open mouth. The top portion of the container has a folded edge that forms an internal downwardly facing shoulder extending around the interior perimeter. The bottom portion of the side wall has a folded edge that is attached and preferably sealed to a depending skirt of a bottom wall to form a container bottom.
The reinforcing ring has a through opening coextensive with the opening of the container side wall. A portion of the ring rests against the inside surface of the container side wall creating a reduced diameter neck with an exposed band portion. The band portion of the ring, located on the interior of the container exposes no sharp hazardous edges.
The ring is butted against the inside of the container side wall and the top edge of the container wall. The edge of the ring that lies on the top edge of the container side wall is located such that the ring does not protrude appreciably beyond the container side wall and is thus not susceptible to catching on adjacent containers, cutting or otherwise injuring persons.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description and drawings.
The present invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show various constructions and implementations of the present invention. However, it should be noted that the invention as disclosed in the accompanying drawings is for illustrative purposes only. The various elements and combinations of elements described below and illustrated in the drawings can be arranged and organized differently to result in constructions which are still within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The accompanying drawings form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:
The detailed embodiment of the present invention is described herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary and that the invention may be embodied in a variety of forms. Therefore, the illustrated drawings
Referring now to the drawings in more detail and turning initially to
Turning initially to further features of the container 10,
Turning next to the features of the ring structure 26, preferably molded of a polymeric material, which is applied to the top portion 14 of the side wall 12 for the purpose of strengthening the top portion 14 and protecting the edge 32 of the side wall 12. The ring 26 defines a central opening or mouth 40. When the ring 26 is attached to the side wall 12, the mouth 40 is coextensive with the opening 13. It should be understood that the ring 26 may be made from any one of a number of materials having similar characteristics to a polymeric product and yielding similar handling safety, food safety, attachability, and formability. Generally, the ring 26 is formed from a suitable material such as polymer or other substances having adequate strength to reinforce the top portion 14 and upper edge, 32 of the side wall 12, and present non-cutting edges in the normal use. The ring 26 is best described with reference to
In the embodiment described herein, the combination of the skirt 34, shoulder 30 and shoulder 38 define a peripheral and preferably circumferential groove 52. The earlier described cavities 48, are defined by the band 44, the top ledge 42 and the anterior side of the skirt 34 along with the webs 46, which are peripherally interspersed throughout. The webs 46 provide a support between the band 44 and the anterior side of the skirt 34, and help rigidify the ring 26 against radial compression or tension deformation of the ring 26 and side wall 12. Importantly, the band 44 and ledge 42 present non-cutting edges and thus reduce the risk of a cut to a person reaching into the container 10. Having thus described the ring 26 and its various features as well as those of the container 10, we turn next to the cooperative combination of the two pieces, which is best described by reference to the illustration of
In
The ring 26 is attached in a cooperative snap-lock rib-and-groove inter-engagement with the side wall 12. In the embodiment of the invention described herein, there is a cooperation of the surfaces defining the circumferential groove 52 (as shown in
Installation of the ring 26 is achieved by a mechanical insertion of the ring 26 into the opening 13 of side wall 12, with the application of some minimal downward and axially directed force. As previously discussed, the ring 26 and the top portion 14 of the container have a rib-and-groove fit. In other words, either one of a peripheral outer region of the ring 26 or an inner region of the top portion 14 of the side wall 12, i.e. the inner surface of the opening 13, presents a rib while the other presents a groove. There is an interference fit of one region to the other, wherein each also reinforces the other. In other words, and for example, the inserting and locking the ring 26 into the side wall 12 provides an interference fit, wherein the ring 26 reinforces the side wall 12 at the top portion 14, and the side wall 12 reinforces and helps to maintain the shape of the ring 26. The rib 17 and at least some of the surfaces defining the groove 52 form a seal and the shoulder 30 and edge 32 can help effect sealing while also limiting axial movement of the ring 26 relative to the side wall 12.
The embodiment described herein discloses a groove in the ring 26 and a rib in the container top portion 14. However, it should be understood that other configurations of the rib and groove are contemplated and within the scope of the present invention. For example, the rib may be formed on the ring 26 while the groove is located in the interior of the opening of the side wall 12. The rib and/or groove irrespective of where they are located may also be non-continuous about the perimeter of either of the ring or container surfaces. Even further, ribs and grooves may exist in an alternating pattern on each surface.
The flange 36 is first inserted into the container 10 as a leading edge. The flange 36 contacts the rib 17 of the container and displaces it outwardly somewhat towards the interior of the side wall 12 of the container 10, thus allowing the ring 26 to be inserted within the opening 13 of the side wall 12. As the ring 26 progresses into the opening of the container, the rib 17 remains compressed between the third flange 36 and the side wall 12 of the container until the shoulder 38 passes the shoulder 18 of the rib 17. At this point, the rib 17 contracts into place in the groove 52 and its shoulder 18 overlies the third shoulder 38. A feature of the present invention is that the groove 52 is dimensioned with a height H that approximates or exceeds the height H1 of the rib 17, thus permitting the shoulder 18 to be located generally in alignment with and in opposition to the shoulder 38, and within the groove 52. Interengagement between the shoulder 18, 38 prevents removal of the ring 26 from attachment to the side wall 12. Another feature is that the shoulder 30 of the ring 26 engages the edge 32 of the container, resisting any further downward motion of the ring 26 relative to the side wall 12.
The shoulder 30 is further dimensioned and shaped to rest on top of the edge 32 without appreciably extending beyond the outer face of side wall 12. In some embodiments, the ring 26 is slightly larger than the exterior surface of side wall 12. In some embodiments it is slightly larger by 0.010-0.030 inches. In other embodiments, the ring 26 is preferably flush to below flush recessed from the exterior surface of side wall 12. This permits the chime of carton 5 to be reduced to about the thickness of skirt 8 facilitating positioning of one carton 5 next to another carton 5 reducing the risk of dislodging a lid 6.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
The constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention. As used herein, the terms “having” and/or “including” and other terms of inclusion are terms indicative of inclusion rather than requirement.
