Wide-mouth reclosable container and cover device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6431385
  • Patent Number
    6,431,385
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, August 31, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 13, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A wide-mouth reclosable container and cover device for containment of liquids such as paint and various other substances. The device includes a container and a mating cover. The container has a lower portion and an upper portion. The upper portion has a wide-mouth opening with a top flange disposed around the opening. The container includes three recesses therein for receiving catch mounts with tapered catches pivotally attached. The catches are used for engaging notches in catch mounts mounted on the cover. The catches hold an underside of the cover against the top flange of the container. The underside of the cover includes a groove for receiving a seal ring with a “V” shaped point. On opposite sides of the groove are “half-V” spacers for limiting the compression of the seal ring on the top flange.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




(a) Field of the Invention




This invention relates to containers and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a wide-mouth recloseable container and cover device for storing liquids and other substances that are susceptible to hardening and/or other changes in character when exposed to air.




(b) Discussion of Prior Art




Heretofore, due to automated, high-volume production methods, prior-art containers are very economical to manufacture. Also these containers provide excellent product protection from the time of filling until the contents are first used. In many instances, however, a container is not completely emptied during first use and a user closes and stores the remainder for later use. This procedure is especially common with commercial-quality paint and varnish products. Also, quite often a stored container of such material is re-opened and re-closed several times. In this situation, two major shortcomings of conventional containers become evident, frequently to the user's annoyance. If the container is sheet metal, usage of the contents invariably results in residue accumulating in the lid recess that surrounds the container opening. Unless wiped away before the lid is re-installed, the residue usually hardens and creates two problems: (1) The dried residue makes the next lid removal difficult and time consuming, and (2), the dried residue severely interferes with subsequent closing of the container. Typically, this residue will prevent the lid from properly re-seating and re-sealing, thereby allowing air entry. The air entry often leads to forming a crust over the contents. In such situations, the crust renders the contents virtually worthless and the container is then simply discarded with its unusable contents therein.




Also, if the container is plastic, there usually is no recess in the edges around the top of the container opening. But, during usage, drips or other formations of excess material accumulate around the container's outer circumference. As with sheet-metal containers, such material hardens and ultimately prevents effective re-sealing of the cover, unless first wiped away. Again, a crust usually forms as a result of the container not being air tight, thereby effectively ruining the contents therein.




U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,452 to Tonn discloses a sealing gasket used with a container and having a rotatable bolt and locking nut for securing a container lid on top of an upper flange of the container. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,699,293 to Duchrow and 2,272,538 to Wirth describe two different types of electrical boxes with container lid seals. Either bolts or bails are used to retain the lid around the top of the open top electrical container box.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,337 to Kos illustrates a shock-resistant liquid container having a gasket system for sealing a cover on top of the container. Latches with hooks are used for engaging and compressing the cover on top of the container. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,029,724 to Serio and 3,070,868 to Dell et al disclose two different types of locking systems for a hinged container lid and a burial vault.




None of the above mentioned prior art containers and container lids provide the unique combination of structure and features of the subject wide-mouth recloseable container and cover device for holding and storing liquids, powders and other substances for various lengths of time.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the subject invention to provide a wide-mouth recloseable container and cover device for containment of liquids such as paint, and various other substances. The new container and cover device is specifically designed for providing effective storage and long-term sealing against spillage and air entry. The invention is particular effective in preventing the air drying of the stored contents for extended time periods of storage




Another object of the invention is that the container and cover device may be made in a quart, a gallon or various sizes, depending on the requirement. The container and cover may be made of readily available types of plastics or metals and is designed to be relatively economical to manufacture.




Yet another object is the invention is to provide a convenient reusable storage container for “left-over” quantities of substances that originally are supplied in conventional, wide-mouth-receptacles. The container and cover device provide for easy and airtight sealing on a repetitive basis.




The container and cover device includes a container and a mating cover which are cylindrical in shape. The container has a lower portion and an upper portion. The upper portion of the container has a wide-mouth opening with a top flange disposed around the opening. Also, the upper portion includes a neck portion and a beveled portion disposed below the neck portion. The neck portion is disposed next to and extends downwardly from the top flange. The beveled portion includes three recesses therein and equally spaced around the circumference thereof. The three recesses are used for receiving catch mounts.




Each catch mount includes a pair of openings adapted for receiving one end of a horn element of a sonic-welding tool. The welding tool is used for attaching the catch mounts to the sides of the recesses. The catch mounts also include a “U” shaped recess for receiving a cylindrical rubber bushing. The rubber bushing has a length equal to the width of the catch mount. Opposite ends of tapered wire catches are bent and inserted into opposite ends of the bushing prior to the catch mounts being welded to the container. The catches are used for engaging the sides of an upper surface of the cover for holding a lower surface of the cover against the top flange of the container.




A lower surface of the mating cover has an annular groove for receiving a hollow compressible seal ring therein. A first half of a “V” shaped spacer is disposed on one side of the groove and a second half of the “V” shaped spacer is disposed on the other side of the groove. The first half and the second half of the spacer are used to limit the compression of the seal ring. An upper surface of the cover includes three upwardly extending ramps with a notch therein. Each of the notches are used for receiving an upper portion of each catch and securing the cover to the top of the container.




The cover also includes three indexing ribs equally spaced around a circumference of a annular flange in the lower surface of the cover. The indexing ribs are received inside indexing notches. The indexing notches are equally spaced around the inside of the wide-mouth opening in the upper portion of the container. The use of the indexing ribs and indexing notches provide a way of correctly positioning the cover on top of the container so that the catches are positioned for rotating upwardly and engaging the notches in the ramps. Also, if the indexing ribs are not properly received inside the indexing notches, the cover is prevented from being closed and latched on top of the container.




These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those familiar with the different types of containers and receptacles used for storing liquids and other substances when reviewing the following detailed description, showing novel construction, combination, and elements as herein described, and more particularly defined by the claims, it being understood that changes in the embodiments to the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included as coming within the scope of the claims, except insofar as they may be precluded by the prior art.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The accompanying drawings illustrate complete preferred embodiments of the present invention according to the best modes presently devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of the subject wide-mouth container and cover device with a cover disposed on top of a container and secured thereto using three catches pivotally attached to sides of the container.





FIG. 2

is a side elevation view of the subject wide-mouth container and cover device with the cover shown in a released position above a upper portion of the container. In this view, the catches are shown in a lowered position.





FIG. 3

is a top view, taken along lines


3





3


shown in

FIG. 2

, of the container illustrating a wide-mouth opening in the top thereof and three indexing notches equally spaced around a circumference of the opening.





FIG. 4

is a bottom view, taken along lines


4





4


shown in

FIG. 2

, of an underside of the cover and illustrating an annular seal ring mounted in a seal groove. Also, a vertical cover flange is shown with three indexing ribs equally spaced around an outer circumference of the cover flange.





FIG. 5

is a sectional view of a portion of the cover resting on top of a portion of the container. In this view, a cross section of the seal ring is shown received in the annular seal groove in the underside of the cover. The seal ring is shown uncompressed.





FIG. 6

is an enlarged sectional view of the seal ring shown in FIG.


5


.





FIG. 7

is a sectional view of a portion of the cover engaged on top of a portion of the container using a catch received in a notch in a catch ramp formed in a side of the cover. In this view, a cross section of the seal ring is shown compressed against a top of a flange received around the wide-mouth opening in the container.





FIG. 8

is an enlarged sectional view of the portion of the cover and the top portion of the container shown in FIG.


7


.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




In

FIG. 1

, a perspective view of the subject container and cover device is shown having a general reference numeral


10


. Broadly, the device


10


includes a wide-mouth container and a cover. The container and cover are also shown having general reference numerals


12


and


14


. In this drawing, the cover


14


is shown secured to the top of the container


12


using three catches


16


pivotally attached to catch mounts


18


welded to sides of the container


12


. Only one of the catches


16


and one of the catch mounts


18


are shown in FIG.


1


.




The container


12


includes an upper portion


20


with an inwardly extending horizontal top flange


22


therearound and a wide-mouth opening


24


therein. The opening


24


is used for receiving liquids or various other types of substances for short and long-term storage. The flange


22


and opening


24


are shown in FIG.


3


. The upper portion


20


includes a neck portion


26


disposed next to the top flange


22


. The neck portion


26


extends downwardly merging into a beveled portion


28


. The beveled portion


28


also extends downwardly merging into a lower portion


30


of the container


12


. The upper portion


20


and the lower portion


30


make up the exterior of the container


12


with the wide-mouth opening


24


making up the interior of the container.




The cover


14


includes an upper surface


32


and an underside


34


. The upper surface


32


includes a plurality of circular ribs


36


. The ribs


36


provide structural rigidity and support for the cover


14


when the underside


34


is received on and compressed against the top flange


22


of the container


12


and when securing and releasing the cover


14


from the container


12


. Also, the ribs


36


accommodate conventional molding and casting practice that dictates avoidance of thick cross sections.




An outer rib


36


of the cover


14


includes three spaced apart catch openings


38


. The catch openings


38


are used for receiving an upper portion


40


of each catch


16


. The upper portion


40


of the each catch


16


is received in a notch


42


in a catch ramp


44


formed in an outer circumference


46


of the cover


14


, as shown in

FIG. 7

, when the cover


14


is secured to the top of the container


12


.




In

FIG. 2

, a side elevation view of the subject wide-mouth container and cover device


10


is shown with the cover


14


in a released position above the upper portion


20


of the container


12


. In this view, the catches


16


have been partially lowered and released from the notches


42


in the catch ramps


44


.




In this drawing, a portion of the left side of the container


12


has been cut-away to expose a portion of the wide-mouth opening


24


in the inside of the container


12


. Also, a portion of the left side of the cover


14


has been cut-away to expose a portion of the circular ribs


36


, the notch


42


and catch ramp


44


. The underside


34


of the cover


14


includes a downwardly extending vertical pilot flange


48


. An outer circumference of the vertical pilot flange


48


is received next to an edge


49


of the top flange


22


when the cover


14


is received on top of the container


12


as shown in

FIGS. 5-7

. Also, the underside


34


between the vertical flange


48


and the outer circumference


46


includes an annular seal ring groove


50


therein for receiving an annular hollow compressible seal ring


52


. The groove


50


and ring


52


are shown in greater detail in

FIGS. 5-8

.




In

FIG. 3

, a top view, taken along lines


3





3


shown in

FIG. 2

, of the container


12


is illustrated. In this drawing, the wide-mouth opening


24


is shown with three vertical indexing notches


54


equally spaced around a circumference


56


of the opening


24


. Also shown in the drawing is one of the catch mounts


18


positioned for being inserted into a catch-mount recess


58


in a portion of the beveled portion


28


of the container


12


. Each of the catch mounts


18


includes a pair of openings


60


adapted for receiving a horn of a sonic welding tool. The welding tool used for welding the catch mounts


18


to the sides of the container


60


. The openings


60


in the catch mounts


18


are shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

.




Also, the catch mounts


18


include a “U” shaped bushing recess


61


in the rear thereof for receiving a rubber bushing


62


therein. One of the catch mounts


18


is shown in cross section with the bushing


62


mounted therein. The “U” shaped bushing recess


61


is shown in FIG.


7


. The catches


16


have tapered sides with bent ends


63


and a gap therebetween. The bent ends


63


are received in the opposite ends of the bushing


62


.




The bushing


62


prevents free pivoting of the catch


16


for ease in engaging the catch ramp


44


. Also, the bushing


62


holds the catch


16


in a raised position next to the catch ramp


14


prior to engaging the catch ramp


44


. Further, the catch


16


can be lowered and held in a down position by the bushing


62


to prevent the catch


16


from coming into contact with the contents of the container


12


when it is poured therefrom.




During the welding of the catch mounts


18


to the sides of the container


12


, the rubber bushings


62


are first inserted into the “U” shaped bushing recesses


61


. The bent ends


63


of the catches


16


are spread apart with the ends inserted into the opposite ends of the bushing


62


as mentioned above. The mounts


18


are then inserted in the catch-mount recesses


58


and welded to the sides of the container


12


.




In

FIG. 4

, a view taken along lines


4





4


shown in

FIG. 2

, of the underside


34


of the cover


14


is illustrated. In this view, the annular seal ring


52


is shown positioned in the seal ring groove


50


. Also, the vertical pilot flange


48


is shown with three indexing ribs


64


equally spaced around an outer circumference


66


of the vertical pilot flange


48


.




When closing the cover


14


on top of the container


12


, the indexing ribs


64


are rotated on top of the top flange


24


until the ribs


64


are received in the indexing notches


54


in the circumference


56


of the wide-mouth opening


24


. At this time, the cover


14


can be moved downward on the container


12


with the indexing ribs


64


received in the indexing notches


54


. When this occurs, the indexing of the ribs


64


and notches


54


properly align the catches


16


with the catch ramps


44


. The catches


16


can then be pivoted upwardly with the upper portion


40


of the catches


16


engaging the notch


42


in the catch ramps


44


. This feature is shown clearly in FIG.


7


.




It should be noted in

FIGS. 2 and 7

that the catches


16


are curved inwardly. When the catches


16


are pivoted upwardly and engage the catch ramps


44


and at the same time the cover


14


is moved down on the container


12


, the catches


16


are slightly flattened, to allow the upper portion


40


to be received in the notch


42


. This particular feature helps eliminate the need for a large downward force on the cover


14


when securing the cover


14


to the top of the container


12


.




In

FIG. 5

, a sectional view of a portion of the cover


14


is shown resting on top of a portion of the container


12


. In this view, a cross section of the seal ring


52


is shown received in the annular seal ring groove


50


in the underside


34


of the cover


14


. The seal ring


52


is shown uncompressed. A cross section of the uncompressed seal ring


52


is shown in greater detail in FIG.


6


.




In

FIG. 6

, an enlarged sectional view of the seal ring


52


is illustrated. In this drawing, the seal ring


52


is shown with sides


68


, a flat top portion


70


, a centrally located gap


71


in the top portion


70


and a bottom portion


72


having a “V” shaped point


74


. The “V” shaped point


74


, when compressed against the top of the top flange


22


, provides for minimum contact and an air-tight seal thereon for ease in releasing the cover


14


, after extended storage of the product, from the container


12


. The seal ring


52


is hollow for ease in compression and includes an internal stop


76


.




When the seal ring


52


is compressed, as shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

, the “V” shaped point


74


maintains contact against the top of the top flange


22


. During the compression of the seal ring


52


, the stop


76


moves upward through the gap


71


in the top portion


70


until the top of the stop


76


presses against the underside of the seal ring groove


50


. Until this contact occurs, the seal ring


52


has relatively low resistance to compression. But, this contact does significantly increase the resistance of the seal ring


52


against the top flange


22


. Because of these characteristics, the seal ring


52


is termed to have a “double action”.




The reason for the seal ring's double action is that when the cover


14


is to be closed and latched, it must be moved downward enough for clearances to exist between the upper portion


40


of the catches


16


and their respective catch ramps


44


. These clearances permit the catches


16


to easily pivot into the notches


42


. However, the downward cover movement would be difficult for the average person to effect with one hand if the seal ring


52


was not quite resilient. By the time the downward movement of the cover


14


has created the above mentioned clearances for the catches


16


, enough pressure between the seal ring's V-shaped point


74


and the top flange


22


exists to assure positive sealing. The pressure on the cover


14


is augmented by the interaction between the underside of the seal ring groove


50


and the seal ring's stop


76


during the final portion of the upward motion of the stop


76


received through the gap


71


.




In

FIG. 7

, a sectional view of a portion of the cover


14


is shown engaged on top of a portion of the container


12


using the catch


16


. In this view, the upper portion


40


of the catch


16


is shown in the notch


42


in the catch ramp


44


. Also, the catch


16


is shown in dashed lines in an upward position prior to engaging the notch


42


in the catch ramp


44


.




In

FIG. 8

, an enlarged sectional view is illustrated of the portion of the cover


14


and the top portion


20


of the container


12


as shown in FIG.


7


. In this view, a cross section of the seal ring


52


is shown compressed against the top of the top flange


22


received around the wide-mouth opening in the container


12


. On opposite sides of the seal ring groove


50


and extending downwardly are a first “half-V” spacer


78


and a second “half-V” spacer


80


. These spacers


78


and


80


act to limit the compression of the ring seal


52


and prevent the ring seal from flatting out on the top flange


22


. Also, the spacers provide additional depth to the groove


50


. Further, the spacers


78


and


80


allow for minimization of the radial width of the top flange


22


, thereby allowing for maximizing the diameter of the wide-mouth opening


24


in the container


12


.




While the invention has been shown, described and illustrated in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments and modifications thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as claimed, except as precluded by the prior art.



Claims
  • 1. A reclosable container and cover device for holding liquids and other substances, the device comprising:a cylindrical container, said container having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion having an opening therein with a top flange disposed around said opening; at least two catches, said catches having opposite ends pivotally mounted on catch mounts, said catch mounts attached to a side of said container; a circular cover, said cover having an underside adapted for receipt on top of said top flange, said catches engaging a notch in catch ramps mounted on an outer circumference of said cover, said catches holding the underside of said cover against said top flange of said container; and an annular seal ring in the underside of said cover and therearound, said seal ring for engaging a portion of said top flange for providing an air-tight seal and minimum contact thereon for ease in releasing said cover from said container, said seal ring including a “V”-shaped point extending downwardly from a bottom of said seal ring, said “V”-shaped point engaging a portion of said top flange, said seal ring hollow and having sides, a top with gap therein, a bottom and an internal stop, the stop engaging a portion of a seal ring groove when the bottom of said seal ring is compressed against said top flange.
  • 2. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the lower surface of said cover includes a spacer therearound and disposed next to said seal ring, said spacer extending downwardly for engaging a portion of said top flange, said spacer for limiting downward movement of said cover on said top flange, said spacer preventing the flatting out of said seal ring on said top flange.
  • 3. The device as described in claim 2 wherein said spacer includes a first “half-V” spacer on one side of said seal ring and a second “half-V” spacer on an opposite side of said seal ring.
  • 4. The device as described in claim 1 further including three catches equally spaced around a circunference of said container and mounted on three catch mounts, said catch mounts attached to the side of said container.
  • 5. A reclosable container and cover device for holding liquids and other substances, the device comprising:a cylindrical container, said container having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion having an opening therein with a top flange disposed around said opening; at least two catches, said catches having opposite ends pivotally mounted on catch mounts, said catch mounts attached to a side of said container, said catch mounts having a “U” shaped recess therein, said recess receiving a rubber bushing therein, the opposite ends of said catches received in ends of the bushing; a circular cover, said cover having an underside adapted for receipt on top of said top flange, said catches engaging a notch in catch ramps on an outer circumference of said cover, said catches holding the underside of said cover against said top flange of said container; and an annular hollow seal ring in an annular seal ring groove in the underside of said cover and therearound, said seal ring having a “V”-shaped point extending downwardly for engaging a portion of said top flange for providing an air-tight seal and minumun contact thereon for ease in releasing said cover from said container.
  • 6. The device as described in claim 5 wherein the opening in said container includes at least two indexing notches therein for receiving at least two indexing ribs, said indexing ribs disposed in a side of a vertical pilot flange in the underside of said cover.
  • 7. The device as described in claim 5 wherein the opening in said container includes three indexing notches therein for receiving three indexing ribs, said three indexing ribs disposed in the side of said vertical pilot flange in the underside of said cover.
  • 8. The device as described in claim 5 wherein said seal ring is hollow and includes sides, a top with gap therein, a bottom with a downwardly extending “V” shaped point and an internal stop, the sides and top of said seal ring received inside a seal ring groove, the stop engaging a portion of said seal ring groove when the “V” shaped point is compressed against said top flange.
  • 9. A reclosable container and cover device for holding liquids and other substances, the device comprising:a cylindrical container, said container having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion having an opening therein with a top flange disposed around said opening; three catches, said catches having opposite ends pivotally mounted on three catch mounts, said catch mounts equally spaced around a circumference of said contained and attached thereto, said catch mounts having a “U” shaped recess therein, said recess receiving a rubber bushing therein, the opposite ends of said catches received in ends of the bushing; a circular cover, said cover having an underside adapted for receipt on top of said top flange, said catches engaging a notch in catch ramps on an outer circumference of said cover holding the underside of said cover against said top flange of said container; and an annular hollow seal ring in an annular seal ring groove in the underside of said cover and therearound, said seal ring having a “V”-shaped point extending downwardly for engaging a portion of said top flange for providing an air-tight seal and minimun contact thereon for ease in releasing said cover from said container.
  • 10. The device as described in claim 9 wherein the opening in said container includes three indexing notches therein and equally spaced around a circumference of the opening in said container, said indexing notches for receiving three indexing ribs, said indexing ribs disposed in a side of a vertical flange in the underside of said cover and equally spaced around a circumference of the vertical flange.
  • 11. The device as described in claim 9 wherein said seal ring is hollow and includes sides, a top with gap therein, a bottom with a downwardly extending “V” shaped point and an internal stop, the sides and top of said seal ring received inside a seal ring groove, the stop engaging a portion of said seal ring groove when the “V” shaped point is compressed against said top flange.
  • 12. The device as described in claim 9 wherein the lower surface of said cover includes a spacer therearound and disposed next to said seal ring, said spacer extending downwardly for engaging a portion of said top flange, said spacer for limiting downward movement of said cover on said top flange, said spacer preventing the flattening out of said seal ring on said top flange.
  • 13. The device as described in claim 12 wherein said spacer is includes a first “half-V” spacer on one side of said seal ring groove and a second “half-V” spacer on an opposite side of said seal ring groove.
Parent Case Info

This application is a continuation-in-part application of patent application Ser. No. 09/224,403, filed on Feb. 31, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,023, having a title of “WIDE-MOUTH RECLOSEABLE CONTAINER AND COVER WITH PIVOTING BAILS”, Inventor: Kenneth S. Palmer.

US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
1441641 Thompson Jan 1923 A
2674390 Meyer Apr 1954 A
3464579 Asenbauer Sep 1969 A
3768819 Burkert Oct 1973 A
4759555 Halling Jul 1988 A
D381872 Lin Aug 1997 S
6029977 Sym Feb 2000 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
18810 May 1908 GB
Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/224403 Dec 1998 US
Child 09/652319 US