METHOD AND RING CLOSURE CONNECTOR OF PRESCHOOL CLOSURE
CROSS REFERENCE WITH RELATED APPLICATIONS Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to containers and more particularly to an improved construction for a ring or edge used to reinforce and protect the upper end of a cardboard container particularly useful for food, for example ice cream. . BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Carton containers are used in a variety of packaging applications, including food packaging. Said container may generally have a round mouth and may also have a general cylindrical side wall. Relatively large diameter cation containers having a large capacity, for example, some gallons of capacity, are widely used to pack food products in bulk quantities. In some cases these containers are also used in a running rib for storing and supplying the food product, such as in the case of retail sale of ice cream. The edges of these large containers are susceptible to being dented, frayed and torn and typically lack compression force of the hoop or
resistance to bending in the open mouth. To solve this problem, a reinforced metal ring is ordinarily applied to the upper end of the container to provide it with the necessary strength or resistance to bending and protection to prevent deterioration of the container opening. These reinforced metal rings that have been used in the past are applied to the container by forming rolls that wind a portion of the ring over the upper end of the container. The ring is held in place in the container at one end of the coiled portion which bites the inside of the container wall. The ring extends along the inner surface of the container and terminates at a lower end which lies against the inner surface of the wall of the container. Although this type of reinforcing ring works well to strengthen and protect the end of the container, it has not been completely satisfactory in all aspects. Other types of rings with varied methodologies and configurations to form, curl and bend the ends have also failed to be satisfactory in similar aspects. Most notably, the lower end of the ring may have an exposed end which may cut the fingers, hands or arms of persons when holding the container. In addition, a way in which the ring is secured in the upper part of the container is missing. The secured ring has one end
which projects beyond the outer surface into the side wall of the container, therefore, creates an outer edge that can be trapped in 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 may also become dislodged or torn from the container. The loss of the ring damages the structural integrity of the upper edge area of the container. A metallic ring can also be permanently deformed. There is therefore a need for a container construction with an upper ring that provides versatility by reinforcing and protecting the upper end of the container, while presenting less of the potential permanent deformation or damage to persons holding the container. Even so, there is a need for a ring that is easily installed, and the presence of which does not adversely impact the placement of the container in close proximity to other containers or wraps. Brief Description of the Invention The present invention addresses these needs and overcomes these limitations of the prior art. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved ring which is applied to a container in a manner to reduce exposed sharp edges and damaging surfaces or ends. This ring is also held in place more surely and
with less manufacturing effort, than the metal rings that have been used in the past. In a preferred embodiment, the ring does not project appreciably beyond the side walls of the container and therefore does not interfere with the placement of the container or presents the risk of the ring detaching from the container. The present invention provides, inter alia, a reinforcing ring partially located on the end of a container, the ring is cooperatively engaged with the upper portion of the container on a rim and spring mechanical interlock groove. The container has a side wall with an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion defines an open mouth. The upper portion of the container has a bent end which forms an internal support facing downwards which extends around the inner perimeter. The lower portion of the side wall has a bent end that is adhered and preferably sealed to a skirt dependent on a bottom wall to form a bottom container. The reinforcing ring has an opening coextensive with the opening of the side wall of the container. A portion of the ring is located against the inner surface of the side wall of the container creating a reduced diameter neck with an exposed band portion. The band portion of the ring, located inside the container, does not
exposes sharp and dangerous extremes. The ring is riveted butt against the inside of the side wall of the container and the upper part of the wall of the container. The end of the ring lying on top of the side wall of the container is located in such a way that the ring does not project appreciably beyond the side wall of the container and is therefore not susceptible to catching adjacent containers, cutting or otherwise hurting people. Other features and advantages of the present invention may be appreciated by those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE 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 present invention as described in the accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only. The different elements and combinations described below and illustrated in the drawings can be accommodated and organized differently so as to result in constructions that are still in the spirit and scope of the present invention. The attached drawings are part of the specification and should be read in conjunction with it and in which the numbers of
Similar references are used to indicate similar parts in the different figures. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cardboard container equipped with a polymer ring applied to the upper portion of the container according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container shown in Figure 1 but without the ring; Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the container and ring shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a top plan view of the ring of the present invention; Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the ring of the present invention; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the ring and Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the ring. Detailed Description of Da Hnvenceóo The detailed embodiment of the present invention is described below. However, it should be understood that the described mode is merely exemplary and the invention can be incorporated in a variety of ways. Therefore, the drawings illustrated in Figure 7 and the description herein made should not be construed as limiting or establishing otherwise.
The scope of the present invention is rather to provide a rib for the claims and to teach the elaboration of the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the drawings in more detail and returning initially to Figures 1 and 2, the number 5 generally designates a board of a type that can be used to pack food products such as ice cream. Said cardboard can be large enough to hold several gallons of product or many pounds. The paperboard 5 includes a container 10 that can be formed of any preferred material including metal, paper or plastic and can take a variety of shapes and sizes. The embodiment of the present invention described herein comprises a container 10 formed with cardboard. The container 10 as described herein has a wall structure which as shown has a tubular or cylindrical body generally, with an opening 13 in the upper part of a closed bottom 15. The cardboard 5 includes a cover 6 having an upper wrapping panel 7 and a side skirt 8 surrounding an upper portion of the end of the wall 12. The cover 6 can be made of a material similar to the side wall 12 as will be described below. The rib of the container 10 has a generally cylindrical side wall 12 formed of cardboard or a similar material. There is a lower wall 22 which is adhered in any way to
define a storage compartment. In addition, the container 10 may also have the cover 6 fitted therein and retained in place by friction and / or a tamper-resistant lock as is known in the art. The container 10 also includes an upper portion 14, a lower portion 16 and a reinforcing ring 26 located in the upper portion 14. The ring 26, which will be explained in more detail below, provides compression and tension reinforcement for deformation of the opening 13 of the side wall 12 without presenting a danger of injury to the users of the container 10. The ring 26 and the side wall 12 as shown in figures 1 and 2 are inter-engaged in a manner that is facilitated by novel features of the present invention. Specifically, there is a spring-closing latch of a rib and groove located in either the side wall 12 or the ring 26 to effect mounting in the ring 26 to the side wall 12. The description that follows is focused on a configuration wherein the slot receives the rib there, however, should be understood, and provided that the other configurations can achieve a spring-closure connection. Initially returning to the aforementioned characteristics of the container 10, Figure 2 illustrates a sectional view. cross section of container 10, and some of the characteristics
described herein, as shown, the upper portion 14 of the side wall 12 is bent in and around the perimeter of the side wall 12 in a conventional manner to form a rib 17 (shown in Figure 3) with a first support 18 and an upper edge portion 32 also forming a support, the supports that are oriented opposite each other. The support 18 is generally oriented downward toward the lower portion 16. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the lower portion 16 of the container 10 is also bent inwardly and around the perimeter of the container 10 than conventionally, to form a U-shaped bottom groove 20. The bottom of the generally circular bottom wall 22 includes a fold that creates a dependent skirt 24. As shown, the skirt 24 is placed inside the groove 20. The skirt 24 is adhered to the wall side 12 in the slot 20 on both side faces of the skirt 24 and the seam between them sealed in any of the conventional ways, therefore, adhering the bottom wall 22 to the side wall 12. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the Two portions can be sealed as with a thermoplastic or adhesive material or sealed by other means. Such as ultrasonic welding. The side wall 12 and the bottom of the bottom wall 22 can be formed as an integral unit by an injection molding. Regardless of the method used
to form the side wall / bottom wall assembly, there is a resultant seal from the bottom wall 22 to the side wall 12 of the container 10 to define a storage chamber for receiving a product therein. In some applications, a layer of a material, such as the thermoplastic, is applied to the inner surface at the ends of the wall of the container 12 and the inner surface of the lower wall 22. This traditionally adhered material prevents filtration of the contained substance. inside and possibly through the carton of the container 10. The side wall 12 can be made of two layers helically wound cardboard with one layer that overlaps the edge seam or the butt rivet joint of the other layer. Following with the characteristics of the structural ring 26, preferably molded polymeric material, which is applied to the upper portion 14 of the side wall 12 for the purpose of strengthening the upper portion 14 and protecting the end 32 of the side wall 12 The ring 26 defines a central mouth 40 or opening. When the ring 26 is adhered to the side wall 12, the mouth 40 is co-extensive with the opening 13. It should be understood that the ring 26 may be made of any number of materials having characteristics similar to a polymeric product and producing similar safety management, food safety, adherence, and formability. Generally, ring 26
it is formed of a material such as polymer or other substances having adequate strength to reinforce the upper portion 14 and the upper end 32 of the side wall 12, and without presenting sharp ends in normal use. The ring 26 is better described with reference to the drawings 4 and 5. Figure 4 illustrates a top plan view of the ring 26. Figure 5 illustrates a bottom plan view of the ring 26 and shows a plurality of cavities 48 between aligned rings axially internally and externally, the inner ring being referred to as ring or band 44 and the outer ring including a skirt 34 and a plurality of reinforcement portions or tie portions 46 alternately positioned around the inner perimeter of the skirt 34. The cavities 48 are spaced apart by the reinforcements 46 and extend between the web 44 and the skirt 34. In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the preservation technique of a material is implemented where instead of providing a solid thick band 44, a layer is used thinner plastic in conjunction with the reinforcements 46 to provide adequate rigidity for the ring 26, while reducing the amount of material required to form the ring 26. Figure 6 illustrates a cross section of the ring 26. Figure 7 further illustrates an enlarged view of the ring 26 and details of the construction of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the ring 26 comprises a
peripheral inner band 44 that forms a perimeter of the mouth 40, and as shown, a round opening, and has a surface 43 slightly downward and inclined into a horizontal and general upper edge 42. As used herein, the orientations vertical and horizontal are based on the container 10, being in its normal vertical orientation. The edge 42 is at the same time adjacent to a flange that extends outwards 28 and generally oriented upwards. The flange 28 forms a downwardly directed support 30. Adjacent to the support 30 and radially oriented inwardly of the flange 28 and extending peripherally and preferably circumferentially the dependent skirt 34. Extending radially outwardly of the skirt 34 is the flange 36, which extends around the perimeter of the skirt 34. The flange 36 has an upwardly directed support 38 that also preferably extends around the entire skirt 34. It should be understood that either or both of the flanges 28, 36 they may extend around the entire perimeter of the ring 26, or a portion thereof as the seal formed between the ring 26 and the side wall 12 and the securing of the ring 26 to the side wall 12 may be effected. , 38 can also be continuous or non-continuous around the perimeter of the ring 26.
In the embodiment described here, the combination of the skirt 34, the support 30 and the support 38 define a peripheral groove and
preferably circumferential.52 The cavities described above 48, are defined by the band 44, the upper edge 42 and the anterior side of the skirt 34 together with the reinforcements 46, which are interleaved peripherally. The reinforcements 46 provide a support between the band 44 and the front wall of the skirt 34, and help to make the ring 26 more rigid, against radial compression or tension deformation of the ring 26 and the side wall 12. It is important that the band 44 and the edge 42 does not present sharp ends and therefore reduces the risk of a cut in a person when holding the container 10. Having described the ring 26 and its various characteristics as well as those of the container 10, we follow the cooperative combination of the two pieces, which are better described in the reference made to the illustration of figure 3. In figure 3, a cross-sectional view of the side wall 12 and the ring 26 of the present invention is illustrated. In operation, and as shown, the ring 26 cooperatively engages the upper portion 14 of the side wall 12. When installed, a portion of the ring 26, specifically the support 30, rests on the edge 32, which functions as a support of the container 10 limiting the relative axial movement of the ring 26, to the side wall 12 in an axial direction. Another portion of the ring 26, the circumferential groove 52, cooperatively receives the edge 17 and the support 18 therein therein.
This places the support 38 under the support 18 to effect the spring closure assembly. The ring 26 is adhered in the inter-engagement of the groove and edge of the cooperative spring closure with the side wall 12, the embodiment of the present invention described herein, there is a cooperation of the surfaces defining the circumferential groove 52 (as is shown in figure 7) of the ring 26 and the edge 17 of the side wall 12. The support 38 is hooked to the support 18 to secure the ring 26 in its position and to the side wall 12 in a mechanical manner eliminating the need for training or stuck. The installation of the ring 26 is achieved by means of a mechanical insertion of the ring 26 into the opening 13 of the side wall 12, with the application of axially directed and minimum directed downward forces. As previously explained, the ring 26 and the upper portion 14 of the container have an edge and slot assembly. In other words, any of the outer peripheral regions of the ring 26 or an inner region of the upper portion 14 of the side wall 12, for example the inner surface of the opening 13, has one edge while the other has a groove. There is a fit for an interference from one region to the other, where each also reinforces the other. In other words, and for example, the insertion and closing of the ring 26 in the side wall 12 provides an interference fit, wherein the
ring 26 reinforces the side wall 12 in the upper portion 14, and the side wall 12 reinforces and helps maintain the shape of the ring 26. The edge 17 and at least some of the surfaces defining the groove 52 form a seal and a seal. support 30 and one end 32 can assist in effecting a seal while also limiting axial movement of the ring 26 relative to the side wall 12. The embodiment described herein shows a groove in the ring 26 and an edge in the upper portion of the container. However, it should be understood that other configurations of the edge and groove are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. For example, the edge may be formed in the ring 26 while the groove is located inside the opening of the side wall 12. The edge and / or groove regardless of where they are located may also be non-continuous around the perimeter. any of the ring or container surfaces. further, the edges and the grooves can exist in an alternating pattern of each surface. The flange 36 is first inserted into the container 10 as a main end. The flange 36 makes contact with the edge 17 of the container and towards the outside and somewhat towards the inside of the side wall 12 of the container 10, thereby allowing the ring 26 to be inserted into the opening 13 of the side wall 12. While the ring 26
progresses within the container opening, the edge 17 remains compressed between the third flange 36 and the side wall 12 of the container until the support 38 passes the support 18 of the edge 17. At this point, the edge 17 contracts in place inside the slot 52 and its support 18 lies on the third support 38. A feature of the present invention is that the slot 52 is dimensioned with a height H that approaches or exceeds the height H1 of the edge 17, therefore it allows the support 18, to be placed generally in alignment with and opposite the support 38 and within the slot 52. The inter-engagement between the support 18, 38 prevents the ring 26 from adhering to the side wall 12 from being removed. Another feature is that the support 30 of the ring 26 engages the container end 32, resisting any downward movement of the ring 26 relative to the side wall 12. The support 30 is further dimensioned and shaped to rest on top of the container. end 32 without appreciably extending beyond the outer face of the side wall 12. In some embodiments, the ring 26 is slightly larger than the outer surface of the side wall 12. In some embodiments it is slightly larger by 0.0305 cm at 0.914 cm (.010 to .030 inches). In other embodiments, the ring 26 is preferably leveled below the stepped level of the outer surface of the side wall 12. This allows the thickness of the cardboard 5 to be reduced to
approximately the width of the skirt 8 facilitating the placement of a cardboard 5 followed by another cardboard 5 reducing the risk of dislodging a cover 6. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention is well adapted to achieve all the aforementioned objects and objects along with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain characteristics and sub-combinations are of some utility and can be used without reference to other characteristics and sub-combinations. This is contemplated and found by and within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments can be made of the present invention without departing from the scope thereof, it should also be understood that the entire subject matter described herein or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be construed as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented in exemplary form only and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention. As used here, the terms "having" and / or "including" and other inclusion terms are terms indicative of inclusion instead of requirement.