US20060191945A1

US20060191945A1 - Metal container with a base

Info

Publication number: US20060191945A1
Application number: US11/068,584
Authority: US
Inventors: I.Feng Kao
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-02-28
Filing date: 2005-02-28
Publication date: 2006-08-31

Abstract

A metal container includes a metal tubular body, a metal base, and a coupling member. A stop is formed on an inner periphery delimiting a bottom opening of the tubular body. The base includes a receiving portion on a top thereof for coupling with a bottom end of the tubular body. An abutting portion extends inward from the receiving portion. The coupling member is mounted in the base and the tubular body. The coupling member includes a tubular wall and a bottom wall. An outer flange extends radially outward from the bottom wall. The coupling member further includes a plurality of protrusions on an outer periphery of the tubular wall. The stop of the tubular body and the abutting portion of the base are sandwiched between the protrusions such that the bottom end of the tubular body is reliably received in the receiving portion of the base.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a metal container. In particular, the present invention relates to a metal container with a base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A container, particularly a cylindrical container for containing garbage, cleaning brushes, etc, is made of metal (such as stainless steel) or plastic. A plastic container can be manufactured at a low cost, yet the strength is insufficient and the inner periphery of the plastic container is not smooth and thus not easy to clean. Thus, a container made of stainless steel is widely used for its durability, aesthetically pleasing appearance, and smooth inner periphery despite of the high cost.
FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates a conventional container 1 made of stainless steel. The container 1 includes a tubular body 11 and a base 12 mounted to a bottom end of the tubular body 11. The base 12 includes an engaging recess 121 at a top thereof for receiving the bottom end of the tubular body 11. The base 12 and the tubular body 11 are then welded together. Thus, the tubular body 11 is reliably fixed on the base 12 having a larger diameter, providing durability and additional visual effect. However, the cost is increased, and the welding procedure is time-consuming and requires a skilled worker. Screws have been proposed to fasten the tubular body 11 and the base 12 together, yet the screws are liable to become loosened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A metal container in accordance with the present invention includes a metal tubular body, a metal base, and a coupling member. The metal tubular body has a top opening in a top end thereof and a bottom opening in a bottom end thereof. A stop is formed on an inner periphery delimiting the bottom opening. The metal base includes a receiving portion on a top thereof for coupling with the bottom end of the metal tubular body. An abutting portion extends inward from the receiving portion. The coupling member is mounted in the metal base and the metal tubular body. The coupling member includes a tubular wall and a bottom wall. An outer flange extends radially outward from the bottom wall. The coupling member further includes a plurality of protrusions on an outer periphery of the tubular wall. The stop of the metal tubular body and the abutting portion of the metal base are sandwiched between the protrusions such that the bottom end of the metal tubular body is reliably received in the receiving portion of the metal base.
In an embodiment of the invention, the stop is a bent extending and bending inward from a bottom end face of the metal tubular body. The abutting portion is an annular ledge extending inward and then downward and outward from the receiving portion of the metal base. The annular ledge includes an upper edge on which the bottom end of the metal tubular body rests and a lower edge resting on the outer flange of the coupling member.
Preferably, the coupling member is made of plastic. Preferably, the coupling member has a maximum outer diameter approximately the same as an inner diameter of the metal tubular body.
In an embodiment of the invention, some of the protrusions are wedges each having an inclined guiding face for guiding the coupling member into the metal tubular body and a bottom face abutting against the stop of the metal tubular body. The other protrusions extend downward and outward from the outer periphery of the tubular wall, with a distal end of each protrusion spaced from the tubular wall. Each protrusion has an inclined guiding face for guiding the coupling member into the metal tubular body and a bottom face abutting against the stop of the metal tubular body.
Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional of a conventional metal container with a base.
FIG. 2 is a perspective of a metal container in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the metal container in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the metal container in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5 is another sectional view of the metal container in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, a metal container in accordance with the present invention comprises a tubular body 2 with a top opening 21 in a top end thereof, a base 3, and a coupling member 4 for coupling the tubular body 2 to the base 3. The tubular body 2 is preferably made of metal, such as stainless steel. The tubular body 2 includes a bottom opening 22 at a bottom end thereof. A stop 23 is formed on an inner periphery delimiting the bottom opening 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the stop is a bent 23 extending and bending inward from the bottom end face of the tubular body 2. A cover 6 is mounted to the top end of the tubular body 2 for covering the top opening 21.
The base 3 is annular and made of metal such as stainless steel. The base 3 has an outer diameter greater than that of the tubular body 2. The base 3 further includes a receiving portion 31 on a top thereof. The receiving portion 31 includes an abutting portion 32 in the form of an annular ledge extending inward and then downward and outward from the receiving portion 31. In the illustrated embodiment, the abutting portion 32 includes an upper edge 321 on which the bottom end of the tubular body 2 rests and a flat lower edge 322. Further, a washer 5 made of rubber or plastic may be mounted around the bottom of the base 3.
The coupling member 4 is preferably an integrally formed cylindrical or conic member made of plastic. The coupling member 4 includes a tubular wall 41 and a bottom wall 42. The tubular wall 41 has an outer diameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the tubular body 2 and an inner diameter of the receiving portion 31 of the base 3. Thus, the tubular wall 41 of the coupling member 4 can be concentrically mounted inside the base 3 and the tubular body 2.
The coupling member 4 further includes a plurality of first protrusions 43 and second protrusions 44 on an outer periphery of the tubular wall 41. In the illustrated embodiment, each first protrusion 43 is a wedge (see FIG. 5) having an inclined guiding face 431 and a bottom face 432. Further, each second protrusion 44 extends downwardly and outwardly from the outer periphery of the tubular wall 41, with a distal end of each second protrusion 44 spaced from the tubular wall 41, as shown in FIG. 4. Each second protrusion 44 includes an inclined guiding face 441 and a bottom face 442. The maximum outer diameter of the tubular member 41 at the portion including the first and second protrusions 43 and 44 is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the tubular body 2, as shown in FIG. 4. An outer flange 42 extends radially outward from the bottom wall 42 of the coupling member 4 and has an outer diameter slightly greater than an outer diameter of the abutting portion 32 of the base 3. The distance between the bottom face 432, 442 and the outer flange 421 is substantially equal to the sum of the height of the abutting portion 32 of the base 3 and the height of the stop 23 of the tubular body 2.
In assembly, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bottom end of the tubular body 2 is engaged with the receiving portion 31 of the base 3. Then, the coupling member 4 is inserted from the bottom end of the base 3 into the tubular body 2. The inclined guiding faces 431 and 441 of the first and second protrusions 43 and 44 allow easy insertion of the coupling member 4 during which the stop 23 presses against and slides along the inclined guiding faces 431 and 44. When the bottom end of the tubular body 2 comes in contact with the upper edge 321 of the abutting portion 32 of the base 3, the stop 23 slides to a position in contact with the bottom edges 432 and 442 of the first and second protrusions 43 and 44. Thus, the stop 23 of the tubular body 2 and the abutting portion 32 of the base 3 are reliably sandwiched between the bottom edges 432 and 442 and the outer flange 421. As a result, the bottom end of the tubular body 2 is reliably coupled with the receiving portion 31 of the base 3 by the coupling member 4.
The metal container in accordance with the present invention can be assembled without welding or fasteners such as screws. The assembling procedure is easy and the cost is low while providing a reliable assembly.
Although a specific embodiment has been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A metal container comprising:

a metal tubular body having a top opening in a top end thereof and a bottom opening in a bottom end thereof, a stop being formed on an inner periphery delimiting the bottom opening;

a metal base including a receiving portion on a top thereof for coupling with the bottom end of the metal tubular body, an abutting portion extending inward from the receiving portion; and

a coupling member mounted in the metal base and the metal tubular body, the coupling member including a tubular wall and a bottom wall, an outer flange extending radially outward from the bottom wall, the coupling member further including a plurality of protrusions on an outer periphery of the tubular wall;

wherein the stop of the metal tubular body and the abutting portion of the metal base are sandwiched between the protrusions such that the bottom end of the metal tubular body is reliably received in the receiving portion of the metal base.

2. The metal container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stop is a bent extending and bending inward from a bottom end face of the metal tubular body.

3. The metal container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutting portion is an annular ledge extending inward and then downward and outward from the receiving portion of the metal base.

4. The metal container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the annular ledge includes an upper edge on which the bottom end of the metal tubular body rests and a lower edge resting on the outer flange of the coupling member.

5. The metal container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling member is made of plastic.

6. The metal container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling member has a maximum outer diameter approximately the same as an inner diameter of the metal tubular body.

7. The metal container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusions are wedges each having an inclined guiding face for guiding the coupling member into the metal tubular body and a bottom face abutting against the stop of the metal tubular body.

8. The metal container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusions extend downward and outward from the outer periphery of the tubular wall, with a distal end of each said protrusion spaced from the tubular wall, each said protrusion having an inclined guiding face for guiding the coupling member into the metal tubular body and a bottom face abutting against the stop of the metal tubular body.

9. The metal container as claimed in claim 7, wherein a distance between the bottom face of each said protrusion and the outer flange is equal to a sum of a height of the abutting portion of the metal base and a height of the stop of the metal tubular body.

10. The metal container as claimed in claim 8, wherein a distance between the bottom face of each said protrusion and the outer flange is equal to a sum of a height of the abutting portion of the metal base and a height of the stop of the metal tubular body.

11. The metal container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the coupling member has a maximum outer diameter approximately the same as an inner diameter of the metal tubular body.

12. The metal container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the protrusions are wedges each having an inclined guiding face for guiding the coupling member into the metal tubular body and a bottom face abutting against the stop of the metal tubular body.

13. The metal container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the protrusions extend downward and outward from the outer periphery of the tubular wall, with a distal end of each said protrusion spaced from the tubular wall, each said protrusion having an inclined guiding face for guiding the coupling member into the metal tubular body and a bottom face abutting against the stop of the metal tubular body.