Container-Lid Interlock

Containers which are used for packaging paints and other volatile materials must be designed to maintain a substantially air-tight fit between the lid and container portion. The fact that such an air-tight engagement between lid and container is required to obtain a substantially hermetic seal often makes it difficult and inconvenient to remove the lid from the container. In addition, it is highly undesirable to have a lid having a perimeter greater in diameter than the outside of the container in that the lid can catch and be accidentally dislodged when stacking the containers in close quarters. It is highly desirable to provide a container which is substantially identical in dimension to present metal paint can designs to allow the containers to be processed on conventional paint can filling, labeling and packaging equipment. It is also desirable to provide a container that will stack safely. The instant invention provides a container and lid configuration having positive balanced line contact sealing and having a prying flange, the perimeter of which is substantially no larger in diameter than the outside diameter of the container and which is sheltered by the container's reinforcing rings to prevent accidental lid disengagement. The instant invention also provides an inner shear resistant lip which prevents the lid from accidentally being pushed into the container when several containers are stacked one on top of the other. In addition, the instant invention provides a container and lid whose dimensions and configuration are almost identical to a conventional metal one gallon paint can.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a container for packaging volatile materials, such as paint, wherein an air-tight friction fit is insured between the lid and the container.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a container-lid interlock which can be easily removed by a prying tool but yet cannot be accidentally dislodged by adjacent containers, obstructions or by the stacking of containers.

It is still another object of the instant invention to provide a lid which is self-centering on a container body to facilitate engagement of the lid and the container body, especially when the lid is handled by a machine during the engagement process.

It is yet another object of the instant invention to provide a lid which may be readily resealed.

It is still another object of the instant invention to provide a container and lid which nest top and bottom for safe and easy stacking.

It is also an object of the instant invention to provide a container that does not have a rim at the top to trap paint or dirt.

It is, in addition, an object of the instant invention to provide a container that is seamless, rust resistant without special coatings, dent resistant and lightweight.

It is highly desirable to provide a container and resealable lid design for packaging of volatile materials, such as paint, wherein the container and lid provide a positive seal which cannot be accidentally destroyed by contact of the container and lid with obstructions or by stacking of several containers one on top of the other. It is even more desirable to have a container-lid design which is reusable. To accomplish this purpose, the instant invention provides a plastic container-lid configuration having a locking prying flange and inner shear member which provide a double interlock for uniform line contact sealing, said container-lid design having no diameter larger than the outside diameter of the container itself, said container being cylindrical in cross sections so as to be almost identical to conventional metal one gallon paint cans.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container and lid of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the container and lid of the instant invention when a second container is in stacking contact.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the container and the lid of the instant invention having a second container in stacking contact.

With continued reference to the drawing, FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective view the container 10 and lid 12 of the instant invention. Attached to the container 10 is a metal or plastic bail 14 which facilitates transport of the container 10 with or without lid 12 in place. Polypropylene is the preferred plastic material for the container and lid, but other suitable plastic materials could be used.

FIG. 2 illustrates in partial cross-sectional view the container 10 and lid 12 having a second container 16 in stacking contact with lid 12. Container 10 is provided with reinforcing ribs 18 which provide radial strength near the mouth and seal area of the container 10. Reinforcing ribs 18 also provide protection for the locking prying flange 20 of lid 12. Lid 12 is substantially a flat disc having a peripheral channel near the edge of said disc. It can be seen in FIG. 2 that space 22 is provided between prying flange 20 and the topmost reinforcing rib 18 for insertion of a prying instrument such as the blade of a screwdriver (not shown). It can also be seen that the perimeter of the prying flange 20 is no larger in diameter than the outside diameter of the container reinforcing ribs 18 and therefore cannot be accidentally caught on foreign objects. It is, however, within the scope of the instant invention to provide a small tab that would extend beyond prying flange 20 to facilitate removal of the lid. The tab (not shown) would be positioned near one of the bail attachment areas for shelter. The minimal spacing between prying flange 20 and topmost reinforcing rib 18 likewise limits accidental dislodgement by foreign objects thicker than the blade of an average screwdriver. Space 22 is approximately equal to the thickness of prying flange 20. Prying flange 20 is provided with locking portion 24 which is complimentary with projecting rib 26 of container 10. Container 10 is also provided with inwardly projecting shear resistant lip 28 which is complimentary with annular lid detent 30 to provide a double interlock. The double interlock provides a balanced downward holding force of the lid 12 on both the inside and the outside of container 10. This balanced holding force facilitates uniform pressure at line contact seal portion 32 of container 10. Shear resistant lip 28 prevents the lid 12 from disengaging from the container 10 upon prying of flange 20 until a positive lifting motion takes place to release the inside secondary seal at shear resistant lip 28. Shear resistant lip 28 also prevents the lid 12 from being pushed into the container by the force exerted by the stacking of other containers, such as container 16. Container 10 is also provided with a stepped portion 34 to facilitate part removal in container manufacture.

It can also be seen that line contact seal portion 32 provides a camming surface for attachment alignment of lid 12 with respect to container 10.

Shear resistant lip 28 extends inwardly into the container 10 to permit maximum strength in the top wall portion of the container 10. It is important to note that a reversal of parts by placement of a lip on the lid and an annular detent in the container at this point would decrease the wall section of container 10 in a very critical structural area and would therefore be undesirable. The thin wall created by detent 30 in lid 12 is not a structurally weak point but rather serves as a pivot or flexing point for the lid 10 when unlocking prying flange 20 from locking portion 24.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment for special sealing requirements wherein a gasket 36 is first inserted in a lid 38 to seal with container 10. Gasket 36 is shown to be a hollow O-ring, but it is within the scope of the invention to use other solid or hollow resilient gaskets. Lid 38 is essentially identical to lid 12, shown in FIG. 2, with the exception that the channeled portion 40 of lid 38 is made deeper to accommodate gasket 36.

FIGS. 2 and 3 shown an additional container 16 in stacking contact. Lids 12 and 38 are provided with angled sealing portions 42 which cooperate with the bottom of container 16 to facilitate centering alignment of additional stacked containers and helps to distribute the bearing load.

It is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise description given, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the appended claims.