Patent ID: 8695846
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: B44D,B65D

Abstract:
1. A stackable plastic container assembly comprising: a plastic pail having a bottom and a cylindrical sidewall terminating in an unflanged top rim; a separately molded snap ring attachable to said pail and having a peripheral structure having a stepped top surface defining a radially outboard upper top surface portion and a radially inboard lower surface portion contiguous to said upper surface portion, said peripheral structure defining an inverted U-shaped channel adapted to sealingly receive said top rim therein, an upwardly opening U-shaped closure-receiving annular channel radially inboard of said peripheral structure immediately radially inboard of said lower surface portion; said pail assembly further comprising a pry-off closure having a flat recessed central deck portion and, integral with said deck portion, a peripheral U-shaped annular channel which fits complementally and sealingly into the upwardly opening U-shaped channel of said snap ring to seal said pail; wherein the peripheral U-shaped annular channel of the closure has a radially outer wall which terminates in a radially outwardly projecting pry flange that, when said closure is sealingly attached to said snap ring, overlies said lower surface portion in vertically spaced-apart relationship therewith, and further wherein said complementally-fitting snap ring and closure U-shaped channels have an undercut lock formed on the mating outermost surfaces thereof to provide a locking function securing said closure to said snap ring; wherein said pail bottom has formed therein a radially inner and downwardly extending annular tongue and a radially outer annular, downwardly opening annular groove; said tongue being dimensioned to fit into said snap-ring stepped top surface between the pry flange and the upper top surface portion when said pail is stacked upon an identical pail with an attached snap-ring; and said groove being dimensioned to receive said top rim when stacked upon a similar pail without a snap-ring attached thereto.