Patent Publication Number: US-2010127003-A1

Title: Suspension device for containers

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
     The present invention refers to a suspension device to be applied in the closing of metallic cans or other containers defined by a tubular body with a generally cylindrical side wall of constant or variable diameter. Said tubular body is inferiorly closed by a bottom wall and carries an annular upper wall having an inner edge which defines an upper opening for the container and which is configured to form a closing seat on which is removably seated and axially retained a lid made of plastic or metallic material or any other material compatible with the product to be stored in the container. 
     PRIOR ART  
     There are well known from the prior art the containers in the form of a cylindrical can such as, for example, the one-gallon cans utilized to store paints, varnishes and other bulk products, usually of progressive consumption. These cans, dimensioned to contain an amount of product which makes them heavy and of difficult portability, generally require the provision of a suspension device which usually takes the form of a handle in metallic wire, with the ends hingedly retained in respective ears externally affixed to the side wall of the tubular body. 
     Although the known construction mentioned above results in a reliable suspension device which permits the can or similar container to be provided with the required portability, said device requires operations for producing the metallic ears, for shaping the handles in wire, for welding said ears in opposite regions of the tubular body of the can, as well as for mounting the handle. The operations of welding the ears to the tubular body of the can, as well as mounting the handle to the ears, require special cares to guarantee a reliable fixation of the handle, without perforating the side wall of the tubular body and without damaging the decorative finishing of the side wall, which is generally obtained by a previous operation of lithography. These drawbacks increase the cost of the package. 
     Besides considerably increasing the cost of the package, said prior art suspension device requires the fixation of the ears to the tubular body and the final mounting of the wire handle to be compulsorily carried out by the package manufacturer, before filling the can with the product to be stored. 
     Thus, the cans or other similar containers are sent to the filling phase already provided with the lateral ears and the wire handle, which parts project outwardly from the contour of the container, interfering with other containers disposed side by side during shipping and storage operations, increasing the area occupied by said containers and permitting the occurrence of damage, in higher or lower degree, to the side wall finishing of these containers. 
     Another aspect to be associated with said known solutions is the fact 4 that said suspension devices have only the suspension function, which does not help to improve the relative transversal interlocking between two containers stacked one on top of the other or, optionally, to interact with the container lid, so as to provide, with said lid, a tamper evident seal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As a function of said drawbacks of the known solutions, in order to provide a suspension device in cans or other containers of the type which comprises an annular upper wall defining, in its inner edge, a closing seat in which is seated and retained a lid, it is an object of the present invention to provide the tubular body of the container with a suspension device, without requiring operations of welding suspension elements to the tubular body. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a suspension device for said containers, which can be easily applied to the tubular body of the container, before or after the product filling and before or after closing the lid. 
     It is another object, of the present invention to provide a suspension device, as defined above, which also actuates as a stacking stabilizing element for said containers. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a suspension device, as mentioned above, which can interact with the container lid, so as to define, with said lid, a tamper evident seal. 
     It is also another object of the present invention to provide a suspension device as mentioned above, which can be associated with a lid to be removed and reclosed several times, by means of simple operations which do not require the use of tools to help opening the lid. 
     As already mentioned, the suspension device object of the present invention is applied to containers, such as cans, of the type which comprises: a tubular body, which is inferiorly closed and has a side wall provided with an upper edge carrying an outer peripheral projection, and an annular upper wall having an inner edge defining a closing seat on which is seated and axially retained a lid. 
     According to the invention, the suspension device further comprises a retaining ring to be mounted around the tubular body and internally incorporating, in a single piece, an inner radial flange, to be seated onto the upper edge of the tubular body, and a plurality of retaining fingers that are elastically deformed between an inoperative mounting position, in which they are radially outwardly deformed, by action of the outer peripheral projection upon a mounting downward axial displacement of the retaining ring around the tubular body, over the outer peripheral projection, and an operative rest position, in which said retaining fingers project radially inwardly, so as to be fitted under and against the outer peripheral projection, in the condition in which the retaining ring is mounted around the tubular body and axially retained under said outer peripheral projection, said retaining ring affixing, in angularly spaced apart regions, end portions of at least one suspension handle, that is displaced between a rest position, generally parallel to the plane of the closing seat, and a raised operative position. 
     The above-defined suspension device complies with one of the objects of the invention, allowing a container, generally in the form of a cylindrical can, to be easily provided with a retaining ring that is simply fitted over the outer peripheral projection of the upper edge of the tubular body of the container and which remains securely and axially retained to the latter, in order to allow the container to be suspended by the handle incorporated in a single piece to the retaining ring. 
     The construction proposed by the invention allows the retaining ring to be mounted around the tubular body at any time, even after the filling, and the closure of the lid, when the latter does not interact with the retaining ring. 
     Other advantageous aspects of the present invention will be described ahead, in conjunction with the detailed description of the different embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described below with reference to the enclosed drawings, given by way of example of embodiments of the present invention and in which: 
         FIG. 1  represents a partially cut top perspective view of a cylindrical can, without the lid and carrying a retaining ring constructed according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  represents a top plan view of the container, of the retaining ring and of the lid illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  represents a partial vertical cross-sectional view of two stacked containers, taken along line III-III in  FIG. 2  with the lower container carrying a lid and a retaining ring and with the upper container being medianly sectioned and associated with respective retaining ring and lid, illustrated in an exploded condition; 
         FIG. 4  represents an enlarged detail of a left end portion of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  represents an enlarged detail of a right end portion of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  represents a partially cut perspective view of a retaining ring and of a lid that are interconnected, in a single piece, by manually breakable radial bridges and mounted in the tubular body of a container in the form of a cylindrical can; 
         FIG. 7  represents a top plan view of the retaining ring and of the lid illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  represents a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the container illustrated in  FIG. 6 , taken along line VIII-VIII in  FIG. 7  and illustrating the lid, the ring and the container in an exploded condition; 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  represent enlarged details of the opposite end regions of  FIG. 8 , but with the lid and the retaining ring mounted to the tubular body of the container, before the first opening of the lid; 
         FIG. 9  represents a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the container illustrated in  FIG. 6 , taken along line IX-IX in  FIG. 7  and illustrating the lid and the retaining ring mounted to the tubular body of the container; 
         FIG. 10  represents a top plan view of the retaining ring and of the lid of a container that are interconnected, in a single piece, by breakable radial bridges, according to another embodiment of the invention, and mounted in the tubular body of a container in the form of a cylindrical can; 
         FIG. 11  represents a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the container illustrated in  FIG. 10 , taken along line XI-XI in  FIG. 10 , and illustrating the lid and the retaining ring mounted to the tubular body of the container; and 
         FIG. 12  represents a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion of a container, taken along line XII-XII in  FIG. 10 , and illustrating the lid provided with a gripping handle in a constructive variant and mounted over the tubular body of a can, whose annular upper wall is formed by deformation of the side wall of the can. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As illustrated in the enclosed drawings, the present suspension device is applied to a container, generally a can, of the type which comprises a tubular body  10 , formed in metal sheet, inferiorly closed by a bottom wall and having a side wall  11  provided with an upper edge  11   a  which incorporates an outer peripheral projection  12 , said tubular body  10  carrying an annular upper wall  13  having an inner edge  13   a  that is bent to form a closing seat “S” which, in the illustrated constructions, takes the form of a convex arc. 
     According to  FIGS. 1-11 , the annular upper wall  13  presents a peripheral portion  13   b  which is double-seamed in the upper edge  11   a  of the side wall  11  of the tubular body  10  of the container, said double-seaming being responsible for forming the outer peripheral projection  12 . 
     Further according to the construction illustrated in  FIGS. 1-11 , the annular upper wall  13  has its upwardly and radially outwardly bent inner edge  13   a  defining a tubular rib  14 , in whose radially inner portion is defined the closing seat “S” whose cross-section is in the form of a convex arc. In the illustrated example, the tubular rib  14  presents a substantially circular cross-section. However, it should be understood that there is no need for the inner edge  13   a  of the annular upper wall  13  to be bent to form a tubular rib  14 , being enough that said bending forms a closing seat “S” with the cross-section in a convex arc. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , it is possible to construct the tubular body  10  of the container with an annular upper wall  13  defined by a circumferential radial rib  16  formed by a recess made by deformation of the side wall  11  of the tubular body  10 , said circumferential radial rib  16  projecting inwardly of the tubular body  10 , under the upper edge  11   a  of the side wall  11 . 
     As it can be noted in  FIG. 12 , the circumferential radial rib  16  further presents an inner edge  13   a  configured to define the closing seat “S” in convex arc, preferably circular, whose function will be described ahead. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , since the annular upper wall  13  is formed by deformation of the side wall  11  of the tubular body  10 , the formation of the outer peripheral projection  12  is carried out by submitting the upper edge  11   a  of the side wall  11  of the tubular body  10  to an outwardly, downwardly and inwardly bending, so as to define a tubular rib  17  which may present different, shapes, one of which presenting an oblong format that is parallel to the axis of the container and extending axially downwardly beyond the circumferential radial rib  16 , covering the recess which forms the latter. 
     According to the illustrated constructions, the container is closed by a lid  20  which comprises, in a manner that is well known in the prior art and which is generally made in a single piece of plastic or metallic material, a base portion  21 , occupying a median position and which is dimensioned to close the upper opening of the can defined by the closing seat S. To the base portion is incorporated a peripheral portion  22  provided with a circumferential cradle  23  with its cross-section in the form of a concave arc, to be fitted and axially retained in the closing seat S, the lid being further provided with an annular portion  24  projecting radially outwardly from the peripheral portion  22  towards the upper edge  11   a  of the side wall  11  of the tubular body  10 . 
     The lid  20  has its peripheral portion  22  presenting a generally cylindrical outer part, in which is formed the radially outward-facing circumferential cradle  23  dimensioned to cooperate with the closing seat “S”, upon seating the lid  20  onto the tubular body  10  of the container. 
     It should be understood that the lid  20  can be stamped in metal sheet or molded in plastic, such as polypropylene, in different formats and utilizing different constructions to be fitted and retained in the closing seat S of the tubular body  10  of the container. The constructive solution utilized for promoting the fitting and the retention of the lid in the tubular body  10  can present different known forms, without this modifying the characteristics of the suspension device object of the present invention. According to the invention, the suspension device comprises a retaining ring  25 , molded in plastic material, such as polypropylene, to be mounted around the tubular body  10  of the container and internally incorporating, in a single piece, a plurality of retaining fingers  28  that are elastically deformed between an inoperative mounting position, in which they are radially outwardly deformed by action of the outer peripheral projection  12 , upon the mounting downward axial displacement of the retaining ring  25  around the tubular body  10 , over the outer peripheral projection  12 , and an operative rest position, in which said retaining fingers  28  project radially inwardly, so as to be fitted under and against the outer peripheral projection  12 , in the condition in which the retaining ring  25  is mounted around the tubular body  10  and axially retained under said outer peripheral projection  12 . 
     Further according to the illustrated embodiments, the retaining fingers  28  comprise a lower end  28   a  incorporated to the retaining ring  25  and a free upper end  28   b,  said retaining fingers  28  projecting radially inwardly and upwardly, in order to have the upper end  28   b  seated under and against the outer peripheral projection  12  in the operative rest position of said retaining fingers  28 . 
     The retaining ring  25  further incorporates, in a single piece, an inner radial flange  27  to be seated onto the upper edge  11   a  of the tubular body  10 , upon the mounting of the retaining ring  25 , with the upper end  28   b  of the retaining fingers  28  seated under and against the outer peripheral projection  12 . Thus, the retaining ring  25  remains axially retained to the tubular body  10 , both upwardly and downwardly, with no risk of the retaining ring  25  gravitationally moving along the cylindrical tubular body  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the inner radial flange  27  of the retaining ring  25  is defined by a plurality of inner radial projections  27   a.  Besides operating as an element for retaining the retaining ring  25  in the downward direction, the inner annular flange  27  operates as an annular shoe for the seating of another container stacked on top of the first, as better described ahead. 
     In the construction illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , the retaining ring  25  is defined by a piece that is totally independent of the lid  20  to be applied to the container, and which can be mounted to the latter before or after the closure of the lid  20 , i.e., before or after the product filling. This construction of the retaining ring  25  of the lid  20  allows the latter to be constructed in a material that is more appropriate and resistant to the product to be stored. The retaining ring  25  preferably incorporates, also in a single piece and in diametrically opposite regions, end portions  29   a  of a suspension handle  29  to be displaced between an inoperative or rest position (as illustrated), in which it remains generally parallel to the plane of the lid  20 , and a raised operative position (not illustrated), disposed over the tubular body  10  of the can, allowing it to be easily handled by an user who wishes to carry the can suspended by the handle. It should be understood that all the force applied to the suspension handle  29  by the weight of the can is transferred from the retaining ring  25  to the outer peripheral projection  12  of the tubular body  10 , by means of the retaining fingers  28 . 
     Regarding the construction in which the suspension handle  29  defines a single piece with the retaining ring  25 , said end portions  29   a  of the suspension handle  29  are constructed to be elastically deformable upon the displacement of the suspension handle  29  between its operative and inoperative positions. 
       FIGS. 1-9  illustrate a construction in which the suspension handle  29  is lodged, when in the rest position, parallel to and immediately above a respective circumferential extension of the upper region of the retaining ring  25 , said suspension handle  29  being disposed radially external to the inner flange  27 , not interfering with the stacking of the containers and being maintained inside the axial projection of the contour of the container, so as not to interfere with other laterally adjacent containers.  FIGS. 10-12  illustrate a construction in which the suspension handle  29  is lodged, when in the rest position, radially internal to the retaining ring  25 , in a position defined between the latter and the annular portion  24  of the lid  20  and in a way substantially coplanar to an upper edge  25   a  of the retaining ring  25 , not interfering with the stacking of the containers or with laterally adjacent containers. 
     In the constructions illustrated in  FIGS. 6-9  and  10 - 12 , the retaining ring  25  and the lid  20  are formed in a single piece and in plastic material. In these constructions, the retaining ring  25  is superiorly attached, in a single piece, to the annular portion  24  of the lid  20  by a plurality of radial bridges  26 , which are manually broken upon the upward displacement of the annular portion  24  by action of the user when he moves the lid  20  to upwardly detach it from its seating position in the closing seat S of the tubular body  10 . The radial bridges  26  are constructed so as to be adequately ruptured when the annular portion  24  of the lid is submitted to a certain intensity of an upward force to release the lid. In this type of construction, the retaining ring  25  and the radial bridges  26  constitute a tamper evident seal, the single piece, formed by the retaining ring  25  and by the lid  20 , being mounted onto the upper edge  11   a  of the tubular body  10  after the product filling, making the retaining fingers  28  be locked under the outer peripheral projection  12  and requiring the radial bridges  26  to be broken, on order to open the lid  20  for the first time. 
     In the construction illustrated in  FIGS. 6-9  and  10 - 12 , the radial bridges  26  are disposed according to a plane substantially orthogonal to the axis of the tubular body  10 , said radial bridges  26  presenting a radially inner end  26   a  incorporated, in a single piece, to a peripheral edge  24   a  of the lid  20 , and a radially outer end  26   b  incorporated, also in a single piece, to the retaining ring  25 , the radially outer end  26   b  of the radial bridges  26  being attached to the retaining ring  25  in a plurality of angularly spaced apart regions of the circumferential extension of the latter. However, it should be understood that the radial bridges  26  can be disposed on a conical surface inclined in relation to the axis of the tubular body  10 . 
     In the construction illustrated in  FIGS. 6-9  and  10 - 12 , the radially outer end  26   b  of the radial bridges  26  is attached to the inner radial flange  27  of the retaining ring  25 , more specifically to the inner radial projections  27   a  which define a constructive form for the inner radial flange  27 . 
     In the construction illustrated in the drawings, the retaining ring  25  has the upper edge  25   a  contained in a plane transversal to the axis of the tubular body  10 , the inner radial flange  27  being contained in a parallel plane that is slightly recessed in relation to the plane of the upper edge  25   a  of the retaining ring  25 , so as to define an annular shoe for the seating of the lower edge  10   b  of another tubular body  10  on top thereof in a stack of containers, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     In order to facilitate removing the lid  20  from its closing position on the tubular body  10 , the base portion  21  of the lid  20  is provided with a small eccentric upper handle  40 , having its ends  41  preferably incorporated, in a single piece, to the base portion  21  of the lid  20 , in a region adjacent to the peripheral portion  22 , said eccentric upper handle  40 , when in an operative position, projecting radially and inclinedly upwards and to the center of the lid  20  and having two ends  41 , coupled to the base portion  21  of the lid  20 , configured to allow the eccentric upper handle  40  to be elastically and easily deformed from its operative position, generally in a rest condition, upwardly inclined, to a retracted position, seated onto the base portion  21  of the lid  20 , so as to permit the stacking of the containers in which said handles are applied. Thus, for opening the lid  20 , the user needs only to insert his fingers in the interior of the eccentric upper handle  40  and force the lid  20  upwards, first elevating the side of the latter in which is provided the eccentric upper handle. 40 . The user can also maintain his wrist in a certain way rested on the diametrically opposite region of the lid  20 , in order to obtain a progressive opening of the latter, without the risk of pouring the content of the can, in case the content is a liquid stored in a high level, close to the level of the closing seat S. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the eccentric upper handle  40  can be suppressed and substituted by a recessed region  21   a,  adjacent to the peripheral portion  22 , said recessed region  21   a  being partially covered by an upper wall  21   b  formed by the base portion  21  itself and which defines a gripping handle for opening the lid  20 . 
     The function and the operation of the recessed region  21  are the same described above in relation to the eccentric upper handle  40 . 
     While only some possible ways of carrying out the invention have been illustrated herein, it should be understood that alterations can be made in the form and relative arrangement of the elements, without departing from the constructive concept defined in the claims that accompany the present specification.