Improvements in Boxes or other Receptacles for Holding Alimentary and other Substances.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1881
Complete Specification Left, 30th June, 1892-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boxes or other Receptacles for Holding Alimentary
and other Substances.
I, THOMAS ROBERTSON 26, Buckleigh Road, Streatham S.W. Agent do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in tin plate or other boxes, cans canisters
or kegs for holding alimentary and other substances, and has for its objects, (1) a
novel method of forming the top or upper end of same, whereby when the cover or
lid is placed properly in position and pressed home, the box, can canister or keg
is rendered practically airtight without such lid or cover being soldered to the box
can &c. and said lid or cover is easily removeable by leverage without cutting,
and (2) a novel form of handle applicable to such or like cans canisters or kegs.
In carrying out the first part of my invention, I stamp, draw out or otherwise
form a slightly tapering or contracting ring made from ductile or plastic sheet
metal, such as lead, capsule metal or very soft steel sheet, tinned or untinned,
and of dimensions or sectional area in accordance with the dimensions or sectional
area of the top of the box, can or other receptacle intended to fit same to. I then
wire the wider or larger end of such ring by turning or bending the edge of same
outwards and over and round a wire in the usual manner. My ring is now complete
and presents the appearance of the segment of a slightly tapering cone with the
wider end wired on outside.
I now take a metal cylinder or ordinary can keg or box body made and fastened
in any of the well known manners and either having the bottom already attached,
or left to be afterwards attached, and of dimensions or sectional area at it's top end
in accordance with the dimensions or sectional area of the ring intended to be fitted
to same, that is, supposing the receptacle to be a cylindrical can, the diameter of
the body of such can at it's top end will be as nearly as possible the diameter of
the ring just inside the wire which has been fixed to outside edge of same, and
between Buch wire and the body of such metal ring.
The ring can then be laid with it's wider, wired or top side downward, and the
body of can or other receptacle placed and fitted over and on to same, and pressed
home until the top edge of body of can or other receptacle engages with and enters
between the wired edge and body of ring, or the ring can be pressed home from
above on to the body of receptacle; the ring cau then be soldered just inside it's
wired edge to the body or wall of can or other receptacle.
When thus fixed the can or other receptacle at it's top end shows a ring rim or
neck of soft, plastic or ductile metal fixed to same, with the wired edge of same
outside the wall or body of receptacle and the depending and gradually con-
tracting and downward and inwardly tapering portion of same inside said can or
receptacle.
The lid or cover of can or other receptacle, which can be formed out of one
piece of sheet metal, has a projecting flange or ledge which extends to about the
outter edge of the wired ring outside receptacle, it is then turned downwards at
right angles to flange to form a rim to engage with the depending ring fixed inside
receptacle and is at such turned down portion which enters the tapering ring on
inside of receptacle of about the same diameter and sectional area as upper and
wider part of same and fits same tightly, so that when the cover or lid is pressed
downwards and home, such rim, encountering the contracting and narrowing and
tapering ductile ring engages tightly with same, presses same back against the wall
or body of the receptacle, and naturally grips and is gripped tightly by same, so
forming a perfectly air-tight fastening to top end of receptacle.

page_text: The upper portion of body of receptacle may be slightly recessed to admit of
the ring when pressed back by the lid lying flush with the lower portion of body of
receptacle.
The lid or cover is easily removed by inserting the back of a knife or other
convenient instrument between the wired edge of ring fitted on body of receptacle
and the flange of lid or cover and lifting or levering the latter up.
In some cases these lids or covers instead of being put on after the receptacles
have been filled may be put on and pressed home first, and then previous to filling
and before the bottoms are fitted to receptacles, the rim of lid or cover may, by
means of a special tool, be pressed still more closely against the yielding ring and
wall or body of receptacle. The receptacle can then be filled from bottom end
and bottom closed by soldering in usual manner.
A modification consists in the ring of ductile or yielding metal which is fixed to
the top of receptacle body, instead of being wired at it's outter edge, having same
simply doubled outwards and over till it assumes a hooked or guttered shape into
which the top of body of receptacle fits and which is then soldered on outside to
Bame. The ledge or flange of cover in this modification projects over the wall of
receptacle and attached ring, and cover can be removed by striking such ledge from:
underneath as well as by lifting up with back of a knife or other instrument in same
manner as previously described.
Another modification consists in the ring of ductile or soft and yielding metal.
instead of being turned downwards for it's entire length inside the receptacle, being.
30 turned downwards for only a very short distance inside and close to wall of
receptacle, and then being turned sharply, almost at right angles to wall of
receptacle, but with a slight inclination upwards.
The lid or cover which is at it's rim of a similar size or sectional area to the ring.
at it's upper and inner edge, and which fits closely and tightly into same, has formed
on such rim, below the flange for lifting same up, a groove or indentation into which
the edge of ring enters, and when the lid is pressed downwards until the ring instead
of being inclined upwards assumes a horizontal, or nearly horizontal position to the
wall of receptacle the inner edge being contracted, enters further into the groove
provided on rim for its reception and grips and is gripped by same.
It will be understood that the form of this ring and cover may be further varied
without departing from the principle involved which is, in this modification,, the
adoption of a ring of yielding or plastic metal sloping slightly upwards from where.
it is attached to body of receptacle, and which on pressure being applied, forcing
it into a horizontal or nearly horizontal position to the wall of receptacle of
necessity becomes contracted at it's inner edge, and the space or opening enclosed
by same correspondingly decreased, and the lid or cover being inserted and fitting.
closely into the original or wider opening before such pressure is applied, is, when
such opening is contracted gripped tightly by edge of ring and an airtight closure
of the receptacle effected. I could for instance turn the inner edge of ring
upwards, or I could turn it downwards, or preferably upwards for a short distance
and then downwards; I could also turn or bend it at right angles or any other
angle to rest of ring and I could cause such turned edge to be of a straight, convex
or concave form as desired: the rim or portion of cover or lid into which same
fitted being formed accordingly.
In some cases, in order to further secure the lids or covers of receptacles from
risk of becoming loosened, I employ a strip or band of metal slightly longer than
the diameter of cover, and bend or turn over the ends in the form of a hook or U,
so that when the metal strip is slid or passed on to and over the cover the hooked
ends catch under the wired rim on body of receptacle and so hold the receptacle
and cover firmly together. Instead of the ends of metal strips or bands being
hook shaped they may be simply turned or bent over and soldered to body of.
receptacle. The strip may be shaped and perforated across it's centre to admit of
it's being easily divided at that part and the two portions turned upwards to form,
in conjunction with piece of wire or string, a handle. to the receptacle.
.;

page_text: The second portion of this invention is performed by soldering to the outside of
can or other receptacle on two opposite sides, a strip of metal shaped or grooved
in centre to admit of the passage of a wire having a knob or stop at it's bottom
end to prevent it's coming entirely out through a hole formed at the top of said
strip of metal, through which the wire passes to form the first portion of handle.
The top end of wire, or end outside the metal strip is bent in form of a ring or
loop for the purpose of receiving and holding the other portion of handle. The
can or receptacle may itself be slightly grooved or indented opposite the groove or
indentation in the metal strip to facilitate the sliding of the wire, and stop at end
of same.
A piece of wire, hooked at each end, and in length about half the
circumference of the can or receptacle, and bent to shape of and round body of
can is now attached by means of the hook at each end to the ringed ends of sliding
wires and fastoned. When it is desired to use the handle the sliding wires are
pulled up in their grooves or sockets until the stops provent them coming further,
and when handle is not required, or to economize space in transit or storage, the
sliding wires are pushed down into their grooves or sockets and the circular portion
of handle lies closely and tightly against the wall of can or in a groove formed on
same to receive samo.
514
1001
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boxes or other Receptacles for Holding Alimentary
and other Substances.
I THOMAS ROBERTSON of 26 Buckleigh Road Streatham in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in tin plate or other boxes, caus, canisters
or kegs for holding alimentary and other substances, and has for its object a novel
method of forming the top or upper end of same, whereby, when the cover or lid is
placed properly in position and pressed home, the, box, can, canister or keg is
rendered practically airtight, without such lid or cover being soldered to the box,
can &c., and said lid or cover is easily removable by lifting or lovering up without
cutting.
.
In carrying out my invention I stamp, draw out or otherwise form a slightly
tapering or contracting ring made from ductile or plastic sheet metal, such as soft
steel or iron sheet, tinned or untinned, and of dimensions or sectional area in
accordance with the dimensions or sectional area of the top of the box oan or other
receptacle intended to fit same to.
I then wire the wider or larger end of such ring by turning or bending the edge
of same outwards and over and round a wire in the usual manner, or instead
of turning the edge round a wire I simply turn the edge outwards and double over
and back, forming a flange or ledge. My ring is now complete and presents the
appearance of the segment of a slightly tapering coue with the wider end wired or
doubled over to form a ledge on outside.
I now take a metal cylinder or ordinary can, keg or box body made and fastened
any
of the well known manners, and either having the bottom already attached,
or left to be afterwards attached, and of dimensions or sectional area at it's top end
in accordance with the dimensions or sectional area of the ring intended to be fitted
to same: that is supposing the receptacle to be a cylindrical can, the diameter of
the body of such can at it's top end will be, as nearly as possible, the diameter of the
ring just inside the wire which has been fixed to outside edge of same, or just
inside the under or doubled back portion of ledge, and between such wire or under
portion of ledge and the body of said metal ring.

page_text: The ring can then be laid with it's wider, wired, ledged or top side downward, and
the body of can or other receptacle placed and fitted over and on to same, and
pressed home, until the top edge of body of can or other receptacle engages
with and enters between the wired or ledged edge and body of ring, or the ring can
be pressed home from above on to the body of receptacle. The ring can then
.be soldered just inside it's wired or ledged edge to the body or wall of can or other
receptacle.
The ring can also be fixed to the body of can or other receptacle by the processes
known as folding or double seaming, a flange being formed on the body of can
round or with which the top or wider portion of ring is folded or double seamed.
Solder can then be applied if considered desirable.
The ring having been attached, the can or other receptacle at its top end shows a
ring or neck of soft plastic or ductile metal fixed to same with the wired or ledged
edge of same outside the wall or body of receptacle, and the depending and gradually
.contracting and downward and inwardly tapering portion of same inside said can
or receptacle.
The lid or cover can be formed out of one piece of sheet metal and has a
projecting flange or ledge which extends to about the outter edge of the wired or
ledged ring outside receptacle; it takes a downward direction at right angles to
flange, to form a rim to engage with the depending ring fixed inside receptacle and
such rim is at it's lower or bottom portion which enters the tapering ring on inside
of receptacle of almost exactly the same diameter and sectional area as upper and
wider portion of ring and fits into same tightly, so that when the cover or lid is
pressed downwards and home, such rim encountering the contracting and narrowing
and tapering ductile ring, engages tightly with same, presses same back against
the wall or body of the receptacle, and naturally grips and is gripped tightly by
same so forming a perfectly airtight fastening to top end of receptacle.
The upper portion of body of receptacle may be slightly recessed to admit
of the ring when pressed back by the lid lying flush with the lower portion of body
of receptacle.
The lid or cover is easily removed by inserting a knife or other convenient
instrument between the wired or ledged edge of ring and the flange of lid or cover
and lifting or levering the latter up.
In some cases, the lids or covers, instead of being put on after the receptacles
have been filled, may be put on and pressed home first, and then previous to filling,
and before the bottoms are fitted to receptacles the rim of lid or cover may by
means of a special tool be pressed still more closely against the yielding ring and
wall of receptacle. The receptacle can then be filled from bottom end, and bottom
closed in usual manner.
'
In some cases the lids may be pressed home into the rings previous to the latter
being fixed to the body of receptacle; in this case the receptacle might be filled
from the bottom either through a stud hole or previous to bottom being attached.
A modification' consists in the ring of ductile or yielding metal, which is fixed to
the top of receptacle body, instead of being wired or ledged at it's outter edge,
having same simply doubled outwards and over till it assumes a booked or guttered
shape, into which the top of body of receptacle fits, and which is then soldered on
outside to same. The ledge or flange of cover in this modification projects over the
wall of receptacle and attached ring, and cover can be removed by striking such
ledge from underneath, as well as by lifting up with a knife or other instrument in
same manner as previously described.
In some cases, in order to further secure the lids or covers of receptacles from
risk of becoming loosened, I employ a strip or band of metal slightly longer than
the diameter of cover, and bend or turn over the ends in the form of a hook or U,
so that when the metal strip is slid, or passed on to and over the cover, the hooked
ends catch under the wired or ledged rim on body of receptacle, and so hold the
.receptacle and cover firmly together. Instead of the cuds of metal strips or bands
being hook-shaped, they may be simply turned or bent over, and soldered to body

page_text: of receptacle. The strip may be shaped and perforated across its centre, to admit
of it's being easily divided at that point, and the two portions turned upwards, to
form, in conjunction with piece of wire or string, a handle to the receptacle.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood, I will proceed to
show how it can be carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Figure 1 represents a section of a tapering or contracting ring, with it's top edge
wired on outside.
Figure 2. represents a section of a similar ring with a ledge or flange formed on
outside of top edge instead of same being wired.
Figure 3 represents a section of a lid or cover with projecting flange or ledge.
Figure 4 represents a section of an ordinary cylindrical can or box body with
bottom attached.
Figure 5. represents a section of cylindrical body slightly recessed at upper
portion, to allow ring, when pressed back by lid, to lie flush with lower portion.
Figure 6 represents Figures 1, 3 and 4 in conjunction.
8
Figure 7 represents the strip or band of metal with hooked ends.
Similar letters in all the figures indicate similar parts.
In Figure 6. ff. represent the sides and bottom of cylindrical can, a, b, c the
tapering ring wired at a and soldered at c to the body of can, de the lid flanged
at d, and just entering the ring and in position to be pressed home. The size of
the rim of lid or cover at e. e which enters the ring is almost identical with that of
the ring at it's top or wider end.
The rim of lid or cover at ee which enters the taporing ring exactly fits same at
it's top or widest part, and when the lid or cover is pressed downwards and home,
the whole of the rim grips and gripped (more and more tightly, the further it is
pressed home,) by, the ring, which however being formed of yielding metal of
suitable strength, becomes forced back until it lies flat against the wall or body of
receptacle, so that when the lid is lifted off by the insertion of a knife or other tool
between the flange d of lid and the wired edge a of ring, the whole of the contents
of the receptacle can be removed without difficulty, there being no inner flange or
rim as in the cans with lift or lever-off lids now in uso, to obstruct the removal of
contents. The lid being easily taken off and put on can be used as a cover to the
receptacle after being originally opened, and although it is not claimed that after
the first opening the can will be perfectly airtight, it is practically so for most
purposes and the cover serves to keep dust &c. from contents. Another advantage
of this can is, that after the original contents have been removed, it can be easily
cleaned and used again for various purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
Attaching to the top of a can or other receptacle a contracting and tapering ring
of yielding or ductile motal, which, on the exactly fitting lid or cover being
inserted and pressed home into same, yields to the pressure, and is forced back and
lies flat against the body of the receptacle the increasingly tight fit and grip of the
lid against the ring as the former is pressed home, effecting an airtight closure of
the receptacle: the can or other receptacle, when the lid or cover is lifted up and
off presenting a clear cylinder or body without any inner flange or rim on same,
thus allowing the easy removal of the entire contents, and enabling, the can or
other receptacle to be easily cleaned and used for other purposes if desired all
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
D1200L 1
1000