MXPA06008249A - Container for use with a securing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A container having an open top includes at least one handle. The handleincludes a handle wall having an opening for receiving a securing device.

Description

CONTAINER FOR USE WITH AN INSURANCE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is generally concerned with the field of industrial plastic containers or pails, which have any capacity with lids and is more particularly concerned with containers with handles, such as pans of 3,785 liters (one gallon) a 45 liters (twelve gallons) industrial. Industrial plastic containers typically include a lid or cover. In order to maintain the cover on the container in a closed condition, it is necessary that the cover and container have a retainer structure which can be opened and closed manually with relative ease. However, the structure must be able to lock the cover on the container in a closed condition to prevent accidental opening. Several types of retainer or closure structures have been proposed in the past. For example, U.S. Patent No. 3,854,582 discloses a container that includes fastening lugs and locking slots that operate to retain a cover over the container. U.S. Patent No. 4,585,138 discloses a container with a fixing cover and U.S. Patent No. 5,735,427 discloses a structure that fixes a cover on a container.

Ref .: 174425 Just fixing the cover on the container, however, is not always enough. The industry of r < Ref .: 174425 plastic packaging and the federal transportation department (DOT) and other regulatory agencies maintain standards to specify various levels of performance of pails, one of them is the fall impact test. In the fall impact test, open-head pans are filled with water, sealed and dropped in different positions from different heights, the most severe test is a fall over the 45 degree counter. When falling in that orientation, the containers usually fail because the caps bounce and open during impact. Conventional covers are available that pass this drop test but suffer from not being easily removed from the container. Attempts have been made to overcome this deficiency. For example, in the prior art container disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,046,659, a retaining structure including male and female coupling rib elements is said to provide a retention action that allows ease of manual operation in the opening and closing of the retaining structure of the container. Additional attempts at fixation mechanisms are disclosed in several other patents, such as U.S. Patent No. 5,676,273 disclosing a container with a removable cover thereon, U.S. Patent No. 5,318,218 disclosing a retainer for a container, U.S. Patent No. 5,020,839, which discloses a container tension ring closure with a lever and U.S. Patent No. 6,851,569 disclosing a reusable container and lid with a. lid having fixing tongues and the container is provided with holes. Most of these prior art attempts to secure a lid onto a container require difficulty in molding and produce lid covers and pans, as well as result in covers that are difficult to use. Although a cover is insurable on the open top of a container, it is often desirable to prevent a container from falling completely. Accordingly, not only is it desirable to have a container that can accommodate a device securing a cover to the container, it is also desirable to have a container that can accommodate a device that secures the container to a platform or other container to minimize the likelihood of the container container is dropped.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a container and method of use that solves the above problems. In a modality, a container embodying the present invention includes at least one substantially vertical wall having an upper edge defining an open top portion. - At least one handle that is part of and includes a handle wall with a hole for receiving an opening. assurance device. A general object of the present invention is to provide a container having a structure that secures a cover on an open top of the container or container in relation to a platform or other containers. This objective is carried out by providing a container with a handle including a handle wall having a hole. The hole may receive a securing device, such as a retainer or packing band that secures the cover on the open top of the container or container relative to a platform or other containers. The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying figures that form a part hereof and in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is a detailed perspective view of an industrial plastic container embodying the present invention; Figures 2a-2c are a front, right and top view of the retainer of Figure 1; Figure 3a is a detailed front view of the belt handle of Figure 1; - Figure 3b is a sectional view along the line 3b-3b of Figure 3a; Figure 3c is a top view of the belt handle of Figure 3a; Figure 4 is a view of the container of Figure 1, with the cover secured by the retainer; Figure 5a is a detailed view of the container of Figure 4; Figure 5b is a sectional view along the line 5b-5b of Figure 5a; Figure 6 is a side view of the container of Figure 4 with the wire strap; Figure 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container incorporating the present invention with a packaging band; Figure 8 is a detailed view along line 8-8 of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container incorporating the present invention with a retaining clip; Figures 10A-10B are a top view and side view of a polygonal container embodying the present invention; FIGURE IA is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container incorporating the present invention with an industrial heavy duty cap cover; Figure 11b is a sectional view along the line 11b-llb of Figure Ia; Figure 12a is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container embodying the present invention; Figure 12b is a front view of the handle of Figure 12a; Figure 12c is a front view of the retainer of Figure 12a; Figure 13 is a perspective view of an insurable layer of containers shown in Figure 12a; Figure 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container embodying the present invention; Figure 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container embodying the present invention; Figure 16a is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container embodying the present invention; Figure 16b is a side view of the retainer of Figure 16a; Figures 17a and 17b are a side view and front view of an alternative securing device suitable for use with a container described herein; and Figures 18a and 18b are a side view and front view of another alternative securing device suitable for use with the container described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES As shown in Figures 1-6, a cylindrical industrial plastic container 10 includes a reusable "Easy-Off" cover 30 that is inserted over an open top portion of the container 10. A belt 70 having opposite ends 72 is fixed to the container 10 by diagonally facing girth handles 20 opposite the container 10. Each end 72 of the girth 70 is engaged with one of the girth handles 20 using an insert fit that allows removal of the web 70 of the webbing handles 20. A catch 50 engages with each of the webbing handles 20 includes a hook 64 that is secured on the cover 30 on the open top of the container. Advantageously, the retainer 50 prevents the cover 30 from opening during the impact of a fall. In addition, the present invention provides an easily produced container 10 that can be safely packaged individually and on a pallet. The cylindrical container 10 includes a substantially vertical cylindrical vessel wall 12 having an upper edge 16 defining the open top portion. The bottom of the container 10 is closed by a bottom wall 14 joining a lower edge 18 of the container wall 12. The circumferential ribs 28 extending radially outwardly from the container wall 12 reinforce the container 10 to "increase the container's loading capacity." An insertion rib 42 formed in the upper edge 16 of the container wall 12 engages with the cover 30 in an insert fit relationship to secure the cover 30 on the open top.The "Easy-Off" reusable cover 30 extends over the open top and includes a peripheral edge 34 having an annular groove that opens towards below 31 which receives the insertion rib 42 without a seal A fastening flange 33 extending downwardly from the peripheral edge 34 of the cover 30 beyond the insertion rib 42. includes a soft guide groove 32 which engages the insert rib 42 for securing the cover 30 on the open top of the container., the soft guide notch 32 allows a smooth opening (that is, a uniform removal of the cover 30 without substantially altering the contents of the container) of the cover 30 to provide an easily removable cover. The cover 30 is further secured to the container 10 by two detents 50. Each retainer 50 engages with one of the strap shanks 20 formed as an integral part of the wall 12 of the container. Although two detents 50 and diametrically opposed webbing handles 20 are disclosed, any number of detents 50 and webbing handles 20 can be used without deviating from the scope of the invention. As shown in Figures 2a-3c, each web handle 20 includes substantially parallel side walls 22, 23 that extend radially outwardly of the container 10 and formed as an integral part of the container 10. An upper wall 24 of the webbing handle and front wall 21 are joined to the side walls 22, 23 to form the belt handle 20. Preferably, the circumferential ribs 28 are formed as an integral part of the belt handle 20 to reinforce the belt handle 20. The upper wall 24 of the strap handle extends outwardly from the wall 12 of the container and has an opening 25 for receiving an attachment end 44 of the retainer 50 to secure the retainer 50 to the strap handle.20. Rounded retainers 29 extending from an inner surface 56 of the upper wall 24 engage with the latch attachment end 44 to minimize lateral movement of latch 50 in the opening 25. Although a rectangular opening 25 is shown to receive the end of annexation 44 of the retainer 50, the opening 25 can have any shape, such as round, oval, polygonal, free form and the like, without deviating from the scope of the invention. Advantageously, the belt handle 20 is molded as an integral part of the container 10, which simplifies the manufacture and minimizes the cost. In the preferred embodiment, the front wall 21 of the belt handle 20 includes a belt groove 58 that opens downwardly to receive one end 72 of the belt 70. A lower portion 26 of the belt groove 58 is enlarged and guides the end. 72 of belt towards a receptacle 27 formed at an upper end of the groove 58 of the belt. Preferably, the receptacle 27 is circular and allows the web 70 to rotate in the receptacle 27. Although a downwardly opening webbing groove 58 is preferred to simplify the attachment of the web 70 to the webbing handle 20, the webbing 20 it may include a closed slot or opening, through the front wall 21 to receive one end 72 of the strap 70 without deviating from the scope of the invention. Further, although the girth handles 20 in the preferred embodiment also serve to secure the girth 70 on the container 10, the retainers 50 can be connected to handles substantially identical to the girth handles 20 described in the present less structure for coupling with a girth without deviating from the scope of the invention. The retainer 50 shown in Figures 2a-c is preferably made of resilient material, such as plastic, rubber or rubber and the like and has a body 56 with the attachment end 44 and a hook end 51. The attachment end 44 it includes a lower flange 52 which is larger in both width and length compared to the opening 25 of the belt handle 20. A body extension 53 extends downwardly from the rim 52 and includes prongs 54 which engage the inner surface 46 of the upper wall 24. Preferably, the distance 59 between the rim 52 and the distal ends of the prongs 54 is not greater than the width of the upper wall 24 for sandwiching the upper wall 24 between the rim 52 and prongs 54 and securing the retainer 50 securely engages the upper wall 24 of the sling handle. The hook end 51 includes an upper hook 64 which is wrapped over the peripheral edge 34 of the cover 30 to secure the cover 30 on the open top of the container. Although a retainer 50 formed from a resilient material is preferred, the retainer can be formed from non-resilient materials, such as metal, without deviating from the scope of the invention. In use, the material is poured into the container 10 through the open upper part and the cover 30 is inserted over the insertion rib 42. The extension 53 of the retaining body is fed from above through the opening 25 in the girth handle 20 until the prongs 54 engage the inner surface 46 of the upper portion 24 of the girth handle. The resilient body 56 of the retainer 50 is then stretched and the hook 64 of the retainer 50 is wrapped on the peripheral edge 34 of the cover 30 to secure the cover 30 on the open top of the container 10. Of course, if the body 56 has limited strength and a sufficient length to secure the cover 30 over the open top of the container 10 without stretching, the hook 64 can be wrapped on the peripheral edge 34 of the cover 30 before driving the body extension 53 of the retainer 50 through of the opening 25 in the belt handle 20. In another embodiment, shown in Figures 7 and 8, the containers 10 with covers 30 are stacked on a pallet. Instead of using the retainer 50 as a securing device, a wrapping band 80 is fed through the holes 25 in the upper walls 24 of the strap handle and placed on the cover 30 of an upper container 10 to secure the stack of liquid. container 10 on the pallet. Securing devices other than packaging bands. and detents can be used with the handle 20 of the container. As shown in Figure 9, a securing device in the form of a retaining clamp 90 secures the container 10 to a platform, such as a ladder rack, floor plate and the like, includes a connecting end 94 that is it engages with the container handle 20 and an opposite end 96 secured to the platform 92. The connection end 94 is fed through the opening 25 from the bottom. A threaded post (not shown) forming part of the connecting end 94 extends upwardly from the opening 25 and is threadably engaged with a wing nut 98 securing the clamp 90 to the handle 20 of the container. The opposite end 96 of the clamp 90 extends through a hole 102 formed through the platform 92 and is secured to the platform 92 by an enlarged head 104 which forms part of the opposite end 96 of the clamp and engages with a downward facing surface 106 of platform 92. Of course, other simple securing devices such as hooks, wires, rods, ropes and the like can be used with the container without deviating from the scope of the invention. Although a cylindrical container 10 is disclosed, another formed container, such as polygonal containers 110 shown in Figures 10a and 10b, can be provided without deviating from the scope of the invention. As in the embodiments described above, the container 110 shown in Figures 9a and b includes a strap and catch handle 120, as described above. As shown in Figures a and b, other types of covers, such as a heavy-duty industrial type cover 230 covering an open top portion of an industrial container 210 may be used without deviating from the scope of the invention. The heavy duty industrial type cover 230 includes a seal 232 and internal flange 234 which provides a more secure seal with the container 210. As in the embodiments described above, the industrial container 210 is provided with a handle 220 of girth and retainer 250, as described above. In another embodiment shown in Figures 12-c, a container 310 includes a handle 320 having retainer openings 325 on sides 322, 323 of the handle for engaging with a retainer 350. As shown in FIG., the container 310 is substantially identical to the container 10 described above with the exception that retention holes are formed in each of the opposite sides 322, 323 of the handle. The detent 350 includes a body 356 with an attachment end 344 and a hook end 351. The attachment end 344 is specifically designed to engage with both the catch openings 325 and includes a yoke 326 having a pair of arms 328 mounted on both sides of the handle 320. Each arm 328 includes a distal end 332 having a body extension in the shape of an inwardly extending hook 335. Each hook 335 engages with one of the retaining holes 325 for attaching the retainer 350 to the handle 320. The hook end 351 is substantially identical to the hook end 51 of the embodiment described above and includes an upper hook 334 which is wrapped on the peripheral edge 334 of the cover 330 to secure the cover 330 on the part open top of the container. The handle 320 also includes aligned band holes 338 formed through each side wall 322, 323 of the handle. As shown in Figure 13, the packing web 380 is fed through the openings 25 in the side walls 322, 324 of the handle and around a portion of the circumference of the container 310. Preferably, the web Packaging 380 is wrapped around a layer of containers 310 on a platform to hold the container layer 310 together as a single unit to simplify packaging and minimize the likelihood that one of the containers 310 will fall off the pallet. In still another embodiment shown in Figure 14, a container 410 includes a circumferential handle 420 or skirt, formed around a wall 412 of the container. The circumferential handle 420 includes a radially extending upper wall 424 having a distal end 426. A front wall 421 extends downwardly from the distal end 426. One or more circumferentially spaced ribs (not shown) extending between the wall of the container 412 and the front wall 421 may be provided to support the front wall 421. Although a circumferential handle extending around the container 410 is shown continuously, the circumferential handle may extend around only a portion of the container and / or be discontinuous without departing from the scope of the invention. As described with respect to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the openings 425 formed in the upper wall 424 engage with a retainer 450 to secure the retainer 450 to the handle 420. The retainer 450 may be substantially identical to the retainer 50 described above. . Although the circumferential handle 420 disclosed in Figure 14 includes a front wall 421, the front wall 421 may be omitted as shown in Figure 15 without departing from the scope of the invention. In yet another embodiment shown in Figures 16a and b, the container 510 includes a circumferential handle 520 formed around the container wall 512, such as the circumferential handle 420 shown in Figure 14. The openings 525 formed in a front wall 521 of the handle 520 are coupled with a retainer 550 to secure the retainer 550 to the handle 520. The retainer 550 shown in Figure 16b includes an attachment end 544 having an upwardly depending hook 536 which is received in the opening 525 to attach the retainer 550 to the control 520. A hook end 551 of the retainer 550 includes an upper hook 564 that is wrapped over the peripheral edge 534 of the cover 530 to secure the cover 530 on the open top of the container.

Seals other than those described above can also be used with the containers 10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510 described above without deviating from the scope of the invention. For example, a detent 650 that makes evident the tampering shown in Figures 17a and b and described with reference to the container 10 shown in Figure 1 includes a body 656 having a hook end 651 and an attachment end 644, as in the retainer 50 described above. The retainer 650 shown in Figures 17a and b is substantially non-resilient, such as to be formed of metal or a non-resilient plastic and engages both the handle 20 and the cover 30, as described above, to secure the cover 30. on the open top of the container. In order to remove the retainer 650, a weakened portion 658 of the body 656 is broken to separate the hook end 651 from the attachment end 654 and provide evidence of tampering. Another retainer 750 shown in Figures 18a and b and described with reference to the container 10 shown in Figure 1 is. also suitable for use with the containers 10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510 described above. The retainer 750 is formed of two parts: a hook part 752 and an attachment part 754. The hook part 752 includes a hook 764 which is wrapped on the peripheral edge 34 of the cover '30 to secure the cover 30 on the open top of the container, as described above. The attachment part 754 includes a coupling end 744 that engages with the handle 20, as described above. The parts 752, 754 are joined by a fastener 780, 781, such as a bolt 780 and wing nut 781 that pulls the parts 752, 754 together to secure the cover 30 to the container 10. A flange 778 extending from each part 752, 754 includes a hole 782 for receiving pin 780 therethrough. Advantageously, the bolt 780 and wing nut 781 requires extra effort to separate the cover 30, thus returning the child restraint 750 further. If more security is required, the fastener may be a closure, such as a barrel lock, padlock and the like, which secures the retainer 750 on the cover 30 and prevents an unauthorized user from gaining access to the contents of the container. While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the attached claims. It is noted that, with regard to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (18)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. A container for storing a product, characterized in that it comprises: at least one substantially vertical wall having an upper edge defining an open upper part , And at least one handle that forms part of the wall, the handle includes a handle wall having an opening for receiving a securing device.
2. 2. The container in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that it includes a cover that covers the part. open top and a securing device received in the opening, the securing device secures the cover on the open top.
3. 3. The container in accordance with the claim 2, characterized in that the securing device is a retainer that includes a hook that is wrapped on a peripheral edge of the cover.
4. 4. The container in accordance with the claim 3, characterized in that the retainer includes a body extension extending through the opening in the wall of the handle.
5. 5. The container in accordance with the claim 4, characterized in that the body extension includes at least one prong that engages an inner surface of the handle wall.
6. 6. The container in accordance with the "" claim 5, characterized in that the retainer includes a flange and the wall of the handle is an upper wall sandwiched between the rim and the at least one tine.
7. The container according to claim 2, characterized in that the securing device is a packaging band that extends through the opening and over the upper edge.
8. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle includes a side wall and the opening is a band opening and the securing device is a packing band extending through the band opening and around a portion of a circumference of the container.
9. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the substantially vertical wall is cylindrical.
10. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the container includes more than one substantially vertical wall defining a polygonal shape.
11. 11. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening has a shape selected from the group consisting of round, oval- and polygonal.
12. 12. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the retainer is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, rubber and metal. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the container includes at least two of the handles and the at least two of the handles are strap handles, the container further includes a strap having opposite ends, each end of the strap is coupled with one of the strap handles. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall of the handle is a front wall. 15. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall of the handle is a side wall. 16. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall of the handle is a top wall. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the securing device includes a weakened area, which, when broken, provides evidence of tampering. 18. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the securing device is formed of two parts joined by a fastener. 1 . The container according to claim 8, characterized by the fastener. Is a closure. 20. A method for securing a cover on a container, characterized in that it comprises: providing a container having at least one handle, the handle includes a handle wall having an opening for receiving a securing device; Feed an assurance device through the opening. 21. The method according to the claim 20, characterized in that the container includes an open top and the method includes placing a cover on the open top of the container and placing at least a portion of the securing device on at least a portion of the cover to secure the cover over the upper part open. 22. The method of compliance with the claim 21, characterized in that the securing device is a retainer including an attachment end for coupling with the handle and a hook end for coupling with the cover and the method includes coupling the attachment end with the handle and hooking the hook end on at least a portion of the cover. 23. The method according to the claim 21, characterized in that the securing device is a packaging band and the method includes placing the packaging band on the cover. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that the container is an upper container of a number of stacked containers, at least another container of the stacked containers includes a handle having a handle wall with an opening and the method includes feeding the packing web through the opening of at least one other container.