US3112824A - Product container and method of producing same - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 3, 9 1963 J. H. LEMELSON 3,112,824

PRODUCT CONTAINER AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed March 7, 1961 s Sheets-Sheet 1 2"0 Fig. 6

I." INVENTOR.

I g 3 Jerome HLi lson 3, 1963 I H. LEMELSON 3,112,824

PRODUCT CONTAINER AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed Marh 7, 1961 s Sheets-She et 2 57/ Fig. I2- 8 INVENTOR. ggrome H.Lemelson Dec. 3, 1963 J. H. LEMELSON 3,112,824

PRODUCT CONTAINER AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed March 7, 1961 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 13 44 Fig.l5

INVENTOR. Jerome H.Lemelson BYW United States Patent 3,112,824 PRODUCT CONTAINER AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Jerome H. Lemelson, 85 Rector St., Metuchen, NJ. Filed Mar. 7, 1%1, Ser- No. 93,989 21 Claims. (Cl. 206-47) This invention relates to packaging and packaging machinery and is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 831,893, filed on August 5, 1959, now Patent No. 3,035,382, and entitled Packaging Apparatus.

In particular the current invention relates to a composite packaging assembly, and to a plastic forming method useful in producing same.

It is frequently desired in packaging consumer prod nets to retain an article such as a premium in assembly with a container such as a bottle, can, box or the like. The conventional method of securing a premium to a container is to apply a band of material over the article and adhere or otherwise secure said band to the walls of the container. Adhesive tape is fiequently used for this purpose but the assembly sutfers a number of important shortcomings. For example, the premium or attached article may be easily removed from beneath the tape and pilfered. If filament reinforced tape is employed, it is more difficult to break. However, it masks part of the illustration on the adjacent wall portions of the container reducing its illustrative effectiveness. Furthermore, adhesive tapes have a tendency to slip leaving bare, adhesive areas on the container which easily pick up dirt or adhere the container to other containers.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved packaging assembly for retaining premiums and the like to containers which assembly overcomes many of the aforementioned shortcomings and disadvantages.

Another object is to provide an improved duplex packaging assem bly which is easily eifected on part of a container either after or prior to filling said container with a product.

Another object is to provide an improved packaging assembly consisting of a basic product container and a sub-container secured to a closure of said basic container which is removable therefrom by implements found in the home yet which may not be easily opened by hand, thereby preventing pilfering of the contents of said subcontainer in a store.

Another object is to provide an improved container for a consumer product including a sub-container in the form of a blister of transparent plastic sheet or film which provides a sealed volume exterior of the main container.

Another object is to provide a structure in a package comprising a main container and a sub-container exterior thereof having part of the wall of said main container as its wall.

Still another object is to provide an improved structure in a container closure or cap for securing an article or material thereto.

Another object is to provide an improved means for securing auxiliary products or premiums to tin cans and the like.

Another object is to provide an auxiliary sub-housing for a container for retaining a material exterior of said container on a closure therefor and for simultaneously providing a protection means for said closure.

Another object is to provide an improved sub-container for a container having a removable cap which sub-container serves also to provide both an additional seal across the cap and as a means for better securing said cap and for preventing opening of said container by the twisting or removal of said cap.

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Another object is to provide an improved method of securing premiums to containers for products with which said premiums are to be offered.

Another object is to provide improved apparatus for both forming thermoplastic materials and securing the formed parts to other articles.

Another object is to provide an improved method of forming a sub-container and securing it to a closure for a product container.

Another object is to provide an improved method and apparatus for automatically forming and retaining subcont-ainers against container closures and for retaining products between said sub-containers and said closures.

Another object is to provide an improved method of ther-rnoforrning plastic sheet and simultaneously securing it to the sidewall of a member such as a cap or closure.

With the above and such other objects in view as may hereafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a container closure and a subcontainer retained thereon,

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 1 and shows also part of the container,

FIG. 2' is an end view of a fragment of a container, closure and subcontainer which shows a modification in the structure of the assembly of FIG. 2,

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of a bottle, closure and sub-container which serves also to retain the closure in place and prevents its loosening or removal without destruction of said sub-container,

FIG. 4 is a top view of a can and sub-container assembled at its-upper end,

FIG. 5 is a partly sectioned side view of the assembly of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a modified form of the assembly of FIG. 4 using a skin-like material,

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a vacuum forming mold and a formed part held thereby by means of vacuum prior to its assembly,

FIG. 8 is a partial cross section in end elevation of a container, closure therefor, sub-housing and forming die prior to the final assembly operation,

FIG. 9 is a partial end elevation of a container, closure and sub-housing in assembly with each other,

FIG. 10 is a partial end elevation of a container assembly and a cross section of apparatus for providing a subhousing in the form of a sheet of material against the closure,

FIG. 11 shows a modified form of the apparatus of FIG. 10 in which assembly is effected with only the closure prior to its assembly with the container, FIG. 12 shows further apparatus,

FIG. 14 is a plan view of an injection molded subhcusing for a container,

FIG. 13 is a side view, partly cross sectioned, of the sub-housing of FIG. 12 assembled on a container closure, and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view of part of FIG. 13.

Briefly stated, in accordance with this invention, closure means for a container is utilized for supporting an article, such as for example, a premium, on the container in a manner such that an upper surface of the closure defines a confined housing for the article with a unitary thin-walled member and contiguous portions of said thin-walled memher are maintained in frictional engagement with circumscribing sidewalls of the closure so as normally to prevent movement between the closure and housing for the article. Preferably, the thin-walled sub-housing for such articles is a thermoplastic material, especially selfsupporting material, and still in accordance with this invention, the assembly of article, closure and housing for such article is produced by thermally deforming the thermoplastic material to conform with a preassembly of closure and article to be stationed thereon.

In FIGS. 1 and .2. is shown a housing 11 for a premium or the like which is shaped for assembly with a cap or closure 16 for a bottle or jar -10, can or the like. Said housing 11 is shown conforming to the shape of the upper surface of a product P, e.g., a premium or the like, held in the volume defined thereby and the solid upper face 19 of cap 16. The housing 11 may also be dome shaped and is preferably made of transparent self-supporting plastic material. A suitable plastic for many applications is polystyrene or cellulose acetate sheet preferably in the range of .003 to .015 inch thick. The lower portion 12 of 11 is approximately the shape of the side wall of the bottle cap and is adapted for frictional engagement with the exterior cylindrical surface 17 of the bottle cap 16.

The rim 13 of the clear plastic housing 11 is deformed slightly inward which shape it may be made to attain upon or after its assembly with the cap -16. The lower rim of '11 extends partly around and against the lower rim of said cap. Above the cylindrical portion 12 the housing or blister .11 reduces in diameter or is stepped at 15 and extends over the upper edge of said cap. The cap 16 is frictionally retained from moving between the stepped portion .15 and the inwardly deformed portion 13 of the rim by the inwardly deformed portions of 11 which grip the upper and lower edges of said cap. With the cap assembled therein, the volume 11v defined by the roof of said cap and the upper wall 14 of the housing may be used for retaining a material therein, or a premium or other device confined within or in assembly with said cap as shown.

The closure 11 may be fabricated by molding or by thermo-forming a sheet of plastic to shape and vacuum or pressure drawing the rim 13 over the rim 18 of the cap. Heated dies may also be applied against rim 13 to deform it inwardly against 18 after assembly with cap 16. A spinning action involving a heated tool may also be employed to deform 13 over cap rim 18.

The volume 11v defined by 11 and the upper face 19 of cap 16 may also contain a fluid material which partly or completely fills the volume and which may be dispensed by cutting or puncturing 11.

In FIG. 2' a modified structure in a closure or cap and a blister or housing assembled therewith is shown. cap 16' is provided with an indentation 19 which may be in the form of a circumseribing channel or head in the side wall of said cap which the housing 11 conforms to at 13. The inverse shaping of the side wall 12 of 11 may be utilized to enhance the gripping action between 10 and 16 by supplementing the retention afforded by the inwardly deformed rim 13. For certain applications, the provision of indentation .19 and the conforming deformation 13 of cover member 10 may suffice to retain 11 against cap 16 without the need for inwardly deforming wall portion 12 over the rim of the cap as at :13. In another form of the invention, it may also suffice to provide a plurality of indentations in the side wall 17 of cap 16' but each extending only around part of the circumference of the side wall of the cap. Inward deformation of 19 may also be replaced by or supplemented with an outwardly projection bead around which wall portion 12' of 11 may be deformed.

FIG. 3 illustrates a packaging assembly of the type described in which the side wall of the retaining housing or blister extends, in addition to over and around the article or premium P which is held above the cap '16 thereby, also against the side wall of the container 10' with which the cap is assembled. As a result, the blister may serve such functions including (a) prevention of removal or The loosening of the cap, (b) sealing of the volume between the cap and the upper portion of the container 10 in addition to retaining the article P against the top of 16.

In FIG. 3, the material comprising blister 11 is preferably 'a thermoplastic film which is deformed over the cap -16 and article P thereon as well as around part of the upper portion of the side wall of the neck or container v10'. In order to enhance the frictional retention of side portion :12" of 11 against the side wall of container 10, said side wall is provided with a portion 10" of increased diameter which may be a circumscribing head or a plurality of short beads or rises. The lower portion 12"a of 12" conforms to the wall of 10 and may be frictionally engaged therewith, adhesively bonded or welded thereto.

The upper portion of blister -11" is shown conforming to the shape of article P. If '11" is formed by draping thereover such as in vacuum or pressure forming against the article and container, it may be used to frictionally retain P against cap :16 and prevent its lateral shifting thereon.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 is shown another form of the invention which comprises an assembly of a clear plastic blister or housing 29 with the end wall of a beaded cylindrical member 25 such as a tin can. The blister or dome-shaped housing 20 is retained against the end of can 25 by having its lower rim portion 22 deformed around the outwardly and upwardly extending bead 27 at the end of the can. The rim 22 of 20 may terminate just below the bead or may extend downward therefrom as at 22 and be deformed tightly against the outer surface 26' of the side wall 26 of can 25. The notation 23 refers to that portion of 20 which is deformed around the bead 27 of the can and 24 to the portion of 20 engaging the upper surface 28' of the top '28 of the can 25. This engaging portion may extend flatly against 28 as at 24. The dome portion 21 of 20 may be shaped as illustrated or may conform to the upper surface of the article held in the volume 21v.

In another form of the invention, a heat scalable adhesive or plastic may be applied as a coating to the surfaces of either cap 16 or can 25 sidewall 26 to which the contacting surface of the respective blister 11 or 20 may be sealed to effect a hermetic seal with said containers. In FIG. 1 the heat scalable plastic coating may be applied to the side wall 17 and/or part or all of upper face 19 of cap 16. In FIGS. 4 and 5, said coating may be applied to the cover 28 and/or upper border of the surface 26' of can 26 and sealing of the components may be effected by means of heated dies and/or radiant heat applied thereto. Sub-housings 11 and 20 may also be injection molded and provided with lips replacing rims 12 and 22 which may be automatically sealed to or deformed against and over the corresponding rim or head of the container.

Notation 22 in FIG. 5 refers to a tab formed in the lower part 22 of 21 which, when pulled, will cause 22 to tear over the beaded edge of the container permitting removal of 20 therefrom.

FIG. 6 illustrates another means for securing an object or material to the end wall of a cylindrical container such as a so called tin can. Whereas the blister or subhousing 20 of FIG. 5 is preferably vacuum formed or injection molded plastic, the assembly 30 of FIG. 6 comprises a blister 31 of plastic which is preferably vacuum or draped formed over the object or premium P" resting against the end wall of the container 25 and, in the same operation, is deformed over the circumscribing bead or circular end seam 27 of the can. A portion 32 of the blister 31 extends down along the sidewall of the can 25 and is either frictionally retained thereagainst or held by adhesive means. Adhesive bonding of portion 32 to the sidewall of 25 by bringing the sheet comprising 31, and particularly portion 32 to bear against said can side wall while said plastic is at elevated temperature and in a semi-molten condition such that it will either adhere to 25 when it solidifies or will bond with a similar plastic or adhesive coating said side wall or the upper portion thereof.

It is noted that the material comprising the semi-enclosures 1-1, 2.1 and 31 in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, respectively, may comprise plastics which have been vacuum formed or molded to nearly the shapes illustrated after which they are irradiated with high energy radiation and heated to retain a shape whereby they will easily slip over the cap and upper portion of the container. Heating thereafter will make the material conform to the cap or beaded portions of the containers in attempting to return to its shape prior to irradiation. The process may be used for applying plastic covers to the containers and retaining them thereon as illustrated.

Notation 32T refers to a tab formed in 32 by slitting 32 after formation of said sub-closure. When tab portion 32T is grasped between the fingers and pulled outward from the container, it will effect a strip-like tear in 31 over the edge 27 permitting easy removal of 30 from said container to remove the contents.

FIGS. 7 to 11 illustrate apparatuses for assembling and forming a sub-housing, as described, with a container or closure. In FIG. 7, a container 10 having a cap 16 assembled against the neck of said container is shown prepositioned relative to a retainer 46* for holding a plastic housing 11 as described. The retainer positions said preshaped housing immediately above 16. Means (not shown) are provided for either feeding pre-formed housings 11 to the cavity 41 in 413 or for feeding flat thermoplastic sheet across the face of 4d and vacuum forming it into said cavity. One or more passageways 42 extend to the inside wall of 41 from a source of vacuum for forming 11 and or releasably retaining it in 41. The article A is preferably automatically positioned against the upper surface of 16 before 46 is advanced against 16 to provide an assembly such as that shown in FIG. 2. The lower rim 12a of wall portion 1% of 11 is shown outwardly flared to facilitate assembly with cap 16.

In FIG. 8, partial assembly of 11 with 16 has been effected and the container has been prepositioned relative to a pair of semi-circular dies 43a and 43b. Said dies are preferably heated and are advanced to engage the flared rim portion 12a of 11 and thermoform it over the rim of cap 16, as illustrated in FIG. 9' at 13' when the lower portion of the projection 44 of the dies engage said rim. The dies are also shaped with inwardly projecting portions 45 which deform the side Wall of 41 over the upper rim of the closure 10 as at 11b shown in FIG. '9. The housing 11 is thus retained in assembly with the cap and can only be removed therefrom by outwardly deflecting the flared rim portion 11a or cutting through the Wall of 11. Dies 33a and 33b may merely be advanced against 11 and retracted therefrom or may also be rotated to facilitate inward deflection of rim 11a.

FIG. 10 illustrates part of an automatic apparatus for applying semi-enclosures of the type described around an article retained thereby on the cap of a container which cap is assembled with said container. The apparatus includes plate of a flight conveyor or belt 46 having a plurality of openings through each of which extends the neck of a container such as the illustrated bottle 10 with the cap projecting above the upper surface of said belt as shown. An elongated sheet 50 of thermoplastic material preferably rides on and is carried along by the belt 46 and is preferably heated thereon by radiant heating means (not shown) or by the heating of the belt itself, to a semi-molten condition whereby said plastic may be thermo or drape formed without difficulty. Each of the bottles or containers 10 may be conveyed by any suitable means and may be pushed upward through the opening 46 in belt 46 by means of its conveying means when aligned with a particular opening in said belt. The upper movement of the upper end of container 10 with the product or premium A positioned against the upper surface of cap 16 may be effective per se in causing the molten sheet material 50 to drape over A and around 16 as illustrated whereafter it may be deformed further and/ or cut to sever it from the rest of the sheet by a pair of cutting dies 47a and 4712 and/or forming dies such as 4311 and 431) as described which preferably operate in synchroniza tion with the movement of the other components of the apparatus such as conveyor belt 46.

The material 50 may also be urged to conform to the shape of A, the cap 16 and/ or over part of the upper neck of the container 10 by the application of air pressure above the deformed portion 52 and/or vacuum applied beneath 46 which will cause 50 to drape inward around the lower rim or bead of cap 16 as at 51. Thereafter the dies 47a and 47b may be operated to close against inwardly deformed portion 51 of 50 to deform it further and/ or sever 52 therefrom by rotation of said dies.

FIG. 11 illustrates apparatus for applying covers or semi-enclosures as described to an assembly of a cap or closure 16 and an article A resting on top thereof. The disc shaped cap 16 is shown retained on a retainer or plug 49 which is secured on top of a flexible, driven belt or flight conveyor 46' which prepositions said assembly under a sheet 50 of thermoplastic material. Pressure applied above 50 and/ or vacuum underneath 50 in the vicinity of 49 while the sheet is in a semi-molten condition derived by heating 46' or said sheet, may be utilized to drape the sheet over A" and around the side wall of 16 as shown. The blister shaped portion 52' of 50 is shown inwardly deformed over the bottom rim of 16 after which it may be severed by means of rotating dies 47a and 47b which are automatically closed thereagainst and rotated. The belt, as is 46 of FIG. 10 is preferably in the shape of a closed loop and has a plurality of plugs 49 secured thereto in equispaced relation which continuously move past apparatus including means for automatically applying caps 16 there-to, articles A" on each cap and means for feeding the sheet 50 over A" and 16 and vacuum or pressure forming it over the assembly. The apparatus also preferably includes the illustrated dies and means for removing the cap assemblies from the plugs 49. The vacuum forming molding apparatus of FIGS. 7 and 8 may also be utilized to apply plastic blisters over the assemblies of either FIG. 10 or 11. If the apparatus of FIGS. 7 and 8 is operated with the cavity 41 inverted so that the bowl shaped housing 11. is upside down and capable of holding a fluid, then fluid materials such as powders, granular solids or the like may be retained by said housing and the top of the container closure, which materials would be first charged into the bowl shaped retainers 11 while inverted prior to placement against the cap of the container.

Whereas in FIGS. 10 and 11 the sheet 50 may be draped overthe assembly of the premium and the cap or closure and generally conform thereto while in a semimolten state by virtue of either its own weight or movement of said cap and premium upward against sheet 5% prior to the application of pressure above or vacuum below said sheet while it is engaged against 46, in FIG. 12 apparatus is show for assisting the deformation of the sheet over a closure and premium P resting on its upper surface, as stated, the plate or belt conveyor 4-6 may be continuously or intermittently moved past a number of stations at which various operations are performed. In FIG. 12, the conveyor 46 is shown at a station where plug 49 is in alignment with apparatus 54 for draping the semi-molten sheet at 50" over the assembly' as shown prior to further vacuum forming thereof. The draping die 55 which terminates apparatus 54 is shown advanced from a retracted position whereby it clears said assembly to a position Where the bottom rim of said die engages the upper face of the sheet 56 and compresses it against the upper face of the plate or belt 46' in coaction with a cylindrical duct the upper rim of which is in continuous contact with the lower face of 46' or which is also movable theregainst from a retracted position.

The apparatus 57 of which 58 terminates preferably includes a vacuum pump for withdrawing air from the volume 58' interior of 58 which eflects withdrawal of air through hole 46H in 46' from the volume interior of deformed sheet 50' to cause it to draw tightly around the premium P and cap 16 to conform to the shape illustrated for example, in FIGS. 10 and 11. The draping die 55 may also be used as a means for severing the deformed portion 50 of sheet 50 from the rest of the sheet without the need for applying a further die thereto. The inner edge of the lower rim of 55 is shaped as shown at 56 for cutting sheet 50 just below or at the lower rim of cap 16. The action may be effected by rotating 55 about a longitudinal axis other than the central axis of the cylinder 55. The sharp edge 56 may therefore be made to engage and sever portion 50 from the rest of the sheet immediately upon vacuum forming said sheet to the shape illustrated in FIG. 11. The notation 59 refers to a circular gasket or seal secured to the end of the duct 58 for effecting a pressure seal between the end of duct 53 and the bottom face of 46' prior to applying vacuum to volume 58.

In place of or in addition to the application of vacuum to the underside of the flight or belt 46 positive pressure may be applied to the volume 55' interior of the die 56 to effect the forming of 50' over and around the side Wall and lower rim of cap 16. Synchronization of the operation of all servos such as that starting and stopping the conveyor 46', that moving 58 and or 55, that placing 16 on 49 and article P on 16 and that ejecting the plastic sheet held assembly from 49 may be controlled by photoelectric or other means detecting the leading edge or forward portion of each plug 49 or by electrical and/ or mechanical coupling with the drive for the conveyor 46'. Severing of the deformed portion 50" from the rest of the sheet may be effected by engaging the sharp edge 56 against the stretched portion of said sheet below 16 or by its coaction with either 16 or 49 which serve as a bucking means for said cutting edge. In order to obtain high output or production rates, a plurality of retainers 49 may be secured laterally across the conveyor in a row or rows the closures of which are simultaneously packaged as described by a plurality of drape and/or pressure or vacuum forming means as described. The inner surface of member 55 may also be shaped with a protrusion or ridge which, when 55 is rotated about an offset axis, engages and deforms and/or heat seals portion 50 of the sheet 50 against the sidewall of cap 16 in addition to severing 50' below 16 from the rest of the sheet. In FIG. 12, the means for severing 50' from 50 may also comprise a cutting die or portion of 55 protruding axially from the end thereof rather than radially as illustrated. Such a die may be used to die cut 50' from 50 in cooperation with 58 as a bucking means or by rotation of 55 about its longitudinal axis.

FIGS. 13 and illustrate another sub-container of the type heretofore described which is formed by injection molding. The sub-container unit 60 is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 assembled with a container closure C in the form of a disc shaped cap for a bottle or can. The sub-container 60 consists of a bowl-like molding 61 having a plurality of deformable lip-like formations 64 which project in a cantilevered manner from the lower rim of 61. Four cantilevered formations 64 are illustrated in FIG. 12 though any number may be provided for retaining 69 against closure C. Each formation 64 is adapted to deflect outward to clear the side wall of closure C when 60 is first urged in assembly with C. The end of each lip .is shaped with an inward tongue or bead 65 which snaps the diameter of C and increases in diameter at 65 which defines an inflection in said wall at which it increases in diameter and becomes the lower wall portion 67 and said lips 66. The wall portion defined by the inflection 65 thus rests against the top of cap C and when the beaded portions 66 of lips 64 are engaged over the lower rim of C, molding is prevented from movement in both directions relative to C and an enclosed volume 61v is defined by 60 and cap C. Notation 66 refers to an outwardly extending portion of 64 provided to facilitate outward deflection of the lip by hand for removal of 60 from C.

I claim:

1. A container assembly comprising in combination with a container having closure means forming an end thereof, said closure having a circumscribing self-supporting sidewall, a sub-housing means for retaining a product in a confined volume exterior to and adjacent an upper surface of said closure means, said sub-housing means comprising a thin walled self-supporting member of unitary structure, a portion of which is spaced from an upper surface of said closure means in a manner such as to form therewith a confined volume for housing said product, an adjacent portion of said thin walled member overlying said sidewall and secured to said side wall to retain the thin walled member thereon.

2. A container assembly comprising in combination with a container having closure means forming an end thereof, said closure having a circumscribing self-supporting sidewall, a sub-housing means for retaining a product in a confined volume exterior to and adjacent an upper surface of said closure means, said sub-housing means comprising a thin walled self-supporting member of unitary structure, a portion of which is spaced from an upper surface of said closure means in a manner such as to form therewith a confined volume for housing said product, an adjacent portion of said thin walled member overlying said sidewall and being securely held in frictional engagement therewith in a manner such as normally to prevent movement therebetween.

3. The container assembly of claim 1 in which said thin-walled member is a thermoplastic material thermally deformed in situ against said sidewall of said container in a manner such as to secure frictional engagement therebetween.

4. The container assembly of claim 1 in which said thin-walled member is a thermoplastic material thermally deformed in situ against said sidewall of said container and heat sealed thereto.

5. The assembly of claim 1, including a product confined within the volume formed by an upper surface of said closure and said thin-walled member.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said product is in frictional engagement with an upper surface of said closure and said thin-walled member.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said closure is a cap the sidewall of which is provided with at least one intermediate circumscribing protuberance and said adjacent portion of said thin-walled member overlying said sidewall is deformed against the circumscribing protuberance thereon, whereby said sub-housing is maintained in frictional engagement with said cap and is supported thereby.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said closure comprises a circumscribing protruding rim abutting the upper surface thereof and said adjacent portion of said thin walled member is deformed against an upper surface of said closure adjacent said confined volume and is deformed against the lower edge of said protruding rim of said closure, whereby said closure is maintained in frictional engagement with said closure and is supported thereby.

9. The assembly of claim 1, in which said thin walled member overlies a sidewall of said container adjacent said closure means thereby to effect a seal between said closure means and said container.

10. An assembly adapted to be secured to an open end container to form an end thereof comprising a cap member having an article adjacent its upper exterior surface, said cap having a circumscribing self-supporting sidewall provided with a plurality of spaced peripheral portions of reduced diameter and a sub-housing of unitary self-supporting thin walled material, a portion of which overlies said article and an upper surface of said cap in a manner such as to maintain said article therebetween, the adjacent portion of said thin walled member overlying said sidewall of said cap and deformed against said plurality of spaced peripheral portions of reduced diameter on the sidewall thereof, whereby said sub-housing is maintained in frictional engagement with said cap.

11. A container assembly comprising in combination with a container having closure means forming an end thereof, said closure having a circumscribing self-supporting sidewall, a sub-housing means for retaining a product in a confined volume exterior to and adjacent an upper surface of said closure means, said sub-housing means comprising a thin walled self-supporting member of unitary structure, a portion of which is spaced from an upper surface of said closure means in a manner such as to form therewith a confined volume for housing said product, a further portion of said thin walled member circumscribing and abutting said sidewall of said closure and being heat sealed thereto whereby the volume defined by said thin walled member and said closure is hermetically sealed.

12. A packaging assembly comprising an open necked container for a product and a closure removably secured to said container about its open neck, said closure being in the shape of a cap having a substantially cylindrical sidewall with a circular lower rim the combination therewith of a sub-housing removably assembled with said cap, said sub-housing being molded of plastic material and including a lower rim portion having a plurality of outwardly deflectable lip portions spaced about said rim portion of said sub-housing the lower inner portions of the end of said lip portions adapted to frictionally grip the lower rim of the cap of said container and normally prevent the removal of said sub-housing from said cap, the inside surface of said sub-housing extending inward of the upper rim of the cap and shaped for retaining the sub-housing thereon, said sub-housing and said cap being disassemblable by outwardly deflectting said lip portions to clear the side wall of the cap permitting the sub-housing to be lifted thereofi.

13. A container assembly including a first container member having a self supporting side wall, closure means forming an end of said assembly, said closure means including a covering of transparent material thermally deformed to conform to a portion of said assembly from thermoplastic sheeting, said container assembly having an upper rim portion including a circumscribing inwardly extending upper surface and a second inwardly extending circumscribing lower surface below said upper surface, said second circumscribing surface facing downwardly, said thermoplastic sheeting being circumscribingly deformed over and around the entire rim and forming a closure for the volume inward of said rim, said thermoplastic sheeting also being deformed around and under said second inwardly extending lower surface and terminating inward of said rim whereby said sheeting is frictionally retained against said rim and a product retained within the volume defined by said deformed sheeting and said first member.

14. A packaging assembly comprising a main product container including a threaded closure of substantially circular cross-section and having a top wall and a downwardly depending side wall, a subhousing of rigid sheet material defining an enclosure having its bottom portion defined by said top wall of said container closure, said subhousing having a lateral flange portion overlying and secured to at least part of said container closures depending side wall.

15. A packaging assembly comprising a main product container including a threaded closure of substantially circular cross-section and having a top wall and a downwardly depending side wall, a subhousing of rigid sheet material defining an enclosure having its bottom portion defined by said top wall of said container closure, said subhousing having a substantially cylindrical side wall and a lateral flange portion extending to at least part of said cylindrical side wall, said part being adapted to overlie at least part of said container closures depending side wall.

16. A packaging assembly according to claim 15 further comprising bonding means for retaining said subhousing to said container closure.

17. A packaging assembly comprising a main product container including a threaded closure of substantially circular cross-section and having a top wall and a downwardly depending side wall, a subhousing of rigid transparent sheet material defining an enclosure having its bottom portion defined by said top wall of said container closure, said subhousing having a lateral flange portion overlying and secured to at least part of said container closures depending side wall.

18. A packaging assembly according to claim 17 further comprising bonding means for retaining said subhousing to said container closure.

19. An assembly in accordance with claim 1, said container comprising a metal can having a cylindrical side wall, said closure comprising the top of said can, said can top having its rim assembled with said cylindrical side wall of said can in a circular beaded formation having an outside diameter greater than the diameter of said cylindrical side wall, the side wall of said subhousing extending over and around said beaded formation in a manner to frictionally retain said subhousing in assembly against the end of said can.

20. A container assembly in accordance with claim 1, the portion of said subhousing overlying said side wall of said container closure having a tab attached thereto near its lower rim and operative when pulled to effect a tear in the wall of said subhousing for separating said subhousing from said container.

21. A container assembly in accordance with claim 1, said subhousing including a portion also overlying and abutting a portion of the side wall of said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,752,371 Daniels Apr. 1, 1930 2,081,985 Cornwell June 1, 1937 2,318,557 Miller May 4, 1943 2,783,599 Weikut Mar. 5, 1957 2,790,285 Pike et al. Apr. 30, 1957 2,790,286 Snyder Apr. 30, 1957 2,853,183 Guyer Sept. 23, 1958 2,885,105 Heyl et al. May 5, 1959 2,898,714 Keith Aug. 11, 1959 2,920,431 Izumi Jan. 12, 1960 2,958,172 Branche Nov. 1, 1960

Claims (1)

1. A CONTAINER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING IN COMBINATION WITH A CONTAINER HAVING CLOSURE MEANS FORMING AN END THEREOF, SAID CLOSURE HAVING A CIRCUMSCRIBING SELF-SUPPORTING SIDEWALL, A SUB-HOUSING MEANS FOR RETAINING A PRODUCT IN A CONFINED VOLUME EXTERIOR TO AND ADJACENT AN UPPER SURFACE OF SAID CLOSURE MEANS, SAID SUB-HOUSING MEANS COMPRISING A THIN WALLED SELF-SUPPORTING MEMBER OF UNITARY STRUCTURE, A PORTION OF WHICH IS SPACED FROM AN UPPER SURFACE OF SAID CLOSURE MEANS IN A MANNER SUCH AS TO FORM THEREWITH A CONFINED VOLUME FOR HOUSING SAID PRODUCT, AN ADJACENT PORTION OF SAID THIN WALLED MEMBER OVERLYING SAID SIDEWALL AND SECURED TO SAID SIDE WALL TO RETAIN THE THIN WALLED MEMBER THEREON.

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