Abstract An end wall structure for drums and other containers adapted to hold products in liquid or solid state in which the end wall is an integrally-formed, elastic, plastic structure having a central portion which is curved inwardly with respect to a plane through the end edge surface of the drum and which is deformable from such inwardly curved configuration to an outwardly curved configuration when substantial force is applied from the interior of the drum as a result of a shock resulting from dropping the drum, etc., and which then extends toward the periphery of the end wall and toward the plane through the end edge of the drum as an outwardly curved configuration, a curved outer portion extending from the outwardly curved configuration to the inner surface of the shell of the drum and thence in a substantially straight part parallel to the inner surface of the drum and having a sufficient curvature to resiliently take up and dampen the forces resulting from the outward deformation of the central portion and return the central portion to its original inwardly curved position and a peripheral flange portion extending from the outer portion and adapted to secure the end wall on the shell of the drum cover the edge surface of the drum.
A container which is particularly adapted for the storing of heavy liquid or solid loads and comprising, a cylindrical wall member, and an end wall comprising an integrally-formed elastic, resilient member, said end wall having a first central portion thereof which is disposed inwardly of the container and spaced axially of the container from the plane defined by the associated peripheral edge of the wall member, said end wall member over a second and generally frusto-conical portion thereof, radially outwardly of said central portion, extending toward and substantially to said plane and then sweeping in a smoothly-curved manner over a third and generally frusto-conical portion toward the cylindrical wall member and away from said plane to a location which is substantially more remote from said plane than any part of said first portion, said end wall member over a fourth portion thereof finally curving smoothly outwardly to the inner surface of said cylindrical wall member and then extending along a fifth portion thereof toward and around said peripheral edge terminating in a rim portion paralleling said fifth portion and overlying the outer surface of said cylindrical wall member, said end wall member thereby being partially diaphragm-like so that the imposition of transient shock forces upon said end wall results in momentary axial displacement of said first, second and third portions outwardly toward said plane as said end wall flexes about said fourth curved portion while concurrently said flexure always establishes internal forces in said end wall tending to restore said end wall to its original configuration when said shock forces are relieved.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
262 words
A container which is particularly adapted for the storing of heavy liquid or solid loads and comprising, a cylindrical wall member, and an end wall comprising an integrally-formed elastic, resilient member, said end wall having a first central portion thereof which is disposed inwardly of the container and spaced axially of the container from the plane defined by the associated peripheral edge of the wall member, said end wall member over a second and generally frusto-conical portion thereof, radially outwardly of said central portion, extending toward and substantially to said plane and then sweeping in a smoothly-curved manner over a third and generally frusto-conical portion toward the cylindrical wall member and away from said plane to a location which is substantially more remote from said plane than any part of said first portion, said end wall member over a fourth portion thereof finally curving smoothly outwardly to the inner surface of said cylindrical wall member and then extending along a fifth portion thereof toward and around said peripheral edge terminating in a rim portion paralleling said fifth portion and overlying the outer surface of said cylindrical wall member, said end wall member thereby being partially diaphragm-like so that the imposition of transient shock forces upon said end wall results in momentary axial displacement of said first, second and third portions outwardly toward said plane as said end wall flexes about said fourth curved portion while concurrently said flexure always establishes internal forces in said end wall tending to restore said end wall to its original configuration when said shock forces are relieved.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The container of claim 1 wherein said fourth portion of said end wall member is thinner than said third portion and said fifth portion is thicker than said third portion.