US3921850A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drum closure
Assignee: Shawmut Capital Corp
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Filing: 1974-05-28
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1994-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A closure for an opening in a bulk food storage drum such as a drum lined with interior coatings of plastic, film, tin, or the like, which also is capable of aseptic packing. The drum has an opening in one of the planar and panels thereof which opening is formed with an upwardly and outwardly flared lip which defines an acute angle with respect to the plane of the end wall. The lip is formed with minimal bending to avoid adversely affecting the film and the bond between the film and the material (e.g., steel) of which the drum is fabricated. A closure member or plug is fabricated of similar material having one side coated. The closure member has a cylindric mid-wall, at one end of which is a circular, fluid impervious disc and at the other end of which is an outwardly extending flange. The closure member fits into the opening and carries an O-ring type gasket which is distorted or caused to flow in response to movement of the member into the opening, thus forming a fluidtight closure. The surface portion of the drum wall beneath and outside of the lip is accessible for cleaning and painting, thereby avoiding accumulation of rust and/or material spilled during the filling of the drum.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph E Powers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:56
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D53/00; B65D53/02; B65D39/00; B65D39/04; B65D7/00; B65D7/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
A closure for a drum having at least one generally planar end wall with an opening therein, said closure comprising: a portion of said end wall bounding said opening and defining a lip integral with said end wall, said lip extending axially and radially outward around said opening, residing at an acute angle with respect to said planar end wall, being of a single thickness and having all surfaces exposed to the exterior of the end wall, a smooth conical interior surface merging into said opening and an outwardly exposed distal edge, said distal edge being concentric with said opening and residing in a plane substantially parallel with said end wall; a closure plug having a cylindric mid-wall and including an O-ring gasket circumscribing said mid-wall, a circular wall integral with and extending across one end of said mid-wall, and an annular flange integral with and extending outward from said mid-wall at the end of the mid-wall opposite said circular wall, said mid-wall having a diameter sized to fit within said opening and an axial extent such that said circular wall is interior of said drum end wall when said flange is in contact with the distal edge of said lip, said closure plug being deformable so that the portion of said mid-wall adjacent said circular wall can be radially expanded to retain said closure plug in said opening and distort said O-ring gasket into engagement with the smooth conical interior surface of the lip and the surfaces of the closure plug opposed thereto to seal said closure, said plug, lip and O-ring being so proportioned that distortion of the O-ring is within its elastic limit when the flange of the plug is in contact with the distal edge of the lip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
A closure for a drum having at least one generally planar end wall with an opening therein, said closure comprising: a portion of said end wall bounding said opening and defining a lip integral with said end wall, said lip extending axially and radially outward around said opening, residing at an acute angle with respect to said planar end wall, being of a single thickness and having all surfaces exposed to the exterior of the end wall, a smooth conical interior surface merging into said opening and an outwardly exposed distal edge, said distal edge being concentric with said opening and residing in a plane substantially parallel with said end wall; a closure plug having a cylindric mid-wall and including an O-ring gasket circumscribing said mid-wall, a circular wall integral with and extending across one end of said mid-wall, and an annular flange integral with and extending outward from said mid-wall at the end of the mid-wall opposite said circular wall, said mid-wall having a diameter sized to fit within said opening and an axial extent such that said circular wall is interior of said drum end wall when said flange is in contact with the distal edge of said lip, said closure plug being deformable so that the portion of said mid-wall adjacent said circular wall can be radially expanded to retain said closure plug in said opening and distort said O-ring gasket into engagement with the smooth conical interior surface of the lip and the surfaces of the closure plug opposed thereto to seal said closure, said plug, lip and O-ring being so proportioned that distortion of the O-ring is within its elastic limit when the flange of the plug is in contact with the distal edge of the lip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A closure, according to claim 1, wherein said annular flange is substantially perpendicular to said cylindric mid-wall and wherein said flange is joined to said mid-wall by an integral arcuate wall portion extending therebetween, said O-ring gasket having a radius of curvature corresponding to said arcuate wall portion and being distorted into sealing condition in response to movement of said flange into contact with the outer edge of said lip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A closure, according to claim 2, wherein the surface of said lip and the surfaces of said flange and said mid-wall that are in contact with said O-ring gasket have thereon a layer of inert material bonded thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A closure, according to claim 1, wherein the acute angle between said lip and said planar end wall is about 45*.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
269 words
A closure for a drum having at least one generally planar circular end wall with an opening therein, said closure comprising: a portion of said end wall bounding said opening and defining a lip integral with said end wall and extending axially and radially outward around said opening, said lip residing at an acute angle with respect to said planar end wall so as to define a frusto-conical wall concentric with said opening, said lip being of a single thickness and having all surfaces exposed to the exterior of the end wall and an outwardly exposed distal edge; a closure plug having a cylindric mid-wall, a circular wall integral with and extending across one end of said mid-wall, and an annular flange integral with and extending outward from said mid-wall at the end of the mid-wall opposite said circular wall, said mid-wall having a diameter sized to fit within said opening and an axial extent such that said circular wall is interior of said drum end wall when said flange is in a fixed spatial relation to said frusto-conical wall; and an O-ring circumscribing said mid-wall adjacent said annular flange, said closure plug mid-wall being deformable so that the portion of said mid-wall adjacent said circular wall can be radially expanded to retain said closure plug in said opening and compressively distort said O-ring within a volume bounded by said frusto-conical wall, said flange and said mid-wall; and means for limiting inward movement of said closure plug to establish said spatial relation and to establish said volume at a magnitude to compress said O-ring within the elastic limit thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
269 words
A closure for a drum having at least one generally planar circular end wall with an opening therein, said closure comprising: a portion of said end wall bounding said opening and defining a lip integral with said end wall and extending axially and radially outward around said opening, said lip residing at an acute angle with respect to said planar end wall so as to define a frusto-conical wall concentric with said opening, said lip being of a single thickness and having all surfaces exposed to the exterior of the end wall and an outwardly exposed distal edge; a closure plug having a cylindric mid-wall, a circular wall integral with and extending across one end of said mid-wall, and an annular flange integral with and extending outward from said mid-wall at the end of the mid-wall opposite said circular wall, said mid-wall having a diameter sized to fit within said opening and an axial extent such that said circular wall is interior of said drum end wall when said flange is in a fixed spatial relation to said frusto-conical wall; and an O-ring circumscribing said mid-wall adjacent said annular flange, said closure plug mid-wall being deformable so that the portion of said mid-wall adjacent said circular wall can be radially expanded to retain said closure plug in said opening and compressively distort said O-ring within a volume bounded by said frusto-conical wall, said flange and said mid-wall; and means for limiting inward movement of said closure plug to establish said spatial relation and to establish said volume at a magnitude to compress said O-ring within the elastic limit thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A closure, according to claim 5, wherein said inward movement limiting means comprises an outer edge on said lip concentric with said opening and residing in a plane substantially parallel with said end wall, said flange having a radial extent sufficient to contact said edge thereby limiting inward movement of said closure plug.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A closure, according to claim 5, wherein said inward movement limiting means comprises a downward extending rib formed on said flange and adapted to contact said frusto-conical wall thereby limiting inward movement of said closure plug.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A closure, according to claim 5, wherein said inward movement limiting means comprises a rib on said mid-wall, said rib extending radially outward sufficient to contact said frusto-conical wall thereby limiting inward movement of said closure plug, said O-ring being disposed intermediate said rib and said flange.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A closure, according to claim 5, wherein said container end wall is formed with an integral reinforcing ring circumscribing said opening, said ring having at least one integral oblique wall portion disposed obliquely of said end wall.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |