초록 ▼

A container (10) disclosed includes a unitary receptacle (12) and a unitary cover (14) which are each molded from resilient plastic with segmented buttress retainers (24, 32) that cooperate to secure the cover upon a snap action closing movement while permitting opening cover movement by manual rota

A container (10) disclosed includes a unitary receptacle (12) and a unitary cover (14) which are each molded from resilient plastic with segmented buttress retainers (24, 32) that cooperate to secure the cover upon a snap action closing movement while permitting opening cover movement by manual rotation. The container has particular utility as a paint pail for holding paint, stain, or the like but is also useful for holding food or other contents. An upper open end on a side wall (16) of the receptacle has a round surface (22) on which circumferentially spaced sets of the buttress retainers (24) are located with horizontal retaining flanks thereof facing downwardly and inclined flanks thereof extending downwardly and radially to the associated retaining flanks. An annular lip (28) of the cover extends downwardly from an upper wall (26) thereof and has a round surface (30) on which circumferentially spaced sets of buttress retainers (32) are located with horizontal retaining flanks thereof facing upwardly and inclined flanks thereof extending radially and upwardly to the associated retaining flanks. Downward cover movement slidably engages the inclined flanks on the retainers of the cover with the inclined flanks on the retainers of the receptacle to provide the snap action that engages the retaining flanks to secure the cover while permitting subsequent opening movement by cover rotation. A groove (42) in the cover adjacent the juncture of its upper wall (26) and lip (28) receives a seal (44) that is engaged by the upper end of the receptacle to seal the container when the cover is secured. A reinforcing rib (46) and handle lug (48) construction on the upper end of the receptacle side wall is also provided as is a receptacle rib (58) and cover recess (59) stacking construction.

대표청구항 ▼

A container comprising: a unitary receptacle and a unitary cover each of which is molded from resilient plastic; said receptacle including a generally cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall; the side wall including an upper end that defines an open end of the receptacle; the side wall also includin

A container comprising: a unitary receptacle and a unitary cover each of which is molded from resilient plastic; said receptacle including a generally cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall; the side wall including an upper end that defines an open end of the receptacle; the side wall also including a lower end that is closed by the bottom wall to define a closed end of the receptacle; the upper end of the side wall having round inner and outer surfaces one of which includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced buttress retainers of curved shapes; each buttress retainer on the upper end of the side wall including a generally horizontal retaining flank that faces downwardly and an inclined flank that extends downwardly and radially to the associated retaining flank; said cover including an upper wall and an annular lip that extends downwardly from the upper wall; said annular lip of the cover having round inner and outer surfaces one of which includes circumferentially spaced buttress retainers; each buttress retainer on the cover lip including a generally horizontal retaining flank that faces upwardly and an inclined flank that extends upwardly and radially to the associated retaining flank; the cover being movable downwardly over the receptacle such that the inclined flanks of the buttress retainers on the cover lip slidably engage the inclined flanks of the buttress retainers on the receptacle so as to ultimately provide a snap action that engages the retaining flanks on the buttress retainers of the cover with the retaining flanks on the buttress retainers of the receptacle in order to secure the cover on the receptacle; and the buttress retainers on the cover lip having curved lengths that are shorter than the circumferential spacing between the buttress retainers on the receptacle side wall such that the secured cover can be rotated to disengage the buttress retainers thereof from the buttress retainers of the receptacle and thereby permit upward opening movement of the cover.