Seal structure for a fluid pour spout of a paint container lid member

• US 6,755,326 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: X-Pert Paint Mixing Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: X-Pert Paint Mixing Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Boers, Arie
• Primary Examiner(s): Jacyna, J Casimer
• Application Number:
  US10/277,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 222/135, 222/144, 222/144.5, 222/164, 222/166, 222/470-474, 222/481-484, 220/231, 220/345.1, 220/345.5, 220/345.6, 220/351, 220/360, 220/361, 220/366.1, 220/367.1
• US Class Current: 222/135
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/88 with a separate receptacle-stirrer unit that is adapted to be coupled to a drive mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/5011 portable during use, e.g. hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/84 Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/45 Closures or doors specially adapted for mixing receptacles; Operating mechanisms therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B44D 3/127 Covers or lids for paint cans covers or lids for containers of general type B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 39/00 Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers lids or covers B65D43/00; with additional securing elements B65D45/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/286 between planar parts

Abstract

A lid member for an original container of a liquid paint component. The lid member is usable with a system for dispensing the paint component from its original container into a paint receptacle according to a paint formula to form a liquid paint mixture. The lid member includes a base portion that is adapted to releasably engage an open top of the paint component container. The base portion has a pour spout through which the paint component can be dispensed, and a movable cover element. The cover element is movable between a closed state, wherein the cover element covers the pour spout, and an opened state, wherein the pour spout is uncovered and the paint component can be dispensed from its original container and into the paint receptacle. A resilient seal mechanism is positioned between the pour spout and the movable cover element for preventing leakage of the paint component, upon tilting of the original container, out of the pour spout past the cover element in the closed state of the cover element. A guide mechanism of the seal mechanism ensures that the cover element is accurately aligned and guided during movement of the cover element between the closed and opened states. A securing mechanism of the seal mechanism ensures that the seal mechanism is properly and securely mounted to the cover element and is unaffected by the attributes of the paint component.

Claims

1. A lid member for an original container of a pourable component, the lid member comprising:

a base portion adapted to releasably engage an open top of a cylindrical side wall of the original container of the pourable component;

a pour spout on the base portion;

a cover element for the pour spout; and

a vent passage passing through the base portion of the lid member, the vent passage having a first open end communicating with an interior region of the original container and a second open end communicating with atmosphere, wherein the second open end of the vent passage is at least exterior to an innermost portion of the original container to permit air to pass through the vent passage upon tilting of the original container to dispense a pourable component from the pour spout in an opened state of the cover element, wherein the original container has a central axis and wherein the vent passage extends radially from the central axis, such that the second open end of the vent passage is above a fluid level of the pourable component upon tilting of the original container to dispense the pourable component from the pour spout in the opened state of the cover element;

a plug element engageable with the vent passage for sealing the vent passage to prevent contaminants from entering the interior region of the original container through the vent passage;

wherein the plug element is engageable with the second open end of the vent passage;

wherein the second open end of the vent passage is cone shaped and wherein the plug element has a cone shaped end for engaging the cone shaped second open end.

2. The lid member of claim 1 wherein the plug element is movably mounted to the base portion such that the plug element is movable between a sealed position, wherein the plug element is engaged with the second open end of the vent passage, and an unsealed position, wherein the plug element is disengaged from the second open end of the vent passage.

3. A lid member for an original container of a pourable component, the lid member comprising:

a base portion adapted to releasably engage an open top of a cylindrical side wall of the original container of the pourable component;

a pour spout on the base portion;

a cover element for the pour spout; and

a vent passage passing through the base portion of the lid member, the vent passage having a first open end communicating with an interior region of the original container and a second open end communicating with atmosphere, wherein the second open end of the vent passage is at least exterior to an innermost portion of the original container to permit air to pass through the vent passage upon tilting of the original container to dispense a pourable component from the pour spout in an opened state of the cover element, wherein the original container has a central axis and wherein the vent passage extends radially from the central axis, such that the second open end of the vent passage is above a fluid level of the pourable component upon tilting of the original container to dispense the pourable component from the pour spout in the opened state of the cover element;

wherein the actuator is coupled to the cover element by a wire loop member, wherein the wire loop member is defined by a first portion that extends from the actuator toward the cover element, and a second portion that forms an angle with respect to the first portion, the second portion engaging at least one retaining feature of the cover element.

4. The lid member of claim 3, and further including:

an actuator for the cover element; and

a plug element associated with the actuator, such that pivotal movement of the actuator to move the cover element between its closed and opened states moves the plug element between a sealed position, wherein the plug element is engaged with the second open end of the vent passage, and an unsealed position, wherein the plug element is disengaged from the second open end of the vent passage.

5. The lid member of claim 3 wherein the second portion forms an obtuse angle with respect to the first portion.

6. A lid member for an original cylindrical container of a pourable component, the lid member comprising:

a base portion adapted to releasably engage an open top of a cylindrical side wall of the original cylindrical container of the pourable component;

a pour spout on the base portion through which the pourable component can be dispensed from its original cylindrical container;

a cover element for the pour spout, the cover element being movably mounted to the base portion such that the cover element is movable between a closed state, and an opened state;

a vent passage defined by the base portion of the lid member, the vent passage having a first open end communicating with an interior region of the original cylindrical container and a second open end communicating with atmosphere, wherein the second open end of the vent passage is cone shaped;

a movable manually operable actuator for the cover element, the actuator being coupled to the cover element; and

a plug element having a cone shaped end for engaging the cone shaped second open end of the vent passage, wherein the plug element is associated with the actuator, such that movement of the actuator to move the cover element between its closed and opened states moves the plug element between a sealed position, wherein the plug element is engaged with the second open end of the vent passage, and an unsealed position, wherein the plug element is disengaged from the second open end of the vent passage and wherein the plug element has, wherein the original cylindrical container has a central axis and wherein the vent passage extends radially from the central axis, such that the second open end of the vent passage is above a fluid level of the pourable component upon tilting of the original cylindrical container to dispense the pourable component from the pour spout in the opened state of the cover element.

7. The lid member of claim 6, and further including:

means for pivotally mounting the actuator to the base portion, such that manually pivoting the actuator moves the cover element between its closed and opened states, and the plug element between its sealed and unsealed positions.

8. A lid member for an original cylindrical container of a pourable component, the lid member comprising:

a base portion adapted to releasably engage an open top of a cylindrical side wall of the original cylindrical container of the pourable component;

a pour spout on the base portion through which the pourable component can be dispensed from its original cylindrical container;

a cover element for the pour spout, the cover element being movably mounted to the base portion such that the cover element is movable between a closed state, and an opened state;

a vent passage defined by the base portion of the lid member, the vent passage having a first open end communicating with an interior region of the original cylindrical container and a second open end communicating with atmosphere, wherein the second open end of the vent passage is cone shaped;

a movable manually operable actuator for the cover element, the actuator being coupled to the cover element; and

a plug element having a cone shaped end for engaging the cone shaped second open end of the vent passage, wherein the plug element is associated with the actuator, such that movement of the actuator to move the cover element between its closed and opened states moves the plug element between a sealed position, wherein the plug element is engaged with the second open end of the vent passage, and an unsealed position, wherein the plug element is disengaged from the second open end of the vent passage and wherein the plug element has, wherein a wire loop member couples the cover element to the actuator.

9. The lid member of claim 8, wherein the wire loop member is defined by a first portion that extends from the actuator toward the cover element, and a second portion that forms an angle with respect to the first portion, the second portion engaging at least one retaining feature of the cover element.

10. A container assembly for a pourable component comprising:

a container for holding the pourable component; and

a lid member comprising;

a base portion adapted to releasably engage an open top of a cylindrical side wall of the container of the pourable component;

a pour spout on the base portion;

a cover element for the pour spout;

a vent passage passing through the base portion of the lid member, the vent passage having a first open end communicating with an interior region of the container and a second open end communicating with atmosphere, wherein the second open end of the vent passage is at least exterior to an innermost portion of the container to permit air to pass through the vent passage upon tilting of the original container to dispense a pourable component from the pour spout in an opened state of the cover element, and wherein the vent passage extends substantially from a central axis of the container;

an actuator for the cover element; and

a plug element associated with the actuator, such that pivotal movement of the actuator to move the cover element between its closed and opened states moves the plug element between a sealed position, wherein the plug element is engaged with the second open end of the vent passage, and an unsealed position, wherein the plug element is disengaged from the second open end of the vent passage, wherein the plug element has a cone shaped end.