Reinforced metal container and method for making same

Abstract

An improved pail is provided which comprises a curl having a reinforcement member preferably made of plastic mounted therein. The invention further provides a curl press machine which comprises an upper curl die and a lower curl die comprised of radially translating segments. Each lower curl die segment has a tabular end received in a curved slot of a rotating actuator ring. As the actuator ring rotates, the lower curl die segments radially translate. The lower curl die segments further function to support the reinforcement member which reinforces the curl of the pail.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A metal pail comprising a curl reinforced with plastic.  
     
     
         2 . The metal pail of  claim 1  wherein the plastic is high density polyethylene.  
     
     
         3 . A curl press machine for forming the curl of a pail and loading the curl with a reinforcement member, the machine comprising: 
 an annular upper curl die having a curved section;    an annular lower curl die having a curved section and being slidable from a first position to a second position; and    said curved section of said lower curl die adapted for supporting said reinforcement member.    
     
     
         4 . The curl press machine of  claim 2  wherein said lower curl die radially translates.  
     
     
         5 . The curl press machine of  claim 2  wherein said lower curl die is formed of a plurality of curved segments.  
     
     
         6 . The curl press machine of  claim 5  wherein said plurality of annular segments have an extension slidably received within a radial groove of the upper curl die.  
     
     
         7 . The curl press machine of  claim 5  wherein said plurality of annular segments further comprise a tabular end received in a curved slot of an actuation ring.  
     
     
         8 . The curl press machine of  claim 7  wherein the actuator ring is rotatably mounted within the curl press machine.  
     
     
         9 . The curl press machine of  claim 7  wherein the curved slots are tangentially oriented.  
     
     
         10 . A method for producing a reinforced curl of a pail comprising the following steps: 
 partially forming a curl on the rim of a pail;    injecting molten plastic within a gap formed between the end of the curl and the pail;    allowing the molten plastic to cure; and    closing the gap in the curl.    
     
     
         11 . A method for producing a reinforced curl on a steel pail comprising the following steps: 
 loading a curved section of a lower curl die with a reinforcement member;    pressing a rim of a steel pail shell into a curved section of an upper die and down into an aligned curved section of a lower die around said reinforcement member.