Suspension device for containers

Abstract

A suspension device is applied to containers comprising a tubular body ( 10 ) having a side wall ( 11 ) carrying an outer peripheral projection ( 12 ) and an annular upper wall ( 13 ). The device comprises a retaining ring ( 25 ) incorporating an inner radial flange ( 27 ) to be seated onto an upper edge ( 11 a ) of the tubular body ( 10 ), and elastically deformed retaining fingers ( 28 ) that are fitted under and against the outer peripheral projection ( 12 ), in the condition in which the retaining ring ( 25 ) is mounted around the tubular body ( 10 ) and axially retained under said outer peripheral projection ( 12 ), said retaining ring ( 25 ) affixing end portions ( 29 a ) of a suspension handle ( 29 ), that is displaced between a rest position and a raised operative position.

1 . A suspension device for containers, such as cans of the type comprising:
 a tubular body having a side wall provided with an upper edge which carries an outer peripheral projection;   an annular upper wall having an inner edge which defines a closing seat in which is seated and axially retained a lid, wherein it comprises a retaining ring to be mounted around the tubular body and incorporating, in a single piece, an inner radial flange to be seated onto the upper edge of the tubular body; and   a plurality of retaining fingers that are elastically deformed between an inoperative mounting position, in which they are radially outwardly deformed by action of the outer peripheral projection, upon a mounting downward axial displacement the retaining ring around the tubular body over the outer peripheral projection; and   an operative rest position, in which said retaining fingers project radially inwardly, so as to be fitted under and against the outer peripheral projection, in the condition in which the retaining ring is mounted around the tubular body and axially retained under said outer peripheral projection, said retaining ring affixing, in angularly spaced apart regions, end portions of at least one suspension handle, that is displaced between a rest position, generally parallel to the plane of the closing seat, and a raised operative position.   
   
   
       2 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the retaining fingers comprise a lower end incorporated to the retaining ring, and a free upper end, said retaining fingers projecting radially inwardly and upwardly, so as to have the upper end seated under and against the outer peripheral projection in the operative rest position of said retaining fingers. 
   
   
       3 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the suspension handle has its end portions incorporated, in a single piece, to the retaining ring, said end portions of the suspension handle being elastically deformed upon the displacement of the latter between its operative and inoperative positions. 
   
   
       4 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the suspension handle is lodged, when in a rest position, radially internal to the retaining ring, between the latter and the lid, in a way substantially coplanar to an upper edge of the retaining ring. 
   
   
       5 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the suspension handle is disposed, when in a rest condition, in a parallel way and immediately above a respective circumferential extension of the upper region of the retaining ring. 
   
   
       6 . The device, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the inner radial flange of the retaining ring is defined by a plurality of angularly spaced apart inner radial projections. 
   
   
       7 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the retaining ring has an upper edge contained in a plane that is transversal to the axis of the tubular body, the inner radial flange being contained in a parallel plane that is slightly recessed in relation to the plane which contains the upper edge of the retaining ring, so as to define an annular shoe onto which will be seated the lower edge of another upper tubular body of a container stack. 
   
   
       8 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the retaining ring is made of plastic material. 
   
   
       9 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said lid is a single piece made of plastic material, comprising:
 a base portion;   a peripheral portion, cooperating with a closing seat; and   an annular portion projecting outwardly from the peripheral portion wherein the retaining ring is superiorly attached, in a single piece, to the annular portion of the lid by a plurality of manually breakable radial bridges.   
   
   
       10 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the radial bridges are disposed according to a plane substantially orthogonal to the axis of the tubular body, presenting a radially inner end incorporated to the annular portion of the lid, and a radially outer end incorporated to the retaining ring. 
   
   
       11 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the radially outer end of the radial bridges is attached to the retaining ring in a plurality of angularly spaced apart circumferential extension regions of the latter. 
   
   
       12 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the annular portion of the lid presents a peripheral edge in which are incorporated the radially inner ends of the radial bridges. 
   
   
       13 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the inner radial flange of the retaining ring is defined by a plurality of angularly spaced apart radial projections, the radially outer end of the radial bridges being attached to the inner radial projections. 
   
   
       14 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the base portion of the lid incorporates an eccentric upper handle that is displaced between an operative position, in which it projects radially and inclinedly upwardly and to the center of the lid, and a retracted position, in which it is seated on the base portion. 
   
   
       15 . The device, as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the eccentric upper handle has two ends that are incorporated, in a single piece, to the base portion of the lid, in a region thereof adjacent to the peripheral portion. 
   
   
       16 . The device, as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the base portion of the lid is provided with a recessed region adjacent to the peripheral portion, said recessed region being partially covered by an upper wall formed by the base portion itself that defines the gripping handle for opening the lid. 
   
   
       17 . The device, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the outer peripheral projection is defined by double-seaming, to the upper edge of the side wall of the tubular body, a peripheral portion of the annular upper wall.