Lock Ring for Securing a Container Lid

Abstract

A lock ring for securing a lid to a drum-type container has a body with a discontinuous ring shape and first and second free ends. The body has an annular wall and two spaced apart flanges defining a clamping channel facing radially inward. A lever has a grip section and a pivot section at opposite ends. The pivot section is pivotally attached to the body near the first free end. The lever is pivotable between a closed position and an open position and has two walls spaced from one another and connected by a third wall. A lever end is adjacent the first free end and is formed by the annular wall and one flange of the two flanges continuing to the first free end and the other flange of the two flanges terminating short of the first free end. When the lever is in the closed position, the third wall of the lever lies adjacent the annular wall, the annular wall of the lever end is positioned between the two walls of the lever, the body is captured between the two walls of the lever along the grip section, and a portion of one wall of the two walls of the lever lies generally in the same plane as the other flange along the lever end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lock ring for securing a lid to a drum-type container, the lock ring comprising:
 a body having a discontinuous circular ring shape, the body having a first free end and a second free end, the body having an annular wall and two spaced apart flanges together defining a clamping channel facing radially inward;   a lever having a grip section at one end and a pivot section at an opposite end, the pivot section pivotally attached to the body near the first free end, the lever pivotable between a closed position and an open position and having two walls spaced from one another and connected by a third wall; and   a lever end adjacent the first free end of the body, the lever end formed by the annular wall and one flange of the two flanges continuing to the first free end and the other flange of the two flanges terminating short of the first free end,   wherein, when the lever is in the closed position, the third wall of the lever lies adjacent the annular wall, the annular wall of the lever end is positioned between the two walls of the lever, the body is captured between the two walls of the lever along the grip section, and a portion of one wall of the two walls of the lever lies generally in the same plane as the other flange along the lever end of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The lock ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the one wall is formed by a stepped down segment in a central section of the lever from the grip section to the central section. 
     
     
         3 . The lock ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the one wall of the lever is aligned with and generally parallel to the other flange when the lever is in the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The lock ring according to  claim 1 , wherein a clamping end is provided on the second free end of the body, the clamping end having a clamping bar that can be coupled to part of the lever. 
     
     
         5 . The lock ring according to  claim 1 , further comprising a clamping end on the second free end of the body, the clamping end having two walls, wherein one of the two walls of the clamping end lies against the outside of the one wall on the stepped down segment when the clamping end is connected to the lever. 
     
     
         6 . The lock ring according to  claim 5 , wherein the one of the two walls on the clamping end lies generally in the same plane as the one wall on the grip section of the lever. 
     
     
         7 . The lock ring according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a pocket formed in the third wall of the lever, wherein the clamping end engages the pocket to indirectly connect the first and second free ends of the body.   
     
     
         8 . The lock ring according to  claim 7 , wherein the clamping end has a clamping bar between two walls of the clamping end, the clamping bar engaging the pocket on the lever. 
     
     
         9 . The lock ring according to  claim 8 , wherein the clamping end and clamping bar are integrally formed as a part of the body and from the same material as the body. 
     
     
         10 . The lock ring according to  claim 7 , wherein the pocket includes two slots, one formed in each of the two walls of the lever and adjacent the third wall, a clamping bar of the clamping end being seated in the two slots. 
     
     
         11 . The lock ring according to  claim 10 , wherein the lever has a cover over the pocket in the third wall, the cover being a flexible part of the third wall and having an attached end and a detached end, the detached end providing access to the pocket and slots for the clamping bar. 
     
     
         12 . The lock ring according to  claim 7 , wherein the pocket includes two slots, one formed in each of the two walls of the lever and adjacent the third wall. 
     
     
         13 . The lock ring according to  claim 11 , wherein the lever has a cover over the pocket in the third wall, the cover being a flexible part of the third wall and having an attached end and a detached end, the detached end providing access to the pocket and slots. 
     
     
         14 . The lock ring according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hook on the annular wall of the body and spaced from the first free end, the hook having a catch; and   a pivot pin on the pivot end of the lever, the pivot pin detachably connectable to the catch of the hook.   
     
     
         15 . The lock ring according to  claim 14 , wherein the hook is integrally formed as a part of the annular wall and from the same material as the body and the pivot pin is integrally formed as a part of the lever and from the same material as the lever. 
     
     
         16 . The lock ring according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an aperture in the lever end near the first free end of the body; and   a protrusion on an inside surface of the annular wall within a portion of the clamping channel near the second free end of the body,   wherein the protrusion seats in the aperture when the second free end of the body is connected to the lever and the lever is in the closed position.   
     
     
         17 . The lock ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular wall and the two flanges of the body form a generally C- or G-shaped structure in cross-section. 
     
     
         18 . The lock ring according to  claim 1 , wherein a lower flange of the two flanges of the body has a lip formed on an innermost edge thereof, the lip depending below the lower flange. 
     
     
         19 . The lock ring according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lock tab protruding from a portion of the annular wall and having a lock hole formed therethrough; and   a pass-through opening formed in the two walls of the lever,   wherein, when the lever is in the closed position, the lock tab is positioned between the two walls of the lever and the lock hole is aligned with the pass-through opening in the lever.   
     
     
         20 . The lock ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the body and the lever are formed of molded plastic materials.