US2896810A - Detachable clip - Google Patents

Description

July 2s, 1959 E MULVENNA l 2,896,810

DETACHABLE CLIP Filed March 5, -1956 ll/v vs/vrp imm Mul vsn/NA Array/vn: 4 /w-y//M/ DETACHABLE CLIP Elmer Mulvenna, Mount Pleasant, "Ontario, Canada, assignor to S. C. Johnson & Son, Racine, Wis.

Application March 5, 1956, Serial No. 569,413

Claims priority, application Canada August 26, 1955 3 Claims. (Cl. Z2023.4)

This invention relates to a demountable clip for at- Jcaching a plurality of containers together and more particularly relates to a demountable clip for use in conjunction with a container having a spout and cap which may be readily assembled with the container so as to enable the simultaneous handling with the container of appendant merchandise.

Frequently in the displaying, storing and selling of goods, it is desirable to arrange for separately packaged materials to be handled together as a unit. This is advantageous in the sale and use of different materials which have been separately packaged, but which have been designed -for use in conjunction with one another.`

In other cases, although the different materials may have fairly distinct uses, for purposes of sale or merchandis ing, a manufacturer may wish to arrange for several of his products to be sold together. In still other cases, it is sometimes desired that a gift or premium accompany the sale of a major item, for such purposes as introducing a new product on the market.

In the packaging of dilferent goods held in separate containers for simultaneous handling, a device must be provided for attaching the several containers together. In order to be entirely satisfactory, this device should be cheap to manufacture, easily assembled, and be able to withstand the normal handling to which the goods are subjected while they are being readied for sale. In addition, particularly with the advent of the modern super market, the device should be designed 'so that a reasonable amount of protection is afforded against pilfering, particularly in those cases where a small, easily concealed item is being sold together with a larger item.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a novel device for attaching separately packaged goods together for simultaneous handling.

It is another object of this invention to provide a de- Vice of the character described for use with containers having a spout and cap which may be readily assembled, has a reasonable degree of strength, yet which is easily and economically manufactured.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel attaching device for separately packaged goods which affords protection against pilfering.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the present invention, various novel features of which will become apparent as the following specification is .read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings `wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of the detachable clip of this invention, showing the clip holding an appendant tube and mounted on a can having a spout and cap; and

tFig. 2 is a perspective view of the clip showing how itmay be assembled with a typical container having a spbut and cap.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a speciiic embodiment of the clip of this invention is shown in conjunction with a conventional container, such as may be used for the storage of iluids and indicated generally at 10. This 2,896,231() Patented July 28, .1959

Tice

container has a substantially rectangular body portion 11 including a peripheral side wall 12, a substantially flat upper end 13, and a vertical flange 14 where the side wall 12 and the upper end wall 13 are fastened in fluid tight relationship. Projecting from the upper end wall 13 from an intermediate point thereon is a threaded pouring spout 16 communicating with the interior of the body portion 11, the outer periphery of the pouring spout 16 being of a diminished size as compared to the outer periphery of the upper end wall 13. An enveloping cap 17, detachably secured to the pouring spout 16 by means of threaded portion 18, is provided to close the pouring spout 16.

As can best be seen in Fig. 2, the detachable clip of this invention comprises, in general, an attaching portion 19 having an opening 21 therein adapted to be placed about the pouring spout 16 and rest when assembled on upper end wall 13, and a bracket portion 22 for holding appendant merchandise. The clip is made from a flexible sheet, composed of plastic, metal, or such other material as will impart to the clip a limited amount of tiexibility and resiliency, yet which resists extreme bending and tearing.

The attaching portion 19 comprises a deformable, arcuate blade portion 23 positionable against the' upper wall 13 when the clip is assembled with the container, and a locking means consisting of a pair of curved guides 24 adapted to fit snugly about the vertical flange 14 when the clip is in this assembled position. Since the arcuate blade portion 23 is exible, tightening of the cap 17 about the pouring spout forces the arcuate blade firmly against the upper wall of the container deforrnng the blade portion somewhat and ixing the clip tightly in position. The curved guides 24 serve to positively lock the clip from any rotational displacement about the pouring spout 16 when the clip is assembled with the container 10.

Referring again to Fig. 2, the bracket portion 22 comprises, in general, a U-shaped retainer 26 projecting outwardly from the container 10 when the clip is in an assembled position. The retainer 26 includes an upper face 27, and a lower face 28 having therein an openended receiving slot 29.l The free end of upper face 27, which is adjacent the container 10 when the clip is assembled with the container, tends to converge toward the lower face 28. Slot 29 has its open end facing the container when the clip is in this assembled position.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the retainer 26 is adapted to securely hold auxiliary packages having an enlarged end portion together with a constricted portion projecting therefrom. In Fig. 1, this auxiliary package is shown as a conventional tube having an enlarged cap 31 fastened to the constricted throat 32 of a tube 33. It should be appreciated that the retainer 26 may be easily modified so as to hold other types of auxiliary packages, such as bottles, cans, and the like. When the auxiliary package, such as tube 33, is inserted within slot 29, the upper face 27 of the retainer is deformed slightly, exerting a downward thrust on tube cap 31 and assisting in positioning the tube 33.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the detachable clip of this invention is of simple construction and may be economically built, yet it alfords a means for securely holding two separately packaged articles together. Since the bracket portion 22 is juxtapositoned to the body portion 11 of the container placing the open end of slot 29 adjacent the body portion 10, auxiliary packages, such as tube 33 cannot be removed once the clip is assembled. For this reason the clip of this invention offers a simple, yet effective guard against pilfering of the tube. However, the tube may be readily removed once the cap 17 is removed from the pouring spou`t 16 by lifting the clip and the attaching portion 19 from olf the 'upper 'wall 13 and pouring spout 16. Should it be desired to reassemble 'the container and tube for storage after use, it is a simple matter to insert theV clip over the pouring spout and tighten up the cap 16V. The upper face 27offthe retainer 26, since it abuts tube cap 31 and "exerts a downward thrust thereon, forms a deformable 'clamping means and serves to hold the tube rinl'y in the retainer 256.

While there are above described only a few embodimentsof this invention, it should be understood that it is n ot intended to be restricted thereto, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations be imposed on the appended claims as are stated therein or required bythe prior artl 'It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination (1) a container vhaving a body portion 'co'.mprising` ya side Wall an'd'twoV end walls ea'ch intersectingsaid side wall, a pouring spout attached to one of said end'walls having at its juncture a cross sectional area less "than that of said end wall and an enveloping cap detachably secured to said pouring spout, (2) an auxiliary package having a constricted portion adjacent one end of said package, and (3) a demountable clip attaching said auxiliary package to said container, said clip comprising an attaching portion positioned about said spout andretained by said cap and end wall, and a bracket portion extending outwardly from said body portion, said bracket portion having a 'retaining means including a receiving slot opened toward said body portion of said container and engaging said constricted portion of said auxiliary package and a deformable clamping means abutting said one end ofthe auxiliary package adjacent its constricted portion, this construction of said bracket portion of said clip preventing the removal of said auxiliary package .from .saidcontainer when so assembled.

2Q In combination (l) a container having a body portion comprising Va side wall and two end walls each intersecting said side wall and a vertical flange at one end of said body portion, a pouring spout attached to the'same endof said body portion as vsaid vertical flange, said spout ha'ving at its juncture a cross sectional area less than the container end lto which the Vspout is attached, and an enveloping capdetachably securedto said pouring spout, (2) an auxiliary package having a constricted portion adjacent one end of said package, and (3) a demountable clip attaching said auxiliary Apackage to said container, said `c'lipcomprising an attaching portion positioned about said spout and retained by said cap and end wall, and a bracket portion 'extending outwardly from said body 'portion, said bracket portion having a locking means engaged with said vertical flange to restrain said clip from rotation about said spout, and a retaining means including a receiving slot opened toward said body portion of said container and engaging 'said constricted portion of said auxiliary package so as to prevent removal of said auxiliary package, and a deformable clamping means abutting said one end adjacent the constricted portion -of said auxiliary package.

3. In combination (1) a container having a body portion comprising a side wall and two end walls each intersecting said sidewall and avertical 'flange at one end of said body portion, a pouring spout attached to the same end of said body portion as said vertical ilange, said spout having at its juncture a cross sectional area less than the container end to which the spout is attached, and an enveloping cap detachably secured to said pouring spout, (2) an auxiliary package having a constricted .portion adjacent one end of said package, and (3) a .demountable clip attaching said auxiliary package to said container, said clip comprising an attaching portion including a deformable arcuate portion having an .opening therein receiving said spout, said yattaching portion being clamped against said end wall by said cap, and a bracket portion extending outwardly from said body `portion,.said bracket portion having a vlocking means engaged with said `vertical ilange to restrain said clip from rotation about said spout, and a retaining means `including a re# ceiving slot opened toward Vsaid body portion of said container assembled with said auxiliary package about said constricted portion, and a deformable clamping means abutting said one end adjacent the constricted portion of Y said auxiliary package.

References Cited in the rle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 852,858 ASteinhardt May 7, 1907 882,636 Hopkins Mar; 24, 1908 2,059,049 Smith Oct. 27, 1936 2,211,340 Mehrkens Aug. 13, 1940 2,238,856 Churchill Apr. 15, V1941 2,250,666 Godefroy July 29, 1941 2,340,719 Walter Feb. 1, 1944 2,423,145 Halm July 1, 1947 '2,653,616 Selgas 1 Sept. 29, 1953

Images