Granted Patent B2

US 7,607,551 · App. 11/607,712 · Granted Oct 27, 2009

Assignee: Letica Corporation

Abstract

Claims (18)

1. A tint plug for paint containers of the type comprising a container and a closure to be attached to the container, wherein the tint plug comprises the integral and unitary plastic combination of:

a deformable annular rim structure adapted to sealingly fit within the edge of an aperture in the closure;

a recessed deck formed interiorly of the rim structure and integral therewith and having an area defined essentially by the inner diameter of the rim structure;

a recessed well formed integrally within the deck and being more deformable than the deck, said well being offset from the center of the deck so as to be immediately adjacent the rim structure and having an area which is substantially less than the area of the deck;

a pull ring of a diameter which allows the ring to fit within the area of the well but which is too large to fit within the well, the ring having stem which projects into and is integrally attached to the well immediately adjacent the rim structure such that when force is applied to the tint plug by way of the ring, the well and the rim structure immediately adjacent the well deform and lose seal with the edge of the closure aperture.

2. The tint plug defined in claim 1 further including a partial circumferential slot formed man exterior surface of the rim structure proximate the well.

3. The tint plug defined in claim 1 further including a pair of partial circumferential slots formed in an exterior surface of the rim structure in opposed symmetrical relationship to the pull ring stem.

4. A tint plug as defined in claim 1 wherein the rim structure comprises an upper rim structure above the groove and a tapered lower rim structure below the groove.

5. In combination:

a plastic closure for a plastic paint can and having an upper deck with an aperture formed within the deck portion; and

a plastic tint plug releasably disposed within the aperture of the closure deck and comprising the unitary plastic combination of

a deformable annular rim structure adapted to sealingly fit within the edge of an aperture in the closure;

a recessed deck formed interiorly of the rim structure and integral therewith, having a first material thickness and an area defined essentially by the inner diameter of the rim structure;

a recessed well formed integrally within the deck and having a second material thickness less than the material thickness of the deck so as to be more deformable than the deck, said well being offset from the center of the deck so as to be immediately adjacent the rim structure and having an area which is substantially less than the area of the deck;

a pull ring of a diameter which allows the ring to fit within the rim structure but which is too large to fit entirely within the well, the ring having a stem which projects into and is integrally attached to the well immediately adjacent the rim structure such that when force is applied to the tint plug by way of the ring, the well and the rim structure immediately adjacent the well deform and lose seal with the edge of the closure aperture.

6. The tint plug defined in claim 5 further including a partial circumferential slot formed in an exterior surface of the rim structure proximate the well.

7. The tint plug defined in claim 5 further including a pair of partial circumferential slots formed in an exterior surface of the rim structure in opposed symmetrical relationship to the pull ring stem.

8. A tint plug as defined in claim 5 wherein the rim structure comprises an upper rim structure above the groove and a tapered lower rim structure below the groove.

Assignments (35)

Continuity (1)