U.S. patent number 3,661,306 [Application Number 05/098,766] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-09 for closure for containers and device utilizing such closure.
Invention is credited to Alexander Kuckens.
United States Patent |
3,661,306 |
Kuckens |
May 9, 1972 |
CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS AND DEVICE UTILIZING SUCH CLOSURE
Abstract
A tear-away closure is in form of a member of synthetic plastic
which is to be fluid-tightly connected with a wall of a container,
spanning an opening therein. An annular marginal portion of the
member surrounds an aperture and is provided at that axial side
thereof which will normally face the interior of the container with
circumferentially spaced coupling portions which can engage with
cooperating coupling portions on an auxiliary element with which
the container is to be connected via the closure member. An inner
portion of the member is located within the confines of the annular
marginal portion and spans the aperture thereof in the region of
the other axial side of the aperture. An annular weakened portion
is unitary and fluid-tightly connects the inner and annular
marginal portions and comprises first and second circumferentially
spaced arcuate sections which are respectively located on an inner
and an outer imaginary circle, and third sections which extend at
least substantially normal to and connect each second section with
two adjacent first sections to define at circumferentially spaced
locations a plurality of radial notches which are to afford access
to the coupling portions. A gripping portion is in form of a strip
of the inner portion which is bounded at its lateral sides by
weakened lines one of which merges with the annular weakened
portion, and a ring-shaped part of the strip projects from the
inner portion and is to be engaged by the fingers of a user.
Inventors: |
Kuckens; Alexander (2 Hamburg,
39, DT) |
Family
ID: |
22270786 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/098,766 |
Filed: |
December 16, 1970 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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6670 |
Jan 21, 1970 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/504;
222/541.9; 220/270 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
13/065 (20130101); B65D 39/084 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
39/08 (20060101); B65D 39/00 (20060101); G07F
13/06 (20060101); B65d 047/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/541,325-327,76,185,504,105,567,569 ;251/141,139
;220/27,54 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Tollberg; Stanley H.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
A related application, of which the present one is a
continuation-in-part, Ser. No. 6,670, was filed on Jan. 21, 1970 in
my name under the title "DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR LIQUIDS" and is
currently copending.
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
1. In a dispensing apparatus for liquids, in combination, a
disposable liquid-containing tank having a wall provided with an
opening; an electromagnetically operable liquid-dispensing device
having an inlet; first coupling means on said dispensing device and
including a plurality of coupling projections spaced
circumferentially of said inlet; second coupling means, including
coupling portions engageable with said projections, on said tank in
the region inwardly of said opening; and tear-away closure means on
said opening, including a closure member spanning said opening and
having an annular marginal portion fluid-tight with said wall, an
inner portion within said marginal portion, an annular weakened
portion connecting said inner portion with said marginal portion
and comprising first and second circumferentially spaced sections
respectively located on an inner and an outer imaginary circle and
third sections connecting each second section with two adjacent
first sections extending at least substantially normal thereto and
defining therewith at circumferentially spaced locations radial
notches which afford access to said coupling portions, and a
gripping portion arranged to be gripped by a user for separating
said inner and marginal portions along said weakened portion in
response to exertion of requisite force on said gripping
portion.
2. In a dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said
closure member consists of synthetic plastic material.
3. In a dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said
gripping portion is at least in part ring-shaped.
4. In a dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said
gripping portion comprises a strip-shaped part of said inner
portion extending across the latter substantially radially of said
marginal portion and bounded by respective lateral weakened lines
one of which merges with said weakened portion, and a ring-shaped
part fast with said strip-shaped part for engagement by a user.
5. In a dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said
third sections extend substantially at right angles to the
respectively associated first and second sections.
6. As a novel article of manufacture, a closure for openings of
tanks and other containers, comprising an annular wall portion
adapted for fluid-tight connection to the wall bounding an opening
in a container, said wall portion surrounding an aperture having
two axial sides one of which faces the interior of the container
when said wall portion is connected to the same; circumferentially
spaced coupling portions on said annular wall portion in the region
of said one side for engagement with cooperating coupling portions
on an auxiliary element; an inner wall portion within the confines
of said annular wall portion and spanning said aperture in the
region of the other of said axial sides; an annular weakened
portion unitary with sad fluid-tightly connecting said inner and
said annular wall portions, said weakened portion comprising first
and second circumferentially spaced sections respectively located
on an inner and an outer imaginary circle and third sections
extending at least substantially normal to and connecting each
second section with two adjacent first sections so as to define at
circumferentially spaced locations of said annular weakened zone
radial notches for affording access to said coupling portions; and
a gripping portion of one piece with said wall portions and
arranged to be gripped by a user for separating said inner wall
portion from said outer wall portion along said sections of said
weakened portion in response to exertion of requisite pull by a
user.
7. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 6, wherein said
portions consist of synthetic plastic material.
8. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 7, said third
sections defining with the respective first and second sections at
least three equidistantly spaced ones of said radial notches.
9. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 7, said coupling
portions being constructed and arranged for cooperating with
coupling portions of an auxiliary element in the manner of a
bayonet coupling.
10. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 7, said gripping
portion comprising a strip-shaped part of said inner wall portion
extending across the latter substantially radially of said annular
weakened portion and bounded by respective lateral weakened lines
one of which merges with said weakened portion, and a ring-shaped
part on said strip-shaped part for engagement by a user.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to closures, and more
particularly to closures for openings in containers and other
vessels. Still more specifically the invention relates to a
tear-away closure and to a device utilizing such a closure.
In my aforementioned copending application I have disclosed a
dispensing apparatus for liquids in which an electromagnetically
operable liquid-dispensing device is provided having an inlet which
is provided with screwthreads. The liquid to be dispensed by this
device is provided in disposable liquid-containing tanks which are
formed in a bottom wall thereof with an opening bounded by an
internal circumferential surface provided with threads which are to
mate with the threads on the dispensing device. The opening in the
bottom wall of the tank is covered by a tear-away closure and
fluid-tightly closed thereby, with the threads in the opening being
concealed while the closure is in place. The closure is torn away
when the tank is to be used, and then the threads on the tank are
brought in mesh with the threads on the dispensing device whereby
liquid from the tank can now enter the dispensing device and be
dispensed by the latter. When the tank is empty it is unthreaded
and replaced with a filled new one.
The closure, which actually is a member defining not only the
opening provided with screwthreads, but also a cover portion
spanning this opening until it is torn away, is of synthetic
plastic material for various reasons, one of these being that the
plastic material can be readily torn when the closure is to be
opened and another reason being that the plastic material is
intended to provide a sealing function as its threads mesh with
those on the dispensing device.
While my invention as disclosed in the aforementioned copending
application provides substantially advantages over what is known
from the art, it does have a drawback which is not to be
overlooked. Specifically, when the threads in the synthetic plastic
material of the closure mesh with the threads on the dispensing
device, which may or may not also be of synthetic plastic material,
the danger exists that they will not properly move into mesh.
However, because of the character of the material involved this
does not preclude engagements of the threads with one another;
instead, the threads will simply overlap rather than be in mesh.
This is a problem which occurs quite frequently where threads are
provided in synthetic plastic material and which frequently cannot
be avoided even with the most careful handling. The self-evident
disadvantage of this is that if the problem occurs, the sealing
function which is required to prevent leakage of liquid at the
juncture between the tank and the dispensing device, is lost and
consequently much or all of the liquid from the tank may be wasted.
Other disadvantages obtain also, of course, including the fact that
bacteria may enter at this improper connection.
The problem thus presents itself how to obtain the desirable
advantages of a tear-away closure utilizing synthetic plastic, that
is the self-sealing function which it can afford as well as the
ready tearing of the material when the closure is to be opened,
without having to accept the aforementioned disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide
such an improved tear-away closure.
An additional object of the invention is to provide such an
improved tear-away closure which is simple in its construction and
inexpensive to make.
A concomitant object of the invention is to provide a
liquid-dispensing apparatus utilizing the improved tear-away
closure.
In pursuance of the above objects, and others which will become
apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides, briefly
stated, in a closure for openings of tanks and other containers
which comprises an annular wall portion adapted for fluid-tight
connection to the wall of a container bounding an opening therein,
such wall portion surrounding an aperture having two axial sides
one of which faces the interior of the container when the wall
portion is connected to the same. Circumferentially spaced coupling
portions are provided on the annular wall portion in the region of
the aforementioned one side for engagement with cooperating
coupling portions on an auxiliary element, such as a
liquid-dispensing device. An inner wall portion is located within
the confines of the annular wall portion and spans the aperture
therein in the region of the other of the axial sides. An annular
weakened portion is unitary with and fluid-tightly connects the
inner and annular wall portions; it comprises first and second
circumferentially spaced arcuate sections respectively located on
an inner and an outer imaginary circle and third sections extending
at least substantially normal to and connecting each second section
with two adjacent first sections so as to define at
circumferentially spaced locations of the annular weakened zone
radial notches for affording access to the coupling portions. A
gripping portion is of one piece with the wall portions and
arranged to be gripped by a user so that, upon exertion of
requisite pull on the gripping portion, the inner wall portion is
separated from the outer wall portion along the sections of the
weakened portion, opening the aperture as well as the notches and
thus affording access through the latter to the coupling
portions.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the
invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims.
The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its
method of operation, together with additional objects and
advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following
description of specific embodiments when read in connection with
the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view showing a
portion of a tank provided with my novel closure;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the underside of FIG. 1, that is
looking upwardly in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view, partially in section and
partially broken away, of a dispensing apparatus utilizing the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Discussing now the drawing in detail, and firstly FIGS. 1 and 2
thereof, it will be seen that I have illustrated therein one
embodiment of my novel tear-away closure. Reference numeral 1
identifies the somewhat diagrammatically shown circumferential wall
of a container, which wall bounds an opening. It will be
appreciated that the container will normally be filled with a
substance, usually liquid, which is to be prevented from exiting
through this opening, and from contact with the ambient atmosphere
until such time as it is intended to purposely open the
container.
For this purpose the opening is closed by my novel closure, which
is identified in toto with reference numeral 3. It may include a
wall portion 2 connected with the circumferential wall 1 of the
container, or the wall portion 2 may be part of the container wall
1, whether integral therewith or separately secured thereto, but in
either case my tear-away closure will be fluid-tightly connected
with the wall portion 2 in the manner illustrated or in another
suitable manner. This is not a part of the present invention, it
being evident that such a fluid-tight connection can be
accomplished in various different ways.
The actual closure member consists of synthetic plastic material,
different ones of which are suitable for the purpose, and comprises
an outer annular portion 4 which is that part of the closure that
is fluid-tightly connected with the wall portion 2. Located within
the confines of the outer annular portion 4--which latter surrounds
an aperture 4a--is an inner wall portion 5 which spans this
aperture at one axial end of the latter, namely that axial end
which when the closure is provided on a container as illustrated in
FIG. 1, will face outwardly away from the interior of the
container. The wall portions 4 and 5 are fluid-tightly connected
with one another by a weakened annular portion 6 which is of one
piece with them both.
This weakened annular portion 6 extends circumferentially of the
aperture 4a as most clearly shown in FIG. 2, where it is
illustrated in dotted lines and as FIG. 1 shows the portion 6 may
be provided by scoring, pressing or otherwise weakening the
material of the closure 3.
In accordance with the present invention the weakened portion 6 is
composed of a plurality of first arcuate sections 6a located on an
imaginary inner circle and circumferentially spaced from one
another as shown. A further plurality of sections 6b are located on
an imaginary outer circle surrounding the inner circle (compare
FIG. 2) and register with the gaps defined between the ends of
circumferentially adjacent ones of the first sections 6a. It should
be pointed out, parenthetically, that both the sections 6a and the
sections 6b may be but need not be arcuate. Each of the sections 6b
is connected with the ends of the two sections 6a with which it
cooperates, by two sections 6c which extend transversely of the
sections 6a and 6b , either at a right angle or at an inclination
which may closely approach a right angle to the sections 6a and 6b.
In other words, where the sections 6c merge with the sections 6a
and 6b, respectively, the junctures are quite sharp rather than of
pronouncedly rounded configuration. This is clearly shown in FIG.
2.
The cooperating sections 6a, 6b and 6c thus define with one another
radial notches 9 which, in the illustrated embodiment, extend
radially outwardly and of which there are four shown although there
could be more or fewer of them.
The possibility of providing these notches 9 in a tear-away
closure, with the sharp changes of directions at the junctures of
the sections 6a and 6c on the one hand, and the sections 6c and 6b
on the other hand, is unique to the use of synthetic plastic
material because in metallic material such sharp changes of
directions in a tear-away closure would not be possible, at least
not without causing deformation of the metallic material at these
junctures.
The junctures are important, however, because according to the
present invention the coupling which permits coupling of the
closure 3 with an auxiliary element, such as the liquid-dispensing
device which is to be discussed more fully with reference to FIG.
3, is to be of the bayonet type and not to utilize screwthreads
because of the disadvantages of screwthreads which have been
outlined in the introductory portion of this specification. For
bayonet type of closures, however, it is essential that the notches
9 be provided and that the junctures between the various sections
6a, 6b and 6c be as clean and as abrupt as possible.
To permit opening of the closure, that is to permit tearing-away of
the portion 5 from the portion 4, I provide a gripping portion
which is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The provision of this
particular gripping portion also departs from what is known in the
art. Conventionally such gripping portions extend circumferentially
of the opening which is closed by the tear-away closure and pull
exerted on them is exerted in circumferential direction. However,
it has been found that quite frequently a user is not certain in
which circumferential direction he is to exert pull, that is
whether towards the left or towards the right. This is avoided
according to the present invention by having the tear-away or
gripping portion extend transversely of the aperture 4a
substantially radially of the outline of the weakened portion 6, as
evident from FIG. 2 in particular. From the location of the
ring-shaped part of the gripping portion, through which a user will
normally insert a finger to exert a pulling action, it is clear
that pull is intended to be exerted in only one direction, namely
from the left towards the right in FIG. 2 and of course upwardly at
the same time. The gripping portion according to the present
invention comprises not only the ring-shaped part 8 but a
strip-shaped part 7 which is a part of the inner portion 5 itself
and is outlined or bounded by two scoring lines or weakened lines
12 shown in FIG. 2 in dot-dash lines, with one of them merging with
the weakened zone 6, or more particularly with one of the sections
6a thereof. The part 8 is of course fast with the strip-shaped part
7 and when it is pulled upwardly the strip-shaped part 7 will first
be severed from the remainder of the portion 5 along the weakened
lines 12. When the curved juncture of the one weakened line 12 with
the one section 6a (see FIG. 2) is reached, the pulling force will
be channeled and diverted in a direction at an angle to the
previous one. Now, severing of the portion 5 from the portion 4
begins first along the initial section 6a, then at an almost right
angle relative to the initial section 6a along the first section
6c, then again at an almost right angle along the first section 6b,
again at an almost right angle to the previous direction along the
second section 6c, and again at an almost right angle to the
previous direction along the next section 6a. This continues until
the portion 5 is completely detached from the portion 4 along the
weakened annular portion 6.
The severed part of the closure 3 is now discarded and the aperture
4 is exposed. The notches 9 in this condition afford access to the
coupling portions which are located in the illustrated embodiment
(see FIG. 1) at the opposite or inner axial side of the aperture
4a. These coupling portions in the illustrated embodiment are in
form of circumferentially inclined guide faces 10 which terminate
in depressions 11 and it will be clear that if in the manner of a
bayonet closure of conventional type, a part of an auxiliary
element provided with corresponding coupling projections is
extended into the opening 4a so that the coupling projections each
move through one of the notches 9, a relative rotational
displacement between the closure and the coupling projections of
the auxiliary element will cause the coupling projections to ride
up on the inclined guide faces 10 and to snap into the recesses 11,
thus providing a reliable coupling which, because it does not
utilize screwthreads, is not possessed of the disadvantages which
have been outlined in the introductory portion of the
specification.
FIG. 3 shows an apparatus utilizing my novel closure. In this FIG.,
reference numeral 14 identifies an electromagnetically operable
liquid dispensing device of the general type discussed in my
aforementioned application and also in my U. S. Pat. No. 3,258,166.
Specific details concerning the construction and operation of the
device 14 may therefore be obtained from either of these
sources.
As the drawing shows, the device 14 comprises an inner portion 15
having substantially inverted cup-shaped configuration and
extending through the aperture 4a (see FIG. 2) which is already
open into the interior of the receptacle 1. The latter may consist
of sheet metal or another suitable material of requisite mechanical
strength. The portion 15 is provided with coupling projections 13
(one shown) which each extend through one of the notches 9 and
which serve to ride up on the respective guide faces 10 and to snap
into a cooperating recess 11 in the manner discussed above. These
coupling projections 13 therefore constitute, together with the
components 10 and 11, a bayonet type of coupling.
The portion 15 is provided with an opening 16 through which liquid
can enter into the interior of the portion 15 from the interior of
the receptacle 1, and through which opening air can escape from the
portion 15 to the interior of the receptacle 1. A venting bore 17
is provided in the device 14 and communicates with a similar bore
or suitable conduit provided in the interior of the portion 15,
with the latter bore or conduit being identified with reference
numeral 18 and having a free open end located closely adjacent the
transverse wall 19 of the portion 15.
The device 14 comprises a second portion which is located
exteriorly of the receptacle 1 and which includes two cylindrical
sections 22 and 23, with the former having a smaller diameter than
the latter. There is further provided a conically tapering
intermediate section 21 located between the sections 22 and 23. A
vertically reciprocable magnetizable armature 24 is guided in the
cylindrical section 23 and provided with an annular circumferential
bead which engages the inner circumferentially tapered surface of
the conically tapering section 21 under the influence of gravity,
namely the weight of the armature 24, when the latter is not
magnetized. In this case the bead, having reference numeral 25 in
FIG. 3, seals the device and prevents the outflow of liquid through
the outlet opening 20 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.
3.
The upper portion of the section 23 is exteriorly surrounded by a
coil 26 which is connected in series with a source of electrical
energy 28 via conductors 27. A timer of any known construction is
interposed in the electrical circuit 26, 27 and 28 and may either
be closed manually by means of the actuating portion 30, such as a
pushbutton or the like, or it may be closed for a predetermined
period of time by insertion of a coin of given denomination. Such
timers are well known in the vending machine art and need not be
specifically described here, particularly because a more detailed
discussion may be found in my aforementioned U. S. Pat. No.
3,258,166.
In operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, and assuming that
the device 14 is to be provided for the first time with a
liquid-filled container, or that a previous container has been
emptied and is to be replaced with a new filled container--the new
container is placed onto a support with the wall portion 2 facing
upwardly. Now, the user inserts a finger or tool through the
portion 9 of the closure and exerts pull in the direction of the
arrow shown in FIG. 2, thereby severing the wall portion 5 from the
wall portion 4 along the weakened portion 6. This frees the
aperture 4a and the notches 9. Once this has occurred, the coupling
portions 10, 11 are accessible. Now, the device 14 is connected
with the container 1, or rather with the closure 3 thereof, in the
manner already discussed, namely in the manner of a bayonet
coupling, and at this time the total structure will have the
appearance shown in FIG. 3 but as seen if FIG. 3 were turned
through 180.degree., namely upside-down from what is illustrated.
Now, the structure can be turned over to the position shown in FIG.
3 with the outlet 20 facing downwardly, because as soon as such
turning takes place the member 24 will descend under the influence
of gravity and a seal will be established by the bead 25 in the
section 21.
When a portion of the contents of the tank 1 is to be dispensed,
the electric circuit 26, 27 and 28 is energized by means of a timer
29, resulting in energization of the coil 26 and magnetizing of the
armature 24 which is thereby lifted by the magnetic field of the
coil 26 to the illustrated broken-line position. In this position
it is retained as long as the coil 26 remains energized and during
this period of time liquid can issue from the interior of the
receptacle 1 through the opening 16 into the portion 15 and from
there via axially extending grooves 31 provided for this purpose in
the outer circumferential surface of the armature 24 and through
the outlet 20. If the starting pressure in the device decreases as
a result of the issuance of liquid, air enters from the ambient
atmosphere through the bore 17 and the bore or conduit 18 and
passes through the aperture 16 into the interior of the receptacle
1 where it rises in form of air bubbles into the space above the
liquid level. This space is completely closed with reference to the
ambient atmosphere except for the entry of such air bubbles.
After a predetermined period of time the timer 29 interrupts the
electric circuit, permitting the magnetic field to collapse and the
now demagnetized armature 24 to descent under the influence of its
own weight and gravity action to the full-line position in FIG. 3,
where it again seals the device 14 against the escape of
liquid.
Naturally, the device herein illustrated may be used with liquid of
any desired viscosity. The accuracy of dispensing of desired
quantities is very high, even if the liquids are highly viscous
such as syrups, so that even for such liquids a high accuracy and
speed of dispensing can be achieved, an advantage to those already
outlined above.
Naturally, various modifications over the exemplary embodiments
illustrated are possible and are intended to be fully encompassed
within the scope and context of the present invention. Thus,
sealing means can be additionally provided for establishing an
additional seal between the receptacle 1 and the device 14 when the
coupling portions 13 of the device 14 mate with the coupling
portions 10, 11 on the closure 3. Sealing means of this type are
for instance disclosed in my aforementioned copending application.
It is also possible to locate the coupling portions 10 and 11 in a
manner different from what has been illustrated. They could be
located closer to but still inwardly of the portion 5 if desired.
As pointed out before, different types of synthetic plastic
materials may be used, and all such types which are suitable and
which will offer themselves readily to those having ordinary skill
in the art, are to be considered encompassed within the scope and
concept of the present invention.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or
two or more together, may also find a useful application in other
types of constructions differing from the types described
above.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied
in a tear-away closure and apparatus utilizing the same, it is not
intended to be limited to the details shown, since various
modifications and structural changes may be made without departing
in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the
gist of the present invention that others can by applying current
knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without
omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly
constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific
aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should
and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of
equivalence of the following claims.
* * * * *