U.S. patent number 3,750,822 [Application Number 05/170,540] was granted by the patent office on 1973-08-07 for closure for containers, and more particularly for jars, bottles cans and the like.
Invention is credited to Werner Dubach.
United States Patent |
3,750,822 |
Dubach |
August 7, 1973 |
CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS, AND MORE PARTICULARLY FOR JARS, BOTTLES
CANS AND THE LIKE
Abstract
The invention provides a closure for containers, and more
particularly for jars, bottles, can and the like. The closure
includes a seal pressing against the inner wall of the container,
in which the sealing pressure may be quickly and reliably produced
and relieved, thereby making possible a quick operation of the
closure.
Inventors: |
Dubach; Werner (CH 8484
Weisslingen, CH) |
Family
ID: |
4380592 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/170,540 |
Filed: |
August 10, 1971 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Aug 13, 1970 [CH] |
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12177/70 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
215/361 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
39/12 (20130101); B65D 15/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
39/12 (20060101); B65D 39/00 (20060101); B65d
039/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;215/52,53,54 ;220/24.5
;217/78,108,109 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1,082,007 |
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Jun 1954 |
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FR |
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1,035,727 |
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Apr 1953 |
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FR |
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677,026 |
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Aug 1952 |
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GB |
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168,970 |
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Sep 1951 |
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OE |
|
Primary Examiner: Norton; Donald F.
Claims
What I claim is :
1. A closure for containers comprising
a. a cover member having a bore therein,
b. a tensioning plate spaced from said cover member,
c. a guide rod secured to said tensioning plate and extending
through the bore in said cover member, said guide rod being axially
slidable through the bore in said cover member for moving and
guiding said tensioning plate towards and away from said cover
member,
d. an elongated annular cylindrical elastic sealing member
extending in an axial direction between said cover member
contacting one end of said sealing member and tensioning plate
contacting the opposite end of said sealing member, said sealing
member in an uncompressed, relaxed condition having an external
uniform diameter and the cross-sectional thickness of the elastic
material of said cylindrical sealing member being thinner
circumferentially at a point intermediate its ends than the
cross-sectional thickness at the opposite ends thereof, and the
interior cylindrical surface of said sealing member being spaced
from said guide rod, and
e. spring means extending between said cover member and guide rod
biasing said cover member and tensioning plate for movement towards
each other to compress said cylindrical elastic sealing member in
an axial direction to expand in a radial direction the portion of
said cylindrical member having a thinner cross-section intermediate
the ends thereof to seal the container,
f. said guide rod being adapted for manual movement in the opposite
direction against the bias of said spring means to move said cover
member and tensioning plate away from each other to release the
compression of said sealing member to contract said portion of said
sealing member.
2. A closure as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for
adjusting and maintaining the degree of compression applied to said
elastic sealing member by said cover member and tensioning
plate.
3. A closure as defined in claim 1 further comprising manually
operable means for locking said sealing member in both closed and
open positions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In known closures, e.g., for jars and bottles, with insulating
jacket, the sealing pressure is produced on the seal by means of a
screw. For opening and closing the closure, both hands are usually
needed, because otherwise the base portion, having the main thread,
is also rotated relative to the threaded stud serving as operating
member. This necessitates a frequent change of the grip for pouring
and for operating the closure. For producing and relieving the
sealing pressure, a number of rotating movements are required so
that the closing stud is taken off and refitted with partially
relieved seal for the sake of simplicity; this strains the seal or
causes it to fall apart when it is excessively undone. In addition,
excessive tightening of the screw can cause the glass neck to
burst.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a closure for containers, and more
particularly for jars, bottles, cans and the like. According to the
invention said closure is distinguished by an elastic closing
element connected operatively with an operating member, so that the
sealing pressure is produced automatically by the elastic effect
and may be relieved by a pressure on the operating member acting
against the elastic effect.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Various forms of the invention are shown in the drawings, in which
:
FIG. 1 is an axial cross-section of a first embodiment of a closure
under sealing pressure for a narrow neck vessel,
FIG. 2 is an axial cross-section of a second embodiment,
FIG. 3 shows a part of the closure of FIG. 2 in axial
cross-section,
FIG. 4 is an axial cross-section of a third embodiment with the
relieved sealing pressure,
FIG. 5 is a modification of a detail in FIG. 4,
FIG. 6 is an axial cross-section of a fourth embodiment for wide
neck vessels and cans,
FIG. 7 is a cross-section along the line VII--VII in FIG. 6,
FIG. 8 is an axial cross-section through a fifth embodiment for
wide neck containers, such as cans,
FIG. 9 is an axial cross-section of a modification of FIG. 2,
FIG. 10 is an axial cross-section of a further modification of FIG.
2,
FIGS. 11 and 12 are axial cross-sections of two further embodiments
of the closure according to the invention,
FIG. 13 is an axial cross-section of an embodiment having a ball
pen type operating mechanism.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
The closure shown in FIG. 1 comprises a gripping part 1, a cover 2
connected therewith, resting with its periphery 2' on the edge of
the neck 3' of a Thermos flask 3, a tightening plate 4, and a
rubber sealing ring 5 resting on one side against the cover 2, and
on the other side against the tightening plate 4. In the relieved
state, the sealing ring 5 has a hollow cylindrical shape, flush
with the circumference of the cover 2, and the circumference of the
tightening plate 4, and engages by means of reinforced internal
beads 5' into corresponding peripheral grooves of the cover 2 and
the tightening plate 4. The centre part of the sealing ring 5 forms
under the pressure of the tightening plate 4 an outwardly bulging
annular roll 5" produced by the action of the tension spring 10 in
the direction of the arrows to provide a locking action. Parts 1,
2, 4, made preferably of plastic, have axial bores 6 through which
passes a push-pull rod 7 of plastic. The inner end of the rod 7 is
connected by a screw 8 for tensile stress with the tightening plate
4, whilst the outer end of the rod 7 has a knob 9 against which
rests a compression spring 10 mounted in an expanded portion 6' of
the bore. The annular roll 5" of the sealing ring 5 is in contact
with the inner shoulder 3" of the Thermos flask 3, and provides an
axial safety against the withdrawal of the closure pin.
By depressing the head 9 of the rod 7 against the action of the
compressions spring 10, the sealing ring 5 assumes its cylindrical
shape by stretching the roll 5", and is flush with the cover 2 and
the tightening plate 4, so that the closure pin may be withdrawn by
means of the grip portion 1 from the bottle without offering
resistance. When the pressure on the head 9 is relieved, the
sealing ring 5 is deformed under the action of the spring 10 back
into its sealing shape in which it forms the roll 5".
In the second embodiment of the closure, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a
cover portion 12, provided with the gripping element 11, rests on
the edge of the neck 13' of a Thermos flask 13. A push-pull rod 17,
guided in a guide 16 of the cover portion 12 forms an integral
piece with the tightening plate 14. Reference numeral 15 indicates
a sealing ring of rubber, resting on one side against the cover
portion 12 and on the other side against the tightening plate 14. A
head 19 located at the outer end of the push-pull rod 17 and having
an adjusting ring 21, serves to support a compression spring 20
located in an expanded portion 16' of the bore. The pressure of the
tightening plate 14 forms a sealing roll 15" making sealing contact
with the inner shoulder 13" and serving to secure the closing pin
against withdrawal.
By exerting a pressure on the head 19, the sealing ring 15
stretches its roll 15" thereby facilitating the easy extraction of
the closing pin. A locking pin 22 provided on the adjusting ring
21, rests on a helically rising inner shoulder 23 of the grip
portion 11, having at the lowest point a blind bore 23' and, offset
relative thereto at angles of 90.degree., ratchet indentations 23".
In the position shown in FIG. 2, the locking pin 22 is exactly
above the blind bore 23', so that pressure on the head 19 makes it
possible to push in the rod 17, thereby stretching the roll 15" of
the sealing ring 15 and enabling the closure to be easily
withdrawn. By rotating the adjusting ring 21 to the left, the
locking pin 22 slides on the rising shoulder 23, tightening the rod
17 further in the direction of action of the compression spring,
and engages into one of the ratchet indentations 23", thereby
fixing the tightening position of the sealing ring 15 and securing
the closure to a variable internal pressure of the Thermos
flask.
In a modification of this closure, according to FIG. 2 the
adjusting ring 21 may be provided with a cap 21' which facilitates
the rotation of the adjusting ring 21 for producing the adjustable
higher tightening pressure of the sealing ring 15.
The third embodiment of the closure according to FIG. 4 shows the
position of the sealing element 15 with depressed head 19 in which
the locking pin 22 engages into the blind bore 23' of the inner
shoulder 23, and the sealing ring 15 assumes a stretched
cylindrical shape without annular bulge.
FIG. 5 shows in a modification to FIG. 4 that the seal may also be
constructed as a rubber bellows 25 connected by its base through a
screw connection 24 with the lower end of the push-pull rod 17,
whilst the edge roll 25" engages, as in FIG. 4, into an annular
groove of the cover part 12, and rests thereagainst. Also here a
bulging annular ring is formed, when the rubber bellows 25 is
axially compressed.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is particularly suitable for large
vessels, either with round or with square openings. Here, a sealing
ring of rubber 26 is mounted in an annular groove of a closing
cover 27, and tightening plate 28, formed by two conical surfaces
27', 28'. The closing cover 27 has a handle 29 which carries a knob
31 located in a recess 32 of the handle 29 and adapted to be
depressed against the action of a spring 30. The knob 31 is
connected to the plate 28 by two guide pins 34 passing through the
handle 29 and the cover 27 in bores 33. The pressure of the spring
30 pulls the tightening plate 28 towards the cover 27 and causes
thereby the annular groove to narrow, and the sealing ring 26 to be
pushed outwardly and to expand. When the knob 31 is depressed the
sealing ring 26 drops back into the annular groove and becomes
smaller, so that the cover may be easily fitted to the vessel or
can 35, or lifted therefrom. When handle and knob are released
after fitting the cover to the vessel 35, the sealing ring 26
automatically expands under the action of the spring 30 and rests
against the inner wall of the container, forming a tight seal.
Instead of the bowed spring 30 it is also possible to fit a helical
spring 30'.
The fifth embodiment according to FIG. 8 comprises two sealing
rings 26, 26' one above the other, of which the sealing ring 26 is
between two conical surfaces 27' and 28', and the sealing ring 26'
between two conical surfaces 28' and 36' of the tightening plate
28, and a further tightening plate 36. The closing cover 27 has two
diametrically opposite handles 29. The tightening plate 36 carries
a centre guide pin 34, passing through a bore 33 in the tightening
plate 28 and the cover 27, and having a head 34' on its projecting
top end. The guide pin 34 is pressed towards the top by a spring 30
and thereby urges the tightening plates 36 and 28 against the cover
part 27. Springs 30' are arranged between the cover plates 36 and
28, and the cover 27, whereby the pressure of the springs 30 is
distributed uniformly amongst the tightening plates 36 and 28.
Release of the pressure acting on the sealing rings 26, 26' is
achieved by depressing a lever 37, acting on the guide pin 34, and
mounted rotatably on a pivot 38 of a bearing lug 39 of the cover
part 27.
By depressing the lever 37, the tightening pressure acting on the
cover part 27 and the plates 28 and 36 is relieved, so that the
spaces between the cover part 27 and the tightening plates 28, 36
are increased, permitting the sealing rings 26, 26' to sink
thereinto and to become smaller. Hence, when the lever 37 is
depressed the closing cover can be fitted or removed without
friction. When the lever 37 is released, the cover part 27 and the
tightening plates 28 and 36 are again affected by spring pressure
and the sealing rings 26, 26' are pressed against the inner wall of
the container 35 forming a tight seal.
According to a further modification of the closure of FIG. 2, shown
in FIG. 9, the guide rod 17 has at its lower end a spherical
element 40 which engages into a dish-shaped receiving part 41 of
the tightening plate 14, forming therewith a snap coupling. This
coupling makes it possible to rotate the rod 17 in any direction
relative to the tightening plate 40. The latter is connected with
the cover part 12 by the sealing ring 15. The guide rod 17 guided
in a centre bore 16 of the cover part 12 is pulled towards the top
by a compression spring 20 mounted in an expanded part 16' of the
bore, and resting against the head portion 19, thereby causing the
sealing ring 15 to be deformed in the shape of a bulge 15', forming
a closure against the inner shoulder 13" of the bottle 13, and a
tight seal, securing the closure against withdrawal. The head 19
surrounds the grip part 11 after the manner of a cap. A locking pin
22 arranged inside the head portion 19 rests on a helically rising
or declining inner shoulder 23 of the grip part 11. The inner
shoulder 23 connects a blind bore 23' with a ratchet indentation
23", offset relative thereto through 180.degree..
In the position shown in FIG. 9, the locking pin 22 is above the
blind bore 23', so that the head portion 19 of the push rod 17 may
be introduced against the action of the compression spring 20,
thereby causing the bulge 15" to be relieved, and the closure to be
removed without friction. By rotating the head portion 19 towards
the left out of the position of FIG. 9, the locking pin 22 slides
up on the helical inner shoulder 23, causing a further expansion of
the bulge 15" until the locking pin 22 finally engages into the
ratchet indentation 23". In this position, the head portion 19 is
secured against depression and the bottle is ready for
transportation.
The bottle shown in FIG. 10 is a simplification of the bottle
according to FIG. 9. Here, the head portion 19 of the push rod 17
is surrounded by the beaker-shaped upper end 11' of the grip part
11. The head end 19 is secured against accidental depression
because in the closing position of the closure according to FIG.
10, the upper edge of the beaker 11' is substantially in the same
plane as the upper edge of the head part 19. The depression of the
head part 19 is, therefore, possible only with one finger of the
hand.
In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the closure may be locked in the open
position, whilst the closed position is secured by the pressure of
the spring 20. The housing-shaped cover 12, 12' consists of two
parts 12 and 12', connected by a snap joint and encloses a
cylindrical chamber 43 which narrows towards the top by an inwardly
projecting annular shoulder 44. The connecting rod 17 is guided in
a centre guide 16 of the lower cover part 12' and carries at the
bottom a tightening plate 14. The sealing ring 15 rests on the top
against a peripheral shoulder 45 of the cover part 12' and at the
bottom against a peripheral shoulder 46 of the tightening plate 14.
The upper end of the pull rod 17 carries a plate 47 against which
rests a compression spring 20 seated on the lower cover part 12'. A
locking plate 48 rests on the plate 47 of the push rod 17 and has a
diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the annular
shoulder 44. The lock plate 48 carries on the top a tapering
gripping portion 49, and at the bottom a circumferential bulge 50.
In the eccentric position shown the locking plate 48 rests on the
annular shoulder 44 and prevents thereby the escape towards the top
of the guide rod 17 biassed by the tensioned spring 20. In this
locking position, the sealing ring 15 is in the cylindrical
extended position. By shifting the locking plate 48 into its centre
position, it can enter into the opening of the annular shoulder 44,
thereby permitting the guide rod 17 to carry out the closing
movement towards the top until the circumferential bulge 50 rests
on the annular shoulder 44. At the end of the closing movement, the
sealing ring 15 has reached its bulging expanded position as shown
by the dash-dot line. The closure may be opened by pushing in the
locking plate 48 from the dash-dot position and towards the side
into the eccentric position according to FIG. 11. The embodiment of
FIG. 12 is a modification of FIG. 11 and differs therefrom only in
that the guide rod consists of a fixed part 17 and a movable
connecting link 17', the latter being connected at its upper end to
the locking plate 48 and at its lower end to the fixed guide member
17 by ball joints 51 and 52 respectively. In view of the
articulated connection of the fixed guide part 17 through the
connecting link 17' with the locking plate 48, the desired vertical
and horizontal movements of the locking plate 48 are possible for
operating the closure.
FIG. 13 shows an embodiment, in which the vertical displacement of
the guide rod for operating the sealing ring 15 by actuating a push
button 53 is effected by a control mechanism known in the art such
as is used in ball pens for retracting and pushing forward the
writing cartridge.
The cover consisting of two parts 12, 12' connected by a snap joint
42 contains the control mechanism of a known ball pen for moving
the writing cartridge, and consisting of the parts 12, 53, 54.
Reference numeral 15 indicates the sealing ring, resting on one
side against the underpart 12' of the cover, and on the other side
against the tightening plate 14. The guide rod 17 firmly connected
to the tightening plate 14 is biassed through the control mechanism
by the compression spring 12, and passes through a centre bore 16
in the lower part of the cover. By depressing the push button 53
from the position in FIG. 13 the control mechanism is operated and
the push button 53 moves into the dash-dot position leading to the
expansion of the sealing ring 15. The depression of the push button
53 from the dash-dot position, reverses the control mechanism,
causing the push button 53 and the sealing ring 15 to return into
the position shown in FIG. 13.
While the invention has been described in detail with respect to
now preferred examples of the invention it will be understood by
those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that
various changes and modifications may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended,
therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the
appended claims.
* * * * *