US1307169A - James a - Google Patents

Description

J. A. WATT. RECEPTACLE CLOSURE. APPLICATION mm nmzzz, 1916.

Patented J 11116 17, I919.

JAMES A. WATT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RECEPTACLE-GLOSURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17, 1919.

Application filed. June 22, 1916. Serial No. 105,094.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J AMES A. VATT, a subject of King George V of England, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Receptacle-Closures, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, whereby any one skilled in the art may make and use the same.

The invention relates to closures for receptacles where it is desired to give a perfect and a hermetic seal to the receptacle, whether it be of one form or another. It relates particularly to a closure which may be removed and re-inserted to close and seal the package or receptacle.

As illustrated and described herein, it is shown in connection with the neck of a bottle, this being an adaptation in use which illustrates the requirements, which are fulfilled, in practically every use to which the device may be applied.

The object of the invention is to provide a closure or seal for eflectually closing the opening to a receptacle, at the same time giving a self-contained means for withdrawing the closure.

A further object is to provide a closure with a self-contained withdrawing means which may be used again and again without impairing or diminishing the efiectiveness of the closure or stopper.

The device contemplates as one element a stopper, cork, bung or the like which may be inserted in the opening of any package to effectually seal and close it. Said element preferably is formed of a resilient material such as cork which, due to its natural characteristics, must have no perforation through it from the exterior to the interior of the package and which, when imperforate, forms a sufficient seal for any given package.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a selfcontained device which will not detract from the efficiency of the cork or stopper in ordinary use and which will provide a means for withdrawing the cork or stopper from a receptacle Without liability of tearing or disturbing the structure of the stopper and without liability of abrading or cutting the fingers of the user.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates the stopper in place in a bottle neck with the appurtenant parts for withdrawing the stopper.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, taken in partial section at right angles to that of Fig. 1, illustrat ng the withdrawing device extended.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the stopper as applied to a bottle, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the stopper and bottle neck of Fig. 1 on the line 4-4 of said figure.

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the gripping member and loop for withdrawing the stopper.

Fig. 7 illustrates the same gripping memher and loop with an inefiicient anchorage in the stopper by way of comparison with the device of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating an inefficient structure by way of comparison with the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.

It is not a new idea to provide a means for extracting a stopper or cork from a receptacle or a bottle. Many devices have been utilized for such purpose including the ordinary well-known corkscrew, which must be inserted in the cork or stopper to withdraw it. Such a device must be inserted in the cork or stopper and is not ordinarily an inherent element and combined part of the stopper or cork.

Corkscrews of various types are ordinarily used and in many instances are provided with a main shank or section, which must be screwed into the cork, combined with a ring which may be used as a finger-piece for withdrawing the cork.

Such devices are objectionable in that they oftentimes pull out of the cork and oftentimes expand the cork to such a degree that it is most difficult to extract the cork from the opening which it fills. Furthermore, such a device must be carried as a special adjunct to the receptacle and, whether its bail or lifting ring is of comparatively thin material or'is flattened out to give a fair-size gripping surface, the objections to its use are apparent. Any such device is ordinarily screwed through the cork or closure and thereby gives a vent to the interior of the package.

The vent or air opening to the interior of the package is very often suflicient to cause re-action which would destroy the contents of the package. Furthermore, such devices are liable to be misplaced.

Admittedly, it is not new in the art to provide withdrawing means attached to the stopper but such devices, so far as known, have objections. They are either too costly and cumbersome in their structure or are inefficient in use.

It is not new in the art to provide a web or sheet of material which may be pressed into a cork and which may be held at its lower end by a coiiperating perforation and pin passing through the cork.

It is not new in the art to insert wires or other flexible members into a cork and through it, then twisting said ends together to form a loop to surround a pin which may be driven in transversely of the cork or stopper.

It is not new in the art to provide an attaclnnent to a stopper in which a loop or bail is arranged at the outer side of the stopper to form a finger grip.

All devices of the sort enumerated have disadvantages which it is believed the present invention overcomes and, as hereinafter defined, the device described not only obviates the objections of devices of the prior art but has features of an unusual character giving advantages not heretofore attained.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the neck of a receptacle which, as illustrated herein, is a bottle, although the closure is not limited in its use to bottles and similar frangibl structures. WVithin the neck of the bottle 1, is arranged a closure 2, which, as illustrated, is of the ordinary cork type which may be softened and inserted to completely seal the neck of the bottle.

Inserted centrally of the cork is a pull member 3, which, as illustrated, is of a flexi ble type, preferably a wire having suflicient, substantial strength to stand the strain of pull to extract the cork or stopper 2.

This wire, as illustrated, is of a loop form. the lower end of the loop 4, passing about an anchor-pin 5, which is inserted transversely of the cork.

The two upper ends 6, 7 of the loop are secured to a connecting member 8.

The connecting member 8, as illustrated and as conveniently formed, consists of a disk-like member 9, having a central perforation 10, down through which extends the pull member 3, terminating in the loop 4.

The disk 9, has struck-up clips 11, 12 through which the ends 13, 14 of the pull member extend, and over which they are pressed.

This arrangement forms a convenient and practical means for uniting the two ends of the pull member above the cor; or stopper giving a clean. pull member 3, and loop 4., through which the pin 5 extends.

The pull member is of asufiicient length when extended, as illustrated in Fig. 2, to provide a hold for the fingers when placed below the disk 9.

Normally, the pull member 3, is bent backward and forward underlying the disk 9, and pressed close upon or into the upper surface of the stopper, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The anchor-pin 5, may be arranged very near the bottom of the stopper 2, and in order to prevent tearing away of the stopper, under the pull upon the disk 9 required to remove it, transverse pins 15, are arranged projecting transversely of the stopper and substantially at right angles to the anchorpin 5, on opposite sides of the pull wire or member 3.

These pins 15, may be arranged at any convenient position over the anchor-pin 5. They must be directly in contact therewith but are preferably located slightly above said anchor-pin 5, so that there is a resilientbody of material between the transverse members 15, and the anchor-pin 5.

The transverse members 15, form a substantial platform or base against which the anchor-pin 5, will pull when the stopper is drawn, and from the arrangement of the anchor-pin and transverse pins, the whole substance of the stopper is moved simultaneously.

It has been found desirable to have the pull exerted at the lowermost portion of the stopper and it has been found to be absolutely essential to pull upon practically the whole area. of the stopper and equalize the pulling pressures throughout said area.

lVhere a single anchor-pin is employed with a pull wire, as illustrated in Fig. 7, there is liability of tearing the cork or stopper when a sufficient stress is placed upon the pull wire to remove said stoppr In the event of the anchor-pin 0a, of Fig. 7 being located a. little to one side of its center with reference to the pull wire, a pull sufficient to withdraw the stopper results in tilting said anchor-pin, as illustrated at a). This will either tear through the bottom of the cork or stopper or will cut away a piece thereof and, in any event, it is liable to tilt which will free the pull wire and destroy the usefulness of the device.

Itis apparent that the anchor-pins, pull wlre and appurtenant parts must be located totally within the substance of the stopper; otherwise, there will be leakage as illustrated in the diagrammatic view of Fig. 8. In said figure, a pull wire is shown as having a loop y, exteriorly of the stopper and with its ends projecting therethrough as at 2. These ends Ill) are twisted together and are then pulled back until they impinge upon the anchorpin a). In such a device there is leakage through the stopper, due to its complete perforaition.

In the inventionherein described, there is no perforation through the stopper. here the anchor-pin 5, and transverse pins 15, are inserted transversely of the stopper, the openings are immediately closed and healed by the resilient character of the stopper impinging against the walls of the opening in which the stopper is inserted.

lVith the device described in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, there is no opportunity of the main anchor-pin 5, shifting its position even if it is slightly oil center with. reference to the pull wire 3. This is due to the overlying platform or base formed by the transverse pins 15. the arrangement described the pull is distributed throughout the area of the stopper, there being six distinct areas of pull over which the strain is distributed. These are indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 as a, Z), 0, d, e and f, and are efiective owing to the arrangement of the main anchor-pin 5, located medially and transversely of the transverse pins 15.

It will be observed that. a very small perforation is required for inserting the pull wire 3, within the stopper 2, and the anchorpin 5, and transverse pins 15, need only be of a suflicient length to give a substantial pull over the area of the lower portion of the stopper.

The disk-like joining member for the ends of the pull member 3, forms an ample surface to serve as a grip for the fingers, and there are no sharp edges or cutting wires to abrade the fingers.

Machine and means of providing the stopper with its integrally formed eXtract-' ing member is not illustrated or claimed herein but it may form the subject of an independent application. It may be stated, however, that there are particular advantages of manufacture in utilizing the disk with its clips 11, 12 and central perforation 10, inasmuch as the pull wire may be forced downward through the perforation 10, into the stopper, to form a loop l, through which the pin 5, projects.

The central perforation has a further advantage in that it provides a means for introducing an ordinary corkscrew or other implement in case of disarrangement of the parts which would prevent the use of the pull wire. The disk 9, may also serve as a marker or tag for indicating the manufacture of the goods to which the stopper is applied.

It is particularly essential in many compounds and substances in daily use, that there be a complete closure for the receptacle, with means for readily removing the It will be observed that with stopper or closure and maintaining it in an imperforate condition so that it may be reinserted. This is particularly true in household articles such as ammonia,dioxygen, listerine and other materials which deteriorate rapidly if there is leakage through the stopper. The device herein described may be used with impunity and may be removed and re-inserted without any danger of causing leakage. There is p *actically no liability of tearing the stopper through undue local and improperly distributed strains, and the device may be removed and inserted again and again without apparent deterioration. The pull member or wire 3, may readily be re-folded and pressed down against the surface of the stopper under the disk 9, when the stopper is inserted to close the receptacle.

It is apparent that the device might be modified as to its details without departing from the spirit or intent of the invention, which contemplates locating a pull wire or device within a stopper and providing an anchor in conjunction with cooperating members which will provide a pull upon substantially the whole area of the cork or stopper, said elements combined with a grip or finger member as described.

There are particular advantages in the structure when used with comparatively thin stoppers such as employed in large neck bottles and the like, among which might be mentioned bromo-seltzer, and aperient salts of various characters which very soon lose their efficiency if subject to the oxidization of the air.

One very essential advantage of the struc ture resides in the loose connection of the pull wire with the connecting member 9. The ends 13, 14: of the pull wire pass under and are bent over the attaching points which, as illustrated, are shown as clips 11, 12. This gives freedom of movement to the pull wire. This loose connection permits tilting of the grip member without liability of placing undue strain upon the wire at its points of connection therewith. It obviates the forming of short angles and kinks in the pull w1re and permits development of an even strain from the grip member 9, to the wires when withdrawing a cork.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A closure having a body-part, a centrally disposed pull member in the form of a loop extending into the central portion of and inclosed by the body-part, an anchor therefor extending transversely of and in closed by the body-part and passing through the loop of said pull member, and a separate grip member to which the upper separated ends of the pull member are secured.

2. A closure having a body-part, a pull member of loop form extending into said body-part centrally thereof and having at its lower end a loop, an anchor-pin passing through said loop and located wholly within the body-part of the closure, a separate grip member and means for securing the two ends of the pull member to said grip member, said pull member being flexible and normally folded below the grip member and against the upper surface of the body-part.

3. A closure comprising a body-part, a pull member having a loop which is pro jected into said body-part, a transverse anehor-pin located entirely within the bodypart and extending through said loop, a separate grip member exterior of the body-part and connected with the ends of the pull member, and means for distributing the strains of the anchor member throughout the area of the body-part, said means preventing tilting of the anchor member.

4. A closure comprising a body-part, a pull member having a loop extending into said body-part, a transverse anchorpin extending through said loop, a pull member exterior of the body-part and connected with the grip member, and means for distributing the strains of the anchor member through out the area of the bodypart consisting of transverse members arranged in said bodypart above the anchor member and on both sides of the pull member.

5. A closure consisting of a body-part, a loop extendingcentrally into said body-part, an anchor-pin extending transversely of the body-part within the loop, said loop having ends extending exteriorly of the body-part and a transverse connecting plate forming a grip member and connected with the respective ends of the pull member, whereby freedom of action is provided between the loop and grip member and an even strain is produced upon the anchor by the loop as the closure is withdrawn.

6. A closure consisting of a body-part, a pull member comprising a loop extending into said body-part and joined therewith by a transverse anchor member, a disk arranged exteriorly to the end of the body-part, said disk having a central perforation and holding clips on opposite sides thereof, said clips forming anchorage for the respective ends of the loop.

7. A closure consisting of a body-part, a flexible pull member extending into said body-part, said pull member being in a single piece with its ends exterior to the closure and its central portion forming a loop within the body of the closure, an anchor extended into and inclosed by the closure and projecting through the loop, a disk overlying the end of the closure and having a centra l perforation through which the outer ends of the loop project, clips struck up integral with said disk on opposite sides of its central opening and through which the ends of the loop project, said clips securing though giving adjustable freedom of movement to the loop.

8. A closure consisting of a body-part, a flexible pull member extending into said body-part, said pull member being in a single piece with its ends exterior to the closure and its central portion forming a loop within the closure, an anchor passing through the closure and the loop, a disk overlying the closure and having a central perforation through which the outer ends of the loop project, clips struck up integral with said disk on opposite sides of its central opening and through which the ends of the loop proj ect, and transverse members inserted in said closure above the anchor member at right angles thereto and on opposite sides of the pull member, whereby the strain upon the closure is distributed.

9. A closure having a body-part, a centrally disposed pull member of loop form anchored therein and with its ends extending above the closure and separated to engage a connecting grip member, said connecting grip member loosely holding said ends against withdrawal and providing flexibility of movement between the pull member and each end of the grip member.

10. In combination with a closure consisting of a body-part adapted to be inserted in the opening ofa receptacle, of a pull member comprising a loop extending into said bodypart and anchored therein against withdrawal, the ends of said loop extending beyond the body-part, a grip member having a central perforation through which both ends of the loop extend, and clips 011 opposite sides of said perforation providing a securing means for preventing withdrawal of the ends of the loop members from the grip member, said clips providing certain freedom of movement between the loop ends and grip member.

11. A closure comprising a body-part, a pull member extending into the body-part, an anchor-pin extending transversely of the body-part and engaging the pull member, members extending transversely of the anchor-pin and located in the body-part above said pin and on opposite sides of the pull member, and a grip for said pull member.

JAMES A. WVATT.

WVitnesses:

Bnssm ABRAMsoN, JOSEPH J. DOUGHERTY.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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