US1647517A - Lug-formed cap - Google Patents

Description

C. HAMMER LUG FORMED CAP Filed Nov. 18, 1926 m m m u 3 Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES, PATENT oFeicsi CHARLES HAMMER, 0F HOLLIS COURT BOULEVARD, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERI- CAN METAL CAP COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LOG-FORMED CAP.

This invention relates to metal caps or closures and to the method of making the same and particularly to that style of cap commonly designated in the trade as lug caps for use on glass bottles or containers having spaced lugs or multiple or divided threads whereby on rotating or turning the cap it will'be securely locked on the container, the object of the invention being to provide an improved reusable metal cap or closure having a plurality of lug formed projections of improved construction whereby certain disadvantages heretofore present in these forms of caps are obviated.

The primary object of the present improvement is the provision of a rotary metal cap or closure having an improved form of locking or holding lug which will so engage or grip the glass threads of a container that the scratching or cutting thereof is obviated, the present cap being an improvement upon my Patent No. 1,079,238 of November 18, 1013; and also Patents 1,440,990 dated January 2, 1923, and 1,560,569 of November 10, 1925. In all of these patents the lugs are pressed inwardly from the bead or rolled edge in such manner that they do not conform to the contour of the container and have the inner face thereof straightand more or less sharp with the result that the center only of this straight edge of the lug rubbed against the glass container immediately under the threads acting very similar to a glass cutter scratching and marking the container thread so that the thread or portions thereof at times broke ofl, and sometimes these particles'of glass would get into the contents of the container making it impossible to use it. For some reason these objectionable features occurred most frequently in those caps having only a pair of lugs instead of four.

The object of the present invention therefore is the provision of a cap or closure member having a construction of lug which is. an improvement upon the lugs of the patents referred to in that while having all the advantages of the lugs of those patents is superior thereto in that it obviates the disadvantages of those lugs. The caps of Patent 1,079,238 for instance have proved a great commercial success, more than a billion thereof having been sold, yet like everything of real merit they are capable of improvement and long experience with those caps has demonstrated that there are certam disadvantages which it has heretofore vbeen impossible to overcome. One ofthese 18 that owing to the construction of the lugs or projections in which the center of the straight edge of the lug engages the glass thread, the caps would at times shake off and at other times would scratch or mark the glass thread to such an extent as to cause the same to break off. Therefore, it is the ing efficiency without any liabilit e scratching or marking the glass thread and which at the same time will take up greater variations in the glass jar threads which as is well-known var? during their manufacture by reason 0 the fact that they are made of glass so that it is not infrequently the case that glass jars supposed to be of the same size vary approximately a millimeter.

By reason of the present improvement also the lugs can be made of somewhat greater length than were the lugs made in accordance with said Patent No. 1,079,238 and are well adapted for use on a two-lug cap.

A primary object of the present invention is therefore the provision of a metal cap having at its lower 'edge a combined bead or curled edge and a closed or multi-walled lug of the improved form herein described formed from such head or curled edge, the construction of the lug being such that it tainer but will avoid the scratching or cute ting thereof and the consequent breaking off of the thread.

In 111 said Patent No. 1,560,569, it was attempte to avoid this scratching and marking of the glass threads by tapering and increasing the length of the lugs and while this to a certain extent avoided this difiiculty it did not entirely eliminate it and therefore I have made many experiments in an attempt to completely eliminate this difficulty, which is serious to the packer. I finally discovered that owing to the straight sharp edge of the lugs engaging under the glass threadpractically in the center only of those lugs, the cap as it is turned on caused the lugs to come into en agementsuddenly on a small. part only of ,t e brittle glass thread and scratched and weakened it so that in the handling of the container thereafter and in the reuse of the cap portions of the glass thread would break off especially when the glass threads are unusually brittle as 15 sometimes the case and the caps are quickly turned on.

In view of the fact that millions of glass containers are ca ped and handled per day usuall by machinery and that frequently some ave the threads much more brittle than others it will be realized that any improvement that will avoid cutting or scratching ofthe glass thread and the consequent breaking oif thereof is an important one. I

In the drawings accompanyin and formillilg a part of this specification, ig. is an e arged perspective view illustrating a small size two lug metal cap of this mproved construction; Fig. 2 is an inside view of the ca Fig. 3 is a detail enlarged view of a portion of the cap illustrating one of the improved lugs; Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken respectively on lines H, 5-5 of Fig.2; Fig. 6 is a view of this improved cap applied to a glass container; Fig. 7 illustrates a portion of the roll which may be used for forming the lugs on the bead or rolled edge of the ca and Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view 0 one of these improved lugs.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Before explaining in detail the present improvement and mode of operation thereof, I desire to have it understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and that the phraseoloqy which I employ is for the purposeof escription and not of limitation.

This improved cap when of a small size is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite lugs but the cap may have any desired number of lugs according to the size thereof, the larger sizes of caps usually having four lugs. In the metal cap as shown it comrises a top 2 having a depressed groove 3 or contact with a suitable liner 4 for sealing the top of the container. This top constructed in any suitable way is provided with a de ending flange or skirt 5 shown of corrugated form, the corrugations 6 not only forming a means for gripping the cap in the handling thereof but acting as a reinforcing means to stiffen both the flange and the lug. They also rovide an eflicient means for the proper ormation of the cap on the formir: rolls, The edge of the skirt is strengthened. as by beading, rolling or curlin it, as shown outwardly and upwardly to; orm a reinforced bead or curled edge 7 and this bead not only gives a pleasing appearance to the cap but it preventscutting of the hands of the user and also provides a sanitary ca in that the raw edge is sealed and protecte against corrosion and acids and the action of the elements. It is also particularly useful in strengthening the flange and the lug itself while providing means for forming the lugs therefrom at the lower edge of the skirt whereby they have increased strength and holding efficiency.

At a plurality of places shown as two in the form pf cap shown this reinforced bead or curled edge is pressed or insetinwardly toward the center of the cap to form inwardly extending lugs 8 which on their inner edges are curved or concaved lengthwise thereof as at 9 or circumferentially between the ends of these lugs to substantially conform to the curvature of the glass container and to the general curvature of the bead, the length of the curve however being less than that of the bead but sufiicient considering the short length of the lugs to conform to the general curvature of the glass container. This inwardly pressing andcurvature of the lug is obtained by insetting or pressing the bead radially inward without materially deforming it while exerting a greater pressure at the-opposite ends of the ug as at 10 and 11 and at the same time somewhat flattening these ends of the lug with the result that the lug is tubular in cross section at its center which tubular formation also extends toward the ends so that the under side or thread engaging face of the lug as 12 is of round or curved or beveled formation while the lug is also iii-5 curved lengthwise thereof along its inner edge forming an are less than that formed by the lllflJOl' part of the beaded edge since the curved inner edge of the lug is inside of and therefore substantially concentric with the curved inner edge of the bead. In other words the bead of the cap has an inside diameter sufiiciently large to permit it to pass over the threads or lugs on glass containers, while the diameter of the curved faces of the lugs isless, but suflicient to pernut it to pass over the neck or mouth of the container, the outside diameter of which usually coincides with that at the inner or base of the threads or lugs of the container.

In the manufacture of these caps a flanged hat-shaped blank is first formed and the flange of thisblank isthen by suitable pressure curled or beaded. In practice this curling or beading is usually done on the same is the case the flanged hat-shaped blank is lid suitably supported on a chuck head and this head is provided with a plurality of recesses corresponding in number to the number of lugs the cap is to have and it is into these and the punches or tools which cooperate with this recessed chuck may also be made tapered or inclined transversely thereof. Consequently when the bead of the cap is pressed radially inward by the punches hereinafter described and which punches have a c-oncaved end, it follows that greater pressure is exerted atthe spaced points or ends of the lugs than intermediate such ends and as the metal of which the lugs are thus formed is forced radially inward into the recesses of the chuck, it is also forced transversely of this inward movement so that when the chuck recess is provided with the inclined or tapered side wall herein before referred to, it follows that the under or thread engaging face of the lug in the direction of its length is provided with an inclined or tapered face 13, so that it substantially conforms to the inclination of the glass threads or lugs. ,Thus the lugs will engage under the glass tlr wads throughout their entire lengths with their concaved inner faces conforming to the curvature of the glass container. The curved formation of the lugs crosswise thereof also assists in preventing any cutting or scratching the glass thread.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the lug is formed by pressure exerted upon the head of the skirt sufiicient to press this head inwardly the desired extent without however materially deforming the lug between its ends or that part of the bead at either side of the lug. In other words, a part of the head: is inset from the rest of the bead, but in such manner that the inner face of the inset part is are or crescent shaped instead of straight while the lug retains its tubular formation so that it is also of curved formation crosswise thereof. pressure upon the lugs is radially inward and also to a certain extent vertically or transverse of this radial inward pressure, that is, toward the top of the cap, this being more particularly so at the ends of the crescent or arc-shaped lugs and as this pressure is greater at the ends of the crescent, it follows that a crescent shaped or concaved formation of closed or multi-walled lug is obtained, the major portion of which, however, is preferably tubular, and owing to the vertical or transverse pressure, it follows that when the chuck recess has an inclined or The tapered side wall, the under or thread tengaging face of this tubular lug' is likewise inclined or'tapered in the direction .of its length to conform to theincline or taper of I the glass thread and consequently an im- 7 proved form of locking lug is obtained,tubular'in cross section and curved in the direc-"' tion of its length and also curved in cross section with a tapering thread engag ng face in the direction of its length. I

I believe that I am the first m provide 'a'metalcap or closure having a "combined curled or beadedlower edge and a lug of the form shown and described herein whereby the lug 1s of curved or-concave formation between its ends and is also tubular between its ends whereby it will firmly hold on-th'ef container and at the'same time eliminate the scratching and marking of the glass threads. By having the lug of tubular formation the lug is not only strengthened, this being materially assisted by the corrugations 6' above the lug which may run from adjacent to the top of the lug-toward'the top'off the cap but the cap can be made "of relathat this improved lug engages the glass threads practically throughout the entire length of the tapered face of the lug while conforming to tie 'general curvature of the glass container under the thread'and that it has no sharp straight cutting edge for engagement with the 'glass container so that there is no liability of the thread being cut or marked and that further owing to;the tubular formation of the lug it has a certain resilientor spring action so that when turned on to the thread of the container it will compensate for any inequalities-or variations-at the under side of the thread, in other words, it can be applied with a cushioning effect.

The cap turns on very. easily and with a gradual gripping effect without any cutting or marking of the glass container or thread and although it can be turned off easily yet it grips the thread effectively so that the cap will not jar off in the ordinary handling of so T the container while the cap is firmly drawn in order to give it an arc-shaped form, but a it is highly desirable that it have this tapered face where the lug is to grip the glass thread throughout the entire length of the lug. The tubular form is preferable, although the multi walls of the lug may be more or less compressed and somewhat flattened if preferred. As hereinbefore stated, in the formation of. this improved cap, a hat shaped blank is first formed having an outwardly turned flange of suitable width and this flange is by suitable tools or punches gradually, as step by step, bent or curled to form a coil or bead. In practice this is usually done in the same machine which is utilized to form the lugs and when this is the case the cap is supported on a recessed chuck .having recesses corresponding in number to the number of lugs the cap is to have. The

flange is then by suitable forming tools curled or headed and this curled or beaded edge is at intervals subjected tosuitable punches or tools, a form of which is shown at 20, Fig. 7, in which the end of the punch is concaved or crescent shaped so that the .Spaced points of this punch will press the metal farther inward than it is pressed interwall, it follows that this radial inward pressure forces the metal vertically into this recess since it must, owing to the deformed ends of the lugs, flow in this direction and therefore the under faces of the lugs are inclined or, tapered conforming to the inclination or taper of the side wall of the chuck recesses.

It is to he understood that by describing in detail herein any particular form, structure or arrangement, it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims or the requirements of the prior art.

Having thus explainedthe nature of my said invention and described a way of constructing and using'the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the modes of its use, I claim:

1. A metal closure for glass containers comprising a top having a depending skirt provided with a closed lug having a concaved inner face.

2. A metal closure for containers comprising a top having :1 depending skirt provided with a tubular lug having a concaved inner face.

3. A metal closure for containers comprising a top having a depending skirt provided with a tubular lug having a concaved inner face, said lug being tapered in the direction of its length on its under face.

4. A metal closure for glass containers comprising a top having a depending skirt provided with a beaded or curled lower edge hav ng thereon at intervals a plurality of tubular formed lugs having concaved inner faces in the direction of their length.

A metal closure for glass containers comprising a top having a depending skirt provided with a beaded or curled lower edge having thereon at intervals a plurality of tubular formed lugs concaved at their inner faces in the direction of their length, each of said lugs having a tapered under face.

6. A metal closure for glass containers comprising a top having :1 depending skirt provdcd with a beaded or curled lower edge having at intervals lugs of tubular formation combined with the bead, said lugs being concaved in the direction of their lengths on the'r inner faces and curved or beveled crosswise thereof on their under faces.

7. A metal closure for glass containers coniprsing a top having a depending skirt provided with a beaded or curled lower edge having at intervals lugs of tubular formation combined with the head, said lugs being concaved in the direction of their lengths on their inner faces and curved or beveled crosswise thereof on their under faces, each of said lugs also having .an inclined or tapered formation on its under face in the direction of its length.

8. A metal cap having a depending skirt provided with a strengthened curled or headed lower edge having formed therewith inwardly extending locking lugs each having a curved inner face conforming substantiallyv to the general curvature of the conta'ner.

9. A metal cap having a depending skirt provided with a strengthened, curled or beaded lower edge having combined therewith inwardly extending tubular locking lugs inset from the bead and each comprising a pair of depressed portions spaced apart by a curved or are shaped tubular port'on having its inner edge conformingsubstantially to the general curvature of the container.

10. A metal cap having a depending skirt provided with a strengthened, curled or beaded lower edge having combined therewith inwardly eXtending tubular locking lugs inset from the bead and each comprising a pair of depressed portions spaced apart by a curved or are shaped tubular portion having its inner edge conforming substantially to the general curvature of the container, and each of said lugs being tapered in the direction of its length on its under side.

11. A rotatable metal cap for glass conan!" an tainers comprising a top having a depending skirt provided with a beaded or curled lower edge, said edge being inset at intervals to form a plurality of closed are shaped lugs, each having a concaved inner face portions.

13, A rotatable metal cap for glass containers comprising a top having a depending skirt provided with a beaded or curled lower edge, said edge being inset at intervals to form a plurality of closed are shaped lugs each having a concaved inner face forming an are less than the arc of the major portion of the bead, each of said lugs erminating at its ends in a pair of deformed portions, and having a tapered under face.

14. The 'method of making lug formed caps which consists in first forming a flanged hat shaped blank and then pressing the flange of such blank radially inward to form a coiled, beaded or curled lower edge and therefrom a plurality of inwardly extending tubular lugs inset from the bead and each having a concaved inner face, the arc of which is less than that of the major portion of the head.

15. The method of making lug formed caps which consists in first forming a flanged hat shaped blank and then pressing the flange of such blank radially inward to form a coiled, beaded or curled lower edge and therefrom a plurality of inwardly extending tubular lugs inset from the bead with deformed, ends and each having a concaved inner face, the are of which is less than that of the major portion of the bead, and a tapered under face.

16. A cap having a combined beaded edge and lug, said lug comprising an inwardly extending closed projection having a concaved inner face substantially conforming to the convex outer face of a container-neck.

17 A cap having a combined beaded edge and lug, said lug comprising an inwardly extending closed projection having a concaved inner face substantially conforming to the convex outer face of a container neck, said lugs being inset relatively to the bead with the concaved inner face substantially concentric with that of the bead.

18.- A cap having a coml-lned beaded ed e and lug, said lug comprising an inward y extending tubular projection having a con caved inner face substantially conforming to the convex outer face of a container neck.

19. A cap having a combined beaded edge and lugs located at intervals therearound, said beaded edge having a diameter at least as great as that of the outer faces of the container threads or lugs and said lugs each having a concaved inner face, the diameter of said concaved faces being less than that of the bead whereby said concaved inner Lf)ac (e1s are substantially concentric with the ca 20. A closure member having a depending skirt provided with a bead, said bead having at intervals locking lugs or projections, each having a con'caveinner face of substantially crescent shaped form conforming substantially to the convex outer face of a container neck below the thread or neck of such container.

21. A closure member having a depending skirt provided with a strengthened portion or bead and reinforcing means or corrugations, said head having at intervals locking lugs or projections, etch having a concave inner face of substantially crescent shaped form conforming substantially to the convex outer face of a container neck below the thread or neck of such container.

Signed at 1822 Park Row Buildin New York city, N. Y., this 17th day of ovember, 1926.

CHARLES HAM ER.

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