US1696330A

US1696330A - Cap and package

Info

Publication number: US1696330A
Application number: US122515A
Authority: US
Inventors: Scofield Edgar
Original assignee: Anchor Cap and Closure Corp
Current assignee: Anchor Cap and Closure Corp
Priority date: 1926-07-15
Filing date: 1926-07-15
Publication date: 1928-12-25
Anticipated expiration: 1945-12-25

Description

Dec; 25, 1928. 1,696,330

. E. scoFlELD CAP AND PACKAGE Filed July 15. 1926 INVENTOR 2 [Xi/ya! Jicy'z'eld ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 25, 1928.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR SOOFIELD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ANC HOR CAP & CLOSURE COR- PORATION, 0! LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CAP AND PACKAGE.

Application filed iui 15,

The present invention relates to sealed packages and closure caps therefor, and more particularly to a reinforced closure cap adapted to be applied to a container to sustain the unbalanced external pressure thereon occasioned by the vacuum in the container.

In packaging foods and the like at' the present time the best results in preservation are obtained by sealing the packages under a vacuum so that there is the smallest possible, quantity of air therein to cause deterioration and discoloration 'of the food. Many packers use this method almost exclusively and others use it to a considerable extent so that a large portion of the food today is packed in this manner. A convenient way of forming the packages is by the utilization of aglass container andforming a seal thereon by means of a closure cap and gasket. The seals may be formed in'some instances on the side of the cap, commonly known as the side seal, others at the rim of the container, commonly known as an edge seal. In either event the difference between the pressure on the inside and on the outside of the container causes a very substantial force on the cover portion of the cap pressing it inwardly and exerting an upward pull on the skirt of the cap which distorts the seal to such an extent that leakers are frequently formed and packages spoiled. Furthermore, forcing a the center portion downwardly detracts from the appearance of the package and also decreases the vacuum in the container. The reason for the decrease in vacuum is that the containers are sealed in vacuum chambers where the pressure may be only one or two pounds absolute and the seal is made while the small s ace above the food in the container is at t e same ressure. Thereafter atmospheric pressure orces the central portion of the cover downwardly decreasing considerably the empty space in the container. Naturally, since the pressure in the container in creases directly as the volume of the empty space decreases, the vacuum therein may be materially affected by the depression of the closure. This is more particularly true where the size of the closure is large and the flexure great.

The present invention overcomes these difficulties by providing a closure cap hav- 1926. Serial no. 122,515.

ing a reinforced cover portion adapted to hold 1ts shape irrespective of the size of the cap or degree of vacuum maintained in the 1 Such a cap transfers the pres provided with a beaded skirt and gasket adapted to form a side seal on a vessel. annular portion adjacent the periphery of the cap is adapted to receive the rim of a container, the center portion of the cap being depressed below the plane of the cover to improve the general appearance thereof. o

The reinforcing ribs may extend radially inwardly from the periphery of the de pressed portion partially across the center of the cap or completely across to prevent flexing of this portion thereof. The effectiveness of the ribs inay be further increased by bowing the depressed portion upwardly into an archedportion to further increase the resistance of the cap to external pressure. but they are illustrated having an apex with a wider base portion, the size of the rib decreasing toward the center of the cap.

An object of the invention is to provide a rigid closure from thin metal adapted to be uied on vacuum sealed containers and the li e. I

Another object of the invention is to re inforce a closure cap without detracting from its appearance and without increasing the metal required therefor.

Another object of the invention is to reinforce in an inexpensive manner a closure cap having a depressed center portion by providing inwardly extending radial ribs adapted to prevent flexing thereof.

A further object of the invention is to reinforce the cover portion of a closure cap by bowing upwardly the center portion thereof to provide an arch structure and by reinforcing said arch structure with radial ribs The ribs may be of any desired shape v pended claims, and various advantages se cured by the invention other than those herein specifically referred to, will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the closure cap shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional view along the line of Fig. 2 showing details thereof;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a closure cap having ribs extending through the center thereof;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing a side seal closure applied to a container;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view illustrating a preferred form of reinforcing rib; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view along the line 77 of Fig. 6 showing details of the rein forcing rib.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a closure cap 10 having a cover portion 11 with a depending skirt 12, having a head 14 adapted to seat a gasket 15. The central portion 16 of the cover of the cap is depressed to form an annular inclined shoulder 17 leading to an annular flat portion 18 adjacent the periphery of the cover adapted to be seated upon the rim 19 of a suitable container 20.

The depressed portion 16 of the cover may be bowed upwardly as shown at 22 in Figs. 3 and 5 to form an arched construction to give greater strength. Suitable reinforcing means 24, here shown as ribs extending inwardly from the periphery of the depressed portion toward the center of the cap and ending adjacent the center thereof, are provided to strengthen further the depressed portion adjacent its periphery and to prevent it from being flexed downwardly into the container when it is subjected to atmospheric pressure on the outside while a partial vacuum is maintained on the inside thereof. Any desired number of ribs may be utilized to effect the additional strength of the closure without mar-ring its appearance. The ribs may be formed by a suitable die adapted to press a portion of the metal out of its natural plane. Preferably the ribs have an apex 25 inereasingas it approaches the plane of the cover into a wider base portion. The size of the rib may decrease as it approaches the center of the cap, since the tendency of the cap to bend decreases as the distance from the outer pcriphery increases.

In Fig. 4 the ribs 2-1 are shown extending completely across the center of the depressed portion of the cap. Such a construction is particularly useful with caps having a fiat cover portion and gives added strength to caps such as that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The present invention is applicable to all types of caps and is particularly useful in caps having a substantial diameter such as are used on small containers for preserves and the like which may be sealed in any suitable manner. One way of forming a side seal on a container is to place the container or the upper portion thereof in a vacuum chamber and utilize dies or spinning. rolls to force the gasket 15 out of the bead against the side wall of the container as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Immediately that the cap is hermetically sealed on the container in the vacuum chamber, air is permitted to enter and the excessive force. of the atmospheric pressure acting over the area of the cover portion, which may exceed three square inches, bends the central portion of the cap into the container and. decreases materially the space between the cap and the contents. of the receptacle. The decrease in volume of the free space within the container lowers the vacuum. Since the degree of vacuum attainable by sealing ma.- chines is definite so far as commercial oper: tion is concerned, it follows that a higher vacuum can be obtained with the present type of closure than is possible with the forms heretofore used, or the same degree of vacuum obtained in the package with less expensive machines. The ribs in the pres ent closure effectively prevent any substantial decrease in the amount of space in the container and maintain substantially the same vacuum as that to which thecontainer is subjected in the sealing operation. It will be appreciated that, since the space above the contents in a container may not exceed one-quarter of an inch in depth, the flexing of the closure to the extent of oneeighth of an inch substantially halves the free space therein which results in decreasing the effective vacuum in like proportion.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a very inexpensive closure which effectively preserves the degree of vacuum to which packages are subjected at the time of sealing, by preventing a decrease in the amount of free space in the container by flexing of the closure. Further, the seal of the closure is not subjected to forces tending to draw it over the mouth of the container since substantially the entire atmospheric pressure is supported by the rim of the receptacle. This prevents the formation of leaks due to excessive pull on the skirt of the cap. Further the caps may be readily and inexpensively manufactured to withstand the rough handling to which packages may be subjected.

As various changes may be made in the above embodiment without departing from g the spirit of the invention, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap comprising a cover portion and reinforcing means decreasing in size toward the center and extending through substantially the center of said cover portion to prevent flexing thereof.

2. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap comprising a cover having a depressed portion bowed upwardlyat its center into a substantially spherical portion and reinforcing ribs decreasing in size toward the center of the cap to prevent deformation of said bowed portion.

3. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap comprising a cover having a depressed portion bowed upwardly at its center and reinforcing ribs extending inwardly from the periphery of said depressed portion, said ribs having their greatest depth adjacent said periphery and decreasing in depth toward the center of said bowed portion.

4. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap comprising a cover having a depressed portion and reinforcing ribs formed by metal pressed upwardly out of the plane of the depressed portion, said ribs decreasing in size as they approach the center of the cap.

5. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap comprising a cover portion, reinforcing 'ribs extendinginwardly toward the center of said cap, said reinforcingribs decreasing in size as they approach the center whereby the portion of said cap subjected to the greatest bendingforoe is reinforced most.

6. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap comprising a cover portion, a depending skirt, an annular portion adjacent the skirt adapted to accommodate the rim of a container, and a depressed center portion ha-ving reinforcing ribs extending radially from the periphery thereof, said ribs decreasing in size as they approach the center of the cap. 7

7. A sealed package comprising a container, a closure cap extending over the mouth of said container with a skirt depending downwardly about the side wall thereof,

and tapered reinforcing ribs extending totion of sa-id'cap decreasing in size toward the center thereof. 7 v a 9. A hermetically sealed "package comprising a container, a closure cap extending over the mouth thereof, reinforcing ribs decreasing in size as they approach the center to prevent flexing thereof under atmospheric pressure when a vacuuxnisformed 1n the container.

10. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap comprising a cover portion, reinforcing means extend ng inwardly to the center of said cap, said reinforcing means decreasing in size as they approach the center whereby the portion of said'capsu'bjected to the greatest bendingforce is reenforced most.

EDGAR SOOFIELD.