US1838384A

US1838384A - Closure for collapsible tubes

Info

Publication number: US1838384A
Application number: US537920A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frohmann John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-05-16
Filing date: 1931-05-16
Publication date: 1931-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 1948-12-29

Description

J. FROHMANN Dec. 29, 1 931.

CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed May 16, 1931 Z 6 4 0 M 3 5 \J .llll 7 ML. W U 7 N M Z 9 M w/ z 7- w n Patented Dec. 29, 1931 Jon FBOHMANN, OF ST. MISSOURI cnosunn on conmsmnn TUBES Application filed m 16, 1931. Serial No. 537,920.

This invention relates to collapsible tubes for tooth pastes, shaving creams, ointments and the like, and more particularly to a novel closure for tubes of this character.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a closure for a collapsible tube which shall be adapted to open automatically when pressure is applied to the tube so as to enable its contents to be extruded without removing the closure, which shall be adapted to close automatically when the pressure on the tube is removed so as to preventthe deterioration of the remainder of the contents and which shall be simple, durable and inexpensive and 16 capable of being permanently or detachably connected to the tube.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the nature of which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the construction, combination and ar-v rangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view taken on a plane extending longitudinally and centrally through the closure and an end portion of a collapsible tube.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 2--2 of Figure 1. :0 Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a slightly modified form of the closure, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line H of Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings 1 designates a fragmentary portion of a collapsible tube for tooth paste, shaving cream or the like, and 2 designates the closure for the tube.

The closure 2 comprises a cylindrical cap 3 which is applied to the neck 4 of the tube 1 and which is of greater length than and extends longitudinally beyond the neck. The cap 3 is provided in its inner end portion with an internally screw threaded bushing 5 which engages the screw threads of the neck 4 to efiect the detachable connection of the cap to the neck. The bushing 5 may be soldered or secured in any other suitable manner to the cap 3. The ca 3 is provided in its lateral wall at a point eyond the neck 4 with a discharge port or opening 8 through which the contents of the tube 1 are extruded when pressure is applied to the tube.

The cap 3 is rigid, and is preferably made from metal. A solid piston 9, which is also '55 preferably made from metal, is slidably mounted in the cap 3 and constitutesa valve for the discharge opening 8 of the cap. The piston 9 normally occupies a position within the cap 3 where it will close the discharge opening 8, and it is normally held in this position by a coil spring 10 mounted within the cap 3 between the outer end of the piston and the outer end wall 11 of the cap. A rod 12, which is formed integrally with the piston 9, extends through an opening 13 in the cap wall 11, and has its outer end portion screw threaded for the application thereto of a nut let which contacts with said Wall to limit the inward movement of the piston 9 and thus insure the pistons normally occupying a position where it fully closes the discharge openin 8.

a flexible washer 15 is secured to the inner end of the piston 9 by means of a screw 16. The washer 15 has snug contact with the lateral wall of the cap 3, a metal washer 17 being mounted between the end of the screw 16 and the washer 15 to normally maintain the latter in contact with said cap wall and the inner end of the piston 9.

If desired the closure may be permanently secured to a collapsible tube, as shown in Figure 3. To permit the closure to be readily secured in this manner to a tube, the cap, which is here designated 3a, is provided at its lower end with flanges 18 which are of arcuate formation in cross section and formed integrally with the cap and which extend inwardly from the cap in diverging relation. The closure attaching flanges 18 are arranged within the discharge end of the tube, which is here designated 1a, and may be soldered or secured thereto in any other suitable manner. The flanges 18 not only permit the closure to qfi be readily secured to the tube but also due to their divergent relation hold the closure against accidental displacement from the tube under any pressure to which it might be subjected during the extruding of the con- 100 tents of the tube. The other parts of the closure shown in this figure are similar to the corresponding parts shown in Figures 1 and 2 and are designated by the same reference characters.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it should be apparent that the piston 9 is normally held by the spring 10 in position to close the discharge opening or port 8, and that when pressure is applied to the tube to extrude the contents the piston will move outwardly beyond the discharge opening so as to permit the contents to pass through such opening. The spring 10 will be compressed during this movement of the piston 9, with the result that the piston will We returned to its normal position when the pressure is removed from the tube. As the piston 9 normally occupies a position where it closes the discharge opening 8, and as the washer 15 has a snug fit within the cap 3, the closure will so effectively seal the tube as to prevent the deterioration of the contents thereof. The piston 9 is shown in discharge port closing position in Figure 1 and in discharge port uncovering position in Figure 3.

While I have described the principle of the invention, together with the structure which now consider the preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the structure shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. i

What is claimed is 1. A closure for a collapsible tube, comprising a cap secured to and extending longitudinally from the tube, the cap being provided in its lateral wall with a discharge port, a piston slidably mounted in the cap for movement into port covering and port uncovering position, a rod secured to the piston and extending through the outer end wall of the cap, a spring positioned between the piston and said end wall and normally holding the piston in port covering position, and a nut secured to the outer end of the rod and cooperating with said end wall to limit the movement of the piston by the spring.

2. A closure for a collapsible tube, comprising a cap secured to and extending longitudinally from the tube, the cap being provided in its lateral wall with a discharge port, a piston slidably mounted in the cap for movement into port covering and port uncovering position, a rod secured to the piston and extending through the outer end wall of the cap, a spring positioned between the piston and said end wall and normally holding the piston in port covering position, a nut secured to the outer end of the rod and cooperating with said end wall to limit the movement of the piston by the spring, and a flexible washer secured to the inner end of the piston and contacting with the lateral wall of the cap.

3. A closure for a collapsible tube, comprising a cap secured to and extending longitudinally from the tube, the cap being provided in its lateral wall with a discharge port, a solid piston slidably mounted in the cap for movement into port covering and port uncovering position, a rod formed integrally with the piston and extending through the outer end wall of the cap, a spring positioned between the piston and said end wall and normally holding the piston in port covering position, a nut secured to the outer end of'the'rod and cooperating with said end wall to limit the movement of the piston by the spring, and a flexible washer secured to the inner end of the piston and contacting with the lateral wall of the cap.

4. A closure for a collapsible tube, comprising a cap provided in its lateral wall with a discharge port, flanges extending inwardly from the inner end of the cap, the flanges being arranged in inwardly diverging relation and of arcuate formation in cross section and located Within and secured to the tube, a piston slidably mounted in the cap for move ment into port covering and port uncovering position, and means for yieldingly holding the piston in port covering position.

5. A closure for a collapsible tube, co1nprising a cap provided in its lateral wall with a discharge port, flanges extending inwardly from the inner end of the cap, the flanges being arranged in inwardly diverging relation and of arcuate formation in cross section and secured to the tube, a solid piston slidably mounted in the cap for movement into port covering and port uncoveringposition, a rod secured to the piston and extending through the outer end wall of the cap, a spring positioned between the piston and said end wall and normally holding the piston in port closing position, a nut secured to the outer end of the rod and cooperating with said end wall to limit the movement of the piston by the spring, and a flexible washer secured to the inner end of the piston and contacting with said lateral wall.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOHN FROHMANN.