US1881529A - Sealed package - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 11, 1932. c HAMMER 1,881,529

SEALED PACKAGE Filed Sept. 14, 1929 A ORNEY Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED TATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES HAMMER, OF NEW YORK, N. 'Y., ASSTGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

ANCHOR CAP & CLOSURE CORPORATION, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A COR- IPORATION OF NEW YORK SEALED PACKAGE Application filed September 14, 1929. Serial No. 392,535.

This invention relates to an improvement in receptacle closure caps and more particularly to a closure cap which can be readily to which they are applied or to facilitate easy removal therefrom. Some of the caps are screwed on and 01f containers. These cannot be fastened to the container as quickly as caps having loosely fitted threads that can be applied with av slight vertical force.

Ordinary screw caps are likely .to freeze on the container to be applied too tight and, therefore, lack the feature of easy removal.

Other closures frequently used comprise a er than for a cap with a combined sealing I and screw portion.

Caps having a tearpfi' band to facilitate removal are subject to several objections. The tear-off band often departs from its intended line of severance and only a portion of the band is removed. This necessitates the employment of tools to remove the cap, which usually results in mutilating the cap, thus rendering it unfit to be used again. Another serious objection is that the tear-oft band on these caps leaves sharp edges which readily cause injury to the hands of the consumer. A tear-off strip having the usual finger grip is likely to slip between the fingers when the package is opened, thus inflicting upon the consumer cuts or other injuries.

Closure caps are made from thin sheet tin or other metal and, where scored lines are used, their depth must be very accurately gauged otherwise the metal may be severed or else not scored deep enough to permit it to tear. The accuracy required has made such caps very objectionable to manufacturers. Slight wear impairs the adjustment of the scoring tools and causes complaints by customers.

The closure cap of the present invention has been designed to eliminate the' -difiiculties encountered in removing the tear-off strips by confinlng the tear to the score to prevent severance of the strip during the tearing operation. In addition, the construction of the strip prevents slipping between the'fingers and possible injuries resulting therefrom. It also minimizes the difiiculties of removal occasioned by the score line being of improper depth and gives the cap manufacturer a greater tolerance in forming the score. The I advantages of such a closure cap are beneficial both to manufacturer and consumer.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved, inexpensive closure cap adapted to be readily applied to receptacles and to form a hermetic seal therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved closure adapted to be readilypremoved without the employment of tools.

Another object of the invention isto provide an improved closure cap'which, after being removed, can be applied to re-close or reseal the receptacle, thus preventing loss of the contents and permitting the contents to be dispensed directly from the receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an improved closure cap having a depending skirt comprising a removable strip constructed to confine the severance to a scored line and to prevent mutilation of the strip.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sealed package which cannot be opened or tampered with without leaving visible indications thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure cap having a. tear-off strip which may be readily gripped without danthose made in two and various advantages not referred to herein 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 shown in the accome panying drawing, forming part of the specification, wherein Fig. 1 is a. side elevational view of a pre- 10 ferred embodiment ofthe cap, partly in sections of the invention.

Referring again to the drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown a container 1,

here illustrated as a chili sauce bottle, with a cap 2 secured thereon. For purposes of illustration, the cap is shown having a top portion or button 4 and a depending skirt or body part 5 formed from a strip of metal bent 0 into a cylindrical shape with the free ends interlocked, thebutton and body part being secured together by an interfolded seam 6.

It will be understood, of-course, that the pres ent invention is applicable to caps other than ieces as illustrated.

The cap may e provided with screw threads 7 extending about the body portion thereof to engage corresponding threads 8 on the mouth of the container. These interlocking threads may be suflicientlyloose to permit the cap to be forced over the threads on the container by downward pressure without the-usualfrotative movement. The purpose Ihf this is to facilitate application of the cap.

The threads are used primarily for resealin-g -operations. The up er part of the cap may \be knurled or provided with corrugatidhs 9 to facilitate manual grip for the rescaling operation.

A shoulder 10 is provided on the container adjacent the bottom of the skirt of the cap 1 and the lower edge of the skirt of the cap is rolled under the lower edge of the shoul der to hold thecap in position. In the sealing operation, a suitable pressure is applied to the cover part of the cap to seat-the gasket firmly against the rim of the container and I to'hold it in sealed position until the crimping operation folds the lower edge of the cap under the shoulder 10. In order to facilitate f removal,the cap is provided with a score 12 which, essentially, is a scored line cutting partially, but not entirely, through the metal ofthe cap to weaken it so. that the lowerstrip 14 on the bottom of the skirt may be readily removed to permit the unscrewing of the upper part of the cap. A suitable notch 13 may be provided, if desired, the apex of which meets the scored line sot-hat the tearing operation may be started'without difliculty. A tongue 15 may also be provided to furnish the consumer with a ready hold on the strip.

In order to further facilitate the removal of this strip, there is provided a series of corrugations or other indentations 16 directly below the scored line 12, and a second series of corrugations or other indentations 17 directly above the scored line. Preferably, these'corrugations are also provided in the tongue 15. In tearing the strip where the metal is plain thereis an inclination for the strip to break or tear across rather than to confine itself to the scored line. This is particularly true where the score is not as deep as it mightbe. Great difficulty has been experienced in maintaining the high accuracy required in forming the score of proper depth due to the thinness of the'metal.

By forming the corrugations 16 under the removable band 14 adjacent to the scored line, the consumer iii removing the cap has a corrugated part to grip which is easy to hold without slipping and injuring fingers. In addition, experiment has demonstrated that the tear will not proceed through or between the corrugations but will confine itself to the scored line. This is partially because of the reinforcement occasioned by the corrugations. Furthermore, due tothe fact that the metal has already been bent in this portion of the cap,,there is a greater flexibility and the tongue 15 may be more easily raised and pulled around to effect the tearingoperation.

In other words, the corrugations give greater 'fiexibility in a circumferential direction as the strip is partially torn, and greater strength in a vertical direction. This enables the strip to be readily held and is effective to produce a smooth tear which is confined to the scored line. The corrugations 17 above the scored line operate to prevent the tear proceeding upwardly, thereby co-operatingwith the corrugations 16 to cohfine the tearing to the proper place. The formation of the corrugations or other indentations does not require any additional metal in the cap or any additional rolling operation in the manufacture of the cap. The rolls maybe changed to effect this operation with the same machinery and the same steps heretofore utilized. The corrugations above or below the line may end a short distance from the scored 1 line without'materially affecting the desired result.

In Fig. 3, a construction is illustrated wherein the'corrugations, are in the tear-ofl' strip but are not provided above the scored line. The advantage of this construction is that the reinforced band will not tear across the corrugation, the hand grip is not impaired and, at the same time, a greater space is allowed in the upper part of the cap for the threads 7.

' Certain constructions provide a pair of scored lines which permit the band of metal therebetween to be removed so that the upper and lower part of the cap may be separated. Such a construction is shown in Fig. 4 wherein a pair of scored lines 18 are illustrated with a band of metal therebetween corgations above and below the scored line 12 are inclined to perpendicular. Such a construction gives a nice appearance and effects the advantage of confining the tear and, to a certain extent, the advantage of creating flexibility in the portions of the strip severed from the cap.

Fig. 7 illustrates the invention applied td a one-piece closure with the corrugations 16 provided in the tear-off band, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The tongue may be entirely or partially cut in the skirt of the cap or may be formed in any other suitable manner.

7 It will be seen that a very inexpensive closure is provided which has advantages not possessed by previous caps. The corrugations in the cap do not break the metal or the lacquer thereon and,.hence, present no addi-.

tional surfaces likely to rust but, on the other hand, actually improve the appearance of the cap. In addition, these corrugations confine the tear to a scored line and prevent the tearoff strip,from breaking during the tearing operation. Furthermore, the corrugations in the tongue, as well as in the rest of the tearta strip, provide a very effectivegrip which prevents the strip from slipping between the fingers and inflicting inj ury. The application of the cap to the container is greatly facilitated, as well as its removal. A -re-seal closure is provided so that the contents of the container may be dispensed therefrom if desired.

It will be understood that while the present invention is particularly adapted for closure caps, many of its features may be utilized wherever scored lines are employed.

I As various other changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to,be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

skirt, said skirt being weakened to provide a tear-off strip, and corrugations spaced slightly apart from said weakened portion to facilitate removal of said strip.

2. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap comprising a cover portion, a depending skirt, said skirt having a score therein partially severing the metal to provide a tear-off strip, and corrugations spaced slightly apart from said score to reinforce said skirt and to facilitate removal of said strip.

3. Asan article of manufacture a closure cap having a depending skirt, a portion of said skirt being connected thereto by a scored line to provide a tear-off strip, and corrugations spaced slightly apart from said scored line to confine the tearing along the scored line.

4. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap having a score partially cutting the metal extending circumferentially about the skirt thereof and corrugations immediately above and apart from said scored line.

5. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap having a score partially cutting the metal extending circumferentially about the skirt thereof and corrugations immediately above and immediately below said scored line, said corrugations being spaced apart from said scored line.

6. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap comprising a cover portion and a depending skirt, a tear-01f strip at the lower part of the skirt connected therewith by means of a scored line, the end of said strip being in the form of a tongue to facilitate the tearing of the strip, and corrugations extending transversely of said strip 'and said tongue to facilitate grippinoof the tongue and to prevent breaking of the strip in the tearing operation.

7. As an article of manufacture, a sealed package comprising a container having a shoulder adjacent the upper end, a closure cap adapted to fit about the upper end of said container, the lower part of said cap being turned inwardly under said shoulder to hold said cap in position, a scored line extending circumferentially of the cap to permit the lower portion thereof to be torn off for removal thereof, and corrugations spaced slightly away from said scored line to confine the tearing to the scored line and to prevent severance of the tear-off strip during the tearing operation.

8. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap comprising a cover portion, a depending skirt, said skirt having a strip secured thereto by a scored line, a tongue integral with said strip, and corrugations extending transversely of said tongue to facilitate gripping thereof- 9. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap comprising a cover portion, a depending skirt, said skirt having a stripsecured thereto by a scored line,'a tongue integral with said strip having a greater width than said strip to facilitate manual gripping thereof, corrugations extending transversely of said tongue to provide a gripping surface, and other corrugations above said scored llne to confine the tear to the scored line. Y

10. In a sealed, package, the combination of a glass container having threads at the mouth thereof, and a closure cap comprising a depending skirt, a portion of said skirt being connected thereto by a scored line partially severing the metal thereof to provide a tearofi' strip, corrugations spaced slightly apart from said scored line to confine thettearing along the scored line, and thread engaging means in said skirt adapted to engage the threads of the container to reseal the contaiger when the tear-off strip has been remove 11. In a sealed package, the combination of a glass container having threads at the mouth thereof, and a closure cap comprising a depending skirt, a tear-ofl strip at the lower part of the skirt connected therewith by means of a scored line partially severing the closure ca metal of 'the cap, the end of the strip being wider than said strip to form a tongue to facilitate tearing of the strip, corrugations extending transversely of said strip and said tongue to facilitate gripping of the tongue and to prevent breakin' of the strip in the tearing operation, and t reads formed in the skirt of the cap adapted to engage the threads of the container.

12. As anarticle of manufacture, a sealed package comprising a container having closure engaging means on the neck thereof, a I having a top'port-ion and a depending s 'rt, a scored line extending about the skirt of said closure cap providing a tear;

off portion, said tear-off portion being constrlcted lnwardly about sald closure engaging means, corrugations in said tear-off portion adapted to strengthen the grip thereofu on the container, and corrugations in said s 'rt above said scored line to faclhtate the tearing operation in removing the tear-off portion to open the package.

Signed at Brooklyn, New York, this 11th I dayof September, 1929.

\ CHARLESv HAMMER. I

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