US1913177A - Device for sealing containers under vacuum - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 1933. o. B. UNDERWOOD DEvIcE=Foh SEALING CONTAINERS UNDER VACUUM Filed July 24, 1931 Patented June 6, 1933:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OLAN BEVERLY UNDEBWOOD, F EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB TO BERNARDIN BOTTLE CAP 00., EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, A GORPORATION OF INDIANA DEVICE FOR SEALING CONTAIN EBS UNDER VACUUM".

Application filed July 24,

The invention relates to devices for sealing containers with screw caps under vacuum.

' One object of'the invention is to provide a simple device for this purpose which can 7 be easily and manually manipulated and is equipped with a handle which may be grasped in one hand of the operator to hold will appearfrom the detailed description. The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof. a

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a device embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan.

The invention is exemplified in, a device 4 comprising a casing 3 ofcast metal, the lowoperation.

er end of which is open and is provided with an inset. elastic band or gasket 4 which is adapted to engage the shoulder on a container a to form an air-tight closure between the casing and the container when the latter is held on the container. The upper end of the casing has a closed wall 5 to enclose and form a closed chamber 6 around the'upper portion of the container which is provided with an external screw a for a screw cap 6 with a depending screw threaded flange b. A handle 7 projects laterally from and is formed integrally with the casing .3. The handle is adapted-to be grasped by the operator to hold the casing 3 downwardly against the container a during the sealing A vacuum connection for' exhausting the air from the container 11 and chamber 6 in the casing comprises a flexible vtube 8 which is connected to a vacuum tank (not shown) and to a nipple 9 inthe outer end of the handleand aport 10 extending longitudinally through the handle to the 1931. Serial a... 552,909.

chamber 6. A cylindrical valve 11 is ver-,

tically slidable in a socket 12 formed in the handle, adjacent thecasing 3, to control the vacuum connection and the admission of air to the chamber 6 after a sealing operation has been completed. This valve is provided with a horizontal port 13 which, when the valve is depressed, registers with'the port 10 to connect the chamber 6 to the'vacuum tank to exhaust the air from the: container and chamber 6. A stem 14 extends upwardly from valve 11 and is provided at its upper end with a button 15 which is adapted to be pressed by the thumb ora finger of the hand of the operator which is used to grasp the handle 7 Valve 11 is normally held in its raised position by a spring\ 16. This spring holds the valve normally closed or in position to interrupt the suction connection until the operator depresses the button 15. A pin 17 secured, to the button, slides in a socket 18 in a boss 19 formed on the handle 1 to hold the valve against rotation. This valve also controls the admission of air to the chamber 6 to release the vacuum therein at the end of a sealing operation or when the valve is in its normal position. For this purpose a port 20 leads from the chamber 6 in the casing 3 to an angular port 21 in valve 11. When the valve 1s depressed port 20 will be closed, and when the-valve is retracted to its normal position, port 21 will register with port 20' to admit air to the chamber 6 to release the vacuum.

Ahead or chuck 23 in the casing 3 has a tapered socket 24, the inner periphery of which is adapted to engage the corner or side of the screw-cap b for the purpose of rotatingthe cap to close the seal while the cham- 25 is slidable and rotatable in its bearing in the casing, so that the head 23 may be pressed downwardly to engage-the cap 6 and then turned to rotate'the cap.

- The operation of the device is as follows: The operator will grasp the handle 7 with 2 azar??? one hand, usuall the left, and press the easing 3 downwar 1y against the shoulder on the container to enclosethe upper portion of the container on which a screw cap has been loosely placed and to close the chamber 6. When that has been done, the opera-- to'r will depress button 15 with a thumb or a finger of the hand grasping handle 7 to shift tainer or jar a. After the screw-cap has been thus secured, the operator will release button 15 so that spring 16 will close valve 11' and cut oil the vacuum tank from the chamber 6. When the valve reaches its-normal raised position, its port 21 will register with port 20 to permit air to enter the chamber 6 and break the vacuum therein. The casing 3 can then be readily removed from the sealed container.

The invention exemplifies a device for'sealing containers with screwcaps under pressure, which is simple in construction and can be easily manipulated by a single'operator.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these ters Patent, is:

1. In a device for sealing with a screw cap a container having. a reduced externally threaded neck and a shoulder beneath th eneck, the combination of a casing designed to form a closed chamber around the upper portion" ofthe container and comprising a top wall adapted to overlie the neck of the container and a continuous side wall dependingfrom the top wall and adapted to sur- 2. In a device for sealing with amcrew cap a container having a reduced externally threaded neck and a shoulder beneath the neck, the combination of a casing designed to form a closed-chamber around the upper portion of the container com' rising a ClIClllar top wall adapted to overlie the neck and an annular or. cylindrical side wall depending from the marginal art of the top wall and adapted to surroun the neck of the-container and rest directly upon the shoulder, a handle connected to and promoting outwardly; from the side wall of the casing where y the casing may be held in place with the side wall resting upon the shoulder of the container, a vacuum connection for the chamber comprising a flexible hose connected to the outer end of the handle and a port extending longitudinally through the handle and leading to the chamber, a springclosed valve for controlling the vacuum connection mounted slidably in the handle provided with means for admitting air to the chamber when the connection is closed, a head disposed within the chamber and having a conical socket in, the under'part thereof for receiving the ca and means on the outside of the casing wiiereby the head may be manually o erated to screw the ca on the neck of t e container while the casing is under-vacuum.

Signed'at Evansville, Indiana, this 17th day of July, 1931-.

OLAN BEVERLY UNDERWOOD.

round the neck and rest directly upon the shoulder of the container, a handle connected to and projecting from one side of the casing whereby the casing may be held in place with the continuous side wall resting upon the shoulder of the container, a vacuum connection for the chamber comprising a flexible tube connected to the outer end of the handle and a duct extending longitudinally through the handle, a valve in the handle for controlling the duct, a'head disposed within the chamber and having a conical socket in the under part thereof for receiving the cap, and means on the outside'ofthe casing whereby the head may be manually operated to screw the cap on the neck of the container while the casing is under vacuum.

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