US1958414A

US1958414A - Closure for containers

Info

Publication number: US1958414A
Application number: US591485A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ben E Bogeaus
Original assignee: AMERICAN TUBE AND CAP CORP
Current assignee: AMERICAN TUBE AND CAP Corp
Priority date: 1932-02-08
Filing date: 1932-02-08
Publication date: 1934-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 1951-05-15

Description

May 15, 1934. B, E. BOGEAUS CLOSURE FOR conmmans Filed Feb 8. 1932 jgiwm INVENTOR.

Patented I May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,958,414 CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Ben E. Bogeaus, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American-Tube and Cap Corporation, Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application February '8, 1932, Serial No. 591,485 11 Claims.- (01. 221 60) This invention relates to closures for containers, being particularly directed to a novel form of closure wherein the closure forms an integral part of the container, and wherein displacement of the closure, or a portion thereof. in one direction, permits the discharge of material from the con tainer and a reversal of directional displacement of the closure or part thereof, originally displaced, causes the closing or sealing of the container.

Broadly, it is an object of this invention to provide for an improvement in structural formation of a closure element of the type shown and described in Letters Patent to Walther Kalb, 1,601,- 396, patented September 28th, 1926, the particular improvement involved being the provision of structural detail wherein the movable part of the closure is guided to cause a uni-directional and non-tilting displacement thereof as it is actuated in its respective directional movement, to permit -the opening or closing of the same with respect to the container on which it is applied.

Further, it is a specific object of this invention to provide for the structural formation of the inner head of the closure element of the type specified in the Kalb patent above mentioned, with respect to the outer displaceable cap associated with said head, wherein no material from the container may remain between the fixed head and movable cap of the closure, thus to provide for the retention of the material within the container proper, ready for discharge only through the closure when the movable cap thereof is actuated.

Further, it is an object of this invention to 3 eliminate the formation of an area between the fixed and movable portions of the closure, in

which the material in the container may be deposited when the closure element is in sealed or closed position.

This form of closure, as can be readily observed from the state of the art, is applicable particularly to semi-fluid materials of the nature of tooth pastes, shaving creams, cosmetic creams, varnishes, paintsglues, or other materials of a like nature, commonly carried in collapsible tubes,

and may be further applied with liquids, which may be carried in glass, metallic or any other type of containers, the closure, as may be seen from the drawing, being capable of either forming an integral part of the container or being attachable to a container at-the head or neck portion thereof.

These and other advantages, capabilities and features of the invention will appear from the subjoined detailed description of one specific embeing adapted to be disposed in said channel 14 bodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front view, partly in section, of the closure device in closed, position, applied in one form as in association with a collapsible tube.

Figure 2 is a plan view, partly in section, showing the movable and fixed heads of the closure.

Figure 3 is a front'elevation, partly in section, of the closure in open position.

Figure 4 is a plan view, in section, taken along lines 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the reference characters in the drawing, numeral 10 represents a container herein shown as a collapsible tube, although for the purpose of this invention any form of container of any of the various types of material known may be applied. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, the body of the container 10 merges into an inclined neck portion 11, at the extremity of which there may be attached to or formed integral therewith, the fixed head A of the closure.

The fixed head A has a cylindrical body portion 12, the upper extremity of which is bent inwardly to form a shoulder 13, which forms one of the boundary surfaces for the annular peripheral channel 14, the other boundary for such channel being the annular projecting flange 15, there the inner peripheral surface of the annular snap spring 16 of the leaf type. Above the projecting fiange 15 there is formed a reduced cylindrical nipple portion 17, and above such nipple portion is formed a section 18 in the form of a frustum of a cone, the upper portion of which has formed thereon a top 19.

As shown in Figure 1, the fixed head has a hollow interior and at the portion of the same forming the frustum of a cone there are provided a series of discharge apertures 20 disposed peripherally around such surface. The top 19 has formed thereon an annular channel 21 which serves as a seat for the inwardly projecting peripheral edge 22 of the movable cap B of the closure.

The movable cap B has a surface 23 in the shape of a frustum of a cone which is adapted to rest against the frusto-conical surface 18 of the head, and is adapted to cover and seal the apertures 20 therein when the device is in closed 105 position (see Figure 1). Adjacent and below the frusto-conical surface 23 of the cap is formed a cylindrical body portion 24 extending substantially parallel with respect to the cylindrical body portion 1'? en the fixed head, the said body por- 110 tion 24 being adapted to contact with and be guided by the body portion 17 when and as the movable cap "B" is reciprocated to operate the closure. The cap structure below the cylindrical body portion 24 extends to form a second conical surface 25; the extremity 26 of the cap below such conical surface being adapted to be bent inwardly to form a receptacle for the outer peripheral surface of the annular spring 16.

In this particular embodiment of the invention, the portion of the conical surface 25 opposite and adjacent the bent-in edges 26 are pressed together so as to tightly fix the outer peripheral surface of the annular spring with respect to the cap; the innerperipheral surface of the annular spring being adapted to be more or less rigidly fixed within the channel 14 formed between portions 13 and 15 which serve to retain the inner peripheral surface of the annular spring 16 for the purpose specified.

In operation, to open the closure element for discharge of material from the container 10, the cap is grasped at the surface 26 and drawn upwardly from the position in Figure into the position in Figure 3. As the cap is drawn upwardly, the annular spring 16is displaced and deformed by the pressure applied thereto at its outer periphery, while its inner peripheral edge is restrained within channel 14 of the head "A, until it reaches the median line position between that shown in Figures 1 and 3, after which the spring of itself tends to become undeformed and be further displaced to attain the upwardly inclined position shown in Figure 3.

During such displacement of the spring the cap is bodily moved upwardly with the inner surface of the cylindrical .body portion 24 of the cap contacting with and being guided in its slid= ing movement along the exterior surface of the cylindrical body portion 17 of the head, thus causing the cap to be displaced in a vertical plane without tilting. At the same time, the frustoconical surface 23 of the cap is displaced above the frusto-conical surface 18 of the head to provide an area-way C between the respective frusto-conical surfaces of the head and cap while freeing or unblocking the apertures 20 in the frusto-conical surface of the head to permit material that may be urged upwardly in the interiorly hollowed portion of the head to pass directly into such area-way "0. Further, the edge 22 at the extremity of the frusto-conical surface 23 of the cap is displaced upwardly and above from its seat 21 on the .top 19 of the head A,'to provide for a discharge outlet 27 above the area-way D formed between the cap B and the top 19 of the head A.

Material from the body of the container which may be squeezed or poured, as the case may be, then passes into the interior of the hollowed portion of the head A through the apertures 20 in the head angularly into the area-way C and then in a further angular direction to areaway D, from whence it passes through the discharge outlet 27 for use.

It should be noted that not only do the cylindrical surfaces 24 and 1'7 respectivelyof the cap and head serve to guide the cap in a verticalmovement with respect to the head and to eliminate tilting of the cap with respect tothe head, but the constant contact of a portion of the inner surface of the cylindrical body portion 24 of the cap and the outer surface of the nipple portion 17 of the head, prevents the passage of any of the material being urged through the discharge openings 20 of the head into the area-way it! formed between the upper surface of the snap device 16 and the inner surface of the conical portion 25 of the cap.

To return the cap "B? to its original closed position with respect'to 'the head A, all that is necessary is to press downwardly on the surface 25 of the cap or any other surface thereof, such as the body portion 24 or the frusto-conical surface 23 thereof, whereupon the spring 16 will be urged to its median line position, and upon attaining such position,- exert a pressure due to its release from the deformation caused thereto and proceed to assume the position of downward inclination shown in Figure 1, at which time the edge 22 of the cap fits into its seat 21 on the head adjacent the top 19 thereof, and the frusto-c'oni-- cal surface 23 surrounds, covers and seals the apertures 20 formed in the frusto-conical surface 18 of the head. v

Although the head has been formed integral with the container, which is here shown as of the collapsible type, it is within the province of this invention to provide for a separable head with respect to the body portion; further, although the elements involved in the head and cap structure have been shown in specific structural conformations, it is within the province of this in,- vention to vary the size, the shape and the form of the same,-so long as the elements thereof cooperate to provide a proper seal for the material passing through the outlets thereof, and at the same time, to provide for a non-tilting guided reciprocal displacement of the cap with respect to the head.

It is obvious .that various changes and modifications may be made to the-details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims:

I claim:

1. In a closure of the type described, the combination with a head and a cap, of a snap device interconnecting said head and cap and actuable to cause displacement of said cap with respect to said head, said snap device operating to yieldingly retain said cap in its open position, a discharge outlet in said cap, discharge open ings in said head, and relatively movable surfaces on the respective head and cap arranged for contact with each other below said discharge openings.

2. In a closure of the type described, the combination with a head and a cap, of a snap device interconnecting said head and cap and actuable to cause displacement of said cap with respect to said head, a discharge outlet in said cap, and discharge openings in said head, cooperating sealing surfaces on said head and said cap having sealing contact with each other adjacent the respective outlet and openings of said cap and head, to seal the same when the cap is in closed position, and cooperating substantially cylindrical guide surfaces on said head and said cap having sliding contact with each other below said discharge openings, to guide the cap in its movement with respect to the head, and to permit only a reciprocation in a vertical plane, of said cap with respect to said head.

3. In a closure of the type described, in combination with a fixed head having discharge openings therein, a movable cap having a discharge outlet, means comprising a snap device interconnecting said cap and head and adapted to provide, upon displacement, for the reciprocation of head for seating the cap at its discharge outlet to seal the cap with respect to said head, and relatively movable cooperating sealing surfaces on said head and said cap having sealing contact with each other below the discharge openings of said head.

. 4. In a closure of the type described, in combination with a fixed head having discharge openings therein, a movable cap having a discharge outlet, means comprising a snap device interconnecting said cap and head and adapted to provide, upon displacement, for the reciprocation of said cap with respect to said head, means on said head for seating the cap at its discharge outlet to seal the cap with respect to said head, seating surfaces on said cap and said head adapted, in the closed position of the cap, to have seating contact with each other directly over said discharge openings to seal the latter, and cooperating sliding guide surfaces on said head and said cap extending substantially parallel to the axis of said head'and cap, thereby to insure uni-directional reciprocation of said cap with respect to said head, upon actuation of said snap device.

5. In a closure of the type described, in combination with a fixed head having discharge openings therein, a movable cap having a discharge outlet, means comprising a snap device interconnecting said cap and head and adapted to provide, upon displacement, for the reciprocation of said cap with respect to said head, means on said head for seating the cap at its discharge outlet to seal the cap with respect to said head, the walls of the cap being disposed so as to seal the discharge openings of said head, a cylindrical guide surface .on said head below said discharge openings, and a cooperating cylindrical guide surface on said cap having sliding contact with said first mentioned guide surface, thereby to cause uni-directional reciprocation of said cap with respect to said head, upon actuation of said snap device, said last-named guide surfaces on said cap and head being adapted to restrict the displacement of material passing through said discharge openings in said head to a directional displacement towards and through the discharge opening on said cap when the same is unseated.

6. A closure of the class described, comprising in combination a fixed head and a movable cap therefor, a snap device interconnecting said cap and head and operable to cause displacement of said cap outwardly with respect to said head, and cooperating, relatively slidable guide surfaces on the lower portions of said head and cap for controlling the directional displacement of said cap with respect to said head.

'7. A closure of the class described, comprising in combination a fixed head and a movable cap therefor, a snap device interconnecting said cap and head and operable to cause displacement of said cap with respect to said head, relatively slidable guide means on said cap and said head for controlling the directional displacement of said cap with respect to said head, discharge apertures in said head and a discharge outlet in said cap,

means on said cap for sealing the apertures of said head, and a seat on said head for sealing the discharge outlet of said cap.

8. A closure of the class described, comprising in combination a fixed head and a movable cap therefor, discharge openings in said head, a discharge outlet in said cap, said cap comprising seating means adapted to seat on said head to prevent discharge through said openings and through said outlet, said head comprising a cylindrical guide surface formed thereon below said discharge openings, said cap comprising a cylindrical guide surface adapted to have sliding hearing contact with said first named guide surface, a conical skirt on the lower portion of said cap, and a spring-buckling disc operatively connected between said skirt and said head, the contact between the cylindrical bearing surface of said head and the cylindrical bearing surface of said cap forming in all positions of the cap a seal between said discharge openings in the head and the lower conical skirt of the cap, thereby prevehting escape of discharged material to the recess between said lower conical skirt and said springbuckling disc.

9. A container comprising a body provided with a discharge opening, an external cap for said discharge opening movable lengthwise of said body into open or closed position, said cap being adapted for direct manual grasping to initiate the movement thereof in either direction, an elastic snap device connecting said body with said cap and operating to throw the latter either to the discharge position or to the closed position as soon as the cap passes beyond its median or neutral position, and cooperating cylindrical guide surfaces on said body and on said cap for guiding the motion of said cap.

10. A container comprising a body provided with a discharge opening, an external cap for said discharge opening movable lengthwise of said body into open or closed position, said cap being adapted for direct manual grasping to initiate the movement thereof in either direction, an elastic snap device connecting said body with said cap and operating to throw the latter either to the discharge position or to the closed position as soon as the cap passes beyond its median or neutral position, a cylindrical guide surface on said body below said discharge opening, and a cylindrical guide surface formed within said cap and adapted to have sliding, guided engagement with said firstnamed guide surface during the motion of said cap.

11. A container comprising a body provided with a discharge opening, an external cap for said discharge opening movable lengthwise of said body into open or closed position, said cap being adapted for direct manual grasping to initiate the movement thereof in either direction, an elastic snap device connecting said body with said'cap and operating to throw the latter either to the discharge position or to the closed position as soon as the cap passes beyond its median or neutral position, and an internal surface in said cap having contact with said body below ,said discharge opening.

BEN E. BOGEAUS.