US2024495A

US2024495A - Cap for containers

Info

Publication number: US2024495A
Application number: US717542A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard C Wolfe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-03-27
Filing date: 1934-03-27
Publication date: 1935-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1952-12-17

Description

Dec. 17, 1935.

vR. c. WOLFE I 2,024,495

CAP FOR CONTAINERS Filed March 27, 1934 INVENTQR QM/mrd 0. Wlfe ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 17, 1935 2,024,495 Vom non CONTAINERS Richard C. Wolfe, New York, N. Y. 'Applicationivrarchem 1934, serial No. 717,542 s claims. `(o1. 22o-59) This inventionrelates to caps or closures, pref- Y erably metallic inrcharacter, adapted to be employed in conjunction with types of containers such, for instance, as the usual and conventional tin cans.

The principal object of the invention is the production of a novelcapof simple construction Whoh, may be easily applied to a container and automatically secured thereto in locking position by pressure applied against the cap in question.

A further object of the invention is the proygluclon.Y .of arcontainer cap having the character-Y istics above described and so constructed as toV enable it to be automatically broughtrinto unlookngposition for removing the same from the Container upon furtherV application of pressure thereto, after pressure has. been exerted there- .against'suicient to bring it into locking position.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating a practical embodiment of the invention: Y Y 1 isa plan View of aY container cap showing, thepreferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig.,2 is a section taken through the cap on the line 2 2; of Fig. 1 showing it applied in the opening in the toprwallof any form of container, a fragmentary portion only of the container being. shown. Y

Eig, 3 is asimilar View showing the cap in locked, position.

Fig. 4 .is asimilar View showing the cap after ithas been brought into unlocked position while `Still in engagement within the opening in the top Wall.. 0f theA container.

Fig. V5.' isa view similar to Fig. 2` of the cap (the container, however, not being shown), the cap in. this instance having a rubber orY other resilient gasket applied. thereto. Y

Alig. 6 is a section taken through a modified iolm. oilcap showing it before its application within the opening of the top wall of the con-V tailler, and

1 'i g, 7j ,is also section of the cap showing it applied; Withinthe opening of the container but in a position such as to render it readily removable.

VReferring in detail to the several iigures of the drawing;

.l indicates thehead of the capy which is cone- Vhead being, flattened as at 2.

YVextending annular skirt or flange l of the cap will Wardly extending annular flange or skirt l integral therewith which terminates in an outwardly extending annular bead 5 having a free edge or rlange 6.V The lower side of the skirt or ange l is preferably provided throughout its circumfer- 5l ence and extending from its edges with the inwardly extending corrugations forming crimping or knurling l.

The body of the container or receptacle with which the cap is to be applied in order to close 1o the same is indicated at 8. Said receptacle has secured thereto in any manner an upper wall 9 channeled as at l 0, the inner side of said channel having a bead Il which terminates in a downwardly extending annular flange I2 which forms 1 5,v

the truncated cone so as to bend or expand said head until it assumes, or substantially assumes, the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3. When 'so bent or expanded the beads or ribs 3 expand 30 and flatten to an extent as do the corrugations 'l which in turn forces the peripheral lower edge of the annular skirt or flange Il to expand outwardlya so that it will engage beneath the lower edge of the annular flange E2 of the head of the container/as illustrated in Fig. 3 and thus prevent removal of the cap.

It will be understood that in many cases the locking and sealing position of the cap may be effected even though it does not assume the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3, it being necessary merely that the metal be flattened and the ribs 3 andV corrugations l, or either of them, be expanded to an extent sufficient to forcethe lower circumferential edge of the head of the cap beneath the 45 lower edge of the flange l2 of theupper wall of the container It will be further understood that it is not necessary to provide the container with an upper wall as such, it being necessary merely in some cases thatit be provided with a bead or other projection at or adjacent its upper edge beneath which the cap may engage when in locking position. Y

After thecap has been expanded into locking OI Sealing position, in order to remove the same, 55

against preferably at the truncated or central portion thereof so that it will assume the position shown in Fig. 4 and it will then become an inverted truncated cone. Such pressure, as is obvious, has the effect of contracting the beads or ribs 3 and corrugations 4 into their original position which in consequence contracts the lower circumferential edge of the cap permitting the cap to be Withdrawn from the opening in the upper wall 9 of the container or receptacle.

For exerting pressure against the cap to expand it into locking or sealing position or vto contract it into unlocking position, as has been hereinbefore described I may either apply the pressure manually or may employ a suitable tool which is illustrated in Fig.4, or any other form of tool or object may be employed to tapor push the cap downwardly. The to'ol illustrated cornprises a somewhat flattened rod I3 having a handle I4 on one end thereof and a hook I5 on the other end thereof. The lower edge of said handle is provided with notches I6 and carries a pressure-exerting arm or device I'I looped at its upper end as at I8 for receiving the handle. The inner lower portion of said loop is provided with a lug I9 therein adapted to enter any desired notch I6 so that the relative position of the arm I'I with respect to the rod I3 may be varied depending on the diameter of the cap. When in use, the hook I5 engages beneath the free edge or ange 6 of the cap and the lower end of the arm I 1 engages against the truncated or flattened portion 2 of the cap. As is manifest, pressure exerted against the handle I4 causes the lower end of the arm I'I to exert downward pressure against the cap.

In Fig. 5 the free edge of flange of the cap which is indicated at 6 flares downwardly to a certain degree so as to form a pocket for the reception of a rubber or other compressible gasket 20,

It is important that the metal of the cap be tempered to such a degree of hardness or softness as to give it sufficient pliancy to permit it to be expanded or contracted in the manner hereinbefore described.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the upper wall of the container as such is dispensed with and the upper circumferential edge of the container is turned over to form a bead 20 forming the opening in the container. The metal of the cap is tempered to a degree which makes it appreciably more resilient or springy than the metal of the cap described in the preferred form o'f the invention and the lower edge of the cap is provided with an outwardly extending annular bulge or bead 2l of a diameter normally greater than the opening in the container as shown in Fig. 6. To seal the cap within said opening, pressure is exerted downwardly thereagainst which contracts or presses the bulge or bead 2I inwardly until it clears the bead 20' of the container whereupon, because of its inherent spring or resilientA characteristic, it will again automatically expand into its original position and thus lock itself underneath the bead 2B'. To remove said cap from its sealing and locking position within the opening of the head of the container, pressure is again applied downwardly against -said cap to cause the bead or bulge 2| to again contract and at the same time permit the cap to be withdrawn from the opening. VWhen in posifurther pressure downwardly is exerted therey in this modication the ribs 3 are shown extending downwardly instead of upwardly as in the preferred form of the invention.

Various modications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as 5 set forth in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. Incombination with a container provided with aprojection therein at or adjacent its upper edge, a removable and deformable metallic cap 10 adapted to vbe inserted within said container and provided with a lower peripheral edge adapted to be expanded laterally and to engage beneath said projection upon the application of pressure exerted against said cap and to be contracted l5 into normal position upon the further application of pressure thereagainst td cause contraction of said peripheral edge and thereby permit removal of the cap from the container.

2. In combination with a container provided 20 with an opening and a depending part,V a metallic, removable and expandable cap adapted to enter said opening and to have a portion thereo'f expanded beneath the edge of said part upon the g application of pressure against said cap in order 2'5 to seal said container, said expanded portion of said cap being also adapted to be contracted to permit removal of the cap from the container upon the application of further pressure against said cap.

3. In combination with va container provided with a depending iian'ge forming an opening, a Vcap having a plurality of ribs therein and a circumferential edge, said ribs being adapted to be expanded whereby said edge will engage beneath 35 said depending flange upon the application of pressure against said cap to seal said container and said ribs being adapted to be contracted automatically upon the application of further i pressure against said cap to permit said cap to 40 be withdrawn from the opening in said container.

4. In combination with a container provided with a depending flange forming an opening and a cone-shaped cap having a plurality of ribs ,-f. therein extending radially from the circumfer- 45' ential edge of said cap toward the center thereof, said ribs being adapted to be expanded whereby said edge will engage beneath said depending ange upon the application of pressure to said ncap to seal said container and said ribs being 50 adapted to be contracted automatically upon the application of further pressure against said cap to flex the bottom of said cap downwardly and thereby permit said cap to be withdrawn from the opening in said container.

5. In combination with a container having a depending annular flange forming an opening,

a cone-shaped cap adapted for insertion within said opening and provided with a skirt having an outwardly extending annular flange, said skirt being crimped adjacent its circumferential edge whereby said skirt will be expanded laterally beneath said ange upon the application of pressure against said cap. Y

6. In combination with a co-ntainer provided with a depending flange forming an opening, a metallic cap comprising a truncated cone and having a plurality of radially extending ribs therein and provided with a crimped skirt adapted to engage said depending flange, a portion of the 0 metal of said cap being adapted tov be Vexpanded laterally to engage beneath said depending flange upon the application of pressure against said cap .to seal said container.

opening therein, a spring, removable metallic cap adapted to be inserted in said opening and provided with a skirt having a bulge or bead thereon, said bulge or bead having a diameter normally in excess of the diameter off the opening and being adapted to be contracted upon application of pressure to said cap to permit the insertion cf the said cap in the aforesaid opening Wherebythe said bulge or bead Will automatically expand to lock against the container to| seall the same when said cap is completely inserted Within said opening.

8. In combination with a container havingra depending annular ange forming an opening, a spring, removable metallic cap adapted for insertion Within said opening and having a skirt pro/vided with a plurality of ribs'therein, a bulge or bead on said skirt adapted to be contracted whereby said bulge or bead Will engage beneath the lower edge of said flange when pressure is applied against said cap and said bulge or bead being also adapted to be contracted to permit removal of said cap from said opening lupon 10 the application of further pressure upon said cap.

RICHARD c. WOLFE.