US2041488A - Material container - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1936. E, E. ROBINSON MATERIAL CONTAINER Filed June 22, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Emiilffihhson I Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to material containers and the method of making the same, and particularly to containers such as are commonly known as collapsible tubes, and are adapted to contain and dispense paste or other semi-solid or fluent, or other extrudible, expellable or dispensable materials or substances.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive container of this character provided with a material dispensing or discharge opening, and having a closure for said opening that can be readily and conveniently manipulated and moved to opened and to closed positions by a single movement, and by the use of the same hand in which the container or tube is held, if desired.

Another object of my invention is to so construct and assemble the parts that a captive closure is provided and is so mounted that the necessity for forming screw threads, or for providing other difficult formations, upon either the container or the closure, is obviated, and that all parts and elements can be readily and cheaply manufactured and can be quickly and inexpensively assembled.

Yet another object is to provide a method of making material containers of this character from a single piece of material, and in a single operation, without the necessity for cutting or forming screw threads, or other recessed parts or portions, and with which the material feeding and the formed container removing operations are readily accomplished with great facility and speed, and without the use of complicated dies, molds or other mechanism or apparatus, as the container is readily and completely formed with a single operation, and the formed receptacle is readily removable by straight drawing or pulling operation.

With the above and other objects in view, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, my invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be'hereinafter set forth in connection with the drawings andthen pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating a container constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken longitudinally through the container and closure structures.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 taken substantially at right angles thereto.

Fig. 4' is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified construction.

Figs. 5 and-6 are sectional views similar to Fig. 2 illustrating still other modifications.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the container with the closure structure removed.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through one adaptation of forming die structure that can be employed in making the container.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 taken substantially at right angles thereto.

As here illustrated, the invention is embodied with a collapsible tube or container l, and the body portion of this container can be of any desired shape, size andform'ation, to be closed by the clamping'strip 2, or by any other suitable means or in any other suitable manner. The head end 3 is here illustrated'as'being of the usual short conical form, but here again any desired and suitable form and construction can be resorted to.

A substantially segmental shaped neck or extension 4 is provided on'this head end 3, withthe segment representing approximately one-quarter of a circle, and with one of the flat sides of the segment joined'or connected with the head end 3 and the other fiat side extending in a plane substantially parallel with the axial line of the body portion I. A passage or opening 5 is provided through this extension 4 in a line substantially parallel with the outwardly extending flat face, and with its outer end opening through the curved face of the segmental neck or extension. This passage 5 can be made to be substantially circular, rectangular, triangular, or of any desired form in cross section, to thus give a corresponding shape to a ribbon of paste or other material extruded therethrough, or the opening or passage 5 can be made in a form and shape suitable for discharge of powdered, granular, or other fluent material. This passage can be made with the sides substantially parallel, or can b'etapered or flared inwardly or outwardly.

The segmental'neck or extension 4 is made of sufficient width to give some thickness on each side of thepassage 5, and around the arcuated corners of the segment form grooves 6 and 1 are provided, these grooves being here illustrated as being substantially of angular recessed form. On opposite sides, and preferably slightly offcenter of the segment, the bearing recesses 8 and 9 are provided in the neck or extension 4.

A closuremember I0, which ispreferably made Cal of a phenol condensate product, or of other suitable moldable or formable material, has its inner face II formed to substantially fit the central portion of the arcuate outer face of the neck or extension 4, and this closure member has at its sides the flange portions I2 and I3 which fit into the grooves 6 and I to guide the closure member to travel upon and over the arcuate outer face of the neck or extension 4. On its outer side, this closure III has a groove I4 formed to extend transversely, and a substantially U-shaped bail or mounting member I5, of wire or other suitable material, is adapted to have its middle portions received in the groove or recess I4, and has its end portions I6 and I1 bent inwardly as bearing pintles to fit within the bearing openings 8 and 9.

With the parts constructed and mounted in the manner as shown and described the closure member II! can be moved or slid back and forth peripherally upon the arcuate outer face of the segment portion 4, the flanges I2 and I3 traveling in guide grooves 6 and I serving to hold the closure member against lateral displacement, and the bail or mounting member I5 serving to retain the closure member in the proper fitted relation upon the outer segmental face, and to yet permit free swinging movement thereof. If the bearing openings 8 and 9 be formed slightly off from the true center of the segment, and within the angle of the two theoretical faces of the quarter circle, the closure member ID will be so mounted and held that in the middle portion of the curved face the frictional contact is eased, whereas toward each extreme of movement of the closure over the arcuate face, the pressure will be increased. Such construction and assembly may have considerable advantages in insuring ready and easy operation and movement of the closure member to the opened and the closed positions, and in drawing down the closure member securely over the outer end of the passage 5 when the closure member is in the passage closing position.

The provision of the recess I4 forms transverse roughening upon the outer face of the closure member ID, and thus provides a finger or thumb grip so that the finger or thumb can be placed against the outer side of the closure ID, after the manner indicated in Fig. 2, and this closure can be readily moved to the desired opened and closed positions. With this construction, and the consequent manner of operation, it is possible for the user to hold the body I of the tube or other container in one hand, and by using the thumb or one of the fingers of the holding hand, the closure I0 can be quickly manipulated with greatest facility, to open and close the passage 5.

In Fig. 4 I have which the container I,

illustrated an adaptation in the neck or extension 4 and the closure member III are of substantially the form and construction set forth above. In this adaptation the mounting member or bail I5a has the middle or cross portion thereof curved or bent inwardly to provide a spring section I5b bearing within the recess I4 to thus exert resilient pressure upon the closure member ID to hold this member in contact with the curved face of the segmental neck or extension.

As shown in Fig. 5, the closure member Ifla can be made of any desired form or shape on its outer side, and can be provided with additional roughening formations Illb, to give a better gripping surface for the thumb or finger used to manipulate the closure. Also, if desired, the closure member Illa can be provided with a boss or slight extension I00 on its inner face to fit within the outer end of passage 5 to retain the closure member in closed relation, and to insure a tight and complete closure of the outer end of the passage. Where the portion I00 is resorted to, it may be found desirable to form the portion IOb to extend outwardly beyond the normal requirements for the recess I4, as illustrated, so that greater leverage can be had in the initial force exerted to move the closure member Illa.

While the head end 3 of the container will limit movement of the closure member III to the opened position, it may be found desirable to provide a stop 4b upon the neck or extension 4a, somewhat as shown in Fig. 6, to positively limit excessive movement of the closure member to such an extent that it can travel over and become displaced from association with the portion 4a.

The construction as shown and described is particularly well adapted for use upon colllapsible tube containers, and in such adaptation the segmental neck or extension 4 is desirably formed integral with the head end 3 and the body portion I. It is the purpose of my invention to provide a method of making such containers, and in Figs. 8 and 9 I have illustrated an apparatus that can be used for this purpose. As shown, the die block I8 has a recess I9 therein conforming substantially to the outer shape and size of the body I, and at the inner end of this recess I9 the die block is formed to follow the form and contour of the head end 3 and the neck or extension 4. A pin extension is provided in the bottom of the recess I9 in proper position to form the opening 5. A plunger or male die member 2| is provided to be manipulated by any desired or suitable press or punch means to travel into the recess I9, and as a suitable block or ingot of material 22, which can be aluminum, block tin, or other suitable fluent metal or material is contacted by the plunger or male die member 2 I, the material will be forced into the inner end of recess I9 to thus die form the desired shape and contour of the portions 3 and 4, and as the movement of the member 2I is continued the excess of material 22 will be extruded around the sides of the recess I9 to flow up along the sides of the member 2|, and in consequence the skirt or body portion I of the receptacle will be formed in a single operation with the head portion 3 and the neck or extension portion 4. The pin portion 20 can be associated to be carried by the member 2I, if this is found preferable, and this pin portion can be slightly tapered, to permit and allow more ready removal of the material of the formed container. If the die forming operation leaves a thin layer of material within the passage 5, over the end of pin 29, this can be readily removed by cutting, punching or by any other suitable operation.

In order that the receptacle can be entirely and completely formed in a single operation, it is desirable that the bearing openings 8 and 9 be formed therein, and with this in mind pins 23 and 24 can be provided, as shown in Fig. 9, to project at proper points into the formed inner end of recess I9, so that the fluent material will be formed around these pins and the bearing openings will thus be provided. In order that the formed container can be readily withdrawn from the mold or die structure, the pins 23 and 24 can be readily and expeditiously withdrawn or slid out sufficiently to clear the side of the recess l9, by means of levers 25. Through various wellknown trains of linkage, lever or gear trains, the levers 25 can be actuated to move pins 23 and 24 into the recess l9 at the proper interval before the fluent material is flowed into the die, or to penetrate the formed material in a subsequent operation, and these pins can be withdrawn in the proper interval to permit and allow free withdrawal of the formed container from the recess I9 as the member 2| is withdrawn, or as a subsequent operation.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a material container having a closure member readily operated by the use of a single thumb or finger, and which does not require complicated operations, such as threading or the like, upon either the container or the closure member; that the closure member is permanently associated with the container tobe readily movable to opened and closed positions and to yet be retained against loss; and, that with the construction and the method set forth the container is formed by substantially a single operation and is. completed in a unitary die or mold, without the necessity of having separable die parts to form screw threads, or without the necessity of any mechanism or operation to provide or form thread portions, grooves, or other special recessed formations, upon either the container or the closure.

While I have herein shown and described only certain specific embodiments of my improved material container and of the method of making the same, it will be appreciated that changes and variations can be made in the form, construction, arrangement and assembly of the parts, and

in the manner of constructing the same, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A material container comprising, a body having a head end carrying a substantially segmental extension disposed with one side of the segment coinciding with the end and the other side of the segment angularly disposed outwardly from the end, said extension having a discharge passage opening through the arcuate face thereof and being provided with substantially squared rabbeted guide ways at the edges of said face, a closure member having one face thereof shaped to fit the arcuate face and the guide ways thereof mounted to slidably move on the arcuate face to positions to close the outer end of the passage and to clear the same, said closure member being freely movable radially from the arcuate face of the extension, and a substantially U-shaped mounting member having its ends swingably held adjacent to the angle of the segmental extension and having its middle portion engaging with the closure member to hold said member in proper operative position.

2. A material container comprising, a collapsible body having a head at one end provided with a segmental extension and having a discharge passage in the extension opening through the arcuate wall thereof, said extension being provided with substantially squared rabbeted guideways at the side edges of the arcuate face and having bearing openings substantially at the center at which the arcuate face is formed, a closure member provided with a centrally grooved arcuate face to fit and be slidably movable upon the arcuate face of the extension and along said guideways and to be freely movable radially from said arcuate face, and a substantially U-shaped mounting member having its ends swingably mounted in the bearing openings and having its middle portion engaging across the closure member to hold said closure member in sliding contact with the arcuate face of the extension while the guideways hold said closure member against lateral displacement.

3. A material container comprising, a body having a unitary head at one end provided with a unitary segmental extension substantially rectilinear in cross section, said segmental extension terminating at one end of its arcuate face at the end of the body portion and being provided with a discharge passage opening through the arcuate wall adjacent to the other end, guideways of substantially squared form at each of the side edges of the arcuate face of the segmental extension, a closure member provided With an arcuate face having a central groove and side flanges to fit the arcuate face and the guideways of the segmental extension, said 010- sure member being mounted upon the arcuate face of the segmental extension for free peripheral sliding movement thereon and being held against lateral displacement by the side extensions travelling in the guideways while the closure member is freely bodily movable in a substantially radial direction from the arcuate wall, said extension being provided with hearing openings on opposite sides adjacent to the angle of the segmental form, and a substantially U-shaped mounting member having its yoke portion fitted over the outer side of the closure member and having its legs swingably mounted in the bearing openings to thus hold and retain the closure member to travel upon the arcuate wall of the extension and against separation therefrom.

EMMETT E. ROBINSON.

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