US2042068A - Sifter top - Google Patents

Description

A LIMBACH May 26, 1936.

SIFTER TOP Filed Feb. 8, 1935 ATTORNEYS Patented May 26, 1936 UNTED STATES onpas cargar orgies SIFTER TOP Alex Limbach, Carmel, N. Y.

Application February 8, 1935, Serial No. 5,629

9 Claims.

This invention relates to sifter tops and the manufacture thereof. This invention relates particularly to sifter tops adapted to be used in connection with containers for inely divided materials such as powdered cosmetics and the like.

It is a purpose of this invention to afford sifter tops which can be made and assembled inexpensively and to afford sifter tops which have increased convenience and adaptability in use.

Heretofore sifter tops for containers for cosmetics and the like have been made with various forms of relatively sliding members and the like which as compared with the device of this invention are costly to manufacture. Likewise the assembly of such prior sifter tops with containers has been expensive as a special tool of some Sort for uniting the two parts together has been required.

It is a feature of this invention that the sifter tops can be inexpensively made in two pieces from sheet metal. It is a further feature that the sifter top can be assembled Without a special machine or crimping. Likewisev one of the parts of the sifter top can be at the same time the breast and neck of the container so that the entire neck, breast and top closure can be made in only two pieces. Further features of this invention are that the closure is self opening and closing (by gravity) that is, the closure automatically opens upon inverting the container and closes tightly enough upon turning the container right side up to keep the scent in the cosmetic, for example, from escaping and to keep dust and dirt out of the container. A further feature of a preferred embodiment of this invention is that the closure can be positively closed as for shipment and sale as well as for use in traveling. The top can be opened readily by pulling it out either straight or with a twisting motion.

Further purposes, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent in connection with the following description of an illustrative embodiment of this invention shown in the accompanying drawing wherein,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container having a sifter top embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the sifter top with the container to which it is attached partially inverted.

Fig. 3` is a similar view to that shown in Fig. 2 with the container to which the sifter top is at- -tached right side up.

Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of the sifter top with the closure pushed downwardly into positively closed position with respect to the neck.

In the drawing a container IIJ is shown which can be of any desired size or shape. Secured to the container Ill as by friction is the member indicated generally by the reference character II, which member comprises the breast portion I2 and the neck I3. The member II is preferably made from a single piece of metal as by stamping.

Within the neck I3 is the closure which is indicated generally by the reference character Ill. The closure comprises a throat I5 loosely tting 10 Within neck I3. Thethroat I5 ts loosely within the neck I3 in such manner that there will be suicient clearance between the outside diameter of the throat and the internal diameter` of the neck to permit finely divided material in the conl5 tainer to sift therethrough. The amount of clearance can be made as desired depending upon the neness of subdivision of the material in the container, and the rate'of flow desired. Preferably both the neck I3 and throat I5 are of sub- 20 stantial length so that the position of the closure I4 is guided by neck I3.

Spaced from the ears I6 is the closure shoulder II which is adapted to rest, for example, against the top of the neck I3 and preferably seats snugly 25 against neck I3. Above the shoulder I1 is the friction locking surface I8 and at the top of the closure is a stop shoulder I9 which preferably has knurlings 20 therearound. The stop shoulder I9 preferably projects only slightly from surface I8 30 so as not to catch powder that is sifted through the sifter top. The end of the closure is imperforate as shown so as to prevent the escape of material in the container except through the kspace between the throat I5 and neck I3. 35

When the container I0 is in an upright position the parts of the sifter top are in the position shown in Fig. 3. The weight of the top I4 is sufficient to cause it to fall by gravity so that the shoulder Il rests against the top of neck I3. The closure thus made is sufcient in normal use when the container is left on a bureau t010for example, as the closure is suciently tight to keep the scent of material in the container from escaping and to prevent dust and dirt from getting within the container. When it is desired to sift material in the container through the sifter top the container is inverted in the usual way and this causes the parts to assume the position shown in Fig. 2. There is sufficient spacing between the shoulder I1 and the ears I6 to permit longitudinal movement of the throat I5 in neck I3 so that a substantial space is afforded between the shoulder I'I and the top of neck I3. Since there is substantial clearance between throat I5 and neck I3 and since 55 the shoulder II is spaced from the top of neck I3, the contents of the container may be readily sifted out to the extent desired. When the desired amount of the material has been removed, the container is merely turned upright and the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 3 thus effectively closing the container again.

If it is desired to more permanently close the sifter closure this can be readily done merely by pressing the closure I 4 downwardly until the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 4. The frictional locking surface I8 preferably is slightly inclined so as to be smaller in diameter at the bottom than at the top. 'Ihe difference in diameter between the bottom and top may be about five thousandths of an inch, for example. The external diameter of surface I8 is preferably approximately the same as the internal diameter of the neck I3 so that the shoulder I'I will normally rest upon the top of neck I 3 but can, by moderate pressure, be pushed down into the neck so that the inside of neck I3 will be in frictional contact with surface I8. The slight taper or inclination of surface I 8 is such that the further the top IB is pushed into neck I3 the tighter it will be held. The limit to which the closure'can be pushed in is determined by the stop I9.

When the parts are in the position shown in .Fig 4 the top I4 is held in neck .I3 against accidental displacement. This is desirable in original shipment and also is advantageous when, for any reason such as the packing of such containers in articles of luggage, it is desired to securely close the container. The sifter .top can be readily opened either by `pulling it straight out or with a twisting motion. Usually a combined twisting and pulling motion is very convenient and it is to .be noted that the opening of the sifter top lends itself to such ,movement Frictional closing is normally suicient to positively close the sifter top, but the frictional closing means may be used in connection with or substituted by other positive closing `means operable by manipulation of the .top i4 relatively to the neck I3. Thus any means for positively preventing theseparation of the shoulder Il from the neck I3 and securing the closure with reference to the neck so that material in the container cannot escape, may be used. ,Howeven the frictional means above described is regarded as preferable.

As has been .pointed out above other features Yof my invention relate to economy in manufacture and assembly. It has been pointed out above that the .topmember .Il comprising breast I2 and neck I3 can be readily stamped from one piece of metal. Likewise the closure I@ can be made from a single .piece of metal. Thus .in making closure I4 a metal disc can be shaped into a cylinder closed at one end and the cylinder can then be given the contour above described. The metal used is preferably a resilient metal so that ears I 6 will have a certain amount .of resiliency. The parts I I and I 4 can be made from the same type of metal very inexpensively. While one piece construction of the parts I I and I4 is regarded as preferable, these parts respectively can be made from a plurality of pieces of metal while still taking advantage of some of the features of this invention.

'To assemble the parts all that isvnecessary is to push the closure I down into the neck I3. Since the ears IS are resilient they will be retracted out of the way and upon full insertion of the throat I5 into neck I3 the ears I6 will spring out again to afford stop means adapted to prevent the withdrawal of the closure I4 from the neck I3. It is to be noted that the operation is most simple and can be performed by unskilled labor without any tool. This is of great advantage and is to be contrasted with methods of assembly heretofore used wherein a sifter top device has been inserted in the top of a container and has been secured thereto as by crimping in an operation requiring special machinery and skilled labor.

While this invention has been described in connection with certain specic embodiments thereof it is to be understood that this has been done merely for purposes of illustration. Referring to the closure I4 it is apparent that it may -take different forms and likewise it may be used with containers having an opening either with or without a neck adapted to receive the same and such opening can either be or not be associated with a breast portion of a container. It is believed however that the foregoing is sufficient to enable one to understand and practice this invention which is to be governed as to scope by the language of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A sifter top comprising a member having a neck, and a closure for said neck comprising a throat portion loosely fitting within said neck, there being a space between the exterior of said throat portion and the interior of said neck adapted for the passage vof finely-divided material therethrough, an imperforate outer end, a portion intermediate said end and said throat adapted for frictional contact with said neck and to substantially prevent the escape of finelydivided material between said portion and said neck when said portion is in frictional contact with said neck, and stop means for preventing the withdrawal of said throat from said neck but permitting limited free longitudinal movement of said throat in said neck.

2. A sifter top which comprises a member having breast and neck portions and a closure for said neck portion, said closure comprising a throat portion slidable by gravity within said neck, there being a space between the exterior of said throat portion and the interior of said neck adapted for the passage of finely-divided material therethrough, a shoulder having a maximum external diameter approximately the same as the internal diameter of said neck, an imperforate ,outer end, an imperforate friction surface intermediate said end and said shoulder adapted to be pushed into and withdrawn from said neck and conforming to said neck, and stops adjacent` the ends of said closure adapted to prevent the ends of said closure passing through said neck,

the throat portion of said closure having a limited llongitudinal play between said shoulder and the said stop which is adjacent the end of said neck remote from said shoulder.

3. A sifter top which comprises a member having breast and neck portions and a closure for said neck. portion, said closure comprising a throat loosely tting within said neck and of approximately uniform diameter, there being a space between the exterior of said throat portion and the interior of said neck adapted for the passage of finely-divided material therethrough, a shoulder at an end of said throat portion having a maximum diameter about the same as the internal diameter of said neck and adapted to rest against said neck, an imperforate end portion beyond .said shoulder, releasable means adapted to positively maintain said neck closed by said closure when said shoulder is pushed into said neck, and stop means adjacent the end of said throat remote from said shoulder adapted to prevent withdrawal of said throat from said neck While permitting limited free movement of said throat in said neck so that the said shoulder can move from said neck when said sifter top is inverted for sifting nely divided material between said throat and said neck.

4. A sifter top including a one piece closure adapted to be inserted into an opening in a container, said closure comprising a first portion of substantial length loosely fitting within said opening, there being a space between the exterior of said rst portion and the interior of said opening adapted for the passage of finelydivided material therethrough, a second portion of substantial length more adjacent the outer end than said first portion which is adapted to t frictionally within said opening and which is adapted to prevent the passage of iinely-divided material between same and said opening when inserted in said opening, and a shoulder between said rst and second portions adapted to prevent said second portion being inserted in said opening except by substantial positive actuation.

5. A sifter top including a closure adapted to be inserted in an opening in a container, said closure comprising an imperforate outer end, a surface portion adapted to t snugly within said opening of said container, a stop between said imperforate end and said surface portion, a throat portion loosely fitting within said opening and movable longitudinally by gravity therein, there being an annular space between the exterior of said throat and the interior of said opening adapted for the passage of finely-divided material therethrough, a shoulder between said surface and throat portions, and a stop adjacent the other end of said closure adapted to prevent the withdrawal of said throat portion from said opening.

6. A sifter top including a closure adapted to be inserted in an opening in a container, said closure comprising an imperforate outer end, an imperforate surface portion adapted to fit snugly within said opening of said container, a stop between said imperforate end and said surface portion, an imperforate throat portion loosely tting within said opening and movable longitudinally by gravity therein, there being an annular space between the exterior of said throat and the interior of said opening adapted for the passage of finely-divided material therethrough, and a stop adjacent the other end of said closure adapted to prevent the withdrawal of said throat portion from said opening.

7. A sifter top which comprises a member having a breast and neck portion, and a closure for said neck, said closure comprising a throat portion loosely fitting within said neck and longitudinally slidable by gravity therein, there being a space between the exterior of said throat portion and the interior of said neck adapted for the passage of finely-divided material therethrough, a shoulder adapted to rest against said neck when said top is in upright position, means for preventing said closure from falling out of said neck when said sifter top is inverted, and releasable means for positively preventing withdrawal of said shoulder beyond position for maintaining closed contact between said shoulder and said neck.

8. A sifter top which comprises a member having breast and neck portions and a one piece closure adapted to close said neck, said closure comprising an imperforate throat loosely fitting withinl said neck, there being an annular space between the exterior of said throat and the interior of said neck adapted for the passage of finely-divided material therethrough, a shoulder having a larger diameter than said throat and having a maximum diameter approximately the same as the inner diameter of said neck, which shoulder is adapted to seat against said neck adjacent the outer end thereof, an imperforate surface portion between said shoulder and the end of said closure which is gradually tapered so as to be larger in diameter at the outer end than at the inner end and which is adapted to be pushed frictionally into said neck, the said end of said closure being imperforate, means adjacent one f end of said closure for preventing the withdrawal of said throat from said neck and means adjacent the other end of said closure for preventing said closure from being pushed through said neck into said container, which latter means is adapted to be grasped in withdrawing said surface portion from frictional engagement with said neck.

9. A sifter top including` a one piece closure adapted to be inserted into an opening in a container, said closure comprising an imperforate A throat of substantial length loosely tting within said opening, there being an annular space between the exterior of said throat and the interior of said opening adapted for the passage of iinely-divided material therethrough, an imperforate portion adapted to seat against said opening to close said opening and stop means adapted to prevent withdrawal of said throat from said opening, said throat having limited longitudinal movement within said opening so F that said portion can be moved by gravity into and away from seating position against said opening and said stop means including a resiliently retractable part adapted to permit said closure to be assembled in said opening merely by pushing said throat into said opening, and means intermediate said portion and the end of said closure adapted to positively close said opening by pushing said closure downwardly into said opening, said means and said end of said closure being imperforate.

ALEX LIMBACH.

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