US2069380A - Container - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2, 1937. 4 G. A; M ORE 2,069,380 CONTAI-NER Filed June '7, 1935 g ggg ga INVE NTORf Georye Arlington Moore M ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER George Arlington Moore, Louisville, Ky., assignor to Humoco Corporation,

Louisville, Ky., a

Claims.

This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to containers, or parts therefor, embodying means for readily making an opening in the same by hand.

5 It has heretofore been proposed to provide scores in the walls of containers in order to facilitate the opening of the container, whereby the material therein may be discharged. This scoring usually destroys the imperviousness of the container to air and moisture and particularly so if the container is made of paper or fiber. The product within the container thus becomes stale, losing its original characteristics. Moreover, the scored portion can only be removed with difliculty 5 so that an instrument, such as a knife, must frequently be employed by the user, and a frayed edge, which is highly objectionable, is usually produced along the line of the score.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide a container having one portion composed of an outer layer of foil and an inner layer of paper, the paper, but not the foil, being cut to provide a hatch or removable portion. It has also been. proposed to form a laminated structure of paper and foil and to provide a cut in the paper while relieving, at the opposite side of the structure, compression on the foil to provide the hatch or removable part.

If a container embodying a hatch of the second or third types referred to above is subjected to major barometric or atmospheric pressure changes, the imperviousness of the container is frequently destroyed, and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a container embodying a novel hatch which is so formed that the imperviousness of the container is preserved despite atmospheric changes, or changes in other conditions to which containers are usually subjected.

Other objects are to provide, in a container element or portion formed of paper and foil laminations, a novel hatch which may be easily manipulated without the use of a knife or special tool,.and one which breaks cleanly, whereby there is no likelihood that portions or flakes of the hatch or the container wall will fall into the container to mix with the contents therein.

Further objects are to provide a hatch which is readily manipulated either with the right or the left hand, one which embodies both curved and rectilinear portions, one which may be satisfactorily employed with solid Wall containers such, for example, as paper containers covered with lacquer or cellophane, one which may be readily 55.1 collapsed in orderto avoid the necessity for forcing the hatch too deeply into the container during the opening operation and to eliminate the necessity for a pulling tab, and one which is so formed that thehatch may be moved to part or full open position and then returned to a position 5 such as to prevent the escape of the contents.

The above objects will appear more fully hereinafter, together with other objects and advantages of the invention, in the detailed description which is to be taken in connection with the ac- 10 companying drawing. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purposes of illustration only and is not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appendedclaims. 15 In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view, with parts broken away, illustrating one form of container provided with a hatch embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view similar to Fig. 1 illus- 20 trating the manner in which the hatch may be moved inwardly to disrupt the seal;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a portion of the hatch moved to a position such that the contents of the container may be dis-' 25 charged;

Fig. 4 is a detail top plan View illustrating one preferred form of hatch;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating a preferred form of male and female dies em- 30 ployed in forming the hatch in a laminated structure; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the formation of a hatch in a wall formed of a single layer of material which may be veneered with 35 lacquer, or other facings, if desired.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 5, the novel batch of the present invention is illustrated in combination with a paper container having a laminated side Wall 1 and an endpor- 40 tion or head closure 8. These two parts of the container are secured together in a manner to obtain an impervious seam, the closure formation illustrated'in Fig. 1 being a desirable form wherein portions of the paper laminae are welded to- 45 gether as at 9. This particular formation, however, forms no part of the present invention and is illustrative only, except as to the flexible arched ledge l 0 which is formed in any suitable manner in head 8, as by means of dies, and which is 5 adapted to coact with the hatch in a manner to be pointed out hereinafter.

In one of the forms illustrated, the head 8 is made from a laminated blank embodying paper laminae H and I2, and a foil lamina l3, the foil 55 being secured to the paper by means of a suitable elastic adhesive, such as adhesives having bases of gutta-percha or rubber, for example, substances containing latex, which usually require a solvent to render the same capable of use, or other substances which do not require the use of a solvent, such as those containing chlorinated diphenyl resins as their base. The furrow outlining the hatch is cut or wedged in head 8 by means of a male die I5 and a female die I6.

If the laminated blank is supported with the foil in engagement with a smooth metallic surface when the cutting edge of die I5 is forced into the paper to form the score, it is found that the pressure of the cutting edge is transferred through the paper fibers to the foil, with the result that the foil is susceptible to crystallization and, under certain conditions, the imperviousness of the hatch is destroyed. In order to overcome this objection, it has heretofore been proposed to provide a groove or recess I! in the pressure member I6 to coact with the cutting edge in order that the foil may move into the groove when pressure is applied to the cutting die, whereby a ridge 8a is formed in the foil which projects above the surface of head 8. It has been found that the compressive action of the cutting member on the foil is reduced by the use of the groove I! to such an extent that the furrow may be formed in the paper side of the lamination without shearing or materially crystallizing the foil, whereby the imperviousness of the latter is maintained. While the hatch thus provided is superior to one formed in a blank without the use of a recess or groove in the female die, it has been found from further experimentation that such a hatch is not entirely impervious when subjected to a major differential of pressures.

In accordance with the present invention, the cutting edge is given a plow shape and, preferably, groove IT in female die I6 is similarly shaped whereby an impervious hatch may be secured. A section through the cutting member, taken at right angles to the cutting edge, has the characteristics of a scalene triangle.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 5, the cutting portion I5a is formed in such a manner that if a line be drawn at right angles to the base of the cutting portion through the apex thereof, the two angles formed at said apex are unequal, the smaller angle lying adjacent the member ID. The right-hand face l5b of the cutting portion I5a thus intersects said perpendicular line to form a greater angle than that formed between said line and the left-hand cutting face I50 Groove I1 is correspondingly formed. After the cutting edge is formed on die member I5, said die is hardened and registered into die I6, before the latter is hardened and grooved thus insuring the perfect alignment that is required between the cutting edge and groove [1.

It has been found that when pressure is applied to the cutting die I5 having a cutting portion of the character described, the fibers of the portions II and I2 drift upwardly along face I5b in a curved path whereby the foil is yieldingly pressed into groove I1 without crystallizing, severing or otherwise damaging the foil. The fibers on face I50 are cleanly sheared and laterally displaced in a shaving action, a small portion of the fibers drifting across the cutting edge into the yielding mass in groove I1. The relative movement of members I5 and I6 is so controlled that the cutting edge of portion I5a does not penetrate the adhesive between the foil and paper laminae, said adhesive serving to somewhat cushion the compression on the foil.

The cutting portion I511 of die I 5 and groove I! of die I6 are so formed as to compensate for variables whereby there is no danger that the seal of the hatch will be sheared or damaged. If for any reason, such for example as temperature changes affecting the dies, the apex of the cutting portion is brought nearer groove I1 than contemplated in the original construction of the apparatus for carrying out the method, it will be seen that said apex and the face I5c will not move sufficiently close to the corresponding face of groove I! to shear or crystallize the hatch seal constituted by the foil, in the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5. Compensation is thus provided for any variables that may arise during manufacture, with the result that the imperviousness of the batch is assured.

It has now been definitely determined that when the container is subjected to differential pressures the hatch provided in the manner above described possesses superior characteristics in that it is impervious to air and moisture under pressure and temperature changes. If the outer surface of the foil is covered with lacquer, the pressure of the cutting die does not flake and discolor the lacquer, thereby clearly demonstrating the superiority of the hatch formed in the manner just provided.

In Fig. 6, there is illustrated the use of male and female cutting dies I5 and I6 in connection with a solid fibrous blank I8 adapted for use in forming a hatch. The drift of the fibers resulting from the action of the cutting die is illus trated at I81; and I81) and it will be noted that the drift on the right-hand face of the cutting knife is much greater than on the left-hand face, due to the plow-like shape of the cutter. As noted above, the provision of a furrow in blank I8 of the character described will not flake or destroy the lacquer veneer I9 on the outer surface of blank I8.

The cutting edge may have various configurations in accordance with the shape of the hatch to be provided, but as shown in Fig. 4, a preferred form of hatch 20 embodies straight edge portions 2| joined by arcuate end portions 22, and accordingly the cutting edge I5 is oblong in outline to conform to hatch 20. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the container is also of oblong shape so that the hatch parallels closely the inner edge of the closure formation and the arcuate ledge Ill, providing a maximum opening.

In the form shown, the hatch 20 embodies novel means to facilitate the breaking of the seal and the manipulation of the hatch after the seal, constituted by the impervious foil, in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is broken. To this end, hatch 20 is provided with transversely and outwardly projecting ribs or ridges 23, constituting bending line deformations, which may be formed during the fianging of the head 8, or after the seam is formed if desired. Preferably, the ribs 23 terminate closely adjacent the straight edge portions 2| of hatch 20, said ribs being laterally spaced to form sections 24 and 25. The sections 24 are provided with outwardly projecting buttons 26 which constitute locating deformations that enable the user to quickly and accurately locate the point of application of pressure for properly opening the hatch.

When it is desired to open the container, the

user places his index finger on button 26 (Fig. 2) 7 and forces the button downwardly and inwardly, as indicated by the arrow. The sharp shoulder provided at 2'! acts as a cutting ledge whereby the foil and the elastic adhesive between the foil are readily and cleanly sheared, and section 24 is forced into the container, hatch 20 bending along the joint formed by the adjacent rib 23, to assume the dotted line position illustrated. The foil offers more resistance along the arcuate edge 22 than along the straight edge 2 I, and the ledge Ill yields under the pressure applied to button 26 in order to prevent damage to the impervious seam between head 8 and side walls 1. The user now pulls section 24 outwardly, shearing the foil along the straight edges 2|, and folds section 24 about the adjacent hinge 23 toward section 25, the rib 23 at the inner end of section 25 also acting as a hinge to facilitate this folding of the sections 24 and 25, as shown in Fig. 3. The contents can now be readily discharged through the opening formed in head 8 of the container whereupon sections 24 and 25 may be returned to substantially their original position. If desired, the entire hatch may be removed by using the folded sections 24 and 25 as a tab. The use of the ribs as shown together with buttons 26 enables the hatch to be opened by either a right or a left handed user, and said ribs greatly facilitate the folding of the hatch into the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

There is thus provided a container having a hatch which is so constructed as to preserve at all times the imperviousness of the container. The furrow may be formed in laminated or solid blanks of various materials by the use of a plowshaped cutting edge to provide a superior container which is impervious to air and moisture. The hatch is so formed that there is no likelihood of the foil or paper flaking and falling into the substance within the container, and no implement is required to open the hatch and to prevent it from falling into the container if broken throughout the periphery thereof. The hatch may be readily formed to provide a maximum opening for the container, or the same may be of such size as to restrict the discharge of material from the container to a predetermined amount. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the materials employed, the form of the container and the location and shape of the hatch may be varied without departing from the limits of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a container, a closure member having a plow shaped furrow in the inner face thereof to provide a hatch, one face of the furrow, in section, being longer than the opposite face.

2. In a container, a closure provided with an angular furrow in one face thereof to form a hatch, and a ridge corresponding in configuration to the furrow in the opposite face, said ridge being formed by the pressure exerted on the closure in forming the furrow and being laterally offset from the apex of the furrow.

3. In a container, a laminated closure, said closure being provided with an angularly shaped furrow in the inner face thereof to provide a hatch, the apex of the furrow being offset laterally relative to the mouth thereof.

4. A laminated foil and paper hatch for a container, the foil constituting the sealing element for the hatch and having the pressure thereon relieved during the cutting operation by the drift of the fibers of the paper and a recessed pressure member, whereby an impervious ridge is formed in the foil that is laterally offset relative to the apex of the cut.

5. In a container, a hatch adapted to be removed from a wall of the container by digital pressure, said hatch being formed by a plowshaped furrow around the periphery of the hatch, one face of the furrow, in section, being longer than the opposite face.

GEORGE ARLINGTON MOORE.

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