US2103406A

US2103406A - Container and spout construction

Info

Publication number: US2103406A
Application number: US43070A
Authority: US
Inventors: Guy O Conner
Original assignee: Wheeling Steel Corp
Current assignee: Wheeling Steel Corp
Priority date: 1935-10-01
Filing date: 1935-10-01
Publication date: 1937-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 1954-12-28

Description

Dec. 28, 1937. s. o. CONNER CONTAINER AND SPOUT CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 1, i955 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES CONTAINER AND SPOUT CONSTRUCTION Guy 0. Conner, Wheeling, W. Va., assignor to Wheeling Steel Corporation, Wheeling, W. Va., a corporation of Delaware Application October 1, 1935, Serial No. 43,070

6 Claims.

This invention relates to containers and spout constructions therefor. It relates more particularly to cooperating container and spout constructions in which the spout is removable and I reversible. In certain of its aspects the-invention is in the nature of an improvement over the invention claimed in my copending application Serial No. 43,069, filed of even date herewith.

In my said copending application there is disclosed a container and spout construction in which the removable and reversible spout is provided at its'bas with two oppositely facing gaskets, one adapted for cooperation with the container when the spout is in operative position and u the other adapted for cooperation with the container when the spout is in inoperative position. Such a structure is preferred for certain uses. However, in some cases, and particularly when the spout is likely to be roughly handled or when '0 there is a likelihood that the spout will be changed back and forth between operative and inoperative positions from time to time during use, the construction of my said copending application has certain disadvantages. Although 28 the gasketsare securely attached to the spout, it is possible if the spout is not properly handled for one or both of the gaskets to become separated from the spout and either damaged or lost. Moreover, the provision and attachment 80 to the spout of the two separate gaskets, one on each side of the spout flange, entails appreciable expense which is felt in the cost of the container.

I have provided a container and spout construction which is relatively inexpensive to 85 manufacture, and which, consequently, may be .sold at a lower price, in which only a single gasket is used. Such gasket is preferably attached to the container rather than to the spout, the spout simply comprising the spout body with 40 a flange connected therewith. The single gasket is not likely to become disconnected from the container in use and it cooperates effectively with the spout in both operative and inoperative positions to effect a seal between the container and a 45 spout.

For purposes of explanation and illustration the invention will be described as embodied in a sheet metal container, such as a -gallon can, having an outwardly projecting hollow threaded neck or discharge portion to which the gasket is applied and over which a cap is adapted to be screwed to hold the spout in place in either position of the latter. Whenthe container is initially filled at the filling point thespout is applied 55 in the inoperative position and the cap tightened down thereover with a tool which applies the cap more tightly than it could ordinarily be applied simply by hand to insure against leakage. When it is later desired to dispense the contents of the container the cap is unscrewed and the 5 spout inverted and the cap screwed on by hand,

as ordinarily the user will not be provided with a tool for tightly applying the cap. In the construction of my said copending application the gasket which cooperates with the container when 10 the spout is applied in inoperative position is preferably of relatively hard material to withstand the relatively great pressure exerted thereon when the cap is applied by means of the tool above mentioned, and the gasket which coopcrates with the container when the spout is applied in operative position is preferably made of relatively soft material to enable effective sealing of the container when the cap is applied by hand after the spout has been inverted. When only a single gasket is provided, compensation for the varying pressures with which the cap is applied under the respective conditions mentioned must be provided for otherwise than by the provision of relatively soft and relatively hard gaskets as in my said copending application. I preferably so design the spout. that it presents a greater surface area for contact with the gasket when the spout is in inoperative position than when the spout is in operative position. Thus when the cap is relatively tightly applied by use of the tool the greater area of contact between the spout and the gasket results in proper sealing of the container without damage to the gasket, whereas when the spout is in operative position the smaller area of contact between the. spout and gasket insures effective sealing under the relatively low pressure exerted when the cap is applied by hand.

In a construction of the type referred to above the cap is preferably perforated so that when the spout is in operative position it extends through the hole in the cap. When the container is initially filled and the spout applied in inoperative position the hole in the cap is preferably covered by alight sheet metal disc as disclosed in my said copending application, and in the construction of said application such disc cooperates with the outer gasket to eflectively seal the spout against leakage of contents of the container through the spout when the spout is in inoperative position. However, when only a single gasket attached to the container is used there is no gasket effective between the spout and disc when the spout is in inoperative position, and

in order to prevent leakage through the spout it is necessary to provide additional means for sealing the spout. I preferably provide liquid-tight means closing the mouth of the spout, as will I presently be described.

I also provide a spout of improved design having a portion adjacent its mouth disposed at an angle to the contiguous portion nearer the base of the spout to facilitate pouring, as will also be described.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of certain present preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, in which Figure 1 is a partial central vertical cross-sectional view through a container and spout construction with the spout in inoperative position;

Figure 2 is a partial central vertical crosssectional view similar to Figure l but showing the spout in operative position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary central vertical cross-sectional view to further enlarged scale of a portion of the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary central vertical crosssectional view through a portion of a spout of modified construction.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is shown a container 2 which may, for example, be an ordinary sheet metal 5-gallon can or pail having a top 3 seamed thereto at 4.

Seamed to the top 3 at 5 is an upwardly projecting hollow neck 6 forming the discharge portion of the container and which is externally threaded at 1. At its upper extremity the material of the discharge portion 6 is turned inwardly as shown at 8 and then upwardly and outwardly as shown at 9 so as to clinch in place an annular gasket l0 which lies on the relatively flat portion 8. As will be seen by reference to Figures 1 and 2, the gasket II is securely maintained in place with respect to the container and there is little likelihood of its becoming separated therefrom.

There is provided a spout designated generally by reference numeral II and which comprises a body portion l2, a base portion l3 and a mouth portion H. The base portion ii of the spout comprises an annular flange l5 surrounding the lower part of the spout,'which is turned outwardly beneath the flange as shown at IS, the flange and body portion of the spout being soldered together as shown at H. The flange is preferably corrugated as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, having a single downward bearing portion l8 and two upward bearing portions I 9 (it being remembered that in Figures 1 and 3 the spout is inverted).

When the spout is in operative position as shown in Figure 2 the single bearing portion l8 cooperates with the gasket III, and when the spout is in inoperative position as shown in Figure 1 the two bearing portions 19 cooperate with the gasket. Thus the area of contact between the spout and the gasket is substantially twice as great when the spout is in inoperative position as when it is in operative position, which compensates for the relatively great pressure with which the spout is pressed against the gasket when in inoperative position and the relatively light pressure with which the spout is pressed against the gasket when in operative position,

as the greater the surface of contact between the spout and gasket the less tendency there will be for pressure therebetween to cause the hearing means on the spout to penetrate the gasket upon the application of a given pressure. Hence a greater pressure can be applied when the spout is in inoperative position, resulting in very tight sealing of the container without damage to the gasket, than will be applied when the spout is in operative position, but due to the relatively limited area of contact between the spout and gasket when the spout is in operative position the container will still be effectively sealed.

Cooperating with the threaded neck 6 is an internally threaded sheet metal cap 20 having a hole 2| in its top and which is adapted to press the flange of the spout against the gasket to seal the container in either position of the spout. When the spout is in operative position as shown in Figure 2 it extends through the hole in the cap. When the spout is in inoperative position as shown in Figure l a thin sheet metal disc 22 closes the hole in the cap and the periphery of such disc is interposed between the cap and the flange of the spout as shown. The periphery of the disc 22 has alternate continuous annular upper and lower portions 23, 24 and 25, respectively, arranged in order from the center of the disc outwardly so that the disc cooperates with the flange as clearly' shown in Figure l and the cap is similarly formed to cooperate with the disc and flange as shown. The cap likewise cooperates with the flange alone when the disc is removed and the spout inverted as shown in Figure 2. The cooperative designing of the flange of the spout, the disc and the cap insures effective bearing contact therebetween at all times.

When the spout is in inoperative position, as shown in Figure 1, provision must be made against leakage of the contents of the container through the spout and out between the spout flange and disc and thence to the outside either between the disc and cap or between the neck and cap. This is because when only a single gasket is used no, 5

provision is made at the base of the spout for sealing the inside thereof when in inoperative position. The mouth portion H of the spout is externally threaded, as shown at 26, and its extremity is inwardly turned, as shown at 21. Likewise, the mouth portion of the spout extends at an angle to the body portion thereof as shown. Preferably the axis of the mouth portion of the spout is coplanar with and intersects the axis of the body portion of the spout, which facilitates pouring. I flnd it preferable to form the mouth portion of the spout of a separate piece of metal and solder the same to the body portion at 28, although the mouth portion may be integral with 'the body portion if desired. The fact that the mouth portion is to extend at an angle to the body portion and is also to be threaded makes it more expedient to separately form and apply the mouth portion. A cap 29 containing a gasket 30 is applied to the mouth portion of the spout and maintains the same liquid-tight so that the contents of the container cannot leak out through the spout when the spout is in inoperative position, or, for that matter, when it is in operative position. The particular shape of the spout as above described is of particular advantage in facilitating the pouring out of the contents of the container, enabling the same to be more readily directed as desired and making possible more accurate control of the quantity of liquid poured out at any one time due to the relatively great angularity between the axis of the mouth portion of the spout and the axis of the container.

5 In Figure 4 there is shown a modified spout structure in which the body of the spout is designated by reference numeral 3i and the mouth portion by reference numeral 32. In this figure the body and mouth portions of the spout are integral, being drawn from a single piece of metal. Moreover, the mouth of the spout is initially closed by an integral diaphragm 33 of thematerial of the spout, which is adapted to be ruptured when the spout is put in use. This provides a perfect seal against leakage through the spout when the spout is in inoperative position, no reliance being placed on tight application of the spout cap or the eflectiveness of the spout cap gasket. As it is most important that the interior of the spout be sealed between the time the container is initially filled at the filling point and the time the user first wishes to dispense a portion of its contents, it is not essential, if the form of Figure 4 is used, to provide a liquidtight cap or any cap at all, although ordinarily at least a dust cap' is desirable. In Figure 4 the cap 34 is shown as being similar to the cap." of Figures 1 and 2 and is provided with a gasket 35. An integral diaphragm similar to the diaphragni 33 may be provided in a separate mouth portion and such mouth portion may-be attached to the body portion of the spout if it is desired not to draw the body and mouth portions out of a single piece of metal. 35 While I have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is I to be distinctly understood that the same is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: 1. In combination, a container having a discharge opening and having a gasket connected therewith adjacent the discharge opening and a 4,5 reversible spout having a flange having reentrant sealing portions adapted to engage the gasket in sealing relationship in either position of the spout.

2. In combination a container having a disso charge opening and having a gasket connected therewith adjacent the discharge opening and a reversible spout having a flange having means generally of V-shape in cross-section projecting from both faces thereof to engage the gasket in sealing relationship in either position of the 5 spout.

3. In combination, a container having a discharge opening and having a gasket connected therewith adjacent the discharge opening and a reversible spout having means for sealing coop- 1o eration with the gasket in either position of the spout, such means comprising a greater number of sealing portions presenting greater total surface area for contact with the gasket when the spout is in inoperative position than when the 16 spout .is in operative position.

4. In combination, a container having a discharge opening and having a gasket connected therewith adjacent the discharge opening and a reversible spout having a corrugated flange the 20 extremities of the corrugations of which are adapted to engage the gasket in sealing relationship in either position of the spout.

5. A container having an opening, the material adjacent such opening being reversely turned 2 transversely of the axis of the opening to form a gasket receiving portion, a gasket held in such gasket receiving portion, means adapted to be sealed to the container about the opening and having a portion engaging the gasket at a point 30 transversely oifset from said reversely turned material, and means for positively forcing said last mentioned means against the gasket.

6. A container having an. opening, the material adjacent such opening extending substan- 35 tially in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of the opening and then being reversely turned to form a gasket receiving portion, a gasket held in such gasket receiving portion and lying on said substantially plane portion of the container, and means adapted to be sealed to the container about the opening and having a protruding portion engaging a portion oi the gasket lying on said substantially plane portion of the 4 container, said protruding portion of said last mentioned means having its extremity positioned directly opposite said substantially plane portion of the container.

' GUY 0. CORNER. go