US2123643A

US2123643A - Closure for containers

Info

Publication number: US2123643A
Application number: US171832A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph W Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-10-30
Filing date: 1937-10-30
Publication date: 1938-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 1955-07-12

Description

R. w. WILSON 2,123,643

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Opt. 30, 1937 IN VE NTOR. 61401; hzhmsm,

BY gwJmagww TTORNEYS Patented July 12, 1938 2,123,643

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,123,643 CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Ralph W. WilsomNew York, N. Y. Application October 80, I93I, Seri al No. 171,832 Claims. (Cl. 221-62) This invention relates to closures for containers closure, the breast of the can being broken away; and is particularly designed for use on containers Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the for tooth powder, talcum powder, and the like. closure shown in Figure 1, the breast of the can The provision of a satisfactory closure for the being shown in section;

5 purpose indicated presents many difliculties Figure3is a view in section through the closure 5 which are not apparent to the layman. The reshown in Figure 1 taken on the plane indicated quirements of manufacture from the standpoint by the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and looking in the of facility in manufactureand assembly and cost direction of thearrows; are primary considerations which render many Figure 4 is a view in transverse section through useful closures uncommercial. The requirements the closure shown in Figure 2 and taken on the 10 of the user in respect of eye-appeal, powder tightplane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 2 lookness, ease of dispensing, and ease and certainty ing in the direction of the arrows;

in operation, are also primary considerations Figure 5 is a plan view similar to Figure 1 but which render many inexpensive closures 'unacshowing the slide moved to the right to bring the .ceptable to the public. dispensing openings into alignment; 15

The primary object of the present invention'is Figure 6 is a'plan view similar to Figure .1 but to provide a closure which shall satisfy the reshowing the provision of orifices instead of slots; quirements of both the manufacturer and the Figure 7 is a view in section through a modified user. In accordance with the invention the imform of closure embodying the improvements and proved closure is one which is powder tight when showing the dispensing opening in the neck shell not in use, conveniently operable by easy preson the center line thereof. sure of the fingers, free in dispensing, compact The breast of a container is indicated at a and attractive in appearance, and inexpensive to and for the purposes of this disclosure may be manufacture. regarded as of metal to which is secured in ac- More specifically the improved closure comcordance with established practice a neck shell b.

prises only two parts, namely, a neck shell and This neck shell is ordinarily symmetrical in form a reciprocable slide valve by which the dispensing and provided at its dispensing end with an openopenings may be closed and opened. The coning such as a slot b or a plurality of openings struction and relationship of these two parts in such as are indicated at M in Figure 6. What- 0 accordance with the improved design are such as ever form of opening may be provided it is necesto permit the use of a slide valve of minimum sary particularly in the dispensing of tooth powlength with a dispensing opening of maximum der, for example, that it be of relatively large area. as is highly desirable. The construction area to assure free flow. This requirement in and relationship are further characterized by the the ordinary construction where the neck shell provision of a neck shell which tends to prevent is symmetrical in form makes it necessary to pro- 5 clogging of the powder and to facilitate its free vide for a relatively extended movement of the flow during-dispensing. T r controlling slide valve, and, in turn, for a slide The objects and advantages indicated are obvalve of relatively extended dimensions and sutained generally by constructing the neck shell perflclal area. It is this condition particularly 40 at its dispensing end with a reduced or shouldered which the present invention seeks to overcome. 40 segment over which the slide valve may move The improved construction permits of the use of without interference to bring the dispensing opendispensing openings of relatively large area with ings into registry. In the preferred form the a slide valve of relatively small dimensions. The slide valve is so constructed as to conceal the construction and relationship of parts thus consaid stepped or shouldered portion of the neck tribute to eye appeal, facility of operation, simshell thus preserving a pleasing effect of symplicity and inexpensiveness. metry and balance despite the fact that the dis- Referring now particularly to Figure 3 it will pcnsing openings may not be formed symmetribe seen that a segment of the neck shell b at eally with reference to the center axis of the the dispensing end isshouldered or stepped inneck shell. wardly at M thus making the dispensing end of 50 These and other features of the improved dereduced area and forming a deflecting baflle withsign will be described in greater detail'in conin the neck shell which prevents the clogging nection with the embodiments shown in the ac-, of powder and is conducive to free dispensing. companying drawing wherein, I In the form shown in Figure 3 the dispensing Figure 1 is a view in plan of the improved slot b' is not disposed on the axis of the neck shell but is offset. It is of relatively great width and superficial area as appears from Figure 1.

The controlling valve for the opening I) is formed as a reciprocable slide which itself constitutes a form of cap partially enclosing the end of the neck shell. The opposite sides of the neck shell are formed with grooves or tracks D4 in which engage heads 0', respectively, formed in depending flanges c2 which are carried by the sliding cap 0. The upper surface of the cap 0 engages the end of the neck shell intimately and is mounted in sliding relation thereto. The cap is held firmly in place and guided in its movements by the interengagement of the beads c with grooves D4 in the neck shell.

At its opposite ends the sliding cap 0 is formed with depending flanges 03 the depth of which is determined by the depth of the shoulder 123 formed in the neck shell. The depending flange 03 adjacent to the shoulder is of such depth that its lower edge will just clear the horizontal portionof the shoulder when the slide is moved to the right as viewed in Figure 3. In contour, this flange c3 conforms to the cross sectional outline of the shouldered segment D3 of the neck shell. Similarly, the depending flange c3 at the right end of the slide conforms in contour to the portion of the neck shell with which it engages when the parts are in the relation shown in Figure 3.

The sliding cap 0 is formed with the dispensing opening 04 which is similar in shape to the dispensing opening I) and preferably of the same dimensions.

From the description given it will be apparent that when the parts are in the relation shown in Figures 2 and 3 the opening 04 in the cap 0 is out of alignment with the opening 12' and the closure is sealed against leakage. To improve the sealing the grooves b4 in the neck shell may be slightly out of parallelism with the end of the neck shell so that when the dispensing openings are moved out of alignment a slight force is exerted on the cap 0 tending to pull it down into more intimate engagement with the end of the neck shell. As viewed in Figure 3 this effect is obtained by spacing the grooves M at a greater distance from the end of the neck. shell at their left ends than at their right ends.

It will further be observed that when the parts are in the relation shown in Figures 2 and 3 the cap appears in substantially symmetrical relation to the base of the neck shell, that is to say, its ends do not protrude beyond the beading at the base. Thus the closure generally speaking appears to be symmetrical with respect to the center line of the neck shell. The depending side flanges of the cap 0 practically conceal the shoulder D3 in the neck shell. When the dispensing openings are to be brought into alignment the finger is applied directly to the left end of the cap 0 as viewed in Figures 2 and 3, and it is moved to the right, the beads c sliding in the grooves b4. Since the end flange c3 clears the shoulder b3 movement of the cap is not interrupted by the neck shell until the end flange comes into direct engagement with the shouldered segment. In this relationship, it will be found that the opening cl in the cap is in alignment with the opening b' in the neck shell as is desired.

The improved construction accomplishes the important purpose of reducing the over-all length of the slide while permitting the use of large dispensing openings. 'It will be apparent that if the neck shell were not provided with the shoulder b3 but were formed symmetrically the necessary range of movement of the sliding cap 0 could be accomplished only by extending the cap 0 for a distance equal at least to the length of the horizontal portion of the shoulder 273. Because of this shoulder which the depending flange c3 clears in its movement the necessary amplitude of movement for the sliding cap is afforded without the necessity of extending it beyond the side wall of the neck shell for a distance equal to the amplitude of movement.

When the dispensing openings are in alignment the powder is discharged by inverting the container. Because of the reduced cross section of the dispensing end of the neck shell the tendency for powder to clog therein is reduced and because of the presence of the deflecting baffle constituted by the shoulder b3 the direction of flow of the powder to the dispensing opening is constantly changed thereby breaking up the tendency to lump and assure a freer flow.

In order to close the openings the finger is applied to the depending flange 03 at the right end of the cap and it is slid to the left until this flange engages the exterior of the neck shell thereby constituting a positive stop.

A further distinctive advantage of the con-' struction is the convenient one hand operation which is afforded. While many known closures purport to permit convenient operation with one hand few of them do so practically. In the improved construction the sliding cap 0 presents surfaces of large superficial area on the depending flanges 03 so that ready engagement of the thumb or forefinger is permitted when the container is held in one hand. Pressure of the thumb or finger on the sliding cap is exerted laterally and the cap is moved by a direct push. It is unnecessary to provide any special finger pieces or corrugated surfaces since pressure is exerted directly on the cap and in the line of its movement.

The same advantages are obtained by the improved construction when the dispensing openings are of multiple number as shown in Figure 6 in that such openings may be of relatively large area and relatively numerous thereby requiring a relatively long movement of the sliding cap. Despite the actual' amplitude of movement of the cap it need not be of extended length because of the provision of the shouldered neck shell.

In Figure '7 the parts are essentially of the same construction and relationship except that the dispensing opening in the neck shell B is centrally disposed on the axis thereof. In this embodiment the dispensing opening C4 in the sliding cap C is normally disposed to one side of the center axis when the openings are out of registry. Movement of the sliding cap in the manner hereinbefore described will bring the openings into registry.

In Figure '7 the depending flange C3 at the right end of the cap may be reversely bent as indicated at C to form a yielding stop engageable with the exterior wall of the neck shell to limit the movement of parts as will be apparent. This construction also provides true symmetry of the cap with relation to the base of the neck shell and brings the end flanges thereof in the same corresponding positions with respect to the beading at the base of the neck shell.

The invention is not to be limited in its application to the precise form and relative dimensions of the parts as illustrated herein but its true scope is defined by the claims attached hereto.

I claim:

l. A closure for containers having a neck shell formed with a shoulder adjacent its dispensing end and a slide valve mounted movably on the neck shell, a portion of the slide valve being movable over the shoulder in one direction of travel.

2. In a closure for containers, a neck shell having a segmental shouldered portion adjacent the dispensing end and a dispensing opening in the end wall, a cap engaged slidably with the neck shell and having a dispensing opening, said cap having a portion movable over the shoulder. in one direction of travel.

3. In a closure for containers, a neck shell have ing a shouldered portion adjacent its dispensing end and a dispensing opening in the end wall, a cap mounted on the neck shell in movable engagement therewith and having a dispensing opening movable into and out of registry with the first named opening and a limit stop carried with the cap and movable over the shoulder into engagement with the neck shell in one direction of travel.

4. In a closure for containers, a neck shell having a shouldered portion adjacent its dispensing end and a dispensing opening in the end wall, a cap mounted on the neck shell in movableengagement therewith and having a dispensing opening movable into and out of registry with the first named opening and a limit stop carried with the cap and movable over the shoulder into engagement with the neck shell in one direction of travel, and a second limit stop carried by the cap movable into engagement with the neck shell in the other direction of travel.

5. A closure for containers having a neck shell shouldered adjacent its dispensing end, a cap mounted on the neck shell and formed with a skirt enclosing the end of the neck shell, and means carried by the skirt to engage the neck shell to secure the cap movably thereon.

RALPH W. WILSON.