US2144584A

US2144584A - Cap closure

Info

Publication number: US2144584A
Application number: US528102A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick H Gleason
Original assignee: DORAY LAMP CO Inc
Current assignee: DORAY LAMP CO Inc
Priority date: 1931-04-06
Filing date: 1931-04-06
Publication date: 1939-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 1956-01-17

Description

Jan. 17, 1939. F, H. GLEASON 2,144,584

CAP CLOSURE Filed April e, i931 /NYENrofe QEUER/cx dif/130A ATTORNEYS WITNESS l Patented Jap. 17, 1939' UNITED STATES CAP CLOSUBE Frederick H. Gleason, Auburn, N. Y., assigner, by

mesne assignments, to Doray Lamp Co., Inc.,

Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April s, 1931, serial No. 528,102

12 claims.

This invention relates to cap closures and pertains more particularly to closures for ller openings for automobile gasoline tanks, automobile radiators and the like.

The main object of this invention is to produce -a cap closure of the above-mentioned class which may be quickly, easily and permanently secured to the container in operative relation with the filler opening so as -to prevent any possibility of the cap being lost or mislaid, and at, the same time, permit the ready displacement of the cap for filling purposes.

A further object is to provide a cap which will be automatically replaced in closing relation with the filler opening as soon as the nozzle, spout or other instrument used in lling the container or tank is removed. w

Still another object is to provide in such a closure, -baled air vents for permitting the entrance`of air to the container, and at the same time, prevent the contents thereof being splashed out when being agitated.

Other objects and advantages relating to the .structure and form and relation of the parts thereof, will more fully appear in the following description, taken .in connection with the' accompanying drawing in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a closure embodying the various features of this invention.

Figure 2 is a perspectiveview of that portion of a tank ,or containerfhavingthe tubular inlet member to which the closure is attached.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the container inlet member with -the closure attached, taken `in the plane of the line 3-3, Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly broken away, ofthe upper end ofthe inlet member, taken in the plane of the line 4-4, Figure 3.

Figure 5 isa detail horizontal sectional view taken on line 5-5, Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the retaining stud for the cap showing the air vent grooves in the under-surface of the head thereof.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail vertical section of the central portion of the cap illustrating a modined means for maintaining the baille plate in contact with the cap. A y

As illustrated in the drawing, the inlet member as I is' a tubular pieceof sheet metal which may be secured to or made integral with the tank or container 2 and has the upper end thereof formed with an inwardly extendingflange 3 which, in turn, is provided with an inner depending marginal ange 4, thereby forming an annular recess or groove 5 at the underside of the (Cl. 22o-86) ange portion 3 between the depending flange 4 and the side wall of the inlet member I, said recess being adapted to form a seat for the upper end 4of a spring-locking member which will hereinafter be more fully explained.

The flanges 3 and 4 as shown are provided with diametrically opposed outwardly extending recesses 6 usually provided for receiving the locking element of a conventional cap and which may be utilized during the entrance of the spring member into thc annular recess 5 in a manner presently described. The closure comprises a cap member l, circular in plan view and formed with a downwardly and inwardly curved peripheral edge 8 which may be knurled to assist in turning the cap while assembling the closure in position on the inlet member I.

The cap 1 is 'of greater diameter than the inlet member I so that the curved edge 8 thereof will extend a short distance beyond said inlet member thus permitting the underface of the cap to engage the inlet when assembled in position therewith. The cap 1 is provided at its center with an elongated opening 9, as shown in Figure 5, for receiving therethrough a retaining stud I0 which hasa similar formed shank I.I but of slightly less cross-sectional area for preventing relative turning movements of the cap and stud, and at the same time, forming an air spacctherebetween.

The stud I0 extends a short distance within the cap 1 and has the inner Aend thereof provided with a diametrically extending slot I2 for receiving the upper end of a -flexible tie rod such as the chain I3 or other similar means for connecting the cap 1 with the spring retaining member I4. In this instance, the upper end of the chain I3 is pivotally connected with thefstud II) by means of a pin I5 which passes through the eye of the upper link of the chain and which has the endsthereof secured in the depending portion of the stud at respectivesides of the slot I2.

The lower end of the chain I3 may be 'secured to the lower end of the spring member I4 in any suitable manner as by passing the end of the spring through the eye or loop I3 formed by the lowermost chain link, as shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 3. The retaining member I4, in this instance, is a helical spring having the upper portion of substantially the same diameter as the recess 5 in the inlet member I and the lower portion of the spring has a conical formation so as to maintain the tie chain I3 substan- .tially'co-axial with the spring under normal conditions, that is, when the cap is in operative closing relation with the inlet member I.

In order to apply my improved closure to theA inlet member I, the lower conical end oi' the spring I4 is rst inserted in the inlet opening II of the member I, with one of the spring helices registering in a recess 6 and then by turning ,the cap 1, the spring may be screwthreaded into the flange 3 of the inlet member until the upper end of the spring has passed entirely through said flange, whereupon the upper end of the spring will be positioned and retained in the recess 5 of the inlet member, with the cap engaging the upper end of said inlet member, as shown inFigure 3.

The utilizing of one or the other of the recesses 6 during the assembling of the spring with the inlet is only necessary when the relative diameters of the spring I4, inlet opening I'I and the interior of the inlet member I are so closely related, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, that there is very little room for lateral movement of the spring relative to the itlanges4 3 and 4, but where a more liberal relation exists between the wall of the opening II and that of the interior of the member l, it is obvious that the spring may be readily screw-threaded through theV opening without utilizing a recess E.

The lengths of thespring I4 and tie chain I3 are such that the spring will be maintainedv under compression by the cap 'I and chain I3 at all times for yieldingly maintaining the cap in liquidtight relationwith the upper end of the inlet member I. In order to insure a sealed connection between the cap and inlet, I have provided the cap with a gasket I8 composed of leather, cork, or other suitable material, which is adapted 'to engage the upper end of the inlet member I and has a central opening therein for receiving the stud I0.

The head I 9 of the stud I0, in this instance, has the upper surface formed circular in cross section, and the lower portion I9 thereof is formed with a fiat smooth surface for engaging the upper face of the cap 1. This flat surface I9 is provided with a pair of spaced parallel grooves or ducts 20, one adjacent each flattened side of the stud shank II and, therefore, in registration with the corresponding portion of the aperture 9 in the cap 'I, thus providing a means for the entrance of atmospheric air to the interior of the container. l

In order that liquid, such as gasoline, in the container 2 may not be splashed out through the cap opening 9 around the stud I0 and through the grooves 20, I have provided a baille plate 24 positioned at the under-side of the cap 'I adja-v cent the opening 9 thereof. This barile plate 24 has its central portion formed with a downwardly extending conical portion 25 which has the lower end thereof provided with a central opening 25 of substantially the same size as the lower end of the stud I for receiving said stud.

The upper portion of the plate is formed with an outwardly extending flat peripheral ring portion 26 which is positioned between the cap 'I and gasket IB so that the gasket will maintain the baille plate in the operative position with the ring portion 28 of the plate in contact withthe cap.

It is thus seen that the liquid is prevented from being splashed past the baille plate 24 and stu'd I0 due to the close t of the stud in the baille plate opening 25', andto the pressure of the gasket I8 upon the baille plate in maintaining said plate in Contact with the cap being suiiicient to prevent of the baille plate, but at the same time, permits air to be forced by atmospheric pressure through the duct 20 and around the stud and baille plate into the tank or container as the contents of said container are being withdrawn. I may, however, employ additional means for maintaining the baille plate incontact with the cap which, in this instance, consists of a relatively light tension spring member 28, as illustrated in Figure 7. This member may, as shown, be coiled about the lower end of the stud II! between the lower end of the central portion 25 of the baille plate 24 and the pivotal pin I5, with the lower end of the spring resting upon the extended ends of the pin which maintains said spring in operative relation with the baille plate.

It is also evident that the closure is normally yieldingly maintained in liquid-tight relation with the inlet member I by the action of the spring I4, and when it is desired to supply the container with liquid, it is only necessary to lift the cap I against the action of the spring I4 and place said cap in a tilting position at one side of the inlet, which action is permitted by the `spring and the pivotal connection I which the tie chain I3 has with the retaining stud III.

A nozzle or spout as S may then be inserted in the inlet opening I'I and within the spring member I4, and when the nozzle is in said position, the ycap l will be maintained thereby in the tilted position at oneside of the opening Il as illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 3, until such time as the nozzle is removed, whereupon the cap will be brought into partial closing or eccentric relation with the upper end of the inlet member by the action of the spring I4, after which it requires only a slight readjustment of the cap to again bring it into position for closing the inlet opening Il and electively preventing the entrance of dust or other foreign matter.

Although I have shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of this invention, I do not wish to be limited to the exact' construction shown, as various changes may readily be made, without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: l

1. In a closure device, in combination, a oontainer having an inlet, spaced slots in the container opening into said inlet, a cap member for the inlet and a retaining member including a helical spring adapted to enter said slots and .engage said container upon relative rotation of said spring and container, and means connecting the cap with said spring.

2. In a closure device, in combination, a container having an inlet, a recess adjacent said inlet and slots entering said recess, a cap member for said inlet and a retaining member including a helical spring adapted to enter said slots and engage said recess upon relative rotation of said spring and container, and means connecting the cap with said spring.

3. In a closure device, in combination, a container having an inlet, a recess adjacent said inlet and slots entering said recess.l a cap mem ber for said inlet and a retaining member including a'helical spring adapted to enter said v slots and engage said recess with one end thereof upon relative rotation of said spring and container, and means connecting the cap with the free end of said spring.

4. In a closure structure for a container having an inlet opening in the wall thereof, a cap member adapted to engage the surface adjacent 2,144,584 the opening on one side for closing said opening,

a retaining means including a helical spring having a portion of greater diameter than that of i an inlet opening inthe wall thereof, a cap mem# iber adapted to engage. thesurface of the container adjacent the opening on one side forclosing said opening, a retaining means including -a helical spring having a portion of greater diameter-than that of said opening for engaging the surface of the container at the side of the opening from the cap, and means connecting the cap member with thevspring adapted to transmit rotary motion of the cap to the spring whereby the spring may be screw-threaded through the inlet opening by turning the cap.

6. In a closure structure for a container having` an inlet opening in th'e wall thereof, a cap member adapted to engage the surface of the container adjacent the opening on one side for closing said opening, a retaining means including a helical spring having a portion of greater diameter thanv that of said opening for engaging the surface /of the4 container at the side of the opening from the cap, andmeans connecting the cap member with the spring, said connecting means being non-rotatably connected to the cap v and to the spring whereby said spring may be rotated by the cap to screw-thread the same through said inlet. 5 ,i

'7. In a closure cap structure for an automobile gasoline tank lling spout having an' inwardly and downwardly turned iiange at its upper end, the combination of an elongated-closure member secured underneath said inwardly and downwardly directed flange and comprising at 'its lower end portion a downwardlytapered tempered steel spiral spring, a cap for closing, the

l upper end of said spout above said spiral spring,

and means for attaching said cap to said spring. 8. In a closure' cap structure for an automobile gasoline tank lling spout having an inwardly and downwardly turned ange at its upper end,

the combination of an elongated closure member comprising at its upper end portion means adapted when the member is forced downwardly into the spout to -engage the ange on the spout and by said engagement to prevent removal oi the member from the spout and comprising at its lower end portion a downwardly tapered spiral part having its several plies in laterally spaced relation to each other, a cap for closing theV upper end of said spout above said spiral part, and means for attaching said cap to said spiral part. 9. In a closure cap structure for anautomoblle gasoline tank lling spout having at its upper end an inwardly and downwardly turned flange which is provided'with spaced; slots opening inwardly, the combination of an elongated closure member comprising at its upper end portion means adapted when the member is forced downward into the spout to project through at least one o said slots and to engage'y the under side of the iiange on the spout and by said engagement to prevent removal of the member from/the spout and comprising at its lower end portion a downwardly tapered spiral part, a cap for closing the,

upper end of said spout above said spiral part,

and means for part.v

10. In a closure device, in combination, a containerhaving an inlet, spaced slots in the conattaching said. cap to, said spiral y tainer opening into said inlet, a capv member for the inlet and a retaining device Vincluding a, helical spring, said device having a portion adapted to enter` one of'said slots and engage, said container .upon relative rotation of saidd'evice and container,J and means vconnecting the cap y with said spring. A

11. In a closure device ,for the gasoline tank oi an automobile, the combination of 'a cap adapted to vseat on the inwardly turned ange at the upper .end of the iilling spout of a tank, a spiral l spring member mounted below said ange across said filling spout effectively closing the spout against insertionvof a siphoning tube therethrough but permitting free entrance of gasoline through the spout,v and means connecting said cap with said spiral spring member serving to maintain at least a portion of said spring member under tension for holding the cap yieldinglv in its closed position and adapted when said cap is raised into an open position to hold said spring member under increased tension.

12. In a closure device for the gasoline tank of an automobile, the combination of a cap adaptedA to seat on the inwardly turned flange at the upper end of the lling spout of a tank, a spiral spring member mounted below said iiange across said lling spout eiectively closing the spout against insertion of a siphoning tube therethrough but|` permitting free entrance of gasoline through thespout, anda link pivotally connected at oneiend with said spiral spring member and pivotally connected at its opposite end .with said cap on its inner face serving to maintain at least a portion of said spiral spring member under tension for holding the cap yieldingly in its closed lposition and adapted when said cap is raised into an open position to hold said spring member under increased tension.

, 4 FREDERICK H. GLEABON.