US2158375A

US2158375A - Paste tube cap

Info

Publication number: US2158375A
Application number: US218617A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vernon L Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-07-11
Filing date: 1938-07-11
Publication date: 1939-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1956-05-16

Description

May 16, 1939- y v. L.; MILLER 2,158,375

PASTE TUBE CAP Filed July 11, v1933 1N VENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS Patented May I6, 1939 UNiTED N STATES z,15s,s":

rAs'l-E 'runnen Vernon L. Miller, Bethel, Kans. A nppucauon July 11, 193s, serial No. 218,617

lclalm.

This invention relates to collapsible tubes and especially the cap therefor, and the primary object is to provide a closure for paste tubes which will automatically open and shut the aperture 5 through which the paste is extruded when force is exerted upon and released from the tube respectively. l

g One of the important aims of the invention is the provision of a paste tube cap which may be attached to the conventional type ofv collapsible tube wherein paste is contained, said cap having a spring pressed piston therein movable to and from a position closing a specially formed aperture, without. being especially manipulated by i5 the operator.

A still further aim of this invention is to provide a paste tube cap of the aforementioned character having a minimum number of parts, some of which may be adjustable to alter the tension of the spring therein.

Other objects of the invention will appear during the course of the following'specii'lcation, referring to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a paste tube equipped withl a cap embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View through the upper portion of the paste tube showing the cap in position taken on line II--II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 isa View similar to Fig. 2 but with the slidable piston in the aperture-closing position.v Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view through the cap taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 5 is a lonigtudinal sectional view through another form of the cap.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through a paste tube cap made to embody a modied form of the invention.

One of the problems presented through the use of collapsible tubes containing paste, is the nature of the caps heretofore employed. Usually the cap is a separate unit and becomes misplaced when taken from the neck of the tube. Some efforts have been expended to produce caps of diierent natures than those conventionally commercially used but without apparent success.

The cap embodying this invention isintended to automatically maintain the aperture through which the paste is extruded in a closed condition so long as pressure is not exerted upon .the tube to impart force to the contained paste sufcient to compress the spring forming a part of the cap. When the results just set down are ob- 55 tained, the past Vwithin the tube is not Wasted PATENT oi-Flca nor allowed to dry so that a portion thereof becomes useless.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiment of the invention is in the nature of a hol- 5 low metal thimble 8 provided with internal screwthreads I0 which fit upon screw-'threads I2 of the neck of paste tube I4. The open end of thimble 8 should be slightly enlarged in diameter soA that the inner annular wall 'of thimble 8 is 10 substantially a continuation of the inner annular wall of the neck of tube I4.

Aperture I8 is provided in the side wall of thimble 8 at a point intermediate the ends thereof. Piston I8 is slidably fitted into thimble 8 i5 for movement to and from a position where it closes aperture I6. Piston I8 has a grooved skirt 28 to insure a positive seal and to insure that paste 22 will not escape into the outer end of thimble 8 past piston I8. 0

Spring 24 serves as a means for yieldably hold- 2 ing piston I8 across aperture I6. This spring is of such length and nature that it will force piston I8 across aperture I6 when pressure upon tube I4 is released by the operator. Spring 24 25 reaches the limit of its expansion when piston I8 is across aperture I'B as shown in Fig. 3, and as soon as pressure is again exerted on tube I 4,'piston I8 will be moved back against the force of spring 24 and a ribbon of paste 22 will be ex- 30 truded through aperture I6, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 5 an additional element is shown forming a part of the paste tube cap. This element comprises an adjustable plug 30 in screw-thread- 35 ed engagement with the outer end of thimble 32 which is but slightly diierent from the thimble illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

Internal screw-threads formed in the outer end of thimble 32 engages screw-threads 34 of plug ,m 30 and the cavity 36 formed in plug 30 receives one end of spring 38, the other end of spring 38 is circumscribed by the skirt of piston 40 which is yieldably held across aperture 42 in precisely the same manner as above described with refer- 4fence to Figs. 2 and 3. I

When` it is desired to increase the tension of spring 38, plug 30 is moved by turning the same on its longitudinal axis. In Fig. 5, plug 30 has been moved into thimble 32 as far as the internal 50 screw-threads will permit, but it is obvious that the length of adjustment may be altered to suit the desire of the manufacturer.V

Spring 24 or 88, as the case may be, is made stronger or weaker in accordance with the consistency of paste 22, and when the cap is proper- 1y made, the automatic action of opening and closing the aperture of the thimble will occur Without the user of the paste being conscious of any mechanical movement within the specially constructed cap.

The means for returning piston I8 to a position closing aperture I6, may be manually controllable'. In Fig. 6 is illustrated a modied form of the invention which includes a rod 50 having one end secured to piston I8 and the other end projected exteriorly of cap 8. A head 52 of any suitable form is carried by the outerend of rod 50 and after the force of paste 22 has moved both piston 20 and rod 50 along cap 8, so as to open aperture I6, inward force on head 52 will return the said member to the point of beginning Where piston 20 is closing aperture I6.

Obviously, the cap and its parts may be made of suitable material, such as metal or some composition best suited for machining. The cap may be moved from one tube to another and the parts of the cap may be separated and cleaned if desired, for they part without the .employment of special tools.

A large number of changes and modicatons might be made in constructing a paste tube cap that embodies this invention, without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what ls claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A cap for paste tubes, having externally screwthreaded'necks, comprising a thimble-like body provided with an aperture through the annular side wall thereof intermediate the ends; internal threads adjacent to the open end of the body for engagement with the screw-threads of the tubes to hold the cap in operative position; a piston reciprocably mounted in the body for movement to and from a position closing the aperture; and means for holding the piston in such position, said piston ha ng an annular skirt, the outer face of which in wiping contact with the annular inner face of the said body, said skirt having a plurality of grooves formed therein to present a plurality of edges serving to ride over the said face of the body as the piston is reciprocated.

VERNON L. MILLER.