US2160429A

US2160429A - Preserving container closure, vent, and seal

Info

Publication number: US2160429A
Application number: US21450A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roman B Bukolt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-05-14
Filing date: 1935-05-14
Publication date: 1939-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1956-05-30

Description

May 30, 1939.

R. B. BU KOLT 2,160,429

PRESERVING CONTAINER CLOSURE, VENT, AND SEAL Filed May 14, 1935 Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED STATES PRESERVING CONTAINER CLOSURE, VENT, AND SEAL Roman B. Bukolt, Stevens Point, Wis.

Application May 14, 19-35, Serial No. 21,450

14 Claims. (01. 215-56) The invention relates to containers used for preserving fruits and vegetables, and it aims to make novel provision for venting air from the container during the heating of the jar contents for preservation purposes, and for sealing the vent to prevent return of air to the container as the contents cool.

The invention is shown in connection with a container closure of the general type disclosed in my U. S. application Serial No. 719,961, filed April 10, 1934, or my U. S. application Serial No. 757,575, filed December 14, 1935,. but such showing is for illustrative purposes only and the present invention may be embodied with any type of closure properly constructed to permit the venting and sealing hereinafter described;

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing is a sectional view through a closure disk provided with a conical depression and a vent hole, the vent 0 seal being shown partly in section and partly in elevation above said depression.

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the closure applied to the neck of a conventional jar and illustrating the manner in which the seal is 5 affected by the heat of the usual preserving process.

Figures 3 and 4 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but showing a flat bottomed depression and the seal in the form of a disk instead of a ball.

The form of closure with which the present improvements have been illustrated, comprises a substantially concavo-convex lever-and-toggleaction snap-disk5, an attaching ring 6 to engage the jar neck, and a gasket 1, the disk 5 being so shaped that when it is snapped downwardly from the position shown in the drawing, either by hand pressure or by vacuum within the jar, it forcibly compresses the gasket to prevent leakage.

At any suitable location, but preferably at its center, the disk 5 is provided with a depression 8 and with a pin hole vent 9 in the bottom of the depressed portion. Receivable in the depression 8 is a seal comprising a slug l0 and a thermo- 5' plastic coating H for said slug. The slug may be in the form of a ball as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the coating 1 l correspondingly shaped, or said slug may be a disk as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 with the coating shaped accordingly.

The slug I0 is formed from metal or other appropriate material which will be unchanged by the temperatures used in preserving, lead being preferably employed at least when the slug is in the form of a ball, so that ordinary lead shot 55 may be used.

The thermo-plastic coating ll preferably com- -prises pitch, bitumen or the like and a quantity of dry Portland cement or pulverized earth mixed therewith.

After heating the container contents to the proper temperature and for the appropriate time during the preserving process, and thereby driving out air with the steam escaping through the vent hole 9, the seal In, H is dropped into the depression 8. The heat from the container and its contents immediately causes the thermo-plastic composition to flow as will be clear from Figs. 2 and 4, and if any pressure be still escaping from the container, it will bubble through the seal. While the thermo-plastic composition is fluid, the Portland cementor pulverized earth therein settles to the bottom as denoted at 12 to form an effective seat for the slug l0 and to prevent any of the pitch or the like from entering the container. As long as the pressure within the container is greater than atmospheric, this pressure will pass through the seal to the atmosphere but as the contents cool and the pressure within the container becomes negative, the slug I0 acts as a check valve and the sealing medium cooperates with it to positively prevent any entrance of air into the container.

When a snap disk cover is used as herein disclosed, upward snapping of the disk relieves the pressure on the gasket 1 and allows easy opening of the jar. the disk to snap upwardly or to facilitate upward snapping thereof, an ordinary pin may be forced through the sealing material thereby admitting air to the vent hole 9.

As excellent results are obtainable from the details disclosed, they are preferably followed. However, within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may, of course, be made.

I claim:

1. A preserving container closure provided with a depression and with a vent hole in the bottom of said depression, a downwardly closing check valve for said vent hole positioned within said depression, and a seal within said depression and cooperable with said check valve in sealing said vent hole, said seal consisting of a lower stratum of thermally unchanged powder forming a seat for said check valve, and a thermo-plastic upper stratum covering said lower stratum and fluidtightly engaging said check valve and said depression.

2. A preserving container "closure provided with a depression and with a' vent hole in the bottom of said depression, a thermally unchanged slug To relieve the vacuum and allow v within said depression, and a thermo-plastic seal within said depression cooperable with said slug in sealing said vent hole, said seal consisting of a lower stratum of thermally-unchanged powder forming a seat for said slug, and an upper thermo-plastic stratum covering said lower stratum and fluid-tightly engaging said slug and said depression.

3. In a seal of the class .described, a thermallyunaffected slug coated with a sealing composition, said sealing composition comprising a thermallyunchanged sealing powder embedded in a thermoplastic substance.

4. A structure as specified in claim 3; said slug being in the form of a ball.

5. A structure as specified in claim 3; said slug being in the format a flat disk.

6. A preserving container closure provided with a depression and with a vent hole in the bottom of said depression, and a seal within said depression closing said vent hole, said seal comprising a lower stratum of thermally-unaffected powder cooperable with said check valve in sealing said vent hole, said seal consisting of a lower stratum of thermally unchanged powder forming a seat for said check valve, and a plastic upper stratum covering said lower stratum and fluid-tightly engaging said check valve and said depression.

10. A preserving container closure provided with a depression and with a vent hole in the bottom of saiddepression, a thermally unchanged slug withinsaid depression, and a plastic seal Within said depression cooperable with said slug .insealing said vent hole, said seal consisting of alower stratum of thermally-unchanged powder forming a seat for said slug, and an upper plastic stratum covering said lower stratum and fluidtightly engaging said slug and said depression.

11. In a seal of the class described, a thermallyunaffected slug coated with a sealing composition, said sealing composition comprising a thermally-unchanged sealing powder embedded in a plastic substance. I

12. "A preserving container closure provided with a depression and with a vent hole in the bottom of said depression, and a seal within said depression closing said vent hole, said seal comprising a lower stratum of thermally-unaffected powder and an upper plastic stratum covering said'ilower stratum.

13. A preserving container closure provided with a vent; and a seal for said vent comprising a thermally unaiTected powder mixed with a plastic sealing substance.

14. In a seal of the classdescribed, Portland cement mixed with a plastic sealing substance.

--a ROMAN B. BUKOLT.