US2168297A

US2168297A - Closure

Info

Publication number: US2168297A
Application number: US124277A
Authority: US
Inventors: Voke Carl Edward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-02-05
Filing date: 1937-02-05
Publication date: 1939-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 1956-08-01

Description

Aug. 1, 1939. c. E. VOKE 2,168,297

CLOSURE Filed Feb. 5. 1957 w I [river-2 0 Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED. STATES PATENT'OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvement in closures. More particularly, it is applicable for use with containers of the collapsible type, such as those used for tooth-paste, ointments, cosmetic creams and similar products, although it is not necessarily limited thereto.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a closure for containers of the type indicated which will automatically open when pressure is applied to the container and which will automatically close when the pressure is released.

Another object of my invention is to provide a closure for containers of the type indicated which may be made as a separate unit from the container and which may be applied to any common form of container of the type indicated.

Another object of my invention is to provide a closure for containers of the type indicated which may be madeand assembled as an integral part of the container.

Another object of my invention is to provide a closure for containers of the type indicated which is sanitary in use, since there are no crevices or ridges on the outside for material to collect and .dry.

Another object of my invention is to provide a closure for containers of the type indicated which is economical to produce, eflicient in operation and practical in use.

In its preferred form, my invention contemplates the provision of a closure which is automatically operative to open and close the container. This closure preferably comprises a plunger which is mounted on the neck of the container in such a manner that it is freely slidable therein. This plunger is solid and is provided with a flange near its upper end which is adapted to seat on a shell which is mounted on the neck or the container. A spring is mounted in surrounding relation to the plunger at its lower end and is adapted to return the plunger to its original position after the pressure which has caused it to move upwardly has been released.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the closure showing also the upper end of a container.

Figure 2 is a cross section view showing the closure mounted on the end of a container.

Figure 3 is a cross section view showing the closure mounted on the end of a container using a modified shell.

Figure 4 shows a View of a modified form of my invention.

Figure 5 shows a view of another slightly modified form of my invention.

With reference to the drawing, I have shown a 5 container l which is of the collapsible type that is provided with a threaded neck portion 2 on which the closure is adapted to be mounted.

The closure comprises a shell 3 which is provided with an open top end and an open lower end. Threads 8 are formed in the lower inside periphery of the said shell 3 so they are adaptable to fit the threads on the neck 2 of the container. A flange or shoulder 9 is formed from the inside periphery of the top portion of shell 3. A plunger 5 4 is adapted to be mounted within the shell 3 in such a manner that it is freely slidable therein. This plunger .4 comprises a flange 5 near its upper end which is adapted to seat on the upper end shell 3 when it is in its lowermost position. This plunger 4 also comprises a tapering body portion below flange '5 and a groove 1 is formed near its lower end. A spring 6 is mounted in surrounding relation to the plunger 4 and the upper end of this spring is adapted to abut against flange 9 and the lower end of this spring is adapted, to rest in groove 1. It will be understood that when plunger 4 is forced upwardly, the spring 6 will be compressed and, as soon as the pressure is released, the spring will again expand and will return the plunger to its original position.

, When the closure is in closed position, the various parts will occupy the positions shown in Figure 2. When it is desired to dispense material from the container I, pressure is applied to'the container which causes the material therein to move upwardly into shell 3 and will exert a force on the under surface of plunger 4. This will cause plunger 4 to move upwardly against the force of spring 6. When the plunger moves upwardly, the 40 tapered body portion of plunger 4 will cause an opening to be formed and allow the material to flow through. As soon as the pressure is removed which caused the material to flow upwardly, the spring 6 will cause the plunger 4 to return to its original position.

In Figure 3, I have shown a modified form of shell. In this modified'form, I have provided a shell H) with an open lower end and an open upper end. The top portion E4 of this shell is adapted to seat flange 5 of plunger 4 when it is in its lower- ,most position. A flange I2 is formed near the upper end on the inside periphery of the shell in order that the upper end of spring 6 may abut against it. An inden'ture I I is formed in the inside body portion of the shell so that the shell is adapted to seat on neck I 3 of tube l5. It is understood this shell Ill may be fitted securely on the neck portion of the tube by a friction tight fit or in any other method that may be deemed practical.

In Figure 4, I have shown the plunger as it will be mounted within the neck of a container. In this modified form, I have provided a neck l6 of a container with an opening formed inits upper end and a flange orv shoulder ll formed below the opening on the inside periphery. Plunger 4 is adapted to fit slidable within the said openingin such a manner that when it is in its lowermost position, flange 5 of the plunger will seat on the top edge of neck !6. Spring 6 is'adapted to be mounted in surrounding relation to plunger} and the upper end of this spring abiits against flange l1, while the lower end of the spring rests in groove 7 of the plunger. It can be readily seen that this modified form operate's in the -"same manner as stated above. 7

In Figure 5, I- have shown" another slightly modifled form. In this modifi'ed form, l have provided a collar 8 which is adaptedito bdflttedsecurely in the upper end of the neckl9 of tube 20. This collar isprovided with an extended lower end 2| which is of slightly less diameter than the neck I 9 of the container. This collar is further provided with a flange 22 which is adapted to seat on the top edge of the neck l9. When the collar is inserted into the neck H! of the container, it is understood that a friction tight fit will hold the collar securely in place. However, if desired, the collar may be provided with threads or with grooves for holding it in place. Plunger 4 is adapted to be mounted in collar 1 8 so that it is freely slidable therein. A spring 6 is mounted in surrounding relation to the plunger 4 and the upper end of this springabuts against the lower end of collar l8 and its lower end fits in the groove 7 of the plunger.

When the plunger 4 is in itslowermost position, flange 5 rests on the top edgeof collar l8. It can be readily seen that this-modified form operates in exactly the same manner as the preferred form of closure.

It will be seen readily from this description above that I have produced a novel form of closure which may be easily applied toany common form of container of the type indicated.

It will also be seen that this device is automatically operative, inexpensive to manufacture, practical and sanitary.

Having thus described my-invention, what I claim is:

1. A closure for collapsible-containers and the like, comprising a hollow shell adapted to be mounted on the neck of said container, a plunger slidably mounted in the upper end of said shell, said plunger having a flange formed on its upper end, said flange adapted to seat on the top part of said shell when in its lowermost position, said plunger having a tapering body below said flange, a groove formed on the lower part of said plunger, a compression spring mounted in surrounding relation to saidplunger and having its upper end abutting against a ledge formed in the upper part of said shell and its lower end abutting against the the lower flange formed on said plunger, said spring adapted to normally maintain saidplunger in its lowermost position, all the parts ofsaid closure being combined as a separate unit and applied as a unit to the container.

2. A closure for collapsible containers or-the like comprising a hollow shell adapted to be mounted on the neck of said container, a flange formed on the inside periphery of said shell in such a manner that when the shell is in its lowermost position on the neck of said container, the under surface of said flange will rest on the top edge of the neck of said container, said shell having an opening formed in its upper end, a plunger slidably mounted in the said opening, said plunger having a flange formed near its top, said flange adapted to seat on the top of said shell when in its lowermost position, said plunger having its body tapered below said flange, a groove formed near the base of said plunger, said plunger being adapted to close said opening when in its lowermostposition and to form an opening when in its uppermost position, a compression spring mounted in surrounding relation to said plunger and having its upper end abutting against the under surface o'f'the top of said shell and its lower end resting in the groove of said plunger, said spring adapted to normally keep the saidplunger inits lowermost position and to return the plunger when it is in its uppermost position, all of the parts of said closure unit being combined as-a separate unit which is placed as awhole on theneck of said container.

3. A closure for collapsible containers or the like comprising a plunger adapted to be slidably mounted in the neck of said container, said plunger having a flange formed near its upper end, a tapering body having its base slightly greater in diameter than the lower body portion of said plunger, a compression spring mounted in surrounding relation to said plunger and havingits upper end abutting the undersurface of said neck and its lower end resting on the base of-said plunger, said flange adapted toseat on the top of said neck when in its lowermost position, said tapered body forming an opening when the plunger moves upwardly and closing the opening when in its lowermost position,-saicl plunger being movable upwardly when pressure is applied to said collapsible container and said spring being adapted to return said plunger to its lowermost position when such pressure on said collapsible container is removed.

4. A closure for collapsible tubes and thelike, comprising a plunger having a flange formed near its upper end, a collar in which the plunger is slidably fitted,'said collar having a lip formed on its outer surface, said lip being adapted to rest on the top edge of the neck of an associated tube, the lower outer surface of said collar being adapted to fit'tightly within the neck of the tube, said plunger having a tapering body extending from the said flange to its base, said tapering body serving as a discharge opening when the top thereof is disposed above the top of said collar, a groove formed with said plunger adjacent to its base, and a spring seated at its lower end on said groove, the top of said spring abutting against the lower surface of said collar, the entire closure being made and assembled independently from the tube.

5. In combination, a collapsible tube having a neck opening with walls of uniform thickness, a plunger slidably fitted within the said neck opening, said plunger having a flange formed near its upper end to seat on the top edge of said neck opening when the plunger is inits lowermost position, said plunger having a tapering body below said flange to serve as a discharge opening when the plunger is in its uppermost position, a flange formed adjacent to the base of said plunger, a spring mounted in surrounding relation to said plunger, an indenture formed within the neck of said collapsible tube, said indenture serving to abut against the top part of the spring and said flange formed on the base of the plunger serving to abut against the lower part of said spring, and said spring serving to automatically return the plunger to its lowermost position for closing the tube.

6. An automatically operative closure for collapsible tubes and the like, comprising, in combination, a plunger having a cap flange formed near its upper end, the said plunger having a tapering body below said cap flange and a groove formed near its base, a hollow shell adapted to be threaded on the neck portion of an associated tube, the said plunger adapted to be slidably fitted Within the upper end of said shell in such a manner that when the plunger is in its lowermost position the base of said flange will rest on the top edge of said shell, a compression spring mounted in surrounding relation to the body portion of said plunger and having its upper end abutting against the inside top surface of said shell and its lower end abutting against the said groove formed on the plunger, the tapering body portion of theplunger serving to make a discharge opening when the plunger is in its uppermost position and to close the opening when in its lowermost position, the said spring serving to return the plunger to its normal and lowermost position after the release of the pressure which caused it to move upwardly and said closure being made and assembled independently from the tube.

7. In combination, a collapsible tube, means attached to said tube and having an opening therethrough forming an outlet for the tube, the upper part of the means extending inwardly and forming a valve seat on the top surface thereof and forming a shoulder on the bottom, a plunger slidably mounted in the upper end of the means and having an upper outwardly extending flange adapted to seat on the valve seat, said valve having a downwardly extending and inwardly tapering body below the flange and a flange at the lower end thereof, a compression spring mounted in surrounding relation to said plunger and having its upper end abutting the shoulder and its lower end abutting the lower flange of the plunger, said spring serving to automatically return the upper flange of the plunger onto the valve seat.

CARL EDWARD VOKE.