US2254815A

US2254815A - Venting closure

Info

Publication number: US2254815A
Application number: US307372A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert A Barnby; Jack M Wheaton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-12-04
Filing date: 1939-12-04
Publication date: 1941-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 1958-09-02

Description

, Sept. 2, W41. H. A. BARNBY EIAL VENTING CLOSURE -Filed Dec. ,4, 1939 INVENTORS HA.BJIKNBY z/YM. WHEATOM M x ATTORNE Patented Sept. 2, 1941 VENTING CLOSURE Herbert A. Barnby and Jack M. Wheaton, Toledo, Ohio Application December a, 1939, Serial No. 307,372

'5 Claims.

. or clogging of the pinhole will permit exhaust of the gas by way of an opening between the sealing disk and sealing surface of the container.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a novel construction, which under any and all circumstances and conditions, will insure venting of gas from the bottle or container to the atmosphere, yet will not permit leakage of, the liquid contents of the container.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of closure and container showing our invention embodied therein,

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the closure with the sealing gasket removed therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating in considerable detail one position assumed by the central portion of the gasket or diaphragm under excessive internal pressure. a

Fig. 4 is a detail sectionalyiew showing another position of the gasket or diaphragm, such as would result from clogging or stoppage of the pinhole or the formation of abnormally excessive internal pressure. I

Fig; 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line.55 of Fig. 4..

Fig. '6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2. In the illustrated embodiment of our invention it is shown in conjunction with a molded closure ID or cap which is threaded upon the neck ll of a glass container l2 or bottle. The closure includes a circular top l3 and a depending attaching flange H, the latter being provided with internal screw threads 15 which are designed for holding engagement with external threads IE or other equivalent devices formed upon the neck ll of the container.

The venting feature includes a centrally positioned circular recess I! in the inner surface of the top l3 and a pair of diametrically opposed radial channels I 8 which at their inner ends open into the recess l1 and extend to the inner face of the attaching flange [4. These channels l8 or grooves increase in width towards the attaching flange and decrease in depth from one longitudinal margin to the other. At the deep side of each channel the wall l9 and bottom of the channel form an acute angle which results in the formation of a radial passageway, the inner end of which cannot be completely closed simply by reason of outward bulging of the central portion 20 of a sealing gasket 2| or diaphragm.

This sealing gasket is of slightly smaller diam eter than the internal diameter of the upper portion of the attaching flange [4, whereby to provide an annular space 22 through which gas may escape and pass around the threads of the container and closure to the atmosphere. A- centrall positioned pinhole 23 or vent is formed in the sealing'gasket. pressure is formed within the container, the central portion of the gasket balloons outwardly into the recess I! (Fig. 3) thereby permitting the excess gas tofiow through the pinhole 23 and channels 18 to the space 22 and thence around the threads to the atmosphere. I Should the internal gas pressure become abnormally excessive and/or the pinhole 23 become clogged, the central portion of the gasket will be forced a considerable distance into the recess l1 and those portions of the gasket immediately beneath the channels l8 will be forced upwardly into the latter a sufiicient distance to create a space between the marginal portions oi the gasket and the sealing surface 24 of the container neck as shown in Fig. 5. Thus the ex cessive gas pressure will escape to the atmosphere even though the normal passage thereof'through the pinhole 23 or vent, and the recess l'l cannot be efiected for one reason or another.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim: 1. In combination, a container having a circular neck defining a filling and discharging opening and provided with external screw threads and an annular sealing surface at its outer end,

In the event excessive gas centrally thereof, there being a space between the margin of the sealing gasket and inner wall of the attaching flange, said top of the closure having an internal central recess in register with the venting opening, and a radial channel opening at one end into said recess and extending to the inner wall of the attaching flange, the bottom of said channel and a longitudinal side wall thereof being relatively positioned to form an acute angle.

2. In combination, a container having a circular neck defining a filling and discharging opening and provided with external screw threads and an annular sealing surface at its outer end, a closure including a circular top and a depending attaching flange, internal screw threads on the attaching flange for holding engagement with the threads on the container, a resilient sealing gasket interposed between the top of the closure and the sealing surface of the container and having a normally closed venting opening disposed centrally thereof, there being a space between the margin of the sealing gasket and inner wall of the attaching flange, said top of the closure having an internal central recess in register with the venting opening, and a radial channel opening at one end into said recess and extending to the inner wall of the attaching flange, said channel decreasing in depth in a direction transverse to its length and having a longitudinal side wall disposed at an acute angle to the bottom .of the channel. 7

3. In combination, a container having a circular neck defining a fllling and discharging opening and provided with external screw threads and an annular sealing surface at its outer end, a closure including a circular top and a depending attaching flange, internal screw threads on the attaching flange for holding engagement with the threads on the container, a resilient sealing gasket interposed between the top of the closure and the sealing surface of the container and having a normally closed venting opening disposed centrally thereof, there being a space between the margin of the sealing gasket and inner wall of the attaching flange, said top of the closurehaving an internal central recess in register with the venting opening, and a radial channel opening at one end into said recess and extending to the inner wall of the attaching flange, said channel gradually increasing in depth in a direction transverse to the length thereof and having a side wall at the deep 'end inclined to thereby form an acute angle between said wall and the bottom of the channel.

4, In combination, a container having a circular neck defining a filling and discharging opening and provided with external screw threads and an annular sealing surface at its outer end, a closure including a circular top and a depending attaching flange, internal screw threads on the attaching flange for holding engagement with the threads on the container, a resilient sealing gasket interposed between the top of the closure and the sealing surface of the container and having a normally closed venting opening disposed centrally thereof, there .being a space between the margin of the sealing gasket and inner wall of the attaching flange, said top of the closure having an internal central recess in register with the venting opening, and a pair of diametrically opposed radial channels opening at one end into said recess and extending to the inner wall of the attaching flange, the bottom of each of said channels and longitudinal side wall thereof being relatively positioned to form an acute angle.

5. A molded closure formed of a synthetic resin material comprising a circular top portion, a depending attaching skirt at the margin of said top'portion, means formed on the skirt for attaching the closure to a container, said top portion having an internal centrally positioned recess and a radial channel communicating at its inner end with said recess and terminating at its outer end at the juncture of the skirt and top portion, said channel having one of its side walls disposed at an acute angle with respect to the bottom of the channel, and a pliable sealing gasket overlying said channel and recess and formed with a normally closed vent opening in register with said recess.

HERBERT A. BARNBY. JACK M. WHEATON.