US2364678A - Package - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 12, 1944. P. oc. WHITE PACKAGE Filed Nov.. 10, 1938 V fl 1 v .uu 1 1 1 Fufl 11. 1 l 1 1 1 ATTORNEYa Patented Dec. 12, 1944 menses Philip o'o. White, Chicago, ni, assignor to White Cap Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation-wot Delaware Application November 10, 1938, Serial No. 239,845

2 Claims.

erally dispensed from the original receptacles at the table, it is quite important that the package be hermetically sealed in the first instance, so that the contents will be properly preserved against contamination and fermentation, and that it be susceptible to re-sealing, with facility to prevent evaporation or leakage after it has been opened initially. Also, it is of importance, for protection of the material against contamination or evaporation after the package has been opened by the user, that the closure be of a character such that it may be removed and replaced with facility incident to the dispensing of a portion of the material, and that when it is replaced, it efiectively cover the mouth of the receptacle and stay in place with suflicient certainty or security to permit the receptacle to be handled freely. It is quite generally observed that very little care is exercised by users in replacing the closure after' pouring out some of the material, and'that if the operation of putting it back on requires the exercise of any particular accuracy or effort, it is usually left ofi or applied improperly and insecurely.

It is one of the general objects of the present invention to provide apackage or packing container which is stoppered by means of a closure in the nature of a cap, and which is of a character such that,; in the first instance at least, it may be sealed on the receptacle hermetically and very securely by simple downward pressure which may be accomplished rapidly by automatic machinery, and which may be removed with facility in the first instance and thereafter re-applied with very littleeffort to re-seal the receptacle air tight,,or to form an effective closure and protection for the mouth of the receptacle and retain its place thereon with adequate security although not re-sealed air tight thereon.

Another object is the provision of a package or packing container of the character specified and wherein the closure, in the nature of a metal cap or the like, is effectively safeguarded against scratching or abrasion by the mouth of the vessel incident to the operation of applying or sealing it thereon in the first instance, or subsequently, thus protecting the metal of the cap shell against oxidation and the mouth of the receptacle against discoloration or fouling which ordinarily results from such oxidation of a metal cap.

Other and further objects of the invention will be pointed out or indicated hereinafter, or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of this specification or employment of the device in use.

For purpose of aiding in an explanation of the invention, I show in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and hereinafter describe, certain embodiments of the invention in a package and packing container in the nature of a capped bottle or the like, such as may be suitable for the packaging of catsup or sauces. It is to be understood, however, that these examples are here presented merely for purpose of illustration and are not to be construed in any fashion for the purpose of limiting the appended claims short of the true and most comprehensive scope of the invention in the art.

In said drawing Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the upper portion of a packing container showing the closure in place on the receptacle in the relationship .wherein the package is hermetically sealed;

Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the closure cap in place onthe receptacle but in a relationship wherein there is no compressed sealing between the two;

Fig. 3 is'a vertical section of one form of closure cap which may be employed in the invention, showing same on an enlarged scale; a

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the mouth or upper portion of a receptacle, in the nature of a bottle, showing one form of contour or finish of the parts which may be employed in the package embodying the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but showing the closure in a canted position on the receptacle, and serving to illustrate the fashion in which the two cooperate toiprevent abrasion of the interior surfaces of the'closure shell by the mouth portion of the receptacle.

The nature of the invention will be most quickly ascertained from a detailed description of the embodiments shown in the drawing. which is as follows. a

The reference numeral l0 designates a receptacle, in the nature of 'a bottle, jar or the like.

' suitable for the packaging of various materials which it may be desired to seal and preserve in 85 air-tight condition in the first instance and disin cooperation with a suitable closure.

ing of the package. This receptacle has mouth portions specially formed for definite purposes As illustrated more fully in Fig. 4, the mouth portion of the receptacle is formed or finished with a peripheral sealing surface H, of approximately cylindrical form, extending completely around the receptacle and disposed at a suitable eleva-.

tion above a peripherally outstanding shoulder or ledge l2; Portions of the material between the sealing surface H and ledge l2 are recessed or undercut, as at M, to form a peripheral groove or channel. From the upper limit of the cylindrical sealing surface II, the periphery of the container isoffset inwardly and upwardly in the form of a rounded or beveled shoulder 15, and, from the limit of this shoulder portion, the periphery of the container continues upwardly as an approximately cylindrical lip portion l6, which 20 is of substantial height, materially exceeding the height of the sealing surface H, and rounded or beveled inwardly at its upper terminus at H, to the top rim l8 of the receptacle mouth. All of said peripheral surfaces are substantially circular on planes perpendicular to the axis of the re- "ceptacle mouth.

A closure cap suitable for sealing cooperation with the vessel mouth is provided, and may be of the form illustrated in Fig. 3. This includes a shell, which may be pressed from sheet metal, such as tin-plate, having suitable ductility and the proper stiffness to hold its shape in use, and which is formed with a top portion 20, of circular contour, and depending skirt portion 2| extending downwardly from the periphery of the top portion in approximately cylindrical form and merging into a flaring skirt portion 22 toward form. This gasket is normally of somewhat 50 larger diameter than the interior of the skirt portion 22, but is circumferentially compressed and inserted into the shell in such position that it rests against the flaring skirt portion 22 and extends slightly within and close to the cylindrical skirt portion 2|.

The lower portion of the shell skirt is notched to provide a plurality of serrations or prongs 25,

and these are curled inwardly and upwardly and embedded in the lower portion of the gasket, so that it is securely fastened to the shell at its lower end. Due to its form and elastic character and the form of the shell, the orifice of the gasket takes an upwardly contracting or converging shape. The thickness of the gasket materially exceeds the clearance between the skirt portion 2| and the sealing surface II, and in its lower portion, the gasket is somewhat thickened or fattened by virtue of the intrusion of the prongs 25'into it.

In the original closing of the package, that is the, original sealing of the closure upon the receptacle after the latter has received its contents, and either with or without displacement pense a portion at a time after the initial openis telescoped onto the receptacle mouth so that the lip portion I6 is introduced within the orifice of the gasket. The relative diameters of these parts are such that the lip portion it enters free- 1y until the shoulder part l5 contacts the gasket,

as illustrated for example in Fig. 2. Then, upon application of sumcient downward pressure to the top ofthe closure, it isforced further downwardly onto the receptacle, with the result that 10 the elastic gasket is wedged outwardly along the shoulder l5 and the sealing surface I I, and highly compressed between the sealing surface and the skirt portion of-the shell. Incident to-this operation, the g sket is elongated upwardly somewhat,

the downward movement of the closure being finally limited by contact of its top portion against the rim l8 of the receptacle in the position illustrated in Fig. 1. I

As a result of these sealing operations, the gasket is very tightly compressed between the sealing surface H and against the surrounding portion of the shell skirt, which acts as a constraining member, the gasket thereby forming a hermetic seal between the shell and the sealing surface I I and, due to its high compression, filling all irregularities in the surfaces of those parts so that a completely air-tight closure is formed. As a consequence, the closure is very securely retained on the receptacle by the frictional and gripping action of the compressed gasket, and the contents of the receptacle are completely protected against contamination or ingress of air, even though the pressure within the head space of the sealed package may be very much below as the externaT'atmospheric pressure.

By suitable manipulation, however, the opening of the hermetically sealed package may be accomplished with comparative case. This is done by placing a prying implement, such as the mar-,

gin of a coin, the back of a knife or the like, between the lower margin of the skirt 22 and the ledge I2, and prying upwardly'against the closure, using the ledge as a fulcrum. 'The prying pressure may be applied progressively at various points around the package until the closure. is

moved upwardly enough to release the elastic gasket from compression between the sealing surface. II and the skirt of the shell, and thereupon the closure may be lifted off quite freely.

The closure may be re-applied in a fashion to form an air-tight seal on the receptacle, by press,-

'ing it downwardly thereon with sufilcient force to intrude the sealing surface within the gasket, as in the first instance. However, inasmuch as this may-require more effort than the average" person might be inclined to apply to it. at the dining table, I have designed the parts so that the closure may be put back on very easily and simply, in a fashion such that it will form an effective stopper to protect the mouth of the receptacle, in which disposal it will hold its place with sufiicient security to permit its being handled with freedom. Such application is accomplished simply by placing the closure on the mouth of the vessel in the position illustrated in Fig. 2. In this operation the lip portion l6 passes through the gasket to a sumcient distance to retain the closure securely against toppling or slipping ofi, the contact ofrthe upper portion of the gasket with the lip portion l6 affording a certain amount of holding friction. By the exertion of even slight pressure on the top of the closure, the

gasket may be forced to a greater or less extent downwardly on the sloping shoulder Hi, to create of air from the unoccupied'head space, the closure additional binding or holding ompr io One important feature of the constructionlis illustrated in Fig. 5. Where metal closure caps or shells are used for the sealing of sauces containing acids, such as vinegar, or various other- I the metal, with the result that dark colored oxides may be formed on the inner portions of the shell.

1 When this comes off on the'mouth of the receptacle, it forms a displeasing coloration and suggests that the contents may be contaminated.

Such abrasion or scratching of the lacquer inside the shells of closure caps is very likely to occur in the operation of applying or sealing the closures on the receptacles, if portions of the receptacle which enter the shell are permitted to rub against its inner surfaces. The present construction avoids the possibility of such abrasive contact of the receptacle mouth with the shell, by virtue of the fact that the gasket 24 extends inwardly a suificient distance to function as,a limiting buffer which will prevent the canting of the shell to a position where any part of the lip portion of the receptacle will contact the skirt of the shell. This is illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the "location of the closure in the maximum the farthest canted position in which the mouth can enter the shell is shown in dotted lines,

wherein it will be seen that the mouth portion cannot contact the shell skirt.

It will be ascertained from the foregoing that the package is of simple character and may be manufactured economically by customary procedure, and that the parts may be assembled and sealed together by means ofautomatic apparatus now quite extensively used in the packing industry.

It is also to be observed that the closure, or the receptacle, or both, may bemodified in form or in various other particulars without departing from the spirit or character of the invention.

What I claim is: Y

1. In a packing container, a receptacle having a mouth at its upper end and an approximately cylindrical peripheral sealing surface of substantial axial xtent spaced below its mouth and an annular lip portion of smaller external diameter than said cylindrical sealing surface extending upwardly from the latter to the mouth rim, the periphery of said receptacle being formed with an outwardly sloping shoulder between said lip portion and the upper extremity of said cylindrical sealing surface; and a closure cap shell having a top portion and a depending annular skirt formed with an approximately cylindrical upper part adapted to surround in spaced relation thereto said lip and sealing surface, and a downwardly flaring lower part below said cylindrical upper part; and a sleeve gasket of elastic-"sealing material extending upwardly in the shell in contracting form along the inner surface of the skirt with its upper end spaced from the top of the shell and its lower end fastened to the lower end of the skirt; the cylindrical part of the skirt being of depth sumcient to receive both the lip portion and a substantial area of "the sealing surface of the receptacle when the closure is fully seated on the receptacle, and the portion of the gasket within, the cylindrical part of the skirt being of lesser internal diameter than the exter-.

gasket, thereby frictionally securing the closure on the receptacle by the constrictive gripping action of the gasket and forming an hermetic seal between them; the lip portion of the receptacle being of diameter and height such as to pass freely through the orifice of the gasket into the cylindrical part of the shell and retain the closure against toppling off of the receptacle when it is resting loosely thereon with the gasket bearing on the sloping shoulder but out of sealing en- 4 gagement with the sealing surface.

2. In a packing container, a combination as specified in claim 1 and wherein the gasket is of thickness and height suflicient to prevent the inner surface of the shell skirt contacting the lip portion of the receptacle when the closure is in any canted position thereon.

- PHILIP OC. WHITE.

Patent No. 2,; 61;,6'78Q CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION- December 12, 19M. PHILIP o'c. WHITE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification :of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, first column 1111a 5., strike out the words "enter the shell" end insert instead -pass through the gasket"; andthet the said Letters Patent ehould be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. 1

Signed and sealed this 20m da'y orna'ren, A. 1). 191$.

Leslie Frazer (56,11) j Acting Commissions iot Patents

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