US2493814A

US2493814A - Automatic closure for collapsible tubes

Info

Publication number: US2493814A
Application number: US569325A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert E Groody
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-12-22
Filing date: 1944-12-22
Publication date: 1950-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 1967-01-10

Description

Jan. 10, 1950 Y A. E. GROODY 2,493,814

AUTOMATIC CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Dec. 22,. 1944 ALBEKI'EGR OODY,

. I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 10,1959

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Albert E. Groody, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 22, 1944, Serial No. 569,325

2 Claims.

This invention relates to self-closing tubes for use 'for tooth-pastes, creams and like materials. Broadly, it is an object of my invention to provide an inexpensiveclosure for a flexible tube so that the material within the tube, such as toothpaste and like materials can be easily squeezed from the tube by finger pressure and when the pressureds'released; thecap will automatically close in order to prevent any of the substance within the tube from emerging from the tube. a More particularly,it is an object of my invention to provide a two piece cap for flexible tubes used for' creams and the like which automatically closes upon the release of pressure.

A further object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive cap. .for flexible-tubes which will prevent air from entering intoth-etube at all times so that the material within the tube will not be affected;

A further object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive cap for flexible tubes so constructed-that upon manipulationof the cap, the cap will becomelocked to prevent any of the contentsof the tube from emerging from the tube even though pressure is applied.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of'my invention, reference is had to the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged vertical section taken through the upper portion of the tube along line l-l of Fig. 2, the rest of the tube being cut away.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the tube shown in Fig. 1, part of cap portion being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the tube shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a top view of a modified tube with part of the cap portion being partly broken away.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a modified cap.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, numeral ill represents the upper portion of the tube. A lateral channel is provided at the upper portion of the tube so that movable member l2 will slidably fit within said channel. A channel I3, communicating with the lateral channel, arcuate in shape, is provided to permit spring M to enter channel l3 when the cap is revolved counter-clockwise. A cap l5 has a ridge l6 which seats upon a similar ridge ll of the tube and has an opening it! in the top I l to permit the contents of the tube to emerge upon pressure upon the tube. The spring I4 is pressed from the material of the side 23 of the cap l5 although it may be attached to the cap by any well-known means.

The upper portion of the tube has a seat 19 to 2 permit the movable member l2 to slidably move laterally thereon. Spring l4 provides a pressure upon the back 20 of themovable member l2 so that upon pressure upon the tube the contents of the tube will press upon the curved face 21 of the movable member 12 and upon the curved inner portion 22 of the top of the tube thus forcing the movable member 12 rearwardly toward the side 23 against spring I4 and side 23 of the cap permitting the contents of the tube to emerge through the topopening [8 of the tube numeral l9 indicates the seat upon which the movable member I2 is seated and moves. The channel which is called-a lateral channel is the channel in which the-movable-member l2 slides, l 9 being the seat of said channel. In Figure 2, it will be seen that the movable memberslides reciprocably, as indicated by the doublearrow and the lateral channel in which movable member 12 slides communicates with the arcuate channel l3. The space between the seat l9 and the tube Hl provides a lateral channel just described. 2

Channel 13 has a wall 24 which acts as a stop for a spring 14 when the cap is revolved.

An indent 25 is provided in cap l5 having an inside face 26 which acts as a stop for the movable member l2, that is, upon turning the cap 15, the spring I4 will stop against stop- 24 of the arcuate channel It moving indent 25 so that the inside face 26 rests against the back of the movable member l2, thus efiectively stopping any movement of the member l2 and closing the opening 18 so that no material within the tube can emerge from the tube.

In travelling, it is always wise to turn the cap in order to lock the tube so that any pressure upon the sides of the tube will not cause the contents of the tube to emerge from the tube. In filling the tube, which is usually done through the bottom of the tube, the cap is turned so that it is in locked position, or when the cap is placed originally upon the tube, it may be placed in its locked position, that is, indent will be directly behind movable member I2 so that in filling the tube the material will not emerge through the opening id of the tube. When the tube is completely filled, the bottom of the tube is then closed by any well-known means.

The cap may be preferably made of metal, however, plastics and other like materials may be used and if plastics are used, of course, the spring member M can be attached to the plastic by eyelets or adhesive or other known means to provide pressure upon the movable member.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, a cap 39 3 is provided, preferably made of plastic which can be attached to the upper portion of the tube by a ridge 21. Cap 39 has an interior projection 38 to which spring 28 may be attached by bending prongs 29 fromthe material of the spring itself into channels within the face of projection 38, so that spring 28 is firmly held upon ridge 38. The free end of spring 28 being in contact with the back portionof movable' member30 provides the required pressure upon such movable member. There is an opening 3| provided at the top of the cap when the movable member 30 is in retracted position to permit the contents of the tube to emerge upon pressure, as described for Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. An arcuate channel 32 has a stop wall 33 at the end thereof so that when the cap 39 is revolved, the end 34 of the spring 28 will rest against the stop wall 33 of the 7 channel 32, bringing the projection 38 behind the movable member 30 so that the movable member 30 is effectively locked against movement, thus closing opening 3| against emergence of the material within the tube.

Upon applying pressure to any portion of the sides of the tube, the movable member 30 will move against the spring 28 thus permitting the material to pass through opening 3!. Instead of springs I4 and 28, a small rubber block may be used.

Fig. 5 is the same structure as the cap of Fig. I except that an interior thread 36 is used to attach cap 35 to the standard tube top 31. The same thread structure shown in Fig. 5 may be applied to the cap shown in Fig. 4.

It is obvious, that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construc- 7 tion without departing from the general spirit of :set forth in the appended 4 within said cap providing a stop for limiting the rotation of said cap, a projection within said cap, said projection acting as a stop for said movable member when said projection is moved behind said movable member, whereby when said filled tube is pressed the contents within said tube will cause said movable member to move against said spring pressure providing space for the contents to emerge through said opening in the top of said cap.

2. In combination with a collapsible tube, a rotatable cap having a top and a round side, means for rotatably attaching said cap to said tube, an opening in said top, a seat at the top of said tube providing a lateral channel between said seat and said top, a movable member slidably fitted within said channel, a projection on g the inside of said side of said cap for seating a spring, an arcuate channel communicating with said lateral channel within said cap, said spring projecting within said arcuate channel providing resilient means against said movablev member, the end of said spring acting as a stop against the end wall of said arcuate channel whereby when said cap is rotated counter-clockwise, said movable member is locked in its closed position and when said cap is rotated clockwise and the sides of said collapsible tube are pressed, the contents within said tube will cause said movable member to move against said spring to provide a space for the contents to emerge from said opening in top of said cap.

ALBERT E. GROODY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 859,898 Wolif July 9, 1907 1,123,989 Bryson Jan. 5, 1915 1,721,666 Lee July 23, 1929 1,881,488 Gleason Oct. 11, 1932 1,905,936 Heard Apr. 25, 1933 1,922,204 Johnson Aug. 15, 1933 2,011,742 Weber Aug. 20, 1935