US2576580A

US2576580A - Bottle cap

Info

Publication number: US2576580A
Application number: US60359A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert G Edwards
Original assignee: MERO CO Inc
Current assignee: MERO CO Inc
Priority date: 1948-11-16
Filing date: 1948-11-16
Publication date: 1951-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 1968-11-27

Description

Nov. 27, 1951 A. G. EDWARDS BOTTLE CAP Filed Nov. 16, 1948 INV'ENTOR A Z berg! G..E'dwa rds ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE CAP Albert G. Edwards, Diamond Springs, Calif., assignor to Mero Co. Inc., Modesto, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 16, 1948, Serial No. 60,359

7 Claims. (01. 215-45) The cap is especially useful for bottles having carbonated beverages or the like therein. I Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a novel bottle cap which can be placed on, or. removed from, a bottle with ease and by hand; the cap, when in place, effectively and positively sealing the bottle against fluid leakage.

A further object of the invention is to provid a bottle cap which can be manufactured eco-' nomically, and mainly of plastic, by reason of its simple design. f f An additional object of the invention is to provide a bottle cap which is attractive in appearance, and of a convenient size for read manipulation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a bottle cap which includes a novel combination of a sealing gasket, locking fingers, gasket clamp? ing dome, and a retention and actuating ring. A further object of the invention is to provide a practical bottle cap, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged plan view of the novel Fig. is a cross section on line 5-5 of Fig. Fig. 6 is aperspective view of one of the locking fingers, detached.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the novel bottlecap; comprises a circular sealing gasket l of substantial thickness, and of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the bead; 2 on the upper end of the neck 3 of a conventional" bottle for beverages or the like. This sealing gasket is of a heavy-duty, resilient material, such as rubber.

A gasket clamping dome 4 is seated on top ofthe sealing gasket I, and said dome includes, at its lower end, an annular, radially outwardly extending flange 5, which flange 5 projects beyond the periphery of said sealing gasket I. At a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced points, the flange 5 is increased in height, where by to form integral segmental spacers 6.

Each portion of the flange 5 is fitted, between the adjacent spacers 6, with a locking finger,

indicated generally at 1, which is constructed and mounted as follows:

Each locking finger comprisesan arcuate head 8 having an inwardly opening, arcuate notch The outer edge of each locking finger I is inclined downwardly and outwardly to form a cam ID, and above said cam the outer end bottom portion of the head 8 forms a downwardly facing shoulder ll. At the lower end of each locking finger 1, and below the cam l0, there is an outwardly projecting stop lug i2. The inner edge of each locking finger I is formed, intermediate its ends, with an inwardly projecting nub l3 disposed some distance below the bottom of the sealing gasket l.

Directly below each notch 9, the inner edge of the locking finger 1 abuts firmly against the periphery of the sealing gasket l.

The locking fingers I, as circumferentially.

spaced about the dome 4, with the notched heads 8 engaging over corresponding portions of the flanges 5, are retained in place by a retention and actuating ring which surrounds the assembly, with the inner surface of such ring bearingagainst the outside of the heads 8.

The retention and actuating ring l4 includes, at the bottom, an annular, radially inwardly projecting flange l5, of short extent, which engages beneath the shoulders of said locking fingers I.

Skirts l6 depend from the portions of the flange 5 which form the spacers 6, whereby said depending skirts l6, which are arcuate, extend between adjacent ones of the locking fingers 1.

The assembled cap, when released, has the parts thereof in the positions indicated in Fig. 3,

wherein the shoulders ll of the locking fingers 1 rest on top of the flange l5, and'at which time the locking fingers 1 are spaced apart sufficient 3 to permit the cap to be engaged easily on the upper end of the neck 3 of a bottle, and for the nubs l3 to pass downwardly below the bead 2 of said neck 3. See Fig. 3. Thereafter, the retention and actuating ring I4 is manually grasped and pressed downward so that the flange l5 lowers with respect to the locking fingers I. When this occurs, the flange riding the cam edges l0, which incline downwardly and outwardly, causes the locking fingers to be swung inwardly so that the nubs i3 grip under the bead 2 of the: bottle neck 3 in the manner indicated in Fig.v 4.

This efiectively locks the cap in place on the neck of the bottle, and at the same time places'the sealing gasket l under compression betweenthe clamping dome 2 and said bead 2, sealing the bottle against fluid escape. The sealing gasket lis. placed under compression by reason of downwardly and inwardly inclined cam edges H- on the inside of said fingers above the nubs 13; such cam edges riding under the roundedbead 2, whereby the fingers are pulled downwardly to compress the gasket. y

The notches 9 receive the corresponding portions. of the flange 5 with suflicient' loose play topermit the locking fingers'to swing inwardly, as

above.

The stop lugs t2 assure that the retention and, actuating ring 14 cannot be slid downward off the locking fingers l, while-the shoulders ll prevent upward escape of said ring.

To release the cap, it is only necessary to slide the ring M relatively upwardly, whereupon the locking fingers l are sprung outwardly by thecomp'ressed sealing gasket l, and to a position wherein the nubs 13 can readily pass the bead 2 i. e. the starting position of the-cap, as in Fig; 3.

The skirts 16, which depend between the locking fingers l, prevent any splashing orsquirting laterally of the cap at the instant of its release 7 from the bottle neck.

Itwill benoted that gasket I includes depending skirts 18 matching and'lapping skirts [6 as clearly shown in Fig. 5. These skirts l8 enhance the. sealing action of the gasket andpositively prevent any of the beverage in. the capped bottle from splashing out andentering the-working parts of the device. w

The-above described bottle. cap-is a device which is simple in its construction, economical. tomanu facture and yet extremely practical and convenient for its intended purpose. 1

From the foregoing description it-wi-ll be readily seen thatthere has" been produced a devicethat substantially fulfills the objects-of theinvention, asset forth herein. V

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and-preferred construction of the device,v still in practice such deviations-from such detail may be resorted, to as do. not form a departure from the spirit of. the invention, as defined by the appended claims. 4

Having thus described the invention,. the following is claimed as new and. useful and upon: which Letters Patent are desiredi y 1. A bottle cap comprising a circular sealing gasket, a clampingmember seatedon the sealing gasket, a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking fingerslooselymounted on the clampingv member at the periphery and depending there-1 fromabout the sealing gasket, said fingers having nubs projecting inward therefrom in spaced relation below the sealing gasket, a ring normally surrounding the locking fingersforwrela ward upon relative downward motion of said ring; the fingers including heads on their upper end, the heads being within the ring and having inwardly opening notches, and the clamping member engaging at its periphery in said notches.

2. A bottle cap comprising a circular sealing gasket, a clamping dome seated on the sealing gasket, a plurality of circumferentially'fispaced locking fingers loosely mounted on the dome at the periphery and depending therefrom about the sealing gasket, said fingers having nubs projecting inward therefrom in spaced relation below the sealing gasket, a ring normally surrounding the locking fingers for relative up and down motion, and-means between the fingers and ring arranged tourge the fingers inward upon relative downward motion. of said ring; the dome includtiye up and downmotion, and meansbetween the,

fingers and ring arranged to urge the fingers in ing a radially outwardly projecting flange at the bottom, the upper portions of the fingers being notched and receiving said flange therein.

3; A bottle. cap comprising a circularsealing gasket; av clamping 'dome: seated on the sealing gasket; a plurality of 'circumferentially spaced locking fingers loosely mounted. on the dome at the periphery and. depending therefrom about the sealingigasket,saidlfingers having nubs projecting inward therefrom'in spaced relation below the sealing gasket, a ring normally surrounding. the locking fingers for relative up and down motion, and means between the-fingers and ring'arranged. to urge the fingers, inward upon. relative downward motion of said. ring; the dome including a radially outwardly projecting flange at the: bottom, the upper portions of the fingers being: notched and receiving said flange therein, and the fingers bearing against the periphery of the sealing gasket, the latter being of compressible ma terial. 1

4. A bottle cap comprising; a circular" sealing: gasket of compressible material, a clamping; dome seated on the sealing, gasket, the dome including a radially outwardly proiecting annularfiange at its: lower end extending beyond the periphery of the gasket, a plurality of circumferentially' spaced locking fingersabout and depending below the gasket, said fingers including heads on their upper end" notched-and engaging ever the. flange on the clamping dome, nubs projecting inward from the fingers-in spaced relation belowthe gasket, an; actuating and retention ring. surrounding the fingers, the heads; on the fingers forming,

5. A bottle cap'comprising a circular seal-ing gasket: of compressible material, a clamping dome seated onthe sealing gasket, thedome," including a-radially outwardly projecting annular flange at its lower end extending beyond the periphery-of the gasket, a plurality of circumferentially-spaced locking fingers about and depending below the gasket, said fingers including heads ontheir uppfir end notched and engagingover the flange on. the clamping. dome, nubs projecting inward from the fingers in spaced relation below the gasket, anactuating and retention. ring surroundingv the finger s, the. heads on the fingers forming downwardly facing outside shoulders, afra'dially inwardly projecting flange on the-ring, below and initially engagedby 's aidshoul ders, and down.- w'a y and outwardly inclined cam edges on the.

outside of the fingers belowsaid shoulders where? by the flange on the ring, when relatively lowered,

rides said cam edges and urges the fingers inwardly.

6. A bottle cap comprising a circular sealing gasket of compressible material, a clamping dome seated on the sealing gasket, the dome including a radially outwardly projecting annular flange at its lower end extending beyond the periphery of the gasket, a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking fingers about and depending below the gasket, said fingers including heads on their upper end notched and engaging over the flange on the clamping dome, nubs projecting inward from the fingers in spaced relation below the gasket, an actuating and retention ring surrounding the fingers, the heads on the fingers forming downwardly facing outside shoulders, a radially inwardly projecting flange on the ring below and initially engaged by said shoulders, and means between said flange and fingers operative to urge the latter inward upon relative downward motion of the ring; the flange on the clamping dome being increased in thickness between the heads so as to maintain proper circumferential spacing of the fingers.

'7. A bottle cap comprising a circular sealing gasket of compressible material, a clamping dome seated on the sealing gasket, the dome including a radially outwardly projecting annular flange at its lower end extending beyond the periphery of the gasket, a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking fingers about and depending below the gasket, said fingers including heads on their upper end notched and engaging over the flange on the clamping dome, nubs projecting inward from the fingers in spaced relation below the gasket, an actuating and retention ring surrounding the fingers, the heads on the fingers forming downwardly facing outside shoulders, a radially inwardly projecting flange on the ring below and initially engaged by said shoulders, and downwardly and outwardly inclined cam edges on the outside of the fingers below said shoulders whereby the flange on the ring, when relatively lowered, rides said cam edges and urges the fingers inwardly; there being downwardly and inwardly inclined cam edges on the inner edge of the fingers above the nubs but below the gasket.

ALBERT G. EDWARDS.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 835,366 Purcell Nov. 6, 1906 1,441,742 OBrien Jan. 9, 1923 1,545,227 Baltzley July 7, 1925 1,862,620 Graham June 14, 1932 2,045,480 Magnesen et al June 23, 1936 2,421,356 Saffady May 2'7, 1947 2,439,845 DeSwart Apr. 20, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 446,612 Great Britain May 4, 1936