US2627994A - Closure - Google Patents

Description

K. W. BINDING Feb. 1o, 1953 CLOSURE '5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 20, 1949 Feb. 10, 1953 K. w. BINDING 2,627,994

CLOSURE Filed Aug. 20, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 wily K. W. BINDING Feb. l0, 1953 CLOSURE 5 sheets-sheet :5

Filed Aug. 2Q, 1949 Patented Feb. 10, 1953 CLOSURE Kenneth W. Binding, Medford, Mass., assignor to Market Forge Company, Everett, Mass., a corporation oi' Massachusetts Application August 20, 1949, Serial No. 111,475

(Cl. 22o-25) Claims.

This invention relates to doors or closures for containers and more particularly to an internal closure for use in pressure cookers, sterilizers and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a closure of the character described which is simple to operate by even the most inexperienced operator and which at the same time insures an a-ccurate and eiective sealing of the container at each closing operation with a minimum requirement of effort yand care on the part of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure which may be effortlessly unlocked to parti-ally opened position after the cooking operation has been completed and before the contain-er has been completely vented of steam, thereby to speed up production, and which at the same time insures maximum protection to the operator from steam burns.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure which can be readily opened to fully opened position with adequate protection to the operator in spite oi the presence of heat and steam and which also completely eliminates any Idanger of inadvertent or accidental premature closing of the closure upon the operators hand or arm.

Still another object of the invention is to p-rovide a closure of the charac-ter described which makes possible ready access to substantially the `whole interior of the container and which at the same tim-e when fully opened may be accommodated within the container out of the Way of the path oi access to the interior.

Further objects of the invention are to provi-de a closure of simple, durable an-d light construction having a minimum of parts within the container and which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

In one aspect the invention involves in combination, in a container having anaperture in its wall, a movable-internal closure, a carrier within th-e container operative to move lthe closure to a fully opened position within the container out ci registry With the aperture, the carrier being fast to the closure for supporting the closure 'with its marginal portion in registry with the margin of the aperture While in either a closed position or a partially opened position wherein one part of mally operative resiliently to maintain the closure in said partially opened position, and means for locking the closure in closed position against the stress of sai-d resilient part. The locking means are on the outer face oi the closure adjacent the said one part of the marginal portion and are independent of the carrier. Said locking means comprise an arm connected at one end on the outer face of the closure, a fulcrum adjacent the said one part of the marginal portion of the closure and a cam lever pivotally mounted at the opposite end of the arm releasably engageable with a cam roll mounted on the wall of the container, whereby pivotal movement of the cam lever in one direction will tilt the arm about the fulcrum to force and lock the closure in closed position against the stress of said resilient part. A movable pin releasably and pivotally connects the arm adjacent one end on the outer face of the closure and an adjustment member on the arm is engageable with the fulcrum.

In another aspect the carrier is pivotally mounted within the container and resilient means interconnect the container and carrier normally operative to urge the closure to fully opened position when the closure is moved from partially opened position toward fully opened position and to resiliently maintain the closure in said fully opened position.

In a more specic aspect the invention involves a U-shaped carrier pivotally connected adjacent the end of its legs to opposite walls of the container, the base of the carrier being resilient. The resilient means comprise a pair of springs, each spring of the pair interconnect-ing one leg of the carrier and an .adjacent Wall of the container.

In vstill another :aspect the invention involves, in a cylinder having an aperture in an end Wall of substantially the diameter of the` cylinder, a movable internal closure, a carrier within the container operative to move the closure to a fully opened position within the cylinder out of registry with the aperture an-d juxtaposed to a side wall of the cylinder said side wall having spaced outwardly protruding bulges to accommodate the opposed ends of the closure.

For the purpose of illustration one embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section along the lines 2-2 of Fig. l with Iparts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing th-e closure in closed position; and

the container, the inside margin of the end wall which defines the aperture constituting a seat for the marginal portion 6, including .a

marginal gasket, of a preferably dome-shaped plate-like closure member i when k,the lclosure is in the fully closed position shown in Fig. 2.

The closure is supported bya carrier 8 within the container with its marginal portion 6 in registry with the margin 5 of the end wall4 while in either said closed position or the partially opened position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, wherein the lower part of the marginal portion is in engagement V.with the adjacent margin '5 of lthe end wall yand the upper lpart is in spaced relation to its adjacent margin A5.

The .carrier '8 is of U-shaped construction and comprises relatively rigid spaced legs -9 and lil pivotally secured adjacent their free ends to opposite side walls of the container by Asuitable means las pivot pins .9c 'and 'Hic screwed into studs il iast .to vthe side wall of the container,

and a relatively flexible resilient base i2. mounted intermediate its ends to the closure 'I by screws i3 so as normally to resiliently `Support the closure in said partially opened position. Movement ot the carrier upwardly about its pivot pins causes the .closure to be' carried upwardly from the partially opened position to the fully opened position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2 out of registry with the aperture 4 and juxtaposed to the side wall 2, said side wall being formed adjacent the end wall 3 with spaced outwardly protruding `bulges 'I4 to provide recesses for accommodating the opposite ends I5 vand it of the .closure L U-shaliied springs kligand i8 are connected at one end `l9 to carrier legs 9 and 'IU respectively, adjacent their pivot vpins 9a and Ica, and at the opposite end 2li to studsjzl fast to the side wall of the containerJY the springs being so constructed vand arranged .as to exert a pinching force on the carrier legs after an initial movement of the closure from partially opened position toward fully opened position. ythereby to urge the closure to fully opened position and resiliently to maintain the closure in such position against inadvertent or accidental premature closing thereof.

'Mounted on 'the outer face of the closure member l by screws 'I3 'is a lU -shaped bracket member 22 having outwardly extending legs 23 and 24 to which is pivotally mounted one end of yan elongate shell-like larm `25 by suitable means as a pivot -pin 25. The arm thence extends downwardly over an outwardly projecting fulcrum 2l fast to the outer face yof the margin of the end wall adjacent `the point `where .the lower part of the marginal portion of the closure is in engagement with the mar-gin 5 when lthe closure is in partially opened position.

A cam lever 28 having a. handle 29 at one end and a forked member at the opposite end is pivotally mounted adjacent the end of one finger 3() of the forked member to the Yopposite end of arm 25 by a pivot pin 3i. The inner edge of the other finger 3210i the forked member is concave in shape constituting a cam face 33. Down- 4 ward movement of the handle 29 when the clo= sure is in the partially opened position causes the cam lever to pivot about pin 3l to move the cam face into engagement with a cam roll 3d pivotally mounted on a U-shaped support fast to the end wall of the container and projecting outwardly into the path of movement oi the finger 32 as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2. During this time an adjustment member .comprising an inclined plate 36 adjust-.ably

` mounted on a projecting boss 31 within the arm '25 and intermediate its ends by suitable means as set screws 38 passing through elongate slots 3i? in the plate is in engagement with the fulcrum 2i.

Continued engagement of the cam face with the `earn roll as the handle is moved further downwardly urges the said opposite end of the arm 25 inwardly toward the container causing the arm to tilt about the fulcrum forcing the end ofthe arm connected to the closure to move outu wardly away from trie container which, in turn, forces the remaining marginal portion Soz" .the closure which is out of engagement with the margin 5 to seat in fully closed position against the stress of the resilient base 12 of the carrier. Continued downward 'movement of the handle causes the roll 3d to seat at the base of the forked nngers, as shown in full line in Fig. 2, thereby to lock the closure in fully closed position.

Preferably a butter gasket M is mounted at the inner edge of the margin 5 to engage the outer surface of arm -Z when the closure member is in fully opened position.

The pivot vpin 26l for pivota'lly mounting the arm 25 .to bracket member 22 is provided at one end with'an enlarged head 42 accommodated in an opening 43 provided in one side of the arm. The shank of the pin thence extends through openings in the legs 23 and 24 of the bracket member 22 and a further opening in the opposite side of the arm and is resiliently held in this position by means `of the force normally exerted by a coiled spring 44 *fast at one end to the shank of the pin intermediate the legs 23 and 24 and abutting the inner face of the leg 23 at the opposite end. 'To release'the arm and associated parts from the bracket for cleaning purposes the end of the pin having the enlarged head is 'pulled outwardly against the pressure of the springend away from leg 23 until said enlarged portion is beyond the opening 43 at which time the opposite end of the pin has passed through the opening in the opposite side of the arm to release the same. The arm may then be wholly disengaged from the pin by pulling the one side of the arm outwardly through a slot E interconnecting the opening 43 with the outer edge of the side of the arm, the slot being of a slightly'larger diameter than the shank of the pin.

To unlock and open the container at the end of a cooking operation the :operator need not wait until the container is fullyy vented of steam.

through a venting port (not shown), but merely swings the Vhandle upwardly into the position shown in -dot and dash lines in Fig. 2 which pivots the cam face .33 about the cam `roll 35, thereby relieving the leverage which has forced the end of the arm connected to the' closure outwardly from the container. When the steam pressure within the container is reduced sufiiciently to be overcome by the vopposing force exerted by the stressed resilient base of the carrier, the latter force Will snap the closure open to the partially opened position permitting the remaining steam within the container to vent through the space between the upper part of the marginal portion of the closure and its adjacent margin 5 remote from the operators hand should he be holding the handle 29 at that time. The operator then merely disengages the cam face from the cam roll by a slight upward swing of the handle at the same time imparting to the arm a slight upward movement which movement is transmitted through the closure to the carrier |2 causing the springs I8 and I9 to exert their pinching force to urge the carrier and closure to the fully opened position within the container without further eiort or necessity of control on the part of the operator.

When ready for a new cooking operation, the operator merely grasps the handle and returns the closure to the partially opened position against the resiliency of the springs I8 and I9. As the closure approaches the partially opened position the inclined plate 36 of the adjustment member engages the fulcrum 21 which causes the arm to be forced slightly outwardly which in turn assists in forcing the lower part of the marginal portion 6 of the closure into seating engagement with the adjacent part of the margin 5. The closure is then closed and locked in closed position in the manner already above described.

To compensate for wear in the closure parts or slight variances in the dimensions of the parts in manufacture the inclined plate 35 may be adjusted longitudinally of the arm in the direction of the cam lever 28 by means of slots 39 and set screws 38, thereby to increase the extent to which the end of the arm connected to the closure may be urged outwardly away from the container.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that the invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In combination, in a container having an aperture in its Wall, a movable internal closure, a carrier within the container operative to move the closure to a fully opened position within the container out of registry with the aperture, the carrier being fast to the closure and supporting the closure with its marginal portion in registry with the margin of the aperture while in either a closed position or a partially opened position with one part of the marginal portion thereof in engagement with the margin of the aperture and the opposite part of the marginal portion in spaced relation thereto, the carrier having a resilient part normally operative resiliently to urge the closure toward said partially opened position within the container, and means connected to the closure for locking the closure in closed position against the stress of said reslient part.

2. In combination, in a container having an aperture in its wall, a movable internal closure, a carrier pivotally mounted within the container operative to move the closure to a fully opened position within the container out of registry with the aperture, the carrier being fast to the closure and supporting the closure with its marginal portion in registry with the margin of the aperture while in either a closed position or a partially opened position With one part of the marginal portion thereof in engagement with the margin of the aperture and the opposite part of the marginal portion in spaced relation thereto, re-

silient means interconnecting the container and carrier normally operative to urge the closure to fully open position when the closure is moved from said partially opened position toward fully opened position and to resiliently maintain the closure in said fully opened position, the carrier having a resilient part normally operative resiliently to urge the closure toward said partially opened position, and means connected to the closure for locking the closure in closed position within the container against the stress of said resilient part.

3. In combination, in a container having an aperture in its Wall, a movable internal closure, a U-shaped carrier within the container pivotally connected adjacent the ends of its legs to opposite walls of the container and operative to move the closure to a fully opened position within the container out of registry with the aperture, the base of the carrier being resilient and fast to the closure and supporting the closure with its marginal portion in registry with the margin of the aperture while in either a closed position or a partially opened position with one part of the marginal portion thereof in engagement With the margin of the aperture and th-e opposite part of the marginal portion in spaced relation thereto, and normally operative resiliently to urge the closure toward said partially opened position, and means connected to the closure for locking the closure in closed position within the container against the stress of said resilient base.

4. In combination, in a container having an aperture in its Wall, a movable internal closure, a U-shaped carrier within the container pivotally connected adjacent the ends of its legs to opposite Walls of the container and operative to move the closure to a fully opened position within the container out of registry with the aperture, the base of the carrier being resilient and fast to the closure and supporting the closure with its marginal portion in registry with the margin of the aperture while in either a closed position or a partially opened position with one part of the marginal portion thereof in engagement with the margin of the aperture and the opposite part of the marginal portion in spaced relation thereto, and normally operative resiliently to urge the closure toward said partially opened position within the container, a pair of springs each spring of the pair interconnecting one leg of the carrier and an adjacent wall of the container and n-ormally operative to urge the closure to fully opened position when the closure is moved from said partially opened position toward fully opened position and to resiliently maintain the closure in said fully opened position, and means connected to the closure for locking the closure in Ilclosed position against the stress of said resilient ase.

5. In combination, in a container of substantially cylindrical shape having an aperture in an end wall :of substantially the diameter of the container, a movable internal closure, a carrier within the container operative to move the closure to a fully opened position within the container out of registry with the aperture and juxtaposed to a side wall of the container, said side wall having spaced outwardly protruding bulges to accommodate the opposed ends of the closure which ends would normally engage the side walls except for said bulges, the carrier being fast to the closure and supporting the closure with its marginal portion in registry with the margin of the aperture while in either a closed position or a partially opened position with one part of the marginal portion thereof in engagement with the margin of the aperture and the opposite part of the mara ginel portion in spaced relation thereto, the ce1'-4 rier Vhaving e, resilient part normaly operatieve resliently to urge the closure toward saidper tially opened position within the container, and means connected to the closure for looking the closure in closed position against the stifess of said resilient part.

KENNETH W. INDING.

REFERENCES CITED Number Y 254,872 Saez?? 321,152

Great Bru-,em .-3 .e bet- 25, '1929

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