US2649227A - Container for liquids and semiliquids - Google Patents

Description

Aug, 18, 1953 H. a. VAUGHN 2,649,227

CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS AND SEMILIQUIDS Filed March 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lana: swun- Kenna-.0?

:: I a I INVENTOR.

6 1 6a 2 flnma 6M Vnz/alm 4 7, new

4a 4 5 Arman/E7 z- 18, 1953 H. G. VAUGHN I 2,649,227

' CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS A ND SEMILIQUIDS Filed March 23, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. HAROLD 64m M uamv 47' ra/ews v Patented Aug. 18,1953

CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS AND SEMILIQUIDS Harold Gar Vaughn, Warren, l1io, assignor to The Ohio Corrugating Company, Warren, Ohio,

a. corporation of Ohio Application March 23, 1951, Serial N 0. 217,100

8 Claims. (Cl. 222-539) This'invention relates to containers for liquids and/or semi-liquids, more particularly to the closure therefor wherein means are provided for insuring sealing when the container is filled with a suitable material, so that the container may be handled and shipped to the user devoid of danger of leakage and unauthorized tampering with the container contents.

In containers, of which I'have knowledge, various forms of sealing devices have been employed; for example, (I) a section of flexible wire was threaded through embossments or lugs on the closing cap or screw threaded plug and one or more lugs fixed to the container wall, bung ring thereon or other part of the container, the ends of the wire being secured together by a lead slug, which arrangement (a) involved extra labor and expense and in many instances prevented storing of the containers in stacked relation, and (b) was employed solely to prevent an unauthorized person from gaining access to the container contents and II) the closing cap or screw threaded plug was enclosed by a cup-shaped member, capable of being deformed to detect tampering therewith, in which arrangement the periphery of the cupshaped member was exposed and capable of being engaged by a tool (such as a screw driver) and pried off and replaced in a manner that avoided detection.

' The sealing means herein disclosed includes a pair of members having interrelated annular sealing walls effective to prevent leakage.

This invention comprises a seal for a container to prevent leakage of material therefrom, one member of the seal consisting, of a member requiring. deformation to gain access to the container; accordingly, access to the container or tampering with the seal by an unauthorized person is readily detected.

The invention also includes a construction having a combined sealing and detectable member and a closure device arranged to protect the member against damage during handling and shipment of the container. The invention also includes a sealing means within an outer or exterior closure member and incorporated with and providing a gasket seat for a reversible spout, whereby the discharge opening around the spout is sealed when the latter is in an operative or pouring position.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved closure having therewithin means which seal the container and detect unauthorized access thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved container closure having asealing and deformable means and a closure member the walls of which are arranged to protect the sealing and deformable means against damage due to handling and shippingof the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved container sealing means consisting of a pair of members having annular, complementary walls disposed in fixed relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sealing means for the discharge opening of a container and consistingof a member having an embossed annulus and a removable deformable disk the periphery of which is provided with an annular wall complementary to and seated in the annulus and adapted to seal the container, the outer side wall of the annulus extending outwardly of said annular wall to preventtampering with the'latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combined closure and sealing means for the discharge opening'of a container, wherein one element of the sealing means is provided with a wall forming a seat for a spout.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sealed closure and discharge means forthe discharge opening of a container, consisting of a collar mounted in said opening, a reversible spout, a support within the collar for the spout when the latter is in non-pouring or pouring position, an annular closure device for securing the spout on the support and a removable deformable disk for closing said collar when the spout is in non-pourin position, the marginal portion ofthe disk and collar having interrelated annular walls to provide a leak-proof and tamperproof seal for the discharge opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved combined sealing and detachable means forthe discharge opening of a container of simple and economical construction and capable of being readily positioned.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is'a fragmentary View showing in section on the line l! of Fig. 2 a portion oi'a container and a closure therefor embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view on the line 2'--21of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3' is a plan view, parts being broken away; taken onthe line 3'3'of Fig. 4a;

Fig. i is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified form of construction;

Fig; 4a; is a view similar to Fig. 1,somewhat enlarged, but showing in section the modified form of construction, the partsbeing in the position they occupy when the container is filled ready for shipment to a user;

Fig. lb-is a section similar to Fig. 4a, but showtherefor removed;

Fig. is a fragmentary section of parts shown in Fig. 4a,, enlarged;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4a, but showing another modified form of construction;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view on the line 11 of Fig. 6, parts being broken away; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section of the parts shown in Figs. 6 and 7, but showing the spout in pouring position.

In the drawings, referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, l indicates as an entirety .a container comprising a body having a side wall I (preferably of cylindrical shape in cross section) and a top or :head 2, which may be permanently secured to the side wall I by welding, soldering, double seaming or otherwise; but in the construction shown for illustrative purposes the side wall I is provided with a false bead la and the top 2 has a peripheral flange 2' engaging a suitable gasket 2m and terminating in lugs 3 which are bent by hand, a suitable tool or a machine inwardly around, into engagement with and under the false bead, with the gasket 23!: between the flange and bead, to seal and removably secure the top in position.

The top 2 is formed with an emptying or discharge opening 2a, in which the inner end of a collar 4 is fixedly mounted (as later set forth), adjacent the flange 2 at one side of the top 2. By preference that portion of the top wall in which the collar 4 is mounted is embossed downwardly and outwardly, as shown at 2b, so that the axis of the collar 4 extends at a right angle to the wall 21) to facilitate pouring of the container contents.

This arrangement enables the closure parts, when the latter are in the position they occupy after the container is filled ready for shipment, to be below or within the plane of the top flange 2', as shown in Fig. '1. By preference, the inner end of the collar is provided with a flange 4a, which and the marginal wall of the opening 2a are interconnected in fixed relation in a well known manner. The side wall of the collar 4 is embossed to provide screw threads 4b, which are engaged by the screw threaded side wall of an annular closure device 5. The upper end of the collar is provided with an inwardly extendin annulus 6 the intermediate portion of which,

throughout its circumference, is embossed to form a recess 6a of U-shape in cross section. The outer side 6' of the recess 6a is preferably somewhat longer than the inner side thereof, to dispose the recess below the top of the collar, for a purpose later set forth. The inner side 6b of the recess 6a is extended throughout its circumference parallelly to the embossed wall 2b, as shown at 61) and serves to reinforce the walls of the recess 6a.

8 indicates a combined sealing and detectable member consisting of a removable disk formed of relatively thin resilient material and capable of being deformed. The member 8 is provided with a peripheral depending flange 8a terminating in an annular sealing element 81) of U-shape in cross section complementary to the sides and bottom of and seated in the recess 6a, to provide a seal therebetween and prevent leakage from the container through the collar 4.

The walls of the sealing element 812 have a pressed-in engagement with the side and bottom seal without the use of a gasket, and as the side wall 6' of the recess 6a extends outwardly beyond the sealing element 812, the outer peripheral edge of the latter cannot be engaged by a. pointed tool or other device and pried out, except by deforming the element 8b and/or the member 8, the effect of which is to indicate access to the container. As shown, the top wall 5a of the annular closure device 5 extends inwardly beyond the annular sealing element 81), its inner marginal portion being embossed inwardly, as shown at 51), which embossed portion is arranged to engage the sealing member 8 under pressure when the closure device 5 is threaded on the collar 4 and tightened in position. It will be observed that when the closure device 5 is in tightened position, its top wall 5a, outwardly of the marginal portion 5b, is spaced from the upper end of the collar 4 and the U-shaped sealing walls 6a, 8b. In view of this arrangement, knocks, which may be incident to handling of the container, will be resisted by the side and top walls of the device 5, so as to protect the seal from damage with resulting leakage of the container contents.

Referring to Figs. 4, 4a, 4b and 5 (wherein parts similar to like parts identified in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, are indicated by the same reference character, respectively) 211: indicates a pouring spout, preferably of conical shape, its outer end portion being embossed to provide screw threads [0 for the screw threaded side walls ll of a cap Ila, whereby the cap I la is conveniently supported on the spout 2r when the latter is in its reversed position, that is, in inoperative position (Fig. 4a). On the other hand, the cap I la provides a closure for the spout 211: when it is in pouring position between pouring operations and therefore reversal of the spout and reassembly of the parts are eliminated after each pouring operation. The inlet end of the spout 2.1: is provided with a flange 9 the opposite faces of which are provided with gaskets 9a, 9b. As shown in Fig. 4b, when the spout is disposed in pouring position, its flange 9 is positioned on the wall 6b and then the closure device 5 is screwed on the collar 4 and tightened until the embossment 5b engages the spout flange and secures it to the wall 6b. By preference the opening formed by the top wall of the closure member 5 is sized to engage the wall of the spout adjacent its flange 9, so that when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 4b, the spout flange 9 is alined throughout its circumference with the wall 6b and therefore the spout is axially related to the collar 4.

Following the filling of the container I, the spout 2m, with cap Ila thereon, is reversed and projected into the container with the gasket 9b seated on the annular wall or seat 6?), next the sealing member 8 is positioned with its sealing element 8b in pressed-in relation with inner walls of the recess 6a to seal the discharge opening through the collar 4. and finally the annular closure device 5 is threaded on the collar 4 and tightened in final position with the embossment 5b engaging the disk 8 under pressure.

As already set forth, the top wall 5a of the closure device is in spaced relation to and spans the sealing elements constituting the walls of the recess Ba and U-shaped element 8b and the marginal portion 5?) is embossed inwardly into engagement with the combined sealing and detectable member 8. The embossment 5b and side wall 50 of the device 5 reinforce the top wall 511, whereby the top wall adequately resists knocks and blows incident to handling without affecting the relationship of the walls of the recess 5a and element 8b. The inner side wall of the sealing element 8b is of a length to spacedly dispose the member 8 relative to the seat 6b to accommodate the spout flange 9 and gaskets 9a, 9b, thereon, so that the pressure applied by the embossment 5b on the disk 3 is utilized to secure the spout flange on the seat 6b.

To effect a pouring operation, the closure device 5 and disk 8. are removed, the spout Ex is removed and positioned in pouring position on the seat 5b, as shown in Fig. 4b, the device 5 is replaced and tightened so that the embossment 51) engages the gasket 9h under pressure to effect a pressure engagement between the gasket 9a and seat 6b and finally the, cap Ha is removed.

From the foregoing description it is to be noted that provision is made initially to seal the'container without the employment of a gasket after the container is filled ready for delivery to a user; that the sealing means are disposed between a deformable member and a collar on the container wail forming the discharge outlet for the container, and mounted within the. external closure device 5; and that the external closure device is shaped and arranged to resist externally applied forces without affecting the effectiveness of the sealing means during handling.

It is also to be noted that one element of the sealing means to prevent leakage is capable of deformation and is utilized to detect access to the containercontents, so that tampering by an unauthorized person is effectively indicated. As this sealing element consists of a disk and readily positioned, the construction and ease of assembly is simplified.

Figs. 6, l and 8 illustrate a modified form of construction wherein separate sealing devices are rovided to form an auxiliary seal, these devices also serving to protect the deformable disk against deformation and the sealing means against distortion, due to blows thereon or accidents in handling and transportation of the container and thus eliminate danger of leakag therefrom.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8, I2 indicates as an entirety a container comprising a body'having side walls IZa and a top or head me, which may be secured to the side walls I2a as already set forth.

The top I2?) is formed with an emptying or discharge opening iii, in which the inner end of a collar Isa is fixedly mounted (as already set forth) adjacent the flange 2 at one side of the top I22). By preference that portion of the top wall in which the collar I3a is mounted is embossed downwardly and outwardly, as v shown at 21) so that the axis of the collar I3a extends at a right angle to the inclined portion I21) of the wall I222. I290 indicates a closure device having an annular top wall IZr', the device i2a: being similar in construction to the device 5 hereinbefore referred to.

The side wall of the collar I3a is embossed to provide screw threads, which are engaged by the screw threaded side wall of an annular closure device I200. The upper end of the collar Eta is provided with an inwardly extending annulus, which, throughout its circumference, is embossed to provide a downwardly extending side wall I5 and an inwardly extending annular support 1 5a disposed parallel to the embossed wall I212 to provide a seat for a flange It provided on theinlet end of the spout I6a-.

I'l indicates a combined sealing and deformable member consisting of a removable disk formed of relatively thin resilient material and capable of being deformed, distorted or mutilated. Th marginal portion of the diskv ll, throughout its circumference, is embossed to provide annular sealing element i'ia of U-shape in cross section.

The walls of the sealing element Ila have a pressed-in engagement with the side wall I5 and contiguous portion of the support I5a to effect a tamper-proof seal between the element Ila and wall it. As the side wall I5 of the collar Ita extends outwardly beyond the peripheral edge of the sealing element Ila, the latter cannot be engaged by a pointed tool or other device and the member i'i pried out, except by deforming the element Ila and/or the member H, the effect of which is to prevent it from being replaced and used without indicating that access to the container has been made.

The separate sealing'devices consist of a removable disk I8 (preferably formed of sheet metal) and a removable gasket ila. The diameter of the removable .disk' l8 and outside diam eter of the gasket Ilia ar slightly less than that of the collar I 3a. In this form of construction the gasket extends over the sealing element lid and seats on the deformable disk ll and upper end of the collar I311, whereas the disk I8, which is engaged by the top wall I203 of the closure device I'Zx, engages the gasket Ifia to secure it in position, the latter being seated under pressure when the closure device IZac is tightened in position. By preference, the marginal portion of the disk it, throughout its circumference, is embossed inwardly, to form an annular shoulder 58b, which fits within the inner periphery of the top wall 52x, whereby, in assembly, the disk I8. is disposed in concentric relation to the side walls of the collar 13a and closure device I230.

She wall Him is embossed inwardly as shown at I22, whereby the area of the wall I2a2' surrounding the embossment I22 is spaced from the disk i3, so that the wall i211 will initially resist any exteriorly applied force to protect the disk and sealing means against damage or distortion.

The outer side of the flange I6 on the inlet end of the spout Ifia is provided with a gasket I9 which is engagedby the deformable disk I l when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 6. As shown, the parts are disposed in superimposed relation so that when the closure device I23: is tightened in position the parts are secured together under pressure and the spout flange I8 is secured tothe support I5a and all parts held in fixed relation during handling and transportation.

When the contents of the container I2 are to be discharged orpoured, th device I230 is removed, the disk itand gasket l8a are discarded, the disk I7 is deformed, removed and discarded, the spout Ifia is reversed so that the gasket I9 engages the support E51; and the device I20: is replaced and tightenedto secure the spout on the support I5a, as shown in Fig. 8, the gasket l9 servingto prevent leakage or waste between the spout and adjacent parts.

To those skilled in the art to which my in? vention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing-embodimentsand applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. My disclosures and the descrip- 7 a pouring spout therefor provided at (She end with a flange, a closure for said discharge opening consisting of a collar mounted at its inner end therein and provided with screw threaded side walls, the outer end of said collar being provided with an outwardly extending circumferential wall the marginal portion of which provides a support for the flange of said spout, said wall downwardly of its marginal portion being embossed downwardly throughout its circumference to form an annular recess, a removable disk the marginal portion of which is embossed inwardly throughout its circumference to provide an annular wall having a pressed-in engagement with the inner walls of said recess to sealingly close said discharge opening, and an external closure device having an annular top wall and a side wall, said sid wall being embossed to provide screw threads thereon removably threaded on the side wall of said collar and said top wall being arranged to removably engage said disk, said disk when engaged by said device serving to secure the flange of said spout on said support.

2. A container having a discharge opening, a reversible pouring spout therefor provided at one end with a circumferential flange, gaskets fixed to the opposite faces of said flange, and a closure for said discharge opening consisting of a collar mounted at its inner end therein and provided with screw threaded side walls, the outer end of said collar being provided with an inwardly extending circumferential wall the marginal portion of which provides a support for the flange of said spout when th latter is in an inoperative position or in a pouring position, said circumferential wall between its marginal portion and said screw threaded side walls being embossed downwardly throughout its circumference to form an annular recess, a removable disk arranged to removably engage the adjacent gasket on the flange of said spout when the latter is in pouring or non-pouring position, the marginal portion of said disk being embossed inwardly throughout its circumference to provide an annular wall having a pressed-in engagement with the inner walls of said recess, and an external closure device having a side wall embossed to provide screw threads thereon removably engaging the screw threads on the side walls of said collar and an annular top wall arranged to engage said disk under pressure when said closure device is positioned on said collar.

3. A closure for a container having a discharge opening consisting of a collar mounted at its inner end therein and provided with a screw threaded side wall, the outer end of said collar being provided with an inwardly extending circumferential wall embossed radially throughout its circumference to form an annular recess of U-shape in cross section, a removable disk for sealingly closing th opening through said collar, formed of relatively thin sheet metal capable of being deformed, the marginal portion of said disk being embossed inwardly throughout its circumference to provide an annular wall of U-shape in cross section having a pressed-in engagement with inner walls of said recess to provide a leakproof and tamper-proof seal for said discharge opening and an external closure device having a side wall embossed to provide screw threads thereon removably engaging the screw threads on the side wall of said collar, and an annular top the marginal portion of which is embossed inwardly for engagement with said disk inwardly of its U-shaped embossed walls and providing outwardly thereof an annular wall spaced from said embossed walls.

4. A closure for a container having a discharge opening, consisting of a collar mounted at its inner end in said opening and provided with a screw threaded side wall, the upper end of said collar being extended inwardly and embossed radially downwardly throughout its circumference to form within the side wall of said collar an annular recess substantially U-shape in cross section, a removable deformable metallic disk for closing the opening through said collar, the marginal portion of said disk being embossed circumferentially to form an arcuate wall in cross section having pressed-in engagement with the inner wall of said recess to provide a leak-proof and tamper-proof seal for the container, and a closure device having a screw threaded side wall removably engaging the side wall of said collar and a top wall formed with an opening to expose the central portion of said disk.

5. A container having a discharge opening, a reversible spout provided at one end with a circumferential flange, a closure for said discharge opening consisting of a collar mounted at its inner end therein and provided with a screw threaded side wall, the outer end of said collar being provided with an inwardly extending circumferential top wall embossed downwardly to provide an inner side wall and terminating in an annular support for the flange of said spout when the latter is in an inoperative position or in a pouring position, a removable deformable disk, the marginal portion of said disk being embossed inwardly throughout its circumference to provide a wall having a pressed-in engagement with said inner side wall and said support, an external closure device having an annular top wall and a side wall, said side wall being embossed to provide screw threads thereon removably engaging the screw threads on the first mentioned side wall of said collar and said disk being arranged to removably engage the flange of said spout, when the latter is in an inoperative position, to secure the flange of said spout on said support, a removable gasket engaging said disk and the top of said collar, and a separate removable disk adapted to be mounted on said gasket and be secured thereto by said annular top wall of said closure device.

6. A container as claimed in claim 5 wherein the curvilinear shaped embossed wall of said disk engages said circumferential side wall below its upper end to prevent access to said curvilinear shaped wall.

7. A container as claimed in claim 5 wherein the inner marginal portion of the top wall of said closure device is embossed inwardly, whereby said wall outwardly of its embossed portion is spaced from said separate disk.

8. A closure as claimed in claim 4 wherein the outer side wall of said annular U-shaped recess extends above said arcuate wall to prevent access to the latter.

HAROLD GAR VAUGHN.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,070,783 Conner Feb. 16, 1937 2,606,694 Galletta Aug, 12, 1952

Images