US2779616A

US2779616A - Cam closure

Info

Publication number: US2779616A
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel E Houghton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-12-10
Filing date: 1954-12-10
Publication date: 1957-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 1974-01-29

Description

Jan. 29, 1957 D. E. HOUGHTON CAM CLOSURE Fil ed Dec. 10, 1954 m INVENTOR. 13ml E, Hougilztnza.

ATTUR/VEY A H a United States Patent CAM CLOSURE Daniel E. Houghton, Arlington, Va., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application December 10, 1954, Serial No. 474,627

Claims. (Cl. 292-241) 2,364,206, dated December 5, 1944 and Grice, No. 2,365,-

695, dated December 26, 1944.

In those and analogous closures, sheet metal bails are pivoted to the closures and have side flanges formed with inwardly directed cams for engaging fixed cam lugs on the container. Such sheet metal bails and their necessary appurtenances aforesaid are relatively elaborate and must be fabricated by relatively elaborate tools whereby they are more expensive than is warranted by the type of closure in question.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved cam closure wherein the cams are fixed and are engaged by swinging cam lugs.

A further object is to provide in such a structure, a wire bail having a pair of inwardly directed studs pivotally connecting it to the container or to the closure and a second pair of inwardly directed studs comprising cam lugs which operatively engage or disengage fixed cams carried by either the closure or the container.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, the structure of the several elements thereof, combinations and subcombinations of such elements, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing in connection with the following specification wherein the invention is shown, described, and claimed.

In the drawing: i

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a closure according to the invention together with that portion of the container to which it is applied;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view showing the parts in the released position;

Fig. 3 is a like view showing the parts in the container sealing position;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the closure in the position of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts in all views, 10 designates a wall of a container having an opening 11 formed therethrough which is defined by an upstanding neck 12, the upper edge of which is formed to provide a bead 13 which fixedly clamps a sput 14 about the neck 12. The sput 14 includes the usual horizontal flange 15 flatly seating atop the wall 10 and an upstanding neck 16 which embraces the container neck 12 below the bead 13. The upper edge of the neck 16 is outwardly directed to provide an upper flange 17. Oppositely disposed portions of the flange 17 are formed to provide downwardly extending fixed cams 18 which may be radially outwardly 2,779,516 Patented Jan. 29, 1957 indicated at 20 and is a plug which may be cup shaped in configuration to provide a floor 21 and a cylindrical side wall 22. The side wall 22 may be formed with an external peripheral groove 23 which is oversized in vertical directions with respect to an O-ring 24 seated therein for relative vertical movement. The upper edge of the side Wall 22 is radially outwardly directed to provide an annular flange 25. Opposite portions of the flange 25 are radially extended as at 26 and then downwardly directed to provide bail cars 27 which are formed with circular holes 28 therethrough. Any suitable sealing gasket 29 is secured to the underside of the flange 25.

The operating device for the closure 20 comprises a bail 30 which includes substantially parallel opposite ends providing legs 31 terminating in angularly directed feet 32 which are coplanar with at least said legs 31. Radially inwardly directed studs 33 are integral with said bail 30 and may be conveniently located at the intersections of the legs 31 with the feet 32. The feet 32 are formed with radially inwardly directed and aligned free ends providing cam lug studs 34 which are preferably disposed in parallel offset relation to the aligned studs 33 aforesaid. Such studs 34 preferably are of circular cross section as shown.

In operation, and as best seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, the aligned studs 33 are pivotally seated in the holes 28 of the bail cars 27 of the closure 20. The feet 32 extend unidirectionally along the outer surfaces of the bail ears 27 so that the cam lug studs 34 are located beyond the edges of the bail ears. The plug or closure 20 is inserted in the neck 12 so that the bail cars 27 are radially outwardly aligned with the cams 18. In this position and with the parts in the unseated position of Fig. 2 with bail 30 elevated, the aligned free ends or cam lug studs 34 may be passed through the openings 19 formed in the sput flange 17 aforesaid upon swinging of the bail 30 downwardly in a clockwise direction as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2. This operation causes the cam lugs 34 to engage the cam surfaces 35 of the cams 18 and continued movement in a clockwise direction seats the cam lug on the dwell portions 36 of the cams 18. This operation has seated plug 20 and has also drawn the gasket 29 into sealed engagement with the bead 13 as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5.

The O-ring 24 functions in a well known manner in its groove 33 in that it moves vertically and is distorted into sealing engagement with the joints upon fluctuations of pressure within the container in a Well known manner. This structure forms no part of the invention and may be omitted if desired.

While I have shown and described what is now thought to be a preferred embodiment of the invention it should a be remembered that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I do not limit myself to the precise structure shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A cam closure for a container including a con tainer opening and at least two fixed cams'on opposite sides of said opening, comprising a plug adapted to fit in said container opening, an annular flange extending radially outwardly of said plug, diametrically opposite portions of said flange being formed with radially outwardly directed extensions, said extensions terminating in downwardly directed bail ears disposed in radially outwardly spaced relation to said plug, a wire bail including a pair of radially inwardly directed and aligned studs pivotally connected to said bail ears, and said bail including a second pair of radially inwardly directed studs in offset parallel relation to said first pair of studs,-said second pair votstuds being disposed radially outwardly of vsaid bail ears .and having freeuends disposed adjacent said plug, and said free ends providing cam lugs adapted to engage said fixed cams onsaid container.

2. A cam closure for a container including a container opening and at least two fixed cams on opposite sides of said opening, comprising a plug adapted to fit in said container opening, an annular flange extending radially outwardly of said plug, diametrically opposite portions of said flange being formed with radially outwardly .directedvextensions, said extensions terminating in downwardly directed bail ears disposed in radially outwardly spaced relation to said plug, a wire bail, said bail having substantially parallel end portions providing legs, a foot extendng angularly of each leg in flatly overlying relation to the adajcent bail ear, a pair of radially inwardly directed and aligned studs on said bail, there being a stud at .the intersection of each foot and leg, a recess formed in each bailear pivotally receiving a stud therein whereby to provide a pivotal connection between said bail and closure, said feet extending unidirectionally beyond said bail ears in parallel coplanar relation, saidfeet having radially inwardly directed free ends providing cam lugs disposed adjacent said plug, and said lugs being adapted to engage said fixed cams on said container.

3. A cam closure for a container, comprising a plug adapted to fit in a container opening, an annular flange extending radially outwardly of said plug, diametrically opposite portions of said flange'being formed with radially outwardly. directed extensions, said extensions terminating in downwardly directed bail ears disposed in radially outwardly spaced relation to said plug, a wire bail, said bail having substantially parallel end portions providing legs, a foot extending angularly of each leg in flatly overlying relation to the adjacent bail ear, a pair of radially inwardly directed and aligned studs on said bail, there being a stud at the intersection of each foot and leg, a recess formed in each bail ear pivotally receiving a stud therein whereby to provide a pivotal connection between said bail and closure, said feet extending unidirectionally beyond said bail ears in parallel coplanar relation, said feet having radially inwardly directed free ends providing cam lugs disposed adjacent said plug, a container neck defining an openingand having a radially outwardly directed annular neck flange, said neck flange being formed with oppositely disposed cams depending therefromiin radially outwardly spaced relation to said neck, said neck flange being formed with slots therethrough in juxtaposed relation to like sides of said cams, and said cam lugs of said closure upon pivotal movement of said bail being located to pass through said slots into and out of operative engagement with said cams when said plug is seated in said neck with said bail ears radially aligned with said cams.

4. A cam closure for a container including a container opening and at least two fixed cams on opposite sides of said opening, comprising a plug adapted to fit in said container opening, said plug including a pair of diametrically opposite extensions radially outwardly thereof, said extensions including downwardly directed free ends formed to provide bail ears located in radially outwardly spaced relation to said plug, a wire bail including a pair of radially inwardly directed and aligned studs pivotally connected to said bail ears, and said bail including a second pair of radially inwardly directed studs in offset parallel relation to said first pair of studs, said second pair of studs being disposed radially outwardly of said bail ears and having free ends disposed adjacent said plug, and said free ends providing cam lugs adapted to engage said fixed cams on said container.

5. A cam closure for a container, comprising a plug adapted to fit in a container opening, said plug including a pair of diametrically opposite extensions projecting radially outwardly thereof, said extensions including downwardly directed free ends formed to provide bail ears locatedin radially outwardly spaced relation to said plug, a wire bail pivoted 'in said bail ears, 2. pair of cam lugs on said bail below said bail ears and extending radially inwardly thereof, of a container neck defining an opening and having a radially outwardly directed annular neck' 'flange, said neck flange being formed with oppositely disposed cams depending therefrom, said neck 'fiange'being formed with slots therethrough in juxtaposed relation to like sides of said cams, and said cam lugs of said closure upon pivotal movement of said bail located to pass through said slots into and out of op erative engagement with said cams when said plug is seated in said'neck with said bailears radially aligned with said cams.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 554,448 :Keil Feb. 11, 1896 1,108,765 Lawless Aug. 25, 1914 1,755,015 Muller Apr. 15, 1930 2,360,351 Kuhne Oct. 17, 1944 2,572,629 Kolell Oct. 23, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,458 a Great Britain 1882