US2804994A

US2804994A - Coupling for gas appliance

Info

Publication number: US2804994A
Application number: US578534A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard B Nebinger
Original assignee: Knapp Monarch Co
Current assignee: Knapp Monarch Co
Priority date: 1956-04-16
Filing date: 1956-04-16
Publication date: 1957-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 1974-09-03

Description

Se t. 3, 1957 R. B. NEBINGER COUPLING FOR GAS APPLIANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1956 k 5 J22 flerzfor Richard B 77ez2zger $9 f p 7 R. B. NEBINGER 2,804,994

COUPLING FOR GAS APPLIANCE Filed April 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 5 25 lllli 5'6 a5 1}. 26 J6 a2 40 i ii 74 8 if i 3A '2 Z2 f72Y/?2%02* United States Fatent O Mo., assiignor to Knapp- This invention relates to a coupling for a gas appliance and more particularly to a coupling for connection to a source of fuel contained in a crown-type can.

There has been, recently, an increased popularity of liquid petroleum gas appliances, such as stoves, torches and lanterns wherein the source of fuel is contained in a lightweight disposable container, such as a crown-type can. One of the features of such appliances is that after the fuel of one. container has been exhausted, the container may be discarded and a fresh container of fuel may be attached to the appliance. One of the earliest U. S. patents to show the general concept of a fuel burning appliance in combination with a replaceable fuel cartridge is Anderson 1,721,844. r

The instant invention is directed to new and improved means for detachably coupling the liquid petroleum gas appliance to the disposable fuel container.

One of the requirements of such a coupling is that it be very simple to operate. Another requirement of such a coupling is that it be effective for insuring a non-leak coupling between the appliance and the fuel container. Still another requirement of such a coupling is that it be arranged for cooperation with the existing features of crown-type cans, within which containers fuel has been effectively packaged.

Thus, one object of this invention is to provide a coupling which meets the aforenoted requirements and which provides an arrangement of parts which effects a positive gripping cooperation with existing parts of a crown-type can.

One feature of this invention is that it takes advantage of the existing construction features of crown-type cans. In existing crown-type cans, the crown is so arranged relative to the top of the can that an annular portion of said crown extends inwardly and overhangs a portion at the top of the can, and cooperates with the top of the can to define an inwardly opening annular groove or recess located between said inwardly extending overhangingportion of the crown and the top of the can. The instant invention provides a coupling which cooperates with these existing construction features by providing that portions of said coupling are caused to enter said inwardly opening annular groove defined beneath the crown of the can, and to engage and cooperate with the annular crown to resist separation of the coupling from the crown can.

Thus, another object of this invention is to provide a coupling for a gas appliance for use with a crown-type can, which coupling is particularly adapted to take advantage of existing construction features of crown-type cans to effect a simple means of connection between the coupling and the crown can.

A further object of this invention is to provide a coupling for connection with a crown-type can which is characterized by its simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction and by the effectiveness of its operation.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this in- Louis, Mo;, a corporation of,

ice

. 2 vention will be pointed out with particularity in the the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferredembodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a. fragmentary side elevation View of a crown can having. a coupling which embodies one form of this invention secured thereto;

Figure 2 is a topplan view of Figure 1;

Figure. 3 is a. fragmentary cross-section view taken on line 3-3 of-Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view taken on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top planview similar to Figure 2 showing another form of this invention; and

Figures 6 and. 7 are. fragmentary cross-section views of the modified form of invention taken respectively on lines 6-6 and 7-7 of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a crown-v type can or container 10 adapted for containing liquidpetroleum-gas fuel for use with a gas appliance. The crown can includes an upright cylindrical surface 12, a frusto-conical top portion 14, and an annular crown 16 formed at the. uppermost portion of the can. The crown can is formed'with a cup-shaped depressed central portion 18, as is best seen in Figure 3. The depressed central portion 18 carries a normally sealed but pierceable rubber seal 20 centrally thereof. Depending from said rubber seal 20 centrally thereof is a tubular fuel conduit 22. The connection of rubber seal 20 to central top portion 18 of the can is generally shown, as the details of such connection form no portion of this invention. However, it is to be noted that the rubber seal 20 extends upwardly above said central portion 18, and this feature is taken advantage of, as will be hereinafter described.

The annular crown 16 on the can is so arranged that a portion thereof defines an inwardly-extending, annular, overhanging-portion which overlies a portion of the depressed central portion 18 of the top, so as to define an inwardly opening annular recess, or groove, 24 located between said inwardlyextending, overhanging-portion and the central depressed portion 18. of the top of the can. This annular groove, or annular recess, 24 has a maximum -diameterwhich isgreater than the minimum diameter of gthe crown 16, thatis, the minimum-diameter. of the inwardly-extending, annular, overhanging-portion of the crown. This feature of the overhanging-portion :of'the annular crown 16 cooperating with the depressed central portion 18 of the top of the can to define an annular groove 24 therebetween isnot novel, although the existence of that feature is taken advantage of in this invention in a-manner as will be hereinafter described.

Now, the appliance to which the container of. fuel 10.-

is to be attached may be any liquid-petroleum-gas burn.- ing appliance such as a stove, lantern, or torch. Regard.- less of the nature of theappliance, fuel conduit means are provided between the appliance and the fuel container can. Said fuel conduit means includes. a stem, or valve body member, 26 having a manually operable valve control member 28 extending laterally therefrom. Said valve body, or tubular boss, 26 carries a fuel bleeding, apertured, hollow needle 30 which is adapted to pierce the rubber seal Hand to enter into the bore of the fuel conduit 22, so as to establish a fuel passageway fromtube 20 through the apertured hollow needle 30 to the valve body 26, from whence the liquid-petroleum-gas may be taken to the gas burning appliance for combustion. I

The novel coupling for attachment of stem 26 to the fuel can 10 will now be described. Two forms of the coupling are shown in'the enclosed drawings, one form being shown inFigures 1 to 4 and the second form being shown inFigures Sto 7. Referring now to the first form' of couplingsaid coupling comprises a cup-shaped mem ber 32 having a bottom 34, a cylindrical upright side wall 36 extending above the cup bottom 34 and an annular outwardly extending flange 38 formed at the upper ,edge of said side wall 36. The cup-shaped 'rne mber 32fis connected concentrically to valve body 26 in any appropriate manner. In the preferred embodiment disclosed herein, the lower terminal end of valve body 26 is upset, or spun over the bottom 34 of cup 32 to effect a non-rotatable connection between cup 32 and valve body 26.

The cup bottom 34 and the side wall 36 are of lesser diameter than the minimum diameter of the inwardly extending overhanging-portion of the containers crown 16, so as to aflord passage of that portion of the cup member 32 through said crown 16, as is shown in Figure 3. The annular outwardly extending flange 38 of the cupshaped member 32 is adapted to engage the uppermost edge of the crown 16, and when so engaged, the bottom 34 of the cup-shaped member is located in a plane between the inwardly-extending, overhanging-portion of the annular crown and the depressed portion 18 of the container top.

The upright walls 36 of the cup-shaped member 32 have slots 40 therein which are located so that a member extending outwardly of said cup through said slots will engage the underside of the inwardly-extending, overhanging-portion of the crown 16 so as to engage said crown and to prevent outward movement of the coupling relative to the container 10.

In the form of invention shown in Figures 1 to 4, there is provided a resilient, distortable member 42 which is generally of inverted U-shape, as can be seen in Figure 3. The extended arms of the U are formed to define outwardly extending flanges 44 which are positioned to be reciprocated through the slots 40 in the cup-shaped member 32, so that the flanges 44 may move under and engage said inwardly-extending overhanging-portion of the crown 16 to eiiect connection of the coupling to the container 1E) and to resist separation of the coupling from the container.

The flanges 44 are normally biased outwardly through the slots 40 in the cup-shaped member 32 by reason of the inherent resiliency of member 42. The arrangement of parts is such that the flanges 44 may be drawn back through slots 40 to a point where they would clear the inwardly extending overhanging-portion of the annular crown 16, so as to afford separation of the coupling from the container. The arms of the U-shaped member 42 provide means for grasping the U-shaped member 42 and for applying forces against the inherent resiliency of member 42 to permit retraction of the flanges 44 in the manner as just described, so as to permit separation of the coupling from the container.

The arrangement of the arms of the member 42 relative to the portion 26:: of the stem 26 is such that the flanges 44 will not be drawn in too far and thus eflect a disconnection of the U-shaped member 42 from the cup 32. Rather, when the arms of U-shaped member 42 abut the portion 26a of the valve body 26, the extended tips of flanges 44 are still located within the vertical confines of the wall 36 of the cup-shaped member 32, and thus prevents removal of spring member 42 from the cup 32.

The U-shaped member 42 is so arranged as to have a recess 46 cut from the bight thereof so as to accommodate passage through the U-shaped member of the valve body 26 and portions attached thereto. The arms of the U-shaped member'42 thus straddle the valve body 26 which is carried on the cup 32 centrally thereof in the manner as shown.

The valve body, or tubular boss, 26 also defines the portion 26a as heretofore noted. Said portion 26a of valve body 26 is so dimensioned and arranged as to engage the upwardly extending portion of the resilient seal 20 of the container, so as to effect a sealing engagement at 48, as can best be seen in Figure 3.

In the modified form of invention shown in Figures to 7, the details of the container are the same as that heretofore described, the details of the valve body are the same, and the details of the cup-shaped member 32 are the same. The only difference is in the form of resilient member which effects the connection of the coupling to the container. f

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 5 to 7, the resilient member includes a substantially U-shaped portion 70 which is generally disposed in a horizontal plane. The bight of the U-shaped member 70 is disposed substantially concentrically with the wall 36 of the annular cup 32, and the arms 72 0f the U-shaped member extend laterally beyond the annular crown 16 on the container. The bight portion of the U-shaped member 76, which is disposed concentrically within the cup-shaped member 32, carries a pair of outwardly extending flanges 74 which are adaptedto move through the apertures 40 in the wall of cup member 32 so as to move into gripping engagement with the underside of the crown 16 in the manner as described hereinabove. The bight of the U- shaped member 70 also has inwardly extending portions 76 which are adapted to engage the portion 26a of the valve body 26 to limit inward movement of the flanges 74, so as to prevent removal of the U-shaped member 70 from the cup 32.

The inherent resiliency of the U-shaped member 70 operates to norma ly bias the flanges 74 outwardly into the position where gripping engagement may be had with the container. The flanges, or arms, 72 of the U-shaped member 70 first extend upwardly above the uppermost portion of cup 32, as can best be seen in Figure 6, and then extend laterally beyond the cup 32 and alford means for grasping so as to swing the flanges 74 inwardly relative to the cup 32 to permit of separation of the coupling from the container.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In combination, a container having a top, an annular crown on said container spaced above and overlying said top and defining an inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion thereon cooperating with said top to define an annular recess between said inwardly extending overhanging-portion and said top, the maximum diameter of said annular recess being greater than the minimum diameter of said inwardly extending annular overhangingportion, and a normally closed, but pierceable resilient seal located centrally of said annular crown and extending upwardly above the plane of said annular recess; and a coupling for securement to said container comprising a cup-shaped member having a bottom, upright side walls extending above said cup bottom, and an annular outwardly extending flange on said side walls, said cup bottom and side walls being of lesser diameter than the minimum diameter of said inwardly extending overhangingportion of the containers crown to afford passage thereof through said crown, said annular outwardly extending flange being adapted to engage said annular crown to position said cup bottom in a plane between said inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion of the crown and the container top, said cup side wall having slots therein, a resilient, distortable, member carried by said cup member and defining a manually engageable control portion, and crown engaging elements which are positioned to move through the slots in the cup member into said annular recess to move under and engage said inwardly extending overhanging-portion of said crown, to resist'separation of the coupling from the container, and said crown engaging elements being retractable into said cup for aflording separation of the coupling from said container.

2. In combination, a container having a top, an annular crown on said container spaced above and overlying said top and defining an inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion thereon cooperating with said top to define an annular recess between said inwardly extending overhanging-portion and said top, the maximum diameter of said annular recess being greater than the minimum diameter of said inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion, and a normally closed, but pierceable resilient seal located centrally or said annular crown and extending upwardly above the plane of said annular recess; and a coupling for securement to said container comprising a cup-shaped member having a bottom, upright side walls extending above said cup bottom, and an annular outwardly extending flange on said side walls, said cup bottom and side walls being of lesser diameter than the minimum diameter of said inwardly extending overhanging'portion of the containers crown to afiord passage thereof through said crown, said annular outwardly extending flange being adapted to engage said annular crown to position said cup bottom in a plane between said inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion of the crown and the container top, said cup side wall having slots therein, a resilient, distortable, member carried by said cup member and defining a manually engageable control portion, and crown engaging elements which are positioned to move through the slots in the cup member into said annular recess to move under and engage said inwardly extending overhanging-portion of said crown, to resist separation of the coupling from the container, and said'crown engaging elements being retractable into said cup for aflording separation of the coupling from said container, said resilient distortable member normally biasing said crown engaging elements outwardly from said cup through said slots in the cup sidewalls.

3. In combination, a container having a top, an annular crown on said container spaced above and overlying said top and defining an inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion thereon cooperating with said top to define an annular recess between said inwardly extending overhanging-portion and said top, the maximum diameter of said annular recess being greater than the minimum diameter of said inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion, and a normally closed, but pierceable resilient seal located centrally of said annular crown and extending upwardly above the plane of said annular recess; and a coupling for securement to said container comprising a cup-shaped member having a bottom, upright side walls extending above said cup bottom, and an annular outwardly extending flange on said side walls, said cup bottom and side walls being of lesser diameter than the minimum diameter of said inwardly extending overhanging-portion of the containers crown to afford passage thereof through said crown, said annular outwardly extending flange being adapted to engage said annular crown to position said cup bottom in a piaue between said inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion of the crown and the container top, said cup side wall having slots therein, a resilient, distortable, member carried by said cup memher and defining crown engaging elements which are positioned to move through the slots in the cup member into said annular recess to move under and engage said inwardly extending overhanging-portion of said crown to resist separation of the coupling from the container, said crown engaging elements being retractable into said cup for afiording separation of the coupling from said container, said resilient distortable member normally biasing said crown engaging elements outwardly from said cup through said slots in the cup side walls, and said distortable member defining a manually engageable control portion which affords means for overcoming the resiliency of said distortable member to permit retracting said crown engaging elements inwardly of said cup to accommodate separation of the coupling from the container.

4. In combinatioma container having a top, an annular crown on said container spaced above and overlying said top and defining an inwardly extendingannular overhanging-portion thereon cooperating with said top to define an annular recess between said inwardly extending overhanging-portion and said top, the maximum diameter of said annular recess being greater than the minimum diameter of said inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion, and a normally closed, but pierceable resilient seal located centrally of said annular crown and extending upwardly above the plane of said annular recess; and a coupling for securement to said container comprising a cup-shaped member having a bottom, upright side walls extending above said cup bottom, and an annular outwardly extending [flange on said side walls, said cup bottom and side walls being of lesser diameter than the minimum diameter of said inwardly extending overhanging-portion of the containers crown to afford passage thereof through said crown, said annular outwardly extending flange being adapted to engage said annular crown to position said cup bottom in a plane between said inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion of the crown and the container top, said cup side wall-having slots therein, a resilient, distortable, member carried by said cup member and defining a manually engageable control portion, and crown engaging elements which are positioned to move through the slots in the cup member into said annular recess to move under and engage said inwardly extending overhanging-portion of said crown, to resist separation of the coupling from the container, and said crown engaging elements being retractable into said cup for afiording separation of the coupling from said container, a sealed tubular boss carried centrally of said cup for fitting over and engaging, in sealing relation therewith, a portion of said upwardly extending resilient seal, and a tubular conduit carried by said cup for piercing said resilient seal to establish communication between said tubular conduit and the interior of said container.

5. In combination, a container having a top, an annular crown on said container spaced above and overlying said-top and defining an inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion thereon cooperating with said top to define an annular recess between said inwardly extending overhanging-portion and said top, the maximum diameter of said annular. recess being greater than the minimum diameter of said inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion, and a normally closed, but pierceable resilient seal located'centrally of said annular crown and extending upwardly above the plane of said annular recess; and a coupling for securement to said container comprising a cup-shaped member having a bottom, upright side walls extending above said cup bottom, and an annular outwardly extending flange on said side walls, said cup bottom and side walls being of lesser diameter than the minimum diameter of said inwardly extending overhanging portion of the containers crown to afford passage thereof through said crown, said annular outwardly extending flange being adapted to engage said annular crown to position said cup bottom in a plane between said inwardly extending annular overhangingportion of the crown and the container top, said cup side wall having slots therein, and a tubular boss carried centrally of said cup extending upwardly therefrom, a resilient, distortable, member carried by said cup member and defining a manually engageable control portion, and crown engaging elements which are positioned to move through the slots in the cup member into said annular recess to'rnove under and engage said inwardly extending overhanging-portion of said crown, to resist separation of the coupling from the container, said crown engaging elements being retractable into said cup for affording separation of the coupling from said container, and

said distortable member being generally of inverted U shape and having an aperture in the bight thereof adapted for straddling the tubular boss carried centrally of said cup.

6. In combination, a container having a top, an annular crown on said container spaced above and overlying said top and defining an inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion thereon cooperating with said top to define an annular recess between said inwardly extending overhanging-portion and said top, the maximum diameter of said annular recess being greater than the minimum diameter of said inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion, and a normally closed, but pierceable resilient seal located centrally of said annular crown and extending upwardly above the plane of said annular recess; and a coupling for securement to said container comprising a cup-shaped member having a bot tom, upright side walls extending above said cup bottom, and an annular outwardly extending flange on said side walls, said cup bottom and side walls being of lesser diameter than the minimum diameter of said inwardly extending overhanging-portion of the containers crown to afford passage thereof through said crown, said annular outwardly extending flange being adapted to engage said annular crown to position said cup bottom in a plane between said inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion of the crown and the container top, said cup side wall having slots therein, a resilient, distortable, member carried by said cup member and defining a manually engageable control portion, and crown engaging elements which are positioned to move through the slots in the cup member into said annular recess to move under and engage said inwardly extending overhanging-portion of said crown, to resist separation of the coupling from the container, and said crown engaging elements being retractable into said cup for affording separation of the coupling from said container, a sealed tubular boss carried centrally of said cup for fitting over and engaging, in sealing relation therewith, a portion of said upwardly extending resilient seal, a tubular conduit carried by said cup for piercing said resilient seal to establish communication between said tubular conduit and the interior of said container, and said distortable member being generally of inverted U shape and having an aperture in the bight thereof for straddling the tubular boss carried centrally of said cup.

'7. In combination, a container having a top, an annular crown on said container spaced above and overlying said top and defining an inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion thereon cooperating with said top to define an annular recess between said inwardly extending overhanging-portion and said top, the maximum diameter of said annular recess being greater than the minimum diameter of said inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion, and a normally closed, but pierceable resilient seal located centrally of said annular crown and extending upwardly above the plane of said annular recess; and a coupling for securement to said container comprising a cup-shaped member having a bottom, upright side walls extending above said cup bottom, and an annular outwardly extending flange on said side walls, said cup bottom and side walls being of lesser diameter than the minimum diameter of said inwardly extending overhanging-portion of the containers crown to aiiord passage thereof through said crown, said annular outwardly extending flange being adapted to engage said annular crown to position said cup bottom in a plane between said inwardly extending annular overhanging-portion of the crown and the container top, said cup side wall having slots therein, a resilient, distortable, member carried by said cup memher and defining a manually engageable control portion, and crown engaging elements which are positioned to move through the slots in the cup member into said annular recess to move under and engage said inwardly extending overhanging-portion of said crown, to resist separation of the'coupling from the container, and said crown engaging elements being retractable into said cup for alfording separation of the coupling from said container, said distortable member being generally U-shaped and being disposed so that the bight of the U is substantially concentric of the annular cup, and said distortable member having ears extending laterally of said annular flange on the cup, said ears defining said manually engageable control portions.

8. A coupling for connecting to a crown type can having an uppermost annular crown and a depressed central portion defining a recess below an inwardly extending portion of said annular crown, said recess being of greater diameter than the minimum diameter of said annular crown, said coupling comprising a cup having a cylindrical side portion of slightly less dimension than the minimum dimension of said crown to permit passage of said cylindrical portion through said annular crown, said cup having a bottom and an outwardly extending flange at opposite ends of said cylindrical side portions, said outwardly extending flange adapted to engage said annular crown to position said cup bottom in 'a plane between said inwardly extending portion of the crown and said container top, said cup wall having slots therein, a resilient distortable member carried by said cup member and defining crown engaging elements positioned to move through the slots in the cup wall outwardly into engagement with the inwardly extending portion of the crown to resist separation of the coupling from the container, said resilient distortable member normally biasing said crown engaging elements outwardly from said cup through said slots in the cup wall, and said distortable member also defining a manually engageable control portion which atiords means for overcoming the inherent resiliency of said member to permit retracting said crown engaging elements inwardly of said cup to accommodate separation of the coupling from the container.

9. A coupling for connecting to a crown type can having an uppermost annular crown and a depressed central portion defining a recess below an inwardly extending portion of said annular crown, said recess being of greater diameter than the minimum diameter of said annular crown, said coupling comprising a cup having a cylindrical side portion of slightly less dimension than the minimum dimension of said crown to permit passage of said cylindrical portion through said annular crown, said cup having a bottom and an outwardly extending flange at opposite ends of said cylindrical side portions, said outwardly extending flange adapted to engage said annular crown to position said cup bottom in a plane between said inwardly extending portion of the crown and said container top, said cup wall having slots therein, a resilient distortabie member carried by said cup member and defining crown engaging elements positioned to move through the slots in the cup wall outwardly into engagement with the inwardly extending portion of the crown to resist separation of the coupling from the container, said resilient distortable member normally biasing said crown engaging elements outwardly from said cup through said slots in the cup wall, and said distortable member also defining a manually engageable control portion which affords means for overcoming the inherent resiliency of said member to permit retracting said crown engaging elements inwardly of said cup to accommodate separation of the coupling from the container, said distortable member being generally of inverted U shape and having an aperture in the'bight thereof adapted for straddling a tubular boss carried centrally of said cup.

10. A coupling for connecting to a crown type can having an uppermost annular crown and a depressed central portion defining a recess below an inwardly extending portion of said annular crown, said recess being of greater diameter than the minimum diameter of said annular crown, said coupling comprising a cup having a cylindrical side portion of slightly less dimension than the minimum dimension of said crown to permit passage of said cylindrical portion through said annular crown, said cup having a'bottom and an outwardly extending flange at opposite ends of said cylindrical side portions, said outwardly extending flange adapted to engage said annular crown to position said cup bottom in a plane between said inwardly extending portion of the crown and said container top, said cup wall having slots therein, a resilient distortable member carried by said cup member and defining crown engaging elements positioned to move through the slots in the cup wall outwardly into engagement with the inwardly extending portion of the crown to resist separation of the coupling from the container, said resilient distortable member normally biasing said crown engaging elements outward- 1y from said cup through said slots in the cup wall, and said distortable member also defining a manually engageable control portion which affords means for overcoming the inherent resiliency of said member to permit retracting said crown engaging elements inwardly of said cup to accommodate separation of the coupling from the container, said distortable member being generally U-shaped and being disposed so the bight of the U is substantially concentric of the annular cup, and said distortable member having ears extending laterally of said annular flange on the cup, said ears defining said manually engageable control portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,683,484 Falligant July 13, 1954