US2816684A - Double hinged latched closure - Google Patents

Description

1957 D. J. KETTLEBOROUGH 2,816,684

DOUBLE HINGED LATCHED CLOSURE Filed June 9, 1955 INVENTOR. Donald Jlfettle born 11 5A wznziw A TTUR/VE Y United rates Patent DOUBLE HINGED LATCHED CLOSURE Donald J. Kettleborough, Mendota, 111., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application June 9, 1955, Serial No. 514,401

11 Claims. (Cl. 220-57) My invention relates to closures for containers and more particularly to closures of the type known as cam closures wherein a closure cap or a plug is hinged to the container and is forced into a seated position closing a container opening by cam means operatively associated with the closure. Such devices are particularly desirable in hand manipulated dispensing cans because such closures can be quickly opened and closed without the use of tools.

To be economical, such closures are preferably formed from sheet metal and typical examples of such closures are found in the U. S. Patents to Grice No. 2,365,695, dated December 26, 1944; Johnson No. 2,329,716, dated September 21, 1943; or Gardes, No. 2,364,206, dated December 5, 1944. In these and like forms of closures, sheet metal cams engage sheet metal cam lugs. Both the cams and lugs are exposed in use and hence susceptible to damage by being accidentally bent. Even a slight bending in the wrong direction is suflicient to prevent proper seating or the closure whereby leakage will occur. This is particularly dangerous and objectionable when the containers are filled with volatile and/ or flammable liquids such as motor fuels.

A further objection to such prior art devices is that the cam lever, being necessarily exposed, can sometimes be actuated accidentally particularly after the parts become worn. To overcome this evil, attempts have been made, as in the Grice patent supra, to secure the cam lever in the seated position by an exposed spring latch which itself is susceptible of accidental actuation as an incident to rough handling.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved cam-type closure of the class described. p

A further objectis to provide an improved closure of the class described wherein the cam means is formed,

arranged and located to be protected against accidental distortion or. damage.

A further object is to provide independently of or in combination with a cam closure of the class described, an' improved latch for securing the closure closed and/ or improved means for protecting such latch from accidental actuation or damage.

A further object is to provide a cam closure for a container opening wherein a closure is hinged to the container .at one side of the opening and has a free end Which extends beyond the other side of said opening, and cam actuating means hinged to said closure in the region of said free end of the same.

A further object is to provide in a closure such as that last described, an impervious hand grip portion on said cam actuating means which is. substantially horizontally disposed in spaced relation to said container when in the closed position, and latch means for securing the closure in the closed position, said latch means being wholly covered and protected by said hand grip portion in all positions of the parts.

2,816,684 Patented Dec. 17, 1957 ice Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, in the structure and design of the several elements forming the same, combinations and sub-combinations of such elements, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the drawing in connection with the following specification wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1- is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view of the invention applied to a container, the parts being shown in the open position;

Figure 2 is a like view, the parts being shown in the fully closed position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing certain of the parts in a partially closed position;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the actuating and latch means of the invention;

Figure 5 is a like view of the closure portion of the invention; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a base plate for the closure apart from the rest of the structure.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like refer ence characters designate like parts in all views, 10 designates any suitable container such as the well known military can illustrated and which has a top wall 11, a carrying handle 12 and an opening 13 in the top wall. The opening 13 is defined by an embossment 14 which mounts a reinforcing sput 15. A vent tube 16 is in communication with the opening 13 through the flange of the sput 15 and embossment 14. Preferably, the upper portion of the embossment 14 is outwardly flared to provide beveled closure seat 17. The embossment 14, outwardly of the upper edge of the seat 17, is downwardly directed to provide a radially outwardly facing annular shoulder 18.

As best seen in Figures 1, 2 and 6, a base plate 20 is formed with a central opening 21 which closely embraces the aforesaid outwardly directed annular shoulder 18 on the embossment 14. The undersurface of the base plate 20 is complementary to the outer surface of the top wall 11 and is fixedly secured thereto in any suitable and well known manner as by welding, riveting or the like, not shown.

The base plate 20 has a rear portion 22 which is upwardly and rearwardly inclined along the similarly sloped fore portions of the handle 12. The free rear edge of the portion 22 is formed with a plurality of spaced hinge ears 23. The base plate 20 has a front portion which is formed with a pair of holes 24 therethrough, there being a hole 24 on each side of the central opening 21. The foreparts of the holes 24 are covered by rearwardly opening, hollow cam lugs or latch keepers 25, the purpose of which will be apparent hereinafter.

The next'element of the closure is a closure carrier 26 which is in the nature of a hinge leaf and which is generally complementary in shape to the base plate 20. Thus, the carrier 26, as best seen in Figure 5, includes an upwardly directed rear portion 27 having a rear edge formed with spaced hinge cars 28. Such ears are aligned with and straddle or interfit with the cars 23 of the base plate. Any suitable hinge pin 29 connects together the cars 23 and 28 in a well known manner so as to hingedly connect the closure carrier 26 to the base plate 29.

Any suitable closure such as a cap or plug for the opening 13 is carried by the closure carrier 26. In the embodiment illustrated, the central portion of the carrier 26 is formed with a hole 30 in which is mounted a closure plug generally indicated at 31. Plug 31 comprises a cylindrical upper part 32 which has a close fit in the hole 30 and projects thereabove, It also includes an outwardly flared. lower part 33 whichnot only limits upward movement of the part 32 in the hole 30 but also secures a gasket 34 to the plug so that the gasket 34 sealingly seats on the gasket seat 17 when the parts are in the closed position, Figure 2. A ring.or'cap..35 Iis'fixedly secured in any suitable.manner,.not.shown, to.the projecting end of the upperpart32rafter; assembly of the plug 31 to the carrier 26rso1as to zpreventwithdrawalof the plug fronrthe hole 30.:

The front endof the closure carrier 26 is formed with any suitable hinge means such as the spaced and aligned hinge ears 36 which mount any suitable connection such as the hingepin 37 wherebyan actuator for th'e plug carrier is hingedly connected to the-latter;

The carrier actuator is generallyxindicate at 38 and1as best seen-inFigure 4 is of inverted channel configuration. It includesa pair of laterally spaced legs"39"which straddle the carrier 26 andwhlch' have forward portions formed with aligned holes 40finwhich' are. seated the opposite ends of the hinge pin 37. Forwardly'of 'the.hol'es-40,

the free front ends of the actuator le'gsj39are formed to provide'carns 41 which comprise latch dogs when seated in the hollow latch-keeper providing cam lugs..25

ofthe base plate 20, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3.

The rear portions 42'of the actuator legs .39 are widened in an upward direction and. connected together by an, The.

impervious integral web" 43.:of substantial 'widthh front and rear edges of the. web 43 may be downwardly extendedas at 44 and 45, respectively, .to provide. eaves for a purpose to be apparent hereinafter. 'I'l'ierearlegportions .42fare formed with aligned sockets orholes.

46 for a latch pin 47' of .a latch 48 now to be described! Asbest seenin. Figure 4; the latch 48.-comprises a pair of laterally spaced and. aligned bell crank portions 49 each having an upper-horizontal arm 50. and a down. wardly directed vertical arm 51. The outer ends. ofthehorizontal arms 50 are connected together by an integral web of angular cross section providing a vertical. front.

wall flange 52 and a horizontal floor flange 53, the latter providing a finger piece for actuatingthe latch. The latch:

The lower end of'each vertical crank arm 51-isformed with lower and upper beveled strike engaging surfaces 58 and 59, respectively. The strikes comprise the upper edges 56 of latch-keeper providing notches 57 formed in the opposite sideedges of the upwardly directed rearportion 27 ofthe. closure carrier 20. The upper edges59 of the'latch dogs 54-areeach formed with a keeperengaging notch 60 for. securing the dogs in the latched positions. The latch 48 is preferably spring loaded toward the latched position by any suitable spring such as the U-shaped spring 61 best seen in Fig. 4. Spring ,61 has a bight 62 which partially encircles the latch pin 47 and which merges with forwardly directed upper and lower spring arms63. and 64, .respectively, and which bear respectively against the'web43 of the actuator 38 andthe floor flange 53. of thelatch web. If desired and as shown, the arms 63and 64 may have upwardly and downwardly directed free ends 65v and 66 which seat respectively in recesses 67 and 68 in the webs 43 and 53 aforesaid.

In operation and with the parts in the open position of Figure 1, it willbe seen that the carrier and actuator 38 are fully extended to the rear-and lie atop the handle 12. They are readily retained in this position by one hand of the operatorwhile the can contents are being poured out of the opening 13 or they simply rest on. the.

handle 12 while the can is filled through the opening 13.v To close the opening 13, the closure carrieris swung. to.

the Figure 3 positionwhereinthe plug 31 has entered the.

opening 13. but is not quite: seated. At. the same time,..

the actuator 38 is swung on its pivot 37 in a counter- 4. clockwise direction relative. to the carrier so as to overlie the same. The cams 41 are disposed so as to enter the cam lugs or latch keepers 25. The continued movement of the actuator 38 in the counterclockwise direction cams the carrier 20 and plug 31 downwardly until the gasket 34 of the latter is sealingly engaged with the seat 17.

At about this time the beveled strike engaging surfaces 58, 59 of the latch dogs 54 have successively engaged the strikes 56 soas to swing the latch in a counterclockwise direction until the strikes are cleared and the spring 61 forces the latch dogs 54 into the notches 57 so as toseat the strikes 56 in the notches 60, as best seen in Figure 2.

To releasev the closure, oneor more fingers are inserted beneath the webs 43 and 53, and upward pressure on the latch web 53 releases the latch dogs 54 from the latch keeper-providing strikes 56. The actuator 38 may now be pivoted in a clockwise direction until its latch dogproviding cams have been. withdrawn from their latch keeper-providing-cam lugs 25. The carrier and plug may now be unseated byan upward and rearward pull on the actuator 38.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the closure of the invention may be opened and closed by hand without the exertion of any great strength and without the need for any, tools. At the same time, it isclear that the-domed cam lug-latch keepers 25 provide a sheet metal structure of much greater strength than the usual sheet metal cam lugs. Likewise, their location is such that they. are unlikely to be damaged-in normal use. Also, the cam-latch dogs. 41 utilize'edge surfaces for greater strength and are completely protected in use bybeing-housed in the keepers 25. Thus, they are unlikely to be deformed or broken.

in normal use. Slight lateral deformation of these cams does not effect the operation as long as the deformation.

the plane of the floor flange 53 of the latchweb. It is, only necessary that there be room to insert one or more,

gloved fingers below the. same.v It should be noted. that the'rear eave 45' overlaps the free upper edge ofthe.

carrier rear portion. 27 to provide a protecting joint when the parts are.in. the closed. position.

Thus, it follows from the foregoing that the closure'of' the invention fulfills. all of the objects of the invention and yet provides a closure which is readily and cheaply. con structed of sheet metal parts or the equivalent.

Moreover, while Ihave shown and described whatisnow thought to be apreferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the same is susceptible of otherforms and expressions. Consequently, it isto be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular. structures shown and described hereinabove except ashereinafter claimed.

Iclaim:

1. In a closurefor a container having. a wall formed;

with an opening therethrough; the improvement comprising a closurecarrier and a closure carried thereby, hinge means mounting said carrier for movement to and from opened and closed positions, an actuator for said' carrier,

a secondhinge inspaced' parallel relation to said firstnamed hinge means and hingedly connectingsaid actuator tosaid carrier, at least oneforwardly directed cam on said actuator, at least one hollow and rearwardly opening-cam; lug on said; wall. forwardly.- of. said first-named hinge. means, said. actuator being. swingable with and, relative.

to said carrier in one direction to a partially closedposition wherein said cam is received in saidh'ollow cam lug,

said lug providing a fulcrum for said actuator for camming said carrier to said closed position upon continued movement of said actuator in the same direction relative to said carrier there being a latch for readily releasably securing rear portions of said actuator and carrier together when the latter is in said closed position, and said actuator including an inverted channel-shaped portion providing a housing overlying said latch and substantially entirely enclosing the same on at least three sides in both said opened and closed positions of said carrier.

2. In a closure for a container having a wall formed with an opening therethrough and a closure seat associated with said opening; the improvement comprising a base plate fixed to said wall and surrounding said opening, a closure for said opening, a plate-like closure carrier mounting said closure centrally thereof, a first hinge hinge means hingedly connecting said carrier and base plate together rearwardly of said opening, a pair of rearwardly opening cam lugs comprising integral upward extensions of said base plate, said cam lugs being disposed in laterally spaced and aligned relation on opposite sides of said opening forwardly thereof, an actuator for said carrier, said actuator being an inverted U-shaped member of substantially rigid sheet material and having a web and a pair of legs depending from opposite sides of said web in straddling relation to said carrier, said legs having forward extensions terminating in free front ends formed to provide laterally spaced and aligned latch dog-providing cams which project forwardly of said carrier, a second hinge means rearwardly of said cams hingedly connecting said actuator and carrier together for movement to and from open and closed positions, said cams being engageable with said cam lugs to provide fulcrums for camming said closure and carrier to a seated position upon movement of said actuator in one direction.

3. A closure according to claim 2, wherein said carrier includes an upwardly inclined rear portion having side edges formed with aligned notches providing a second pair of latch keepers, said notches being closed by said legs of said actuator when the latter is in said closed position, a spring latch pivotally mounted on said actuator beneath said web thereof, said latch including a pair of laterally spaced and aligned latch dogs located to engage said second pair of latch keepers upon movement of said actuator to said closed position, and said latch being enclosed on all but the front side by said legs and web of said actuator and said rear portion of said carrier, when said actuator is in said closed position.

4. A closure according to claim 3, wherein said web of said actuator includes a rearwardly depending eave overlapping said rear portion of said carrier when said actuator is in said closed position.

5. A closure according to claim 4, wherein said web includes a forwardly depending eave to provide forward protection for said latch.

6. A closure according to claim 5, wherein said latch includes a finger piece disposed entirely beneath said web in downwardly spaced relation thereto, and said finger piece being movable upwardly toward said web to disengage said second pair of latch dogs from their keepers.

7. In a closure for a container having a wall formed with an opening therethrough; the improvement comprising a closure carrier and a closure carried thereby, hinge means mounting said carrier for movement to and from opened and closed positions, an actuator for said carrier, a second hinge in spaced parallel relation to said firstnamed hinge means and hingedly connecting said actuator to said carrier, at least one forward directed cam on said actuator, at least one hollow and rearwardly opening cam lug on said wall forwardly of said first-named hinge means, said actuator being swingable with and relative to said carrier in one direction to a partially closed position wherein said cam is received in said hollow cam lug, said lug providing a fulcrum for said actuator for camtning said carrier to said closed position upon continued movement of said actuator in the same direction relative to-said carrier, there being a latch for readily releasably securing rear portions of said actuator and carrier together when the latter is in said closed position, means mounting said latch on said actuator, said carrier being formed to provide a latch keeper engaging said latch when said carrier is in said closed position to releasably secure said actuator against movement relative to said carrier, said actuator including an inverted U-shaped portion providing the roof and sides of a housing for said latch, and said carrier including two wall portions which are angula rly directed relative to each other, and said wall portions cooperating with said U-shaped portion to pro vide a door and' a rear wall for said housing when said actuator is in the closed position.

8. In a container closure, the combination with a container wall; of a base plate fixed to said wall, said base plate and wall being formed with aligned holes providing a plug seat, a plug carrier and a plug carried thereby, a first hinge means at one side of said seat laterally thereof and hingedly connecting said base plate and plug carrier together for swinging movement of the latter into and out of a position seating said plug in said seat, said base plate being formed with at least one latch keeper laterally of said seat and opposite said first hinge means, an actuator for said plug carrier, a second hinge means hingedly connecting said actuator and carrier together laterally of said plug, said actuator having a cam formed thereon in the region of said second hinge means, said cam comprising a latch dog engaging said latch keeper in one position of said carrier to cam said carrier and plug into said seated position, a spring latch on said actuator opposite said second hinge means for readily releasably securing said actuator in a position holding said plug in said seated position, said spring latch having a laterally spaced pair of spring latch dogs, said carrier being formed with a laterally spaced pair of latch keepers for said spring latch dogs, cooperating means on said actuator and carrier providing a housing for said spring latch, and said housing having a top, rear and side walls.

9. In a container closure, the combination with a container wall; of a base plate fixed to said wall, said base plate and wall being formed with aligned holes providing a plug seat, a plug carrier and a plug carried thereby, a first hinge means hingedly connecting said base plate and plug carrier together for swinging movement of said carrier into and out of a position seating said plug in said seat, said base plate being formed with a pair of laterally spaced latch keepers, each latch keeper being a rearwardly opening hollow domed portion of said base plate, an actuator for said plug carrier, a second hinge means hingedly connecting said actuator and carrier together, said actuator having a pair of laterally spaced cams comprising latch dogs, said latch dogs being located in the region of said second hinge means, said latch dogs engaging and cooperating with said latch keepers in one position of said carrier to cam said carrier and plug into a seated position, a latch, means mounting said latch on said actuator in remote relation to said latch dogs, a keeper for said latch, said keeper being disposed on said carrier in the region of said first-named hinge means,

said actuator including a cover for said latch, and said cover including top and side walls together with forwardly and rearwardly depending eaves protecting said latch.

10. In a cam type closure for a container, the combination with a container opening, a hinged closure for said opening; of an actuator for said closure, means hinging said actuator to said closure for swinging movement to and from seated and unseated positions, cooperating cam means on said container and actuator for camming said closure to a closed position upon movement of said actuator to said seated position, latch means on said actuator and carrier for releasably securing said actuator and carrier together in said seated position, said actuator having an inverted'channel shaped portion, said carrier having an upstanding wall. portion; andisa'id channel-shaped portion and'wall portion cooperating in" said' seated jpositionto provide a housing"substantially*entirely 'enclo'sing said latchmeans.

11. In'a containerclosure, the combination with-a conta'iner wall'having an opening thereinfoimed-toiarovide a closure seatg'of a closure carrier-"and aclosure carried thereby, a first hinge means laterallyoutwardiy'of said seat hingedly' connecting said "carrier "to said container for swingingmo'vementof said closure intoandout of a position seating said closure'on said seat,""an" actuator for said closure carrier, a second hinge =means'hingdly' connecting said actuator aridicarriertogether laterally 'outwardly of said closure, cooperativecam type1atch"dog and latch dog keeper means onsa'id actuator and con 'tainerforcamming saidclosure' into said seated position,

'said' carrier'having' an end portion extending away from said container-wall, said'end portion beingformdwitii at least'one opening therethrough,-said-"opeiiing providing spring latchkeep'er "means, a s'pring latch carrie'd by' 'said actuator, -'said actuator "including 'an 'inverted channel shaped portion enclosing said-latch, said spring -lat'ch engagingsaid spring'iatch 'keepermeans-With saidclosure in said seated position to prevent disengageine'r'it of" said latch dog-and latch dog keeper means, and-sa'idendportion closing onee'rid or Said charmcl-shamed portionwhen the parts are in saidseatd *pos'ition.

References Gitd in the file of thispatent UNITED' STATES PATENTS 195,458 ,Sejhbld Sept. '25, 1877 2,501,526 LOUCKS M31221, 1950 2,574,836 Marcel 'N'ov."13, 1951 2,734,656 SEhOrrfeld Food-4,1956

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