US2892572A

US2892572A - Tamperproof screw closure

Info

Publication number: US2892572A
Application number: US656779A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph H Fredette; Ralph K Pottle; Richard P Swartz
Original assignee: American Can Co
Current assignee: Primerica Inc
Priority date: 1957-05-03
Filing date: 1957-05-03
Publication date: 1959-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 1976-06-30

Description

- June 30, 1959 .1. H. FREDETTE ET AL TAMPERPROOF SCREW CLOSURE Fi led May 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.5

FIG.(

INVEINTORS JOSEPH H. FREDETTE RALPH K. POTTLE RICHARD SWARTZ BY/g a, A

MAJ/Q @M ATTORNEYS June 1959 J. H. FREDETTE ETAL 2,892,572

TAMPERPROOF SCREW CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3, 1957 FIIG.IO

United States Patent TAMPERPROOFSCREW CLOSURE Joseph H. Fredette, New York, N.Y., Ralph K. Pottle,

Georgetown, Conn., and Richard P. Swartz, Chestertown, Md., assignors to American Can Company, New York, N.Y.,' a corporation of New Jersey Application May 3, 1957, Serial No. 656,779

12 Claims. (Cl. 222-153) The present invention relates to containers having dispensing nozzles and the like threaded for the reception of a screw closure and has particular reference to a novel feature in the closure which renders it tamperproof.

An object of the invention is to provide a tamperproof closure for a container so as to insure that the purchaser of the container receives it in its originally sealed condition.

Another object is to provide such a tamperproof closure which is yieldably mounted on a nozzle in such a manner that it is locked against removal and still free to rotate so that it will not be broken in attempting to tamper with the container.

Another object is to provide a break-out section in such a tamperproof closure whereby rupture of the breakout section by the consumer releases the closure for removal by unscrewing and also visibly indicates that the container has been tampered with if the break-out section is'removed prior to purchase of the container.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure ,1 is a perspective view of a sealed container embodying the instant invention, with the lower portion of the container broken away;

a Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the dispensing nozzle and closure on the container shown in Fig. 1; p

V Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the broken line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

T Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the closure showing a break-out section provided in the closure;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the broken line 6-6 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a second modified form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the broken line 88 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the closure shown in Fig. 7, with parts broken away to illustrate a section taken substantially along the curved line 9-9 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 2; showing a third modified form of the invention;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 1111 in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail taken substantially along the line 12-12 in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional detail taken substantially along the line 13-13 in Fig. 11.

x As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings disclose a tamperproof closure 21 for a container 22 having a top end member 23 provided with a dispensing nozzle 24 which is rotatable in the container and which preferably is a valve type nozzle such as used for pressure containers designed to dispense liquid insecticides, etc..in a fine spray or less fluid materials such as whipped cream and shaving lathers in the form of a foam. Such a'valve type nozzle is disclosed in United StatesPatent 2,704,621 issued March 22, 1955, to I. W. Solfer on Dispenser C10 sure Having Tilt Valve and Aligning Cap.

The valve type nozzle shown in the drawings briefly comprises a resilient grommet 26 seated within an opening surrounded by an upturned flange 27 in the container top member 23. The grommet 26 sealingly supports the nozzle 24 which in this case, is an elongated tubular member which extends through the grommet and is formed at its lower end with a retaining head 28 engaging against the bottom of the grommet. The tubular nozzle 24 projects above the container top closure 23 and at its upper end is provided with an external screw thread 29 for cooperation with similar intermeshing screw threads in the closure 21 to retain the closure in sealing position on the nozzle.

Immediately below the nozzle screw threads 29, the nozzle is provided with a preferably downwardly and outwardly tapered integral collar 32 which provides a shoulder 33 projecting outwardly from the'nozzle. A helical compression spring 34 disposed around the nozzle and interposed between the collar shoulder 33 and the container top member 23 draws the head 28 of the nozzle, up tight against the bottom of the grommet 26 and thus holds the entire valve structure firmly in place while per mitting rotation of the nozzle in the grommet when required.

The closure 21 preferably is provided at its lower end with a relatively wide, slightly tapered-from-the-horizontal, flange 36 which at its outer edge merges with a depending annular skirt 37 which extends down close to the container top member 23.

In order to provide against accidental unscrewing of the closure 21 from the nozzle 24 or against willful removal of the closure to tamper with the container con tents, the closure is provided with a locking element or wire spring 41 (Figs. 2 and 3) which extends substantially radially from the closure skirt 37 to the nozzle-24,

' along the underside of the closure flange as shown in Fig.

2. The inner end of the wire spring 41 abuts against one of a plurality of ratchet teeth or tooth-like projections 42 formed in the nozzle collar 32 in spaced relation around its outer periphery and in a direction which locks the nozzle against the wire spring when the closure is turned as in unscrewing it from the nozzle (counterclockwise as in the direction of the arrow as viewed in Fig. 3).

Intermediate its ends, the wire spring 41 is confined between a pair of lugs 43 which depend from the underside of the closure flange 36 to confine the spring against lateral displacement to protect it against excessive flexure. The other end of the wire spring 41 extends down adjacent the inner face of the closure skirt 37 and is embedded in a lug 44 formed on the inner face of the skirt.

Hence the closure 21 may be readily screwed onto the nozzle 24 (in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. '3) without any interference from the locking wire spring 41, but when once fully attached to the nozzle, i.e., screwed all the way down to seal the nozzle, the inner end of the spring 41 engages in one of the ratchet teeth 42 and prevents unscrewing of the closure. However this is not a solid lock which would cause breakage of the closure 21 by a forceful unscrewing action, since the spring 43 serves as a yieldable connection andyields or Patented June 30, 1959" bends to a, certainextentand beyond this, causes the noz- 19. 1 t ro ate. n the. grommet. 2.6. and, thereby prevents. breakage of the closure or any part thereof. The closure can be rotated with the nozzle in either direction.

He ce the s s u ecann t e m ed. r m t e, conta n to tarnpeewith the contents unless it is removed in the e i presided; {or and this visibly shows on the skirt f; cl ur a d e es a a ndi a i n a e aiaerr may a e, be n pr o s y p ned nd t mper dwith.

In order; to release the closure for removal by unscrewing from the nozzle provision is made for manually breaking-out a section of the closure skirt 37. For this purpose the portion of the skirt that includes the wire spring. holding lug 4 4 is surrounded by a pair. of spaced and, parallel vertically disposed score lines 46 (Eigs. 3 41 .91 n t sk r and a ncc ns scar e 47 (Fia- 2 i n the closure flange 36. These score lines define a weakeneduarea or break-out section; 48,- which on its inner face carries the spring lug 44' and on its outer face carries. a break-out lug 49. By merely pressing downwardly or upwardly on the break-out lug 49 the weakened area 48 may be readily broken out of the skirt 37 Thewire. spring 41 falls out with the broken-out section 48 and thus it releases theclosure. 21 so that it may be readily. unscrewed and removedfrorn the nozzle. Thus the purchaser of the container is provided with a way of releasing the locked closure 21 and is assured that the container has not been tampered with.

In a modified form of the invention as shownin Figs. 5,v and 6, the helical compression spring 34 which holds the nozzle 24, in place on the container top member 23 is formed to! also serve as the closure locking element. In gthis form at the invention the ratchet teeth '42 on the nozzle 2,4-are provided in the shoulder 33. of the collar 32 and the upper terminal end of the compression spring 34 is bent upwardly andabuts against one of the ratchet teeth as shown in Fig. 5. The opposite or lower end of he comp e s on p n 3.4 is ex e ded as a r l di phsedle' 'fil (Fi d hi near e n e a (if the] closure skirt 37 but in spaced relation thereto merges into a curved spring section 52 which extends around the inside of the skirt 37 in a substantially horizontal plane in spaced relation thereto and substantially concentric with the skirt and terminates in a blunt end 53 adjacent but spaced relative to the radial leg 51. A locking lug 54 on the inner face of the break-out section 48 in the closure skirt 37 extends inwardly in the space between the radial leg 51 and the blunt end 53 of the spring. 34 where it may be engaged by either of these P r sns c e p In operation, rotation of the closure 21 after it is applied to the nozzle 24 results in ayieldable engagement of the spring entensions 51, 53 with the locking lug 54 and thereby prevents unscrewing of the closure 21in the same ma ner as x l ned b e nic n s ti n w h t e Pre m. o h in n i n A n he pre erre form, the locked closure 21 may be released by breaking out the weakened area 48 by pressure onthe outer lug 49.

' A second modified formof the invention as shown in Figs. 7, 8" and 9 embodies substantially the same structure as shown in the modified form illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, except that the radial leg 51 of the compression spring-34 extends outwardly to the inner face of the closure skirt 37 and its terminal end is confined in a notch 56- in a retaining lug 57 which extends inwardly from the weakened area or break-out section 48 in the closure skirt. One side of the retaining lug 57 is cut away and formed with acam edge 58 as shown in Fig. 9 to permit locking-of the radialleg 51 of the spring 34, into the notch 56 when the closure 21 is first applied to the nozzle 24.

- Operation of this form of the invention is the same as theforrns hereinbefore described and release of the locking spring 'to release the closure for removal is etfected in the same manner through rupture of the break-out section 45.01. the closure skirt 31.

In a third modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 and based on the modified form shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the lower terminal end of the helical compression spring 34 abuts against one of a plurality of projections 61 (Figs. 11 and 13) formed in a ror m i c rr und n the rommet. 2. a interposed between the lower end ofthe compression spring 34 and the container top membee 23 as shown in Fig. id. The outer marginal edge portionof the disc 62 is, formed with a plurality of spaced ratchet teeth 63, any one of which is engageable against a locking lug 64 oust-he break-out section 48 in the closure skirt 37. Theratchet teeth 63 in the disc 62 preferably are formed with trailing, downwardly tapered; wings 65 whichpermit the locking lug 64 to ride up on them and fall down in front of the teeth when the closure is rotated in a clockwise direction (as viewed Fig. 1 l to screw the closune 21 onto the nozzle 24. i

When the closure 21 is once-applied to the nozzle 24, an unscrewing action by rotation in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 11) merely rotates the disc 61 and tends to unwind the compression spring 34. by reason of its locked upper end engaged in the collarv ratchet teeth" Beyond this, the closure can be rotated in this direetion through rotation of the nozzle 24 asin the. other forms of the invention. Only through manual rupture. of the break-out section 48 can the closure bereleased for removal, as described in connection withthe. other to rnsv of the invention.

It is thought that the invention and .manyof; its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and ar: rangement of the parts without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material, advantages, the form hereinbef ore deseribed being m y a re er d mb i e t. he qf- We claim;

l- A in rh g a i ne insnozz d a t mpe proof screw closure therefor, comprising a nozzle mounted in said container, ascrew closure threadedly connected to said nozzle and having a manually rupturable break-out section in a wall thereof, and locking means fully enclosed within said closure and in interlock; ing engagement with an inner portion of said closure break-out section and with said nozzle so that said closure and nozzle are rotatable together in either direction, whereby removal of said rupturable section fromsaid closure releases said locking means; andindicates that the closure has been unlocked'and rendered movable rela tive to the nozzle-to permit access to the contents of the container. Y

2. A container of the character defined in claim 1 he n, a no z i P o ided. w h a least mes like projection and wherein-saidlockingmeans includes an element having locking engagement with one of said projections. i i p 3. A container of thecharacter defined in claim I wherein said nozzle is provided with a plurality oftoothlike projections and said means for releasing said lock is a manually removable break-out section in said closure and wherein said locking means includes aspring element having one end in abutting engagement with one of said tooth-like projections. l

4. A container having a, dispensing nozzle. and a tamperproof screw closure therefor, comprising a nozzle mounted in said container and having a plurality of toothlike projections thereon, a; screw closure threadedly connected to said nozzle, a manilallyremovable break-out section in said closure, and locking means f including a radially disposed spring having one end thereof in abutting engagement with one of said tooth-like projections and the PP e ar hsre t ontas in a he o aidhrsa sout section for interlocking said closure and nozzle so that they are rotatable together in either direction, whereby upon removal of said break-out section from the closure releases said spring from locking position and indicates that the closure has been unlocked and rendered movable relative to the nozzle to permit access to the contents of the container.

5. A container of the character defined in claim 4 wherein there is provided means on said closure for confining said wire spring intermediate its ends against lateral displacement relative to said closure to protect said spring against excessive fiexure.

6. A container of the character defined in claim 4 wherein said break-out section of said closure is provided with an inwardly projecting lug and wherein said spring element is formed with a radial section terminating adjacent one side of said lug and merging into a curved portion surrounding said nozzle and disposed in a horizontal plane and terminating in a blunt end located in spaced relation to said radial section and adjacent the opposite side of said closure lug.

7. A container of the character defined in claim 6 wherein said spring element is a helical compression spring surrounding said nozzle for retaining said nozzle in place in said container and wherein said radial section and said curved portion of said spring element are extensions of said helical spring.

8. A container of the character defined in claim 4 wherein said spring element is a helical compression spring surrounding said nozzle and having its opposite end projecting radially of said nozzle and terminating in a confining recess in said break-out section of said closure.

9. A container of the character defined in claim 8 wherein said confining recess is provided in a lug projecting inwardly from said break-out section and wherein said lug is provided with a cam edge disposed adjacent and leading to said recess to facilitate engagement of said spring end into said recess during the original application of said closure to said nozzle.

10. A container of the character defined in claim 4 wherein said break-out section of said closure is provided with an inwardly extending lug and wherein there is pro vided a locking disc surrounding said nozzle and having tooth-like projections around its outer periphery engageable against said closure lug and having inner tooth-like projections disposed adjacent and surrounding said nozzle, and wherein said spring element is a helical spring surrounding said nozzle and having its opposite end engaging into one of said inner tooth-like projections.

11. A container of the character defined in claim 10 wherein said helical spring is a compression spring and is interposed between said locking disc and a shoulder provided on said nozzle for maintaining said disc under pressure.

12. A container of the character defined in claim 10 wherein said outer tooth-like projections on said locking disc are provided with downwardly tapered wings to facilitate riding of said closure lug over said projections during the original application of said closure to said nozzles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,814,658 Barroll July 14, 1931