US2900103A

US2900103A - Closure combination and elements thereof

Info

Publication number: US2900103A
Application number: US486802A
Authority: US
Inventors: Iii James B Taylor; George W Barradas
Original assignee: American Flange and Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: American Flange and Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1955-02-08
Filing date: 1955-02-08
Publication date: 1959-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 1976-08-18

Description

g- 1959 .1. B. TAYLOR m, ET AL 2,900,103

CLOSURE COMBINATION AND ELEMENTS THEREOF Filed Feb. 8, 1955 INVENTOR James B, Tag/o,- .22

Q901 e ,Baw'ac/qs M [M I qa'qJ-oq ATTORNEYS CLOSURE COMBINATION AND ELEMENTS THEREOF JamesB. Taylor 1H, Fairfield, and George W. iiarradas, Stamford, Conn., assignors, by mesne assignments, to American Flange and Manufacturing 'Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 8, 1955, Serial No. 486,802

1 Claim. (Cl. 220-39) This invention relates to closures for containers, and more especially to the combination with a conventional snap-on, snap-off closure of certain novel elements by which the closure is more efiectively sealed against escapeof the contents of the container and by which the closure is adapted to receive a dispensing nozzle. The invention also includes the novel elements of the combination individually. More particularly, the invention relatesto a snap-on, snap-off closure for large containers, for example conventional 55 gallon drums.

Heretofore the closures for large containers such as theSS gallon drums mentioned have been of the threaded plug type. It has not been thought suitable to provide such containers with a conventional snap-on, snap-off type closure because of the large size of the closure required therefor and the difiiculty encountered therewith in maintaining proper closure sealing when the containers are subjected to normal rough handling. In an effort, however, to adapt a snap-on, snap-off closure to use with 55 gallon drums and the like because of the extremely large saving in cost that could be effected, considerable development work has been done. This development work was involved with two problems, the first being that mentioned above, namely, obtaining a satisfactory seal despite rough handling of the drums, and thesecond being the desire for a closure which could be replaced for dispensing of the contents of the drum, as has been the threaded plug type, with a valve type nozzle.

' It has been suggested by others, in connection with a solution to the first problem, to employ in combination with the snap-on, snap-01f cap a diaphragm adapted to span the discharge Opening of the drum, the central portion ofthe diaphragm being dished to extend inwardly into said opening and away from said cap and further being substantially conical in shape. This diaphragm was to be held across the discharge opening by the snapon and snap-01f cap. The theory of its function was, first, that a cushion would be provided to absorb the initial impact of the contents of the container on the closure during handling and, secondly, that the conical dishingfof the central portion of the diaphragm would direct the contents of the can impinging thereon outwardly, toward the edge thereof to be absorbed at the strongest portion of the closure. While the inclusion of such a diaphragm in a conventional snap-on, snap-off type closure improves the sealing characteristics thereof, during tests it was found that leakage still occurred. It is thought that at least partially responsible for this is the fact that the contents are directed by the dished portion of the diaphragm to concentrate on the seal.

This invention contemplates the provision on a diaphragm of the aforementioned type and shape of means to deflect the 'main portion of the contents of the container impinging on the diaphragm, and redirected by theconical section thereof, from the sealing section thereof. More specifically, the invention contemplates the provision of an' annular ridge formed on and extending from the dished face of the diaphragm intermediate the extent thereof. v a The invention also contemplates the provision in the closure combination of an annular insert adapted to be mounted within the discharge opening of the con tainer threadingly to receive, after removalof a snap-on,

snap-01f cap, a valve type nozzle. In this connection "it also contemplates that if desirable the outer face of the annular ridge of the diaphragm may be itself threaded to threadingly engage the threaded inner face of'the insert whereby the closure seal is still further improved; Both the insert and the diaphragm are contemplated as being made of flexible material such as a plastic material;

The invention, in addition, contemplates the employcertain extent a conventional plug-like closure.

For a more detailed understanding of the invention, reference may be made to the following specific descrip-- tion of two forms thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an expanded elevational view of one form of the closure; r

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation thereof; and r Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the second form of the invention including closure.

In the drawings a section of a container with whichthe closure is combined is represented by the reference numeral 10. As seen most clearly in Fig. 2, what has come to be termed a nozzle 11 is formed integrally with and extending from a wall 12 of container 10. Nozzle 11 is so formed that it has an underhanging portion 13; an inner annular channel portion 14 and a rim portion 15. A conventional snap-on, snap-01f closure 16 made. of a substantially spring type metal and provided-with a plurality of spring legs 17 is adapted to overlie nozzle 11 with the spirng legs 17 thereof in firm contact with the outer face thereof and having their terminal portions extending into firm contact with underhanging portion .13 of the nozzle. As illustrated, the snap-on, snap-off cap is in closed position on nozzle 11. To remove it, pressure need merely be applied to'the central portion of its upper face which results in an inversion thereof and a1 springing out of spring legs 17 from their contact with nozzle 11. To replace the cap on the nozzle it is merely placed thereon and pressure applied laterally to spring legs 17 whereby the upper portion of the cap is inverted back to its position as shown and the spring legs are thereby urged into firm contact with the nozzle as shown. As indicated, this construction is. conventional, thoughv heretofore the nozzle 11 has more often than not been formed separately from the end wall of the container and secured thereto, after formation, as by soldering. I

It has also been heretofore conventional to provide the closure with a tamper-proof seal 19 as illustrated in Fig. 1. This tamper-proof seal 19 comprises an annular skirt portion 20 adapted, when the seal is in position, to sur-. round spring legs 17. An annular inwardly extending por-, tion 21 of the seal 19 is adapted to overlie the snap-on," snap-off cap and has a tear strip 22 extending thereacross. After seal 19 has been applied tooverlie cap 16, the lower edge portion of its flange 20, which extends downwardlybeyond the extremities ofspring legs 17, is crimped inwardly by any suitable means. Seal 19 prevents removal of the cap because its flange 20 prevents outward move ment of spring legs 17 even though the central 'portiOnTof the cap is subjected to normal operating pressures. H'encej for removal of the cap, oncetamper-proof seal 19 has been 1C Patented Aug. 18,1959 j a flat diaphragm plug-likeapplied, one must first remove the tamper-proof seal. Tear strip 22, which extends through a weakened section of annular portions 20 and 21 of the seal, may be torn for this purpose.

.The. above structure is all conventional and has been employed for some years in connection with relatively small size containers. As heretofore indicated, however, it has not been suitable for use in connection with large containers such as 55 gallon drums. In accordance with this inventionit can be made useful for such purpose by incorporating in combination with it the two elements illustrated in Fig. 2, namely, an insert 25 and a diaphragm 30.

The insert 25 is annular in shape as shown and may be made of a suitable flexible material such as a plastic material. It has been found that a 50-50 mixture of polyisobutylene and polyethylene is particularly suitable for this purpose though certain types of polyethylene alone may be employed as may other types of plastic having the necessary characteristics of resistance to attack by contents of drum and sufficient strength, etc. The insert 25 has a section 26 which is shaped to conform generally with the cross sectional shape of annular channel 14 in nozzle 11 and is adapted to be received thereby when the insert is properly in place as illustrated. The insert also has a tail section 27 adapted to surround the inner face of underhanging portion 13 of the nozzle. A plurality of threads 28 are formed on the inner face of the insert, their primary function being to threadedly receive and maintain firmly within the insert and the nozzle a valve type discharge nozzle when the snap-on, snap-off cap 16 and diaphragm 30 have been removed from the closure for dispensing of the contents of the container 10.

Diaphragm 30 is generally circular in shape, having an annular rim portion 31, the outer diameter of which is substantially equal to the inner diameter of cap 16. The central portion of the diaphragm is conically dished as at 32 to extend inwardly into nozzle 11 and away from cap 16. The diaphragm is also made of course of a flexible material which may also be, if desirable, 50-50 polyisobutylene and polyethylene. The function of the diaphragm is, first, to provide limited sealing between cap 16 and rim portion 15 of nozzle 11. Section 32 of the diaphragm acts as a cushion because of the nature of the material from which it is made and the entrapped air between it and cap 16 to resiliently absorb the initial shock of any of the contents of container impinging thereon. This portion of the diaphragm also acts to deflect such portion of the contents away from the center of the diaphragm toward the outer edges thereof where the closure is strongest. It has been found, however, that if the inner face of the diaphragm is smooth, the directing of the container contents toward the seal between the rim 31 of the diaphragm and rim of nozzle 11 may breach the seal. To overcome this, an annular ridge 33 is formed on and extends from the inner face of the diaphragm intermediate the extent thereof. Ridge 33 extends axially of the closure and, as shown, may be provided with threads which are adapted to interengage with threads 28 of insert 25.

Threaded ridge 33 performs two functions. First it acts to deflect the contents of the container, which impinge upon the diaphragm and are deflected by the central portion thereof outwardly, from direct action on the seal between rim 31 of the diaphragm and rim 15 of the nozzle. Secondly, its threaded engagement with threaded insert 25 in itself provides an additional very effective seal.

Turning now to Fig. 3, in which is illustrated the other form our invention may take, the same reference numerals primed are employed to indicate the parts and portions thereof which are the same as the corresponding parts or portions of the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Hence, the container is indicated at 10 and has a wall 12' from which an integral nozzle 11 is formed with an underhanging portion 13', an inner annular chamber portion 14' and a rim portion 15. Nozzle 11 is adapted to receive a snap-on, snap-off closure 16' and over this, if desirable, a tamper-proof seal 19. Closure 16 has, as previously indicated, spring legs 17. This form of the invention also includes the use of the same type of insert 25 as used in the previously described form which has a section 26 shaped to conform generally with the cross sectional shape of annular channel 14' and adapted to be received thereby when the insert is properly in place, as illustrated. The difference between this form of the invention and that previously described lies wholly in the construction of the plug-like diaphragm member 40.

The plug-like diaphragm 40 includes a flat diaphragm section 41 having integrally formed therewith at its outer edge an annular upright ridge or flange portion 42. The outer face of this ridge or flange 42 is threaded so that the plug-like diaphragm member 40 may be threaded into and received by insert 25' as illustrated. Around its upper edge flange or ridge 42 is provided with an integral outwardly extending rim portion 43 similar to annular rim portion 31 of the diaphragm member of Fig. 2 which forms a seal with rim portion 15' of nozzle 11' when closure member 16' is applied to the nozzle. To enable the plug-like diaphragm member 40 to be readily inserted and removed from insert 25', we provide it with an integral partition-like member 44 which is fairly heavy in section at its opposite ends. In this manner the plug-like diaphragm member 40 may be turned with conventional tools.

While it is contemplated that the combination illustrated in Fig. 3 and described above will include a snapon, snap-0E cap 16', it is contemplated as a possibility that in some instances this cap might be omitted and a tamper-proof seal 19 alone be employed.

Various changes and modifications may of course be made in the novel elements illustrated and described without departing from the scope of the invention which should rather be limited only to the extent set forth in the appended claim. For example, if it is not desired that a threaded nozzle be usable with the closure, insert 25 may be omitted. In this case, ridge 33 of the diaphragm would not be threaded. In addition, it is possible, though not probable, that the insert 25 might be employed and the diaphragm 30 not be or that it be replaced by a conventional gasket.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our application Ser. No. 476,225, filed December 20, 1954 and now abandoned.

We claim:

In combination with a container having a metal discharge nozzle adapted to be closed by a snap-on, snapoff cap, said nozzle having an interior annular channnel extending completely therearound in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the discharge mouth of the nozzle, a closure consisting of an annular flexible resilient plastic insert in the annular channel within said nozzle but readily removable therefrom without damage to or deformation of said nozzle, the inner face of said insert having threads formed therein and the outer face thereof conforming generally in shape to the cross-sectional shape of said channel, and a plastic diaphragm member spanning the opening through said nozzle, said diaphragm having an annular ridge or flange formed on and projecting from one face thereof, the outer face of said annular flange being threaded and threadably engaging the inner face of said insert, said diaphragm member when in place in said insert serving to hold the later in said channel with the outer surface thereof in sealing contact with the inner surface of the channel, said nozzle being provided with a flange at its outer end extending in a direction transverse the axis of the noz zle and having its free edge defining the nozzle mouth, one end of the insert firmly engaging in sealing relation the axial inner face of said nozzle flange and said diaphragm being provided with a resilient flange extending at right angles to the direction of extent of the threaded ridge or flange thereof and pressing in sealing contact against the axial outer face of said nozzle flange throughout the lateral extent thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 135,864 Thompson et a1. Feb. 11, 1873 6 Kelly June 21, 1921 Spang June 26, 1928 Schwartz June 15, 1937 Curtis Nov. 29, 1938 Parker Mar. 31, 1942 Sparks Jan. 25, 1944 Robinson Aug. 24, 1948 Rieke Nov. 27, 1956