US2917198A

US2917198A - Fitments and closures

Info

Publication number: US2917198A
Application number: US718868A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Richard W Beall
Original assignee: LINDEN H CHANDLER
Current assignee: LINDEN H CHANDLER
Priority date: 1958-03-03
Filing date: 1958-03-03
Publication date: 1959-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 1976-12-15

Description

Dec. 15, 1959 R. w. BEALL, JR

FITMENTS AND CLOSURES Filed March 3, 1958 JM Euraa fi m/n90 W -HEQLL, ale,

United States Patent FITMENTS AND CLOSURES Richard W. Beall, Jr., Hermosa Beach, Calif., assignor of one-half to Linden H. Chandler, Lomita, Calif.

' Application March '3, 1958, Serial No. 718,868

22 Claims. (Cl. 215-73) The present invention relates generally to fitrnents and closures, and more particularly to fitments and closures especially adapted for installation in the mouth portions of bottles or other tubular liquid discharge members normally sealed by means of screw-on type caps. v

- A major object of the present invention is to provide a preferred and certain alternate forms of resilient fitments that are adapted to'be partially inserted within the confines of the neck of a bottle or other tubular liquid discharge member, and in conjunction with the cap used as a closure therefor, efiect a fluid and air-tight seal of the neck or member and materially assist in the dispensation of liquid from the bottle or container when the cap has been removed from the mouth portion thereof.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a preferred and certain alternate forms of fitment which are fabricated as integral units from a polymerized resinous material such as polyethylene, or the like, and due to the resilient nature of this material, the invention serves to lessen the shock received by a bottle neck at the time a screw-on type cap is affixed thereto by means of highspeed capping machinery.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a preferred and certain alternate forms of a fitment, which when disposed in the neck portion of a bottle, effectively prevents liquid from dripping over the side of the bottle with which the fitment is associated when the pouring operation ceases, and returns any surplus liquid so cut off into the confines of the bottle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a preferred and certain alternate forms of a fitment or closure which is extremely simple structurally, is adapted to automatically move to either sealing or pouring positions when inserted within a bottle neck or other tubular liquid discharge member, and which may be retailed at a sufficiently low price to permit discard thereof together with its associated bottle or container when the contents thereof have been consumed.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a preferred and alternate forms of a fitment or closure that is so constructed as to cooperate with conventional screw-on type caps, as well as screw-on type caps of a special design, to elfectively seal the mouth portion of a bottle or other threaded liquid discharge member.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a preferred and certain alternate forms of a fitment that will not only provide the sealing and pouring advantages of the character described, but eliminates the necessity for a sealing member or liner normally required on the in Patented Dec. 15, 1959 ice it cooperates with a screw-on type cap to seal the mouth portion of a bottle neck;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first alternate form of fitment when in a liquid dispensing position within the threaded neck portion of a liquid discharge member;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a screw-on type cap with a portion thereof cut away, which is particularly well adapted for use with the first alternate form of fitment;

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the first alternate form of fitment shown in Figure 3 showing the manner in which this fitment and the cap of Figure 4 cooperatively seal the threaded neck portion of a liquid discharge member;

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a second alternate form of fitment shown in a pouring position when inserted within the threaded mouth portion of a liquid discharge member;

y Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the second alternate form of fitment illustrating the manner of cooperation between it and a first alternate form of screw-on type cap in sealing the threaded mouth portion of a liquid discharge member;

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the second alternate form of fitment shown positioned in the threaded neck portion of a liquid discharge member and cooperating with a cap of a second alternate form to seal a tubular liquid discharge member with which they are associated; and

Figure 9' is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a cap and fitment assembly.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings for the general arrangement of the preferred form of the invention, it will be seen to include a fitment A which is preferably formed as an integral unit from a polymerized resinous material such as polyethylene, or the like, that can be advantageously fabricated by injection molding. Fitment A is adapted to be inserted within the upper interior portion of the neck 10 of a bottle or other container (not shown), which neck has threads 12 formed on the exterior thereof. Threads 12 are adapted to be removably engaged by a screw-on type cap B of convenof which when the fitment is in a pouring position are tional structure, such as that shown in Figure 2. Cap B comprises a circular plate 14 from the circumferential edges of which a cylindrical side wall 16 extends downwardly, and in which spiral grooves 18 are formed on the interior surface thereof that removably engage threads 12 to hold cap B in a sealing position onneck 12. Cap B likewise is preferably fabricated from a polymerized resinous material, but one that is relatively hard, in contrast to the resilient nature of the polymerized material used in the fabrication of fitment A.

. Fitment A (Figure 1) includes a cylindrical shell 20, the external diameter of which permits snug, slidable engagement thereof with the interior surface 22 of neck 10. At an appreciable distance from the lower circumferential edge of shell 20 a circumferential flange 24 extends upwardly and outwardly therefrom, and the upper extremity of this flange develops into a circular ring-shaped lip 26.. Lip 26 is of appreciable thickness and defined by an upper ring-shaped surface 28 and a complementary surface 30 that is narrower in width, both best be seen in Figure 2. Surfaces 32 and 28 join one another to define a sharp circumferentially extending junc-g tion 34 that serves to effectively cut off liquid flow from the bottle or container with which the invention is associated when it is returned from a pouring to a vertical position. I

Flange 24 and the upper exterior surface 20a of shell 20 cooperatively define an annulus shaped cavity 316 of generally triangular transverse cross section into which liquid adhering to surface 28 of lip 26 drains upo'r'i cessation of the pouring operation. That liquid which flows into cavity 36 thereafter drains into the confines of shell 26 through any one of a number of ci-rcumferentially spaced slots 20b formed therein (Figure l) to return to the interior of the bottle (not shown) of which neck forms a part.

Due to the inherent resiliency and memory of the material from which it is formed, the fitment A tends at all times to assume and remain in the position shown in Figure 1. However,- upon engagement of a screwtype cap B with threads 12 and subsequent rotation thereof in the proper direction relative thereto, the cap moves downwardly to place the interior surface thereof in slidable engagement with the upper surface 28 of lip 26 and the ring-shaped extremity 200 of shell 20.

When cap B is in contact with the two above-mentioned surfaces and is screwed onto threads 12, a downward force is exerted on fitment A suflicient to move the fitment as a whole downwardly within the confines of neck It as shown in Figure 2. This movement in turn causes lip 26 and a portion of flange 24 to be deformed into substantially the same horizontal plane and pressed into liquid sealing contact with the interior surface of plate 14 and the upper ring-shaped surface 38 of neck 10. Downward movement of fitment A per se is effected by the downwardly moving cap B due to the factthat shell Zi) is suificiently thick to withstand the force applied by the cap without buckling. It will be apaprent that the cap B must be screwed on very rapidly when the bottle (not shown) is capped by means of present-day high-speed machinery. Due to their resiliency, the fitment flange 24 and lip 26 assume a major portion of the shock exerted by cap B when rotation thereof on neck 10 abruptly terminates when it has been brought into fluid-sealing position thereon (Figure 2).

Fitment A is deformed when cap B is in sealing position on neck 10, but the material from which the fitment is formed is sufficiently resilient and possesses sufficient memory that it at all times tends to return to the liquid dispensing position shown in Figure 1. Hence, when cap B is screwed from neck 10, the flange 30 and lip 26 tend to expand to the shape shown in Figure 1, and the upper portion a of shell 20 which has been compressed downwardly and inwardly (Figure 2) tends to rise to the position also shown in Figure 1. Return of fitment A to the non-deformed position of Figure 1 from that shown in Figure 2 is normally accompanied by an actual upward movement of the fitment relative to the interior surface 22 of neck 10. Upward movement of the fitment in this manner is important for the upper surface of lip 26 is in pressure contact with the inside surface of cap B, and maintains a fluid seal therewith, even when the cap is screwed only finger-tight on neck 10.

The use and operation of the preferred form of the invention have already been discussed in conjunction with a description of the structure thereof and need not be repeated herein.

A first alternate form C of the fitment isshown in perspective in Figure 3, and it is also adapted to be removably inserted in the upper interiorconfinesof a neck 40 of a bottle or other tubular liquid discharge member. Neck 40 has threads 42 formed on the exterior surface thereof. The upper extremity of neck 40 terminates in a ring-shaped surface 44 as shown. This first alternate form C of the fitment, which is preferably fortned of the same material as that of the preferred form; includes a cylindrical shell 46 that snugly and slidably engagesthe interior surface of neck 40. The" upper extremity of shell 46 develops into a circumferentially extending flange 48 which tapers upwardly and outwardly to provide a flat, ring-shaped circular lip 50. The upper extremity of shell 46 also develops into an inwardly projecting sealing ring 52 having a flat upper surface 54, the purpose of which will hereinafter become apparent.

A first alternate cap D is provided that is particularly well suited for use with this first alternate form of fitment C, and is illustrated in detail in Figure 4. Cap D comprises a circular plate 56 from which a cylindrical side wall 58 depends. Spiral grooves 60 are formed on the interior surface of side wall 58 which are adapted to slidably engage threads 4-2 formed on neck 4%. Cap D has a ring-shaped sealing member 62 projecting downwardly from the interior surface of plate 56. Sealing member 62 is defined by an interior vertical cylindrical surface 64, a lower flat ring-shaped surface 66, a cylindrical side wall 68 which extends upwardly from the outer circumferential edge of surface 66 in parallel relationship to the first side wall 64, with the upper extremity of side wall 68 developing into an upwardly and outwardly taperingcircumferential surface 70. When cap D is screwed onto neck 4% as shown in Figure 5, the surface 66 of sealing member 62 is brought into tight fluidsealing contact with surface 54 of ring 52. Concurrently, the interior surface of plate 56 approaches the upper surface 44 of neck 40, and as a result, the lip 50 and a portion of flange 48 are deformed into substantially the same plane.

A portion 48a of flange 48 is not disposed in the same plane as lip 42, but assumes a downwardly and inwardlyextending angular position as best seen in Figure 5, where it is brought into fluid-sealing engagement with the sealing member 62. In the first alternate form C of the invention, the fitment not only effects a fluid-tight seal by engagement of sealing members 62 and 52, but also when lip 59 and a portion of flange 48 are compressed into fluid-sealing engagement with the neck surface 44 and the interior surface of the cap plate 56, as shown in Figure 5. When the cap D is unscrewed from neck 40, due to the resiliency and memory of the materialforming same, the fitment C immediately returns to the position shown in Figure 3.

With the fitment C disposed in the position shown in Figure 3, it may be advantageously used in dispensing liquids from the bottle or container of which neck 40 forms a part, for upon cessation of the pouring operation the flow of liquid is cleanly broken and any surplus liquid adhering thereto drains back into the interior of the container in the same manner as described hereinabove relative to the preferred form of the invention. It will be particularly noted that in the first alternate form of fitment C, the ring-shaped sealing member 52 is not appreciably deformed when cap D is in a sealing position on neck 40.

A second alternate form of fitment E is shown in a liquid dispensing position in Figure 6 and in a sealing position in Figure 7; Fitment E, which is preferably fabricated from the same type of material as the preferred form, includes a cylindrical shell 72 that snugly but did ably engages the interior surface 74 of a neck 76 affixed to a bottle or container (not shown). Threads 78 are formed on the exterior surface of neck 76. The upper extremity of shell 72 develops into an inwardly extending ring 80 of triangular transverse cross section that is defined by an upper, downwardly and inwardly tapering surface 82, and a lower oppositely tapering surface 84. A circumferentially extending flange 86 proiects upwardly and outwardly from shell 72 above the sealing ring 82, and the outer extremity of flange 82 further develops into a ring-shaped lip 88 having a flat upper surface 90, a lower flat surface 92, and a downwardly and inwardly extending edge surface 94 therebetween.

As thus described, when fitment E occupies the position shown in Figure 6, it may be used advantageously in dispensing liquid from the neck 76, for upon cessation of the pouring operation, the stream of liquid is broken in the same manner previously described. This second alternate form of fitment E is particularly adapted for use with the first alternate form of cap F shown in Figure 7, which cap includes a circular plate 98 from which a cylindrical side wall 100 extends downwardly and has spiral grooves 102 formed on the interior surface thereof that slidably engage the threads 78 and maintain the cap in position on the bottle. A sealing member 104 projects downwardly from the interior surface of plate 98 and is defined by a downwardly and inwardly tapering circular sealing surface 106 (Figure 7). From the standpoint of lightness, as well as a saving of material, a recess 108 may be formed in the interior of member 104. When the cap F is screwed downwardly on neck 76, the flange 86 and lip 88 are deformed as shown, with lip 88 and a portion of flange 86 being compressed into substantially the same plane to be so compressed as to provide a fluid-tight seal between the interior surface of cap F and a ring-shaped surface 108 defining the upper extremity of neck 76. As cap F rotates downwardly on neck 76, the tapered surface 106 of sealing member 104 contacts surface 82 of sealing member 80, and deforms member 80 from the position shown in phantom line in Figure 7 to that shown in solid line in the same figure. The deformed position of ring 80 is identified in the drawing by the numeral 80'. Due to.the resiliency of the material forming same, member 8 0 at all times tends to return to the position shown in Figure 6 whereby when the cap is disposed in the closed position shown in Figure 7, the surface 82 of the sealing ring is in pressure, fluid-sealing contact with surface 106 and augments the fluid seal afforded by the compressed lip 88 and portion of flange 86. When cap F is unscrewed, flange 86 and lip 88, due to the resilient, memory characteristics of the polymerized material forming same, immediately return to the position shown in Figure 6 where the fitment B may be used in the same manner as the fitment C shown in Figure 3.

The third alternate form of fitment C is shown in Figure 8, and is adapted to be disposed in a tubular discharge member 110 having threads 112 formed on the exterior side wall surface thereof. A second alternate screw-on type cap Gis provided that includes a circular member 114 from which a cylindrical side wall 116 depends on the interior surface of which grooves 118 are formed that engage threads 112. The interior of member 114 is defined by a first downwardly and inwardly tapering ring-shaped surface 120. The inner circumferential extremity of surface 120 develops into a second downwardly and inwardly tapering circular surface 122, terminating in a flat, circular surface 124 that is parallel to the upper surface of member 114.

The upper extremity of tubular discharge member 110 is preferably defined by a flat, ring-shaped surface 121, as can best be seen in Figure 8. This third alternate form of fitment G is preferably formed from the same type of material used in the fabrication of the preferred form of the device. In detail, fitment G comprises a cylindrical shell 128 that snugly and slidably engages the interior surface of discharge member 110, and the upper edge of this shell develops into an outwardly projecting ring-shaped flange 130. The upper surface of flange 130 has a downwardly and inwardly tapering ringshaped surface 132 of substantially the same angularity as taper 120 in cap member 114.

. ..Flange 132 also has a lower ring-shaped surface 134 narrower in width than upper surface 130. The outer peripheries of

surfaces

132 and 134 are connected by a downwardly and inwardly tapering circular edge surface 138, which at the junction thereof with the upper flange surface 132, forms a circular apex 140 that breaks the flow of fluid upon placement of the container and a circumferentially extending sealing member 142, which when not deformed, occupies the position shown in phantom line in Figure 8. However, as the cap A is screwed downwardly on discharge member 110, the cap surface 122 contacts lip 142 to deform it downwardly to the position 142' as shown in Figure 8. The upper surface 144 of sealing member 142 tapers downwardly and inwardly at such an angle that this surface is parallel to the cap surface 122 when the cap is screwed into the closing position shown. Cap surface 122 and upper surface 144 of ring 102 cooperatively augment the fluid seal effected by flange 130 when compressed between faces and 122. Of course, when cap H is removed from the bottle, the sealing member returns from the position shown in solid line to that shown in phantom line in Figure 8. The use and operation of the third alternate form of the invention have been described in conjunction with the description of the structure thereof and need not be repeated. I

Upon occasion it may be found desirable to mount both fitment A and cap D concurrently as a unit on a bottle. Such a unit pre-assembled for this purpose is shown in Figure 9. The shell 20 and side wall 68 are of such size and configuration as to permit frictional engagement, with the fitment A thus removably aflixed to cap D. The use and operation of the invention is the same, irrespective of whether the fitment A and cap D are mounted on the neck of a bottle separately or concurrently as above described.

Although the preferred and alternate forms of the invention herein shown anddescribed are fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that they are merely illustrative embodiments of the invention and that I do not mean to be limited to the details of construction herein shown and described other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fitment capable of being mounted in an exteriorly threaded tubular liquid discharge member which is engageable by a screw-on type cap, including: a cylindrical shell at least a portion of which is adapted to be slidably inserted within the confines of said member to sealingly engage same; a circular flange that projects upwardly and outwardly from said shell when said flange is not subjected to downward pressure, which flange develops into a circular lip of substantial width that terminates in a sharp circumferentially extending edge which serves to break the flow of liquid from said fitment when said liquid discharge member is moved from a dispensing position to a substantially upright position; and an extension of said shell disposed within the confines of said flange, the outer edge of which extension terminates in a ring-shaped flat surface positioned in substantially the same plane as the liquid contactable face of said lip, said fitment being formed of a sufficiently resilient material as to effect a liquid-tight seal when compressed between the outer extremity of said discharge member and the interior surface of said cap at the time said cap is screwed thereon.

2. A fitment as defined in claim 1 wherein saidflange and extension cooperatively provide an annulus-shaped space of generally V-shaped transverse cross section therebetween. Y

3. A fitment as defined in claim 2 wherein said extension is provided with at least one'liquid passage means that at all .times maintains liquid communication between said annulus-shaped space and the interior of said shell.-

4. A fitment as defined in claim 3 wherein said liquid passage means is a slot formed in said shell.

5. A fitment as defined in claim 4 wherein said extension has suflicient wall thickness and longitudinal rigidity that said fitment is capable of being moved downwardly as an integralunit in said discharge member when said flat face of said extension engages an interior surface of said cap as it is screwed onto said discharge member.

6. A fitment-as defined in claim wherein said flange is formed of a sufficiently rmilient material that said fitment as a whole is moved outwardly in said discharge member when said cap is screwed therefrom.

7. A fitment capable of being. mounted in an exteriorly threaded tubular liquid discharge member which is engageable by a screw-on type cap, including: a cylindrical shell at least a portion of which is adapted to be slidably inserted within the confines of said member to sealingly engage same; a first member of circular transverse cross section projecting outwardly from said shell that terminates in a sharp circumferentially extending edge that serves to break the flow of liquid from said fitment when said liquid discharge member is moved from a liquid dispensing position to a substantially upright position, said fitment being formed of a sulficiently resilient material as to effect a liquid-tight seal when compressed between the outer extremity of said discharge member and the interior surface of said cap at the time said cap is screwed thereon; and a resilient sealing ring supported by said shell and projecting into the confines thereof with the outermost portion of said sealing ring defining a flat annulus-shaped face.

8. A fitment as defined in claim 7 wherein said sealing ring is rectangular in transverse cross section.

9. A fitment as defined in claim 7 wherein said sealing ring is triangular in transverse cross section.

10. A closure for an extericrly threaded tubular liquid discharge member, including: a cylindrical shell at least a portion of which is adapted to be slidably inserted within the confines of said member to sealingly engage same; a first member of circular transverse cross section projecting outwardlyfrom said shell that terminates in a sharp circumferentially extending edge which serves to break the flow of liquid therefrom when said liquid discharge member is moved from a liquid dispensing position to a substantially upright position, said firstmember being formed of a suificiently resilient material as to effect a first liquid-tight seal when compressed between the outer extremity of said discharge member and the interior surface of said cap at the time said cap is screwed thereon; a resilient sealing ring supported by said shell and projecting into the confines thereof; a screw-on type cap formed with threads capable of rotatably engaging said threads formed on said discharge member; and a circular rigid sealing member supported by said cap and disposed within the confines thereof, said sealing member being of such dimensions that it is brought into liquid sealing contact with said ring as said first member effects said first liquid-tight seal.

11. A closure as defined in claim 10 wherein said sealing ring defines a first outwardly disposed annulus-shaped face, and said ring defines a second annulus-shaped face that is complementary to said first face and is adapted to effect a liquid-tight seal when in pressure contact with said first face.

12. A closure as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second faces are substantially parallel to said lip.

13. A closure as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second faces are angularly disposed relative to said lip.

14. A closure as defined in claim 11 wherein said sealing member is of ring-shaped configuration.

15. A closure as defined in claim 11 wherein said sealing member is of frusto-co'nical configuration.

16. A closure as defined in claim 13 wherein said first and second faces are not initially parallel but are placed in parallel relationship when said sealing ring is in pressure contact with said sealing member as said cap is screwed into a sealingposition on said discharge member.

17. A closure as defined in claim 13 wherein said sealing ring is triangular in transverse cross section.

18. A. fitment capable of being mounted in an exteriorly threaded tubular liquid discharge member which is engageable by a screw-on type cap, including: a cylindrical shell at least a portion. of which is adapted to be slidably inserted within the confines of said member to sealingly engage same; a frusto-conical flange extending upwardly and outwardly from said shell that terminates in a sharp circumferentially extending edge which serves to break the flow of liquid from said fitment when said liquid discharge member is moved from a liquid dispensing position to a substantially upright position, said flange being formed of a sufficiently resilient material, as to eifect a liquid-tight seal when compressed; and a tubular extension of said shell that projects upwardly into the confines of said flange, said extension having sufficient wall thickness as to be substantially rigid, which cap when screwed on said member contacts said extension to move said shell and flange downwardly in said member until said downward movement is halted by the interior surface of said cap when it contacts a circumferentially extending portion of said flange to force same into fluid-sealing contact with a surface portion of said member.

19. A fitment as defined in claim 18 wherein said flange is formed of a sufficiently resilient material that said fitment as a whole tends to move toward said cap in said member as said cap is unscrewed therefrom, with said flange maintaining a fluid-tight seal with the interior surface of said cap as a result thereof even when said cap is loosely screwed on said member.

29. A fitment capable of being mounted in an exteriorly threaded tubular liquid discharge member which is engageable by a screw-on type cap, including: a cylindrical shell at least a portion of which is adapted to be slidably inserted within the confines of said member to sealingly engage same; a frusto-conical flange extending upwardly and outwardly from said shell that terminates in a circular lip that defines a sharp circumferentially extending edge that serves to break the flow of liquid from said fitment when said liquid discharge member is moved from a liquid dispensing position to a substantially upright position, which flange and lip are formed of a sufficiently resilient material as to effect a liquid-tight seal when compressed; and a tubular extension of said shell that projects upwardly into the confines of said flange, said extension having sutficient wall thickness as to be substantially rigid, which cap when screwed on said member contacts said extension to move said shell and flange downwardly in said member until said downward movement is halted by the interior surface of said cap when it contacts said lip and a circumferentially extending portion of said flange to force same into fluid-sealing contact with a surface portion of said member.

21. A fitment as defined in claim 20 wherein said flange and extension cooperatively provide an annulus-shaped space of generally V-shaped transverse cross section therebetween.

22. A fitment as defined in claim 21 wherein said extension is provided with at least one liquid passage means that at all times maintains liquid communication between said annulus-shaped space and the interior of said shell.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,272,549 Deschner Feb. 10, 1942 2,443,086 Turenne June 8, 1948 2,736,447 De Brock Feb. 28, 1956 2,834,497 Wolf May 13, 1958