US2947451A

US2947451A - Protective cover for a dispensing valve assembly

Info

Publication number: US2947451A
Application number: US815179A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred F Suellentrop
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-05-22
Filing date: 1959-05-22
Publication date: 1960-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 1977-08-02

Description

Aug. 2, 1960 F. F. SUELLENTROP PROTECTIVE COVER FOR A- DISPENSING VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed May 22. 1959 2,947,451 Patented Aug. 2, 1960 PRGTECTIVE COVER FORADISPENSING VALVE ASSEMBLY Fred F. Suellentrop, Mehlville, Mo. (27 6 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis 25, Mo.)

Filed May 22, 19759, Ser. N0. 815,179

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-182) The present invention is `directed primarily to a novel protective cap or cover for a particular dispensing valve assembly that is incorporated in a disposable metallic container of the self-dispensing type.

More specifically stated, the present invention relates to a novel protective cover designed for use with the dispensing valve assembly disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,852,168 granted to me on September 16, 1958. t

From a sanitary standpoint,I it is obviously desirable to protect a valve assembly of this. character against con,- tamination when in storage. More importantly, it is essential to shield the valve stem against accidental contact at any time, inasmuchas any movement of said stem no matter how slight, will cause someof the gas pressured contents of the container4 to escape.

Consequently'therefor, it is of utmost importance to rst of all protect the valve stems of self-dispensing containers during shipping operations. In other words, in the course of packing, loading, and transportation operations with respect to the containers as they are delivered to their destination from the processing site, there is.

always Vdanger that such containers may be mishandled, upset, or otherwise have their valve stems accidently tilted, unless a proper protective cap or cover therefor were provided.

Furthermore, assuming thatthe containers 'had arrived at their destination intact, it is-essentia1 that their valve stems be shielded against contact fin the course of handlings by the merchant andthe purchaser at the retail level.

protected against contact during subsequent store to home transportation. And as should bewell understood, it is very desirable to shield these valve stems during the time elapses that normally obtain between dispensing operations.

Accordingly, the principal object ofthe present invention is to provide a novel protective cap orcover for the dispensing valve assembly disclosed in my said patent, without requiring any change whatever in the construction, assembly, and mountingthereof.

This particular dispensing valve assembly as clearly set forth in the said patent, comprises but two elements, these being a` generally tubular valve steml of molded plastic material, and a grommet of molded resilient rubber mate-` rial. Intermediate its ends, thel stem isprovidedA with `a circular section that forms a shoulder against which the upper end of the sleeve segment of the grommet abuts. The external diameter of this sleeve segment is slightly greater than that of said circular section of the stem.

The grommet also includes a neck segment from which.

Additionally, it is important that the valve stems be` wardly outwardly to provide a shoulder for the purpose explained in said patent.

In the attainment of the primary objective of the present invention, the combined external peripheries of 'said sleeve and neck segments are utilized. As will appear, the protective cover herein contemplated, includes integrally: a top wall, a circular side wall, and a tubular section that depends from the top wall centrally of said cover. A novel internal thread formation is provided in the lower end portion of the tubular section, in consequence whereof the cover may first be manually pressed into place, and preferably but not necessarily, thereupon given a slight rotation whereby to provide a hermetic seal about the valve stern, as will appear.

It has been found that the resiliency of the grommet lends itself readily to such application of the cover in that although readily deformable for the purpose, the sleeve and the neck segments thereof will revert immediately to their original contour when the cover is removed. Consequently as will appear, the protective cap or cover member of the present invention may be said to produce a hermetic seal by the frictional engagement of the novel internal thread formation aforesaid with the external peripheries of the sleeve and neck segments of the'grommet.

The invention is illustrated on a sheet of drawings that accompanies this specification, and a more comprehensive understanding thereof may be had from the detailed description that follows with 'reference to said drawings, wherein Figure l is a side elevational view of an exemplary self-dispensing metallic container having the protective cover of the present invention in place thereon;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the upper portion of the container and the protective cover, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, with the protective cover in vertically spaced disposition relatively to the container; and

Figure 4 is a greatly enlarged view of the lower end portion of the tubular section that depends from the top Wall of the cover.

The dispensing valve assembly of my said Patent No. 2,852,168 may be incorporated in variously contoured top closure members for containers of the type under consideration. The incorporation thereof in two such closure members is illustrated in said patent. It will be understood therefore, that although the present invention is directed specifically to a protective cap or cover for the said patented valve assembly, the valve assembly itself may be incorporated in container top closure members of various contours and coniigurations.

The exemplary container C illustrated in the present drawings is provided with a top closure member a that is identical with that disclosed in the patent aforesaid. This closure member has a bottom wall w, and a central opening o that is surrounded by an upstanding circular flange f. The dispensing valve assembly disclosed in said patent includes a generally tubular valve stem 12 of molded plastic material, and a complemental hollow grommet 14 of molded resilient rubber material.

The vertical cross-sectional configuration of the grommet 14, as it appears when incorporated in the closure member a about the valve stem 12, is illustrated in Figure 3 where it is seen to include a sleeve segment 42, a main body 44, and an intermediate or neck segment designated 46. The external diameter of the sleeve segment 42 is slightly greater than that of the circular section 24 of the valve stem, and the external periphery of the neck segment is tapered downwardlya'nd outwardly as indicated at 50.

As hereinbefore stated, the cover of the present inf '3 vention is specifically designed to protect and seal this valve assembly for shipping -purposes and when the container is not in use. Designated in its entirety by the numeral 60, said icov'er is of :domel'ike conguration'and' molded of plastic material to include a top wall 62, and anoutwardly'flared cylindrical side wall 64 that terminates at the bottom in a circular rim portion 66. Depending centrally from the top wall 62 is a tubular section 68. having an internal diameter that slightly exceeds that of the circular section 24 of the valve stem 12.

Provided in the lower end portion 69 of the tubular section68 is a novel internal thread formation shown on a greatly enlarged scale in Figure 4, and generally designated. 70. It will be noted that the threads 72 Vof said formation are'continuous and helically formed. It will also be observed that thefpitchY of` the threads is such as to produce a continuous helical groove 74 having a width at least equal to, or f slightly greater than the base dimension of the threads 72. It will further be observed that the crests of said threads are minutely rounded as indicated at 76.

Y With attention directed to Figure 3, it will be apparent that the cover C may be quickly applied and removed as suggested by the broken line arrows. Assuming'for example that the application of the cover C were contemplated, it would only'be necessary to hold the container C in one hand, and press the Vcover 60 downwardly with the other hand until the rim portion 66 thereof engages the` top wall T of theV containertC about the closure member a therein incorporated. When the rim 66 contacts said top wall T, the cover 60 would preferably but not necessarily be rotated approximately 180 degrees in a clockwise direction as viewed from above, thus insuring a hermetic seal about the upper portion of the valve stem 12, and simultaneously obviating fortuitous displacement of said cover.

The described status of the cover 60 relatively to the stern 12 and

grommetcomponents

42 and 46 is illustrated in Figure 2. From a comparison of this view and Figure 3, it should be apparent that as the cover member is pushed or pressed downwardly past the circular section 24 of the valve stem, the thread formation 70 would deform the resilient grommet sleeve segment 42 and 'the upper portion ofthe neck segment 46 in such manner that the displaced peripheral portions thereof will protrude into the groove 74. Consequently, the interior Vof the tubular section 68' would become sealed against entry thereinto of atmosphere. It should be apparent that with this arangement, fortuitous displacement of the cover will be obviated. This feature is of critical importance particularly in the shipping of containers, inasmuch as even though the contaner C should be struck against or upended in transit, the cover 60 will remain in place. Furthermore, the stem 12 cannot be tilted accidentally so long as the cover is in place.

The crest diameter of the thread formation 70 is minutely larger than the peripheral diameter of the stem circular section 24, so that in the downward movement of the cover 60, said circular section serves as a guide for the thread formation 70 thereof, as should be apparent. The radiused or rounded crests 76 of the threads 72 facilitate the pressing of the cover 60 into sealing position without requiring rotation of said cover during this operation.

' same.

It will of course be readily manifest that as the rim 66 comes into contact with the top T of the container, the thereafter partial rotation of the cover member as mentioned hereinabove, serves to automatically accentuate the theretofore existent frictional engagement of the cover member relativelyzto said sleeve and neck seg- Removal of the cover 60may`be-accomplished quickly by a reversal of the procedure followed in the application thereof. In ,other words, it is only necessary to manually rotate the cover member approximately 180 degrees in a counterclockwise direction while simultaneously raising Instantaneously thereupon, the sleeve and neck segments of the grommet -14 -will revert automatically to the normal contour thereof illustrated in Figure 3.

In view of the foregoing description augmented by an inspection of the drawings, it is believed that an adequate 'disclosure' fora comprehensive understanding of the present inventionhas ybeen presented. As pointed out hereinbefore,` the protective lcover of this invention has been devised for use on a particular dispensing valve assembly, and with respect to` saidV valve assembly, it should be manifest that novel means are incorporated in the cover for attaining the objectives set forth.

What I claim is:

A protective cover for a dispensing valve assembly of the character, disclosed, said vassembly being mounted Icentrally in the-closure member incorporated in the top `with neck segment that hasa downwardly outwardly tapered external periphery, said sleeve and neck segments projecting upwardly above the bottom wall of the closureY member and. said stem projecting upwardly above the top of the sleeve segment, the protective cover aforesaid corn` prising integrally in combination: a top wall merging intoV ani outwardly flared cylindrical side wall that terminatesV at the bottom in a circular rim portion; aY tubular vsection depending centrally from said top 'wall and having an internal diameter slightly exceeding the largest external diameter of said stem; and an internal thread Vformation pressed downwardly from above about the projecting portion of the valve stem until the bottom rim of the cylin-` drical side wall contacts the top wall of the container, the interna-l thread formation aforesaid of the tubular seo- Ytion will deform the external peripheries of said grommet sleeve and neck segments into 4frictional threaded engagement therewith whereby to provide a hermetic seal about the valve stem, to obviate fortuitous displacement of said cover, and to simultaneously preclude tilting of said valve stem. Y

References 'Cited in the file of this pat-ent UNITED STATES PATENTS Soifer Mar. 22, 1955 Soffer Apr. 22, 1958 2,877,936` Michel Mar. 17, 1959'