US2978132A - Jug closure - Google Patents

Description

April 4, 1961 A. J. HUCK JUG CLOSURE Filed March 7, 1960 ATTORNEYS z,97s,1sz

we CLOSURE Alfred J. Huck, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to lsnapp Monarch Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 7, 1960, Ser. N0. 13,076 6 Claims. (Cl. 215-13) This invention relates to jug closures and more particularly automatic venting closures for insulated liquid containing jugs having dischargeispouts or spigots.

One object of the invention is toprovidea jug cap that is threaded onto a jug neckin theconventional man ner,but is novel in that-it has ahollow section or socket and a hinged lid therefor that serves two purposes, first to provide a vent hole which is closed whenever the lid is closed and second to provide additional thermal insulation for the jug in the area where it is very much needed; at the top where thermal losses occur more than elsewhere throughout the jug structure.

Another object is to provide a two-piece cap representing a minimumrnumber of parts which are simple to manufacture, that provides space to store drinking cups, that provides the desired additional thermal insulation referred to, and that provides for automatic venting of a jug of the spigot or spout type.

Still another object is to provide an arrangement where in the user, upon opening the lid to remove one or more cups, automatically exposes the vent hole in the cap to permit flow of air from the outside of the jug through the vent hole to the liquid contained in the jug so that there is free flow'thereof through either a spigot or spout into the drinking cup. Thus, it is merely necessary for the user to lift up the edge of the lid, and thereby permit flow of air through the ventinghole of the jug cap.

A further object is to provide a jug cap which constitutes a sealing member that need not be removed when the jug is being used, provided that the lid of the cap is lifted so as to openup a vent hole and thus eliminate the possibility of vacuum in the jug.

Still a further object is to provide a cap and hinged lid combination that cooperate to form a closeable compartment for drinking cups, a part of the lidcooperating with a vent of the cap to automatically close it when the lid is closed and to automatically open it when the lid is opened to gain access to the cups.

With these and other objects in view, my invention 2,978,132 Patented Apr. 4, 1961 erence numeral 10 to indicate the outer shroud ofan insulated jug J, 12 the inner lining thereof, and 13 the neck of the jug, which parts may be formed of sheet metal or the like, the neck 13 having a thread 14 formed there around in the usual manner. Insulating material 15 is packed in the space between the shroud 1'0 andthe liner 12 whereby an insulated jug is formed and a rubber or consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my jug closure, whereby the objects above contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed. out in my claims and illus forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which i Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectionalview on the line ing cups stored in the jug cap and the lid open to effect venting; J 1 p a 1 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front. elevational of a portion of Fig. 3 as indicated by. the line 44 thereadjacent, showing detailsofalid; and

Fig. 5 is a section al view of a; portion of Fig. 3Is how- 'in g theclosed position of the lid-of'my jug closure relative to the cap thereof.

' 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing my novel jug closure with drink-. 1

. other side provided with af protuberance to spring into at s.ad ne I heveu ifthe refsa di ve'm opening when said lid 'is n close fpg iti neoprene joint 16 is provided between the upper end of the liner 12 and the upper end of the neck 13 to minimize heat transmission. The upper end of the liner 12 is also formed into an annular bead 17 for closure purposesas will hereinafter appear.

A closure C is provided which is preferably formed of insulating material, although it may be formed of metal if desired. As illustrated, it is molded in one piece to a shape that hasan annular top wall 18, a depending flange 20 provided with screw threads22 to coactwith the thread 14 formed on the jug neck 13, and a socket at the center having a bottom wallr2'4 and a cylindrical wall 26. A sealing gasket 28 is provided between the top wall 18 and the annular head 17. r V The jug J is illustrated as having a spigot 38 provided with a push button for opening in the usual manner (or in place of the spigot 38 there may be a spout with a removable cork or cap associated therewith). In either case it is necessary to vent the upper portion of the jug to atmosphere in order to secure full flow of liquid from the spigot or spout. For this purpose I provide the cylindrical wall 26 of the cap C with a vent opening 36.

The cap C has a lid L hinged thereto which comprises a pin-like extension 31 at one side of the top wall 30, .the ends of which are sprung into forked projections 33 molded on the top wall 18 of the cap C at one side thereof. Opposite the hinge 31 a downward projection 32 is provided having a spherical projection 35 adapted to seat in the vent opening 36 in the closed position of the lid L as shown in Fig. 5 and dotted in Fig. 3.

The space or socket within the cap C formed by the bottom wall 24 and the cylindrical wall 26 in conjunction with the lid L provides an air space within the cap for further insulating eificiency at the top of the jug where most thermal leakage occurs. This space is also suitable for the storing of a plurality of identical-shaped, nested or stacked drinking cups C formed of metal or plastic material as desired. Also by storing them therein, the user automatically opens the vent 36 when gain ing access to the cups to use them by opening the lid L. After the cups are removed, the lid may be partially but not completely closed as to the dot-and-dash line position of Fig. 3, and thus the vent is left open to admit air to the jug while" drawing liquid therefrom.

Thereafter, following return of the cups to their stored position in the jug cap, full closure of the lid automatically recloses the vent 36 as in Fig. 5, at which the downward projection 32 is under a bending stress that firmly seats the spherical projection '35 in the vent opening 36.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my jug closure without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is myintention to cover by my claims any modified may reasonably be included within their scope I claim'as my invention:

1 1. In a jug'closure, a jug cap having provisions :for' screwing the same on the neck of a jug, said cap hav ing a depressed socket in'its upper surface adapted to receive a cup for storage therein, the wall of said socket having a vent opening therethrough, '-a. lid for'the open upper end of said "socket, said lid being hinged at one side to said jugcap and having a resilient latch mas 2. In a jug closure, a jug cap screwed onto the neck of a jug, said cap having a depressed socket depending from the upper wall thereof, the wall of said socket having a vent opening theretlirough, a closure element for said socket, said closure element comprising a lid hinged at one side to said jug cap and having a protuberance at its opposite side to frictionally engage in said vent opening when said closure element is in closed position,

the space between said closure element and within said 7 socket being adaptable for receiving a plurality of stacked drinking cups.

I 3. A jug closure comprising a jug cap mounted on the neck of a jug, said cap having a depressed socket in its upper surface, the wall of said socket having a vent opening therethrough, and a closure element for said socket having a latch provided with a spherical protuberance to seat in said vent opening when said closure element is in closed position, the space between said closure element and within said socket being adaptable for receiving a plurality of stacked drinking cups and/or providing an air space for thermal insulating purposes.

4. In a jug closure, a jug cap having provisions for screwing the same on the neck of a jug, said cap having a depressed socket therein, the wall of said socket having a vent opening therethrough, and a lid for said socket having means to automatically close said vent opening when ever said lid is in place, said lid when removed exposing said vent opening to atmosphere.

5. In a jug closure, a jug cap having provisions for mounting the same on the neck of a jug, said cap having a socket depending from the upper wall thereof, and a lid normally closing said socket, the wall of said socket having a vent opening, said lid having means normally closing said vent opening whereby opening of said lid exposes the vent opening to atmosphere, said socket .being adapted to receive a plurality of nested drinking cups which are accessible by opening said lid.

6. In a jug closure, a jug cap having provision for mounting the same on a jug, said cap having a vent opening therethrough, a lid for said cap having a latch provided with means for normally closing said vent opening whereby opening of said lid automatically exposes said vent opening to atmosphere, and reclosing of said lid automatically closes said vent opening.

No references cited.

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