US3110410A

US3110410A - Container caps

Info

Publication number: US3110410A
Application number: US174859A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold T Pehr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-02-21
Filing date: 1962-02-21
Publication date: 1963-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 1980-11-12

Description

Nov. 12, 1963 H. T. PEHR CONTAINER CAPS Filed Feb. 21, 1962 INVENTOR. Ha/v/d T Pfi/ ATTOEN United States Patent 3,11%,41i1 QGNTAENER CAPS Harold T. iehr, 637 E. 72nd Terrace, Kansas City, Mo. Filed 21, 1962, Ser. No. 174,859 7 fllaims. (@Cl. 215-70) This invention relates to caps for containers and has particular reference to such types of containers as are employed for dispensing tooth paste or similar compositions.

An object of my invention is to provide an improvement in container caps by means of which the cap is always attached to the neck of the container and is thereby prevented from being inadvertently separated from the container and lost.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a non-removable cap which is simple of construction and easily operated.

Another object is to provide such a non-removable cap which may be fully opened.

These and other objects and advantages will appear trorn the following descniption taken in connection with the drawings.

The invention comprises the novel construction and operation of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective drawing of a container and cap embodying my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a central vertical section of the container with the cap in closed position.

FIGURE 3 is a central vertical section of the con- Q tainer with the cap in open position.

FIGURE 4 is a central vertical section of a container and cap employing a variation of my invention.

In the drawings represents a container which may be formed of glass, plastic, metal or other material and of conventional construction. Container 10 has at its upper end an open neck 11, which has a series of external threads 12. At one side of neck 11 there is a vertical recess 13 containing a series of horizontal serrations 14 on its inner surface.

The closure mechanism consists of a cap 15 and a nut 16. Cap 15 contains a series of external horizontal threads 17, which are the same size as threads 12, and align with threads 12 when cap is in closed position. Above threads 17 the diameter of cap 15 is enlarged, forming a lip or stop 18. Cap 15 also carries a downward depending L-shaped arm 19. Arm 19 contains horizontal serrations 21 on its inner and bottom surfaces. Serrations 29 are of the same size as serrations 14, so as to mesh together when in contact. Cap 15 is made of polypropylene or other highly flexible material.

Nut 16 has internal horizontal threading 21 of the same size as

threads

12 and 17, and has the same internal diameter as the external diameter of container neck 1-1, so that threads 21 will coincide with threads 12 and '17 when cap and nut are assembled on container. Nut 16 carries vertical knurling 22 on its outer surface.

To assemble the device, cap 15 is placed on top of container 11} so that arm 19 rests in recess 13, with the serrations 21} on the vertical face of arm 19 meshing with serrations 14 on inner surface of recess 13. Nut 15 is then placed over cap 15 and forced downward over lip 18. Nut 16 is then turned slightly so that cap 15 is in the closed position shown in FIGURE 2.

To open the cap, nut 16 is screwed downward, knurling 22 providing convenient purchase for the fingers. As nut 3 ,1 lhgild' Patented Nov. 12, 1953 16 moves downward, the lower surface of nut 16 will bear against L-shaped arm 19, causing its lower, or horizontal portion to flatten out and to enter recess 13. In this position arm 19 is completely vertical and fills recess 13. As nut 16 is screwed further downward into the lowest position, as shown in FIGURE 3, the top of nut 16 passes below the bend in L-shaped arm 19, and the upper portion of the arm being thus released, arm 1% tends to return to its normal L-shape, the resilience of the plastic material lifting cap 1-5 into the open position as also shown in FIGURE 3.

To close the container, the movement of nut '16 is reversed and it is screwed upward, first flattening out arm 19 and then permitting the lower portion of arm 19 to snap back to its horizontal position, as shown in FIGURE 2. To obtain a tight closure nut 16 is moved upward until further movement is prevented by lip 18. It will be seen that the meshing of serrations 14 and 2 9 will be in at least partial contact at all times, thereby securing cap 15 to container 10. It will also be noted that in the closed position, internal threads 21 of nut 16 mesh both with the threads -17 of cap 15 and the threads 12 of container, thereby tightly securing the cap against dislodgement.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a modification of my novel cap. In this modification recess 13 in neck '11 does not have its inner face serrated, but instead there is a horizontal, semi-cylindrical groove or indentation 23 located approximately at the middle of said inner face. Cap 15 is also modified, in that L-shaped arm 18 does not have serrations on its inner surface, but instead at the junction of the two arms of the L there is a semi-cylindrical ridge 24 of a size to fit in groove 23. It is apparent that the meshing of ridge 24- and groove 23 serves to prevent removal of the cap, remaining in meshed position as nut 16 moves upward or downward.

It will be apparent from the preceding description that I have provided a non-removable container cap having many advantageous features which have been pointed out. Other features will be apparent from the drawing and the appended claims. Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A container and closure comprising a container having a threaded neck, a threaded cap, an arm downward depending from said cap, a recess in said neck adapted to receive said downward depending arm, means for retaining said arm in said recess, an internally threaded not adapted to engage the threads of said cap and said neck and means for tilting said cap into an open position while retaining said arm in said recess.

2. In combination, a container having an externally threaded neck, an externally threaded cap, an L-shaped arm downward depending from said cap, a recess in said neck adapted to receive said downward depending arm, honizontal serrations on said arm, horizontal serrations in said recess in meshing relation with said first serrations, and an internally threaded nut adapted to engage the threads of said cap and said neck.

3. A container and closure comprising a container having a threaded neck, a threaded cap, a vertical arm downward depending from said cap, a recess in said neck adapted to receive said downward depending arm, means for retaining said arm in said recess, an internally threaded nut adapted to engage the threads of said cap and said neck and a horizontal arm extending outward from said vertical arm, below said nut.

4. In combination, a container having a threaded neck, a threaded cap, a flexible L-shaped arm downward depending from said cap, a recess in said neck adapted to receive said downward depending arm, horizontal serrations on said arm, horizontal serrations in said recess in meshing relation with said first serrations, and a threaded nut adapted to engage the threads of said cap and said neck, and a horizontal arm extending outward from said vertical arrn, below said nut.

5. in combination, a container having a threaded neck, a threaded cap, a flexible L-shaped downward depending arm on said cap, a recess in said neck adapted to receive said downward depending arm, means for retaining said arm in said recess, and a threaded nut adapted to engage the threads of said cap and said neck.

6. In combination, a container having a neck, a cap, a flexible L-shaped arm downward depending from said cap, said arm having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg extending outward from the lower end of said vertical leg, a recess in said neck adapted'to receive said vertical leg, means for retaining said arm in said recess, a collar adapted to surround said neck and said cap, a lip on said cap confining the upward movement of said collar, said adapted to receive said downward depending arm, with said horizontal leg of said arm extending outward of said ecess, means for retaining said arm in said recess, and an internally threaded nut adapted to engage the threads of said cap and said neck, and to bear on said horizontal leg when screwed downward.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Gilliland Feb. 1, 1938 McDonald Mar. 5, 1940

Claims

4. IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER HAVING A THREADED NECK, A THREADED CAP, A FLEXIBLE L-SHAPED ARM DOWNWARD DEPENDING FROM SAID CAP, A RECESS IN SAID NECK ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID DOWNWARD DEPENDING ARM, HORIZONTAL SERRATIONS ON SAID ARM, HORIZONTAL SERRATIONS IN SAID RECESS IN MESHING RELATION WITH SAID FIRST SERRATIONS, AND A THREADED NUT ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE THREADS OF SAID CAP AND SAID NECK, AND A HORIZONTAL ARM EXTENDING OUTWARD FROM SAID VERTICAL ARM, BELOW SAID NUT.