US3132764A - Container closures - Google Patents

Description

May 1 19.64 H. T. HUTTON, JR 3,132,754

CONTAINER CLOSURES Filed April 5, 1961 INVENTOR HARRY T. HUT TON JR.

BYWW

United States Patent 3,132,764 (JGNTAINER CLOSURES Harry T. Hutton, In, Franklin Park, N..I., assignor to Air Reduction Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 100,848 4 Claims. (Cl. 220-46) This invention relates to container closures, and more particularly to a system for fastening a suitable member in container-closing position. The member may be one which, in addition to serving the function of closing the container, also serves one or more other functions, such for example as the support of apparatus which is to extend into the container for some particular purpose.

One of the embodiments in which I have advantageously employed the invention is in the closure of a beer keg, with the closure member serving the additional function of supporting within the keg a unit which maintains in the space within the keg a regulated over-atmospheric pressure (this pressure for example being of carbon dioxide which forms a source from which the proper carbonation of the beverage may be maintained). A particular type of beer keg has been one of modest capacity which may be sold for storage in and disposition of its beer contents from the home refrigerator-the keg being intended, when empty, to be returned to the bottling or filling establishment (e.g., brewery) for re-use. This is illustrative of a context in which there is desirable a fastening of the closure member at the industrial or commercial establishment involved (in the exemplifying case, the brewery) in such a manner that, though readily amenable to being undone with the aid of apparatus such as that with which it was originally effected, the fastening is nevertheless reasonably proof against being undone by the use of ordinary hand toolsor, stated in other terms, in such a manner that, though readily amenable to being undone at the same or a similar establishment, the fastening is nevertheless reasonably proof against being undone by amateurs. At the same time it is desirable that the process of fastening and unfastening be simple and that the apparatus required there-for, though permissibly considerably more powerful than ordinary hand tools, nevertheless be of inelaborate nature.

It is an object of my invention to accomplish, severally and jointly, the desiderata stated in the preceding paragraph. It is an object to accomplish these desiderata for members to be fastened in contexts generally similar to but not necessarily strictly involving container closure. It is an object to provide a generally improved fastening system. Gther and allied objects will appear from the following description and the appended claims.

It is convenient -to summarize a typical embodiment of the invention in terms of an aperture, a first member in the form of a rim surrounding the aperture, and a second member inse-rtible through the aperture and required to be held in inserted position against a force tending toward its ejection. The invention accomplishes such holding by a circumferentially interrupted generally annular element capable of being deformed in its own plane, such as a 'C-ring. In the fastened position of the members this element will overlie the rim as seen looking in the direction in which the force operates, and will overlie the insertible member as seen looking in the opposite direction. Obviously .to remove this element from this position it must be deformed (i.e., either collapsed or expanded) to an extent sufficient so that it overlies one only of the memberstthe selection of a particular one of the members to be thus overlain being for example enforced by the deformable element in its fastened posi- 3,132,764 Patented May 12, 1964 ice tion being at or substantially at the limit to which it can under any circumstances overlie the other member.

According to the invention there is provided in the surface of the selected member a curb means limiting the deformation of the deformable element to less than the extent stated above-- the effectiveness of the curb means thus to limit that deformation being overcomable only by an appreciable displacement of the insertible member against the force mentioned above. By the further expedient of making this force a large one, amateur attempts at removal of the deformable element-and thus at unfastening the members from each otherare quite effectively frustrated.

in a more specific aspect the invention contemplates that the container or equivalent device wherein the aperture lies will be provided not only with the rim member mentioned above but also with means providing a seat toward which the insertible member may be inserted, and that resilient means be interposed between that seat and the insertible member and compressed therebetween when that member is in inserted position-and that the force of that compressed means will then constitute the force mentioned above.

Other and more specific aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description of my invention and from the drawings which are herein referred to and in which:

FIGURE '1 is a vertical cross-sectional view'taken longitudinally through the axis of a typical small beer keg in connection with which my invention has been embodied in one form, this figure showing in elevation the unit of the next succeeding figure installed in the keg;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the axis of the unit and the immediately adja cent portion of the keg and showing in detail the closure arrangements;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the subject matter which is shown in section in F iGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fractional view similar to a portion of FIGURE 2 but showing the closure arrangements at an intermediate stage the process of fastening or unfasten- FIGURE 5 is a fractional cross-sectional view of a modified form of my invention;

FIGURE 6 is a fractional cross sectional view similar to FIGURE 5 but showing the closure arrangements of that figure at an intermediate stage in the process of fastening or unfastening; and

FIGURE 7 is a fractional cross-sectional View of the apparatus of FIGURE 5 in the absence of the closure member itself.

Reference being had to FIGURE 1, there Will be seen a keg 1 typical of a container with which my invention may be employed, resting on a fiat (as. seen in cross-section) side portion 3 as it ordinarily Will be when stored (e.g., in a home refrigerator) in readiness for use. The keg may for example be formed from sheet metal, with a concave bottom 2 (seen at the left in FIGURE 1) continuous with its sides. Approximately centrally of the bottom 2 there may be installed a spigot 6, which extends outwardly from the bottom (preferably not quite to the most extreme bottom plane of the keg). In-teriorly of the keg the spigot may communicate with a tube 7 which 7 extends thereto from a region immediately inside the flat portion 3 on which the keg rests-and it Will be understood that if the space within the keg be at substantial over-atmospheric pressure, opening of the spigot 6 will result in any liquid (other than the last trivial remnants) in the keg passing upwardly through the tube 7 to and outwardly through the spigot.

The top member 5 of the keg may for example be an element separately formed, permanently secured to and lirnitedly extending (at 4) the sides of the keg, and interiorly in the form of a dome; at approximately its center it may be provided with a relatively large-diameter boss (extending preferably not quite to the most extreme top plane of the keg) to form a substantially thickened central portion 9. It is through this portion 9 that the aperture, designated as 8, is provided, and in this portion 9 that the rim member is comprised. That rim member, specifically designated as M, is best seen in FIGURE 2 and is hereinafter more fully referred to.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URE 1 the closure member for the aperture 8 consists of a generally cylindrical shell for example coaxial wiith the keg, within and to which there are assembled various elements to form collectively a unit for maintaining within the keg a regulated over-atmospheric pressure of carbon dioxide. The details, both of the unit and of the fastening of the shell to the kegs rim member 10,

are best seen in FIGURE 2, in which the central top portion of the keg and the unit appear in the vertical axis arrangement appropriate to the operations of filling and closing.

Briefly to describe the unit, the shell 3t) extends inwardly into the keg from the aperture 3; after thus extending in substantially cylindrical formation for a substantial distance, it may in its further inward extent taper toward its axis to merge in reduced diameter into an end Wall 31 which may be considered as forming the inner extremity of the shell proper. Axially through this end Wall 31, and serving to clamp thereto the neck of a carbon-dioxidecontaining reservoir 32 which is disposed in the space within the shell 30, is an adapter 33 in which is carried a valve 34 of the same general type as is used for the retention of air in and its controllable release from automobile tires and tubes. This valve has the stem 35 projecting inwardly of the keg, and it is by pressure outwardly (i.e., upwardly in FIGURE 2) on this stem that the valve is opened at appropriate times. The reservoir '32 may be charged independently of the valve 3-5, for example through a suitable filling valve 47 at its opposite or outer end.

To provide for such opening the material of the shell 30 (which may for example be a molding of non-metallic plastic or phenolic composition) is extended inwardly beyond the end wall 31 to form a large cup 29, inverted as seen in FIGURE 2, of which the end wall 31 serves as a central bottom portion, and against a suitable shoulder in the side of the cup 29 there is peripherally clamped, as by ring 40, a diaphragm 36. The diaphragm is disposed adjacent the valve stem 35, and is biased theretoward by a helical spring 38 whose outer end bears against a thin disc 37 secured to the diaphragm, and Whose inner end is held in an apertured small cup 39 which may be threaded into the ring to provide for adjustment of the system, described below. The inner side of the diaphragm is isolated from intra-keg pressure by a suitably gasketed cap 4-1 screwed over the otherwise open mouth of the large cup 29, andis dependably made subject to atmospheric pressure by a thin duct or passage 42 passing from the space enclosed by the cap 41, through a suitable rib 28 formed between the large cup 29 and the main portion of the shell 30, to the space within the shell-which space is open to the ambient.

When the valve 34 is opened pressure from the reservoir v will be discharged through the valve into the space, or

to the general intra-keg space.

The spring 38 is so adjusted that, when in the general space within the keg there exists the proper overatmospheric pressure and in the pressure chamber there exists the same pressure plus the small fixed pressure drop or differential characteristic of the check valve, the diaphragm 36 will be in contact with the valve stem 35 and will be pressing thereagainst with a force infinitesimally less than required to move that stem and thus to open the valve. Whenever the pressure in the general intra-keg space drops to a value less than that proper pressure the pressure in the pressure chamber will drop to that lower value plus the above-mentioned small differential, and the diaphragm will accordingly move upwardly and thus open the valvewhereafter the progressive building up of pressures in the pressure chamber and in the general intra-keg space, resulting from the opening of the valve, will cause the diaphragm to move progressively downwardly until, when there have been reestablished in the general intra-keg space the original proper pressure and in the pressure chamber the same pressure plus the small fixed difierential, the diaphragm will just have been restored to the initial position above described and the valve 34 will just have been closed to stop the further build-up of pressure.

The assembly of the various elements above described to the shell 39 of course in no way'subtracts from the function of the shell as the closure member for the aperture 8, to which functon attention may now be particularly directed. The portion of the shell which is immediately active in that function is a peripheral portion,

. formed by an annular flange 26 extending away from the axis at the mouth of the shell. To cooperate with this flange the keg is provided, at the inner extremity of its aperture 8, with an annular flange 11 extending toward the axis-the two flanges being of such dimensions that the flange 26 could rest directly on the flange 11, which latter may accordingly be considered as forming a seat for the closure member. An intervening resilient element is provided, however, typically in the form of a rubber- O-ring 23 which, when the closure member or shell 30 is held in inserted position, will be compressed between the flanges.

The means which holds or fastens the closure member in inserted position is a circumferentially interrupted annular element deformable in its own planetypically, a resilient C-ring, such an element appearing in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-4 as 18. In the absence of specially imposed constraint this element in this embodiment will have its radially outer portion inset into an annular groove or slot 13 formed in the wall of the aperture 8the C-ring then abutting against, or being slightly spaced from, the radially extreme wall of the slot, as may be preferred. Accordingly as seen looking from inside to outside of the keg, this element 18 in its radially outer portion overlies the rim member 15which may be considered as constituted by that part of the central top portion 9 which lies between the slot 13 and that central portions exterior (top-shown) surface. Conversely, as seen looking in the opposite direction, this element 18 in its radially inner portion at the same time overlies the closure member or shell 30-specifica1ly, overlies the flange 26 thereof. This condition of the apparatus is illustrated not only in section in FIGURE 2, but also in plan in FIGURE 3.

It will be appreciated that the O-ring 23, compressed in this condition of the apparatus, serves two functions; one is the provision of a fluid-tight seal between the keg and the closure member, and the other is the provision of a force biasing the closure member against the C-ring and in turn the C-ring against the rim member, thus firmly holding the C -ring in place and precluding any vibration or rattling of it even though it may not bear against the radially extreme wall of the slot 13. It will further be appreciated that in this embodiment the radially extreme wall of the slot 13 forms a means precluding substantial expansion of the C-ring and thus enforcing the selection of the closure member as the member to be uniquely overlain by the C-ring in order to permit removal or insertion of the closure member from or to its inserted position.

Without more, there would be obvious from the structural description the process of insertion and fastening of the closure member and the converse process of unfastening and removing itboth of which would involve temporary collapse of the C-ring to an extent sufficient so that it overlay only the closure member (to facilitate which the C-ring may if desired be provided on each side of its circumferential interruption with tool-accepting holes 19). Preferredly, however, the invention contem plates a further feature, which is provided in that one of the two members which is to be temporarily uniquely overlain by the C-ring-i.e., in this embodiment, in the closure member. It is a shoulder or curb, formed in that surface which is disposed toward the C-ring, by which the temporary deformation of the C-ring is, in the absence of an appreciable inward displacement of that member, limited to less than the extent mentioned above. Such a curb is shown in FIGURES 2-4 as 25,'formed in the outer surface of the flange 26 by making the radially inner portion of thatflange outwardly thicker than the radially outer portion.

The effect of this curb is to require, for either removal or insertion of the C-ring from or to the slot 13, that the closure member be brought to a position more in- Ward (in FIGURES 2-3, downward) than that which it will occupy in the normal fastened condition of the apparatus, by at least the height of the curb. By way of illustration, FIGURE 4 fractionally shows the C-ring in an intermediate position and state through which it must pass in being brought from its normal condition to the collapsed condition in which it overlies only theclosure member, or vice versa; from this figure it will be immediately apparent that the closure member not only is, but also had to be, temporarily displaced inwardly beyond its normal fastened position, in order that the 0- ring could even momentarily be in this position andstate.

This temporary inward displacement of the closure member from its normal fastened position must of course be effected against the rapidly increasing fonce of the G-ring generated by its increasing compression over that finite value which it has been seen above already to have in the normal fastened condition of the. apparatus-;-the displacement accordingly requires the temporary application to the closure member of a very strongexternal force. This can of course be applied by means (not shown) which are inelabroate, but which are nevertheless very powerful and for that reason are not likely to be found among usual hand tools or other equipment readily available to amateurs. r

In FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 I illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention. Herein there again appears, as in earlier figures, a central top portion 9 typically of a container, and therein an aperture 8 through which a closure or equivalent member is to be inserted; again there is provided at the inner extremity. of the aperture 8 a flange 11 extending toward the axis. Again a circumferentially interrupted annular member deformable in its own plane is used to fasten the closure member in inshort cylindrical section 52 a little'inwardradially of its periphery. Between the portion 51 and the aperture flange 11 there is again employed a resilient element, typically in the form of the O-ring 23 of earlier figures. To limit any tendency of the O-ring to bulge radially inwardly the cover 50 may for example be provided with a short inward cylindrical extension of external diameter suitably related to the normal internal diameter of the O-ring.

The deformable element in this embodiment may again be a resilient C-ring, conveniently somewhat thicker than that of earlier figures and herein designated 20. Both because of this extra thickness of the C-ring and because the curb is now to be provided in the rim member, the annular slot herein designated 14 in the wall of the aperture 8 must in-the first portion of its extent into the material of the top portion 9 be of substantially greater axial dimension than the previous slot 13. Because the C-ring is to be expanded for fastening or unfastening the closure member, the extent of the slot 14 into the material of the top portion 9 must be very substantially greater than that of the previous slot 13. The rim member, or part of the top portion 9 which lies between the slot and that portions exterior (top-shown)vsurface, is again designated as 10; it is now, however, in its surface disposed toward the C-ringi.e., in the outer (upper) surface of the slot 14that there is located the curb, which is herein designated 15 and is of course formed by increasing the axial dimension of the rim member 10, and decreasing that of the slot 14, in the radially more extreme portion of the latterf In the fastened condition of the apparatus, shown in FIGURE 5, the C-ring 20 will lie within the circle formed by the curb 15 against which latter it may if desired then abut. Accordingly as seen looking frominside to outside of the container, the C-ring'in its radially outer portion overlies the rim member .ltlspecifically, overlies the radially inner portion of that member. Conversely, as seen looking in the opposite direction, the C-ring in its radially inner portion at the same time overlies the closure member 50specifically, overlies the radially outer part of the peripheral portion 51 therein. Thus the closure member is held in its inserted position in a manner basically similar to that in which it is held in preceding embodiment. Again the O-ring' 23, compressed in this condition of the apparatus, serves functions similar to those served by it in that embodiment.

In this embodiment, contrary to the preceding one, the member to be uniquely overlain by the C ring in order to permit removal or insertion of the closure memberor cover 50 from or to its inserted position is the rim membera selection conveniently enforced by the short cylindrical section 52 of the cover 50, which while the cover is in place of course constitutes a means precluding substantial contraction of diameter of .the C-ring.

It will be appreciated that the process of insertion and fastening of the cover 50, and the converse process of unfastening and removing it, each require the temporary exserted position; conversely to the embodiment of earlier figures, however, the member to be temporarily uniquely overlain by the deformable element during the removal or placement of the latter from or in fastening position is the rim memberand there are other and attendant differences which will appear.

In this embodiment the closure member is shown as a simple cover 56 having the peripheral portion 51 which cooperates with the aperture flange 11 as did the flange 26 of the closure member 30; while this cover might be of flat configuration, it is preferable that its outer surface be outwardly domed by the provision in it of at-least 'a.

tension of the C-ring so that it overlies only the'rim member (to facilitate which the outer radial inward crosssectional corner of the C ring may be cut away, as indicated at 21, to provide a recess whose wall may be expandingly gripped by a suitable tool).- It will further be appreciated that the curb ll5- again a curb formed in the member which is to be uniquely overlain by the deformed C-ring, in the surface on that member which is disposed toward the C-ring-again requires that the closure member or cover 50 bebrought to a position more inward (in-FIGURES 5-6 downward) than that which it will occupy in the normal fastened condition of the apparatus. By way of illustration, FIGURE 6 fractionally shows the (Ming in. an intermediate position and state through whichit must pass in being brought from its normal condition to the expanded condition, or vice versaand again from this figure it will be immediately analogous to its action in the preceding embodiment and i need not be redetailed.

One comment perculiar to the embodiment of FIG- URES 7 may be made with respect to the C-ring. It is that (assuming these be present the desirable doming of the cover 50 or some equivalent means enforcing the selection of the rim member as the one to be uniquely overlain during fastening and unfasteuing of the cover member) the assembly of the C-ring in some manner to the member which it is at times uniquely to overlie must be effected as an initial matter-since that member is now the rim member and the C-ring is to bear against it from the inside. Such assembly is readily effected by temporarily collapsing the C-ringi.e., temporarily subjecting it to a deformation opposite to that to which it will be subjected in fastening and unfastening of the closure memberand after introducing it into the aperture 8 allowing it to expand to lie partially within the slot 14. The cover 50 being not yet present, the C-ring will of course be loose and will seek a random position in that; slot such as that sectionally illustrated in FIGURE 7; even though portions of its periphery will be free of confinement by the slot (as indicated at 16), nevertheless more than half of its periphery will be confined and the C-ring thus effectively, even though loosely, retained. Such retention has the advantage, worthwhile under certain circumstances, of advance assembly of the C-ring so that it is dependably present and available for use when the cover is inserted.

While I have disclosed my invention in terms of specific embodiments thereof, I intend no unnecessary limitations by virtue of the details of those embodiments. Many modifications will be suggested by my disclosure to those skilled in the art, and such modifications will not necessarily constitute departures from the spirit of my invention or from its scope, which I undertake to define in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A container and container closure comprising, container walls and a container closure member defining a general space within the container, said closure member insertable in an aperture in one of said container walls, a rim member in said container wall surrounding said aperture, 21 seat included in said rim member preventing the complete passage of said closure member through said aperture into said container general space, a peripheral flange on said closure member overlying said rim member seat, a preformed resilient ring element interposed between said closure member peripheral flange and said rim member seat, said resilient element being compressed by said flange and said seat when the closure member is in the inserted position, said compressed resilient element providing a force tending to eject said closure member from said aperture, said compressed resilient element providing a fluid-tight seal between said container wall and said closure member, retaining means maintaining said closure member in said aperture in said inserted position and preventing said ejection of said closure member, said retaining means maintaining said compression of said resilient elemerit and maintaining said fluid-tight seal when said closure member is in said inserted position, said retaining means comprising a deformable C-ring partially inserted into an annular groove in said rim member whereby said G-ring overlies saidrim member and said closure member and prevents removal or" said closure member from said aperture and prevents said ejection of said closure member and maintains said closure member in said inserted position, said closure member biased against said C-ring and said C-ring biased against said rim member by said force provided by said resilient element When'said closure (member is in said inserted position whereby vibration of said C-ring is precluded, said C-ring being capable of temporary deformation in its own plane to a sufiicient extent to overlie only a selected one of said members whereby maintaining said sufiicient deformation permits removal of said closure member from said aperture, a curb in said selected overlain member whereby said suflicient temporary deformation of said C-ring to overlie only said selected member is prevented when said closure member is in said inserted position, means in said member other than said selected member precluding said C- ring member from being temporarily deformed to a sufiicient extent to overlie said member other than said selected member when said closure member is in said inserted position, said closure member in said inserted position capable of being displaced inwardly of said container by the application of substantial force to said closure member, said substantial force being suificient to overcome said force provided by said compressed resilient element and sufiicient to further compress said element whereby said closure member may be displaced inwardly of said containerand Where tools other than ordinary hand tools are required to generate said substantial force, said closure member capable of being removed from said inserted position in said aperture by the application of a said substantial force providing a said closure member inward displacement equal to at least the height of said curb such that said displacement of at least curb height allows said C-ring to be temporarily deformed in its own plane to a suificient extent to overlie only said selected one of said members thereby permitting removal of said closure member, and tool-accepting means on said C-ring whereby said temporary deformation of said C-ring and maintenance of said sufficient deformation of said C-ring by tool means is facilitated. a

2. A container and container enclosure comprising, container walls and a container closure member defining a general space within the container, said closure member insertable in an aperture in one of said container walls, a rim member included in said container wall and surrounding said aperture, a seat included in said rim member preventing the complete passage of said closure member through said, aperture into said container general space, a peripheral flange on said closure member overlying said rim member seat, a preformed resilient ring element interposed between said closure member peripheral flange and said member seat, said resilient element being compressed by said fiange and said seat when said closure rnemberis in the inserted position, said compressed resilient element providing'a force tending to eject said closure member from said aperture, said compressed resiiient element providing a fluid-tight seal between said container wall and said closure member, retaining means maintain ing said closure member in said aperture in said inserted position and preventing said ejection of said closure member, said retaining means maintaining said compression of said resilient element and maintaining said fluid-tight seal when said closure member is in said inserted position, said retaining means comprising a deformable C-ring partially inserted intoan annular groove in said rim member whereby said C-ring overlies said rim member and said closure member and prevents removal of said closure member from said aperture and prevents said ejection of said closure member and maintains said closure member in said inserted position, said closure member biased against said c rin-g and said C-ring biased against said rim member by said force provided by said resilient element when temporary deformation of said C-ring to overlie only said closure member when said closure member is in said inmember in said inserted serted position, said annular groove in said rim member I allowing only said partial insertion of said C-ring and preventing said C-ring from being temporarily deformed in its own plane to a sufficient extent to overlie only said rim member when said closure member is in said inserted position, said closure member in said inserted position capable of being displaced inwardly of said container by the application of substantial force to said closure member, said substantial force being sufficient to overcome said force provided by said compressed resilient element and sufiicient to further compress said element whereby said closure member may be displaced inwardly of said container and Where tools other than ordinary hand tools are required to generate said substantial force, said closure member capable of being removed from said inserted position in said aperture by the application of a said substantial force providing a said closure member inward dis placement equal to at least the height of said closure member curb such that said inward displacement of at least curb height allows said O-ring to be temporarily deformed in its own plane to a sufficient extent to overlie only said closure member thereby permitting said removal of said closure member, and tool-accepting means on said C-ring whereby said temporary deformation of said C-ring and maintenance of said suflicient deformation of said C-ring by tool means is facilitated.

3. A container and container closure comprising, container walls and a container closure member defining a general space within the container, said closure member insertable in an aperture in one of said container walls, a rim member included in said container wall and surrounding said aperture, a seat included in said rim member preventing the complete passage of said closure member through said aperture into said container general space, a peripheral flange on said closure member overlying said rim member seat, a preformed resilient ring element interposed between said closure member peripheral flange and said rim member seat, said resilient element being compressed by said flange and said seat when said closure member is in the inserted position, said compressed resilient element providing a force tending to eject said closure member from said aperture, said compressed resilient element providing a fluid-tight seal between said container wall and said closure member, retaining means maintaining said closure member in said aperture in said inserted position and preventing said ejection of said closure member, said retaining means maintaining said compression of said resilient element and maintaining said fluid-tight seal when said closure member is in said inserted position, said retaining means comprising a deformable C-ring partially inserted into an annular groove in said rim member whereby said ring overlies said rim member and said closure member and prevents removal of said closure member from said aperture and prevents said ejection of said closure member and maintains said closure member in said inserted position, said closure member biased against said C-ring and said C-ring biased against said rim member by said force provided by said resilient element when said closure member is in said inserted position whereby vibration of said C-ring is precluded, said C-ring being capable of temporary deformation in its own plane to a suflicient extent to thereby overlie only said rim member whereby maintaining said sufficient deformation permits removal of said closure member from said aperture, said annular groove in said rim member including a curb preventing said sufficient temporary deformation of said C-ring to overlie only said rim member when said closure member is in said inserted position, a curb in said closure member preventing said C-ring from being temporarily deformed in its own plane to a sufficient extent to overlie only said closure member when said closure member is in said inserted position, said closure position capable of being displaced inwardly of said container by the application of substantial force to said closure member, said substantial force being suflicient to overcome said force provided by said compressed resilient element and suflicient to further compress said element whereby said closure member may be displaced inwardly of said container and where tools other than ordinary hand tools are required to generate said substantial force, said closure member capable of being removed from said inserted position in said aperture by the application of a said substantial force providing a said closure member inward displacement equal to at least the height of said rim member curb whereby said C-ring may be displaced inwardly of the container in said annular groove a distance at least equal to said height of said rim member curb allowing said C-ring to be temporarily deformed in its own plane and in said annular groove to a suflicient extent to overlie only said rim member'thereby permitting said removal of said closure member, and tool-accepting means on said C-ring whereby said temporary deformation of said C-ring and maintenance of said suflicient deformation of said C-ring'by tool means is facilitated.

4. A container closure system and container adapted for maintaining a regulated over-atmospheric pressure of carbon dioxide within said container and for. maintaining the proper carbonation of a beverage within said container comprising, container walls and a container closure system defining a general space within the container, said closure system including a closure member insertable in an aperture in one of said container walls in the inserted position whereby said system closes said container, said closure system supporting pressurizing apparatus within said container for maintaining a regulated over-atmospheric pressure of carbon dioxide within said container and for maintaining the proper carbonation of a beverage within said container, means permitting the withdrawal of said carbonated beverage from the container interior, said closure system in said inserted position requiring the application of substantial forces to said system in order to permit removal of said system from said aperture to gain access to said container interior and said pressurizing apparatus and where tools other than ordinary hand tools are required to generate said substantial forces whereby said container is tamperproof to a high degree; said closure system comprising, said closure member insertable in said container wall aperture and where said closure member supports said pressurizing apparatus within said container, a rim member in said container wall surrounding said aperture, a seat in said rim member allowing said supported pressurizing apparatus to pass through said aperture into said container interior and preventing the complete passage of said closure member through said aperture intosaid container interior, a peripheral flange on said closure member overlying said rim member seat, a preformed resilient ring element interposed between said closure member flange and said rim member seat, said resilient element being compressed by said flange and said seat when the closure member is in the inserted position and said closure system closes said container, said compressed resilient element providing a force tending to eject said closure member from said aperture and said inserted position and said compressed element providing a fluidtight seal between said container wall and said closure member to thereby prevent the passage of fluids through said aperture when said closure member is in the inserted position, retaining means maintaining said closure member in said aperture and preventing said ejection of said closure member and maintaining said compression of said resilient element and maintaining said fluid-tight seal when said closure member is in said inserted position, said retaining means comprising a deformable O- ring partially inserted into an annular groove in said rim member whereby said C-ring overlies said rim memill ber and overlies said closure member and prevents removal of said closure member from said aperture and maintains said closure member in said inserted position, said closure member biased against said C-ring and said C-ring biased against said rim member by said force provided by saidcompressed resilient element when said closure member is in said inserted position whereby vibration of said C-ring is precluded, said C-ring being 7 capable of temporary deformation in its own plane to a sufiicient extent to overlie only a selected one of said members whereby maintaining said sufficient deformation permits removal of said closure member from said aperture, a curb in said selected overlain member whereby said suflicient temporary deformation of said C-ring to overlie only said selected member is prevented when said closure member is in said inserted position, means in said member other than said selected member pre- 7 eluding said C-ring member from being temporarily deformed to a sufiicient extent to overlie said member other 12 inwardly of said container and where tools other than ordinary hand tools are required to generate said substantial force, said closure member capable of being removed from said inserted position in said aperture by the application of a said substantial force providing a said closure member inward displacement equal to at least the'height of said curb such that said displacement of at least curb height allows said C-ring to be temporarily deformed in its own plane to a sufiicient extent to overlie only said selected one of said members thereby permitting removal of said closure member, and toolaccepting means on said C-ring whereby said temporary deformation of said G-ring and maintenance of said sufficient deformation of said C-ring by tool means is facilitated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 832,924 Ross Oct. 9, 1906 1,713,224 Gunter May 14, 1929 2,352,192 Gasche June 27, 1944 2,379,053 Weingart June 26, 1945 2,725,252 Greer Nov, 29, 1955 2,811,337 Andersen Oct. 29, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 719,477 Great Britain Dec. 1, 1954

Claims (1)

1. A CONTAINER AND CONTAINER CLOSURE COMPRISING, CONTAINER WALLS AND A CONTAINER CLOSURE MEMBER DEFINING A GENERAL SPACE WITHIN THE CONTAINER, SAID CLOSURE MEMBER INSERTABLE IN AN APERTURE IN ONE OF SAID CONTAINER WALLS, A RIM MEMBER IN SAID CONTAINER WALL SURROUNDING SAID APERTURE, A SEAT INCLUDED IN SAID RIM MEMBER PREVENTING THE COMPLETE PASSAGE OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBER THROUGH SAID APERTURE INTO SAID CONTAINER GENERAL SPACE, A PERIPHERAL FLANGE ON SAID CLOSURE MEMBER OVERLYING SAID RIM MEMBER SEAT, A PREFORMED RESILIENT RING ELEMENT INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID CLOSURE MEMBER PERIPHERAL FLANGE AND SAID RIM MEMBER SEAT, SAID RESILIENT ELEMENT BEING COMPRESSED BY SAID FLANGE AND SAID SEAT WHEN THE CLOSURE MEMBER IS IN THE INSERTED POSITION, SAID COMPRESSED RESILIENT ELEMENT PROVIDING A FORCE TENDING TO EJECT SAID CLOSURE MEMBER FROM SAID APERTURE, SAID COMPRESSED RESILIENT ELEMENT PROVIDING A FLUID-TIGHT SEAL BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER WALL AND SAID CLOSURE MEMBER, RETAINING MEANS MAINTAINING SAID CLOSURE MEMBER IN SAID APERTURE IN SAID INSERTED POSITION AND PREVENTING SAID EJECTION OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBER, SAID RETAINING MEANS MAINTAINING SAID COMPRESSION OF SAID RESILIENT ELEMENT AND MAINTAINING SAID FLUID-TIGHT SEAL WHEN SAID CLOSURE MEMBER IS IN SAID INSERTED POSITION, SAID RETAINING MEANS COMPRISING A DEFORMABLE C-RING PARTIALLY INSERTED INTO AN ANNULAR GROOVE IN SAID RIM MEMBER WHEREBY SAID C-RING OVERLIES SAID RIM MEMBER AND SAID CLOSURE MEMBER AND PREVENTS REMOVAL OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBER FROM SAID APERTURE AND PREVENTS SAID EJECTION OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBER AND MAINTAINS SAID CLOSURE MEMBER IN SAID INSERTED POSITION, SAID CLOSURE MEMBER BIASED AGAINST SAID C-RING AND SAID C-RING BIASED AGAINST SAID RIM MEMBER BY SAID FORCE PROVIDED BY SAID RESILIENT ELEMENT WHEN SAID CLOSURE MEMBER IS IN SAID INSERTED POSITION WHEREBY VIBRATION OF SAID C-RING IS PRECLUDED, SAID C-RING BEING CAPABLE OF TEMPORARY DEFORMATION IN ITS OWN PLANE TO A SUFFICIENT EXTENT TO OVERLIE ONLY A SELECTED ONE OF SAID MEMBERS WHEREBY MAINTAINING SAID SUFFICIENT DEFORMATION PRMITS REMOVAL OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBER FROM SAID APERTURE, A CURB IN SAID SELECTED OVERLAIN MEMBER WHEREBY SAID SUFFCIENT TEMPORARY DEFORMATION OF SAID C-RING TO OVERLIE ONLY SAID SELECTED MEMBER IS PREVENTED WHEN SAID CLOSURE MEMBER IS IN SAID INSERTED POSITION, MEANS IN SAID MEMBER OTHER THAN SAID SELECTED MEMBER PRECLUDING SAID CRING MEMBER FROM BEING TEMPORARILY DEFORMED TO A SUFFICIENT EXTENT TO OVERLIE SAID MEMBER OTHER THAN SAID SELECTED MEMBER WHEN SAID CLOSURE MEMBER IS IN SAID INSERTED POSITION, SAID CLOSURE MEMBER IN SAID INSERTED POSITION CAPABLE OF BEING DISPLACED INWARDLY OF SAID CONTAINER BY THE APPLICATION OF SUBSTANTIAL FORCE TO SAID CLOSURE MEMBER, SAID SUBSTANTIAL FORCE BEING SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME SAID FORCE PROVIDED BY SAID COMPRESSED RESILIENT ELEMENT AND SUFFICIENT TO FURTHER COMPRESS SAID ELEMENT WHEREBY SAID CLOSURE MEMBER MAY BE DISPLACED INWARDLY OF SAID CONTAINER AND WHERE TOOLS OTHER THAN ORDINARY HAND TOOLS ARE REQUIRED TO GENERATE SAID SUBSTANTIAL FORCE, SAID CLOSURE MEMBER CAPABLE OF BEING REMOVED FROM SAID INSERTED POSITION IN SAID APERTURE BY THE APPLICATION OF A SAID SUBSTANTIAL FORCE PROVIDING A SAID CLOSURE MEMBER INWARD DISPLACEMENT EQUAL TO AT LEAST THE HEIGHT OF SAID CURB SUCH THAT SAID DISPLACEMENT OF AT LEAST CURB HEIGHT ALLOWS SAID C-RING TO BE TEMPORARILY DEFORMED IN ITS OWN PLANE TO A SUFFICIENT EXTENT TO OVERLIE ONLY SAID SELECTED ONE OF SAID MEMBERS THEREBY PERMITTING REMOVAL OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBER, AND TOOL-ACCEPTING MEANS ON SAID C-RING WHEREBY SAID TEMPORARY DEFORMATION OF SAID C-RING AND MAINTENANCE OF SAID SUFFICIENT DEFORMATION OF SAID C-RING BY TOOL MEANS IS FACILITATED.

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