US3406862A

US3406862A - Venting closure

Info

Publication number: US3406862A
Application number: US697952A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donaldson David
Original assignee: Container Corp
Current assignee: Container Corp; Smurfit Kappa Packaging Corp
Priority date: 1968-01-15
Filing date: 1968-01-15
Publication date: 1968-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1985-10-22

Description

D. DONA LDSON VENTING CLOSURE Oct. 22, 1968 Filed Jan. 15, 1968 w v E wrOIz 0A V/O OOA/ALDSO/V ATTORNEYS United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vending closure plug for a container opening comprising a hollow body including a pair of members each having an end wall with a vent opening and skirt; and a pressure sensitive, elastomeric, apertured diaphragm element positioned within the body.

The invention relates to venting closures and more particularly to a plug type closure adapted to be threadably received within an opeing of a wall of a container such as a plastic drum.

It is an object of the invention to provide, in a closure of the type described, an arrangement which will pemit air or other gaseous vapors to escape from a container to relieve the pressure therein but which at the same time will prevent the accidental escape of liquids from the container in the event the container is jostled or tipped over from its normal standing position.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in the invention of the type described, of a venting closure which includes a cylindrical outer body within which is positioned a pressure sensitive, slitted diaphragm insert and a retainer member adapted to hold the insert in position within the body.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from. an examination of the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a venting closure plug embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse vertical section of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1;

.- FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of the elements of the venting closure plug shown in FIGURE 1. It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, certain elements have been intentionally omitted from certain views where they are believed to be illustrated to better advantage in other views.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of the invention, and particularly to- FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the novel closure embodying features of the invention is' shown as being threadably received within an aperture 0 in a wall W of a container such as a plastic drum or barrel.

As best seen in FIGURE 2 the closure includes a generally cylindrical hollow body, indicated generally at 10, which includes a pair of outer and inner cup shaped

members

12 and 14, respectively, disposed in telescoping relation to provide an internal cavity 16 within which is positioned a diaphragm element 18.

Outer body member 12 includes an end wall, indicated generally at 20, having an integral, preferably cylindrical skirt or side Wall 22 extending therefrom. Skirt 22 is preferably provided with external threads 24 adapted to engage mating threads in the opening of the container wall.

End wall 20 includes a peripheral flange 26 adapted to seat against the outer surface of the container wall when the closure plug is in position. End wall 20 also includes a central portion in the form of an upwardly projecting ice hollow boss 28 which is preferably formed with a contour of a square or hexagon so that it can be engaged by a conventional wrench to facilitate insertion or removal of the closure plug.

End wall 20 of the outer member is provided with one or more vent openings 30 which extend through the body of the closure plug and communicate with the interior cavity 16.

Still referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that in its preferred form the central portion 32 of boss 28 is connected to the remaining portion of the boss by a relatively thin connecting section 34. The purpose of this arrangement is described later in the specification.

Again referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that at the free end of skirt 22 there is integrally formed an inwardly extending peripheral retaining lip or flange 36 the purpose of which is also described later in the specification.

Diaphragm element 18, as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 4- is also generally cup-shaped and includes a cylindrical side wall 42 having at one end around end wall 40 and having at the other end a radially outwardly extending peripheral rim 44 undercut as at 46 to facilitate its connection to the inner body member as hereinafter described. End wall 40 of the insert is provided with a transverse slit 48 extending therethrough, the purpose of which will be described in connection with the operation of the invention.

As best seen in FIGURE 2 diaphragm element 18 is positioned within cavity 16 of the body with its skirt rim 44 disposed in abutting position against the inside surface of outer member end wall 20, and is maintained in this position within body cavity 16 by a means of inner body member 14.

As best seen in FIGURE 2 and 4 inner member includes a preferably round end wall '50 having a generally cylindrical, although preferably tapered, side wall 52 projecting therefrom. The free end edge of side wall 52 is preferably provided with a chamfer as at 54 adapted to mate with undercut 46 of the element rim 44 to provide snug engagement therebetween. Inner member 14 may be held in telescoping relation with outer member 12 by means of the inner retaining flange 36 on the free end edge of the outer member skirt. The purpose of the tapered side wall of the inner member is to permit its skirt to be forced into the outer member skirt the retaining shoulder. Once it is in position the retaining shoulder will engage the end wall of the inner member to keep it in position within the outer member.

End wall 50 of the inner member has a vent opening 56 over which is disposed an integral bafile plate 58, the purpose of which is hereinafter described. It will be seen that with the baffle 58 located over the opening 56 in a bridge-like manner a pair of side vent openings 59 are provided at opposite ends of the baffie.

It will be understood that the body members of the plug are preferably formed from a low density polyethylene, or other material, as dictated by the chemistry and economics of particular applications, and the pressure sensitive apertured diaphragm element is formed of a more flexible elastomeric material such as rubber or the like. As shown in the drawing the diaphragm element end wall is relatively thin compared with the side Wall and has formed therein the slit 48. The length of the slit in combination with the dimension of the wall and its thickness may be coordinated to give the necessary characteristics for whatever pressure and materials may be involved in any particular application.

In operation as fluid pressure in the container reaches a predetermined amount pressure applied to the diaphragm element end wall causes the end wall to bulge away from the direction of the pressure which in turn causes a parting of the sides adjacent the slit. The thicker side wall of the element eliminates the effects of strain due to assembly in the clamping and sealingflange being transmitted to the element end wall, and it also enables the device to vent into the container at a considerable smaller pressure dilierential than is required for venting outwards. This is accomplished because the design assures that pressure is applied to the side wall of the insert when venting is required, causing a compression of the slit on outward venting and a widening of the slit on inward venting. The magnitude of the pressure that causes the respective venting can be accommodated over a wide range by appropriate dimensions, starting at almost zero for very thin soft units.

'By the arrangement of the baflie construction of the end wall of the retainer member it will be understood that the side openings 59 are so positioned that liquid impinging upon the baflie from inside the container will principally splash outward and away from the pressure element or diaphragm insert so as to minimize the danger of leakage due to inadvertent surges of liquid against the inner extremity of the closure member.

Thus it will be seen that the invention provides a closure arrangement of relatively simple design and construction which will afford the maximum protection against dangerous build-up of air pressure within the container and at the same time will minimize the danger of liquid from the container through the venting closure in the event the container is accidentally tipped over or knocked down.

I claim:

1. A venting closure plug for a container, comprising:

(a) a body including:

(i) a pair of hollow, cup-shaped outer and inner members each having an end wall with a vent opening extending therethrough and an integral, generally cylindrical skirt extending therefrom;

(ii) at least a portion of the skirt of the inner member being telescopically received within the skirt of the outer member to define a cavity between the end walls of respective members;

(b) a pressure sensitive, apertured diaphragm element positioned within said cavity for permitting the flow of fluid between the vent openings of respective body members to vent the interior of the container when the fluid pressure therein exceeds a predetermined amount required to flex said element.

2. A venting closure plug according to claim 1, wherein said outer body member end wall includes a boss contoured for engagement with a wrench and wherein the vent opening is in a side of said boss.

3. A venting closure plug according to claim 1, wherein said outer body member end wall has a portion joined to the remainder of the end wall by a relatively thin connecting section which is adapted to rupture and thereby permit the blow-off of said portion, if the pressure in the container exceeds a predetermined amount, to prevent the rupture of the entire container.

4. A venting closure plug according to claim 1, wherein the skirt of said outer body member is threaded for engagement with a threaded opening in the container.

5. A venting closure plug according to claim 1, wherein said members include cooperating means operable to retain the members in telescoping relation with each other.

6. A venting closure plug according to claim 5, wherein said cooperating means includes a radially inwardly projecting shoulder on the free end of the outer member skirt engageable with the outer surface of the inner member end wall.

7. A venting closure plug according to claim 1,"wherein the inner member skirt is tapered to facilitate its insertion into the skirt of the outer member.

8. A venting closure plug according to claim 1, wherein said inner and outer members are formed of a thermoplastic material, and the diaphragm element is formed of an elastomeric material.

9. A venting closure plug according to claim 1, wherein said diaphragm element is generally cup-shaped and includes:

.(i) a cylindrical side wall;

(ii) a round end wall which is relatively thinner than said side wall and which has a transverse slit extending therethrough which is openable upon the application of a predetermined amount of pressure thereagainst.

10. A venting closure plug according to claim 9, and including an annular, radially outwardly projecting, peripheral rim at the free end of said diaphragm element side wall having an axially outer surface engageable with the inner surface of said outer member end wall and having an axially inner surface engageable with the free end edge of said inner member skirt.

11. A venting closure plug according to claim 10, wherein said diaphragm element rim inner surface is inclined and wherein the free end edge of the inner member skirt is chamfered to provide a tongue and groove connection between the inner member and diaphragm insert.

12. A venting closure plug according to claim 1, wherein the inner member end wall includes an integral bridgelike bafiie section positioned over said vent opening to prevent a direct surge of fluid pressure against said diaphragm element.

13. A venting closure plug for an opening in a container, comprising:

(a) a body having a pair of outer and inner cup-shaped members disposed in telescoped relation and each having a vent opening communicating with the interior of the body;

(b) an elastomeric, apertured diaphragm element positioned within said body for permitting the flow of fluid between the vent openings of respective body members to vent the interior of the container when the fluid pressure therein exceeds a predetermined amount required to flex said insert.

14. A venting closure plug for an opening in a container, comprising:

(a) a hollow body having vent openings at opposite ends;

(b) an elastomeric, apertured diaphragm element positioned within said body for permitting the flow of fluid between the vent openings of the body to vent the interior of the container when the fluid pressure therein exceeds a predetermined amount required to flex said insert;

(c) said body including means for preventing the surge of fluid from the container directly against said diaphragm insert.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,937,223 5/1960 Thompson 215-56 3,023,924 3/1962 Boyer 220-44 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE T. HALL, Assistant Examiner.