US3750822A

US3750822A - Closure for containers, and more particularly for jars, bottles cans and the like

Info

Publication number: US3750822A
Application number: US00170540A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Dubach
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-08-13
Filing date: 1971-08-10
Publication date: 1973-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-07
Also published as: DE2140038A1; FR2104852A1; CH528416A; FR2104852B1; GB1364287A

Abstract

The invention provides a closure for containers, and more particularly for jars, bottles, can and the like. The closure includes a seal pressing against the inner wall of the container, in which the sealing pressure may be quickly and reliably produced and relieved, thereby making possible a quick operation of the closure.

Description

3,750,822 Aug. 7, 1973 Moeller..........................

France.......

8/1952 Great Britain Austria ABSTRACT g pressure may be 3 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 6 C n a r F 4 5 9 l 6 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney-Markva & Smith The invention provides a closure for containers, and more particularly for jars, bottles, can and the like. The closure includes a seal pressing against the inner wall of the container, in which the sealin quickly and reliably produced and relieved, there making possible a quick operation of the closure.

0 United States Patent 1 Dubach 1 CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS, AND MORE PARTICULARLY FOR JARS, BOTTLES CANS AND THE LIKE [76] Inventor: Werner Dubach, CH 8484 Weisslingen, Switzerland [22] Filed: Aug. 10, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 170,540

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 13, 1970 Switzerland....................... 12177/70 [52] 0.8. CI. 215/52 [51] int. 865d 39/12 [58] Field of Search.......................... 215/52, 53, 54; 220/245; 217/78, 108, 109

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,416,278 5/1922 215/54 f E. v

, \r v a ,I 1 III 111.1111I.1 I

PATENTED M19 71975 SHEEI 1 (IF 5 FFFF l lA/FRAEK a/40H INVENTOR md-mimzz ATTORNEY PATENIEDIUR 1w 3.750.822

Vb/ML'R D LIB 16d INVENTOR BY M+M I ATTORNEY CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS, AND MORE PARTICULARLY FOR JARS, BOTTLES CANS AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In known closures, e.g., for jars and bottles, with insulating jacket, the sealing pressure is produced on the seal by means of a screw. For opening and closing the closure, both hands are usually needed, because otherwise the base portion, having the main thread, is also rotated relative to the threaded stud serving as operating member. This necessitates a frequent change of the grip for pouring and for operating the closure. For producing and relieving the sealing pressure, a number of rotating movements are required so that the closing stud is taken off and refitted with partially relieved seal for the sake of simplicity; this strains the seal or causes it to fall apart when it is excessively undone. In addition, excessive tightening of the screw can cause the glass neck to burst.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Various forms of the invention are shown in the drawings, in which FIG. I is an axial cross-section of a first embodiment of a closure under sealing pressure for a narrow neck vessel,

FIG. 2 is an axial cross-section of a second embodiment,

FIG. 3 shows a part of the closure of FIG. 2 in axia eross-section,

FIG. 4 is an axial cross-section of a third embodiment with the relieved sealing pressure,

FIG. 5 is a modification of a detail in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is an axial cross-section of a fourth embodiment for wide neck vessels and cans,

FIG. 7 is a cross-section along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is an axial cross-section through a fifth embodiment for wide neck containers, such as cans,

FIG. 9 is an axial cross-section of a modification of FIG. 2,

FIG. 10 is an axial cross-section of a further modification of FIG. 2,

FIGS. II and 12 are axial cross-sections of two further embodiments of the closure according to the invention,

FIG. I3 is an axial cross-section of an embodiment having a ball pen type operating mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS The closure shown in FIG. 1 comprises a gripping part 1, a cover 2 connected therewith, resting with its periphery 2' on the edge of the neck 3' of a Thermos flask 3, a tightening plate 4, and a rubber sealing ring 5 resting on one side against the cover 2, and on the other side against the tightening plate 4. In the relieved state, the sealing ring 5 has a hollow cylindrical shape, flush with the circumference of the cover 2, and the circumference of the tightening plate 4, and engages by means of reinforced internal heads 5' into corresponding peripheralgrooves of the cover 2 and the tightening plate 4. The centre part of the sealing ring 5 forms under the pressure of the tightening plate 4 an outwardly bulging annular roll 5 produced by the action of the tension spring 10 in the direction of the arrows to provide a locking action. Parts I, 2, 4 made preferably of plastic, have axial bores 6 through which passes a push-pull rod 7 of plastic. The inner end of the rod 7 is connected by a screw 8 for tensile stress with the tightening plate 4, whilst the outer end of the rod 7 has a knob 9 against which rests a compression spring 10 mounted in an expanded portion 6 of the bore. The annular roll 5" of the sealing ring 5 is in contact with the inner shoulder 3" of the Thermos flask 3, and provides an axial safety against the withdrawal of the closure pm.

By depressing the head 9 of the rod 7 against the action of the compressions spring Ill), the sealing ring 5 assumes its cylindrical shape by stretching the roll 5", and is flush with the cover 2 and the tightening plate 4, so that the closure pin may be withdrawn by means of the grip portion 1 from the bottle without offering resistance. When the pressure on the head 9 is relieved, the sealing ring 5 is deformed under the action of the spring 10 back into its sealing shape inwhich it forms the roll 5".

In the second embodiment of the closure, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a cover portion 12, provided with the gripping element 11, rests on the edge of the neck 13' of a Thermos flask 13. A push-pull rod 17, guided in a guide 16 of the cover portion 12 forms an integral piece with the tightening plate 14. Reference numeral 15 indicates a sealing ring of rubber, resting on one side against the cover portion 12 and on the other side against the tightening plate 14. A head 19 located at the outer end of the push-pull rod 17 and having an adjusting ring 21, serves to support a compression spring 20 located in an expanded portion E6 of the bore. The pressure of the tightening plate 14 forms a sealing roll 15" making sealing contact with the inner shoulder 13" and serving to secure the closing pin against withdrawal.

By exerting a pressure on the head 19, the sealing ring 15 stretches its roll 15" thereby facilitating the easy extraction of the closing pin. A locking pin 22 provided on the adjusting ring 21, rests on a helically rising inner shoulder 23 of the grip portion 11, having at the lowest point a blind bore 23' and, offset relative thereto at angles of ratchet indentations 23". In the position shown in FIG. 2, the locking pin 22 is exactly above the blind bore 23, so that pressure on the head 19 makes it possible to push in the rod 17, thereby stretching the roll 15" of the sealing ring 15 and enabling the closure to be easily withdrawn. By rotating the adjusting ring 21 to the left, the locking pin 22 slides on the rising shoulder 23, tightening the rod 17 further in the direction of action of the compression spring, and engages into one of the ratchet indentations 23", thereby fixing the tightening position of the sealing ring l5 and securing the closure to a variable internal pressure of the Thermos flask.

In a modification of this closure, according to FIG. 2 the adjusting ring 21 may be provided with a cap 21' which facilitates the rotation of the adjusting ring 21 for producing the adjustable higher tightening pressure of the sealing ring 15.

The third embodiment of the closure according to FIG. 4 shows the position of the sealing element with depressed head 19 in which the locking pin 22 engages into the blind bore 23 of the inner shoulder 23, and the sealing ring 15 assumes a stretched cylindrical shape without annular bulge.

FIG. 5 shows in a modification to FIG. 4 that the seal may also be constructed as a rubber bellows 25 connected by its base through a screw connection 24 with the lower end of the push-pull rod 17, whilst the edge roll 25" engages, as in FIG. 4, into an annular groove of the cover part 12, and rests thereagainst. Also here a bulging annular ring is formed, when the rubber bellows 25 is axially compressed.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is particularly suitable for large vessels, either with round or with square openings. Here, a sealing ring of rubber 26 is mounted in an annular groove of a closing cover 27, and tightening plate 28, formed by two conical surfaces 27', 28'. The closing cover 27 has a handle 29 which carries a knob 31 located in a recess 32 of the handle 29 and adapted to be depressed against the action of a spring 30. The knob 31 is connected to the plate 28 by two guide pins 34 passing through the handle 29 and the cover 27 in bores 33. The pressure of the spring 30 pulls the tightening plate 28 towards the cover 27 and causes thereby the annular groove to narrow, and the sealing ring 26 to be pushed outwardly and to expand. When the knob 31 is depressed the sealing ring 26 drops back into the annular groove and becomes smaller, so that the cover may be easily fitted to the vessel or can 35, or lifted therefrom. When handle and knob are released after fitting the cover to the vessel 35, the sealing ring 26 automatically expands under the action of the spring 30 and rests against the inner wall of the container, forming a tight seal. Instead of the bowed spring 30 it is also possible to fit a helical spring 30.

The fifth embodiment according to FIG. 8 comprises two sealing rings 26, 26' one above the other, of which the sealing ring 26 is between two conical surfaces 27' and 28', and the sealing ring 26' between two conical surfaces 28 and 36 of the tightening plate 28, and a further tightening plate 36. The closing cover 27 has two diametrically opposite handles 29. The tightening plate 36 carries a centre guide pin 34, passing through a bore 33 in the tightening plate 28 and the cover 27, and having a head 34' on its projecting top end. The guide pin 34 is pressed towards the top by a spring 30 and thereby urges the tightening plates- 36 and 28 against the cover part 27. Springs 30' are arranged between the cover plates 36 and 28, and the cover 27, whereby the pressure of the springs 30 is distributed uniformly amongst the tightening plates 36 and 28. Release of the pressure acting on the sealing rings 26, 26' is achieved by depressing a lever 37, acting on the guide pin 34, and mounted rotatably on a pivot 38 of a bearing lug 39 of the cover part 27.

By depressing the lever 37, the tightening pressure acting on the cover part 27 and the plates 28 and 36 is relieved, so that the spaces between the cover part 27 and the tightening plates 28, 36 are increased, permitting the sealing rings 26, 26' to sink thereinto and to become smaller. Hence, when the lever 37 is depressed the closing cover can be fitted or removed without friction. When the lever 37 is released, the cover part 27 and the tightening plates 28 and 36 are again affected by spring pressure and the sealing rings 26, 26' are pressed against the inner wall of the container 35 forming a tight seal.

According to a further modification of the closure of FIG. 2, shown in FIG. 9, the guide rod 17 has at its lower end a spherical element 40 which engages into a dish-shaped receiving part 41 of the tightening plate 14, forming therewith a snap coupling. This coupling makes it possible to rotate the rod 17 in any direction relative to the tightening plate 40. The latter is connected with the cover part 12 by the sealing ring 15. The guide rod 17 guided in a centre bore 16 of the cover part 12 is pulled towards the top by a compression spring 20 mounted in an expanded part 16 of the bore, and resting against the head portion 19, thereby causing the sealing ring 15 to be deformed in the shape of a bulge 15', forming a closure against the inner shoulder 13" of the bottle 13, and a tight seal, securing the closure against withdrawal. The head 19 surrounds the grip part 11 after the manner of a cap. A locking pin 22 arranged inside the head portion 19 rests on a helically rising or declining inner shoulder 23 of the grip part 11. The inner shoulder 23 connects a blind bore 23' with a ratchet indentation 23", offset relative thereto through In the position shown in FIG. 9, the locking pin 22 is above the blind bore 23', so that the head portion 19 of the push rod 17 may be introduced against the action of the compression spring 20, thereby causing the bulge 15" to be relieved, and the closure to be removed without friction. By rotating the head portion 19 towards the left out of the position of FIG. 9, the locking pin 22 slides up on the helical inner shoulder 23, causing a further expansion of the bulge 15" until the locking pin 22 finally engages into the ratchet indentation 23". In this position, the head portion 19 is secured against depression and the bottle is ready for transportation.

The bottle shown in FIG. 10 is a simplification of the bottle according to FIG. 9. Here, the head portion 19 of the push rod 17 is surrounded by the beaker-shaped upper end 11' of the grip part 11. The head end 19 is secured against accidental depression because in the closing position of the closure according to FIG. 10, the upper edge of the beaker 11' is substantially in the same plane as the upper edge of the head part 19. The depression of the head part 19 is, therefore, possible only with one finger of the hand.

In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the closure may be locked in the open position, whilst the closed position is secured by the pressure of the spring 20. The housing-shaped cover 12, 12' consists of two parts 12 and 12', connected by a snap joint and encloses a cylindrical chamber 43 which narrows towards the top byan inwardly projecting annular shoulder 44. The connecting rod 17 is guided in a centre guide 16 of the lower cover part 12' and carries at the bottom a tightening plate 14. The sealing ring 15 rests on the top against a peripheral shoulder 45 of the cover part 12' and at the bottom against a peripheral shoulder 46 of the tightening plate 14. The upper end of the pull rod 17 carries a plate 47 against which rests a compression spring 20 seated on the lower cover part 12. A locking plate 48 rests on the plate 47 of the push rod 17 and has a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the annular shoulder 44. The lock plate 48 carries on the top a tapering gripping portion 49, and at the bottom a circumferential bulge 50. In the eccentric position shown the locking plate 48 rests on the annular shoulder 44 and prevents thereby the escape towards the top of the guide rod 17 biassed by the tensioned spring 20. In this locking position, the sealing ring is in the cylindrical extended position. By shifting the locking plate 48 into its centre position, it can enter into the opening of the annular shoulder 44, thereby permitting the guide rod 17 to carry out the closing movement towards the top until the circumferential bulge 50 rests on the annular shoulder 44. At the end of the closing movement, the sealing ring 15 has reached its bulging expanded position as shown by the dash-dot line. The closure may be opened by pushing in the locking plate 48 from the dash-dot position and towards the side into the eccentric position according to FIG. 11. The embodiment of FIG. 12 is a modification of FIG. 11 and differs therefrom only in that the guide rod consists of a fixed part 17 and a movable connecting link 17', the latter being connected at its upper end to the locking plate 48 and at its lower end to the fixed guide member 17 by

ball joints

51 and 52 respectively. In view of the articulated connection of the fixed guide part 17 through the connecting link 17' with the locking plate 48, the desired vertical and horizontal movements of the locking plate 48 are possible for operating the closure.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment, in which the vertical displacement of the guide rod for operating the sealing ring 15 by actuating a push button 53 is effected by a control mechanism known in the art such as is used in ball pens for retracting and pushing forward the writing cartridge.

The cover consisting of two parts l2, 12 connected by a snap joint 42 contains the control mechanism of a known ball pen for moving the writing cartridge, and consisting of the

parts

12, 53, 54. Reference numeral 15 indicates the sealing ring, resting on one side against the underpart 12' of the cover, and on the other side against the tightening plate 14. The guide rod 17 firmly connected to the tightening plate 14 is biassed through the control mechanism by the compression spring 12, and passes through a centre bore 16 in the lower part of the cover. By depressing the push button 53 from the position in FIG. 13 the control mechanism is operated and the push button 53 moves into the dash-dot position leading to the expansion of the sealing ring 15. The depression of the push button 53 from the dash-dot position, reverses the control mechanism, causing the push button 53 and the sealing ring 15 to return into the position shown in FIG. 13.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to now preferred examples of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. and it is intended,

therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A closure for containers comprising a. a cover member having a bore therein,

b. a tensioning plate spaced from said cover member,

c. a guide rod secured to said tensioning plate and extending through the bore in said cover member, said guide rod being axially slidable through the bore in said cover member for moving and guiding said tensioning plate towards and away from said cover member,

d. an elongated annular cylindrical elastic sealing member extending in an axial direction between said cover member contacting one end of said sealing member and tensioning plate contacting the opposite end of said sealing member, said sealing member in an uncompressed, relaxed condition having an external uniform diameter and the cross sectional thickness of the elastic material of said cylindrical sealing member being thinner circumferentially at a point intermediate its ends than the cross-sectional thickness at the opposite ends thereof, and the interior cylindrical surface of said sealing member being spaced from said guide rod, and

e. spring means extending between said cover member and guide rod biasing said cover member and tensioning plate for movement towards each other to compress said cylindrical elastic sealing member in an axial direction to expand in a radial direction the portion of said cylindrical member having a thinner cross-section intermediate the ends thereof to seal the container,

. said guide rod being adapted for manual movement in the opposite direction against the bias of said spring means to move said cover member and tensioning plate away from each other to release the compression of said sealing member to contract said portion of said sealing member.

2. A closure as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting and maintaining the degree of compression applied to said elastic sealing member by said cover member and tensioning plate.

3. A closure as defined in claim I further comprising manually operable means for locking said sealing member in both closed and open positions.

I II!

Claims

1. A closure for containers comprising a. a cover member having a bore therein, b. a tensioning plate spaced from said cover member, c. a guide rod secured to said tensioning plate and extending through the bore in said cover member, said guide rod being axially slidable through the bore in said cover member for moving and guiding said tensioning plate towards and away from said cover member, d. an elongated annular cylindrical elastic sealing member extending in an axial direction between said cover member contacting one end of said sealing member and tensioning plate contacting the opposite end of said sealing member, said sealing member in an uncompressed, relaxed condition having an external uniform diameter and the cross-sectional thickness of the elastic material of said cylindrical sealing member being thinner circumferentially at a point intermediate its ends than the cross-sectional thickness at the opposite ends thereof, and the interior cylindrical surface of said sealing member being spaced from said guide rod, and e. spring means extending between said cover member and guide rod biasing said cover member and tensioning plate for movement towards each other to compress said cylindrical elastic sealing member in an axial direction to expand in a radial direction the portion of said cylindrical member having a thinner crosssection intermediate the ends thereof to seal the container, f. said guide rod being adapted for manual movement in the opposite direction against the bias of said spring means to move said cover member and tensioning plate away from each other to release the compression of said sealing member to contract said portion of said sealing member.

3. A closure as defined in claim 1 further comprising manually operable means for locking said sealing member in both closed and open positions.