US935321A - Jar-closure. - Google Patents

Description

E. W. PEARCE. JAR CLOSURE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14. 1908.

Patented Sept.28, 1909.

Ziweaea: Ivz/ek/Z'anlZwooaZ age/area gm/MM UNITE STATES PATET FFICT ELWOOD W. PEARCE, OF EAST MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

JAR-CLOSURE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELwooD W. PEARCE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of East Milton, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Jar-Closures, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like figures 011 the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to the closing mech anism of a fruit jar or can or a similar pack age, and has for its object the provision of a more or less springy or yielding joint at the neck of the can, bottle, or other package.

The details of my invention and various advantages thereof will be pointed out at length in the course of the following de scription, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show the top portion of the jar in side elevation, viewed at right angles to each other; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing the particular construction at the joint, which concerns my invention more particularly.

The jar or other receptacle 1 for fruit, liquids, or what not, may be of any usual or preferred kind, being herein shown as having a neck 2, overhanging portion or annular shoulder 3, flange 4 for receiving a packing ring or gasket 5 on which rests a top 6, all in usual manner. Spanning the top is a wire retainer or bail 7 downwardly bent at its ends 8 and hooked at 9 into an eye 10 formed at the angle or corner-bend of a releasing and fastening lever 11 which passes around the neck 2 in the usual manner.

Above the eye 10 the overhanging shoulder 3 is provided with an undercut notch 12 opening downwardly at 13, see Fig. 3, and having its inner surface in substantially the same vertical plane as the adjacent surface of the neck 2, see Fig. 2, said notch having its overhanging edge curved in a semi-circle. Fitting against this curved surface of the notch 12 is a spring loop 14 formed on the upper extremity of an upwardly extending portion 15 from the eye 10, which forms the short end of the clamping lever 11.

At the middle of the fastening lever 11 the neck is provided with a depression 16 to receive the finger or thumb of the operator and thereby facilitate the lifting of the le- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 14, 1908.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909. Serial No. 448,498.

ver 11, the latter preferably being deflected upwardly and forwardly in a curve as indicated at 17 to facilitate still further the lifting operation. The retainer or bail 7 is held in place on the top 6 by saddle-like grooves or holders formed by pairs of protuberances or small projections 18, one pair at each side of the top. By causing the bail to engage the top at the sides, 2'. c. loeating the holding projections or saddle-like means which holds the bail directly over the rim or vertical edge of the cover, the pressure of the bail and the strain due to the spring action thereof are brought at the strongest and thickest portion of the top directly in vertical alinement with the rim or flange of the top, so that thereby the top is much less liable to crack or break than heretofore.

In use, the top is closed in clamped position by moving the parts to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and is released by swinging the lever ll forwardly and upwardly on the parts 12, 14 as a pivot. By having the notch 12 formed as shown in the under side of the shoulder 3 and open at its lower end, the short arm 15 of the clamping lever gets a straight upward thrust, and at the same time is permitted to have a large bearing surface against the overhanging arched sides of the notch. Furthermore, I have found, in practice, that there is much less liability of the cans breaking when this notch is provided than if a mere socket were drilled or molded transversely into the neck or wall of the can or jar. Also, it is much easier to form a notch in a large vessel, such for instance as a five-gallon glass ar, than any other form of cavity. Also by having the large loop 14 with its open end and yielding capability, I find that the clamping strain on the top is relieved which has heretofore caused undue breakage of tops. hen the clamping lever 11 is moveddownwardly the open loop 14 cooperates with the remaining wire portion of the apparatus to pro duce a yielding or springing action sufficient to prevent breakage. By locating the holding groove 0r saddle, formed by the two projections 18, at the sides of the top, as distinguished from the old construction in which they were located at the center, the liability of the top breaking by the down ward pull or strain of the clamping lever is still further minimized.

I make no claim to the general construction, nor to the general shape and arrangement of the retaining wires, my invention residing in the open notch opening at the under side of the shouldered neck, and the spring loop formed at the short end of the clamping lever to turn smoothly and yieldingly in said open notch.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A jar closure, comprising a jar having at the opposite sides of its neck overhanging shoulders provided with upwardly extending undercut arched notches open at their lower ends, a top, a bail spanning said top and having depending ends terminating below said notches, and a lever provided at its ends with spring loops fitting said notches and pivotally connected to the ends of said bail below said loops.

2. A jar closure, comprising a ar having at the opposite sides of its neck pivot notches, each notch being substantially semicircular, opening downward, and formed in an overhanging shoulder projecting beyond the vertical surface of the jar neck below the notch, the under side of said shoulder affording a smooth semi-circular bearing for the adjacent spring loop to slide freely upon;

a top, a bail spanning said top and having depending ends terminating below said notches, and a lever extending across one side of the jar neck, pivotally connected to the depending ends of said bail, and having its free ends beyond said pivotal connection ,with the bail formed into upwardly extending loops curved to fit against the smooth semi-circular unde1.'surfaces of said overhanging shoulders, said loops having their ends open to permit the loops to spring when slid around on their semi-circular bearings into clamping position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELXVOOD PEARCE.

Vitnesses M. J. SPALDING, EDWARD IVIAXWELL.

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