US2281620A - Receptacle discharge cap - Google Patents

Description

May 5, 1942.

H. w. RUEGER RECEPTACLE DISCHARGE CAP Filed Dec. 9, 1939 HEIPM/M/ m 170565,

Patented May 5, 1942 UNITED STATES PATET OFFEQE RECEPTACLE DISCHARGE CAP Herman W. Rueger, Lancaster, Pa., assignor to Liberty Can and Sign Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 9, 1939, Serial No. 308,469

9 Claims.

This invention relates to receptacle discharge receptacle contents therethrough; to provide such a closure which is so constructed as to permit the eflicient use therein of the-largest possible dispensing apertures with respect to its diameter and which is particularly adapted for use in its large diameter sizes, although. it is equally emcient in its smaller diameter sizes; to provide-in such a closure a novel form of unobtrusive stop means which acts positively and efiiciently to prevent relative rotation past a certain point in either direction between the inner and outer closure members; to provide stop means. whichmay. be so formed and disposed during manufacture as to allow any-desired. amount of relative rotation, short of a complete revolution,.between said inner and outer members; to provide such stop means which serve to strengthen and bracethe inner member andmay also serve as bearing means forthe outer member; and 'to provide such a. closure which, in-addition to-the above pointedout features and advantages, is of extremely neat preferred embodiment of the invention applied to a receptacle;

Figure 2, a top-planview of the invention;

'centric relation about the skirt 6.

letter A designates any usual form of receptacle provided with a preferably slightly conical neck or portion B at itsupper end on which the'closure of my invention may be mounted or applied.

The receptacle closure of the invention comprises an inner stationary cap designated 2 in its entirety, and an outer cap, designated l in its entirety, rotatably mounted on said inner cap 2. Both of said caps I and 2 are formed of preferably resilient sheet metal or other material.

The inner cap or member 2 comprises an ec-v centrically apertured circular topi-preferably of curved or arcuate cross-section, although it may.

be flat or of some other suitable shape an annular preferably integral skirt or portion 6 depending downwardly from the periphery of said top 4 and preferably being of slightly conical shape to be pressed down over and frictionally maintained in position on the preferably conical dispensing neck B or other suitable portion of a receptacle A; a preferably integral rim or flange 8 extending radially outwardly from the lower portion of said skirt 6; and a preferably integral annular shell l4 projecting upwardly from the periphery of said rim 8 and disposed in radially spaced con- Preferably the shell I 4 consists of a high-walled segment l2 and a low-walled segment 16, the opposite end edges of the high-walled shell segment [2 at its respective points'of juncture with said low-walled segment l6 being disposed preferably in an axialdirection and perpendicular to the upper edges I8 and 20 respectively of said high-walled and low-walled shell segments I2 and I6; However,

although the low-wallecl-shellsegment I6 is de sirable and, together with segment I2, serves to Figure 3, a view similar to Figure 2, but with f the top of the outer cap removed;

Figure 4, an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Fi ure 1;-

Figure 5, a section along the line 5-5 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6, a top plan view of a slightly modified form of the invention;

Figure 7, a fragmentary axial section of the modificationshown in Figure 6; and,

Figure 8, a fragmentary sectional view of the outer cap or-member illustrating a slightly modifiedform of stop formed therein.

Referring now inv detail to the drawing, the

strengthen and maintain the rigidity of the inner cap 2, in addition to serving as a convenient bearing surface for the skirt 1 of outer cap I, it is to be understood that shell segment I6 is not essential and may be omitted if desired, it being essential only to provide the high-walled segment l2 or its equivalent having stop means or shoulders ID to cooperate with'the stop lug or member 9 of outer cap l,as more fully hereinafter described.

The outer cap ,1 comprises an eccentrically apertured' top 5 corresponding in shape to the inner cap top 4 and adapted to have its lower face conformingly slidably frictionally engage the upbeen placed in outer cap I, by spinning or turning over the lower edge portion of skirt 1 to lie in resilient engagement against the lower face of rim 8. In Figure 4 the cap I is shown prior to assembly on inner cap 2 and before forming the flange II. I

It may be seen that in the assembled condition of the preferred forms of closure caps I and 2 the radially inwardly disposed stop or stop lug 9 of outer cap I is disposed for rotation in a path or are just above the upper edge of shell segment I6 between the stop shoulders III of inner cap 2; and the stop lug 9, the'shell I4, and the varying sizes may be applied to the inner and outer caps 2 and I respectively in accordance with usual well known practices.

For instance it may be desirable to provide a plurality of small shaker openings or perforations in said caps I and 2 adapted to be rotated into and out of registry, as in the modified form of closure shown in Figures 6 and '7, or a plurality of such small shaker openings or perforations may be formed in the outer cap I in addition to a the spoon opening 2I thereof so that either said dispensing openings 2I and 22 respectively of said caps I and 2 are so proportioned and positioned that the stop lug 9 engages one of the stop shoulders II) when rotatedto a position where the dispensing openings 2| and 22 are in registry in the open condition of the closure, and engages the other of said stop shoulders I0 when the outer cap I has been rotated in the other direction to closed position wherein the apertures 2I and 22 are entirely out of registry. Obviously the proportions of shell segment I2 may be changed or formed as desired to allow either a small or a 1 very large amount of relative rotation between the inner and outer caps 2 and I of the closure, the permissible amount of relative rotation decreasing as the high-walled segment I2 is formed to occupy a greater proportion of the peripheral or circumferential portion of rim 8.

The stop or stop lug 9 may be in any of a number of forms so long as it is properly located and of sufiicient strength.

One form of stop lug 9 which I find to be particularly well adapted for use in my preferred form of closure, and as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 4, comprises an indentation 9 formed with a radially inwardly extending bottom panel 9 a substantially axially disposed side panel 9*, and substantially radially axially disposed end Walls 9 adapted to engage the respective stop shoulders II].

In the slightly modified form of stop lug 99,

shown in Figure 8, the structure is the same as' hereinbefore described except that the end walls 9 of the above described form of stop 9 are omitted, and the stop 90 is joined to the outer cap I only along the edges 99 of the panels 99 and 90 so that the end edges of the bottom panel 90 are adapted to engage the respective stop shoulders ID at substantially right angles so that the stop shoulders I0 and end edges of panel 99 respectively will in operation bite into each other thereby preventing said stop shoulders I0 from bending and sliding around the stop lug 90 under the application of excessive force such as might be carelessly applied when opening or closing the closure or discharge cap in haste.

The dispensing apertures 2i and 22 respectively of the preferred form of closure are shown, simply by way of illustration, as being in the form of spoon openings of relatively large size, however it is thought to be obvious that various types of dispensing apertures or perforations of spoon opening 2| or said shaker perforations 'may be selectively rotated into registry with the opening 22 of the inner cap 2, as shown in Patent 766,091 to Woods.

Or, if desired, one of the closure caps, preferably the inner cap 2, may be provided with deep score lines or weakened portions defining the dispensing aperture, as shown in the patent to Lagois, 1, 515,124, so that the receptacle to which the closure is applied may remain sealed until the user forms the aperture by punching out or removing the material enclosed Within or bounded by said score lines, or it may be desired to use sealing means in the form of a paper or other suitable material disc disposed between the caps or cap tops 4 and 5, as disclosed in the patent to West 844,640.

Where large spoon openings or apertures such as 2I and 22 are provided in the closure caps I and 2 it may be desirable in some cases to so dispose said openings that in the closed position of the closure the adjacent edges of said apertures 2| and 22 will bespaced apart a substantial disprevent such sifting even when the respectivedispensing apertures 2I and 22 are very closely spaced in the closed condition of the closure.

It is thought to be apparent from the foregoing that when it is desired to dispense the contents of the container or receptacle A, the outer cap I may be rotated until the respective dispensing apertures 2| and 22 are in registry at which time the stop 9 will engage the stop shoulder I9 of the inner cap 2 to prevent further rotation, and to close the container closure it is necessary only to, rotate the outer cap I in the reverse direction until the stop 9 again contacts one of the stop shoulders I0 and the dispensing apertures ZI and 22 are entirely out of registry.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7 the construction and operation are the same as in the preferred form of the invention except that the proportions of the parts have been changed to show how the invention may be embodied in a small diameter closure adapted to fit over a small diameter neck or portion B of a receptacle A and wherein only a small amount of rotation of the outer closure cap I99 is necessary to move the inner and outer cap shaker perforations 229 and 2I9 respectively into and out of registry.

To this end the highwalled shell segment I29 extends almost entirely around the periphery of the inner cap 209 to permit only a small amount of movement of the stop lug 909 between the stop shoulders I009 of said shell segment I 20. Also, since in the smaller diameter caps it is diflicult to spin or'turn up a very high shell I29 without splitting or damaging the same, the upperedge of shell segment L20 :lies substantiallybelowithe top of the=outer cap I130 of this modified form, and the stop "lug ilflfl :of thisform .is in'the form of a deep inwardly extending U-cross section indentation extending downwardly for rotary movement tbetween the adjacent stop shoulders IMO.

I claim:

1. A:two piece iunitary receptacle closure comprising an :inner cap, in combination with an outer cap rotatably-mounted onsaid inner cap, said-inner 'cap comprising an eccentrically apertured circular .top of curved cross-section, a slightly conical depending-skirt integral'with said top and adapted to be frictionally pressed and maintained-in'position on the dispensing-neck of a receptacle, an integral rim extending radially outwardly from thezbottom of said skirt, andran integral annular shell projecting upwardly from the outer margin of said rim, said shell comprising a low-walled segment and a high-walled segment, the opposite end edges of said highwalled segment being disposed in an axial direction to form abrupt stop shoulders, and said outer cap comprising an eccentrically apertured top conforming in shape to the top of said inner cap and disposed in rotary sliding frictional engagement thereon, an annular skirt depending from said top and rotatably journalled about the shell of said inner cap, a radially inwardly extending flange carried by said skirt in resilient sliding engagement with the rim of said inner cap to maintain the top of said inner cap in resilient frictional engagement with the top of said outer cap, and a radially inwardly extending stop lug formed in said outer cap to engage the stop shoulders of said inner cap, said stop lug, said inner cap shell, and the respective dispensing openings of said caps, all being so proportioned and positioned that in the assembled operative condition of the closure said stop lug is disposed for rotation above the upper edge of the lowwalled shell segment to engage the stop shoulders of said high-walled shell segment in the open and closed conditions of said closure.

2. A two piece unitary receptacle closure comprising an inner cap having an eccentrically apere tured top of curved cross-section, a depending skirt integral with said top, an integral rim extending radially outwardly from the bottom of said skirt, and an integral annular shell projecting upwardly from the outer margin of said rim, said shell comprising a low-walled segment, and

a high walled segment formed with substantially axially disposed end-edges, in combination with an outer cap rotatably mounted on said inner cap comprising an eccentrically apertured top conforming in shape to the top of said inner cap and disposed in rotary sliding frictional engagement thereon, an annular skirt depending from said top and rotatably journalled about the shell of said inner cap, a radially inwardly extending flange carried by said skirt in resilient sliding engagement with the rim of said inner cap, and a radially inwardly extending stop lug formed in said outer cap and disposed above the upper edge of said low-walled shell segment for rotation between the end edges of said high-walled shell segment to engage one of said edges in the respective open and closed positions of said closure.

3. A two piece unitary receptacle closure comprising an inner cap having an eccentrically apertured top, a depending skirt integral with said top, anin'tegral rim extending radially outwardly from :the t-bottom'of saidskirt, and anintegral annular shell projecting upwardly from the outer margin :of-said' rim, said shell comprising a lowwalled segment, and a high walled segment formed with substantially axially extending end edges,'in combination with an outercap rotatably mounted on said inner cap comprising an-eccentrically apertured top disposed in rotary sliding frictional engagement on said inner cap, anannular skirtdepending from saidtop below the rim of said inner cap, a radially inwardly extending flange carried by said skirt in resilient sliding engagement with the rim of said-innercap, and a radially inwardlylextendingstop lug formed in said outer cap and disposed above the upper edge of said low-walled :shell segment for rotation between :the .end edges of said high walled shell segment, to engage one of said edges in the respective open and closed conditions of said closure.

4. 'A receptacle closure comprising an inner cap having an eccentrically apertured :top, .a skirt depending from said top, a rim extending radially outwardly from the bottom of said skirt, and a shell projecting upwardly from said rim, said shell comprising a low-walled segment, and a high-walled segment having abrupt end edges, in combination with an outer cap rotatably mounted on said inner cap comprising an eccentrically apertured top disposed in rotary sliding frictional engagement on said inner cap, an annular skirt depending from said top about said inner cap, a radially inwardly extending flange carried by said skirt in resilient sliding engagement with the rim of said inner cap, and a radially inwardly extending stop lug formed in said outer cap and disposed above the upper edge of said low-walled shell segment for rotation between the end edges of said high-walled segment, to engage one of said edges in the respective open and closed conditions of said closure.

5. A receptacle closure comprising an inner cap having an eccentrically apertured top, a skirt depending from said top, a rim extending radially outwardly from the bottom of said skirt, and a shell segment projecting upwardly from said rim and having abrupt axially extending end edges, in combination with an outer cap rotatably mounted on said inner cap comprising an eccentrically apertured top disposed in rotary sliding frictional engagement on said inner cap top, a skirt depending from said top about said inner cap, a radially inwardly extending flange carried by said skirt in resilient sliding engagement with the rim of said inner cap, and a stop lug formed in said outer cap and disposed for rotation between the end edges of said shell segment.

6. A receptacle closure comprising an inner cap having an eccentrically apertured top, a skirt depending from said top, a rim extending radially outwardly from the bottom of said skirt, and a shell segment projecting upwardly from said rim and having abrupt substantially axially extending end edges, in combination with an outer cap rotatably mounted on said inner cap comprising an eccentrically apertured top disposed in rotary sliding engagement on said inner cap top,- a skirt depending from said top, a radially inwardly extending flange carried by said skirt in engagement with the rim of said inner cap, and stop means formed in said outer cap and disposed for rotation between the end edges of said shell segment.

7. A receptacle closure comprising an inner cap having an eccentrically apertured top, a skirt depending from said top, and an upwardly projecting shell segment attached in radially outwardly spaced relation to said skirt and having circumferentially opposed substantially axially extending end-edges, in combination with an outer cap rotatably mounted on said inner cap com prising an eccentrically apertured top disposed in rotary sliding engagement on said inner cap top, a skirt depending from said top, a flange carried by said skirt in engagement with the rim of said inner cap, and stop means formed in said outer cap and disposed for rotation between the end edges of said shell segment.

8. A receptacle closure comprising an inner cap having an eccentrically apertured top, a skirt depending from said top, and an upwardly projecting shell segment attached in radially outwardly spaced relationship to said skirt, and having circumferentially opposed substantially axially extending end edges, in combination with an outer cap rotatably mounted-on said inner cap comprising an eccentrically apertured top disposed in rotary sliding engagement on said inner cap top, a skirt depending from said top, means carried by said outer cap for maintaining said outer and inner cap tops in slidable frictional engagement, and stop means carried by said outer cap top and disposed for rotation between the end edges of said shell segment.

9. A receptacle closure comprising an inner cap having a top, an eccentrically apertured skirt depending from said top, and a shell seg-'

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