US2600086A - Container closure - Google Patents

Description

June 10, 1952 F. A. VASTANO 2,600,086

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Jan. 21. 1949 Bnvenfor FXEDMICKA Easy v0 8g I I 0/ A) Mll Patented June 10, 1952 CONTAINER CLOSURE Frederick A. Vastano, Glen Rock, N. J., assignor of one-half to Alfred W. Vibber, Ridgewood,-

Application January 21, 1949, Serial No. 71,980

This invention relates to a removable and replaceable container closure such as a bottle cap.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a container closure of the indicated character which is simple and rugged in construction, and which is characterized by the ease and quickness of its application to or removal from a container.

The invention in one preferred embodiment thereof has as a further object the provision of a cap which is adjustable so as readily to be applicable to bottles having cap engaging beads on the neck thereof of various heights.

These and further objects of the invention will be more readily apparent upon consideration of the description of preferred embodiments thereof.

In the drawing appended hereto and forming part of the specification the container closure is shown in the form of a cap for a bottle.

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the first embodiment of the bottle cap, in which provision is made to adjust the body of the cap to compensate for different heights of the cap retaining beads on bottles;

Fig. 2 is a view in plan of the bottle cap shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical cross section through the axis of the cap of Figs. 1 and 2, the section being taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical cross section through the axis of a second embodiment of the cap of the invention, the body of the cap being integral.

As above indicated, Figs. 1, 2, and 3 depict the first illustrated embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 4 the second. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the cap is designated generally by the reference character 2. Body 2 is made round in plan and of such diameter as to overlap the upper end of the neck of bottle 4 on which it is affixed. Body 2 has a dependin skirt 8 in one portion thereof somewhat exceeding 180 in angular extent. The vertical termini of such skirt are designated l4 and I6. Skirt 8 carries on it lower edge the inwardly extending flange l2, the upper surface of which is inclined upwardly from the axis of body 2. Flange l2 engages beneath bead ID on the upper end of the bottle neck and, because of its angular extent about the axis of body 2, stably holds the cap on the bottle against vertical displacement when the cap is fully applied thereto. Termini M and I6 of skirt 8 and thus flange 12 are made sufiiciently far apart to allow the cap to be slid sideways into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the neck enterin between the termini of the skirt.

2 Claims. (01. 215-s7 Body 2 is provided vertically and axially thereof with the threaded opening l8, as shown. Into opening I8 is screwed the lower threaded cylindrical portion 20 of the adjustable upper part of the cap. Such upper part of the cap is provided with two spaced vertical parallel ears 22 and 24. Part 20 is provided with a vertical and axially extending bore 26 in which is slidingly received the plunger 28. Plunger 28 is of a diameter, in the illustrated embodiment, equal to the distance between the fiat inner faces of ears 22 and 24. Plunger 28 carries on its upper end the oppositely extending lateral projections 30 and 32. Such projections prevent plunger 28 from falling out of the body of the cap when such cap is disengaged from the bottle. The upper surface 33 of the plunger, including projections 30 and 32, is smoothly curved downwardly from the axis, in vertical cross section, as shown in Fig. 3. The elements of surface 33 in a direction normal to the paper in Fig. 3 are straight.

Afiixed to the bottom of plunger 28 by means of the headed nib 3B integral with the plunger and extending through the disc is the bottle neck spanning disc 34. Such disc, which has its outer edge downwardly flanged at 38, has attached to its bottom surface, as by means of an adhesive, the sealing member 40. Member 40, which is resilient and impervious in character, may be made of an elastomer such as natural or synthetic rubber, as shown. The member 40 spans the opening in the bottle neck, and is pressed into sealing relation to the lip of the bottle when plunger 28 and thus disc 34 are thrust downwardly relative to body 2.

The means thus to thrust the plunger and disc downwardly takes the form of a cam 64 pivoted on the upper portion of the main body on the headed pin 42 between the ears 22 and 24. Such cam is symmetrical on both sides of its central point a. Point (1 lies the closest to the axis of pivot pin 42, the active surface of the cam on each side of point a receding from the center of the pin until the point b is reached. Each side portion of the cam from the point 12 outwardly to the end of the curved active cam surface is in the form of an arc concentric with the axis of pin 42, Cam 44 is rotated by means of the lever 46 integral therewith.

The manner of use of the cap will be obvious from the above. The cap is, of course, applied to the bottle with the handle 46 extending substantially vertical, thus leaving plunger 28 to travel freely upwardly so that disc 34 and gasket 40 may be thrust upwardly into the recess 48 in 'main body 2. After the cap has been slid into position on the bottle, the upper portion of the main body may be rotated relative to the lower portion thereof to screw part 20 up or down as required. Such adjustment, of course, varies the distance of the pivotal center of cam 44 from the bead engaging surface of flange l2, and thus; also the distance from the bottom of gasket 40 to such surface of flange 12 when lever 46 is vertical. Such adjustment is not usually necessary upon re-application of the cap to a bottle on whichit has previously been used.

After the cap has been so mounted on. thebot tle, the lever 46 is swung either clockwise or counterclockwise, as desired, until an end, circularly arcuate, portion of. cam #4. lies in: con-r tact with surface 33 of plunger 28. In such position the cam is stably held because such are of the cam is circular, and because of the friction between cam and plunger. It is preferred: that the dimensions of'the parts be-such that lever 46 contacts the upper edge of body 6 of the. cam as shown in Fig; 1-, when the. cam is turned to-ful-ly sealing position. Thecap-is: releasedby swing.- ing, lever 46 toupright position, after. which: the cap may be removed by sliding it laterally. Although desirable, the adjusting feature of the above described embodiment. ofthe cap: is. not necessary in carrying out the broad invention. In Fig. 4' a cap 2? with a one piece main bodyis shown insealing positiononabottle. Therparts in Fig. 4 which are. the same as those in-the first embodiment are designated. by the: same reference characters.

In Fig. 4, as explained,.mainbody 6 of cap 2 has integral therewiththe spaced, parallel, verticaLear-s. of: which one is-shwn1at.-24. Body 6 has a vertical axial bore. 26 therethrough. such borecarrying slidingly within it the plunger. 28. The plunger-is thrust downwardly with. respect to the flange l2 carried by skirt 8' on the main body by. means of the cam- M, as. in the first embodiment.

Tocompensate far. varyingheights of head on the bottle and. variations. inthe: distancefrom the undersideof suchbeadtdthelip ofi the hottle-, the sealing gasket 48 is madesubstantially thicker. than the. thickness necessary for gasket Ml inthe firstembodiment. Thus: gasket 40'? 1 has in addition to its. sealingfunction. acushioning action, whichallows it toeffect atighipseal even though the-underside of bead- It! lies closer. to the lip of the bottle'than usual, and. also. allowsthe application of the cap..to. bottles without undue strain on the cam and plunger, where the under..- side of head l8. liesfurther fromthelip. of; the bottle than usuall The bottle cap ofboth. describedv embodiments of the invention is simple to. operate and can be applied to or removed from. a. bottle. in a very short time. Inadditi'on, because ofthe mechanical advantage afforded by the camand. operating lever, the sealingis. effected without undue exertion on the part. of the user...

Whereas for purposes. offill'ust'ration I'have described. preferred; embodiments, of the. container closure of the invention. it is obvious that the closure is capableofconsiderable variation as to details. The invention is therefore definedby thescope of the claims appendedhereto'.

I claim as new the following:

1. A closure for a container having an opening comprising a plunger, a container engaging means mounting the plunger for reciprocation toward and away from the opening in the container, means to seal the opening in the container mounted on the opening confronting end of the plunger, a cam journa-led in the plunger mounting means cooperating with the plunger, means to rotate the cam to advance the sealing means into sealing engagement with the surface of. the container surrounding the opening, and means to vary the distance between the axis of the cam and the container engaging means.

2". A cap'for a bottle having a neck, an opening at the top of the neck, and a bead encircling the neck, comprising a main body having two major portions, the first, bottom, portion being adapted to overlie the upper end of the bottle neck, a depending skirt on such first portion having bead engaging meansthereon,v the first portion having. a vertical axial threaded opening therein, the second, top; portion having a lower threaded endadiustably screwed into the opening in the first portion, a vertical axial here through the second portion, a plunger reciprocably mounted in the bore in the second portion, saidplunger having an upper and a lower end, means to seal the opening in the bottle mounted on the lower end of the plunger, spaced vertically extending parallel earson the second portion of the body, a cam journalledon a horizontalaxis in the main body between the earsand cooperating with the upper. end of the plunger, the cambeing symmetrical. about-the midpoint of its-activesurface, such midpoint lying closest to the pivotal axis ofithe. cam,.the cam increasing in radius in directions away. from such midpoint, the end zones of the active surface of the cambeing. substantially. concentric with the pivotal axis ofthe cam,.and a lever connected-to" the cam and lying between the ears on the canmain bod'y't'o rotate the cam in either direction from the. position in which its midpoint confrontsthe' plunger to ad'- vance the sealing means into sealing engagement with the surface of the bottle neck surrounding the opening.

FREDERICK A: VASTANO.

' GIT-ED The following. references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 55,248 Dalby' June'fi; 1866 110,757 Farnham- Jan: 3, 1 81-1 24,'72"0' Monier et'al Apr. 1, 1890 rpsaasa carr- July 23; 1912 21132775 Casablancas Oct. 11', 1938 231L198 Andreasson' Feb. 16, 1943 2388 950" Guarnaschelli Oct. 30, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS- Number Country Date 3,100 Great Britain Nov. 18, 1862 5719 28 Germany July28, 1891 66302 Germany July 23, 1912 102,507 Switzerland Dec; 30', 1922 1452304 1 Germany: Get; 30, 1903

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