US2639058A - Elastically sealed closure for containers - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1953 F. LOBL ELASTICALLY SEALED CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed July 26, 1951 Patented May 19, 1953 'F'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELASTICALLY SEALED CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Frederick Lobl, Middleboro, Mass. Application July 26, 1951. Serial No. 238,609

' This invention relates to improvements in closures for containers, and more particularly to improvements in such closures wherein an insert closure element is removably maintained in the mouth of a container by a sealing member which elastically engages exteriorly around the mouth walls of the container.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a closure for containers which has a rigid plug-type of closure element which is adapted to be inserted'in the mouth of a container and which has an elastic band of substantial width annularly secured to the rigid closure element in a relation to an annular outer portion of the rigid closure element such that said elastic band may be elastically engaged around the mouth walls of the container to maintain the rigid closure element in the mouth of the container, with an annular portion of the elastic band extending from its said annular securement to the rigid closure element outwardly between an annular portion of the rigid closure element and an annular adjacent surface portion of the container whereby said annular outwardly extending portion of the elastic band constitutes an annular tensioned sealing cushion drawn outwardly between adjacent annular surfaces of the container and said rigid closure element whence the major portion'of the width of the elastic band extends integrally and elastically around a substantial area of the exterior surfaces of the mouth walls of the container. 7

Another object is to provide a container closure of the mentioned general type wherein a rigid closure element engages within the mouth of the container and an elastic band of substantial width has one edge portion secured to the rigid closure element inward of the periphery of the outer end of the rigid closure element and adapted to be drawn annularly outward between the container and an outer annular portion of the rigid closure element when said elastic band is being elastically engaged exteriorly around the mouth walls of the container.

It is, moreover, my purpose and object general- 1y to improve the structure and efiectiveness of container closures and more especially closures wherein an elastic band engages exteriorly around the mouth walls of the container.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a medial cross-sectional view of the mouth end of a container and of a. closure therefor embodying features of the invention, the closure being in separated relation to the container with its elastic band in its contracted inverted position;

1 Claim. (Cl. 220-42) Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the closure in the mouth of the container with its elastic band in sealing relation to the mouth and elastically engaged exteriorly around the mouth walls of the. container; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified form of container.

Referring to the drawing, the container ill of Figs. 1 and 2 may be of any suitable material, such as glass, metal, rubber, porcelain, pottery, or any suitable one of the available plastic or composition materials, or the like. It preferably, although not necessarily, is formed with an exterior annular flange or lip I2 around its mouth opening and its mouth walls may provide a tapering neck or may have cylindrical extent as shown in the drawing. p

The closure element I! may be made of any suitably rigid material. It may be formed of plastic or composition materials, for example, although I presently prefer to make it of sheet metal with the generally shallow cup shape as represented in the drawing wherein cylindrical side walls Ha extend integrally upward from a bottom wall Mb. The cylindrical walls Ha have exterior diameter for nicely fitting the mouth of the container within the mouth walls thereof.

According to the invention a relatively wide elastic rubber band I6 is associated with the closure element I4 in such a manner that it can 6158-. tically engage exteriorly around the mouth walls. of the container when the container is to 'be closed, with a ortion drawn annularly outward- 1y between the end of the container and an annular outer portionof the closure element, and can be inverted into contracted enclosing relation to the outer portion of the closure element when it is desired to release the closure element for removal from. the container mouth. The rubber band It has one annular marginal edge portion secured to an outer annular portion of the closure element closely adjacent to the exterior circumference of the cylindrical walls thereof. As represented in the drawing, the outer edge portion of the cylindrical walls Mais rolled outwardly to provide an exterior annular bead l8, and a marginal edge portion of rubber band 16 is annularly clamped and anchored within the bead l 8 with a substantial width of the elastic band free to be stretched and drawn outwardly over the end of the container mouth walls, when the closure element I4 is within the mouth opening, thereby to engage the said outwardly stretched portion of the band between the end of the container walls and said outturned bead I8 on the closure element and to engage the major portion of the

Images