US2633262A - Closure cap - Google Patents

Description

D. D. ACTON CLOSURE CAP Filed Dec. 50, 1949 Patented Mar. 31, 1953 OFFICE CLOSURE CAP Daniel D. Acton,

Anchor Hocking Lancaster, Ohio, assignor to Glass Corporation,

Lancaster,

Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application December 30, 1949, Serial No. 135,973 4 Claims. (01. 21540) The present invention relates to closure caps of the type adapted to be applied to receptacles or containers by forcing them down over the mouth of the container, and to packages sealed by the closure cap.

At the present time closure caps of the force fi or "pressed down type have, for a great many products, superseded the use of closures of the reformable skirt type. The latter form secure seals with containers but are objectionable as they require special apparatus or machinery to change the shape of the closure skirt after the closure is placed on a container. In addition, reformable skirt type closures are objectionable in that they generally require a longer time to apply to containers and hence a smaller number of such packages may be sealed in a given time when compared with the formation of packages sealed by pressing closure caps down on containers.

While the pressed on closures have been widely used and are generally preferred it has been found that some packaged products generate or release a pressure which tends to blow the closure off the container. This has been found to be true with pickles, for example.

The present invention aims to overcome the above and other difiiculties or disadvantages by providing an improved closure cap of the pressed down type which may be readily applied by existing sealing machines and which will form more secure or positive seals that better resist blow off pressures from within the container. The invention further contemplates the provision of an improved sealed package embodying the present closure cap.

An object of the present invention is to provide a. new and improved closure cap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved sealed package.

Another object is to provide an improved closure cap which will better resist blow oiT pressures from within a container.

Afurther object is to provide an improved closure cap of the pressed down type which may utilize a thinner gasket and yet form an adequate seal with the container.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved closure cap that will better hold against internal pressures and which may nevertheless be readily removed when desired.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or

will be indicated in the appended claims, and

2 various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged elevational view, partly broken away and partly in section, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the closure 0 p of Fig. 1 prior to its application to a container;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the closure of Fig. 2 applied to a container; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a slightly different formof closure cap.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a sealed package comprising a container l, closure cap 2, and rubber sealing gasket 3 between the container and the closure cap. The upper end of the container preferably slopes downwardly and outwardly to merge smoothly into an outwardly extending projection or bead 1 formed annularly around the container. This container projection 1 preferably has a generally arcuate exterior cross section and its underside curves gradually into and merges with a side wall portion of the container. A pry-off ledge 8 spaced below the sealing projection 1 provides support for a knife blade or coin in connection with removal of the closure 2 by prying upwardly at one side of it.

The closure cap comprises a cover portion or panel I 0 and a depending skirt, the latter having an outwardly offset lower portion I I connected with the upper part of the closure by a generally horizontal ledge 12. The lower edge of the closure cap is turned inwardly to provide a gasket retaining ledge I3. Phe gasket 3, preferably of vulcanized rubber, in the offset portion or enlargement ll of the closure cap cooperates with the container projection 1 to form an air tight seal between the closure and the container. It will be noted (Fig. 2) that the inner peripheral wall I6 of the gasket forms, in effect, a continuation of the upper inner periphery [5 of the closure cap.

The outer wall of the offset enlargement H is shown in the shape of a relatively wide V. That is, the upper portion 19 of the outer wall inclines outwardly and downwardly toward an intermediate point 20 and the lower portion 2| of the outer wall inclines downwardly and inwardly away from the intermediate point 20, to thus provide a wall which is concave toward the interior of the closure cap. The intermediate point 20 at which the upper and lower inclined portions l9 and 2! meet is preferably located at about the mid-point or central zone of the onset or enlargement II. A gasket 3 in the offset enlargement prior to application of the closure cap to a container (Fig. 2) may rest, at its upper and lower outer peripheral portions, against end portions of the inwardly concave V-shaped wall. The space 22 between the upper and lower incline portions l9 and -21 accommodates gasket material, which is particularly desirable in the event the cap is forced onto a container which may embody a maximum tolerance; the space 22 provides a reservoir for accommodating excess gasket material.

As the closure cap is forced downwardly over a container mouth the gasket 3 moves along the container bead or projection 1 until the major portion of its cross section is disposed below the center line The upper closure cap ledge 12 forces the-gasket downwardly and the Vshaped or inclined outer walls of the gasket-containing enlargement 'direct the gasket inwardly; the gasket thus flows 2'5 of the projection or is squeezed around and below the container projection 1 (note particularlyFig. -3)-,

In fully seated relationship, the mid-point 20 of the onset closure enlargement is disposed below the mid-point or center line of the container projection I inthe preferred embodiment.

"The upper inclined portion l9 slopes outwardly away 'from the upper part of the projection 1 and the lower inwardly inclined portion 2| slopes in toward the underside of the container projection I so as to squeeze or direct the gasket 3 firmly beneath the projection l. A greater cross sectional area of the gasket 3 is thus disposed beneath the bead than above 'it and hence resists internal pressure effective against the underside of the closure cap. The upper horizontal portion 12 and the outwardly inclined portion l9 tend to squeeze the gasket downwardly below the center line 25 of thecontainer projection 1 and the inwardly inclined closure portion 2i tends to squeeze the gasket beneath the container projection I. The bottomledge l3 of the closure holds the gasket beneath the container head I and prevents it from escaping downwardly.

The outwardly inclined upper skirt portion 19 and the inwardly inclined lower skirt portion 2| serve to strengthen theside wall of the closure cap and to resist'forces tending to spreader flare the cap skirt, thus facilitating use of thinner metal for the cap. This strenghthened skirt is particularly useful in instances where -a tight fit or high compression may occur between the container and closure skirt with itsgasket.

The described construction gives a concentration of gasket and ofholding pressures beneath the container projection 1, to thus lock the closure cap against upward movement. The skirt withi'ts angled upper and lower portions 49 and '2! givesenhanced cap side wall strength and friction or gripping of the sealing gasket against the glass container. The construction readily resists upward blowing off pressures of about fifteen pounds per square inch. Yet concentrated closure-tilting pressure of -a knife 'liladecr opener applied at one side of V theglosure servant remove the closure without difliculty.

4 Of course, the additional looking or holding on pressures forces are also desirable with products which do not tend to blow the closure caps upwardly off the containers.

As a result of the improved holding on pressures it is feasible to use a thinner gasket material than previously. Also, the gasket length or cut may be increased over previous similar gaskets to provide optimum cooperation or holding with a container projection l. V In Fig. 4 there is shown a slightly diiferent form of the invention, in that the upper and lower inclined wall portions I90, and Na meet each other at a smaller angle, to thus provide a gasket-receiving space 22a of greater volume. The angle of the V may be suitably varied to give appropriate locking" effects on a container. Also, while excellent results have been obtained by having the upper end lower inclined portions meet at about the mid-point 20 of the ofiset or enlargement, they may meet somewhat higher or lower, as desired, to provide optimum retention of the closure cap on a container.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a new and improved closure cap and sealed package, the closure ca'p being more effectively held onto the container to resist internal pressures. The inwardly concave V shape of the outer gasket-enlargement walls directs the gasket below the container projection and maintains it there to effectively lock together the closure and container. The concave angular gasket-enlargement or channel strengthens the skirt of the cap and resists flaring tendencies, as well as provides a gasket receiving space to better accommodate containers of varying tolerances. The excellent resistance to internal pressures makes it possible to use a thinner gasket. In spite of the more secure seal the closure may be readily removed by prying 'it upwardly at one side.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of theparts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

'1. -A sealed package comprising the combination of a container having an annular projection of relatively heavy cross section spaced below the upper end thereof, a sheet metal closure cap including a cover portion and a depending skirt having a generally upright inset :upper wall and a generally upright outwardly offset lower wall joined together by a connecting wall,-said lower wall being substantially -V-shaped in cross section with the apex oi the V spaced outwardly beyond the remainder of said :lower wall to provide a V-shapedspace, the apex of said -V being positioned below an annular zone of maximum diameter of said container projection, arr-annular gasket-retaining ledge of greater inner diameter than the maximum diameter of said container projection extending inwardly from said V- shaped wall,and an annular gasket insaid skirt between said'connecting wall and said ledge, said gasket being pressed into said V-shaped space with themajority thereof located'below' said maximum diameter container zone and forming a seal between said V-shaped wall and said annular container projection.

2. -A closure capof theipreformed type'ada gite '76 to form a seal with a container upon being pushed of the bulge at substantially the middle of the lower portion, and an annular elastic gasket within said lower portion between said shoulder and flange and of a height coextensive with said lower portion having a generally upright outer surface facing toward and spaced throughout its circumference from the central portion of said inwardly concave surface of the lower skirt portion and resting adjacent its top and bottom edges against said top and bottom edges of the lower skirt portion.

3. A closure cap of the preformed type adapted to form a seal with a container upon being pushed down over the container mouth, comprising a cover, an annular depending skirt having generally upright lower and upper portions connected by a radially extending shoulder portion, said lower portion being of greater diameter than said upper portion, said lower portion having a cross section of substantially V-shape with the apex of the V substantially at the middle thereof disposed outwardly to thereby form an annularly extending inwardly concave surface, an inturned flange at the bottom of said lower portion to support a gasket, and a cylindrical rubbery ring gasket within said lower portion between said flange and shoulder portion having a height substantially equal to said lower skirt portion and having a cylindrical outer surface facing toward and spaced from said apex of the V but disposed closely adjacent the top and bottom portions of said inwardly concave surface of the lower skirt portion.

4. A closure cap of the preformed type adapted to form a seal with a container upon being pushed down over the container mouth, comprising a cover, an annular depending skirt having generally upright lower and upper portions connected by a generally horizontal shoulder portion, said lower portion being of greater diameter than said upper portion, said lower portion bulging outwardly from top and bottom edges thereof and forming an inwardly concave surface with its maximum diameter substantially at the middle of the lower portion, a generally horizontal gasket supporting ledge extending inwardly from the bottom edge of said lower portion, and an annular gasket within said lower portion between said horizontal shoulder and ledge and projecting inwardly beyond said ledge, having generally upright inner and outer surfaces with a mid-portion of said outer surface spaced throughout the gasket circumference from said inwardly concave surface of the lower skirt portion and with only top and bottom outer corners of the gasket normally resting against said top and bottom edges of the outwardly bulging lower skirt portion.

DANIEL D. ACTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 15,259 Hammer Jan. 3, 1922 855,782 Hull June 4, 1907 1,117,792 Colby Nov. 17, 1914 1,863,025 Mullen June 14, 1932 2,025,031 Algeo et al Dec. 24, 1935 2,079,813 Podel May 11, 1937 2,080,747 Scofield May 18, 1937 2,135,731 Podel Nov. 8, 1938 2,136,545 Gibbs Nov. 15, 1938 2,200,081 Gibbs May 7, 1940 2,441,918 Hoge May 18, 1948 2,562,548 Hanson July 31, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 484,161 Great Britain Apr. 29, 1938

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