US2611515A - Resilient closure for containers - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 23, 1952 w. F. SMITH RESILIENT CLOSURE FORCONTAINERS 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed July 5, 1946 FIG.

1N VENTOR.

W. F. SMITH RESILIENT CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Sept. 23, 1952 Filed July 5, 1946 4 AS A\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ A. z 1 z FIGIO FIGIZ FIG. ll

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metering effect as to the amount of material dispensed. This embodiment is of particular utility in the dispensing of spices and the like wherein it is desired to dispense a predetermined amount of material as a measure. For example, one vigorous squeeze of the container may equal onefourth teaspoon, etc. Moreover, th thickened portions employed in this" embodiment broke up materials which tend to lump inthe container.

In Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 still another modified form of containe is illustrated. In this embodiment, a preformedresilient body member 23 is provided with aconcave bottom 24 and a pair ofindentations 25 and 26. A convex, resilient closure 21' having ashoulder 28 and aflange 29 is affixed to thebody member 23. A pair ofprotrusions 30 and 3| are carried by thflange 29. Theseprotrusions 30 and 3! are compatible with theindentations 25 and 2S and when the shoulder engages the top of thebodymember 23 they come into register with each otherto provide a locking relationship. A valve slit comprising alongitudinal slit 32 abutted bytransverse slits 33 and 34. is provided in the top of theclosure 21. A portion of the closure on each side of the slits is tapered so that the slits have sharp meeting surfaces. A wedge-shaped element 35 andawedgeshaped element 36 are provided on each side of thelongitudinal slit 32 and extend inwardly. Theelements 35 and-36 serve as reinforcing means for the valve slit. When thebody member 23 is squeezed, the valve slit opens as heretofore illustrated and theelements 35 and 36 cause the valve slit to open and limit theamount of openin by contact with each other. In this embodiment the material of the body member along the longitudinal slit is of suificient thickness to withstand anytendency of distortion. Moreover, thelconcave bottom 24 is formed to be compatible with at least a portion of the closure of a similar container as represented by 31. Thisembodiment is of particularly utility in the dispcnsingof comminuted materials suchas spices wherein it is desired to stack the containers for display or This embodiment is of particular utility wherein it is desired to affix the closure to a soft container body such as paper and the like.

In Fig. 13 and Fig. 1 4,;a convex, resilient, closure.-

4| is illustrated. This closure, likewise, is similar in construction to the closure illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, with the exception, thatin' this embodiment the closure 4] has an annular, bifurcation having itsinterior branch 42 provided W -a P o..-truslon 43 and having its exterior,branch 44 ter-,

These sharpedged projections 40. lock the closure to acontainer body which is relatively softer than the, sharp edged; projections.

minating near the upper portion of the protrusion. Thelower edges 45 and 4 6 of th branches being tapered upwardly and inwardly toward each other to facilitate engagement with a container body represented by 41. ment when theclosure 4| is aflixed to thecontainer body 41, theprotrusion 43 is in register with thebead 48 on the container body and the wall of the container body is held between thebranches 42 and 44 to insure atight seal. This embodiment is of particular utility in the dispensing of pulverulent materials such as tooth powders, bath powders, and similar substances, wherein it is desired to employ a resilient, metal container body.

The principles of the present invention are applicable for manufacturing containers for dispensing a variety of materials which may be used for a variety of purposes. For example, for salt and pepper a shaking action is desirable, for sugar a combined shaking and pouring action, for bath and baby powders acombined shaking and vigorous squeeze action tosquirt the powder, for tooth powder a vigorous squeeze action to deposit a measured amount on the-toothbrush, for spices a shaking or vigorous squeeze action to give a-measured amount, for insecticides a vigorous squeeze actionto squirt the insecticide in crevices and the like, for liquids a pouring or shaking action, for semiliquids or pastes a firm squeezing action, etc; Therefore, it is evident that various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims with-. out departing from the spirit of the inventions,

As hereinbefore set forth the material of construction for the closure or the combination closure with container body is a resilient material.

However, this is not to be construed as precluding the use of other materials of construction in combination with means for providing .the desiredresiliency. The preferred materials of construc:

tion for the; closure are the thermoplastic resins. particularly polyethylene, cellulose. acetate,- and ethyl cellulose. These materials-are also. preferred when the closure and container body are molded integrally. When the closureis afiixed to a container body, any of 'the materials conventionally used, such as p per and metal, maybe employedproviding they impart the required resiliency.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the} valve slit prevent large granules of comminuted material from being caught in the jaws of the valve; slit. upon closing. The. thickened wedge shaped portions on each side of the longitudinal slit-provide a crushing surface for material tending to lump as 'well as providing means for dispensing a predetermined amount ofvmaterials Containers employing the principle of-this invention may be filled from'the bottom, even under pressure,- because the fulcrumed action involved causes the valve slit to closetighter as internal pressure within the container is increased; Thus,

In this embodi-.

a thin membrane such as a lacquer coating may be applied over the valve slit to provide an absolute hermetical sea1 without danger of the seal rupturing due to container breathing. This is particularly advantageous in connection with the packaging of materials containing highly volatile constituents, such as a perfume. The thin membrane is, of course, ruptured by the first manipulation of the user, but it is the period between manufacture and use during which the qualities of the product must be carefully preserved as this period may be of indefinite length. Containers employing the principle of this invention may be used as shake-type or sprinkle-type containers and as squirt-type containers by simple manipulation.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A closure for containers comprising a resilient body member, a longitudinal valve slit in the top oi the body member abutted by a transverse slit on each end, and said bodymember having two sidewalls with two opposed Wedge-shaped reinforcing members extending inwardly from the top of the body member downwardly along its respective sidewall and each with the apex of the wedge located adjacent its respective side of the valve slit, said opposed wedge-shaped reinforcing members being in spaced relationship to each other whereby the lower portion of each of the wedge-shaped reinforcing members is capable of contacting the other upon squeezing said sidewalls to open the valve slit.

2. A closure for containers com-prising a resilient body member, a longitudinal valve slit in the top or the body member abutted by a transverse capable of contacting the other to crush any lumpy material disposed therebetween upon squeezing said sidewalls to open the valve slit.

WILLIAM F. SMITH.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,647,215 Elsas NOV. 1, 1927 2,005,642 Thornton June 18, 1935 2,128,752 Lentine Aug. 30, 1938 2,176,513 Smith Oct. 17, 1939 2,219,604 Trotter Oct. 29, 1940 r 2,254,168 Dale Aug. 26, 1941 2,272,653 Andrews Feb. 10, 1942 2,314,052 Perelson Mar. 16, 1943 2,331,078 Peak Oct; 5, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain Aug. 30, 1939

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