Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
The present invention relates to containers or
bottles of the type consisting of a cylindrical body with
either an integral or seamed bottom and having a narrow
upper end with a neck which is associated with a closure.
Various closures for the small diameter neck are
available. Typical closures are shown in U.S. Patents:
3,251,499, 3,317,070, 3,348,719, 3,998,354, 3,999,678, and
4,149,651.
After considering various types of snap-in clos-
10 ures of the types heretofore discussed, a number of prob-
lems were noted. Some of the most objectionable problems
have been the lack of consistent positive closure under
pressure and which is also relatively easy to open and
simple to adapt to higk speed manufacture and application.
15 Structures of the general type under consideration have
been bulky and costly and the best designs require a clos-
ure which must be torn away from the plug. This type of
structure requires extremely accurately machined dies and
the section to be torn apart must be precisely dimensioned, 5
20 not only to withhold the pressure but also be capable of
rupturing when being tensioned by the pulling effort
exerted b~ the person wanting to open the closure.
The object of this invention is to provide a
closure for a container which may be opened relatively
25 easily.
-- 2 --
Accordingly, the present invention provides a
closure for a container having a neck member and a closure
member, characterized by said closure member including a
plastic deflectable plug insertable in said neck member
5 for closing a pour opening in the nec~ member, means for
inhibiting deflection of said plug in a preselected region,
and means for displacing said last-mentioned means to
reduce the resistance to deflection of said plug and for
deflecting the plug in said region and thereat initiating
10 removal of the plug from the neck member.
In a preferred embodiment the closure of the pre-
sent invention minimizes the amount of material used,
facilitates opening of the container and enhances the in-
tegrity of the seal. In the preferred embodiment venting
15 mechanism is placed in a position wherein when the parts
are interlocked in closing position, they supplement the
closure function and when these parts are separated to
vent, the plug is unsupported in the area of initial sep-
aration and thus is more flexible in this area and more
20 readily deflects to release the interlocking parts whereby
facilitating opening of the closure.
In a further embodiment a hinge connects the
plug and leverage structure and the hinge is formed to
releasably interlock with a catch formed on one of the
25 other parts of the closure.
In a further embodiment there is provided a
structure which permits easy insertion of the plug into
the bore in the neck member. The structure guides the
plug into the bore in a canted position and interlocking
30 a portion of the shoulder on the plug partly under a
portion of the shoulder on the neck. The portions which
are hooked together provide a fulcrum for the plug at one
side and the plug being canted, invites the user to press t
down on the opposite or high side. The radial expanse of
35 the plug serves as a lever between the fulcrum and the
point of pressure and because of the mechanical advantage
obtained, the plug is easily pivoted to upright position
~ ~64~S
in alignment with the neck bore and snapped down thus
locking the shoulders.
These and other features inherent in and encom- !
passed by the invention will become more apparent from
5 the specification and the drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the novel con-
tainer incorporating the invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof taken on
line 2-2 of Figure 1, fragmentary;
Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view
taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional
view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure l;
Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of
15 the closure structure;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on
line 6-6 of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a second
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 8 is a top plan view thereof;
Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view
taken substantially on line 9-9 of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional
view showing the vent open position of the closure;
Figure 11 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional
view showing the prying position of the lever;
Figure 12 is a sectional view showing the
opening position of the closure;
Figure 13 is a sectional view showing the open
30 position;
Figure 14 is a top view of the closure in open
position;
Figure 15 is a top view with the container and
closure hand held in position;
Figure 16 is a fragmentary top plan view of a
third embodiment of the invention;
1 8 '~ ~
-- 4
Figure 17 is a top view thereof with the containr
er and the closure hand held in open position;
Figure 18 is an enlarged side elevational view
thereof;
Fiaure l9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view
taken substantially on line 19-19 of Figure 16;
Figure 20 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional
view similar to Figure 17 showing the hinged open position
of the closure;
Figure 21 is a sectional view of a fourth embodi-
ment of the invention showing the open position of the
closure;
Figure 22 is a similar or sectional view showing
- a closing position of the closure;
Figure 23 is a similar or sectional view show-
ing the open position, parts being broken off; and
Figure 24 is a top view on a different scale of
the closure in open position.
With reference to Figures 1 to 6, an embodiment
20 of the invention is shown incorporated in a container 2
made of metal such as aluminum and comprises a cylindrical
body 3 with an integral outwardly convexed bottom 5 which
is provided with outwardly protruding dimples 6 upon
which the container rests.
The upper open end portion 8 of the body portion
is necked in at 9 and fits into an annular skirt portion
10 of a dome member 12 which forms the upper end of the
container. A suitable adhesive 13 bonds the portion 8 to
the skirt 10. The dome portion has a series of stepped
30 annular sections 14 and 16 and at its uppermost end is '
formed with an inturned frusto-conical lip 18 converging
inwardly and providing a sharp closure-retaining edge 2Q
and defining the pour opening 22 at the upper end of the
container.
A plastic closure 25 is provided at the upper
end of the container and comprises a neck portion 26, a
closure plug portion or cap 28 and a venting portion 30
to which is attached a finger grip or handle 32.
The neck portion 26 is a cylindrical member
which at its lower end 34 is ~tapered at 36 and is tiahtly
5 wedged through the opening 22 and then expands radially
outwardly and engages its shoulder 38 under the edge 20
of the lip 18.
The neck portion 26 has a pair of axially spaced
sealing rings 40,42, triangular shaped in cross section
10 tightly pressed at their apices 44, 46 against the frusto-
conical external surface 45 of the lip 18 to provide a
fluid-tight pressure seal.
The interior bore surface 50 of the neck portion
is provided with a locking ring member or shoulder 52
15 which has a downwardly sloping upper surface 56 merging
into an apical edge 58 with a bottom locking surface or
face 60 which extends normal to the axis of the neck por-
tion. Above the ring 52 the bore surface is of frusto-
conical shape which widens toward the upper end to facili-
20 tate entry of the lower end portion 62 of the closure
plug portion 28. The plug portion 28 has a cylindrical
side wall 65 which intermediate its upper and lower edges
is provided with an annular locking ring or shoulder 66
which is of triangular cross-section having a lower down-
25 wardly tapered pilot surface 67 which is adapted to be
guided upon engagement with the upper similarly tapered
face 56 of the neck locking ring past the apex 58 when
the plug portion is pressed into the neck opening or bore
50 whereupon an apical edge 68 of the rib 66 is deflected
30 with edge 58 and the rib portion 66 is stepped under the t
shoulder 52 of the neck portion and a flat radially out-
wardly extending surface 69 at the upper end of the
shoulder 66, normal to the axis of the neck portion, locks
under the face 60.
The plug portion 28 has a top wall 70 integral
with its upper end 64 and wall 70 has a peripheral por-
tion 72 extending beyond the perimeter of the side wall65.
1~6~8~
-- 6 --
The peripheral portion 72 is annular and has a rib 74 on
its underside pressed, in the closed position, against the
top surface 75 of an annular flange 76 integral with and
extending radially outwardly from the upper end of the
5 neck portion 26. The bottom side 77 of flange 76 presses
against the crest of an annular U-shaped ridge 78 formed
at the juncture of the dome wall 79 and the lip 18.
A tether in the form of a narrow strap 80 con-
nects a peripheral edge portion 81 of flange 72 with a
10 peripheral edge portion 82 of the flange 76 of the neck
portion 26.
The cap is provided with a vent opening 84 in an
area diametrically opposite to the tether 80 close to the
plug adjacent to its interior surface and the vent opening
15 84 is coaxial with a depending hollow tubular extension 85
formed on the underside of the top wall of the cap.
A frusto-conical pilot cavity 86 is formed at
the upper end of opening 84 for guiding an enlarged head
88 of a vent pin or male closure element 89. The head has
20 a downwardly taped peripheral surface 90 which at its
upper end has an annular shoulder 92 which in the closed
position engages under a lower complimentary lower edge
93 on the bottom end of the tubular extension 85.
The upper end of the vent pin 89 depends from
25 and is integrally connected with a lever lug 95 intermed-
iate its ends, the lever. 95 has an inner fulcrum end 96
which engages with the top side 97 of the top wall radial-
ly inwardly of the vent opening. The other end 98 of the
lever lug 95 extends radially outwardly and is connected
30 to the inner periphery 99 of a lift ring 32 which in the
closed position of the closure lies flat with its lower
side 102 against the flat upper face 97 of the cap top
wall 70. The ring has its outer periphery 106 connected
to one end of a narrow strap 108 which is folded and which
35 has its other end 109 connected to the outer edge of wall
70 in an area diametrically opposite the strap 80.
~6~8~5
-- 7 --
Thus, to open the closure shown closed in Figure
3, the user inserts his finger through the ring hole 112
and lifts on portion 114 diametrically opposite the lever
9S thus lifting the end porti~on 98 upwardly and fulcruming
5 the inner end 96 against the top wall 70 of the cap. A
second class lever action obtains and the vent closure
pin 89 is lifted out of the vent opening 84 attendant to
slight deformation of the head. Removal of the pin 89
removes the support for the plug wall in the immediate area
10 and thus enhances the flexure of the portion of the neck
wall in the region of the vent opening wherebv as the ring
is further lifted, it pulls on the tether 108 which, in
turn, curls the portion 120 of the top wall 70 upwardly
and causes the adjacent portion of the wall 70 contiguous
15 to the vent opening to warp radially inwardly thus facil-
itating partially unhooking of the ledge or shoulder 66
from the shoulder 52 and disengaging the locking face 69
from face 60. The plug then easily lifts out of the neck
opening and with the handle portion lays to one side of
20 the pour opening the neck.
To reclose the closure, the plug of the cap is
pressed into the neck opening until the shoulder 52 snaps
under the shoulder 66. Then the handle is folded over the
cap and the vent plug or pin 89 is pressed into the vent
25 opening until the shoulder 92 snaps under the lower edge
q3 of the vent tube.
A second embodiment of the invention is shown in
Figures 7 through 15 in which like reference numerals refer
to parts already described with reference to Figures 1
30 through 6. In the embodiment of Fi~ures 7 through 15 the
container 2 has an upper portion or dome member 12 which
provides at its neck 115 a shoulder 116 and an access
opening 22 (Fig. 10) at the upper end of the container,
the neck 115 terminating in a curl 24.
The neck portion 26 of plastic closure 25 is
tightly wedged through the opening 22 and then expands ra-
dially outwardly and engages its shoulder 38 under the
edge of shoulder 116 of the neck 1]5.
l l6l8æ5 --
-- 8 --
The neck portion has an upper outwardly project-
ing annular flange 117 which engages the top edge of the
curl 24 and provides a fluid-tight pressure seal.
The plug portion or~cap 28 has a top wall 70
5 integral with the upper end of the plug 28, the wall 70
extending beyond the perimeter of the plug and forms an
annular rim portion 72 which on its underside is pressed
in position against the top surface 75 of the annular
flange 117 integral with and extending radially outwardly
10 from the upper end of the neck portion 26. The bottom
side 77 of flange 117 presses against the crest (Fig.9)
of the curl 24 of the metal neck 14. A fulcrum post 97
is formed on the top side of the flange 40.
To open the closure shown closed in Figures 15
15 and 10, the user inserts his finger through the ring hole
112 and lifts on portion 114 diametrically opposite the
strap 108 thus lifting the fulcrum end portion 96 outward-
ly and withdrawing the vent plug 30 from opening 84. Con-
tinued rotaLion of the lever or handle engages the fulcrum
20 portion 96 against the post or ledge 97 and further pivot-
al movement leftwardly (Figures 10-12) pries the plug 28
out of the sleeve 26. Removal of the pin or plug 30 re-
moves the support for the plug wall 65 in the immediate
area and thus enhances the flexure of that portion of the
25 wall 65, that is, in the region of the vent opening where-
by as the lever is fulcrumed, it pulls on the tether 108
which., in turn, curls the adjacent portion 72 of the top
wall 70 upwardly and causes the portion of the wall 70
contiguous to the vent opening to warp radially inwardly
3~ thus facilitating partially unhooking of the ledge or
shoulder 66 from under the shoulder 52 and disengaging the
locking face 69 from the face 60. The plug 28 then easily
lifts out of the neck or sleeve opening and with the hand-
le or lever portion 30 lays to one side of the pour open-
35 ing 50 and may be grasped by the user as seen in Fig. 15.
To reclose the closure, the plug 28 of the clos-
ure is pressed into the sleeve opening until the shoulder
52 snaps under the shoulder 66. Then the handle or lever
J ~6~8~5
g
is fo~ded over the cap 28 and th.~ vent plug ox pin 3Q is
pressed into the vent opening 84.
The third embodiment of the invention is shown
in Figures 16 through 2a in which like reference numerals
.5 refer to parts already described with reference to the
first embodiment of Figures 1 through 6 and the second
embodiment of Figures 7 through 15.
In this embodiment, the closure 25 includes a
novel hinge arrangement 125 which comprises not only the
10 straps 80 which define a gap or slot 126 therebetween, but
also an upright post 128 of fusiform shape having a middle
thick diameter section 130 and upper and lower tapered ends
132 and 133. The post is connected at its inner side by a
thin upright stand-off bracket wall 135 to the outside
15 periphery 136 of a mounting ring 138 which is tight.ly
fitted over the outer edge of the curl 24 of the neck por-
tion 14 of the container and an enlarged lower end portion
140 of the neck 14.
As best seen in Figs. 16 and 18, the straps 80
20 in the closed position of the closure flank the upper end
portion 132 of the post and are partially spread apart
and will wedge past the central en~arged catch section 130
when the plug is withdrawn and is positioned with the lever
32 at one side of the neck 14. It will be seen in Figure t
25 20 that portions of the straps 80 outwardly of the verti-
cal axis of the post are below the enlarged catch portion
130 and thus will hold the plug and handle essentially as
shown in Figure 17. Of course, the container may be rotat-
ed 90 from that shown in Figure 18 so that th.e u~er ma~
30 drink over the lip 118.
To reclose, the handle 32 is lifted with the
plug 28, releasing it from the post catch 130 and allowing
the plug 28 to be snapped into the neck sleeve wherèupon .
the handle 32 is folded over the top of the plug entering
35 member 30 into opening 84. The hinge 125 then assumes the
position of Fiaure 20 with the straps 80, 80 partly em~rac-
ing the upper portion 132.
~ ~6~5 --
- 10 -
In this embodiment the interior bore surface 50
of the neck portion is provided with a locking ring mem-
ber or shoulder 52 which at one diametrical side has a
downwardly sloping upper C-shaped surface 56 (Figures 23
5 and 24) in top plan merging into an apical-edge 58 which
a bottom locking surface 60 extends normal to the axis of
the neck portion. Above the ring 52 the limited bore sur-
face 56 is of frusto-conical shape which widens toward
its upper end to facilitate entry of the lower end portion
10 62 of the closure plug 28.
A portion 59 of the shoulder 52 diametrically
opposite the sloping portion 56 is formed semi-cylindrical
in shape and curved in plan about the axis X (Fig. 24) of
the closure and provides an unobstructed downward entry
15 for a contiguous portion of the shoulder the locking ring
66 on a cylindrical side wall 65 of the plug 28 so that
the plug will locate in a canted position as shown in
Figure 24 upon its being initially pressed downwardly
within the bore 50 as seen in Figure 25. The radial ex-
20 tent L tFig. 21) diametrically of the plug, serves as a
lever between the point or area of application of force at
P and the fulcrum point F in the region of the limited
catch of the shoulder 66 under the shoulder 52. Since the
plug will invariably cant when pressed-in, the natural
25 inclination for the person closing the closure is to press t
at P. The leverage obtained multiplies the force appli- !
cation such that even a young child can, without much
difficulty, snap the closure shut.
