US1982294A - Automatic seal for tubes - Google Patents

Description

G51'.A GRIFFIN' AurlouA'x'IcSEALA Foix4 TUBES Filed April 1v, 1931 FIG. 1j

Patented N ov. 27, 1934 UNiTED STATES Plirlala'ro OFFICE 2 Claims.

For a detailed description of the present form of my invention, reference may be had to the following specification and to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein Fig. 1 shows my device in cross section with the valve seated;

Fig. 2 shows my device in cross section with the valve raised;

Fig. 3 shows my device enlarged on a four lo to one scale;

Figs. 4 and 5 show details.

My invention relates to an automatic valve for collapsible tubes. In particular I apply such a valve to a tube-cap, instead of to the tube itself, as has heretofore been proposed. I also apply the valve so that it will seat downward on top of the cap and provide for its being springpressed to its seat. In operation, pressure apvplied to the contents of the tube, by squeezing l its lower end, will cause said contents to exude from the edges of the valve which will be springpressed to close when the pressure is released. Referring to the drawing, A represents the top part of a collapsible tube of the well known type adapted to be rolled up from its bottom end as the contents are delivered from its top end. B

represents a separable cap adapted to screw on the nipple which projects up from the top of the tube. The cap, as well as the tube, are standard 80 articles at the present time. C represents my valve, which is designed to open outward and seat downward in a hole in the center of cap B.

A stem D projects downward from the center of valve C through the central guide opening in a perforated disc E that lies on top of the tube nipple. A spring F surrounding stem D draws downward on the valve, being seated at its upper end against the under side of disc E and at its opposite end seating against a stop on the lower end of the valve stern. The valve C is beveled on its under side and it seats in acorresponding bevel around the edge of the hole in cap B. The angle of that bevel constitutes an important feature of my invention. It should be such that, as the valve goes to its seat, it will expel from that seat any of the plastic contents of thetube which may be trapped in position thereon. I have found that with the opposite edges of the valve standing at an angle of approximately degrees to each other, as shown in the enlarged view of Fig.

3, this result is accomplished. It is also important that the seat on which the valve rests should be narrow, as if it were a cutting edge about ten one-thousandths of an inch. Beyond that distance from the top surface of the valve, the

interior walls of the cap opening may no longer converge but may stand parallel, or even diverge,

as appears in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Moreover, by reason of the downward seating of the valve, the natural operation of wiping oiI the top of 60 the cap will aid the spring in seating the valve. The next important feature is the washer E which serves the function of a guide for the stem D, thus compelling the movement of the valve in a straight line away from or towards the seat in the cap. Otherwise the contents might tend to escape from the valve at one side, instead of equally at all points around its periphery. The washer E is also perforated, as shown in Fig. 5, and the size of the perforations may be adjusted with respect to the consistency of the contents. Thereby the initial outrush of the said contents, when the valve lifts in response to squeezing at the lower end, may be controlled and restrained to the extent desired. The washer E is seated in a circular groove formed between the cap B and the tube-nipple to which the cap is screwed. The spring F, when arranged as shown, may 0ccupy but a small space inthe neck of the tube.

It should be borne in mind that only a fraction of the upward pressure on the contents caused by squeezing the lower end of the tube, is exerted on the valve to lift it, since the most of that pressure is received by the upper end of the tube itself. Therefore the spring F must yield to allow the valve to lift in response to the aforesaid fraction of the total lifting pressure applied to the contents. Conversely, when the pressure is relaxed the spring F alone must reseat the valve and squeeze out of the valve seat the material left between that seat and the valve. That effect may, however, be supplemented by the aforesaid wiping off. That allows but a weak spring F which may be placed in the neck of the tube without obstructing to any material degree the flow of the contents around it.

By applying my valve to the cap alone and making the cap a vehicle for the Valve and its spring, I can make the cap itself a self contained unit, applicable to different packages, and not involving any change or manipulation of the package itself to apply thereto the automatic valve. If desired the cap and valve may be enclosed by a removable lm or disc, as shown in Fig. 4, for transportation purposes. It may also be observed that I have avoided by my device all danger from exposure of the contents or any part thereof to the atmosphere, where it may become hardened and interfere with the working of the invention. no

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a collapsible tube having an outlet extension of a cap having means for removably engaging said extension, said cap having a passageway therein provided with a conical seat. a conical valve constructed and arranged to rest on said valve seat, the surface of said valve seat beingbeveled on such an angle as to expel material under pressure of the valve thereon, and formed 'with a cutting edge beyond the bevel, a rod secured to said valve and extended into said tube, an abutment member held in position by said cap and slidably engaging said rod, and a spring extending along said rod Losanna. i

and having one end engaging said abutment member and the other end engaging the rod so as to normally force the valve inwardly against its seat and expel the material between the valve and the seat.

2. A tube seal comprising means providing a passageway having a conical valve seat, a conical valve constructed and arranged to rest upon said valve seat, and means constructed and arranged to normally force the valve inwardly against its seat, the surface of said seat being beveled on such an angle as to provide a cutting edge so arranged that the valve as it seats will expel material between the valve and the seat.

GUY T. GRIFFIN.

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