US2552923A - Container closure - Google Patents

Description

M y 5, 1951 F. H. APPEL 2,552,923

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Aug. 2, 1946 Patented May 15, 1 951 UNITED STATES PATENT CONTAINER 014511312 Frank H. Appel, San Diego, Calif, Application August 2, 1946, seri no. 687,891

2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to containers for dispensing materials, and in particular to those containers which are arranged to maintain liquid or semiliquid foods, such as an aerated cream mix, under gas pressure.

Containers for dispensing aerated food mixes, such as whipped cream, under gas pressure are used to a larg extent in drug stores, restaurants, hotels and the like; Such containers are usually supplied by a central distributor with the container filled with both cream and some soluble gas solution therein, such as nitrous oxide gas, under pressure so that a user need only operate a pressure relief valve on the container in order to obtain an even stream of the whipped cream when, for example, it is desired to dispense and to direct the flow of such whipped cream on ice creams, desserts, or cakes in any desired pattern thereon.

Since these containers are transferred back and forth from the distributor to the user and vice versa, it is desirable that the containers be of uniform size and symmetrical appearance so they may be stacked upon and adjacent to other ones in a relatively small space without danger of gas pressure being released. Furthermore, since a great quantity of these containers is handled by the distributor in a relatively short time,; in the interests of economy and good health it is desirable that the container and its associated parts thereon be of simple, easy fool-proof design and, more important, be easily cleaned so local public health laws may be adhered to.

oftentimes the container is not leak-prooi with the result that all of the liquid food contained therein cannot be dispensed under pressure as intended. In such case the desirability of a leak-proof seal between the container its filling hole closure member becomes mania fest.

Further, the aerated liquid, such as whipped cream, may be confined withinthe container for a prolonged period of time.

It is therefore an object of the present inven-, tion to provide a dispensing container having the desirable features outlined above.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved high pressure dispensing container which may withstand considerable abuse in use and which may be stored and carried from place to place conveniently.

Yet another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved container char acterized by its simplicity and ease of cleaning.

2, Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved closure member arranged in cooperation with an opening in a high pressure container to form a seal.

The features of the present invention which" are believed to be novel are set forth withpar ticularity in the appended claims. This invention itself, both as to its organization and manher of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken" in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an assembled con tainer embodying'the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation and partly in section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, but with the actuating member 24 do;

pressed slightly so as to unseat the ball 20 from its valve seat 2|.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 3&3 of Figure 1."

Figure 4 is a detailedviewshowing the top of the container closure member shown also in Figs Figure 5 is a view in elevation .of the combined check valve and dispensing spout assemblyzdei-v tached from the container shown in Figure '1.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a portion of the flange L6 shown in Figure 1 with the assembly 25 removedtherefrom.

Figure 7 is-a sectional view of a'modified assembly incorporating the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention the container 10 as supplied from a distributor to a ing l5 boundedby flange l 6 is the opening through which liquid food, such as cream, is introduced" into the cylindrical body II and which, after the filling .operation, is closed by the closure member l2.

Check valve l3 disposed within the fluid conducting channel of the tubular member H, which hasfastened thereto at its bottom end downwardly extending tube l8,- and'which is fastened at its upper end to the flange l6 having the'open ing l9 therein, the flange opening l9 and the Opening within tubular members I3 and I8 being in communication and in communication with a point at the bottom end of container Ill so as to provide a passage for the flow of fluid food, such as cream, from the bottom of container II] out through the flange opening I9. Such flow of fluid food may be controlled by operation of the check valve I3.

Check valve I3 is of the ball type and comprises a'spherical ball arranged to seat against the valve seat 2| to thereby prevent flow of fluid food through tubes I! and I8 when the ball is maintained seated against its valve seat 2|. valve seat 2| may be lined with some flexible material, such as neoprene, in which case the contact between ball 20 and valve seat 2| is of a resilient nature. Valve seat 2| may take different forms and may, for example, comprise an integral part of the tube member H, or it may take the form of a circular ring fastened to the tube member I'I. 7

In the absence of any pressure within the container II], the ball 20 falls by; gravity to a position lower than that shown in Figure 2 wherein the ball 2|] is preventedfrom falling too far by engagement of the enlarged head 22 with the valve seat 2|, the enlarged head 22 being on the upper end of the extension 23, which is fastened at its lower end to ball 20; that is, ball 2|], extension 23 and head 22 move as a unit with respect to the valve seat 2| with the extension 23 and head 22 serving as .an actuating member for unseating the ball Such 20 from seated engagement with the valve seat 7 ment of the actuating member 24 movably mounted on the assembly 25.

The assembly 25is releasably attached to the flange I6 with the opening 26 therein in registry with the flange opening I9 by means of a bayonet type of connection between the assembly 25 and flange Hi. When the assembly 25 is mounted on the container III, as shown in Figure 2, the actuating member 24, comprising a pin with'an enlarged head on its upper end and a cylindrical guide and contact member 22 on its lower end, is in position for engagement with the ball actuating members 23, 24.

In Figure 2 the actuating member 24 is shown depressed slightly so as to unseat the ball 20 from its valve seat 2| so as to place the opening in tube I! in communication with the openings 26 and 2! in the assembly 25. Openings 26 and 21 comprise the dispensing spout in the assembly 25.

The'assembly 25 comprising the check valve actuating member 24 and spout 26, 21 is releasably held on the container Iil by means of a pair of diametrically opposed radially extending extensions 28 and 29 on assembly 25 cooperating with an annular groove 30 formed in the inner portion of the tube H. The assembly 25 is mounted on the container [I by first passing the extensions 28, 29 thereon through a pair of enlarged openings 3|, 32 in communication with the groove 30 and then turning the assembly 25 a quarter of a turn to bring about positive engagement of the projections 28, 29 with the upper inner wall of groove 30.

Preferably in thus mounting assembly 25 on the container I Ii resilient material in ring form;

such as a resilient ring 33,'is disposed between the assembly 25 and the flange I6 to provide resilient engagement between projections 28 and 29 with the groove 30, and also to provide a good seal between the container III and assembly 25' to thereby prevent flow of liquid food therebetween.

The resilient ring or gasket 33 is never subjected to the full pressure existing within the container I0 inasmuch as the openings 23, 2? in the assembly 25 are in communication with the atmosphere and for that reason the gasket or ring 33 does not come in contact with the liquid food. There is no possibility of liquid food leaking between the tube I1 and the cylindrical member II inasmuch as the tube I! is permanently connected at its upper end to the cylindrical member II by welding, brazing, shrink fit or the like.

The closure member I2 is of oval or elliptical shape and has an outer peripheral edge greater than the peripheral edge of the corresponding oval or elliptical shaped opening I5 in the container I!) so as to cooperate with the inner peripheral edge of the flange I6 to thereby provide.

a good seal. Preferably the upper peripheral edge of the closure member I2 has fastened thereto by means of-a moldin process or the like some gasket material 34, such as neoprene, in the form of an elliptical ring. Inasmuch as the closure member I2 having the gasket 34thereon cooperates with the inner face of the flange IE, the necessity for making the opening I5 other than circular in shape becomes evident. By making both the closure member I2 and opening I5 elliptical or oval shaped, the closure member I2 may be threaded through the opening I5 into the container In so as to allow the gasket ring 34 to contact theinner face of thefiange I6.. The closure member I2 is held in this position with the gasketring .34 in contact with the flange I6, due to the clamping action of the resilient clamp ing member 35mounted on the upper face of the closure member I2, H V g ,The clamping member 35 is of resilient nature and is fastened at a point intermediate its ends to the central portion or the elliptical shaped plate 36 by means of a strap 31 having its ends spot welded to the plate 36. Theclamping mem ber 35 comprises a'flat resilient strip extending preferably along the major axis of the elliptical shaped plate 36 and has a pair of openings 38, 39

in opposite ends thereof for facilitating the' mounting of the closure member I2 on the flange I6 in' a manner described more fully later. The closure member I2 is maintained on the flange 55 due to the clamping action of the resilient member 35 which has its opposite endsextending within recesses 40, 4| in the flange It so 'as'to include a portion of flange I6 between the remember II so that if desired another container ii I0 may be supported on the container IIJ shown. Thus, an important feature of the present invention resides in'making the closure member I2 flush with the outer edge of the "flange l6 as shown in Fig ure 3 whereby the containers Ill may be stacked one upon the otherwheh the -releas-. able assembly Z5is removed therefrom. Usually the containers ||l comprise all the elements shown in Figures 1 and 2 but for the assembly 25 and such assembly is usually in thepossession of the user to whom the containers. ID aresupplied.

The closure member I2 is, usually mounted in the position shown in Figure. 1 by the distributor by the use of a special tool (not shown). Such special tool is arrangedto simultaneously engage thestrap 3'! and the clamping member 35.. at the holes 38 and 39. so as. to provide not only a handle for the clamping member 12 but also to bend the ends of the clamping member 35 upwardly, thereby to allow the flange IE to enter between the ends of the clamping member 35 and the gasket member 34. After the closure member I2 is positionedlas shown in Figure 1), such auxiliary tool is removed and the con-tainer is then in condition for the introduction of high pressure gas, such as nitrous oxide.

Such nitrous oxide gas under pressure is introduced through the flange opening l9, preferably with the container l tilted so that the nitrous oxide gas entering the container It! does not mingle with the cream initially placed therein. The check valve 13 does not impede seriously such flow of nitrous oxide gas into the container II], but does function to maintain the gas pressure in container ll] after the container is filled with the high pressure gas. Usually the pressure within container I0 is of the order of 180 lbs. per sq. in. and is initally tested at a pressure of 500 lbs. per sq. in.

After the container l I] is thus filled with cream and nitrous oxide gas under pressure of about 180 lbs. per sq. in., whipped cream may be dispensed therefrom by mounting the assembly 25 on the flange I6 and then pressing the actuating member 24 downwardly to unseat the ball 20 from its valve seat 2|, whereupon a stream of whipped cream flows from the bottom of container l0 up through tubes I8, I! past the check valve I3 and then out into the atmosphere through channels 26 and 21 in the assembly 25. After a suflicient amount of whipped cream flows out of the spout 25, 21, the operator removes the pressure on the actuating member 24 exerted by his finger or thumb, as the case may be, whereupon the ball 20 seals itself against its valve seat 2| thereby to automatically close the check valve l3.

In the modified arrangement shown in Figure 7 the check valve i3, instead of being formed by a ball and cooperating seat (as shown in Figure 2), comprises a conical neoprene movable valve element 58 arranged to be pressed in pressure sealing engagement against its cooperating conical metallic valve seat It is preferred (as shown in Figure '7) to make the movable valve element of some resilient material, such as neoprene, and to make the cooperating valve seat of hard material, such as steel.

The valve element 50 is mounted on the metallic cylindrical member 52 having a shoulder 53 thereon, the .base of the conical valve member 5'0 being in abutment with the upper face of shoulder 53.

In normal use of the apparatus shown in Figure '7 the valve member 50 is allowed to move between its valve seat 5|, formed interiorly on the modified tubular member 54 (corresponding tothe tubular member l1) and the tube 55 y (cor-- responding to the tube I8).

An important feature of the structure shown in Figure 7 is that the valve member '50 may be easily removed for repair or replacement by re-- ing nut 58, which is preferably of plasticorresilient material, and is removed from the assembly by unscrewing the nut 58 from its cooperating position on the tubular member 54. When the tube 55 is thus removed the valve member 50 may be removed by passing it throughthe opening 59. The cylindrical valve member 52 is arranged to be actuated by the valve actuating member 24 in the same manner as the member 23 shown in Figure 2.

An important feature of the present invention is that thegreater the pressure in container [0 the better the seal between the closure member l2 and the flange l6 tends to become since with increased pressure the gasket member 34 becomes more and more compressed.

Another important feature of the present invention is the simple nature of the check valve l3, which is devoid of any crevices or reentrance surfaces within which dirt or other foreign materials may accumulate, in which case the container l0 may be cleaned easily by passing a stream of cleaning fluid, such as stream or the like, downwardly through the opening I}? in the flange l6.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all suchchanges and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing structure, a hollow container with an elliptically shaped opening in one end Wall thereof bounded by the remaining inner circular flange, a releasable elliptically shaped closure member for said container disposed within its boundaries and arranged to contact the inner face of said flange to thereby provide a seal wherein increased pressure within said container tends to produce an increasingly better seal, a flexible spring clip member extending across said closure longitudinally thereof and fixed thereto at a point intermediate its ends to said closure member in face contact therewith and lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said closure member, the ends of said flexible spring clip being adapted to snap over said flange and thereby position said closure member against the peripheral portion of said opening with the periphery of the closure member lying closely adjacent to one side of said container opening and the ends of said flexible spring clip engaging said container on the opposite side of said opening, said circular flange being planar in cross section and the distance between each end of said flexible spring clip member and the closure member being substantially that of the thickness of said inner circular flange.

2. In a dispensing structure, a hollow cylindrical container with an elliptically shaped opening in one end wall thereof bounded by the remaining inner circular flange, a pair of spaced recesses in the outer face of said flange contiguous to said opening along the longitudinal axis thereof, a releasable elliptically shaped closure member for said container disposed within its boundaries and arranged to contact the inner face of said flange to thereby provide arseal wherein increased pressure within said container tends to produce an increasingly better seal, and a flexible spring clip member fixed at a point intermediate its ends to said closure member longitudinally thereof and in faoecontact therewith, the portions of said spring clip extending from the point of fixture of said spring clip member to said closure member toward the ends of said clip being adapted to flex and thereby snap over the periphery of said container opening, into said recesses to thereby clamp said flange between said closure member and said flexible spring clip member. 7

FRANK H. APPEL. 20

REFERENCES CITED,

.The following references are of record in the file or this patent: I V V UNITED STATES PATENTS I Germany Nov. 21, 1929

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