Cap for collapsible tubes

Jan. 29, 1935.

N. D. NEWBY

CAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES

Filed Oct. 6, 1933

1,989,145

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ATTORNEYS

Patented Jan. 29, 1935

1,989,145

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

1,989,145

CAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Neal D. Newby, Woodridge, N. J.

Application October 6,1933, Serial No. 692,367

Claims. (CI. 221—60) modifications incorporating preferably a non-extensible or inelastic medium in the rim of the cap. Fig. 9 additionally depicts the slits penetrating-sinuously to the bore to assure a liquid tight joint. These figures also show various 5 ways of affixing the cap to the nozzle.

Figs. 11-14 inclusive are plan views suggestive of the many patterns in which the cap may be formed and slit.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1-5 inclu- 1® sive, the cap 1 comprises a single piece of homogeneous elastic material, tapering externally from top to base. A bore 2 penetrates into the cap from the tapered end or base thereof and terminates below the top, the bore being such as to ¹⁵assure snug engagement between the cap and th? associated nozzle 3 of a container 4, such as a collapsible tube. The top of the cap is provided with one or more radially extending incisions or slits 5 which terminate short of the rim 6, and ²® which penetrate into the cap and communicate with the bore 2 below the upper limit of the base, as shown more clearly in Figs. 2τ·5 inclusive.

The cap as thus formed is characterized by having two stable positions, the closed position of ²⁵Fig. 1 wherein the lips or walls formed by the slits, press against one another for closure of the orifice; and the open position of Fig. 3 wherein the Ups gape to fully expose the discharge orifice, thereby allowing the contents of the con-*³® tainer to be freely dispensed.

The cap, when properly constructed, is unstable in all positions intermediate those of Figs. 1 and 3. It results from this that the cap may be dexterously snapped open or closed by grasping ³⁵the container and applying to the rim 6, by means of the thumb and forefinger, a momentary pressure axiaUy directed. This stretches the rim and compresses the body of the cap until the median position is reached. Thereafter the rim is free ⁴⁰to contract and in so doing automatically snaps the cap into the open or closed position as the case may be. This action results from the elastic medium of the cap whereby it seeks a condition of minimum stress, the stress being a maximum at ⁴⁵the median position and a minimum at the open and closed positions.

The external taper 7 of the cap from rim to base determines to a considerable degree how the closure will function: The more gradual the ⁶⁰taper the more the body of the cap will be compressed as it is flexed from one stable position to the other, and hence the more positive its action in assuming one or the other positions of stabUity. As the taper is increased toward the horizontal, ^u

This invention relates to closures for nozzles, especially of tubes for powder or paste, on the necks Of bottles, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a clo5 sure of novel construction for permanent attachment to the nozzle, and one which while inexpensive may be quickly manipulated for efficient dispensation of the container contents.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment the 1® invention comprises an elastic cap of inverted frusto-conical contour having a cylindrical bore penetrating into the interior from the tapered end thereof and terminating within the cap below the top, the walls of the bore being adapted to 1® snugly engage the nozzle. The flared end of the cap which forms the top is provided with one or more radially extending slits terminating laterally within the periphery of the top and which penetrate into the cap within the side walls at ²® least to the upper limit of the bore. The slits thus made provide lips normally compressed for covering the nozzle, but adapted to be flexed to a stable gaping position exposing the nozzle upon momentary application of force axially applied 25 to the rim of the cap.

In order to assure a liquid tight closure of the lips the slits may be formed to penetrate sinuous fashion to the bore. With the same object in view the rim of the cap may incorporate a pe30 ripherally extending non-extensible medium, such as thread or wire, adapted to draw the rim radially toward the center. Or again the rim of the cap may have integral therewith a suspended flange adapted to be flexed upwardly about 35 the rim proper for providing additional compression of the lips when closed.

Referring now to the drawing;

Fig. 1 shows in perspective a cap in accordance with the present invention affixed to the nozzle 40 &lt;jf a collapsible tube. In the figure the cap is closed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation along 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 1 but with the cap flexed open to expose the 45 nozzle.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the Fig. 3 showing; and Fig. 5 a sectional elevational view along 5—5 of Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional elevations of a modi50 fication wherein a flange depends from the rim of the cap. Fig. 6 shows the normal position of the flange, while Fig. 7 shows the flange flexed upwardly for further compressing the lips when closed.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are sectional elevations of

1,989,145 the operation of the cap becomes increasingly sluggish due to the smaller flexural stresses set up during operation.

The shape of the incisions 5 likewise influence 5 the operation of the device, since this determines the wall thickness 8 in the regions of maximum flexure. For best Operation the incision should be extended radially so that the outer edge lies substantially parallel with the taper 7 of the 10 outer wall and at a proper depth within the cap to assure that the cap will snap in positive manner from one stable position to the other. The construction as to this is clearly shown in Figs. 6-10 inclusive.

The cap may be formed in” the closed position of Figure 1 or the open position of Figure 3. With the latter construction the design may be such that during the process of closure the walls which form the slits will contact while the rim 6 is 20 still under considerable tension assuring thereby a liquid tight joint. This action is further assisted by so forming the top that it will be concave as shown in Fig. 8.

Modified designs providing a liquid tight clo25 sure of the cap are illustrated in Figs, 6-10 inclusive. In Figs. 6 and 7 the rim 6 is provided with a dependent flange .9 which when not in use assumes the position of Fig. 6. When, however, it is desired to seal the closure, the flange 9 is flexed 30 upwardly about the rim 6 in th? manner of Fig. 7. Being thus stretched to greater than its normal circumference the flange 9 locks the lips 5 tightly against one another. With the flange 9 in the position of Fig. 7, it is difficult or impossible to 35 open the cap. In the position of Fig. 6, however, it has little effect on the operation.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show three modifications of the construction wherein the rim of the cap is provided with a peripherally extending inelastic me40 dium. In the construction of Fig. 8 this material may take the form of thread or wire 10 molded into the rim. In the construction of Fig. 9 the inelastic material comprises a band 11, surrounding and suitably affixed to the cap 1. In Fig. 10 45 the cap is provided with an inelastic ring 12 affixed coincident with the upper rim of the cap.

The addition of an inelastic material to the rim of the cap allows considerably more latitude in the design of the closure in that the external 50 «taper of the cap from top to base may be increased consistent with satisfactory operation. This results from the fact that while the rim of the cap is stressed when the closure is operated, it does not stretch and consequently the body of 55 the closure is more highly compressed while the closure is being operated from one stable position to the other.

By imparting to the inelastic ring a diameter slightly less than the unflexed diameter of the 60 cap, the upper portion of the cap in the closed position, can be maintained in continuous compression, thereby forcing the lips or walls 5 of the slits against one another in a liquid tight joint. The inclusion in this modification of the 65 furrowed or corrugated construction of Fig. 9 provides an ideal closure for liquid containers.

It is of course not necessary to achieve the results set forth in the Figs. 8-10 modifications, that the medium incorporated in the rim of the 70 . cap be completely inelastic. The same effect may be approximated by the use of a material 'haying an elasticity less than that of the cap proper. ,

Referring to the Figs. 6 and 7 construction, the 75 inelastic ring construction may, if desired, be in corporated in the dependent flange 9 as indicated at 13.

Figs. 11-14 inclusive illustrate in elevation a few of the possible variations in the design of the cap. In Fig. 11 the cap is of circular contour, ~with the slits 5 extending sinuously. Fig. 12 shows a triangular cap, and Fig. 13 a cap which is rectangular in contour. · In the Fig. 14 modification the cap, which is elliptical in shape, contains but one slit and is provided with lugs 12 to facilitate opening and closing.

Figs. 2, 8, 9 and 10 show various methods of attaching the cap to the container. In the Fig. 2 construction, the bore of the cap is provided at the base with a bead 14 adapted to enter a channel 15 of the nozzle 2 to assure tight and permanent engagement. In Fig. 8 the construction is reversed in that here the nozzle is provided with a bead 16 cooperating with a channel 17 formed at the base of the cap. In the Fig.; 9 construction, the entire base of the cap fits into a channel formed' about the nozzle. Attachment of this type is adaptable for use on bottles, soft metal tubes, cans or the like.

The form of attachment shown in Fig. 10 is suitable for soft metal only. The construction is similar to Fig. 9 with the exception that the container is provided with a flange 18 which, upon insertion of the base of the cap in the channel 19, is crimped inwardly to tightly grip the cap.

Containers employing closures in accordance with the present invention, may be initially sealed, where desired, in a number of different ways well known to the art. Soft metal tubes may, for example, be sealed by forming them with a thin easily broken film of metal covering the orifice of the nozzle.