Container closure member having a dispensing valve therein

Sept. 30, 1952

D. MICHEL

2,612,293

CONTAINER CLOSURE MEMBER HAVING A DISPENSING VALVE THEREIN

Filed Jan. 21, 1949

J A¹

<img file="US2612293A_D0001.tif" />

Patented Sept. 30, 1952

2,612,293

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,612,293

CONTAINER CLOSURE MEMBER HAVING A

DISPENSING VALVE THEREIN

Daniel Mie

Application January

Claims.

This invention relates in general to dispensing means, and more particularly, to a simple and inexpensive throw-away device for dispensing liquids, powders and the like by gas retained under pressure.

A principal object of this invention is the provision of an improved valve means through which a container on which the valve means is mounted may be charged with gas under pressure, and through which the gas-charged product may subsequently be dispensed from the container, said valve means being effective for the purpose described, yet at the same time, being so simple and inexpensive that it may be discarded with the container after the latter has been emptied.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel, sanitary, protective cover for the valve means. In this connection, a specific object is the provision of the combination of a closure member for the container having permanently mounted thereon manually manipulable valve means and having removably mounted thereon a sanitary, protective cover, the latter comprising a housing having an open end defined by a pair of annularly spaced skirts adapted to embrace, respectively, inner and outer edges of an upstanding bead formation on the closure member.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the figures of the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional view of the upper or mouth portion of a container equipped with the improved valve and protective cover means, the valve means being shown in its normally closed position and the coyer means being shown as it would be assembled on the container to protect both the valve and the closure member during handling and storage;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view similar to that of Fig. 1 showing the container without the protective cover means and showing the dispensing valve as being deflected to open position; .

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view of the protective cover;

Fig. 4 is a bottom or open end view of protective cover shown in Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the valve means showing how it may be used with a vacuum- or pressure-applying lance to extract air from the container or charge gas info the container;

, Chicago, Ill.

., 1949, Serial No. 71,853 (CI. 222—182)

Fig. 6 is an outside elevational view of the protective cover;

Fig. 7 is a view, similar to Fig. 1 but without the protective cover, of a modified form of the 5 invention; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the valve shown in Fig. 7 taken substantially on line 7—7 of that figure.

Referring now more particularly to the draw10 ings, the container, generally designated ii, and which is only partially shown, is here illustrated as of the conventional “seamless” type which is more fully shown and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 51,725, filed Septem15 ber 29, 1948 and later abandoned. It will be understood that the present invention is adaptable for use with many other specific types of containers, including, for example, the common cylindrical, lap-soldered tin can. The upper por20 tion of the container I ί is formed with a mouth or opening defined by a peripherally extending bead 12. A closure 13, more specifically described in my above mentioned co-pending application, is clinched within the opening defined 25 by the bead 12 and itself presents an upstanding bead 14 defined by inner and outer walls 16 and ί 7 (see Fig. 2), respectively.

At the center of the closure member 13 there is provided an aperture 18 defined by an up_go standing, substantially cylindrical wall 19.

Within that aperture is pressed a resilient body 21 of rubber or rubber-like material such as neoprene. The body 21 is formed with axially spaced inner and outer flanges 22 and 23, respec„_r tively, which grip the wall 19 therebetween in a ⁰ grommet-like manner.

The body 21 is formed with a longitudinally or axially extending bore 24 and has at its interior end portion an enlarged chamber 26 in alignment and communication with the bore

24. The extreme inner end of the body 21 is formed with a frusto-conical valve-seating surface 27 which is also axially aligned with the bore 24. A tubular member 28 of metal or plas- tic material is embraced within the body bore 24. At its inner end it carries a valve 29 having a frusto-conical surface 31 engageable with the valve seat 27; at its other end is a reduced diameter section 32 which extends inwardly to 0 the shoulder 33. Passage means, which in this instance constitutes four radial openings 34 formed in the tubular member or valve stem in line with the enlarged chamber '26, provides a communication between that chamber and the •5 interior of the member 28.

2,612,288

Dispensing nozzle means, generally designated 36, is carried on the end of the tubular member for the 3-fold purpose of, (a) compressing the body 21, (&amp;) urging the valve 29 outward to a seated position even when there is low gas pressure within the container, and (c) providing a convenient passageway for charging and discharging the container. The dispensing means 36 is formed preferably of a sanitary plastic material such as polymerized cellulose acetate. A bore 37 is formed therein for a press fit with the reduced outer section 32 of the tubular member. The inwardly facing end surface. 38: of the dispensing nozzle abuts the outer end'.surface' 39 of the body 21, the shoulder 33 serving as a stop to fix the assembled position of the member 36. The shoulder 33 is so positioned, upon the. stem 28, and the body 21 is so dimensioned with respect to the latter, that when the parts are assembled, as shown, the resilient body will be placed under compression, between- the. valve; 29 and the nozzle end surface 38. The: latter. surface is. thus, in effect,, a, flange for: initially compressing the resilient, body so as to: urge the valve.

to its normally seated position against the: inner surface 27.

Another feature of the dispensing: nozzle. 36 is that it is provided with an inwardly extending peripheral skirt ¢:1 which closely embraces the peripheral surface 421 of the outer;, reduced diameter, end portion 45 of the: resilient, body, thereby- maintaining the- valve-seating compression of the body. The end:56 of the skirt 41 bears, against the outer flange 23· of the resilient body thereby facilitating opening the valve¹ with a. minimum of displacement by causing it; to. tilt about a. fulcrum point (designated “A.” in Figs;.1 and 2) remote from the outer end; of the body. The outer flange is normally compressed between the skirt end 56 and the closure member wall 19 to help maintain- the valve: 29 urged to a closed· position.

Another important advantage of the dispensing nozzle construction shown is that an annular space 43^? is provided between the extreme outer tip portion of the stem 28 and the extreme inner portion of the nozzle bore 44. This-facilitates drawing the air from the container and- recharging it with a selected gas underpressure by use of a lance such as indicated at 46 in Fig. ff. The lance 46 comprises a long, narrow tube connected at one end to a vacuum; or suitable gas-pressure, source. At its inner or opposite· end it is provided with a fixed¹ flange 47' forward- of which- is assembled a resilient rubber-like gasket ¢8: When the lance is pressed into the outer end of the tube 28, as shown in Fig. 5, the resilient gasket 4'8 is forced¹ partially down into'the-annular space 4-3 and at the same time is: caused to lend itself flexibly to the adjacent portion of bore 44¹ thereby forming a positive-gas or vacuum seal during the vacuumizing or gas-charging step.

The tip of the nozzle 36 may be castellated as shown at 45 to impart a special effect or pattern to the dispensed product if desired.

Another important¹ feature of this invention resides in. the: protective cover, generally designated 49, which serves the dual function of: (a) protecting; the valve against accidental tilting and· consequent discharge of the. container contents,. and: (&amp;) protecting the; valve and the entire container- closure member 13 against: the accumulation of soil during transport and. storage; This latter point is of considerable importance in the dispensing of food products.

The cover 49 is made preferably of a plastic material such as polymerized cellulose acetate and is also part of the throw-away assembly, being discardable with the container when the latter is empty. It is generally cup shaped with its external surface knurled as at 50 to facilitate handling, and having an opening or mouth defined by an inner skirt 51 and an outer skirt 52, the skirts having, an annular space 53 therebetween. As shown in Fig: 1 the inner and outer skirts normally embrace the inner and outer surfaces 16 and 17, respectively, of the closure member bead formation 14. Preferably, one of the. skirts'should be formed so as to be resilient as well as frictionally engageable with its corresponding bead surface. In the present instance the. inner bead 61 is. formed with a plurality (in this case three) of longitudinally extending slits 54 to impart to it the desired resilience, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, it.is formed with a plurality of.external· ribs,55 which· are frictionally engageafole/with the-corresponding bead surface 16 to hold the cover in. place; Minor manufacturing variations, between, the; inner surface 16 of the flange and the skirt 51 will be taken up: by variable flexing of. the; latter- when assembled. Obviously,, it,, is. a: relatively simple-job: to pull the cover off or- to..· press: it into place when desired.

One of the important advantages of: this invention; resides fix the; ease: with which. it may be assembled; yet; will, retain;: the. pressures of up to-20.0 pounds;per square inch utilized.in gasifying or aerating cream: and like.: food products. By constructing:the:nozzle 3.6:as.a:separate piece (instead of: integral with the; valve.· stem, as illustrated, for example, by Card Patent 1,869,049 issued July: 26, 1533);, I can employ a. rubber body 2:1; of. very, great, strength- and firmness and still readily, assemble: ifr by first inserting the stem within bore: 2.4: followed by pressing the nozzle 36 “home” on the. reduced: stem section 32. By contrast, the nearest: prior art structure such as illustrated by the above-mentioned Card patent is necessarily limited, to; use of a relatively soft rubber so as· to: permit, assembly by forcing the enlarged, integral¹ outer tip portion through it. Such relatively weaker rubber is inherently less pressure-retentive; than I can use and cannot be safely applied to the dispensing of gas-charged mixtures· at· pressures as high as 200 pounds per square inch.

The, manufacturer who packages a product such as cream, paint, insecticide, or the like, in a discardable tin can employing- a valve and protective cover according- to the present invention, will generally receive the can from the supplier in¹ three separate subassemblies comprising, (a) the can body, (&amp;) the valve means including the closure 13, tubular member 28, resilient body 21 and nozzle 36, and (c) the cover 49. For example, a dairy marketing aerated; cream, in such containers will carry- out the:, final assembly and packaging operations as follows: cream will be poured into the container through the opening defined by the bead 12 following which the closure 13 will be applied and clinched in place. Then a hollow needle or lance such as designated at 46 in Fig. 5 and which is connected to a vacuum, source will be pressed into the nozzle bore .44 against the end of tube 28 with suflicient force to. depress¹ the latter inwardly thereby opening the valve 29. When the air is withdrawn from the interior of the: can, another similar hollow needle or lance, connected to a source of aerated gas under pressure, will be similarly inserted into

2,612,293 the bore 44 and the can charged with a suitable quantity of gas following which the container will usually be shaken for a predetermined number of times to complete the solution of gas in the cream. The protective cover 49 is then pressed 5 into place and the packaged aerated cream is ready for delivery to the ultimate consumer.

When the consumer receives the above-mentioned device, filled as described, he may have a whipped-cream-like product at the touch of his It finger simply by removing the cover 49, inverting the can and tilting the valve to its open position as shown in Fig, 2.

While a modified form of valve means is illustrated in Fig. 7, it is similar in many respects to 1£ that disclosed in Fig. 1. It will be preferred for certain highly competitive products because it can be made somewhat cheaper since it avoids the use of the hollow valve-carrying stem.

The modified valve means is mounted in a 2( closure member 113 (partially shown) which may be identical with the closure member 13 already described. At the center of the closure member 113, there is provided an aperture defined by an upstanding wall i 19. Within that aperture is 21 pressed a resilient body 121 of rubber, or rubberlike material, formed with axially spaced inner and outer flanges 122 and 123, respectively, which grip the wall ί 19 therebetween. So far, the description of the body 121’ is the same as the body 3( 21 previously described. The bore 124 varies from that disclosed in the body 2 i in that it is a simple, straight-through bore, with no enlargement except for the frusto-conical valve seating surface 121. A solid stem or rivet 128 extends through 3; the bore 124 and is undersized relative to that bore to provide an annular transfer passage or chamber 128' therebetween. The stem or rivet 128 will preferably be made of metal, such as aluminum or some readily deformable plastic ma- 4( terial. At its inner end the stem 128 carries a valve 129 having a frusto-conical surface 131 engageable with the valve seat 127. The opposite or outer end portion of the stem extends beyond the outer end of the body 121. _4i

The resilient body is provided with an outer extension 145 of reduced diameter relative to that of the outer flange 123.

A tubular dispensing nozzle, generally designated 136, is formed with a bore 144 having an 51 inner shoulder or flange 144a. The parts will be assembled by first pressing the resilient body 121 in place, then inserting the stem 128 from the inner side, and mounting the dispensing tube 136 on the outer side with the outer end portion of 5 the stem inserted beyond the shoulder 144a and peened or enlarged as shown at 145' (Fig. 7).

Passage means, generally designated 146, is provided between the tube 136 and the stem 128 at the outlet end of the chamber 126 to provide e communication between said chamber and the dispensing nozzle. In this specific instance, the passage means comprises a plurality of axially . . extending fluted openings 147 formed in the nozzle 136. Obviously, if desired, such openings : c&gt;; might be formed, in part, or in their entirety, in thestem 128.

The inwardly facing surface 138 of the dispensing nozzle comprises, in effect, a flange engageable with the outer extreme end portion 139 71 of the resilient body. Likewise, the peripheral skirt 141 has its end portion 156 engageable with the flange 123, to maintain the resilient body in compression to thereby urge the valve 129 to a normally seated position. This compression of 7 the resilient body also serves the function of sealing the outer end of the chamber (26 at the interface 138—139 to prevent the loss of the product being dispensed. It will be noted, also, that an annular space 143 is provided between the extremeouter tip portion of the stem 128 and the extreme inner portion of the nozzle bore 144. This annular space corresponds to that designated 43 in Fig. 5, and functions similarly to facilitate vacuumizing and pressurizing of the container.

In use, the valve embodiment shown in Fig. 7 functions in the same way as that described for the previous embodiment, that is, the consumer : simply inverts the can which carries the valve, presses the nozzle 136 to one side, causing it to tilt about the fulcrum located at A'. This causes the valve 129 to be tilted away from one side of the seat 127, permitting the contents of the con1 tainer to be discharged past the valve 129, through the transfer passage or chamber 126, through the passage means (46, and out of the bore 144.

While particular forms of the present inveni tion have been shown, it will be apparent that minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.