Capping device

<img file="US2829807A_D0001.tif" />

April 8, 1958

S. KIRSCHENBAUM

CAPPING DEVICE

2,829,807

Filed May 2, 1956

Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US2829807A_D0002.tif" />

April 8, 1958 s. kirschenbaum 2,829,807

CAPPING DEVICE

Filed May 2, 1956 ₂ sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US2829807A_D0003.tif" />

United States Patent Office „ . .^2&gt;829’⁸⁰⁷

Patented Apr. 8, 1958

2,829,807

CAPPING DEVICE Samuel Kirschenbaum, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application May 2,1956, Serial No. 582,149 4 Claims. (Cl. 222—421)

This invention relates generally to the bottle closure art, and more particularly to an improved form of capping device for use in conjunction with liquid drop dispensing devices; Reference is made to Patent No. 2,411,435, entitled, Liquid Dispensing Device, granted November 19, 1946 to S. Kirschenbaum which: shows a typical application of the invention.

Liquid dispensing devices of the type disclosed in the above mentioned patent are used in connection with bottles for controlling the flow of liquid from the same, and are adapted to provide for the emptying of liquid containers· in the form of drops flowing at a substantially uniform rate. The operation of such devices is dependent upon the maintenance of certain balances between the flow of air into the container, and the flow of liquid therefrom. Proper initial operation depends upon the passages of the device being free of liquid which' might distort the above mentioned balance. While the devices disclosed in the above mentioned Patent No. 2,411,435 are generally satisfactory, it has been found that capping, devices of conventional type are not suitable in those applications where it is necessary to shake the container of liquid to assure a uniform mixture of liquid before dispensing. During the shaking operation, the liquid dispensing passages become filled with liquid so that upon removal of the, capping device and the tilting of the container to dispense the drops of liquid, the initial flow may be too fast for accurate drop count and control.

It has also been found that the conventional· cap mads of a rigid plastic' and relying only upon pressure to seal is insufficient when used in conjunction with a bottle insert or fitment made of a non-rigid flexible plastic having the properties of polyethylene if' the pressure is applied to sections of the fitment that are not supported by unyielding surfaces.

If is therefore among the principal objects of the present, invention: to provide an improved capping: device for use; in conjunction with drop' dispensing devices of the class· described in . which the: above mentioned difficulties are substantially eliminated.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved capping construction'which is adapted to seat tightly upon the: drop· dispensing device-without damage to any of the relatively delicate parts thereof.

Another, object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved capping device adapted for use in conjunction with a drop dispensing device possessed- of the above enumerated, advantages, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent Wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that the same may be formed from a single molding of synthetic resinous'material, With a complete absence of sealing gaskets, liners, and the like;

Another feature of the' invention lies in the pockets of trapped air between interconnecting parts to provide an effective seal against: the flow' Of liquids therethrough.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will become more clearly apparent during the course of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

On the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view show10 ing an embodiment of the invention in position upon a drop dispensing device.

Figure 1A is a plan view as seen from the plane 1A—1A on Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment.

_ Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, corresponding in most respects to that seen on Figure 1, but showing an alternate form of the embodiment.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, corresponding in most respects to that seen on Figure 1, but show20 ing a second alternate form of the embodiment.

Figure 5 is a similar fragmentary sectional view showing: a third alternate form of the embodiment.

Figure 6 is a similar fragmentary sectional view showing a fourth alternate form of the embodiment.

. In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated' by reference character 10 is shown in conjunction with a liquid dispensing device 11 disposed within the neck' 12 of a liquid container (not shown). The construction and operation of the liquid dispensing device

11 is substantially as set forth in Patent No. 2,411,435, and will therefore not fie discussed in great detail herein. In accordance with said patent, the device 11 includes a neck engaging annular portion 15, an outer tubular member 16 having a flared portion 17 thereon, a perforated

Wall 18, and an inner tubular member 19 having a lower Wall 29 thereon, the wall 29 having a vent 21 therein. In the device 11' illustrated, the upper edge 22 of the outer tubular member 16 and the upper edge 23 of the । inner tubular member 19 are in co-planar relationship, but it is to be understood that such showing is purely exemplary, as the device 10 may be modified to accommodate those cases where the cb-planar relationship does not exist. When in use, air flows in the direction of the ,- arrow 24 through the vent 21 to permit liquid to flow in the direction indicated by the arrow 25 through the perforated wall 18 to form drops on the flared portion 17. If liquid is brought into the interstice 28 by necessary shaking or inadvertent handling, a quantity of liquid accumulates which is greatly in excess of the normal amount of liquid in the device required for efficient functioning. In the conventional cap, the whole fitment becomes filled with liquid which brings about this condition.

..- .The device 10 is preferably formed by molding a suitable synthetic resin having the desired properties of strength and- a limited degree of flexibility. Where the device 11 is formed from a relatively soft synthetic resin having the properties of polyethylene, the device 10 may _e0 fie formed of a relatively harder synthetic resin, preferably of the phenol or styrene types. The device 10 includes a· body 29 having an outer annular surface 30, an upper surface 31, a threaded surface 32 selectively engageable with threads 33' on the neck 12 and a first ^pianar inwardly disposed surface 34 adapted to rest upon ’ the’ flange 14 when in engaged position.

Adjacent to and disposed inwardly of the surface 34 is a first annular groove 35 Of suitable cross section to permit the' same to clear the flared portion 17 of the tu•-Q fiular member 16. In the embodiment shown on Fig¹ tire' 1; the groove is of generally , rectangular cross section including Outer surface- 42, a bottom 43 and a par

2,829,807 tial inner surface 44. The depth of the groove 35 is such that when the surface 34 rests upon the upper surface 48 of the flange 14 the flared portion 17 is free of contact with any portion of the device 10.

Disposed adjacent to and inwardly of the groove 35 is a first annular flange or projection 36 having a wedge shaped surface 46 thereon adapted to contact the reinforced junction between the flared portion 17 and the planar flange 14. An outer cylindrical surface 47 is adapted to slide within the interstice 28, while the rounded bottom surface 48 assures a smooth sliding fit. A similarly cylindrical inner surface 49 contacts the outer surface of the inner tubular member 19.

A second annular groove 37 is disposed adjacent to and inwardly of the first annular projection 36 and includes a bottom surface 50 and an inner annular surface 51. The surface 51 merges with the outer cylindrical surface 52 of the axially or centrally disposed projection 38 which is provided with an encl surface 53 adapted to penetrate the opening within the inner tubular member 19. As may be seen on Figure 1, the surface 50 is positioned so as to clear the upper edge 23 whereby a pocket of trapped air provides a seal similar to that provided by the annular groove 35. The above mentioned pocket may be eliminated, if desired, provided an effective seal is made at the upper end of the inner tubular member 19.

When the device 10 is engaged with the device 11 owing to a differential resilience between the component parts of the two devices a slight distortion occurs to provide an hermetic seal between the planar surface of the flange 14 and the surface 34. A second seal is made at the contact of the cylindrical surface 46 with the reinforced junction between the flared portion 17 and the planar flange 14. A third seal is made by the engagement of the surface 51 with the outer surface of the inner tubular member 19. Still another seal is formed by the engagement of the centrally disposed projection 38 with the inner tubular member. Air trapped within the groove 35 contributes to this effect in that no liquid can enter the groove without displacing the air, and the pressure of the air is such as to force liquid in the opposite direction. Thus, in closed condition, the container of liquid may be shaken vigorously without substantial accumulation of liquid, that is to say the liquid which accumulates is within the normal range for proper operation. Accordingly, it is possible to remove the device 10 from the device 11 and commence controlled flow of drops from the container of liquid in such a manner that drops are immediately formed.

Turning now to the alternate form of the invention as shown on Figure 3 of the drawing, the same differs from the principal form only in the omission of the centrally disposed projection 38. This form is particularly useful where the centrally disposed opening in the drop dispensing device is so small as to make the centrally disposed projection difficult to mold. In such cases, an adequate seal will be obtained without the presence of the centrally disposed projection. The elimination of the centrally disposed projection also saves the material which would normally be used to form the same, with a consequent simplification and reduction in molding costs.

In this form of the embodiment, owing to the close fitting of parts, upon the removal of the device 10 a suction is created in the inner tubular member which tends to empty some of the liquid lodged between the inner and outer tubular members. This action occurs to an even greater degree in the principal form.

Turning now to the second alternate form of the embodiment as illustrated on Figure 4, parts corresponding to those of the principal form are designated with similar reference characters with the additional suffix “a.”

The second alternate form of the invention differs from jhe principal form principally in that it is particularly adapted for use in liquid containers having relatively narrow neck portions. Accordingly, the outer tubular member 16α engages the inner surface of the neck 12α and the interstice 28 is sufficiently narrow that the major portion of the seal is effected by contact between the tapered surfaces 58 and 59. Here contact as shown is permissible without damage to the device 10α, owing to the fact that the flared portion 17α is directly supported by the upper edge 60 of the neck 12α.

Turning now to the third alternate form of the embodiment as illustrated on Figure 5, of the drawing, parts corresponding to those of the principal form have been designated by similar reference characters with the additional suffix “b.” In this form, the inner tubular member 19b is lowered, to permit the device 10ά to be inwardly recessed with a consequent saving of material comprising the cap. An additional air seal is formed within the groove 63, the annular projection 64 contacting a portion of the device 10b which is supported by the neck 12ά of the liquid container.

Turning now to the fourth alternate form of the embodiment as illustrated on Figure 6 of the drawing, parts corresponding to those of the principal form of the embodiment have been designated by similar reference characters with the additional suffix “c.” In this form of the embodiment, the seal between the flared portion 17c and the first annular projection 36c is partial as compared with a more complete seal as seen on Figure 4, and correspondingly, the flared portion is only partially reinforced by additional material indicated by reference character 70.

It may thus be seen that I have invented novel and highly useful improvements in capping devices of a type adapted to be used in conjunction with a drop dispensing device. Provision is made for the exclusion of undesirable accumulations of liquid within the drop dispensing device during such time as the container of liquid with which the drop dispensing device is used, is shaken or otherwise moved so as to cause liquid to otherwise lodge within the drop dispensing device. The capping device may be formed from a wide variety of suitable materials, and by resort to injection molding techniques the cost of the same may be maintained at a very low order.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure, shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.