US2605939A - Closure - Google Patents

Description

Aug- 5, 1952 T. F. E. FUcHsLocl-IER 2,605,939

CLOSURE Filed June l, 1950 TTUNEFS' Patented Aug. 5, 1952 CLOSURE rlllreodor F. E. Fuchslocher, Van Nuys, Calif., asi` signor, by mesne assignments, to James G. Moran, Burbank, Calif.

Application June 1, 1950, SerialNo. 165,559 n 12 Claims. (Cl. 222-491) This invention relates to closures for collapsible containers or tubes of the type used for tooth paste, shaving cream, salvos and other semi-fluid or plastic materials.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a simple, yet extremely eiTective tube closure of the type having a valve adapted to open when squeezing pressure is applied to the tube and to close when the squeezing pressure is relieved.

Another object of my invention is to provide a closure of the type described above having a novel spring-operated valve member.

Another object of my invention is to provide a closure for collapsible tubes, which closure has a minimum of parts adapted to be inexpensively manufactured on a quantity basis.

Other objects and advantages it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible tube having a closure member incorporating my Ainvention attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation similar to that shown in Figure 2 but with the valve member illustrated in the open position.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective elevation of the valve spring member.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation illustrating a modified form of my invention.

Figure '7 is a sectional elevation similar to Figure 6 but illustrating the valve member in the open position.

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawings, a conventional collapsible tube ID of the type used for tooth paste, shaving cream and other semi-fluid or plastic materials is shown. The tube is provided with an outlet member or neck I I having external threads I2. Threadedly engaged with the neck II is a cap member I3 provided with an opening I4, preferably centrally oiset, in communication With the neck II. An annular seat I5 surrounds the opening I4 for the reception of a disk-shaped Valve member I6.

Means are provided to normally maintain the valve member I6 in seated or closed position. As shown in the drawings, this means may include the spring member Il which comprises a spring 2 wire member disposed transversely'of the axis of the cap member I3 and having a generally VU- shaped end portion I8, the outer leg I9 being normal to the base portion 20 of the spring member. A boss 2I is provided on the underside of the valve member I6, the boss having a transverse opening 22 therein. The outer leg I9 of the spring I1 is inserted through the opening 22, sufcient' lWhen squeezing pressure is appledto the col-gr lapsible tube I0 the plastic contents (not shown) are forced upwardly andV against the valve meinber I6, opening the valve against the action of the spring-Il.v As shown in Figure`3`, the valve member pivots about its edge at a location remote from the bore 22. The pivotalaction of the valve' member I6 is somewhat exaggerated in Figure 3 for purposes of clarity, and ordinarily the valve would not open to the extent shown unless the plastic material in the collapsible tube vIl' were extremely heavy and thick. The periphery of the valve 36 adjacent thefree end thereof is slightly inwardly bevelled as at 4 2 to provide clearance upon closing of the valve. Generally the valve I6 pivots only slightly to `permit a narrow ribbon of plastic material to flow from the tube I0.' It will be noted that the periphery of thevalve member I6 adjacent the free end thereof is slightly inwardly bevelled as at 25 to `provide clearance upon closing of the valve.

A modified form of my inventionis illustrated in Alignires 6 through 8. The cap member 30 vis generally similar to the cap member I3 described above, having a seat 3l surrounding an opening 32. Here the leg 33 of the spring 34 is molded4 into, or otherwise rigidly secured to, the bossl 35 on the underside of the valvemember 36. The portion of the spring 34 which is imbedded. lin

the boss 35 may be curved as shown at BTin order to prevent relative motion of the spring with respect to the valve member 36. An inwardly directed ledge 38 is provided in the opening 32 and integral with the cap member 30. The ledge 38 has a transverse groove 33 for the reception of the raised portion 40 of the spring 34 and may be grooved radially at 4I to prevent trans- Verse slippage ofthe spring. It will be understood from the above description that the assembly of the embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 6 through 8 is much simpler than in the case of the embodiment shown in Figures 2 through 4. The operation of the valve 36 is otherwise similar to that of the valve I6, with the exception that the valve opens in the opposite direction.

While I have shown and described speciiic embodiments of my invention, I do not limitV myself to the exact details of the constructions set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modiilcations and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a closure for collapsible tubes having an outlet member, the combination of: a cap member adapted to be attached to said outlet member, said cap member having a longitudinal opening communicating withsaid tube through said outlet member; a seat surrounding said opening; a'valve member engaged with said seat; and a spring member having a straight lbody portion extending transversely from said cap member into `said opening below said seat, the end of the spring remote from said body portion being hinged to the under side of said valve member on an axis normal to said bodyy portion and to the axis of the opening whereby saidvalve member is normally helddownward in engagement with said seat, said spring being'responsive to pressure against said valve member to permit pivotal opening of said valve member.

2. In a closure for collapsible tubes having an outlet member, the combination of: a cap member adapted to be attached to said outlet member, said cap member having a longitudinal opening communicating with said tube through said outlet member; an annular seat surrounding said opening; a cylindrical valve member engaged with said seat; and a spring member having a straight body portion extending transversely from said cap member into said opening below said seat, the end of the spring remote from said body portion being hinged to the under side of said valve member on an axis normal to said body vportion and to the axis of the opening whereby said valve member is normally held downward in engagement with said seat, said spring being responsive to pressure against said valve'member to permit pivotal disengagement of said valve member from said seat.

3. In a closure for collapsible tubes having an outlet member, the combination of: a cap member adapted to be attached to said outlet member, said cap member having a longitudinal opening communicating with said tube through said outlet member; an annular seat surrounding said opening; a disk-shaped valve member engaged with said seat, said valve member having' a bevelled edge; and a spring member within the opening operatively connecting the under side of said valve member with said cap member whereby said valve member is normally held downward in engagement with said seat, said spring member being responsive to pressure against said valve member to permit pivotal disengagement of said valve member from said seat.

4. In a closure for collapsible tubes having an outlet member, the combination of: a cap member adapted to be attached to said outlet member, said cap member having a longitudinal opening communicating with said tube through said outlet member and a transverse bore at a level below said seat and communicating with said longitudinal opening; an annular seat surrounding said opening; a cylindrical valve member engaged with said seat; and a spring member having a straight body portion maintained in said bore and extending transversely from said cap member into said opening, the end of the spring remote from said body portion being hinged to said valve member on an axis normal to said body portion and to the axis of the opening whereby said valve member is normally held downward in engagement with said seat, said spring being responsive to pressure against said valve member to permit pivotal disengagement of said valve member from said seat.

5. In a closure for collapsible tubes having an outlet member, the combination of a cap member adapted to be attached to said outlet member, said cap member having a longitudinal opening communicating with said tube through said outlet member; an annular seat surrounding said opening;v a disk-shaped valve member engaged with said seat, the upper surface of said valve member being flush with the upper surface of said cap member; a boss extending downwardly from the inner surface of said valve member; and a spring member having a straight body portion extending transversely from said cap member into said opening, the end of the spring remote from said body portion comprising a leg normal to the body portion and engaged with said boss on said valve member whereby said valve member is normally maintained in engagement with said seat, said spring being responsive to pressure against said valve member to permit pivotal disengagement oi said valve member from said seat.

6. In a closure f-or collapsible tubes having an outlet member, the combination of: a cap member adapted to be attached to said outlet member. said cap member having a longitudinal opening communicating with said tube through said outlet member; a transverse ledge extending from said cap member into said longitudinal opening; an annular seat surrounding said opening; a cylindrical valve member engaged with said seat; a spring member having a body portion extending transversely from under said ledge into said opening, the end of the spring remote from said body portion comprising a leg normal to the body portion and secured to said valve member Whereby said valve member is normally maintained in engagement with said seat, said spring being responsive to pressure against said valve member to permit pivotal disengagementv of said valve member from said seat; and means on said ledge whereby displacement of said spring body portion is prevented.

'7. In a closure means for a collapsible tube, the combination of: a neck for the tube having an opening at its outer end, said opening constituting a valve seat; a valve member peripherally shaped to fit said seat and close the opening when the valve member is urged bodily 1nwardly oithe opening in a direction generally transverse to the plane of the valve seat, said valve member being so related to said neckas to be free to move bodily outwardly from the opening and also free to assume positions in which the plane of the valve member is inclined to the plane of the opening; a spring means arranged wholly within the neck chamber and connected at its one end to the neck wall and at its other end to the valve member for pulling said valve member downwardly, said spring means being normally under stress when the valve member is in closed position and under greater than normal stress when the tubel is squeezed and the valve member consequently raised to express the contents of the tube between the peripheries of the valve member and the seat.

8. In a closure means for a collapsible tube, the combination of: a neck for the tube having an opening 4at its outer end, said opening constituting a valve seat; a valve member peripherally shaped to nt said seat and close the open-' ing when the valve member is urged ybodily inwardly of the opening in a direction generally transverse to the plane of the valve seat, said valve member being so related to said neck as to be free to move bodily outwardly from the opening and also free to assume positions in which the plane of the valve member is inclined to the plane of the opening; a spring means arranged wholly within the neck chamber and connected at its one end to the neck Wall and at its other end to the under surface of the valve member at a point substantially offset from the areal center of the under surface of said valve member..

9. The subject matter dened in claim 8 in which said spring means is normally under stress when the valve member is in closed position and is under greater than normal stress when the tube is squeezed and the valve mem-ber consequently raised to express the contents of the tube between the peripheries of the valve member and the seat.

10. The combination dened in claim 7 in which the spring means extends from one connection to the other connection along a line, lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to, and

, 6 intersecting the axis of, said neck chamber and in which the stress of the spring means is a stress in lexure.

11. The combination dened in claim 10 in which at the inner one of said connections the spring end is rigidly related to the wall of the neck chamber and in which the other connection permits the valve member to pivot on the spring on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the neck chamber and in which the spring is connected to the valve member at a point offset from the areal center of the under surface of the valve member end of the spring means.

THEODOR E. FUCHSLOCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,991,126 Stevenson Feb. 12, 1935 2,011,742 Weber e Aug. 20, 1935 2,028,843 Pischke Jan. 28, 1936 2,032,883 Mills Mar. 3, 1936 2,379,475 Camfens et al. July 3, 1945

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