US2832514A - Container - Google Patents

Description

April 29, 1958 D. J. O'CONNGR CONTAINER Filed Oct. 4. 1955 l ly to end plugs therefor.

United States Patent C CONTAINER Donal J. OConnor, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Morton Salt Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application October 4, 1955, Serial No. 538,414

20 Claims. (Cl. 222--480) This invention relates to containers and more particular- It has specific application, altho not limited thereto, to containers of the type which are intended to be useful in dispensing small portions of its contents at a time, which contents may be in either granulated or powdered form.

Such containers have been provided previously of paper tube stock, in the dispensing end of which has been located a pair of disks or similar members having apertures in offset relation to their center. By holding one disk fixed and being able to rotate the other, the openings may be arranged in aligned open position to permit pouring of the contents or be shifted tout of alignment to a closed position. Preferably, the outermost disk is the rotatable one and is held in close sliding relation with the fixed disk by crimping or otherwise inwardly turning the edge of the paper tube to form a bead overlying the peripheral edge of the disk.

However, since the tube is of paper, it is susceptible to moisture, and if suiciently dampened, the crimped edge or bead will lose its effectiveness and tend to uncurl. This can be a particularly acute problem when the containers are used for dispensing ordinary table salt and other hygroscopic materials. In containers formed according to the above mentioned prior art construction, there is opportunity, in their normal use, for small amounts of salt to collect or become lodged in the pocket or V between the bead and edge of the disk. lf not removed, the salt being hygroscopic, `will pick up moisture from the air, and over a period of time dampen the bead sufficiently to cause uncurling and destroy further usefulness of the container.

it is therefore a first and primary object of the invention to provide an effective means of preventing the crimped edge of the paper tube from uncurling even when rnoistened, and, secondly, to provide a barrier which will prevent such salt granulesor the contents of the container from becoming lodged in contact with the crimped edge.

A further object is to provide such a means in the form ol a ridge or a wall on the rotatable disk which is spaced inwardly of its peripheral edge, and so shaped as to contact closely the surface of the bead without forming pockets or the like for the collection of minute amounts of salt orother contents being dispensed from the container.

A further object is so to shape the ridge or wall that it will accommodate for variations in the tightness of the crimped edge or bead while still providing the desired barrier `and/ or effective seal.

A further and important object -of the invention is to so shape the surface of the disk and ridge over which the contents `wi1l flow during the dispensing act that it will substantially merge without abrupt change into the curved shape of the crimped edge or bead.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a curved or dish-shape to the outer surface of the rotatable disk and to so control its height at the edges thereof that said surface will eectively merge into the curved shape of the `overlying bead or crimped edge without substantial "ice 2 break to y effect free-owing of the contents out of the aligned apertures and off the bead when the container is tilted to pouring position and to redirect all of the particles or grains which do not fall olf the bead back through said aligned openings, when the container is returned to its normal vertical position.

It is a further object of this invention to obtain and accomplish all of the above in a simple and inexpensive as well as practical manner.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will, of course, appear and become evident from the description of the invention which follows, and when considered with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a container formed according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a top end view of the container;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the container taken on lines 3-3 in Figure 2 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken on lines 4 4 of Figure 2 to illustrate more clearly the shape and relation of the ridge on the closure disk relative to the inwardly turned or crimped edge of the outer wall of the container;

Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, but showing an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on lines 6-6 of Figure 5 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring to Figures l and 3, the main body portion 10 of the container hereindescribed comprises an openended outer cylinder 11 and an open-ended `inner cylinder 12, both of which may be formed of paper tube stock, chip board and like materials. The opposed ends of the outer cylinder 12 extend a slight distance beyond the respective adjacent ends of the inner cylinder 12 and are crimped or inwardly turned to form beads 13 and 14. End 15 of the inner cylinder 12 forms a shoulder which functions with bead 14 to hold bottom disk 16 securely in place while its other end 17 provides a shoulder which functions with bead 13 to hold a pair of disks 18 and 19 in place.

Disk 18 is preferably formed of paper and is tightly fitted within cylinder 11` and against shoulder 17 to resist turning. As seen in Figures 2 and 3 it has an opening offset from its center through which the contents may be dispensed. Although the container is intended principally for dispensing salt, it is obvious that the container will be suitable for use in dispensing a large variety of materials in granulated or powdered form.

Disk 19 functions as closure means fior said opening 2), and is preferably formed of plastic by injection molding technique. It is provided with an enlarged opening 21a and a perforated area 2lb which are also offset from the center of the disk so that either may be brought into registry with the opening 20 in disk 18 by simple rotation of disk 19 utilizing rib 22 formed integrally thereon. It is of course understood that the perforated area 21b permits a sifting of the contents when aligned with opening 20 while opening 21a will allow a more free owing of the contents during pouring. Either one or the other may be omitted, although there are obvious benefits to be derived from having both. As seen in Figure 2, opening 21a and perforated area 2lb are radially spaced at some angle other than preferably 120. This will permit both the perforated area 2lb and opening 21a to be rotated a maximum distance from opening 20 in disc 18 so as to provide greater assurance against spilling of the contents if,'for some reason, disc 19 were to be accidentally rotated a few degrees from a presumably closed position.

The container is ordinarily formed by first spinning 3 or crimping one end only of the outer cylinder 12 to form bead 13. Disks 19 and 18 are then inserted through the uncrimped end in that order. Next, the inner cylinder 12 is positioned within the cylinder 11 and its end 17 brought up to lodge the two disks securely in place. It may be then glued or otherwise fastened to the outer cylinder 11. The bead 13 is ideally of the cross sectional shape indicated in Figures 3 and 4. However, in practice it may vary somewhat therefrom. It may be consider- .ably more oval in shape and in some instances, it may be so attened that opening 13' is omitted altogether.

Because of this, disk 19 is provided with a continuous ridge 23 inwardly spaced from its periphery which serves to engage the adjacent outer surface 27 of said bead 13. As will be seen most clearly in Figure 4, the outer surface 2'4 of the ridge 23 is inclined away from its periphery at a slight angle. This helps to Vlocate the disc properly .and also to accommodate for different variations in tightness of the crimp constituting bead 13. Preferably the ridge 23 is so spaced from the periphery of the disc 19 that in assembled relation, its surfa-ce 24 will tightly bear against the crimped edge or bead 13 of cylinder 11, but will not prevent rotation of the disc 19 when torque iS applied to the rib 22.

To complete the assembly operation, the container is inverted and filled, it being understood of course that disk 19 has been moved to its closed position. Once filled, bottom disk 16 is positioned on end 15 of cylinder 12 andthe end of cylinder 11 crimped to form bead 14 sealing the contents within the container. Although bottom disk 16 is preferably formed of paper, it may be paper impregnated or coated with plastic to render it resistant `to moisture. Conceivably -disk 16 could be formed of plastic or metal or other means than the crimped edge 14 used to seal such a disk in place.

Referring again to Figure 4, it will be noted that ridge 23 not only helps to center properly the disk 19 and, in bearing .against .the beaded edge 13, prevent its uncurling, but it also serves to bar entrance to the V-shaped area designated X between the peripheral edge of disk 19 and bead 13. It should be apparent that in the absence of such a ridge 23, during an act of pouring contents from the container, a few of the particles could easily become lodged in this area X between the bead 13 and disk 19. Assuming these particles to be salt granules or i other particles of hygroscopic character, their collection in this area X could cause the crimped edge to become moist and tend to uncurl. The ridge 23 thus also serves as a barrier to prevent such lodgment of these particles from the area X, Obviously, if the height of the ridge 23,were to extend above the horizontal radius center line A-A seen VinvFigure 4, a new V-shaped pocket would be provided for receiving the salt particles. For this reason, its height should be near but not higher than said center line A-A. Preferably also, the tcp surface 26 ofthe enclosure disk 19 should be dish-shaped or cupped, as seen in Figures 3 and 4, so that it will blend or merge into the outer surface 27 of the beaded edge 13 without providing a pocket for the salt granules. This merging of the dish-shaped surface 26 of the disk 19 with the outer surface 27 of the bead 13 serves to channel the particles from the opening V20 through opening 21a or perforated area 2117, as the case may be, off the top surface of disk 19 and over the beaded edge 13 when the container is tilted to normal pouring position and also it serves to channel the'remaining particles back through the openings when the container is returned to its upright o'r normal vertical position.

Although it is preferred that the outer surface of the closure disk be dish-shaped for this reason, it may also be made substantially llat as shown in the modification according to Figures and 6. In'this modification, the inner sidesurface 226 of' the ridge 223 on closure disk 219 is disposed nearly Vertical, although it may be very slightly inclined, and it may be somewhat rounded where it--meets the dat surface of the disk 219. In other respects, ridge 223 is substantially like the ridge 23 according to the modification shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. Preferably, ridge 223 is tapered and its height controlled so that it meets the adjacent surface 27 of the bead 13 at a point adjacent to or slightly below the horizontal center line of said crimped or inwardly turned edge portion 13 as in the embodiment according to Figure 4. This provides a substantially continuous surface without interruption between the surface 226 and the surface 27 of the beaded edge 13. In order to channel the particles over the bead 13, disk 219 may be formed with a spout 228 about its opening 221a having a pouring edge 229 which is disposed above the height of the ridge 223. Preferably, it will also be provided with an inclined surface 230 and sides 231 to assist in directing the ow of the particles.

Although the above description has been applied specitically to a container such as used for dispensing salt and like granular and/or powdered materials, conceivably a ldisk equivalent to disk 19 or 219 as described might be used to seal or plug the end of a great variety of other type containers such as shot-gun shells, tubes of BBs or even shipping tubes as used for various materials. in each of these instances the end of the cylinder or tube would be crimped as previously described and the disk would be `urged into engagement therewith so that the inclined wall of its peripherally spaced ridge would 4tightly -bear against the crimped edge or bead of the cylinder to prevent its uncurling. Although preferably the disk would be held in engagement with said crimped edge of the cylinder by means of a second or inner cylinder, as described above, `it is conceivable that the disk might have a sufficiently tight fit within the tube or cylinder as to make the second cylinder unnecessary. Such a tight lit would be possible since in these alternative uses the disc need not and preferably does not rotate. Moreover it willrbe obvious that in these latter uses the disk will not be apertured. Neither will a rib such as shown at 22 be required.

Thus having described my invention, it would appear that all of the objects of the invention have been obtained in a simple, convenient and practical manner. It is further understood that the foregoing is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but merely as illustrative as to how the invention may be carried out.

I claim:

1. A device such as described comprising a cylindrical body having one end open, an apertured disk secured in the said open end, a closure disk rotatably mounted on said apertured disk in sliding relation therewith, the edge of said lopen end of the cylindrical body being inwardly crimped about a short radius to overlie the peripheral edge of said closure disk, and said closure disk having a circumferentially, extending upstanding ridgelike portion spaced from the peripheral edge thereof and having a height no greater than that of the radius about which said edge is crimped, the edge of said ridgelike portion being pressed against the adjacent surface of said crimped edge of the cylindrical body to provide a substantial merging thereof with said surface.

2. A device such as described comprising a cylindrical body having one end open, an apertured disk secured in the said open end, a closure disk rotatably mounted on said apertured disk in sliding relation therewith, the edge of said open end of the cylindrical body being inwardly turned about a radius to overlie the peripheral edge of said closure disk, and said closure disk having a circumferentially extending upstanding tapered ridge portion spaced from the peripheral edge thereof which has a height less than that of the radius of the inwardly turned edge of the cylindrical body and is pressed against said turned edge to provide a substantially continuous uninterrupted merging of the adjacent surface of the inwardly turned edge and tapered ridge portion.

3. A device such as described comprising a cylindrical body having one end open, apertured means secured in the said open end, a closure disk rotatablymounted onY 4. A device such as described comprising a cylindrical body having one end open, apertured means secured in the said open end, a closure disk rotatably mounted on said apertured means in sliding relation therewith, the edge of said open end of the cylindrical body being inwardly crimped to overlie the peripheral edge of said closure disk, and said closure disk having a circumferentially extending upstanding wall portion spaced from the peripheral edge thereof which engages the adjacent surface of said crimped edge of the cylindrical body and further has an exposed surface which substantially merges with the adjacent surface of the crimped edge of the cylindrical body.

5. In a container, the combination of a sleeve having an edge inwardly crimped about a short radius, a first apertured disk secured in place within the sleeve and just below the crimped edge, and a second apertured disk having its peripheral edge between the crimped edge and first disk and being slidably rotatable on the said first disk to bring the apertured portions of the two disks into and out of alignment, said second disk having an upstanding circumferentially extending ridge spaced inwardly from its peripheral edge and bearing against the crimped edge of the sleeve in sealing relation therewith.

6. In a container, the combination of a sleeve having an edge inwardly crimped about a short radius, a first apertured disk secured in place within the sleeve and just below the crimped edge, and a second apertured disk having its peripheral edge between the crimped edge and the first disk and being slidably rotatable on the said first disk to bring the apertured portions of the two disks into and out of alignment, said second disk having an upstanding circumferentially extending ridge spaced inwardly from its peripheral edge, and said ridge having a tapered end bearing against the crimped edge of the sleeve in sealing relation therewith, the exposed surface of the said ridge substantially merging with the outer surface of the said crimped edge of the sleeve.

7. In a container, the combination of a sleeve having an edge inwardly crimped about a short radius, apertured means secured in place within the sleeve and just below the crimped edge, and an apertured disk having its peripheral edge between `the crimped edge and the apen tured means and being slidably rotatable thereon to bring the apertured portions thereof into and out of alignment,

said disk having an upstanding circumferentially extending ridge spaced inwardly from its peripheral edge, the outer surface of said ridge being angled inwardly and having its end located to bear againstthe crimped edge of the sleeve in sealing relation therewith at a location substantially no higher than the horizontal radius of said crimped edge, and the outer exposed surface of the ridge being shaped substantially to merge with the outer surface ofthe said crimped edge of the sleeve.

8. In a container, the combination of a sleeve having an edge inwardly crimped about a short radius, apertured means secured in place within the sleeve and just below the crimped edge, an apertured disk having its peripheral edge between the crimped edge and the apertured means and being slidably rotatable on said means to bring the apertured portions thereof into and out of alignment, said disk having an upstanding circumferentially extending ridge spaced inwardly from its peripheral edge, the outer surface of said ridge being angled in wardly and engaging against the crimped edge of the sleeve, and the exposed surface of the disk being some-` 6. what dish-shaped and substantially merging with the outer surface of the said crimped edge of the sleeve.

9. In a container, the combination of a sleeve having an edge inwardly turned about a short radius, a first apertured disc secured in place within the sleeve and just below the inturned edge, and a second apertured disk having its peripheral edge between the inturned edge and the first disk and being slidably rotatable on the said rst disk to bring the apertured portions of the two disks into and out of alignment, said second disk having an opstanding circumferentially extending ridge spaced in-` wardly from its peripheral edge, the outer surface of said ridge being angled inwardly and having a tapered end engaging the inturned edge of the sleeve, :and the height f of said ridge being substantially no higher than the horizontal radius of said inturned edge of the sleeve.

l0. A container'comprising inner and outer cylindrical bodies in secured telescopic relation, the outer cylindrical body having an edge portion extending beyond the edge of the inner cylindrical body of one end of the container, and means closing off the other end of the container, a disk immovably seated on said mentioned edge of the inner cylindrical body, said disc having an opening therein offset from its center, a closure disk rotatably mounted on said disk in close slidable relation therewith, said closure disk also having an opening therein offset from its center, and the mentioned edge of the outer cylindrical body being crimped inwardly to overlie and hold said closure disk in its close sliding relation with the first disk, together with means on said closure disk to effect rotation thereof whereby the opening in the first disk may be opened and closed, said closure disk further having an inwardly angled continuous circumferentially extending wall portion which is so spaced from its peripheral edge as to bear against the adjacent surface of the men tioned crimped edge portion of the outer cylindrical body in substantially sealing relation therewith, and the top surface of said closure disk defined by said continuous wall being substantially dish-shaped and merging withthe surface of said crimped edge portion of the outer'l cylindrical body at the top of the inwardly angled wall to effect free flowing of the contents from said container.

ll. A container comprising inner and outer cylindrical bodies in secured telescopic relation, the outer cylindrical body having an edge portion extending beyond the edge of the inner cylindrical body of one end of the container, and means closing ofrr the other end of the container, a disk immovably seated on said mentioned edge of the inner cylindrical body, said disk having an opening therein offset from its center, a closure disk rotatably mounted on said disk in close slidable relation therewith, said closure disk also having an opening therein offset from its center, the mentioned edge of the outer cylindrical body being crimped inwardly to overlie and hold said closure disk in its close sliding relation with the first disk, and said closure disk further having a continuous circumferentially extending tapered rdgelike portion which is so spaced from its peripheral edge as to bear against the adjacent outer surface of the mentioned crimped edge portion of the outer cylindricalbody to hold the same in place, and the top surface of said closure -disk being substantially dish-shaped and merging with the surface of said crimped edge portion of the outer cylindrical body to effect free flowing of the contents from said container.

l2. A container comprising inner and outer cylindrical bodies in secured telescopic relation, the outer cylindrical body having an edge portion extending beyond the edge of the inner cylindrical body of one end of the container, and means closing oti' the other end of the container, a disk immovably seated on said mentioned edge of the inner cylindrical body, said disk having an opening therein offset from its center, a closure disk rotatably mounted on said disc, and the mentioned edge of the outer cylindrical body being crimped inwardly to overlie and hold `said closure disk in a close sliding relation with the first disk, said closure disk further having an angled continuous circumferentially extending wall portion which bears against the adjacent outer surface of the mentioned crimped edge portion of the outer cylindrical body, and the top surface of said closure disk deiined by said continuous wall being substantially dishshaped and substantially merging with the surface of said crimped edge portion of the outer cylindrical body to effect free liowing of the contents from said container.

13. A container comprising inner and outer cylindrical bodies in secured telescopic relation, the outer cylindrical body having an edge portion extending beyond the edge of the inner cylindrical body of one end of the container, and means closing off the other end of the container, a disk immovably seated on said mentioned edge of the inner cylindrical body, said disk having an opening therein offset fromits center, a closure disk rotatably mounted on said disk, the mentioned edge of the outer cylindrical body being spun over the edge of said closure disk to hold it Vin close sliding relation with the irst disk, said closure disk further having an angled continuous circumferentially extending wall portion which bears against the adjacent outer surface of the mentioned spun edge portion of the outer cylindrical body, and the top surface of said closure disk defined by said continuous wall being substantially dish-shaped and merging with the surface of said spun edge portion of the outer cylindrical body near the horizontal radius of said inwardly spun end portion to effect free flowing of the contents from said container..

14. A device such as described comprising a cylindrical body having one end open, apertured means secured in the said open end, a closure disk rotatably mounted on said apertured means in sliding relation therewith, the edge of said open end of the cylindrical body being inwardly crimped to overlie the peripheral edge of said closure disk, and said closure disk having a circumferentially extending angled wall portion engaging the adjacent surface of said crimped edge of the cylindrical body, the top surface of said closure disk defined by said angled wall portion being substantially dish-shaped and merging with the adjacent outer surface of said inwardly crimped edge of the cylindrical body.

l5. In a container the combination of a sleeve having an inwardly beaded edge, a first apertured disk secured in place within the sleeve and just below the beaded edge thereof, and a closure disk rotatably mounted on the first disk in close sliding relation therewith, said closure disk having its peripheral edge disposed between the beaded edge of the sleeve and said first disk, and further having an upstanding circumferentially extending ridge spaced from its peripheral edge, said ridge having its top edge bearing against the surface of said beaded edge of the disk.

16. In a container the combination of a sleeve having an inwardly beaded edge, a first apertured disk secured in place within the sleeve and just below the beaded edge thereof,eand a closure disk rotatably mounted on the first disk in close sliding relation therewith, said closure disk having its peripheral edge disposed between the beaded edge of the sleeve and said first disk, and further having an upstanding cireumferentially extending ridge spaced from its peripheral edge, said ridge having its top edge bearing against the surface of said beaded edge of the disk, and the inwardly disposed side surface of said ridge substantially merging with the adjacent surface of said beaded edge.

17. In a container the combination of a sleeve having an inwardly beaded edge, a first apertured disk secured in place within the sleeve and just below the beaded eige thereof, and a closure disk rotatably mounted on the rst disk in close sliding relation therewith, said closure disk having its peripheral edge disposed between the beaded edge of the sleeve and said iirst disk, and further having an upstanding circumferentially extending ridge spaced from its peripheral edge, said ridge having its top edge bearing against the surface of said beaded edge of the disk, and the inwardly disposed side surface of said ridge substantially merging with the adjacent surface of said beaded edge at a location no higher than the horizontal center line of said beaded edge.

18. A device such as described comprising a cylindrical body having a closure disk mounted in one end thereof, the edge of said cylindrical body being inwardly turned to overlie the peripheral edge of said closure disk, and said closure disk having a circumferentially extending up standing inclined wall portion which is spaced from the peripheral edge thereof and engages the adjacent surface of said crimped edge of the cylindrical body.

19. A device according to claim 18 in which the upstanding inclined wall portion of the closure disk has a height less than that of the radius about which the edge of the cylindrical body is inwardly turned and is so pressed against the surface presented by said turned edge as to provide a substantially continuous uninterrupted merging of said surface of the inwardly turned edge and adjacent surface of the closure disk.

20. A device such as described in claim 18 having a cylinder like member fixed within the cylindrical body with its edge bearing against the underside of the periphery of the closure disk to hold said disk against the inwardly turned edge of the cylindrical body.

References Cited in the 'file of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 2,136,795 Hoffman Nov. 15, 1938 2,682,357 Bogossian June 29, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 459,019 Great Britain Dec. 31, 1936 615,329 Great Britain a- Jan. 5, 1949

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