US2489989A - Self-sealing container - Google Patents

Description

,Nov. 29, 1949 TOTMAN 2,489,989

SELF- SEALING CONTAINER Filed Sept. 25, 1947 Fig. 40 28 ,8

42 30 24 20 i ii 41TH 1 11 IIIIIIH In ten tar Harold L Tofman Patented Nov. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-SEALING CONTAINER Harold L. Totmaii, Belleville, Wis.

Application September 23, 1947, Serial No. 775,672

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in containers such as the type used for evaporated milk or the like and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a container having a plurality of vents therein that are so designed as to permit gas forming within the container during the sterilization process to escape therefrom.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a container of the aforementioned character including novel and improved valve means for controlling the above described vents so that bacteria laden air within the container will be forced from the container during the sterilization process, tending to Shorten the length of time normally necessary for the sterilization process.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a container having a closure with a plurality of air vents, a resilient valve plate controlling said vents and novel and improved means for connecting the valve to the closure and for filling the container.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a container that is so designed as to eliminate the objectionable canned taste of the fluid within the container and one that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the container constructed in accordance with the present invention and with parts broken away and shown in section for the convenience of explanation;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure l and showing the filler to be sealed;

Figure 3 is a top plan View of Figure 1 and showing the filler tube and vent closing valve removed therefrom;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan View of the vent closing valve; and,

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral l0 represents a cylindrical body of the present can or container to 2 Claims. (01. 220-44) which is rigidly secured by solder or the like, the annular flanged portion l2 of a lower closure plate l4 and an upper closure plate it.

The upper closure plate i6 is provided with an 1 outer circular recessed portion I8, an inner enlarged central recessed portion 20 and an intermediate annular recessed portion 22. The inner portion of the closure l6, forming the bottom wall or bearing surface 24 for the central recessed portion 20 is provided with a central aper ture 26 that engages a filler tube 23. An annu lar bearing ring 39 is integrally formed with the inner end of the tube 28 and frictionally bears against the inner face of wall 24.

The outer end of the tube 28 is turned outwardly to provide an annular lip 32 that frictionally bears against the outer face of a retaining plate 34 forming the wearing surface for a closure valve 36. The inner face of the plate 34 frictionally bears upon the outer face of a resilient disk 38 with the annular inclined flange 40 of the plate 34 embracing the outer edge of the disk 38 to prevent disengagement or movement of the disk relative to the retaining plate.

A group of circumferentially spaced air or gas vents 42 are provided in the wall 24 and these vents are spaced equidistant from the filler tube 28 so that an equal pressure of gas formed in the body evolving from the product in the body will act upon the valve 36 to force the same outwardly from the vents 42 which the valve opposes, so that the pressure of gas within the body, above the atmospheric pressure, may escape. Once the gas has escaped the disk 33 will frictionally adhere to the outer face of wall 24 to close the vents.

In practical use of the device, a fluid is placed into the body through the filler tube 28 and a plug 44 of solder, or the like, is rigidly secured to the outer end of the filler tube 28. The bacteria laden air within the body escapes from the vents in a manner previously described when the filled body is placed in a conventional steam pressure sterilizer, leaving a vacuum in the body, above the fluid, instead of an air space. As the length of the sterilization period is dependent upon the amount of bacteria within the body, by exhausting the bacteria laden air through the vents 32, the normal period of sterilization is reduced. During this sterilization, the fluid when heated to a certain temperature, boils freely and stirs itself, and also emits a gas which is exhausted through the vents in the closure. t is this gas, which is not allowed to escape from the body, that gives the fluid a canned taste. In

containers now employed, the fiuid absorbs the gas, thus producing an undesirable taste.

After the container has cooled, after sterilization, the vacuum inside the same draws the disk 38 against the outer face of wall 24 to seal the vents.

It should be noted, that the container may be filled and soldered in the conventional manner by standard filing machines whereby the device may be manufactured without the necessity of employing essential types of machines in conjunction therewith.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it.

is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of thedevice will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprebended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

I. A closure for containers comprising a plate having; a central recessed portion and an inner wall; a plurality of air vents provided in said inner wall, a resilient disk positioned in said recess bearing upon said inner wall for normally closing and sealing the air vents, said disk being lifted to open said air vents from an internal pressure within the container, a filler tube fixedly securing said disk to said closure, and a plug for sealing said filler tube.

2. A container closure comprising a plate having a central recessed portion and an inner wall, a plurality of air vents. provided in said inner Wall, a resilient disk positioned in said recess and bearing against said inner wall for normally closing and sealing the air vents, said disk being lifted to open said air vents from the pressure of a gas evolving from the fluid product within the, container, a retaining plate bearing upon the outer face of said disk, a filler tube carried by said disk and said retainer plate, said tube being secured to central portion of said closure, and a plug for sealing said filler tube.

HAROLD L. TOTMAN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,941,048 Punte Dec. 26, 1933 2,307,043 Hothersall Jan. 5, 1943 2,429,984 Berglund Nov. 4, 1947 2,436,566 Goldberg Feb. 24, 1948

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