US2814404A - Closure for beaded containers - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 26, 1957 E. J. TOWNS 2,814,404

CLOSURE FOR BEAQED CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2, 1955 Ercal.

II G. 2.

INVEN TOR. EDWARD J. TOWNS MMM/W/EZZ';

Nov. 26,1957 E. J. TOWNS 1 CLOSURE FOR- BEADED CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 2, 1953 :5 Sh eets-Sheet 2 28 W///// mm um 4 26 14 18 2? 15 22 22 Immm i i FIG. 11. E-DWPSRD J. %55335 AGEN T Nov. 26, 1957 ow s v I 2,814,404

CLOSURE FOR BEADED CONTAiNERS Filed D6 0. 2, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGIZI 1O 40 3Q INVENTOR. E WARD J. TQ N United CLOSURE FOR BEADED CONTAINERS tEdwardiJ; Towns, Livingston, N.-J., assignor of one-tenth to'BryanrW. Grilliinsummit, N. J.

ApplicationDecember 2, 1'953,'Serial"No. 395,741

11 Claims. (Cl. 215-41) ringzapplication for a-Bottle Cap, SeriaLNo. 125,070, filed November 2, 19'49, now'Patent #2669569, is'suedFeb- Iuary 16, 1954.

Battle eaps of this general type are known in" the art and are generally characterized by a number of inherent disadvantages which make them unpopularin use.

Among these-disadvantages are highinitial cost, short life as -ancflective seal, a:difi'iculty in applicationtoorrremoval' f'romia' bottle due to characteristics of the "material "or 'typei'ofloekingimeans used, and poor designand constructi'oniresulting(inf loss of beverages, plastic v materials,

Accordingly, the chie'f object-of the present invention is to obviate the foregoing and other disadvantages characterizingimany known structures.

:An'other important object of F the present 'invention is to provide ia h'ottle 'or 'tube'cap which-may be readily applied to bottles, etc., manuallyor by conventional capping rn achin'ery, readily'removedfrom the bottle' manually, and reused indefinitely without permanent distortion 'of the cap-or lessening theeffectivenessof its sealingcharacter- -istics:

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an" improvedbottle or tube cap of 'thermoplastic material having strength, stiffness and friction character- -isticswhich combine to form a self-reinforcing combined "capandplu'g type bottle or tube closure.

A further important object of the-invention'is to provid'e a' bottle or tube cap having bead" gripping fingers and a seal' which, when in s'ealingp'osition upon the neck of a bottle or-tuhewill actto increase its gripthereupon. .A stil1"further important object of the invention is-to provide a bottle caphaving a sealand bottle or tubebead "engaging fingers which, when in operative position upon a 'bot tle or tube act'to increase the sealing effect.

"Another iinport'antobject of the present invention is1to provide an improved "bottle, tube, etc.v cap having a securingtab-forme'd integrally therewith which fits about the neck of the bottleor tube and is so. designed that the cap may be seated or removedwith only one-handin opera- 'tion'.

Another important object of the invention is to, provide a novel tab for securing a cap on a tube in such a manner as to form an auxiliary seal between the base of the'cap and the tab to-prevent leakage of surplus materialfrom a sump therefor in the cap.

Another important object of the invention is'to'provi-de a; bottle or collapsible tube closure have an-inner sealand 2 exteriorbead gripping fingers, the fingers being enclosed orformed integrallyswith an outer auxiliary sealingtube which projects belowaand. cooperates with the lower .sur-

- faces of the'fingers to. prevent misalignment of the sealing tube andatherneck of the-bottle or collapsibletube- Another object of the invention is toprovide an improved bottle or tube cap which maybe readilyand economically manufactured and of long effectivesealing life. e

Other objects' and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description'.

In'the drawings I- have disclosed several embodiments of;my;invention. In these showings:

.-Figure- 1.:.isa, perspective view of the bottle cap comrpri'sing'the present invention in operative position upon a .bottle;.

vFigure '2 is'za top-plan view thereof;

,:Figure'3 is a-central vertical sectional view thereof; :Figure:4- is; acbottom plan view of the bottle cap; =;Figure"5s.-isa central-vertical sectional view of the bottle tcapzin its unstressed-condition when not in operative position upon a bottle;

mliigure' 'fiz-is :a' central vertical sectional view of-another *formrzof the'inventiom in operative and locked position up'on' aubottle;

nFigureZis a 'perspectiveview of a bottle capzsimilarto Figure lashowin'g its-securing tab operatively positioned 1=Figure-r8 isra view similar to Figure 7 showing the cap :operativel'ynp'ositioned on'a-tube uponwhich'it is retained by: the =5 securing tab;

Figure-9 is a'central vertical sectional viewof the tube capofiFigure 8 illustrating the'cooperation of the'holding finge'rs'with the tapered beado'f the tube;

f Figurezl'o isia central'vertical' sectional view of a modi- 'fied' Tfo'rmu of :the' cap showing the skin :closing the side "slits of 'thewcap and: projecting therebelowzforigniding pun-poses;

;'Figl11;1-'1 is ahottom-planview ofthercapaand securing tab.=:diselosed'in Figure' 1:0;

Figure .12 is a ;side :elevationalview of the cap of Figures- 'lo la'fld 11 showing it in operative position onwa 'collapsible tubepetc; with the skirt "of the :c'api-nnsealing -engagement Witlrthe surface ofrth'e securing tab;

'Figurei'l4 is a central vertical sectional view of-za further modification of the: cap "of Figure 11;

FigurerlS-isa-bottom plan view thereof; and Fi'gure 1 =16 is horizontal sectional viewthereof showing therectangulardistortion of thecapasitsrgripping' fingers rareirspreadtbyithe head of ar tube or? bottle as the' captis' placed" on'or 'removed frorn -its operative sealing position.

Referring 'to the :drawings, :"numeral :10 designates the bottle cap as a wholezwhioh-iszentirely ofoplastic-rnaterial and'may'hezmolded in*-a :die bycompression or injection molding; Ilhavei determined that solid? ethylene polymer, whenwmolded into the structure tobezdescribed, is,par tieularly well :adapted for the-purpose in that it combines strength? and substantialstiffness with resilience, resumes its P original? shape after temporary distortion, and? having a lowercoefiicient of friction, for example; than rubber, it may readily besnapped on or-oif a bottleneck. Ac-

cordingly,,.my bottle cap is preferably'formedrof .solid ethylene polymer; or other. thermo plastic-having substantial l'y/vthe same characteristics,

. capped thereby.

i The plastic cap 10 comprises a thin flat top 12, a depending open-ended sealing tube 14 formed centrally of and integral therewith, and a depending bead-engaging annularskirt 16. The tube 14 tapers slightly toward its open end which is beveled as at 18 to facilitate its insertion in a bottle, and its circumference adjacent the top 12 is slightly larger than the mouth of the bottle to be The outer surface of the skirt 16 flares; downwardly and outwardly from the top 12 while the inner surface conforms to the shape of the neck of the bottle B and its annular bead 20. It is to be noted that the space between the tube 14 and the skirt 16 is slightly smaller than the beaded neck of the bottle when the cap is not positioned thereon (Figure so that when the cap is in operative position upon a bottle (Figure 3), the tube 14 is radially compressed and the skirt flexed radially outwardly as will be more fully described.

The cap is retained upon the bottle neck by the inwardly directed annular bead 22 of the skirt 16 which is permitted to flex sufficiently for removal of the cap by the provision of a plurality of circumferentially spaced slits 23 which thus form the bead 22 into a plurality of substantially stiff but sufiiciently resilient fingers 24 for engagement under the bottle bead 20. The bottom surfaces of the fingers 24 curve inwardly and upwardly as at 25 to assist in centering the cap upon the bottle neck. It is to be noted that the fingers 24 terminate as at 26 at a point below the major diameter of the bottle bead so that removal of the cap requires a slight flexing or distortion of the solid portion of the skirt 16.

In order that the removal of the cap 10 may be readily effected, one of the fingers 24 is thickened and extended outwardly so as to form a removal tab 28. As will be apparent, upward pressure of the thumb on the bottom of the tab will displace the cap from the bottle.

In the use of the cap 10 for the rescaling of beverage bottles, etc., the cap is positioned over and on the bottle mouth where it is more or less automatically centered by the upward and inwardly curving bottom surfaces of the resilient fingers 24. Downward pressure upon the cap now causes the beveled end 18 of the sealing tube to enter the mouth of the bottle B which it closely fits. The slight taper of the outer surface of the tube 14 effects a pressure tight seal between the sides adjacent the top 12 and the inner surface of the bottle neck. Asthe tube 14 is pressed into sealing engagement with the bottle mouth, the bead 22 on the fingers 24 is snapped over the bead 20 on the bottle neck to retain the cap thereon with a grip well in excess of that which is necessary to withstand the maximum gaseous and/or liquid pressure which the bottle can stand without shattering.

An important feature of this combined plug and cap type bottle cap construction resides in its self reinforcing characteristics. When in sealing position upon a bottle the cap is in a stressed condition (Figure 3) as contrasted with its unstressed position as shown in Figure 5. In the sealing position, the bottle neck and bead 20 forces the skirt 16 and its gripping. fingers 24 radially outward as stated, and about the top of the bottle as a fulcrum tending to urge the tube 14 more tightly against the inner side of the mouth of the bottle. This also forces the outer annular surface of the cap 12 to incline downwardly and radially inward as indicated at X. The tube 14 is further more tightly seated due to its taper so that a leak proof seal for gas or liquid is thus elfected.

At the same time, the radial compression of the sides of the tube 14 causes the central portion of. the cap 12. indicated at Y, to bow up into a crown which stresses are dissipated throughout the cap and, in turn, tend to force the skirt 16 and its fingers 24 more tightly against the bottle neck. It will be noted that these forces and the sealing action of the tube 14 are increased by liquid or gaseous pressure acting within the tube 14.

Thus a perfect seal is effected by the tube 14 which is 4 retained in position by the skirt and itsfingers 24, the tube and skirt each functioning to assist the function of each other due to the stresses set up by their design. Due to the stiffness of the plastic and its low coefiicient of friction with glass, the cap is readily removed by upward pressure of the thumb on the tab 28 whereupon it returns to the unstressed condition shown in Figure 5.

A slightly modified form of the invention is disclosed in Figure 6 wherein the junction of the top 12 and skirt 16 has been beveled as at 30 to facilitate the positioning of a locking ring 32 about the cap. In all other respects, this embodiment is identical with the embodiment shown in Figures l-S inclusive which is adapted for the resealing of bottles, etc., after the original and conventional crown cap has been removed. The cap and locking ring shown inFigure 6 is particularly intended to be used in connection with the original bottling and capping of beverages as it cannot be accidentally displaced in transit although it may also be used subsequent thereto for recapping and locking.

In its use, the locking ring 32 may, manually or by capping machinery, be readily positioned over the cap 10 due to the beveled surfaces 30 and moved downwardly into firm engagement with the surface of the flared skirt fingers 24. Due to the relatively soft naturev of the surface of the solid ethylene polymer of which the cap is i made, the ring 32 is self seating therein and will retain its locking position until it is physically forced upwardly.

It is to be noted that the ring 32 does not force the fingers 24 into engagement with the bead 20, but merely locks them in this position. Removal of the ring permits the fingers to flex outwardly when the tab 28 is pushed upwardly to remove the cap.

Another modified form of the invention is disclosed in Figure 7 wherein the tab 28 extends radially outward from the top of the cap instead of being integral with one of the skirt fingers 24. To prevent misplacing of the cap 10 when not in sealing position on a bottle, it is provided with a securing tab 34 formed integrally therewith and also extending radially therefrom diametrically opposite the removal tab 28.

The securing tab 34 terminates in a loop or eyelet portion 36 which is adapted to be placed over the neck of a bottle B to a position below and engaging the neck shoulder 21 over which it is stretched. When it is desired to dispense materials from the bottle B, the cap 10 t is displaced by upward pressure on the tab 28 whereupon the natural resilience of the material of the tab 34 will swing the cap away from the mouth of the bottle. The cap 18 thereafter replaced by pressing it back into sealmg position with the palm of the hand or merely a thumb.

. grees (as indicated respectively at 37 and 39) with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubeaifords better results than the bead from a standpoint of ready positioning of the cap 10 upon the bead, holding power of the skirt fingers 24, and ready removal of the cap for the dispensing of the contents of the tube T. The surfaces 37 and 39 are substantially planar although actually gently arcuate.

The inner face of the skirt 16 conforms with the angular taper or head 38 and the function and operation of the cap is the same as in the previously described forms. It will be noted that the length of the neck of the tube is equal to the height of the cap 10 plus the thickness of the loop 36. That is the loop 36 engages the base of the tube neck N and the base of the cap when in sealing position on the tube T, engages the loop 36. The loop has a flat upper surface (Figure 9) and this actsas an auxiliary seal for the cap and prevents the entrance of dust, etc. Being in stretched condition when on the tube neck N, the flat surface of the loop 36 will be outwardly and somewhat downwardly inclined asshown. The base'of the cap when'in sealing positionfurther inclines the'surface of the loop sothatit-is maintained in tension thereagainst.

It will be readily apparent-if'for example, the plastic material in the tube is toothpaste-that the tube T may be held in one hand, the cap flipped back with the thumb, and toothpaste squeezed ontoa brush. Thereafter the cap may be swung back into sealing position by the-same thumb whereby a very handyone handed dispensing is thus effected.

An important feature of the invention is disclosed in Figures 7-16 inclusive whereinthe upward angle of the bottom surfaces of the fingers 24 is approximately degrees so that these surfaces are parallel with the surfaces 37. This angle may vary from 20 to degrees and acts to ensure perfect alignment of the cap when placed on the mouth of the tube neck N, thus avoiding damage to the sealing tube 14'when the cap is pressed into sealing position; the tapered surfaces of the fingers and the angular bead 39 automatically and perfectly aligningjthe cap and neck..

As shown at 27, the outer edge of each finger 24has a depending skirt portion which engages and guides the maximum diameter portion of the angular bead during seating of the cap 'to further. ensure perfect alignment thereof with the neck N.

It sometimes-occurs that plastic material'projects from the mouth of the tube T' after the desired amount has been expelled as a result of involuntary squeezing of the tube after use,or by the holding portions of the apparatus for originally placing the caps and securing tabs upon the tubes. In such situation, the surplus plastic material will be caught inside the cap 10'and, when the latter is moved to sealing position, will be forced down through the cap and out the slits 23. This unsightly extrusion between the skirt fingers 2 4 'is undesirable not only from 1an appearance standpoint but from a standpoint of cleanmess;

As seen in Figures 10-12 inclusive, the skirt 16 of the cap '10 has been modified so as to-close the radially outer end of the slits 23. It will be noted that the slits 23' thus terminate short of the periphery of the skirt 16 (Fig ure 11) so thatin effect, the fingers 24 are surrounded by a thin skin 42. Two important results are thereby ob tained.

The unsightly extrusion of plastic material mentioned above is eliminated as the slits are closed and the bot tom of the cap forms an auxiliary seal with the top surface of the' loop 36.- Any material that slips through the seal 40 (Figure-12) before the cap is fully seated. may, of course, be readily wiped away. Secondly, thecap 10 is strengthened by the unslit skin portion 42 of the skirt 16 without overly stiffening the fingers 24 which still readily perform their function.

A further modification of the invention is disclosed in Figure 13 wherein approximately the inner half of alternate skirt fingers is omitted during molding of the cap as indicated at 44. As a result, the cap 10 so formed is retained on the tube by the engagement of only half (four shown) of the skirt fingers 24 with the angularbead 38. The cap itself maintains adequate resilience and the strength inherent in the full and half size skirt fingers. The cut away portions of the skirt fingers form a plurality of sumps which catch any surplus material ejected inadvertently and eliminates much of thesurplus material which may otherwise slip past the seal.

44) before thecap is fully seated.

Another and preferred embodiment of the inventionisdisclosed in Figures 14-16 inclusive wherein all of the alternate skirt fingers are omitted so as to leave only half the bead gripping fingers 24' all connected by the skirt 42 or unslit lower portion of the skirt'16. The advantages ofarthis formpf theinvention over other forms comprise adequate bead gripping power of the remaining-skirt fingers, an increase in the sump; capacity, and a'maximum' of resilience' for the temporaryxdistortion necessary in attachingor removing the tube cap accompaniedby adequate strength 'present' in the fingers .24 and in the skin 42, a savingin the plastic materialused being thus effected.

The manner of distortion of the cap ltl" during use of the cap to and from sealing position is illustrated in Figure 16 wherein the use of four gripping-fingers 24 is shown; It Will beInoted that the flexibility of this construction results in a generally rectangular transverse distortion of the cap" as' shown by the stretched and hence flattened skin'portions 42, the external configuration of the gripping fingers 24 remaining arcuate.

It will now be appreciated that the present invention provides a highly improved'closure' for bottles, jars, etc, which'may be economically manufactured, is strong and tough yet sufiiciently resilient and which combines highly effective sealing and position-retaining structure so as to be self-reinforcing :while bei'ng readily applicable to or removable from bottles.

Furthermore, the combination-of the surfaceof'the retaining tab with theba'se'ofthe cap to form an auxiliary seal, the useof a skin or closed slits in combination with the fie'xible gripping fingers for the tube angular bead, the angular bead per se, and the spacing of the fingers all combine with the unique cap structure to form 'a superb and novel closure for bottles, tubes, jars, etc. with an indefinitely extended life, this beinginsured bythe aligning function of the bottom of the fingers and the skirt portions 27 which project therebelow.

The term container as used in the specification and claims is intended to include any receptacle having a head on its neck or susceptible of having 'a bead formed thereon with-which the gripping'fingers of the described capm'ay cooperate to retain the cap in sealing position upon the container.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be takenas preferred examples of the same and that various changes in' the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoining claims.

I claim:

1. A closure of plastic material having the stiffness and resilience characteristics of polyethylene and adapted to be applied to containers having a neck bead comprising a top having a centrally positioned tapered tubedepending therefrom for sealing engagement with the inner sides of a container mouth, and a skirt depending from said top and including a plurality of gripping fingers conforming with and engaging the lower portion of said head, said fingers being closely spaced by slits formed in said skirt vertically at spaced points about its circumference to points adjacent the maximum diameter of the bead whereby the solid portionof said skirt engages the upper andmaximum diameter portion of said bead, the spacing of said tube and skirt being lessthan the thickness of the container neck and bead whereby while positioned on a container, said tube and said skirt act thereagainst to increase their sealing and gripping actions respectively, the bottom surfaces of said fingers being below said tube and parallel to the portions of said cap which conform to theupper surface of said bead to effect alignment before contact of said tube and mouth when positioning said cap onsaid container.

2. A closure as recited in claim 1 wherein the bottom edge of said skirt depends below said fingers to alignably engage the major diameter of said bead.

3. A-closure'as"recited in claim 1 wherein said head 5 comprises'upp'er and lower substantially plane intersecting surfaces inclined at 25 and 45 degrees respectively with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cap.

4. A closure of plastic material having the stiffness and resilience characteristics of polyethylene and adapted to be applied to containers having a neck bead comprising a top having a centrally positioned tapered tube depending therefrom for sealing engagement with the inner sides of a container mouth, and a skirt depending from said top and including a plurality of gripping fingers conforming with and engaging the lower portion of said bead, said fingers being closely spaced by slits formed in said skirt vertically at spaced points about its circumference to points adjacent the maximum diameter of the bead whereby the solid portion of said skirt engages the upper and maximum diameter portion of said bead, the spacing of said tube and skirt being less than the thickness of the container neck and bead whereby while positioned on a container, said tube and said skirt act thereagainst to increase their sealing and gripping actions respectively, the bottom surfaces of said fingers being below said tube and the bottom edge of said skirt depending below said fingers to effect alignment before contact of said tube and mouth when positioning said cap on said container. 4

5. A closure of plastic material having the stiffness and resilience characteristics of polyethylene and adapted to be applied to bottles having a neck bead comprising a top having a centrally positioned tapered tube depending therefrom for sealing engagement with the inner sides of a container mouth, and a skirt depending from said top and including a plurality of gripping fingers conforming with and engaging the lower portion of said head, said fingers being closely spaced by slits formed in said skirt vertically at spaced points about its circumference to points adjacent the maximum diameter of the bead whereby the unslit portion of said skirt engages the upper and maximum diameter portion of said bead, the spacing of said tube and skirt being less than the thickness of a container neck and bead whereby while positioned on a container, whereby said tube and said skirt act thereagainst to increase their sealing and gripping actions respectively, said bead comprising substantially plane upper and lower intersecting surfaces inclined at 25 and 45 degrees respectively with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cap, the bottom surfaces of said fingers being below said tube to prevent contact of the latter with said neck before alignment therewith.

6. A closure of plastic material having the stilfness and resilience characteristics of polyethylene and adapted to be applied to containers having a neck bead comprising a top having a centrally positioned tapered tube de pending therefrom for sealing engagement with the inner sides of a container mouth, and a skirt depending from said top and including a plurality of gripping fingers conforming with and engaging the lower portion of said bead, said fingers being closely spaced by slits formed in said skirt vertically at spaced points about its circumference to points adjacent the maximum diameter of the bead whereby the solid portion of said skirt engages the upper and maximum diameter portion of said head, the spacing of said tube and skirt being less than the thickness of a container neck and bead whereby while positinned on a container, said tube and said skirt act thereagainst to increase their sealing and gripping actions respectively, said slits terminating short of the outer surface of the skirt to form reinforcing skin thereby, the bottom surfaces of said fingers being below said tube to prevent contact of the latter with said neck before alignment therewith.

7. A closure as recited in claim 6 wherein a portion of alternate gripping fingers is omitted adjacent the neck to .form a sump for surplus material between each of the remaining portions, the neck, and adjacent fingers.

S. A closure-as recited :in claim 6 wherein alternate gripping fingers are omitted from said skirt to increase its flexibility and form a laterally closed sump for surplus material between said skin, said neck, and adjacent fingers.

9. A closure of plastic material having the stiffness and resilience characteristics of polyethylene and adapted to be applied to containers having a neck bead comprising a top having a centrally positioned tapered tube depending therefrom for sealing engagement with the inner sides of a bottle mouth, and a skirt depending from said top and including a plurality of gripping fingers conforming with and engaging the lower portion of said bead, said fingers being closely spaced by slits formed in said skirt vertically at spaced points about its circumference to points adjacent the maximum diameter of the bead whereby the solid portion of said skirt engages the upper and maximum diameter portion of said head, the spacing of said tube and skirt being less than the thickness of a bottle neck and bead whereby while positioned on a bottle, said tube and said skirt act thereagainst to increase their sealing and gripping actions respectively, the alternate gripping fingers being omitted from said skirt to increase its flexibility, the bottom edge of said skirt depending below said fingers to effect alignment of said tube and mouth when positioning said cap on said container, the bottom surfaces of said fingers being below said tube to prevent contact of the latter with said neck before alignment therewith.

10. A closure of plastic material having the stiffness and resilience characteristics of polyethylene and adapted to be applied to containers having a neck bead comprising a top having a centrally positioned tapered tube depending therefrom for sealing engagement with the inner sides of a container mouth, a flared skirt depending from said top and including a plurality of gripping fingers conforming with and engaging the lower portion of said bead, said fingers being closely spaced by slits formed in said skirt vertically at spaced points about its circumference to points adjacent the maximum diameter of the bead whereby the solid portion of said skirt engages the upper and maximum diameter portion of said head, the spacing of said tube and skirt being less than the thickness of a container neck and bead whereby while positioned on a container, said tube and said skirt act thereagainst to increase their sealing and gripping actions respectively, and a securing tab formed integrally with and projecting from said cap and terminating in a loop adapted to encircle the neck of the container, said slits terminating short of the outer surface of said skirt to form a reinforcing skin thereby, a portion of alternate gripping fingers being omitted adjacent said neck to form a sump for surplus material between each of the remaining portions, the neck, and adjacent fingers, the bottom edge of said skirt engaging the upper surface of said loop to close the bottom of said sump, the bottom surfaces of said fingers being below said tube to prevent contact of the latter with said neck before alignment therewith.

11. A closure of plastic material having the stiffness and resilience characteristics of polyethylene and adapted to be applied to containers having a neck bead comprising a top having a centrally positioned tapered tube depending therefrom for sealing engagement with the inner sides of a container mouth, a flared skirt depending from said top and including a plurality of gripping fingers conforming with and engaging the lower portion of said bead, said fingers being closely spaced by slits formed in said skirt vertically at spaced points about its circumference to points adjacent the maximum diameter of the bead whereby the solid portion of said skirt engages the upper and maximum diameter portion of said bead, the spacing of said tube and skirt being less than the thickness of a container neck and bead whereby while positioned on a container, said tube and said skirt act thereagainst to increase their sealing and gripping actions respectively, and a securing tab formed integrally with and projecting from said cap and terminating in a loop adapted to encircle the neck of the container, said slits terminating short of the outer surface of said skirt to form a re inforcing skin thereby, alternate gripping fingers being omitted from said skirt to form a radially closed sump between said skin, said neck, adjacent fingers, the bottom edge of said skirt engaging the upper surface of said loop to close the bottom of said sump the bottom surfaces of said fingers being below said tube to prevent contact of the latter with said neck before alignment therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,158,622 Blakeslee Nov. 2, 1915 10 Kaye Aug. 29, 1933 Stewart Mar. 1, 1938 Pink Aug. 8, 1939 Jesnig Feb. 26, 1952 Towns Feb. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 5, 1951

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