US2738091A - Bottle cap - Google Patents

Description

March 1956 R. G. MATTOX 2,738,091

BOTTLE CAP Filed Jan. 11, 1954 F1 EL;

FIBE- INVENTOR. v 08587 GMA 770A ATTORMEV:

United States Patent The self-venting bottle cap comprising the present invention is primarily adapted for use in connection with bottles or jugs having reduced threaded neck portions providing relatively narrow mouth openings, although the principles of the invention are applicable for use in con-' nection with jars or other receptacles having wider mouth openings.

A bottle cap such as. described herein is particularly useful in sealing bottles containing fluids which would become contaminated upon contact with air, since the bottle can be filled directly to the top and the air trapped by the cap is vented during the screwing-on operation. Once the bottle cap is in place air cannot re-enter the bottle.

A bottle cap such as disclosed herein is also particularly useful in the storing of certain chemicals which could generate high gas pressures within the container and blow ofi the cap or explode the container.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a cap for a bottle or the like, wherein said cap contains a seal which automatically operates to relieve excessive pressures developed or generated within the bottle, but will not permit gas or liquid from outside the bottle to penetrate therewithin.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a bottle cap embodying the principles of my invention, the sealing member being removed and certain parts being broken away to reveal the details of other parts.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the bottle cap shown in Fig. 1. V

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the bottle cap shown in Fig. 1 in place on a bottle, the section being taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the sealing member.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

The reduced neck portion of the bottle is designated at and is provided with inner and outer surfaces that are substantially cylindrical. The usual threads 11 are formed on the neck to accommodate a bottle cap 12 having a depending skirt portion 13 with internal threads 16 formed thereon. The upper rim 14 of the bottle opening provides a flat sealing surfacedesigned for coextensive sealing engagement with a resilient disc-shaped liner 15 mounted within the cap 12.

The inner surface of the cap 12 has a depending cylindrical center portion 17 of slightly smaller diameter than the bottle opening, and a plurality of relatively narrow webs 18 extending radially from said depending center portion to the skirt 13. The height of the center portion 17 and the webs 18 is approximately one-half the thickness of the liner 15.

Under normal conditions of pressure within the bottle, the resilient liner 15 is compressed between the rim 14 and the webs 18, and the portion of the liner adjacent the area between the webs 18 remains in sealing contact with rim 14 by virtue of the inherent resiliency and stiffness of the liner. Under conditions of excessive pressure within the bottle, the liner becomes flexed in the area between the webs 18, and the excess pressure bleeds ott'to the atmosphere through the tortuous path provided by the threads 11.

It is obvious that by varying the resilience (and can sequently the stiflfness) of the liner 15, or the circumferential length between the webs 18, the bottle may automatically be caused to become vented to the atmosphere within reasonably definite ranges of internal pressure.

From the foregoing description it may be seen that the present invention provides a novel form of cap for a container which will permit complete filling of the container since any air trapped in the container will be vented by the cap as it is screwed onto the container.

It is further evident that by employing a novel cap such as disclosed herein any high gas pressure which may be generated within the bottle will be vented to the atmosphere in order to prevent the cap from being blown off or the container from exploding.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cap for use on a container having a mouth defined by a top circumferential lip comprising means for interengaging said cap and container for holding said cap to said container, a disc-shaped resilient liner in said cap adapted to sealingly engage said circumferential lip, a depending cylindrical portion in said cap of smaller diameter than the opening in said container, a plurality of webs extending radially from said depending center portion to the skirt portion of said cap for pressing said liner against said hp at a predetermined number of points around said lip.

2. A cap for use on a container having a mouth defined by a top circumferential lip comprising means for interengaging said cap and container for holding said cap to said container, a disc-shaped resilient liner in said cap adapted to sealingly engage said circumferential lip, 8 depending cylindrical portion in said cap of slightly smaller diameter than the opening in said container, a plurality of webs extending radially from said depending center portion to the skirt portion of said cap for pressing said liner against said lip at a predetermined number of points around said lip, the height of said depending center portion and of said webs being approximately one-half the thickness of said resilient liner.

3. A cap for use on a container having a mouth defined by a top circumferential lip comprising means for interengaging on said cap and container for holding said cap to said container, 2. disc-shaped resilent liner in said cap adapted to sealingly engage said circumferential lip, a depending cylindrical portion in said cap of slightly smaller diameter than the opening in said container, a plurality of webs extending radially from said depending center portion to the skirt portion of said cap for pressing said liner against said lip at a predetermined number of points around said lip, the height of said depending center portion and of said webs being approximately one-half the thickness of said resilient liner, and adhesive means fastening said liner to said depending center portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,648,793 Weber Nov. 8, 1927 2,032,931 Gibbs Mar. 3, 1936 2,138,376 Griswold Nov. 29, 1938 2,514,124 Eisen July 4, 1950 2,576,917 Benner Dec. 4, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 448.154 Great Britain June 3, 1936

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