US3268106A

US3268106A - Resealable container closure

Info

Publication number: US3268106A
Application number: US338822A
Authority: US
Inventors: Satz William
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-01-20
Filing date: 1964-01-20
Publication date: 1966-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-23

Description

Aug. 23, 1966 w. SATZ RESEALABLE CONTAINER CLOSURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan.. 20, 1964 INVENTOR. 'MLL/QM Snrz BY BMW AT TORN EYS Aug. 23, 1966 w, s z 3,268,106

RESEALABLE CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Jan. 20, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIE W 11.1. mm 6n T '2 INVENTOR.

ATTOQNEV w. SATZ 3,268,106

RESEALABLE CONTAINER CLOSURE Aug. 23, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 20, 1964 W/LL/AA/I SATZ INVENTOR.

A TORNEYS Aug. 23, 1966 w. SATZ 3,268,106

RESEALABLE CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Jan. 20, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet I N VEN TOR.

ATTOQNEVS United States Patent 3,268,106 RESEALABLE CONTAINER CLOSURE Wiiliam Satz, 6404 Colgate Ave., Los Angcles, Calif. Filed Jan. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 338,822 14 Claims. (Cl. 220--60) The invention concerns closures for containers and is one particularly concerned with a dependable seal operable between a lid and a container suitable as a permanent seal, capable of being broken without the employment of any special tool, and also of such character that it can be reused.

This is a continuation-in-part of copending applications Serial No. 90, 119, filed February 17, 1961, and Serial No. 268,230, filed March 27, 1963, now abandoned.

In the design and construction of container closures, the ever-present aim has been for closures which are simple and inexpensive thereby to keep down the cost of mere containers needed for the preservation of foods which when not properly packed in hermetically sealed containers would be perishable. The commonest expedient for preserving foods in this fashion is the conventional tin can which is a tin-plated, sheet metal can wherein the contents are sealed by soldering the closure upon the body of the can. Although this is a fundamentally economical type of container, it has the disadvantage of necessitating employment of a special tool such as a can opener in order to open the can when the contents are to be used. Obviously, tin cans of the variety made reference to cannot be rescaled once they have been opened and in fact, cannot even be recovered except by a broken ragged-edged lid bent back partially into place.

Where attempts have been made to construct a tin can possessed of a reusable lid such, for example, as the familiar coffee cans, these cans also need to be broken open by use of a special key whereby a strip of the metal of the can is torn loose in the opening process. can be used to recover the can, it is, of course, not capable of being used for rescaling the can. Moreover, the structure involved is appreciably more expensive in both use of material and in the process involved inclosing and scaling in the first instance.

Some attempts have been made in the past to provide a lid capable of sealing a container such as a can by employment of a sealing ring of resilient material but the structure has been such that those devices heretofore devised have not been successful and employment has been discarded for sundry reasons. Among the more serious objections to those devices heretofore devised has been the presence of sharp cutting edges present on both the container and the lid after sealing as Well as before and the inability of the sealing structure to maintain a positive seal for an indefinite length of time. Among further disadvantages of those devices heretofore proposed has been the need for a very critical construction of the scaling faces not readily obtainable :by ordinary means, the tolerances being such as to necessitate a very bulky sealing ring to accomplish the scaling in the first instance, the ring, however, being so bulky that the size is initially disadvantageous from the handling and cost point of view and subsequently disadvantageous after compression into the sealed joint because of inability to maintain the seal for a period as long as is needed for storing merchandise such as canned goods.

On those occasions where glass jars are used, for seals heretofore available, except for screw top closures, prying is also necessary and the commonest type of prying for which usually a can opener is the tool, indents the top inwardly from the edge for an appreciable portion of the circumference which results in loosening the seal sufficiently so that when the closure is reapplied the seal is not tight. Other types of jar seals for the most part have Although the lid ice to be mutilated in order to remove the closure and are therefore not reusable.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved seal for attaching a lid to a container which by virtue of its construction is easy to apply, which remains tight at all times, and which can be readily opened without the use of a special tool and without mutilating 0r destroying either the closure or the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved can closure constructed of the same material as the can itself but so designed that the scaling effect is achieved by projecting the closure into the interior of the open end of the can thereby to preserve a clean, smooth exterior surface to facilitate handling, packing, and storing of the cans while, at the same time, presenting a closure capable of being easily openend without special tools and Without mutil-ating the can or closure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved inside seal for containers such as cans provided with a lid, the sealing portions of which are so constructed that they can support wide tolerances and accordingly be capable of rapid, efiective scaling in a fashion which establishes a permanent seal comparable to the seal achieved by soldering techniques but which is one whereby neither the closure nor the container need be broken when the seal is broken in order to remove the contents.

Still further among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved inside seal for use between a container and a closure, the closure being such that it is capable of accepting the bottom end of a similar can when cans are to be stacked one upon another, the seal being further one which needs no objectionable projecting portions around the rim in order to provide means for opening the container by a simple removal of the closure.

Still further among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved inside seal useful on both cans and jars which in effect is a concealed seal capable of being removed by hand without the use of any tool or, if need be, by only a very simple tool, the seal, and the container as well, being so constructed that all corners are amply rounded so that they can be easily cleaned of contents and so that recesses are rounded and ample in order to avoid accumulation of contents.

Further included among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved inside seal for containers which is secure at all times and moreover which is of such character that it is capable of being rescaled repeatedly after removal.

With these and other objects in view, theinvention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the device showing the closure in sealed position on the container;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the position of the closure immediately prior to application to the container;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View similar .to FIGURE 2 showing the position of the closure after application to the container and before the final sealing pressure takes place;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1 showing the relationship of the closure to the container after the final sealing pressure has been applied.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of another form of the invention showing the closure and a metal container in the relative positions occupied immediately prior to completion of a sealing operation.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the closure. and container completely sealed.

FIGURE 6a is a slightly modified form of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the closure applied to a glass jar with the parts shown in completely sealed position.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view partially broken away showing a third form of the invention.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the joint of FIGURE 8 showing a closure and container in the positions occupied immediately prior to sealing.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the closure and container in the positions occupied when the seal is complete.

In an embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration there is shown a container 10 which may be of any conventional material but which in the chosen embodiment has been shown as a preserving can having the customary thin wall commonly employed for cans used in the preservation of vegetables, fruits and similar food stuffs. A closure 11 is shown in FIGURE 1 applied to the container for sealing the contents of the container hermetically.

The container which may be referred to as a vessel has a wall 12 and a bottom 13 defining a chamber 14 for reception of material to be preserved. The wall 12 ter-' minates in a somewhat composite rim 15. The rim is so constructed as to present an, outwardly extending container projection 16 having

side portions

17 and 18. Externally of the outwardly extending annular projection 16 is an inwardly extending annular projection 19 presenting a curved inner surface and having an internal side 20 which is a continuation of the side portion 18 and an external side 21 in the form of a shelf. The internal side 20 and the external side 21 are wall sections of the container. The internal side may be described as being relatively fiat and annular. In the chosen embodiment it is substantially parallel to and spaced a short distance from the external side 21. The side 21 may further be described as constituting a radially outwardly extending relatively flat first sealing area terminating at its outermost perimeter in a rounded lip or bead 22 serving as a reinforcement as well as a spacer formed by turning over the outermost edge of the metal.

The closure 11 has a relatively flat top 25 provided at its perimeter with a sealing rim indicated generally by the reference character 26.

The sealing rim 26 is of special construction and consists of an outwardly extending rounded projection or bead 27 which because of its form serves to reinforce the closure. The projection has an internally facing side 28 which extends radially inwardly to form a relatively flat sealing area 29 separated from the internally facing side 28 by an annular bead 30. Located radially inwardly of the sealing area 29 is a recess 31, the exterior diameter of which is slightly less than the diameter of the projection 19. A camming head 32 adjoins the recess 31 and has an outwardly convex shape terminating in a cam face 33. An annular sealing ring 35 may on occa sions be a-separate somewhat typical ring of sealing rubber or similar material adapted to fit upon the sealing area 29 and perhaps extend into the recess 31 or may be also one adapted to fit upon the first sealing area formed on the external side 21 within the lip 22. A less expen sive type of sealing ring 35, equally effective is one of a material which can be painted upon either the sealing area 29 or the sealing area of the side 21 so as to stick to one side or the other in a thickness sufiicient to ultimately become an effective seal between the parts.

To make certain of an effective sealing action, practice has indicated that the camming head 32 at its largest diameter should be approximately one-third of one percent of its diameter greater than the minimum inside diameter of the projection 19. It has also been found that the curvature of the part 32 should be approximately as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 with respect to the curvature of the surface of the part 19 so that there will be a continually acting camming etfect after the closure has been applied Which will exert constant and undiminishing pressure upon the seal 35 thereby to maintain the closure in place and in sealed condition upon the container.

. When the closure is to be applied to the container the parts are initially in the relative positions shown in FIG- URE 2. Thereafter the closure is forced toward the container so that the parts initially have the relative positions shown in FIGURE 3. In this relationship the camming bead 32 is pressed partially beneath the projection 19 prior to ultimate compression of the seal 25. Thereafter by exerting a continued pressure upon the closure the cam ming bead 32 is forced still further beneath the projection 19 and pressure exerted through the sealing ring 35 upon the sealing area defined by the external side 21 bends this side slightly as indicated in FIGURE 4. The flexure of the bending tends to impress the projection 19 slightly in a radially inward direction thereby to improve and tighten the sealing relationship of parts. The final pressure also serves to extend the lip 22 into a position overlying the exterior of the bead 30 thereby to substantially conceal and protect the sealing ring 35. Some distortion of the ring takes place which tends to impress the outermost perimeter of the sealing ring outwardly in the direction of the bead 30 and the lip 22. At the same time the pressure applied tends also to extend the inner perimeter of the sealing ring 35 inwardly and somewhat downwardly into such space as may remain between the camming head 32 and the projection 19 thereby to further assure an effective seal.

It will be noted additionally that by reason of presence of the lip 22 the outwardly extending projection 27 of the closure is prevented from being collapsed against the outwardly extending projection 16 of the container so that, as clearly shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, a space remains between these parts sufficient so that any dull edge can be readily inserted in order to pry the closure free of the container. It is further significant to note that both the closure and the container are possessed of smooth rounded edges of double thickness of the material from which they are formed thereby offering added strength and rigidity and at the same time avoiding the employment of dangerously sharp edges which would have a seriously detrimental effect. Moreover, the

projections

16 and 27 are relatively slight, even in the slightly exaggerated showing of FIGURE 1 so that the final exterior dimension of the closed container is scarcely larger than the exterior dimension of the normal container wall. This relationship is one which can readily be retained while at the same time preserving all of the advantages of the seal where the containers are to be stacked in cartons and where space is at a premium.

On other occasions where it becomes more advantageous to stack containers one upon the other a somewhat more generous proportioning may be employed in order to make use of a depression indicated generally by the reference character 36 in the closure defined by a sloping wall 37. When this advantage is sought the sloping wall 37 will be made of such diameter that it is slightly bigger than the outside diameter at the bottom of the container 10 so that a second container 10', for example, may be nested into the closure and held in place by the sloping The same convenience appreciated that other materials may be used as long as they may be capable of being formed into the shape hereinabove described for the rim of the container capable of the camming action needed in order to draw the closure and the seal snugly and firmly into position for sealing the contents.

In one embodiment of the invention illustrated particlarly in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 there is shown the representation of a container 40 in FIGURES 5 and 6 and 40 in FIGURE 7 which is supplied with a closure indicated generally by the reference character 41. The container 40 of FIGURES 5 and 6 is the customary tin-plated sheet metal can, customarily made cylindrical in form and which may, following conventional practice, have a soldered seam. The container 40 is illustrated as being made of glass such as the typical jar in which jelly, pickles, and other food stuffs is merchandised.

With respect to the device 40 of FIGURES 5 and 6 the container comprises a cylindrical side wall 42 and particularly the upper portion where the side wall is provided with an annular relatively flat sealing surface 43. At its outer edge the sealing surface terminates in an annular spacing and reinforcing bead 44 which is formed downwardly relative to the sealing surface 43. On the inner edge of the sealing surface is a radially inwardly facing convex camming surface 45 of an amply rounded radius of curvature. The axially inner edge of the camming surface is joined to the side wall 42 by a generously rounded fillet or wall section 46 which is outwardly convex with respect to the container. It will be appreciated that the head 44, the camming surface 45 and the fillet 46 are all annular in form, in keeping with the cylindrical form of the container and the annular form of the sealing surface 43. It is further of interest to note that the head 44 extends outwardly with respect to the outside wall surface of the side wall 42, but for only a slight distance comparable to the diameter of the bead.

The closure is provided with a central bottom or cover plate 47 at the outer edge of which is an annular camming wall 48 extending axially upwardly and slightly outwardly at an obtuse angle relative to the bottom 47. The length of the camming wall is something in excess of the diameter of the camming surface 45. Adjoining the upper part of the camming wall 48 is an annular outwardly convex section 49, axially outwardly of which is a relatively short cylindrical section 50. The bottom 47, the camming wall 48 together with the convex section 49, and cylindrical section 50, are all joined one to another by relatively generous rounded connections.

Overlying the sealing surface 43 of the container is an annular flat sealing surface 51 joined by means of a rounded fillet at its inner edge to the cylindrical section 50 which may be described as a flange for the inner edge of the sealing surface 51. A- substantially cylindrical skirt 52, annular in shape, extends axially downwardly as shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, and the skirt is joined to the sealing surface 51 by a generously rounded corner or fillet 53. An inwardly turned spacing and reinforcing head 54 may be employed to provide the extremity of the skirt 52 with a smooth edge. In the embodiment described an annular sealing washer of some appropriate rubber-like or plastic material is applied to the sealing surface 51 of the closure at a location overlying the sealing surface 43 of the container. tion the breadth of the sealing washer 55 is relatively ample as compared to the width of the sealing surface 43 in order to make certain of a secure seal when the closure is sealed in position upon the container as illustrated in in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 5 shows the relationship of the parts immediately prior to the sealing operation. With the parts in the position of FIGURE 5, pressure is applied to the top of the closure and as pressure continues the camming wall 48 will move in camrned relationship with respect to the camming surface 45 of the container and the metal For purposes of illustra- 6 of the closure will yield slightly to the camming force, as may also the adjacent portions of the container 40 embodied in the camming surface 45 and the sealing surface 43.

Subsequent to the application of pressure upon the container and the yielding of one or more of the parts as described, the convex section 49 will be forced to the position shown in FIGURE 6. In this position the convex section 49 underlies to a slight extent the camming surface 45 so that by reason of the inherent resilience of the materials of the parts under consideration, the tendency even after the closure has reached a sealed position, is to augment the seal as the convex section tends to press itself beneath the camming surface 45. While these operations are taking place the sealing washer 55 is impressed against not only the sealing surface 51 which may carry it, but also against the sealing surface 43 of the container. Pressure will always be present upon both faces of the seal and the pressure will tend therefore to seal the rim of the container so as to provide an airtight package within a chamber indicated generally by the reference character 56 which is in fact the interior of the container.

During the closing operation just made reference to, the skirt 52 is pressed downwardly as the closure moves downwardly until the head 54 overlies the outside surface of the upper portion of the side wall 42. The distance of the skirt 51 and particularly the bead 54 from the exterior surface of the side wall 42 is relatively narrow, but may be made large enough to admit insertion of some appropriate conventional prying edge when the closure is to be removed. Meanwhile, during closed and sealed position the skirt 52 effectively conceals a sealing washer 55 and the details of the sealing. The skirt and its bead 54 form a neat finished appearance for the closure when in position upon the container.

When the closure is to be removed, the skirt 52 can be lifted, preferably at one edge to break the seal, the lifting serving to force the convex section 49 outwardly relative to the camming surface 45 until the camming wall 48 again begins to slide along the camming surface 45. Once the camming section 49 is passed outwardly to approximately the position of FIGURE 5, the closure can be easily removed and access had to the contents of the container.

Inasmuch as no mutilation, bending or distortion of the skirt, or any portion of the closure 11, is necessary to unseal and unseat the closure, it is readily possible to reseal the container by forcing the closure again into the position of FIGURE 6. Neither reclosing nor reopening of the container need cause any damage or mutilation to the closure and 'hence, the container can be opened and closed repeatedly until the contents are finally used. Furthermore, because of the camming action between the convex section 49 and the camming surface 45 always tending to force the closure inwardly into the container, there is always a tendency to provide pressure against the sealing washer 55 on both sides and hence, there is in a sense an automatic sealing of the closure on the container whenever the closure is reapplied. This, therefore, makes a fluid tight seal which is highly advantageous and makes also a seal of sufficient mechanical strength so that even though the container might be laid on its side or even inverted, the closure will remain in place.

The container 40' although made of glass, or perhaps of plastic or similar material, has the general attributes of the container 40 with some minor exceptions. As shown, the container 40 is provided with a cylindrical side wall 60, the upper portion of which is connected to a camming surface 61 by means of a generously rounded inwardly concave fillet or wall section 62. A relatively fiat annular sealing surface 63 which is actually a wall section spaced from the fillet 62 joins the camming surface 61 at its outer end and the sealing surface 63 is provided with an outwardly convex rounded or beaded portion 64 which extends downwardly to the outside surface of the side wall 6%. In this instance a solid mass 65 of the same material as the container serves to strengthen the edge of the container and hence, such yielding as may be necessary to make the closure work need be supplied by the material of the closure itself.

In the form of invention of FIGURE 6a, a closure 41 is given a slightly different form at the outermost edge where a skirt 52' has a head 54 turned outwardly instead of inwardly. In other respects the closure is con structed substantially the same as in FIGURE 6 having, as shown, a fillet 53' connecting the skirt with a sealing surface 51'. A cylindrical section 50 interconnects the sealing surface 51' with an outwardly convex section 49' which cooperates in the previously described manner with the inwardly convex camming surface 45 of the container 40. Constructed in this fashion, more room is provided for an appropriate prying tool, if need be, between the bead 54' land the wall 42 of the container, while, in fact, the skirt 52 may be actually smaller in diameter, relatively than the skirt 52 of FIGURE 6, and the -outermost diameter of the bead 54 may be also held to a smaller size.

On occasions where resort may be had to a conventiona1 bottle opener, an annular reinforcing bead 95 is provided on a top portion 47' against which the end of the bottle opener may be pressed when llifting against the bead 54' so as to avoid marrin-g or distorting of the closure or its seal. This affords still greater assurance that the closure can be resealed even though roughly handled when it is being opened.

In the form of invention illustrated in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, a container indicated generally by the reference character 70 has applied thereto a closure indicated gene'raltly by the reference character 71. The container has a generally cylindrical side wall 72 terminating at its upper edge in a rounded corner 73 serving as a reinforcing bead which joins an annular flat sealing surface 74. At the inner edge of the sealing surface 74 is a camming surface 75 which extends radially inwardly and axially downwardly toward an interior chamber 76 of the container. Inner and outer sections 74' and 74" respectively lying between the corner 72 and the camming surface 75 constitute a part of the wall of the container. The sealing surface 74 occupies part of the outer section 74".

The closure 71 has a dished central portion 77 defined in part by a bottom wall 78. At the outer periphery of the bottom wall 78 is a camming wall 79 joined to the bottom wall by a generously curved portion 80, the camming wall being extended axially endwardly and slightly outwardly making an obtuse angle with respect to the plane of the bottom wall 78. At the top of the camming wall 79 is an outwardly convex camming section 81 which adjoins a short cylindrical section or flange 82. A wide annular relatively flat sealing surface 83 extends radially outwardly from the cylindrical section 82 to which it is joined, the sealing surface terminating at its outer end in a skirt 84 which is a reversely bent .portion of the material forming the closure. The skirt has one section 85 substantially parallel to and spaced from the cylindrical section 82 forming a space there between within which is positioned a sealing washer 86. The skirt is also possessed of an outer section 87 which extends upwardly to a level axially inwardly relative to the sealing surface 83 and thence outwardly to form a prying flange 88 for added strength as well as neatness of appearance. The prying flange consists of a doubly bent section of the closure material an underlying portion 89 of which extends radially inwardly almost to the section 87. An outermost rounded bead 90 of the prying flange may extend slightly outwardly relative to the exterior surface of the side wall 72.

When the closure is to be applied to the container it is first moved to the relative position shown in FIGURE 8. As pressure is then applied to the closure, the camming wall '79 will cam against the camming surface 75 forcing materials of either the container or the closure or both to yield slightly until the camming section 81 is forced to a location beneath the camming surface 75 as shown in FIGURE 10. Pressure exerted by the camming action as the camming section 81 tends to force itself further and further beneath the camming surface 75, tends to impress the sealing surfaces 74 and 83 against the sealing washer 86 thereby to make a fluid tight seal. The skirt 84 is so proportioned that the lowermost end of the skirt as viewed in FIGURE 10 will not engage the sealing surface 74 until after an effective seal is made with the sealing washer. The skirt, however, does serve to prevent the prying flange 88 from being forced into contact with the sealing surface and hence, there will always remain a space 91 within which may be inserted a spoon handle, knife edge, or other appropriate pry for use when the closure is to be removed from the container. Because of the construction of the parts as described, when a pry is used to dislodge one side of the closure from the container, forcing the camming section 81 upwardly against the camming surface 75 until it is released, the closure is in no way mutilated nor is the container mutilated as the closure is removed. Consequently the closure can be reapplied repeatedly until the contents of the can are entirely removed.

Although both the sealing washer 55 and the sealing washer 86 are indicated as separate washers, it will be understood that sealing material can be painted upon one or another of the sealing surfaces at the same location, in which event the sealing material will serve the purpose of sealing the closure in place upon the contanier for repeated applications of the closure in the fashion as has already been described.

It will be clear from the foregoing description that there has been provided a very simple type of sealing construction for holding a closure upon a container which can be removed without mutilating either the closure or the container by simple conventional means and which also provides a type of seal such that after removal the closure can be reapplied repeatedly and experience the same tightening effect produced by the camming bead and its counterpart whereby the closure is not only held in place but is held in place in a rescaled condition without the need for any special rescaling technique other than pressing the closure into position. Although considerable emphasis has been placed upon the value of the seal described herein for use in packing foods, it will be understood that the seal is equally effective for all manner of materials and substances which are effectively preserved in hermetically sealed containers.

While the invention has herein been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

I-Iaving described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. A sealed package comprising a container and a closure therefor, said container comprising a peripheral wall open at one end, a rim on said wall at the open end, said rim comprising an annular substantially radially extending sealing surface, an annular radially inwardly convex portion adjacent the inner edge of the sealing surface located radially inwardly of the peripheral wall and axially inwardly of the sealing surfaces, and an annular outwardly facing reinforcing bead on the wall of said container removed from said sealing surface located outwardly of said sealing surface, said closure comprising a cover plate having an annular substantially radially extending sealing surface, an annular reinforcing bead on said closure located and facing generally outwardly relative to said last identified sealing surface and relative to said first identified reinforcing bead, there being a portion of said closure lying between the sealing surface and reinforcing bead of said closure, an intermediate portion of the closure at the inner edge of said last identified sealing surface extending in a generally axial direction toward said container, said intermediate portion having an annular outwardly convex camming section extending to a position underlying said inwardly convex portion and having a diameter slightly greater than said inwardly convex portion, and an annular seailng member confined under pressure between said annular sealing surfaces.

2. A sealed package comprising a container and a closure therefor, said container comprising a cylindrical wall open at one end, a rim on said wall at said open end, said rim comprising an annular inwardly extending container wall section integral with the upper edge of said cylindrical wall and extending radially inwardly beyond the inner surface of the cylindrical wall and defining an annular radially inwardly convex portion at its inner edge, an annular radially outwardly extending container wall section integral with the upper edge of said convex portion and extending radially outwardly and lying axially outwardly of said convex portion, said outwardly extending container wall section terminating in a reinforcing bead integral with the outer periphery of said radially outwardly extending container wall portion, said closure comprising a top plate, an annular outwardly convex rim integral with the plate at the periphery and comprising an annular closure flange having at least a portion extending in a radial direction, an intermediate portion extending from said annular closure flange axially toward said container, an annular outwardly convex camming section integral with the intermediate portion extending to a position partially underlying said inwardly convex portion of the container and having a diameter slightly greater than said inwardly convex portion of the container, and an annular sealing ring confined under pressure between said annular closure flange and said outwardly extending container wall section.

3. A sealed package comprising a container and a closure therefor, said container comprising a cylindrical wall open at one end, a rim on said wall at said open end, said rim comprising an annular radially extending container wall section integral with the upper edge of said cylindrical wall and extending radially beyond the inner surface of the cylindrical wall in the form of an annular radially inwardly convex portion, an annular radially outwardly extending container wall section integral with the upper edge of said convex portion and extending radially outwardly and lying axially outwardly of said convex portion, said container wall section terminating in a reinforcing bead integral with the outer periphery of said radially outwardly extending container wall section, said closure comprising a cover plate, an annular outwardly convex rim integral with the plate and including a reinforcing bead at the periphery, a portion of said cover plate comprising an annular closure flange section extending radially over said container wall section, at least one of said beads comprising a spacing medium between the exterior of said closure flange section and the exterior of said container wall section, an intermediate closure portion extending from said annular closure flange section axially toward said container, an annular outwardly convex camming section integral with the intermediate closure portion and having a diameter slightly greater than said inwardly convex portion of the container, and an annular sealing means confined under pressure between said wall sections.

4. A sealed package comprising a container and a closure therefor, said container comprising a cylindrical wall open at one end, a rim on said wall at said open end, said rim comprising an annular inwardly extending container flange integral with the upper edge of said cylindrical wall and extending radially inwardly beyond the inner surface of the cylindrical wall in the form of an annular radially inwardly convex portion, an annular radially outwardly extending container flange integral with the upper edge of said convex portion and extending radially outwardly and lying axially outwardly of said convex portion, said outwardly extending container flange terminating in a lip portion integral with the outer periphery of said radially outwardly extending container flange and extending in a direction axially away from said cylindrical wall, said closure comprising a top plate, an annular outwardly convex rim integral with the plate at the periphery and comprising an annular closure flange extending radially inwardly from said convex rim, an intermediate closure portion extending from said annular closure flange axially toward said container, an annular outwardly convex carnming section integral with the intermediate closure portion extending to a position partially underlying said annular closure flange and having a diameter slightly greater than said inwardly convex portion of the container, and an annular sealing ring confined under pressure between said annular closure flange and said outwardly extending container flange.

5. A sealed package comprising a container and a closure therefor, said container comprising a cylindrical wall open at one end, a rim on said wall at said open end, said rim comprising an annular inwardly extending container flange integral with the upper edge of said cylindrical wall and extending radially inwardly beyond the inner surface of the cylindrical wall and forming an annular radially inwardly extending convex portion, an annular radially outwardly extending container flange in tegral with the upper edge of said convex portion and extending radially outwardly and terminating in an outside lip portion integral with the outer periphery of said radially outwardly extending container flange and extending in a direction axially away from said cylindrical wall, said closure comprising a top plate, an annular outwardly convex rim integral with the plate at the periphery and comprising a first annular closure flange extending radially inwardly from said convex rim, said last flange having an inner annular projecting portion thereof extending axially toward the container to a location intermediate outer and inner peripheries of said second container flange and a second annular closure flange integral with the first closure flange extending radially inwardly therefrom, an intermediate closure portion extending axially toward said container, an annular outwardly convex camming section integral with the intermediate closure portion extending to a position partially underlying said second annular closure flange and having a diameter slightly greater than said inwardly convex portion, and an annular sealing ring confined under pressure within said annular projecting portion and between said second annular closure flange and said outwardly extending container flange.

6. A sealed package comprising a container and a closure therefor, said container comprising a cylindrical wall open at one end, a rim on said wall at said open end, said rim comprising a first annular container flange extending radially out-wardly beyond said cylindrical wall, an axially extending portion integral with the outer periphery of said first container flange and extending in a direction axially away from said cylindrical wall, an inwardly extending second annular container flange integral with the upper edge of said axially extending pontion and extending radially inwardly beyond the inner surface of the cylindrical wall and forming an annular radially inwardly convex portion, a third radially outwardly extending annular container flange integral with the upper edge of said convex portion and extending radially outwardly and terminating in a second axially extending portion integral with the outer periphery of said third radially outwardly extending container flange and extending in a direction axially away from said cylindrical wall, said second axially extending port-ion terminating at its top edge in a lip portion, said closure comprising a top plate, an annular outwardly convex rim integral with the plate at the periphery having about the same maximum diameter as the first identified axially extending portion of the container, a first annular closure flange integral with said last rim and extending radially inwardly from said rim and spaced axially from said second annular container flange whereby to accommodate an opening instrument, said last flange having an annular bead at an inner portion thereof extending axially toward the container to a location intermediate outer and inner peripheries of said third annular container flange, and a second annular closure flange integral with the bead extending radially inwardly from the bead, an intermediate annular closure portion extending axially toward said container, an annular outwardly convex camming section integral with the intermediate annular closure portion extending to a position partially underlying said second annular closure flange and having a diameter slightly greater than the inwardly convex portion, and an annular sealing ring confined within said bead and under pressure between said second annular closure flange and said second annular container flange.

7. A sealed package comprising a container and a closure therefor, said container comprising a cylindrical wall open at one end, a rim on said wall at said open end, said rim comprising an annular inwardly extending container flange integral with the upper edge of said cylindrical wall and extending radially inwardly beyond the inner surface of the cylindrical wall in the form of an annular radially inwardly convex portion, an annular radially outwardly extending container flange integral with the upper edge of said convex portion and extending radially outwardly and lying axially outwardly of said convex portion, said outwardly extending container flange terminating in a lip portion integral with the outer periphery of said radially outwardly extending container flange, said closure comprising a top plate, an annular outwardly convex rimintegral with the plate at the periphery and comprising an annular closure flange extending radially inwardly from said convex rim, said closure flange being spaced from said inwardly extending container flange by the presence of said lip, an intermediate closure portion extending from said annular closure flange axially toward said container, an annular outwardly convex camming section integral with the intermediate closure portion and having a diameter slightly greater than said inwardly convex portion of the container, and an annular sealing means confined under pressure between said annular closure flange and said outwardly extending container flange.

8. A sealed package comprising a container having an annular side wall portion and a sealing rim at the outer end of said side wall portion, and a closure adapted to engage said rim, said rim comprising an annular sealing surface, an annular smooth outer edge for said surface, an annular radially inwardly facing convex camming surface joining the inside edge of said sealing surface and a smooth fillet joining said camming surface with said side wall portion, said closure comprising a central area having a bottom, an annular camming wall sloping at an obtuse angle axially outwardly from said bottom and adapted to'cam against said camming surface during application of said closure, an annular outwardly convex section at the outer end of said camming wall adapted to engage beneath said camming surface in sealed position of the closure, an annular sealing surface and a section of said closure joining said last sealing surface to said convex section, a skirt having a diameter greater than the diameter of said outer edge of the rim having an extremity overlying said smooth outer edge in sealed position, a

section of said closure joining said skirt with the outer edge of said last sealing surface and a fluid tight seal on one of said sealing surfaces in sealed relationship with the other sealing surface in closed position of said closure.

9. A sealed package comprising a sheet metal container having an annular side wall portion and a sealing rim at the outer end of said side wall portion, and a sheet metal closure adapted to engage said rim, said rim comprising an annular flat sealing surface, an annular beaded outer edge for said surface of diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of said side Wall portion, an annular radially inwardly facing arcuate convex camming surface joining the inside edge of said sealing surface and an annular inwardly concave fillet joining said camming surface with said side wall portion, said closure comprising a centrally depressed area having a bottom, an annular camming wall sloping at an obtuse angle axially outwardly from said bottom and adapted to cam again-st said camming surface during application of said closure to the container, an annular outwardly convex section at the outer end of said camming wall adapted to engage beneath said camming surface in sealed position of the closure, an annular flat sealing surface having an inner annular flange smaller in diameter than said camming surface and joining said last sealing surface to said convex section, a skirt having a diameter greater than the diameter of said beaded outer edge having an inwardly beaded extremity underlying said beaded outer edge in sealed position, an outwardly convex fillet joining said skirt with the outer edge of said last sealing surface and a fluid tight seal on one of said sealing surfaces in sealed relationship with the other sealing surface in closed position of said closure.

10. A sealed package comprising a glass container having an annular side wall portion and a sealing rim at the outer end of said portion, and a sheet metal closure adapted to engage said rim, said rim comprising an annular flat sealing surface, an annular rounded outer edge for said surface of diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of said side wall portion, an annular radial- 1y inwardly facing convex surface joining the inside edge of said sealing surface, an annular inwardly concave fillet joining said camming surface with said side Wall portion, and a mass of said glass entirely filling the space between the rounded outer edge, the camming surface and the fillet, said closure comprising a central area having a bottom, an annular camming wall sloping at an obtuse angle axially outwardly from said bottom and adapted to cam against said camming surface during application of said closure, an annular outwardly convex section at the outer end of said camming wall adapted to engage beneath said camming surface in sealed position of the closure, an annular flat sealing surface having an inner annular flange smaller in diameter than said camming surface and joining said last sealing surface to said convex section, a skirt having a diameter greater than the diameter of said rounded outer edge having rounded extremity underlying said rounded outer edge in sealed position, a portion of said closure joining said skirt with the outer edge of said last sealing surface and a fluid tight seal on one of said sealing surfaces in sealed relationship with the other sealing surface in closed position of said closure.

11. A sealed package comprising a container having an annular side wall portion and a sealing rim at the outer end of said portion, and a sheet metal closure adapted to engage said sealing rim, said rim comprising an annular sealing surface, one edge of said surface being in the form of a rounded bead and the other edge having a rounded attachment to said side wall portion, one of said beads providing an annular convex radially inwardly facing camming surface, said closure comprising a centrally depressed area having a bottom, an annular camming wall sloping at an obtuse angle axially outwardly from said bottom and adapted to cam against said camming surface during application of said closure to said container, an annular outwardly convex section at the outer end of said camming wall adapted to engage beneath said camming surface in sealed position of the closure, an annular sealing surface having an annular skirt at the outer edge thereof and extending toward said sealing surface of the container, a smooth rim at the outermost perimeter of said skirt and an annular seal between said sealing surfaces located inwardly of and concealed by said skirt, said seal having the inner edge thereof joining said convex section, the smooth rim when the closure is in sealed position being spaced from an adjacent edge of the sealing surface of said closure.

12. A sealed package comprising a container having an .annular side wall portion and a sealing rim at the outer end of said portion, and a sheet metal closure adapted to engage said sealing rim, said rim comprising an annular flat sealing surface, an inwardly facing edge of said surface being in the form of a rounded bead and the outer edge having a rounded attachment to said side wall portion, said first edge providing an annular convex radially inwardly facing camming surface, said closure comprising a centrally depressed area having a bottom, an annular camming Wall sloping at an obtuse angle axially outwardly from said bottom and adapted to cam against said camming surface during application of said closure to said container, an annular outwardly convex section at the outer end of said camming wall adapted to engage beneath said camming surface in sealed position of the closure, an annular flat sealing surface having an annular skirt formed of reverse folds of the sheet metal at the outer edge of said last sealing surface and extending toward said sealing surface of the container, a radially outwardly extending beaded rim at the outermost perimeter of said skirt and an annular seal between said sealing surfaces located inwardly of and concealed by said skirt, said seal having the inner edge thereof located outwardly relative to said outwardly convex section, the beaded rim when the closure is in sealed position being spaced axially from the sealing surface of said closure whereby to provide space for insertion of a prying device.

13. A sealed package comprising a container and a closure therefor, said container comprising a peripheral wall open at one end, a rim on said wall at the open end, said rim comprising an annular substantially radially extending sealing surface, an annular radially inwardly convex portion adjacent the inner edge of the sealing surface located radially inwardly of the peripheral wall and axially inwardly of the sealing surface, said closure comprising a cover plate having an annular substantially radially extending sealing surface, an annular reinforcing bead on said closure located and facing generally outwardly relative to said last identified sealing surface, there being a portion of said closure lying between the sealing surface and reinforcing bead of said closure, said last bead in closed position .of the closure being spaced outwardly of endmost portions of the container, an intermediate portion of the closure at the inner edge of said last identified sealing surface extending in a generally axial direction toward said container, said intermediate portion having an annular outwardly convex camming section extending to a position underlying said inwardly convex portion and having a diameter slightly greater than said inwardly convex portion, and an annular sealing member confined under pressure between said annular sealing surfaces.

14. A sealed package comprising a container and a closure therefor, said container comprising a cylindrical wall open at one end, a rim on said wall at said open end, said rim comprising an annular radially extending container wall section integral with the upper edge of said cylindrical Wall and extending radially beyond the inner surface of the cylindrical wall and terminating in an annular radially inwardly convex portion, said closure comprising a cover plate, an annular outwardly convex rim integral with the plate and including a reinforcing bead at the periphery, a portion of said cover plate comprising an annular closure flange section extending radially over said container wall section, oppositely facing means on said sections comprising a spacing medium between the exterior of said closure flange section and the exterior of said container wall section, an intermediate closure portion extending from said annular closure flange section axially toward said container, an annular outwardly convex camming section integral with the in- THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A SEALED PACKAGE COMPRISING A CONTAINER AND A CLOSURE THEREFOR, SAID CONTAINER COMPRISING A PERIPHERAL WALL OPEN AT ONE END, A RIM ON SAID WALL AT THE OPEN END, SAID RIM COMPRISING AN ANNULAR SUBSTANTIALLY RADIALLY EXTENDING SEALING SURFACE, AND ANNULAR RADIALLY INWARDLY CONVEX PORTION ADJACENT THE INNER EDXGE OF THE SEALING SURFACE LOCATED RADIALLY INWARDLY OF THE PERIPHERAL WALL AND AXIALLY INWARDLY OF THE SEALING SURFACES, AND AN ANNULAR OUTWARDLY FACING REINFORCING HEAD ON THE WALL OF SAID CONTAINER REMOVED FROM SAID SEALING SURFACE LOCATED OUTWARDLY OF SAID SEALING SURFACE, SAID CLOSURE COMPRISING A COVER PLATE HAVING AN ANNULAR SUBSTANTIALLY RADIALLY EXTENDING SEALING SURFACE, AN ANNULAR REINFORCING HEAD ON SAID CLOSURE LOCATED AND FACING GENERALLY OUTWARDLY RELATIVE TO SAID LAST IDENTIFIED SEALING SURFACE AND RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST IDENTIFIED REINFORCING HEAD, THERE BEING A PORTION OF SAID CLOSURE LYING BETWEEN THE SEALING SURFACE AND REINFORCING BEAD OF SAID CLOSURE, AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF THE CLOSURE AT THE INNER EDGE OF SAID LAST IDENTIFIED SEALING SURFACE EXTENDING IN A GENERALLY AXIAL DIRECTION TOWARD SAID CONTAINER, SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION HAVING AN ANNULAR OUTWARDLY CONVEX CAMMING SECTION EXTENDING TO A POSITION UNDERLYING SAID INWARDLY CONVEX PORTION AND HAVING A DIAMETER SLIGHLY GREATER THAN SAID INWARDLY CONVEX PORTION, AND AN ANNULAR SEAILNG MEMBER CONFINED UNDER PRESSURE BETWEEN SAID ANNULAR SEALING SURFACES.