US2695645A - Bread server or analogous seal tight container - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 30, 1954 5, TUPPER 2,695,545

BREAD SERVER OR ANALOGOUS SEAL TIGHT CONTAINER Filed May 8, 1950 EHRL 6. TUPRER United States Patent BREAD SERVER 0R ANALOGOUS SEAL TIGHT CONTAINER Earl S. Tupper, Upton, Mass.

Application May 8, 1950, Serial No. 160,765

6 Claims. (Cl. ISO-0.5)

This invention relates generally to non-metallic receptacles having seal-tight and removable non-metallic closures, but more specifically to a type of finger-operable seal for containers capable of repeated use.

Heretofore containers and receptacles with closurecaps have been fabricated at least at the engaging portions from materials having characteristics of resiliency and flexibility including compressed fiber, paper, cellulose, cellulose stock, plastic materials and condensation products either by themselves or in various combinations, the caps being of the snap-on and off types due to physical properties.

The invention herein provides as an'object of the invention a fluid and air-tight joint between a receptacle and a removable closure member, the sealing properties of the closure being due to a combination of specific construction hereinafter set forth and physical characteristics of the material used such as polyethylene or other substance having similar properties of elasticity, flexibility, local distortability.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a non-metallic receptacle and a non-metallic sealing cap or closure wherein the closure is applicable to the rim of the receptacle by progressive hand-pressure around the periphery for effecting a seal-tight closure and wherein the closure is removable by a hand peeling-off type of procedure.

The invention is further directed to a receptacle and closure therefor to effectuate a fluid and air-tight seal and which are made of a material which is inert to, does not absorb and is not readily wettable by water, which does not soften at operating temperatures below the boiling point of water and which at ordinary temperatures is odorless and resistant to chemicals and solvents.

In addition, as features of the invention, the full body of the container and closure when made of polyethylene l resistant to development of mildews, microorganisms and insects.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a receptacle and sealing closure therefor of the above characteristics which maybemolded bycompression or injection and which is economical to manufacture, durable and efficient in operation.

Other incidental features of the invention will hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as pointed out in the appended claims.

Accompanying this specification is a form of the invention wherein:

Figure l is a view in perspective showing a receptacle and closure therefor in assembled position and in sealing relationship.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the receptacle and closure in separated position showing the use of the receptacle as a bread server.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of Figure 1 along the plane 33 thereof.

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view showing the closure in the process of separation from the receptacle by a hand of the user.

In accordance with the invention in the form as shown, numeral indicates generally the receptacle portion of a container and cover, and consists of a conventional lower wall and a continuous lateral wall. The lateral a drawing showing wall as shown is comprised of a pair of side walls each indicated by numeral 11, and a pair of end walls each 1nd1cated by numeral 12. It is of course understood that the lateral wall may be circular, square or of any polygonal shape.

The mouth or rim of receptacle 10 is provided with a continuous groove defined by an inner wall 13, an outer wall 14 and a connecting base wall 15. Groove outer wall 14 has an outwardly directed and horizontally disposed flange 16 which is adapted to serve as a support .;for a peripheral and horizontally directed flange 17 which forms part of the cover member, the latter being generally designated by numeral 18. Flange 17 at least at the sides pro ects beyond flange 16 as indicated by numeral 17' to serve as a finger gripping element to remove cover member 18 from receptacle 12 as will hereinafter be described.

Air and fluid type engagement between cover member 18 and receptacle 12 takes place between the cover rim or wall portion 19, which depends from the inner end of flange 17, and the receptacle groove defined by walls 13, 14, and 15. Rim 19 and flange 17 form the lower portion of cover member 18 and are continuous with the cover side and end walls 20 and 21, the cover top wall being indicated by numeral 22.

The peripheral configuration of rim 19 conforms to the peripheral configuration of the receptacle groove defined by walls 13, 14 and 15 and when the said rim engages the receptacle groove defined by walls 13, 14 and 15 sealing engagement takes place between the outside of rim 19 and the inside of groove wall 14, and between the bottom edge of the rim and the inside side of base wall 15 of the groove. The sealing engagement hereinabove described presupposes that the outside face of rim 19 normally slightly overlaps the inside of groove wall.

14 regardless of the relative position of groove wall 13 with respect. to the rim. The resiliency of both the rim 19 and groove wall 14 creates a live and hermetical sealing. Where the groove Width between walls 13 and 14 is slightly smaller than the thickness of rim 19and the latter is centrally positioned with respect to the groove,

then sealing contact takes place between the inside of groove walls 13, 14 and15 and both sides of the rim. if desirable, the groove walls 13. and 14 may be inclined as shown in the drawings to facilitate sealing contact between the normally vertically extending rim walls and the groove walls. Because of the elasticity and local distortability of rim 19 and of the groove walls, substantial conformation with the shape of the groove as defined by walls 13, 14 and 15 will take place.

Receptacle 10 may function for any desired purpose,

but as shown, the cover 18 therefor also serves: as a bread server having slices of bread resting therein as indicatedby numeral 23. However, the receptacle and cover above described may-serve not only as an open server but also as an hermetically sealed container or a bread box. a

1 By virtue of the phvsical characteristics such as afiorded by polyethvleneand from which receptacle 10 and cover 18 are made, affixation of the cover 18 to the receptacle is elfected preferably by first forcing a corner into the corresponding corner roove of the receptacle and then sliding the thumb peripherally along the flange 17 with downward pressure whereby cover wall rim 19 is forced into the groove walls 13 and 14. For removal purposes, the cover 18 is peeled off from the receptacle or from the groove thereof by engaging the extended side flange portions 17' by the fingers as best shown in Figure 4, the extension being grasped between the thumb and forefinger. The removal of the cover member is facilitated by the flexing of flange 17 as further shown in Figure 4 whereby rim 19 of the cover becomes dislodged between the inner sides of the grooves 13, 14 and 15.

Receptacle 10 and the closure 18 therefore have been essentially described as being made of a plastic having a slow rate of recovery, and being responsible for the mannor of application by progressive hand pressing operation and the manner of removal by a hand peeling-0E type of operation. However, this invention further contemplates a receptacle and a cover therefor made of any material such as glass, composition, metal and other ma- Furthermore, the invention embraces" afcover'and re cept'acle "made of any rigid material wherein only the" groove" walls'lli, 14 and '15and flange 16"are made offa locally" distortable and resilient" material such as poly? ethylene or other substance having-similar characteristics;

Inthis connectionrim' 19' and flange 17 is rigid and may form part of a rigid cover.

Thereceptacle and cover herein maybe used in the packaging .1 of alcoholic liquids, carbonated beverages,

fruits, preserves, milk and;derivativeproducts, cheese, candies, vother'food's andibeveragesyacuum packedor'.

v inner and outer and base groove defining walls, and an otherwise and also: for-drugs, proprietory preparations,

tobacco products etc";

Itiis tobe understood that-flange lfimay act asra handleafor container-10withor without the cover 18"at tachedthereto' bygrasping the underside by the fingers.

Flange. 16 alsoacts as aspreader for the container groove walls 13/and 114 for initial disengagementof' a portion of rim 19"by.mer'ely'depressingtaportion of flange 16.:

I.-w.ish it understood that minor changes and variations in -,the1materia1, shape, integration and position of parts. of .thevclosure and the 'cooperating'receptacle may'all be resortedto without departing from the spirit ofthe invention'and the scope of the appended claims.

It isfurther understood that the container Whenpa'rts 12 and 18. are assembled together may rest on'either the top,

or..bottom-Wal1 and that the closure'rim 19'and flange 17 maybeapplied'to the receptacle 12 and'that the groove walls 13, ,14 and 1 5 and flange 16 may be appliedto the I comprising arim receiving socket forming the free edge oftthe container,- said socket being formed of inner, outer and base groove defining walls and an outwardly directed flange having a free edge extending from the outerwall,

said groovelwalls and flange'being formed of a resilient and locally distortable material andbeing adapted respectively to fr-ictionallyreceive the'cover rim for an h'er'meti cal sealing joint and to serve both as a perimetric handle andspreader for removal of the closure.

2. In an open mouth container of rectangular shape and a closure therefor having a marginal 'rim provided being formed of inner, outer and'base groove defining wall's,the said groove walls being formed of a resilient and locally distortable material andbeing'adapted to frictionally receive the cover rim for an hermetical 'se'aling joint'and said marginal rim being adapted to serve 'as a perimetric handle and means for removing the closure.

3. In anopen mouth container 'of rectangular shape and a .closure therefor, a closure "rim provided with an outer stopflange, hermetical sealing means for said rimon said container comprising a rim receiving socket forming th'e"; top edge offthe container, said socket being formed of 50 with a hand engageable flange, hermetical sealing means for said rirn on said container comprising a rim receiving 1 socket forming the free edge of the container, said socket" outwardly directed 'flange having a'ff'ee'edgeitendiiig" from the outer wall, said rirri and outer stop flange and said groove walls and outwardly directed flange being formed of a resilient and locally distortable material, said groove walls and last named flange being adapted to frictionaliy receive respectively the cover rim and the stop flange for an hermetical sealing joint.

4. An 'o'pe'n mouth' container of rectangular shape and'a closure therefor comprising T-ia closure rim provided with an outer stop flange, hermetical sealing means for said rim on said container comprising a rim receiving socket forming the top=edge of the container, said socket being formed of inner, outer and base groove defining walls, said rim and outer stop flangeand' saidrgroove-walls being formed of a resilient and locally distortable material, said groove walls being adapted to frictionally receive the cover rim for an hermetical sealing joint.

5. In an open mouth co'ntainer of -'rect'angular shape and afclosure therefor having a rim'- provided WitH- anouter 5 stop flangether-metic'al sealing means for said rim of said closure comprising' 'a -rimreceiving socket integral with and' formmgthe'free'edge of the container, said socket being 'formed of inner, outerand bottom groove deflning Walls and anoutwardly-directed flange having a free edge extending from the outer wall, said groove wallsand flange being formed of a resil-ient and locally distortable material and bein gadapted to frictionally receive respectively the closure rim and-the stop= flange for an hermetical sealing" joint. I

6. In an open -mouth container of rectangular shape anda' losure therefor, a'closure rim provided with an outer stop'iflange both being integral with the closure and being formed of 'aresilient and locally distortablemate rial, hermetical sealing means for said rim 'on sai'dficonta ner comprising a rim-receiving socket integral with and formmg thefree edge of the'containen'said socket being formed of inner, out'er and bottom groove definingwalls and"an outwa'rdly directed flange having a free edge extending from the outer wall, said groove wall and flange being-formedof'a'resilient and locally distortable material:

Number Name Date 119,603 Gunning. Oct. 3, 1871 905,212 Mor'rell Dec. 1,- 1908' 1,187,219 With Jan. 13,1916 1;459, 437 Bowrnan June 19, 1923 1,561,330 Keller- Nov. 10, 1925- 1,700,611 Freeman Ian. 29, 1929 1,948,820 Lasker Feb; 27, 1934 2,080,283 Lowenfels May 11, 1937' 2,099,056 Fern'gren' Nov. 16, 1937 2,207,210 Von'Knauf'u- July 9,' 1940 2,348,448 Brewer May 9,1944% 2,487,400 TupperL Nov. 8," 1949 2,501,983 ia't. a.Mar." 28, 1950 2,606,586 Hill Aug.: 12, r1952 v

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