SEALING CAP

Abstract: A container fitting for the dispensing of liquid therefrom comprising a sleeve (1) adapted to sealingly fit within the container outlet (2) and a clip member (6) which interfits with said sleeve means to lock it in position within the outlet (2) and also forms a discharge opening (9A) for the liquid.

Description: The present invention relates to a Sealing cap or fitting for a container. In the prior art, the sealing cap or fitting is simp force fitted into the neck of the pourer of the container, the neck of the pourer being elongated such that the sealing depends upon the sealing plug having a long length relative to its diameter. Thus a rather large use of material is required for the fitting. Where this arrangement is restricted by practicable considerations a gasket is arrange to be compressed by a screw thread of a cap and nozzle. The radial sealing force of the gasket is soon lost due to creep and a faulty seal can occur. This problem is very common with plastic seals being used in metal drums. The invention however may also be applicable to containers of plastic or an other material. The present invention therefore provides a fitting or sealing cap which is of a relative small size yet still provi an effective seal with ameliorates the abovementioned problem The present invention therefore provides a container fitting for the dispensing of liquid therefrom comprising a sleeve means adapted to sealingly fit within the container outlet and a clip member which interfits with said sleeve means to lock it within the outlet and also forms a discharge opening for the liquid. In one preferred form the sleeve could include an outwardly extending radial flange adjacent one of the ends which when in place abuts the exterior of the container around the outlet and an inwardly extending radial flange adjacent the other end for location within the container. The clip member may also in one form be C—shaped and comprise front and rear surfaces which, in use, respectively face the exterior and the interior of the container, a recess around its external circumferential walls into which said radially inwardly extending flange is adapted to fit r and a lip asso¬ ciated with said recess adjacent said rear face which is of sufficient size that when the fitting is positioned within said outlet, it extends radially beyond the outlet to lock the fitting in place. The cross-sectional area and the widt of the legs of such C-shaped member may also progressively increase lengthwise from their free ends so that when deforme inwardly to engage the internally extending flange of the sle the bending stresses are evenly distributed to resist creep. The opening of the sleeve at the outer end could have a tear out diaphram seal or threaded section for the attachme of fittings. The invention will now be further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a firs embodiment of the present invention positioned in an outlet of a container; Figure 2 is a plan view of a C-shaped clip member of embodiment illustrated in Figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 are similar views to those of Figures and 2 of a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figures 5 and 6 show cross-sectional views of third a fourth embodiments of the invention; Figure 7 shows a plan view of the device of figure 6. OM invention comprises a cylindrical sleeve 1 which is of suitable diameter to seal within the outlet 2 of the container. The length (L) of the sleeve is such that in use a radially outwardly extending flange 3 at one end abuts against the container exterior and the other end of the sleeve 1 is flush with the inner end of the wall 4 of the outlet 2. A radially inwardly extending flange 5 is located at the end of the sleeve. A C-shaped spring member 6 has a groove 7 into which th flange 5 of the sleeve 1 is engaged. This spring member 6 also has an overhanging lip 8 which is of sufficient dimensions that in use it extends outwardly past the walls 4 of the outlet to lock the sleeve 1 into the outlet. The C-shaped spring member is preferably shaped as show in Figure 2. The free ends of the legs are separated by a gap 9 and define a discharge opening 9A through which liquid from the container may flow. In use the sleeve 1 is fitted into the spring member 6 and the spring member and sleeve are pressed into the outlet of the container whereby the fitting is locked onto the outlet of the container by the lip 8 and the flange 3. The rear face 8A of the spring member is preferably bevelled as shown to provide a lead on into the outlet and hold the sleeve in shape when the fitting is being fitted into the outlet. The cross-sectional area and the width of the spring member also preferably increases lengthwise from the free ends. This ensures that when the sleeve is deformed inwardly to insert it into the container outlet the bending stresses are evenly distributed to thereby resist creep. The outlet of the sleeve may also have a tear away s 10 to close the container outlet. A second embodiment of the present invention is shown Figures 3 and 4 wherein an air flow tube 11 extends from the thickened portion 12 of the C-shaped spring member 6 so that when liquid is being poured from the container air may flow from the exterior of the container to the interior. A third embodiment of this invention which is speci¬ fically adapted for use with pressurized containers is shown in cross-section by Figure 5. In this case the inwardly directed flange 5 is omitted and the sleeve 13 and clip 14 interfit by means of radial lugs 15 which protrude through correspondingly placed apertures 16 in the sleeve 13. These lugs 15 as shown are of sufficient length that they extend over the inner wall of the outlet 17 to lock the device in place. The outer faces 18 of the lugs may also be bevelled to facilitate their deflection inwardly when the assembled sleeve and clip are pressed into the outlet. Upon reaching the σcAtion shown however the lugs are adapted to snap back to their original unstressed position to prevent subsequent removal of the assembly. The resiliency of these lugs to such deformation is enhanced by the novel and unique C-shape configuration of the clip 14 as best shown in figure 7 which enables the free ends of the legs 14A and thus the lugs to deform inwardly. The clip 14 may also include an air flow 18A similar to that of the previous embodiments. The sleeve may also include a circumferential groove in which a steel spring 20 is disposed. This spring when t device is in place within the container outlet is adapted to OMPI force the outer face 21 of the sleeve into tight engagement with the outlet wall 17 to resist the internal pressure of the container. The sealing diaphragm 23 within the sleeve may also be inwardly curved so that when subjected to internal pressures tending to- invert at the edges thereof press radially outwar additionally bias the outer face 21 against the outlet wall 17 by an amount proportioned to the internal pressure. Before use of course this diaphragm 23 must be either remove or perforated so that liquid can be dispersed through the outlet aperture 24 in the clip. Subsequent closing of the outlet is then obtained by the fitting of a cap device over the threaded end 25 of the sleeve which seals against the outer flange 26. It will thus be appreciated that this invention at leas in the form of the embodiments disclosed provides a novel, unique and relatively low cost fitting for liquid containers. Clearly however the particular examples described are only the presently preferred forms of the invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a man skilled in the art. For example the particular shape and configuration of the clip and sleeve members as well as the spring and diaphragm sealing means may be varied according to application and/or design preference, It is also envisaged that a device according to this invention could be adapted to serve as a connector between conduits to provide a low cost easily assembled pressure sea OMPI

Claims: CLAIMS ; 1. A container fitting for the dispensing of liquid therefrom comprising a sleeve adapted to sealingly fit withi the container outlet and a clip member which interfits with said sleeve means to lock it in position within the outlet and also forms a discharge opening for the liquid. 2. The container fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein th sleeve includes an inwardly directed radial flange adjacent one end thereof for insertion within the outlet, and the cli member is substantially C-shaped in configuration and includes a peripheral recess which engages said flange and a lip which grips the outlet wall to lock the fitting in place 3. The container fitting as claimed in claim 2, wherein th width of the legs of the substantially C-shaped clip member progressively increases lengthwise from their free ends so that when deformed inwardly the bending stresses are evenly distributed to resist creep. 4. The container fitting as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein one of the surfaces of the clip member is bevelled t facilitate the insertion of the fitting into the outlet. 5. The container fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve and clip member interfit by means of a plurality of radial lugs which extend from the clip member and protrude through correspondingly placed apertures in the sleeve. 6. The container fitting as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lugs are of sufficient length to extend over the outlet wall of the container when the fitting is in place to lock it in position. . , wherein the outer faces of the lugs are bevelled to facilitate their deflection inwardly when the assembled sleeve and clip members are pressed into the outlet. 8. The container fitting as claimed in claim 1 or any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the sleeve includes a circumferential groove in which a steel spring is disposed which is adapted to force the outer face of the sleeve into tight engagement with the outlet wall. 9. The container fitting as claimed in claim 1 or any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein an inwardly curved sealing diaphram is provided in the sleeve which when subjected to internal pressure from the container deforms in a manner which biases the outer face of the sleeve against the outlet wall. 10. A container fitting for the dispensing of liquid from a container substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings. OMP ^

Inventors: GOODALL DONALD TERRY, GOODALL, DONALD, TERRY
Applicants: GOODALL DONALD T, GOODALL, DONALD, TERRY
Application year: 1984
Main classification: B65D25
IPC codes: B65D47