Improvements in and connected with Air-tight Cases or Receptacles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 6th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Air-tight Cases or
Receptacles.
I, WILLIAM CUMMING JOHNSON, of Arnewood Lodge, Milton, near Lymington,
in the County of Hants, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide a convenient and economical means of
sealing, in such manner as to be air-tight, cases or receptacles such as are commonly
employed for the purpose of containing either tobacco, or solid matters of any kind,
or liquids. In addition, a vessel or receptacle of the kind which is sealed according
to my invention, can be easily opened without the use of a knife or other opener,
and in cases where the whole of the contents are not to be immediately used, it may
be opened and closed as often as required without exposing the contents to air more
than is absolutely necessary.
In the accompanying drawings in which like letters refer to similar parts or to
parts fulfilling like functions:-
Fig. 1. is a part plan, and
Fig. 2. is a vertical section of a cylindrical case according to my invention.
Figs. 3. and 4. shew modifications of cap or cover.
Fig. 5. shews my invention applied to a jug.
In Figs. 1 and 2 an ordinary cylindrical tin or other vessel such as is commonly
used, is shewn having an inwardly turned annular flange a formed integrally with
it. The inside upper edge of this flange is left sharp for a purpose to be hereinafter
described. The tobacco or other substance to be packed having been placed in the
inside of the receptacle, it is covered with a thin sheet of tin or lead foil B, which
is soldered or otherwise attached to the flange a of the vessel A; the contents of
the case being thus sealed and prevented from having contact with the outer air.
To protect the thin tin or lead foil from being damaged a cover C is provided which
is turned downwards at its edges to form a rim c which fits over the upper end of
the receptacle A, and holds the cover C in position.
When access to the contents of the receptacle is desired, it is only necessary to
remove the cover C and pressing the finger upon the tin or lead foil close to the
inside upper sharp edge of the flange a. This pressure of the finger easily breaks
away the delicate foil and allows of the contents of the receptacle being removed.
In cases where the whole of the contents of a receptacle are not to be used at
once, I employ a cover as shewn in Fig. 3. or 4. Here C is the cover having a
rim c as before but this rim bulged at e' to form an annular space in which a rubber
or other soft or resilient ring E is fitted. When the foil B is broken and this cover
is placed in position upon the top of the receptacle A the rubber ring E forms an
air-tight joint and closes the interior of the vessel from the outer air, while it can
be placed in position or taken off with ease and convenience any number of times.
In some instances around the upper end of the receptacle A is formed a groove or
recess C² (see Fig. 4.) into which, when the cover C is in position the ring E springs
so as to insure a better joint.
Fig. 5 shews my invention applied to a jug A which has a metallic ring a fixed
to its upper edge to which the foil plate B is soldered, and over which the cover C
fits as before a is a handle of the usual kind.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Sealing a case or receptacle with a sheet of tin or other foil in such manner
that the latter can be easily broken away for the purpose of obtaining access to the
contents, substantially as described.
2. Sealing a case or receptacle by means of a sheet of tin or other foil soldered
or otherwise fastened to a flange upon the top of the case in such manner that the
foil can be easily broken away, substantially as described.
3. The combination of a case or receptacle having a flange at its upper end with
a sheet of tin or other foil soldered or otherwise fastened thereto in such manner
that the foil may be easily broken away, and a cover therefor, substantially as
described and shewn.
4. For use with a case or receptacle as herein described and claimed, the cover C
having a rim c inside a recess in which is disposed a rubber ring E, the whole
forming an easily removable air-tight cover, substantially as described and shewn
with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.
Dated this 25th day of March 1896.
W. H. MURCH,
Upper Terrace Road, Bournemouth, Agent for the Applicant.