Improvements in or relating to the Closure of Receptacles for Food and other Substances.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Closure of Receptacles for Food
and other Substances.
I, JEAN LEEMBRUGGEN of 9 P.C. Hoopstraat, Amsterdam, in the Kingdom
of the Netherlands, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
--
This invention has for object the closure in a simple and effectual manner, of
receptacles of various kinds whether of round, square or of other form in plan
or cross section and 'is applicable to receptacles made of various materials as for
examples sheet metal, wood, papier-mache, cardboard, glass, ebonite, and celluloid.
For this purpose the upper part or mouth of the receptacle is formed at a con-
venient distance from the top edge with an inwardly projecting rib, and the cover
which is designed to enter the mouth of the receptacle and is made of hollow or
dish shape is formed with a corresponding outwardly projecting rib adapted to rest
on 'that in the receptacle when the cover is in place. The periphery of the cover
below 'its rib is of such dimensions as to fit moderately tight within the rib in the
receptacle, and its height is such that the upper edge thereof is at a short distance
say about five millimetres below the upper edge of the receptacle when the cover
is in place.
On the cover and within its upturned edges, there is or may be soldered a
diametrically arranged rectangular piece of sheet metal (hereinafter called a cross-
piece) of a height such that it will not project beyond the upper edge of the
receptacle. This cross-piece serves as a convenient means for taking hold of the
cover, as well as for keeping it in position when the safety arrangement hereinafter
described is employed, and may in some cases be formed in one with the-cover.
In order to obtain an air tight closure there is placed in the space between the
adjacent parts.of.the.receptacle and its cover and above the ribs a strip or washer
of suitable packing material such for examples as felt, caoutchouc or prepared
textile material.
The distance between the ribs and the upper edge of the receptacle as also
the dimensions of the parts may be varied to suit the nature of the packing
material used for making the joint.
When a receptacle constructed as described is to contain preserves or other
substances liable to be damaged by the action of air and water, it is, after the
cover thereof and the packing material for making the joint have been placed in
position, placed for a suitable period with the cover uppermost in a heating medium
of a temperature sufficiently high to produce rarefaction of the air inside the
receptacle, after which the receptacle and its contents are suddenly cooled whereby
the pressure of the external atmosphere acts to force the packing tightly into the
space between the mouth of the receptacle and its cover and thereby ensure an air
and water tight closure.
This heating and cooling of the receptacle may be effected after the application
thereto of a safety closing device such as hereinafter described.
The cover can be easily raised after having restored the equilibrium of pressure
upon the inner and outer sides thereof either by a heating operation, or by piercing
the cover with a small hole through which the external air can pass into the
receptacle.
By closing, the hole so formed in the cover by suitable means as for example
solder the receptacle and its cover may serve for further use.
In order that the,cover may be,maintained in place independently of the pressure
of the external air and at the same time be provided with a safety closing device,
‘the wall of the receptacle'is pierced at points just below the upper edge of the

page_text: cover when the same is in place with four holes. The holes are so arranged that
they divide the wall of the receptacle into four parts, and so that their projection
on the cross piece coincide two by two. A wire or thread of suitable material is
passed through the holes in the receptacle in such a manner that when the two
ends of the wire or thread are pulled tight, the portions thereof where they inter-
sect or cross each other will press upon the upper edge of the cross piece. If a
wire be used, the two end portions thereof may be twisted together, or if a thread
of textile or other material be employed its end portions may be knotted together
in any suitable manner. The twisted or knotted part may be sealed with a leaden
or other suitable seal to prevent the receptacle being opened without detection.
By the arrangement described the cover can be maintained in place by the
pressure exerted on the cross piece by the wire or thread, or this may be aided by
the pressure of the external atmosphere, if the interior of the receptacle be
rarefied as herein before explained.
The cross piece may be provided at its upper part and at or near its centre with
a notch or a hole to receive the crossed portions of the wire or thread.
To open the box when the pressure of the air in the interior is equal to or
greater than that at the exterior, it is merely necessary to cut the wire or thread.
When however the pressure of the air in the interior of the receptacle is less than
that at the exterior, the receptacle after the wire or thread has been cut, may be
heated, or the bottom of the cover may be pierced with a small hole, as above
stated.
Dated this 14th dow of March 1900
J. LEEMBRUGGEN,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Closure of Receptacles for Food
and other Substances.
1, JEAN LEEMBRUGGEN, of 9 P.C. Hooftstraat, Amsterdam, in the Kingdom
of the Netherlands, Civil Engineer, 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:—-
This invention has for object the closure in a simple and effectual manner, of
receptacles of various kinds whether of round, square or of other form in plan or
cross section, and is applicable to receptacles made of various materials as for
examples sheet metal, wood, papier-mache, cardboard, glass, ebonite, and celluloid.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shows partly in vertical central section, and partly in elevation, the
upper part of a cylindrical receptacle and cover constructed according to this
invention; and
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cover with a rectangular piece of sheet metal
secured therein.
According to this invention the upper part or neck 1 of the receptacle is
formed at a convenient distance from the top edge, say at a distance of about one
centimetre, with an inwardly projecting rib 2, and the cover 3, which is designed to
enter the mouth of the receptacle, and is made of hollow or dish shape, as
shewn, is formed with a corresponding outwardly projecting rib or shoulder 4
adapted to rest on the inwardly projecting rib 2 when the cover is in place.
In the example shown, the rib 2 is in the form of a flat inwardly projecting ring,
produced by forming in the upper part or neck 1 of the receptacle (before the
bottom of the receptacle is attached), an inwardly projecting rib of curved form in
cross section and about one centimetre deep, and afterwards flattening this rib by
compressing it between two dies so as to bring its upper and lower portions into
close contact with each other, as shown. The underside of the rib or shoulder 4 on

page_text: the cover 3 may also be made flat, and may, as shown, be produced by making the
rim of the cover of two different diameters, the part of the rim of larger diameter
constituting the rib or shoulder 4. The height of the upper portion of the rim of
the cover constituting the rib or shoulder 4, such that the upper edge thereof is
at a short distance, say about five millimetres, below the upper edge 8 of the
receptacle when the cover is in place. The diameter of the lower portion 5 of the
cover 3 is preferably such that this portion is an easy fit within the rib 2. As
will be obvious the form of the ribs on the receptacle and cover can be variously
modified.
Thus the rib 2 may be formed with a circular upwardly projecting ridge or
bead, that corresponds with a similar recess in the shoulder of the cover.
Within the cover is a diametrically arranged rectangular piece 6 of sheet metal
(hereinafter called a cross piece) of a height such that it will project above the top
edge of the cover but will not project beyond the upper edge of the receptacle.
This cross-piece, which may be soldered in place, serves as a convenient means for
taking hold of the cover, as well as for keeping it in position when the safety
arrangement hereinafter described is employed. The cross piece may in some
cases be formed in one piece with the cover, as for example when the cover is made
of glass.
In order to obtain an air tight closure there is placed between the ribs 2 and 4,
a strip or washer 7 of suitable packing material such for examples as felt
caoutchouc or prepared textile material.
As will be obvious the distance between the ribs and the upper edge of the
receptacle, as also the form and dimensions of the parts, may be varied to suit the
nature of the packing material used for making the joint, the cover and cross
piece however being in all cases below the top edge of the receptacle.
When a receptacle constructed as hereinbefore described is to contain preserves
or other substances liable to be damaged by the action of air and water, the cover 3
and the packing material for making the joint, are first placed in position the
cover being held down by a lead or other weight or equivalent device. The
receptacle is then placed for a suitable period, with the cover uppermost, in a
heating medium, for examples air or water, at a temperature sufficiently high to
produce rarefaction of the air inside the receptacle, the air escaping around the
cover which at this time does not effect a perfect gas tight joint with the rib 2.
The receptacle and its contents are then suddenly cooled whereby the pressure of
the external atmosphere acts to force the cover downward and compress the
packing material tightly between the ribs 2 and 4 and thereby ensure an air and
water tight closure, whilst at the same time keeping the cover securely in position.
This heating and cooling of the receptacle may be effected after the application
thereto of a safety closing device such as hereinafter described. In this case the
weighting of the cover preparatory to heating is no longer necessary.
The cover after being secured in position as described can be easily raised by
first restoring the equilibrium of pressure upon the inner and outer sides thereof,
either by a heating operation, or by piercing the cover with a small hole through
which the external air can pass into the receptacle. By afterwards closing this
hole by suitable means, as for example solder, the receptacle and its cover may
serve for further use.
In order that the cover may be maintained in place independently of the pressure
of the external air, and at the same time be provided if desired with a safety
closing device or means to prevent the cover being removed without detection, the
following construction adopted. The upper part or neck 1 of the receptacle is
pierced at points just above the internal rib 2 of the receptacle, with four holes as
for example at 9, 10, 11 and 12 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 which are respectively a
vertical section and plan of the receptacle with its cover in place. These holes are
so arranged in the examples shown that they divide the wall of the receptacle into
four parts, their projections on the cross piece 6 intersecting at the point 13. A
wire or thread 14, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and in full lines in Fig. 4 is

page_text: passed through the said holes in the manner shewn, so that when its two ends are
pulled tight and tied tightly together it will press upon the rim of the cover while
the portions of the wire or thread that intersect or cross each other at the point 13
in the manner indicated more clearly in Fig. 5 will press upon the upper edge of
the cross piece thereby firmly holding the cover in place. If a metal wire be used,
its two free end portions may be twisted together and to prevent the receptacle
being opened without detection, the twisted parts may be sealed with a lead.or
other suitable seal 15 (Fig. 4).
If a thread or cord of textile material be used, its ends may advantageously be
secured and sealed in the following manner. Two knots are made in one of the
end portions say 14" of the cord as shewn in Fig. 6, one of these knots say 16 being
loose whilst the other 17 is tight. The other end 14 of the cord is made to pass in
succession through a lead seal 18, through the opening in the knot 16 and again
through the lead seal, but in the opposite direction. The knot 16 is then drawn
tight by placing it against the knot 17, and by pulling the free end 14, the cord is
stretched in every part, and the cover pulled down. Finally, whilst still maintaining
the tension on the free end 14 of the thread, the lead scal 18, is pressed against
the two knots, and compressed by means of a pair of pincers.
By the arrangement described, the cover can be maintained in place by the
pressure exerted on its rim and on the cross piece by the wire or thread, this being
aided by the pressure of the external atmosphere if the interior of the receptacle
be rarefied as hereinbefore explained.
The cross piece 6 may be provided at its upper part and at or near its centre,
with a notch 6* (Fig. 2) or with a hole, to receive the crossed portions of the wire
or thread 14.
To open the box when the pressure of the air in the interior is equal to or
greater than that at the exterior, it is merely necessary to cut the wire, thread or
cord 14. When however the pressure of the air in the interior of the receptacle
is less than that at the exterior, the receptacle after the wire or thread has been
cut, may be heated, or the bottom of the cover may be pierced with a small hole,
as above stated.
As will be readily seen, receptacles constructed as described are simple in
construction and can be cheaply made; they can be used for containing substances
of various kinds; as they have no projecting parts they can be conveniently packed
for transport and after being emptied can be re-used.
Although I have shown my invention as applied to a metal receptacle of
cylindrical form, it can, as before mentioned be applied to receptacles formed of
other material and of other shapes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described means for closing receptacles for food and other
substances consisting of a cover open at the top and provided with a cross pièce
such as 6 and with an external rib or shoulder such as 4 adapted to bear upon a
corresponding but internal rib or shoulder such as 2 on the receptacle the whole
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings annexed.
2. The herein described mode of effecting an air tight closure of a receptacle for
food or other substance provided with a cover or closing device of the kind referred
to in the preceding claim according to which packing material is tightly compressed
between the ribs or shoulders on the receptacle and cover respectively by heating
the receptacle so as to rarefy the air therein and then suddenly cooling the
receptacle whoreby the cover will be held in place by the external pressure of the
atmosphere, or by tying down the cover by a wire or cord that is caused to pass
through holes in the wall of the receptacle and to bear tightly upon the rim of the
cover and upon the cross piece therein, or by Both of these means conjointly
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

page_text: 3. The combination with a food or other receptacle having an internal rib or
shoulder such as 2, of a cover provided with an external rib or shoulder corre-
sponding to that in the receptacle and with a cross piece that extends above the
rim of the cover but not above the top of the receptacle, packing material arranged
between the ribs or shoulders on the receptacle and cover respectively, and a wire
or cord drawn tightly through holes in the wall of the receptacle and arranged to
bear upon the rim of the cover and upon the cross piece so as to tightly compress
the cover upon the packing and effect an air tight closure of the receptacle
substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. A receptacle and closing device of the kind referred to in the preceding claim
in which the ends of the wire or cord for holding the cover in place are connected
together and sealed by a lead or other seal substantially in the manner and for the
purpose herein before described with reference respectively to and shown in Figs. 3
and 4, and in Fig. 6 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 9th day of December 1892.
J. LEEMBRUGGEN.