Improvements in Means for Closing Jars and like Vessels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr.,
1897
Complete Specification I aft 6th O
4007
ARU
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Closing Jars and like Vessels.
We, FREDERICK JOYNSON, Chemical Engineer, of Heatherlea, Penketh, and
WILLIAM HARRISON, Mechanical Engineer, of 196, Padgate Lane, both of Warring-
ton, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the closing of jars and like vessels such as are used for
jam, pickles, provisions and so forth, and consists in means for securing the covers
or lids in an air tight manner after each opening of the jar, with ease and
efficiency. To this end we provide the lid or cover with one or more pairs of
downwardly projecting spring catches made of steel or the like of suitable strength
and resiliency and adapted to engage with the underside of a projecting collar or
equivalent moulded on the neck of the jar. The catches are retained in proper
position in recesses in the lid or cover by means of an encircling wire ring con-
tained and drawn tight in a circumferential groove. The neck of the jar above
the collar is provided with an exterior rim or seat for a compressible ring washer
and a corresponding interior rim is formed within the cover and adapted to fit upon.
the upper surface of the said washer in such manner that when the cover is pressed
down upon it, the washer is forced out laterally and so effects an air tight closure.
When the cover is pressed down sufficiently the spring catches engage with the
underside of the aforesaid collar and so retain the cover upon the mouth of the jar
and effect an airtight joint, the washer being then isolated from the contents of
the jar. The opposite depending spring catches may both be formed of a single
strip of metal extending across the top of the cover or lid or they may be made in
two separate pieces, and the metal is preferably countersunk into the glass or
material of the cover. When it is desired to remove the cover the extremities of
the spring catches which are conveniently formed for manipulation are sprung
outwardly so that the catches are thrown out of engagement with the collar. The
compressed ring then resumes its normal shape, its elasticity serving to raise the
cover so that it may be lifted off.
In a modification of the invention the spring catches are arranged to project
upwardly from the neck of the jar, instead of depending from the cover, and they
are secured to the neck by means of a wire ring contained in a groove as above
described. The upwardly projecting catches then engage a shoulder formed upon
the cover with the same result.
Any desired number of diametrically opposite spring catches may be employed
and arranged in the most efficient positions.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1897

page_text: Improvements in Means for Closing Jars and like Vessels.
We, FREDERICK JOYNSON, Chemical Engineer, of Heatherlea, Penketh, and
WILLIAM HARRISON, Mechanical Engineer, of 196, Padgate Lane, both of Warring-
ton, in the County of Lancashire,--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 relates to the closing of jars and like vessels such as are used for
jam, pickles, provisions and so forth, and consists in means for securing the covers
or lids in an air tight manner after each opening of the jar, with ease and
efficiency. In order that our invention may be fully understood we will descrive
same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an elevation
of a jar made in accordance with our invention showing the upper part in section.
and Fig.
is an elevation thereof at right angles to Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are
similar views of the upper part of a jar illustrating a modification of our sai,
invention hereinafter explained.
Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, according to our invention we provide the lid
or cover C with preferably one or more pairs though it may be a radially arranged
set of downwardly projecting spring catches S S made of steel or the like of suit-
able strength and resiliency and having their lower ends bent inwardly and formed
as shown for example at H, or otherwise adapted to engage with the underside of
a projecting collar rim or equivalent R moulded on the neck N of the jar. The
catches are fitted and retained in proper position in recesses B moulded in the lid
or cover C by means of an encircling wire ring W contained and drawn tight in
a circumferential groove G in the cover, the ends of the wire being joined by
twisting or otherwise. The neck of the jar above the collar or rim R is extended
upwardly and provided with an exterior annular rim forming a seat A and prefer-
ably also with a circumferential groove P, adapted to receive a compressible ring-
washer I, and a corresponding interior annular seating rim A' is formed within
the cover C and adapted to fit upon the upper surface of the said washer I in such
manner that when the cover is pressed down upon it the washer is forced out
laterally and so effects an air-tight closure. When the cover is pressed down
sufficiently the lower bent parts H of the spring catches S spring into engagement
with the underside of the aforesaid collar R and so retain the cover upon the
mouth of the jar and effect an air-tight joint, the washer I being then isolated
from the contents of the iar by the upwardly extended part of the neck N above
mentioned and shown in Fig. 1. Opposite pairs of depending spring catches may
be formed of a single strip of metal extending across the top of the cover or lid,
or they may be made in separate pieces as illustrated and any desired number
may be radially arranged around the jar, the metal being preferably countersunk
into the glass or material of the cover.
In order to remove the cover C, the extremities H of the spring catches S
(which as stated are conveniently formed for manipulation) are sprung outwardly
so that the catches are thrown out of engagement with the collar or rim R. The
compressed washer-ring I then resumes its normal shape, its elasticity serving to
raise the cover so that it may be lifted off.
In the modification of the invention which is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the above
described arrangement is practically reversed, and the spring catches S S are
arranged to project upwardly from the neck N of the jar instead of depending
from the cover. They are bent over and secured to the neck of the jar by means
of the wire ring W contained in a groove G, and the catches S engage a shoulder R

page_text: moulded on the cover or it may be the top of the cover with precisely the same
result as above explained. The lid or cover is removed by first springing the
catches S S outwardly so that their upper ends H H are disengaged from the
cover which can then be lifted off.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
The improved means for closing jars and like vessels consisting in the pro-
vision and arrangement of spring catches, permanently secured to one part by an
encircling wire and having their free ends adapted to engage the other part, both
parts being provided with seatings for the reception of a compressible jointing
ring-washer between them by which an air-tight joint is ensured when the closure
is made, substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 6th day of October 1897.
Tor the Annlinanta
J. C. CHAPMAN,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
J. C. CHAPMAN,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.