Improvements relating to the Closing of Tins, Boxes, and other Receptacles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1898-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1899
[Communicated from abroad by EDOARDO CEVOLANI, of Bologna, in the Kingdom
of Italy.]
Improvements relating to the Closing of Tins, Boxes, and other
Receptacles.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents.
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
11
This invention relates to an improved device for closing receptacles without
solder and for subsequently opening the same by means of a metallic wire; this
device being mainly applicable for boxes and receptacles of tin, sheet iron or other
material, ensuring a perfect connection and admitting of being subjected to heat
and pressure.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents the cover of the box, as stamped, that is to say, with an upper
edge and an outer flange folded up.
Figure 2 represents the box, in the upper part of which the different mouldings
are to be provided in conformity with the drawing.
Figure 3 represents a top view of the cover.
Figure 4 illustrates the method of closing.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 show further modifications.
After the cover has been constructed as shown in the drawings, by the use of
suitable tools I introduce by hand into the annular space, formed, a suitable wire
(usually a tinned wire) hent in the form of a ring and having its extremities
turned upwards; these extremities being passed through one or two holes b
Figure 3, provided in the cover.
Subsequently the holes are so closed by means of solder, that one of the ends of
the wire remains fixed to the cover and the other free to a sufficient length in order
to admit of its being seized at the moment as will be hereinafter explained.
For the purpose of closing the box, which is provided with grooves or mouldings
as shown the same is fitted with its cover and the whole is forcibly passed into an
exactly gauged ring d d (Figure 4), by means of any appropriate lever device. In
this operation the flange g of the cover becomes folded up under the groove f,
projecting against the side of the box, thus preventing the same from being
separated.
Owing to this operation the cover and the body of the box become firmly con-
nected so as to be capable of resisting an interior pressure higher than 10 atmos-
pheres. The hermetic closure results from the pressure exerted by the conical
surface 1, 1, of the cover against the edge m of the box (Figure 5) which pushes
the edge itself outwards, thus producing a complete adhesion at o between the
sides of the cover and of the body of the receptacle. A second closure is more-

page_text: over formed between the edge m and the wall whereby the perfect closure is
rendered still more reliable. "In order to obtain a greater safety prior to the cover
being put on the box, an elastic and bad heat-conducting substance such as asbestos,
cement, india rubber, gum or other similar material, as the case may be, may be
placed into the outer groove of the box; this said substance-after the final
closing has been effected remains confined and compressed between the walls of
the box and of the cover in the groove and owing to the adhesion of these walls
to the points o and m it can never arrive in contact with the contents of the box
thereby imparting to them a bad taste or bad odour.
In order to open the box, I seize, by means of pincers or of a pierced key or of
any other appropriate tool, the end of the metallic wire, winding the same upon itself;
the tin is thus cut along the upper groove of the cover and a perfect opening
is effected without concussion, and without the material being torn and with the
least possible effort.
The advantages offered by the system, which constitutes this invention are the
following:
As regards the closing:
an efficient closing is effected, resisting any concussions, resulting from the
transport, and providing a secure and perfect closure.
the cost and difficulties connected with the soldering and all other operations
are obviated.
the contents of the receptacle are efficiently prevented from coming in contact
with the material employed for obtaining a more reliable hermetic closure.
And as regards the opening:
a the smaller cost as compared with the face-closing that is to say, a soft soldered
band on the outside of tins and other similar systems.
b the simplicity and certainty in the perfect result of the operation.
e the absolute avoidance of any liquid, that may be contained in the receptacle,
being spilt at the moment of opening, owing to the fact that the opening operation
takes place at the upper part of the cover instead of being effected sideways of the
receptacle.
This system of opening is applicable to other forms of closing device.
Thus if the invention is to be applied to a cover, which enters the box and is
soldered at its edge, all that is necessary, is to form the cover with a receding edge a
(Figures 7, 8, 9,) into which the metallic wire ring is inserted.
In the case of receptacles of large dimensions, it will be still more preferable to
turn the upper edge of the receptacle down the interior and to place the wire into
the recessed portion (Figure 10).
If the cover is intended to be united by claws on the same gripping over the
box, the metal wire occupies the inner receding edge of the cover, which
generally is or may be stamped or embossed for this purpose. The
same may be said with regard to a soldered outer lid or cover (Figure 12) or
with regard to any other form, it may receive. It goes without saying, that this
system of closing and opening is applicable to any other shape of receptacle, oval,
rectangular and the like, and not only to those cylindrical forms represented in the
drawings, and it is, moreover, evident, that the peculiar arrangement as regards
the moulding of the cover as well as the edgings of the box or other equivalents,
may be varied, without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The system of hermetically closing without solder, applicable to sheet metal
receptacles of any shape and dimensions, material and construction, obtained by
means of mouldings, edgings, and foldings within and on the cover with or with-
out the interposition of elastic and bad-conducting material.

page_text: 2. The application of a metallic wire for opening the boxes, in connection with
the above and any other device or system of closing; the whole substantially as
described with reference to the drawings.
That : 111 1
C T
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.