An Improved Device for Tightly Closing Jars and other Vessels or Receptacles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 4th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 6th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Tightly Closing Jars and other Vessels or
Receptacles.
I, ADOLF SCHILLER, of 12 Rheinallee, Godesberg on the Rhine, in the Empire of
Germany, Regierungs-Baumeister and Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
In
Hitherto vessels or receptacles, such as are used for preserving food, for packing
sweets, and for like purposes, have generally been closed by means of a solid india-
rubber ring inserted between the edge of the receptacle and its cover or lid.
the case of vessels or receptacles of somewhat large diameter, closed in this manner,
a rather considerable expenditure of force or muscular effort is necessary both to
put on and remove the lid. The placing of the lid in its proper position is a
particularly laborious operation, inasmuch as it requires the elastic ring to be
powerfully compressed, in order that it may exactly fit and accommodate every
indentation or unevenness which the surfaces of the vessel and lid may happen to
present, and thereby ensure perfect tightness of the joint.
This difficulty is obviated according to the present invention by the employment,
as a substitute for the solid ring hitherto used, of an endless hollow tube inflated
with air, such tube being preferably made of elastic material such as india-rubber.
A flexible tube thus adopted instead of the solid ring, has over the latter the
advantage of being far more readily compressible and also capable of more easily
and exactly fitting any unevennesses which the edges forming the joint may
present; the consequence being that it is a great deal easier to put the cover or lid
in place and to remove it, the waste of strength involved in the employment of
solid rings being to a great extent avoided.
To render the flexible tube or hollow ring still more yielding, and, more
particularly in the case of comparatively large vessels, to still further facilitate the
fitting in position and removal of the ring, the said flexible tube or hollow ring
may be provided with a small aperture which, while the lid is being placed upon
the vessel, enables the air contained in the hollow tube, as it is compressed, to
partly escape, whereby the strain experienced in compressing the bollow tube to
the desired extent, is necessarily materially reduced. This arrangement, moreover,
increases the aptness of the ring to fit unevennesses in the surfaces of the joint, and
therefore to ensure a tight closing. Directly the compressed tube is released, its
elasticity causes a fresh supply of air to be drawn in through the orifice, and the tube
itself to be re-inflated, so that, when it is required to remove the cover or lid, this
may be done with comparative ease. It will, of course, be understood that the
walls of the flexible tube should be so constructed as to constantly tend to inflate
the said tube.
The said invention is conveniently and advantageously carried into practice as
follows:-Between the lid and a shoulder on the neck of the vessel, there is
interposed the flexible tube or hollow ring. When pressure is applied to the lid in
the proper direction, the flexible tube and the air confined therein are compressed
to a sufficient extent to enable suitable clasps to pass around, and engage with, the
lower surface of a flanged edge of the vessel. When it is desired to lift the cover
and open the vessel, the clasps are bent laterally out of engagement with the said

page_text: edge, whereupon the cover or lid, under the action of the elastic air-inflated tube,
will instantly rise and may be removed without effort. It will therefore be seen
that, both in placing in position and in removing the cover or lid of the vessel, but
a very slight expenditure of strength is requisite.
It will be obvious also, that the closing arrangement just above described is
merely an example of the various forms in which this invention may be carried out,
as many other closing devices may be adopted to suit the circumstances of each
case, and the hollow closing ring will have to be varied in accordance with the
shape of that device or of the vessel or receptacle to which it is to be applied.
When a flexible tube provided with a small aperture is used in the arrangement
above described, the tube itself is to be fitted in, position in the manner above
mentioned.
.
When this tube is compressed, part of the air it contains is thereby expelled, and
the clasps are brought down so as to engage with the flange or collar provided
around the edge of the vessel. When the lid is to be removed, the clasps are
disengaged, and the flexible tube, by drawing in air, at once expands, and assists
in raising the lid; so that, even in the case of comparatively large-sized lids, the
employment of very little strength will suffice to open the vessel.
It will be understood that, instead of one aperture, there may be
number of apertures provided along the flexible tube or hollow ring.
Dated the 13th day of June 1894.
any
desired
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
An Improved Device for Tightly Closing Jars and other Vessels or
Receptacles.
I, ADOLF SCHILLER, of Godesberg on the Rhine, in the Empire of Germany,
Regierungsbaumeister and Manufacturer, 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 :-
Hitherto vessels on receptacles, such as are used for preserving food,, for packing
sweets, and for like purposes, have generally been. closed by means of a solid india-
rubber ring inserted between the edge of the receptacle and its cover or lid. In
the case of vessels or receptacles of somewhat large diameter, closed in this manner,
a rather considerable expenditure of force or muscular effort is necessary both to
put on and remove the lid. The placing of the lid in its proper position is a
particularly laborious operation, inasmuch as it requires the elastic ring to be
powerfully compressed, in order that it may exactly fit and accommodate every
indentation or unevenness which the surfaces of the vessel and lid may happen to
present, and thereby ensure perfect tightness of the joint.
This, difficulty is, obviated according to the present invention by the employment,
as a substitute for the solid ring hitherto used, of an endless flexible tube inflated
with air, the said tube being preferably made of elastic material such as india-
rubber. For this purpose, a flexible tube has the advantage over a solid ring of
being far more readily compressible and also capable of more, easily and exactly
fitting, any unevennesses which the edges forming the joint may present; the
consequence. being that it is a great deal easier to put the cover or lid in place and
to, remove it, the. unnecessary expenditure of strength involved in the employment
of solid, rings being to a great extent avoided.
To render the flexible tube or hollow ring still more yielding, and, more

page_text: particularly in the case of comparatively large vessels, to still further facilitate
the fitting in position and removal of the ring, the said flexible tube or hollow
ring may be provided with a small aperture which, while the lid is being placed
upon the vessel, enables the air contained in the hollow ring or tube, as it is.
compressed, to partly escape, whereby the strain experienced in compressing the
hollow ring or tube to the desired extent, is necessarily materially reduced. This
arrangement, moreover, increases the aptness of the ring to fit unevenuesses in
the surfaces of the joint, and therefore to ensure a tight closing. Directly the
compressed tube is released, its elasticity causes a fresh supply of air to be drawn
in through the orifice and the tube itself to be re-iuflated, so that, when it is.
required to remove the cover or lid, this may be done with comparative ease. It
will, of course, be understood that the walls of the flexible tube should be so.
constructed as to constantly tend to inflate the said tube.
The invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying.
drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the upper part of a vessel fitted with its lid
and with an elastic annular tube or hollow ring constructed in accordance with my
said invention; the several parts being shown in the position they assume just
before the closing of the vessel is completed.
When
Between the lid a and a shoulder on the neck of the vessel 6 there is interposed
the flexible tube or hollow ring c. When pressure is applied to the lid a in the-
direction indicated by the arrow e, the flexible tube and the air confined therein
are compressed to a sufficient extent to enable suitable clasps g to pass around,.
and engage with, the lower surface of the flanged edge h of the vessel.
it is desired to lift the cover and open the vessel, the clasps are bent laterally
out of engagement with the said edge, whereupon the cover or lid, under the action:
of the elastic air-inflated tube, will instantly rise and may be removed without
effort. It will therefore be seen that both in placing in position and in removing
the cover or lid of the vessel, but a very slight expenditure of strength is.
requisite.
It will be obvious also, that the closing arrangement shown in the accompanying
drawing is merely an example of the various forms in which this invention may be
carried out, as many other closing devices may be adopted to suit the circumstances
of each case, and the hollow closing ring will have to be varied in accordance with
the shape of the closing device or of the vessel or receptacle to which it is to be.
applied.
Figure 2 is a cross section of a flexible tube c provided with a small aperture f..
The tube itself is to be fitted in position in the same manner as in the arrangement
shown in Figure 1.
When this tube is compressed, part of the air it contains is thereby expelled,.
and the clasps are brought down so as to engage with the flange or collar provided,
around the edge of the vessel. When the lid is to be removed, the clasps are.
disengaged, and the flexible tube, by drawing in air, at once expands and assists
in raising the lid ; so that even in the case of comparatively large-sized lids, the
employment of very little strength will suffice to open the vessel.
It will be understood that instead of one aperture, such as f, there may be any
desired number of apertures provided along the flexible tube or hollow ring.
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 :-
First. A closing ring for preserve-jars and other vessels or receptacles, con--
sisting of an endless elastic tube or hollow ring filled with air, which is loosely laid
on a rim or shoulder around the mouth of the receptacle in such a manner that,
when compressed by the cover, it will compensate for any unevenuesses or irregu-.
larities on the cover and receptacle, for which purpose one or more apertures may
be formed in the wall of the tube, substantially as hereinbefore described.

page_text: Second. The improved closing device made substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 4th day of March 1895.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.