Improvements in the Closing of Canisters, Boxes, Jars, and other like Receptacles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Closing of Canisters, Boxes, Jars, and other
like Receptacles.
I, HEBER MARDON of the Firm of Mardon Son and Hall of Caxton Works, Bristol,
Manufacturing Stationers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has reference to the closing of canisters, boxes, jars and other like
receptacles and more particularly those such as tobacco canisters which are provided
with a hermetic cover below a removable lid.
One object of the invention is an economic manner of providing a hermetic cover
which when the lid is removed can be readily cut or torn away to enable the contents
of the canister or other receptacle to be got at. Another object is to provide a
transparent cover so that the contents of the receptacle can be inspected without
interfering with the cover.
In order to provide the canister or receptacle with a hermetic cover that can
be readily cut or torn away I employ for the purpose of making the cover a sheet
or piece, of a substance in a limp, softened or pliable state and which will harden or
stiffen and when hardened or stiffened is air tight and is not affected by damp
or moisture. The substance I prefer to use for the purpose is insoluble gelatine.
If I wish for example to apply my invention to a cylindrical metallic canister in
which it is required to have a hermetic cover below a removable lid and adapted for
containing tobacco for instance I proceed as follows:-I apply to the open end of the
canister the body of which is preferably slightly contracted at and near this end a
sheet of insoluble gelatine in a limp or soft condition I stretch the sheet over the
mouth of the canister, and turn the edge over the contracted part of the body forcing
it well against the body. I then place a tightly fitting metal ring or frame over the
turned over edge of the gelatine, using a little meited or liquid gelatine at the lower
and upper edges of the ring so as to ensure a hermetic joint. The ring has preferably
an inturned flange or lip at its upper edge. I then leave the gelatine to harden or
stiffen and when it has become hard I have a hermetically closed canister adapted to
receive a lid or cover over the gelatine and ring.
According to another way of applying a gelatine cover I construct the canister
with an inturned flange at the mouth either made in one piece with the body or fitted
thereto by means of a ring or frame I then apply a sheet of limp or softened insoluble
gelatine to the inner face of the flange from the inside of the canister so as to close
the mouth, the other end of the canister having not yet been closed. I press the
gelatine against the flange and then introduce behind the gelatine one or more spring
rings which keep it permanently pressed against the flange. 1 then leave the gelatine
to stiffen or harden as before.
The gelatine can whenever desired be readily cut or torn open.
In applying the invention to canisters or receptacles of the kind in which the
mouth is closed by a disc or plate and a spring ring which ring is fitted by pressure
into the mouth I employ a sheet of limp or softened insoluble gelatine as the disc; I
stretch it over the back of the ring and turn up its edges around the outside of the
ring. I then force the ring and gelatine into the mouth of the canister and leave
the gelatine to harden. Instead of fitting the ring or frame and gelatine directly

page_text: into the mouth of the canister I may fit them into another ring which is itself fitted
into the mouth; this will allow of the two rings and gelatine being removed from the
mouth together and being again replaced without exposing the edge of the gelatine or
injuring the joint between it and the ring or frame.
When gelatine or other transparent substance is employed for the purpose of my
invention it has the further advantage of allowing the contents of the receptacle to be
seen when the lid or outer cover is removed. The invention is therefore of great use
for boxes, jars or other receptacles whether of round, square or other shape for
containing substances that may have to be submitted to inspection while keeping them
from contact with the air or dust. The gelatine may be tinted or not.
The outer lid will be used or not as desired, or the gelatine cover may be at the
bottom of the receptacle, a removable lid being fitted to the top.
Dated this 19th day of March 1896.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improvements in the Closing of Canisters, Boxes, Jars, and other
like Receptacles.
I, HEBER MARDON of the Firm of Mardon Son and Hall of Caxton Works, Bristol,
Manufacturing Stationers, 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 :-
My invention has reference to the closing of canisters boxes, jars and other like
receptacles, and more particularly those such as tobacco canisters which are provided
with a hermetic cover below a removable lid.
One object of the invention is an economic manner of providing a hermetic cover
which, when the lid is removed, can be readily cut or torn away to enable the contents
of the canister or other receptacle to be got at. Another object is to provide a
transparent cover so that the contents of the receptacle can be inspected without
interfering with the cover.
In order to provide the canister or receptacle with a hermetic cover that can be
readily cut or torn away, I employ for the purpose of making the cover a sheet or
piece of a substance in a limp, softened or pliable state and which will harden or
stiffon and when hardened or stiffened is air-tight and is not affected by damp
or moisture. The substance I prefer to use for the purpose is insoluble gelatine.
This insoluble gelatine may be made by dissolving cake gelatine of commerce in hot
water, then treating it with a 40% solution of formaldehyde in the proportion of
about 6 ounces to 6 pounds of gelatine, with the addition of about 4 ounces chrome
alum and pint acetic acid. The gelatine is then poured on glass plates and left to
set, after which the plates are hung up in a warm room to dry. When dry the
gelatine is removed from the glass plates and cut into suitable pieces to fit the
canisters.
If I wish for example to apply my invention to a cylindrical metallic canister, in
which it is required to have a hermetic cover below a removable lid, and adapted for
containing tobacco for instance, I proceed as follows:-I apply to the open end of the
canister, the body of which is preferably slightly contracted at and near this end, a
sheet of insoluble gelatine in a limp or soft condition which condition may be produced
by passing the sheet through a solution of formaldehyde; I stretch the sheet over the
mouth of the canister, and turn the edge over the contracted part of the body, forcing
it well against the body. I then place a tightly fitting metal ring or frame over the

page_text: turned over edge of the gelatine, using a little melted or liquid gelatine at the lower
and upper edges of the ring, so as to ensure a hermetic joint. The ring has preferably
an inturned flange or lip at its upper edge. I then leave the gelatine to harden or
stiffen this hardening or stiffening taking place naturally, and when it has become
hard I have a hermetically closed canister adapted to receive a lid or cover over the.
gelatine and ring.
According to another way of applying a gelatine cover, I construct the canister
with an inturned flange at the mouth, either made in one piece with the body or fitted
thereto by means of a ring or frame, I then apply a sheet of limp or softened insoluble
gelatine to the inner face of the flange from the inside of the canister so as to close
the mouth, the other end of the canister having not yet been closed. I press the
gelatine against the flange and then introduce behind the gelatine one or more spring
rings, which keep it permanently pressed against the flange. I then leave the gelatine
to stiffen or harden as before.
The gelatine can whenever desired be readily cut or torn open.
In applying the invention to canisters or receptacles of the kind in which the mouth
is closed by a disc or plate and a spring ring, which ring is fitted by pressure into the
month, I employ a sheet of limp or softened insoluble gelatine as the disc; I stretch
it over the back of the ring and turn up its edges around the outside of the ring. I
then force the ring and gelatine into the mouth of the canister and leave the gélatine
to harden. Instead of fitting the ring or frame and gelatine directly into the mouth
of the canister, I may fit them into another ring which is itself fitted into the mouth;
this will allow of the two rings and gelatine being removed from the mouth together
and being again replaced without exposing the edge of the gelatine or injuring the
joint between it and ring or frame.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is an elevation, the upper part being in section, of a canister provided
with my means of closing in the preferred form when the canister is required for such
goods as tobacco.
Figure 2 is an elevation, the upper part being in section, of the body of the
canister shown in Figure 1.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are vertical sections of the gelatine cover, the ring or frame,
and the outer cover respectively.
Figure 6 is a plan of the canister shown in Figure 1 with the outer cover
removed.
Figure 7 is an elevation, the upper part being in section of a canister illustrating a
modification of the means of closing.
Figure 8 is a vertical section of the body of the canister shown in Figure 7.
Figures 9, 10 and 11 are vertical sections of the gelatine cover, the ring, or
frame, and the spring ring respectively employed for closing the canister shown in
Figure 7.
Figure 12 is a plan of the canister shown in Figure 7 with the outer cover
removed.
Figure 13 is an elevation, the upper part being in section, of a canister, illustrating
another modification of the means of closing.
Figure 14 is an elevation, the upper part being in section, of the body of the
canister shown in Figure 13.
Figures 15, 16 and 17 are vertical sections of the outer ring, the gelatino
cover, and the inner ring employed as the means of closing the canister shown in
Figure 13.
Figure 18 is a side view of the said outer ring, gelatine cover and inner ring
fitted together, and ready to be applied to the mouth of the canister.
Figure 19 is a plan of the canister shown in Figure 13.
Figure 20 is a perspective view of a rectangular box iliustrating another moli-
5 fication of my invention; the hinged lid or cover is shown open.
Figure 21 is a vertical section and Figure 22 a plan of the inner box of the
modification shown in Figure 20.

page_text: Figure 23 is a side view showing in full lines the gelatine sheet before its edges
are turned down over the sides of the inner box, and in dotted lines the saine
sheet in the form it takes when turned down.
Figure 20 is drawn to a smaller scale than Figures 21, 22 and 23.
Referring first to Figures 1 to 6, a is the body of the canister; it has prefer-
ably a small inturned" flange at the mouth as shown; & is a shoulder on the
body a, the part e above the shoulder being' slightly contracted to receive the
gelatine cover and the ring or frame. d is the gelatine cover; e is the ring or
frame for holding the edges of the cover against the body a. This ring has an
inturned flange or lip f. g is an outer lid or cover which may be dispensed with
if not required. The process of closing the canister is as follows:-I take a sheet
of insoluble gelatine d'in a limp or soft condition and stretch it over the open
mouth of the body a and turn the edge over the contracted part e forcing it well
against this part. I then place the ring or frame e over the turned-over edge of
the gelatine, the diameter of the ring being such that it fits tightly. Before
applying the ring it is well to apply melted or liquid gelatine or an insoluble
agglutinant at its lower and upper edges to ensure à hermetic joint. I then leave
the gelatine to harden or stiffen and when it has become hard it hermetically closes
the canister, and this is therefore ready to receive the outer lid or cover g The
ring or frame e is not essential, and may be dispensed with, and in that case the
end of the body a with the gelatine sheet d stretched over it is forced into a mould
in which they are left until the gelatine hardens; they are then removed from the
mould, and the turned-over edge of the gelatine may then be covered with paper
or other material cemented thereto; or the said edge may be left uncovered.
Whenever desired to get at the contents of the canister, the gelatine cover d can
be easily cut or torn open, the outer lid g being first removed.
h
Referring now to the modification shown in Figures 7 to 12, the body a of the
canister is in this modification formed with an inturned flange & at the mouth, and
the closing of the mouth is effected from the inside; this must of course be done
before the bottom cover i of the body is applied. The flange à may either be made
in one piece with the body a as shown in the drawings or it may be part of a ring
such as the ring e of the modification shown in Figures 1 to 6, the ring in this
case being permanently secured to the body a by soldering or otherwise. d is the
sheet of gelatine; it is applied in a limp or soft state to the mouth of the canister
from the inside and pressed firmly against the flange h; I then apply the ring e
against the gelatine d and next apply against the ring e a split spring ring k which
is introduced into the canister in a contracted form and then allowed to expand
against the inner wall of the canister so that it retains its position permanently and
serves also to retain the ring e and gelatine d. The gelatine is then left to harden or
stiffen..
Referring now to the modification illustrated in Figures 13 to 19, the canister or
receptacle shown therein is of the kind in which the mouth is closed by a disc or
plate carried and surrounded by a spring ring or frame forced into the mouth. In
applying my invention to the closing of a receptacle of this kind I employ gelatine
as the disc or plate and I secure it to the spring ring or frame when it is in a limp
or soft state, pressing it against the outer edge of the ring. It may either be fitted,
together with its carrying ring, and when still in the limp state, either directly into
the mouth of the receptacle or as shown in the figures into another spring ring
adapted to fit into the mouth of the receptacle. The former method is only useful
when the mouth of the receptacle will only have to be opened once, because the
removal of the spring ring and gelatine from the mouth will destroy the joint. The
.other method allows of the inouth of the receptacle heing opened any number of times,
because the two rings are removed from the mouth as one piece with the gelatine
held at its edge between them. In Figures 13 to 19, a is the body of the canister
and the usual downwardly turned flange at the mouth. d is the sheet of gelatine
and e the inner ring and the outer ring; the gelatine is applied when in a limp or
soft state between the two rings, its edge being turned up and pressed between them.

page_text: When the gelatine has become hard and stiff the two rings become united by means
of the gelatine, and the outer ring can then be inserted into the mouth of the
receptacle; or it can be inserted into the mouth before the gelatine has stiffened.
When gelatine or other transparent substance is employed for the purpose of my
invention, it has the further advantage of allowing the contents of the receptacle to
be seen when the lid or outer cover is removed. The invention is therefore of great
use for boxes, jars or other receptacles whether of round, square or other shape for
containing substances that may have to be submitted to inspection while keeping
them from contact with the air or dust. The gelatine may be tinted or not.
The modification shown in Figures 21 to 23 is specially intended for use when it
is desired to permit of the inspection of the goods while keeping them from contact
a is the
with air or dust; the box shown in these figures is of rectangular form.
box, which may be of pasteboard or other material and is open at the lower end. dis
the sheet of insoluble gelatine which is stretched when in a soft or limp state over
the open upper end of the box a to which it may then be secured by a band of
paper e. The box a may then be filled with sweetmeats or other goods through the
open lower end when the box is in an inverted position. The box with its contents
is then inserted into an outer box in with hinged lid n, cement or other agglutinant
being applied between the outside wall of the box a and the inside wall of the box m
so as to exclude air from the lower end of the box a.
The outer lid in the modification illustrated in Figures 1 to 12 will be used or
not as desired, or the gelatine cover may be at the bottom of the receptacle, a
removable lid being fitted to the top.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of iny said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The closing of canisters, boxes, jars and other like receptacles by covering the
mouth of such receptacles with a sheet of insoluble gelatine when in a limp or soft
condition and then allowing the gelatine to harden or stiffen, whereby the mouth is
hermetically closed, substantially as set forth.
2. The means of closing, substantially as described and shown in Figures 1 to 6
in which a sheet of limp or soft insoluble gelatine or other substance in a limp,
softened or pliable state, and which will harden or stiffen and when hardened or
stiffened is air tight and not affected by damp or moisture, is applied to close the
mouth of a receptacle and is then secured by an external tight-fitting ring or frame,
an outer cover or lid being used or not as desired.
3. The means of closing substantially as described in Figures 7 to 12 in which a
sheet of limp or soft insoluble gelatine or other substance such as referred to in
Claim 2 is applied to close the mouth of a receptacle from the inside, and is then
secured by one or more internal rings, an outer cover or lid being used or not as
desired.
4. The means of closing receptacles of the kind shown in Figures 13 to 19 in
which means a sheet of limp or soft insoluble gelatine or other substance such as
referred to in Claim 2 is secured to a spring ring or frame which is then fitted either
directly into the mouth of the receptacle or (as shown in the figures) into an outer
ring or frame which is itself fitted into the mouth of the receptacle, substantially as
set forth.
5. The means of closing substantially as described with reference to Figures 20
to 23 in which a sheet of insoluble gelatine or other transparent substance of the
nature and when in the condition referred to in Claim 2 is applied to the mouth of
a receptacle whose other end is open, and the said receptacle after being supplied with
goods is then fitted with its open end inwards into an outer receptacle, and an
agglutinant is then applied between the two receptacles to exclude air from the
open end of the inner receptacle substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. The closing of canisters, boxes, jars and other receptacles whether of round,
oval or other shape in the manner set forth by insoluble gelatine or other transparent

page_text: substance of the nature and when in the condition referred to in Claim 2, whereby
a hermetic transparent cover is obtained which will permit of the contents being
inspected-without removing the cover, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 16th day of December 1896.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.