US3076575A

US3076575A - Vacuum containers

Info

Publication number: US3076575A
Application number: US110709A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leslie-Smith Laurance
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-05-19
Filing date: 1961-05-17
Publication date: 1963-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 1980-02-05

Description

' Feb. 5, 1963 Filed lay 17, 1961 l, Lr-:AsLiE-sMn-H 3,076,575

VACUUM CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hallum FIGA Am ffm JM IN1/mm? Feb. 5, 1963 L, LEsLlE-sMlTH 3,076,575

VACUUM CONTAINERS Filed Kay 17. 1961 5 Sheets-Skeet 2 Feb. 5, 1963 L. LESLIE-SMITH VACUUM CONTAINERS 5 Sheets-Sheet '5 Filed May 17. 1961 JMW@ IWW-W70@ United States Patent Otice 3,975,575 latented Feb. 5, 1963 3,076,575 VACUUM CUNTAINERS Laurance Lesbe-Smith, Grosvenor Gardens House, Grosvenor Gardens, London SW. 1, England Filed May 17, 196.1, Ser. No. 110,709 Cianns priority, application Great Britain May 19, 1960 Claims. (Ci. 21S- 13) member the lower end of which engages the opening of the shoulder and the upper end of which lies closely adjacent and around the neck of the ilask and extends upwardly to form a pouring lip, the pouring lip member serving to hold and locate the mouth of the bottle or iiask.

' Other forms of canister are known in which the pouring lip and the shoulder portions are formed integrally..

Such constructions are convenient particularly when the canister is wholly or partially formed of metal.

Vacuum flasks in the form oi jugs have also been made in which the containing jug portion is of a plastic material usually thermo-setting plastic in which the two or more sections comprising the containing jug have been screwed together. This has been accomplished by screwing the two sections directly together and usually the threaded portions of the jug carrying the threads are thickened to accommodate the thread and provide the desirable iiush iinish. Furthermore, the canister itself is thicker in section than necessary. i

When plastics, and in particular thermoplastics, are moulded to form relatively thin wall mouldings (hereinafter referred to as thin walled moulding) for example, ot' the order oi 35/1000-8y1000 of an inch thick, it is disadvantageous for technical reasons to form on that moulding thickened areas, for example thickened annular portions on the marginal edges for taking screw threading or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a construction of canister for receiving a Vacuum flask bottle and made oli a thin walled moulding from a plastic for example polystyrene.

According to the present invention there is provided a canister for a vacuum ask, the canister including two or more thin walled body members of a plastic material which are axially positioned to form the canister, the said members being connected at each joint therebetween by a coupling or joint arrangement which serves to connect the two or more body members in substantially xed axial arrangement.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a part sectional view ot a first constructional form of a canister suitable for a Vacuum liask;

FlGURE 2 is a section taken on the line II-II of FlGURE l;

FiGURE 3 is a fragmentary part section of a canister having a iirst embodiment of a handle construction;

FiGURE 4 schematically illustrates a second embodiment of a handle construction for a canister;

FiGURE 5 is a section of a fragmentary pontion to an enlarged scale of a modified joint between two body members of a canister of FIGURE l;

'FIGURE 6 schematically illustrates a canister formed from more than two body members;

FIGURES 7 to 12 each illustrate a constructional form of a joint between two body members;

FIGURE 1.3 is a section taken on the line II-II of FIGURE 1 showing an alternative construction of locating means for the vacuum bottle;

FIGURES 14 and 15 show in plan and section respectively details of one form of construction of the lower end of the body.

The canister includes two main body members, an upper body member 1 and a lower body member 2 of substantially the same length. As shown in FIGURE 1 the members 1 and 2 are connected in axial relationship by a jointing or coupling member 3. The upper and lower members 1 and 2 are formed by thin Walled mouldings oi a plastic material such as polypropylene, polythene or polystyrene. The dimensions of the members 1, 2 and .'5 are chosen so that a vacuum bottle or flask 4 can be located therein.

The upper body member 1 is provided with an inwardly directed flange 5 which acts as a locating member for a pouring lip unit 6 for the canister. This pouring lip unit can include sealing rings or skirts for providing a fluid tight joint between the flask 4 and the upper member 1.

The unit 6 is adapted to receive a stopper 7. Conveniently, the construction of the stopper .and the lip unit can be in accordance with the complete speciication of pending U.S.A. patent application No. 706,321. Alternatively, the upper end of the upper member 1 can be provided with screw threads (not shown) into which a suitable stopper can be screwed.

The upper member 1 is profiled as at 8 so as to take a'cap 9 which is usable as a cup. The cap 9 can be secured to the canister, for example, as a push fit, as a snap-on or spring-on t or by means of a screw threaded jointing member (not shown) which is secured to the upper member 1. Preferably the cap '9 is a thin walled plastic moulding.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 a spring-on t is used, in the form of a rib and slot connection. The

connection includes a peripheral shallow groove or recess 1b formed on the member 1, and a group of three inwardly directed ribs 11 formed on the inside of the mouth of the cap 9. Conveniently, the ribs 11 are equi-angularly arranged around the mouth of the cap and are so positioned that they snap into the recess 1li as soon as they align therewith upon stowing the cap.

The bottom of the member 1 is threaded as at 12. The bottom end of the lower member 2 is closed-in to form an integral bottom 13 to the canister, Whilst the other end thereof is threaded as at 14. Ii desired, the lower end of the lower member 2 could be profiled so as to be capable of receiving a further cap (not shown) l2 are intended to engage complementary threaded

portions

15 and 16 provided on the member 3. The coupling member 3 is provided with a thickened central portion 17 which lies between the

ends

12 and 14 `of the members 1 and 2, thereby to provide a flush litting decorative centre band which also reinforces the member 3. The member 3 isprovided with internal substantially radially or tangentially directed lugs 1S 4or the like which are adapted to locate and to support resiliently the ask 4 relative to the

canister members

1, 2 and 3. The member 3 can be made from strip material which is subsequently deformed into annular form.

It will be seen that the two members 1 and 2 can be connected and disconnected by a normal screw action without it -being necessary to provide expensive mouldings having edges of increased thickness in order to accommodate the screw threading. In other words the screw threading is formed in the same thickness of wall as the remainder of the moulding.

The above described construction lends itself to the production of a canister having pleasing curved profiles and at the same time permits the introduction of a reinforcement midway along the canister for supporting the ask 4 at one of its most fragile parts.

The coupling member 3 can be conveniently adapted so that it carries or constitutes means for holding the canister. FIGURE 3 illustrates a iirst embodiment of a handle 20 integrally moulded onto the member 3; If desired the handle 2t) may be sprung or may carry a spring ringer (not shown) which engages with the cap 9 to lock same in its stowed position. Conveniently, the cap can be provided with a projection (not shown) which -is engaged by the handle.

Alternatively, the handle may after assembly of the coupling mem-ber and the body member be secured permanently or detachably to one body member. Conveniently, the handle member may be tlexibly resilient so as to be temporarily deformed to enter an engaging member in the body.

A T-shaped handle 21 is shown in FIGURE 4, the handle 21 being moulded integrally with the member 3.

A finger groove 19 is provided in the central band 17 of the member shown in FIGURE 1. Alternatively, the band 17 can -be knurled to provide the finger grip.

The members 1 and 2 can be provided if desired with external threads 22 which are engaged by complementary internally threaded parts 23 on the member 3. This is shown in FIGURE 5.

The canister can be formed from more than two members coupled together by a coupling member. A canister construction including two cylindrical thin

walled body members

24 and 25, a thin walled shaped top member 26 and a cylindrical base member 27 which are connected together by coupling members is shown in FIG- URE 6.

Various constructions of couplings between the body members or other members of the canister are shown in FIGURES 7 to 12.

The coupling shown in FIGURE 7 comprises two parts, one part including a coupling member 28 having an intermediate body 29 and two oppositely extending cylindrical `ilanges 30 and 31. The ange 30 is permanently bonded by cementing welding or the like to one of the body members, for example member 24 of the canister. The other ange 31 is provided with a peripheral recess 32 which is intended to be engaged by a peripheral annular rib 33 projecting from the inner face of an annular member 34 which forms the other part of the coupling and which is permanently bonded to a further thin walled body member, for example the body member 25. The engagement of the rib 33 in the recess 32 provides a snap-in or spring-on screw joint which locks the two parts of the joint together. It will be noted that the intermediate body 29 provides an external surface which is flush with the outer surfaces of the

canister body members

25 and 24.

The joint shown in FIGURE 8 is a two part joint which includes the snap-in or spring-on feature of the joint of FIGURE 7. The joint of FIGURE 8 includes a first part formed by an annular element 35 permanently bonded by welding, cementing or the like to a canister body member such as member 25, the element 35 having an upstanding ange 36 with an outwardly directed rib 37. The other part of the joint includes an annular element 38 having a body portion 39 which is permanently bonded to a canister body member such as the member' 24, and a -iiange 4G which extends in prolongation of the body member to which it is bonded. Acircumscribing recess 41 is formed in the flange 4t), the

recess 41 being so positioned that it can be engaged by the rib 37 to form a snap or spring-on joint between the two parts of the joint. The external diameter of the flange 4t) is such that the external surface of the flange is ilush with the outer surfaces of the canister body members.

The joint shown in FIGURE 9 includes a cylindrical joint element 42 permanently bonded by welding, cementing or the like to a thin walled body member of a canister so that a portion 43 of the element extends in prolongation of the canister member, the portion 43 being externally threaded, a second joint element 44 permanently connected by welding, cementing or the like to a further thin walled canister body member so that a portion of the element extends in prolongation of the further body member, the portion 45 being externally threaded, and a coupling member 46 which is internally threaded so as to be engageable with the threads on the

portions

43 and 45. The coupling member 46 is dimensioned so as to provide a llush finish with the exterior of the canister body members.

The joint shown in FIGURE l0 includes a cylindrical coupling element 47 having a flange 48 which is permanently bonded by welding, cementing or the like to the inside of the lower end of a canister body member, for example the member 25. The element 47 has a radially directed rib 49 which aligns with the end face of the member 25, and a threaded portion 5t) which extends in prolongation of the member 25. The end of the canister member which is to be attached to the member 25 is internally threaded so as to be engageable with the threaded portion S0. The joint shown in FIGURE 10 is particularly suitable for the joint between the top canister member 26 and the member 2S.

FIGURES 11 and 12 illustrate joints which are particularly suitable for attaching the base member 27 to the cylindrical body member 24. The joint of FIGURE 11 has an annular member 51 cemented or otherwise secured to the lower inner marginal portion 52 of the member 24. The member 51 is provided with an inwardly radially directed peripheral rib 53. The outer marginal portion of the base member 27 is cut-away to provide an annular flange 54 which extends in prolongation of the remainder of the base member 27. A circumferential recess 55 is formed in the flange 53, the recess 55 being intended to be engaged by the rib 53 in the manner of a snap-on or spring-on connection.

When the base member 27 is formed by a fiat plate, the base member is provided with an integral upstanding cylindrical ange 56 which has formed therein a peripheral recess S7. An internally fitting cylindrical coupling element 58 is welded, cemented or otherwise secured'to the lowermost end of the canister member 24. The element 58 has an inwardly directed peripheral rib 59 which is intended to engage with the recess 57 provided in the flange 56, so as to produce a spring-on screw connection.

The coupling members shown in FIGURES 7, 8, 9 and l0 can be adapted to provide handles or other means for facilitating the handling of the canister.

Referring to FIGURE 13 there is shown an alternative method of locating the flask 4. In this construction instead of having the radial or inclined tins 18 as described in FIGURE 2 the member 3 is moulded to provide a number of members 60 extending as chords across the internal wall of the coupling member 3. Preferably these chords are so arranged that they lie slightly within the circle described by the section of the ask 4 so that when the ask 4 is introduced into the assembled casing the members 69 are forced outwardly and thereby firmly and resiliently grip the flask 4. In that the vacuum flasks differ very slightly in diameter from sample to sample or batch to batch this arrangement ensures that even a flask of the minimum tolerance is securely gripped by the chord members 60. Whilst in the drawing there is shown envases three chord members it will be realized that any suitable number of chord members may be moulded into the coupling member. Alternatively, the chord members may be formed separately and mounted into the coupling member 3 by an adhesive or by any other suitable means. Alternatively, or in addition the chord members or indeed the fm members 118 can be provided in any other part of the casing. For example, the chord members 69 can in addition be mounted inside the shoulder portion of the body so as to grip and assist in centralising the neck portion of the flask. It desired these or similar locating means may be positioned as an alternative or in addition in the lower end of the body. However, it is preferred to locate these members on the coupling member for ease ot manufacture and also because when a vacuum flask is accidentally dropped the aslc itself is more apt to break in the middle than elsewhere if it falls on its side and resilient support over the intermediate portion would tend to avoid this breakage.

Referring to FIGURES 14 and 15 there is shown a method of reinforcing the thin wall moulding of the lower member and at the same time providing locating means for receiving the member normally provided for supporting the bottom of the tlask. integrally moulded in the floor of the lower member is a cylindrical ange 61 provided with reinforcing ribs 62 radially extending therefrom and terminating substantially at the junction of the wail with the oor. This provides a reinforcement of the base ot the casing against fracture due to accidental impact or undue axial pressure. In addition the cylindrical ilange 6I serves the purpose of locating a spring element 63 which receives the lower end of the ask and spring loads the flask against the upper end of the casing.

What I claim is:

1. A canister for a vacuum flask, the said canister comprising at least two thin walled hollow body members formed of a plastic, and an annular coupling member engageable with each of two adjacent body members, means for securing the annular coupling member to one body member, means for securing the coupling member to the other body member to thereby secure the adjacent body members together in substantially ixed axial relationship, the said coupling member having a wall thickness substantially greater than the wall thickness of the body members; and inwardly directed locating elements formed on the inner surface of said coupling member for resiliently engaging the peripheral surface of a vacuum bottle positioned in said canister thereby to locate and resiliently support the bottle intermediate its length.

2. A canister for a Vacuum flask, the said canister comprising two thin walled hollow body members and an annular coupling member engageable with each of the two body members, means for securing the annular coupling member to one body member, means for securing the coupling member to the other body member to thereby secure the body members together in substantially fixed axial relationship, the said coupling member having a wall thickness substantially greater than the wall thickness ot the body members; an outer and an inner peripheral surface on said coupling member, the said outer peripheral surface lying between and substantially flush with the outer peripheral surfaces of the body members, and the inner surface being formed with inwardly directed locating elements for resiliently engaging the peripheral surface of a vacuum bottle positioned in the canister thereby to locate and resiliently support the bottle intermediate its length.

3. A canister as claimed in claim 2, in which the coupling member is provided with a carrying handle extending fromI said outer peripheral surface of the coupling member.

4. A canister as claimed in claim 2, in which the said locating elements comprise resilient fins extending inwardly of and spaced around the inner peripheral surface of the coupling member.

5. A canister as claimed in claim 2, in which the said locating elements comprise a plurality of members extending chord-wise across the inner periphery of the coupling member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,218,036 Altenberg Mar. 6, 1917 2,484,309 Noeth Oct. 11, 1949 2,493,380 Bailey Ian. 3, 1950 2,954,888 Bramming Oct. 4, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,149,650 France Dec. 30, 1957 1,202,424 France Ian. l1, 1960

Claims

1. A CANISTER FOR A VACUUM FLASK, THE SAID CANISTER COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO THIN WALLED HOLLOW BODY MEMBER FORMED OF A PLASTIC, AND AN ANNULAR COUPLING MEMBER ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH OF TWO ADJACENT BODY MEMBERS, MEANS FOR SECURING THE ANNULAR COUPLING MEMBER TO ONE BODY MEMBER, MEANS FOR SECURING THE COUPLING MEMBER TO THE OTHER BODY MEMBER TO THEREBY SECURE THE ADJACENT BODY MEMBERS TOGETHER IN SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED AXIAL RELATIONSHIP, THE SAID COUPLING MEMBER HAVING A WALL THICKNESS SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE WALL THICKNESS OF THE