US2808179A - Automatic registering pouring device - Google Patents

Description

1957 s. DI GRADO ET AL AUTOMATIC REGISTERING .POURING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1955 INVENTDRS. AbZl/(ZZd/ ZIP/W0 0 & BY Edward (DWI/Hype",

Fault PM ATTORNEYS.

957 s. DI GRADO EI'AL 2,808,179

AUTOMATIC REGISTERING gOURING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

2,808,179 AUTOMATIC REGISTERING POURING DEVICE Salvatore Di Grado and Edward J. McIntyre, Philadelphia, Pa;; Jean Di Grado, executrix of said Salvatore Di Grado, deceased, assignors to Beverage Control Sales Company of Philadelphia, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 5, 1955, Serial No. 480,050

9 Claims. (Cl. 222-38) This application is an improvement over our co-pend ing application, Serial No. 408,346, filed February 5, 1954. The invention relates to a pouring device of the type used in taverns and tap rooms, to be attached to the openings of various types and sizes of beverage containing bottles. It will be understood, of course, that the deviceis not restricted to such application as will be apparent from the description that follows. It is a primary object of this invention to provide a fluid unit pouring device which can be easily aflixed to the open neck of a fluid container which will under normal conditions provide an accurate and certain check upon the amount of fluid dispensed from the container and a concurrent registration of the number of fluid units dispensed, the device being affixed to the container in such a manner that it may not be removed without the knowledge of the person who has aflixed it thereto.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatic measuring pouring device having an internally contained counting unit which registers each time a unit of fluid is dispensed from the container.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an attractive pouring device which permits the dispensation of a fixed amount of fluid from a container each time that a unit of fluid is poured.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a drink pouring device which may be aflixed to the opening of a container in such a manner that it cannot be secretly removed and replaced.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device which will enable a tavern owner to maintain an accurate inventory of his fluid stock contained in partially filled bottles.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective elevation of a pouring device made in accordance with the invention aflixed to the open neck of a bottle.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal cross section in upside down position of a pouring device made in accordance with the invention shown ready to be used.

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing the pouring device in the dispensing position in conjunc tion with a typical fluid unit glass.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section along the lines IVIV of Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section along the lines VV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6' is a perspective exploded view of the inner mechanism of a pouring device made according to the invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a special tube used in a pouring device made according to the invention.

Throughout, the respective positions of the various elements of the invention along vertical lines will be based upon the position with respect to the container. Thus the outer cap element is the one shown to be Patented Oct. 1, 1957 ice outermost in Fig. 1, and the inner cap element is the one shown adjacent the container. The flow of fluid in normal use will be outward.

A drink pouring device made according to our invention comprises the following elements which are shown in the drawings: a solid rod 33 being screw-threaded throughout most of its length (not completely shown) and being unthreaded near its ouer end; a fluted valve 35 internally threaded mounted on the rod 33 near the outer end; a tubular gauge 36 mounted on the rod 33 adjacent to valve 35; a threaded spacing nut 37 internally threaded and affixed to the rod 33 adjacent the gauge 36; a coil spring 38 mounted on the rod 33 adjacent to nut 37; a hollow tube 22 being open at either end and having on its surface a single opening, outer air vent 31 near the outer end and a plurality of openings 32 near the inner end, and having a pair of circumferentially spaced flanges 23 aflixed to its middle portion; an inner tube 27 inserted in tube 22 having an indented groove 28 disposed lengthwise partially throughout its length; a tubular skirt 65 aflixed to the tube 22 near its outer end below the opening 31; an outer coil spring 26 disposed upon the tube 22 adjacent the flanges 23; a hollow retaining member 40 inserted in the inner end of the tube 22 and aflixed-thereto by the lock nut 66; a counting mechanism 18 having an arm 51 with a pin 52 attached to the end thereof disposed to ride in the space between the flanges 23; an outer cap element 11 being hemispherical and having an extended cylindrical portion 14 extending inwardly; an inner cap element 12 having an extended cylindrical portion 15 extending outwardly; a tubular, flexible retaining collar 55 adapted to fit extended portion 14 and the neck 45 of the container 46; washer 56 inserted in the collar 55; cord 58 looped through an opening 57 in the collar 55 extended downwardly therefrom; tape 60 aflixed to the neck 45 of the container 46 over the cord 58.

The assembled pouring device 10 is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The outer cap element 11 and the inner cap element 12 are joined together by the bolts 13 to form a sphere, having the extensions 14 and 15, and enclosing the working mechanism of the device. The interior surfaces of the extensions 14 and 15 are coaxial to form a cylindrical channel 19 through the outer and inner cap element 11 and 12. Portions of the outer and inner cap elements 11 and 12 are cut away to form an opening 16 through which the dial face 17 of the counting mechanism 18. appears. The counting mechanism is also supported by the shoulders 20 and 21 formed internally of the outer and inner cap elementsll and 12. The tube 22 is slidably disposed within the cylindrical channel 19 formed in the outer and inner cap elements 11 and 12. The flanges 23 aflixed to the tube 22 are disposed to travel between the shoulder 24 of the outer cap element and the shoulder 25 of the inner cap element. The outer coil spring 26exerts positive force in an outward direction against the flanges 23 maintaining the tube 22 in an extended position as shown in Fig. 2. The tube 22 may be retracted by forcing it inward, thus compressing the outer coilspring 26 against the shoulder 24. The inside tube 27 is provided with the longitudinal groove 28, the purpose of which will befurther described' The inside tube 27 is inserted in the tube 22 and is retained in sealed relation thereto except for the longitudinal groove 28. The tube 22 is provided with inner air vent 30 near vits inner end, and outer air vent 31 nearits outer end which are disposed to co-operate' with the channel formed by the longitudinal groove 28. Additional fluid openings 32 are disopsed circumferentially about the tube 22 atthe outer level of the inner air vent 30 along the tube 22.

The rod 33 is disposed through opening 34 in 'the tube 22 near its outer end. The fluted valve 35 is mounted 3 on the rod 33 by means of threads disposed along the rod 33. The gauge 36 rests upon the inner end of the fluted valve 35. The inner end of the gauge 36 is fixed by the threaded nut, 37. vAdjacent the nut 37 the inner coil spring 38' extends to the retaining element 40 which has a central opening 41' through the yoke 42' through which the rod 33 passes. The yoke; 42 retains the, inner end of the inner coil spring 38: The threaded nut 66 is aflixed to the tube 22 by means of threads and holds the yoke 42- against the upper end of the coil spring 38 by meansof the shoulders 44: The inner coil spring 38 thus exerts positive force against the rod 33 forcing it outward and forcing the fluted valve 35 against the opening 34. The fluted valve 35 may be withdrawn from the opening-34 by forcing the rod 33- inwa-rd; thus compressing 't-heinner-coil spring 38 against the yoke 42.

A's-shown in Fig. 3, the pouring device, aflixed to the neck-45 of the containcn- 46, is-actuated by forcing the outer-endof the rod 33 against the bottom of a glass 47 thus displ'acingtheflutedvalve 35 from the opening 34 and compressing the inner coil= spring 38- against the yoke 42, which, in turn, through the threaded nut 66 forces the tube 22- inward: In turn, the flanges 23 carried by the-=tube 22 compress the outer coil spring 26 until the flanges 23* meet the shoulder 25. In this position, the inner opening 30* co-operating with the outer opening 31 by means 'ofthe longitudinal groove 28, permits the airto enter the container 46, thereby permitting the flow of fluid from thecontainer 46 through the openings 32 and-50 through the tube 22 and out through the opening 34 into the glass 47. Theflow of fluid from the container 46 -is preventedby closing the openings 34 and 32 and the air vents 30'and 31'. Even thoughthe openings 34 and 32 are uncovered, the presence of the mass of fluid in the container 46 efl'ectively blocks any flow. A vacuum is created in the container 46 above theliquid and until this is released the fluid cannot flow. The separateair vent 30 is provided to admit air to the container. The vent 30 is disposedoutwardlyof theopenings 32 and 50 so that the pressure of the fluid against these openings 32 and 50 predetermines their selection for the flow of fluid. When the air vent 30 is uncovered the vacuum created inthe container 46 draws air in through thevent 30- and thereby permits the fluid to flow out through the openings 32, 50 and 34. The flow continues until thefluid has reached the level indicated in Fig. 3, whenit closes the outer vent 31- thus preventing the entrance ofair into the container 46. At this point the container 46 and the-pouring'device are raised, thus allowing the coil- springs 26 and 38 to expand,- forcing the rod 33 and the tube 22 to-their respective expanded positions shown in Fig. 2-. In this position the. inner 'vcnt '30-.is now covered by the extended portion 14 of the inner cap element 12 thus preventing the entrance of air through the longitudinal groove 28. The openings32 in the tube22 are likewise covered by the inner surface of theextended portion 14. The flutedvalve 35 closes opening 34 preventing any incidental flow which might occur through the opening 50in the retaining element 40.

The arm 51 of the counting mechanism 18Iis disposed between the flanges 23 by virtue of the pin 52, so that the movement of the tube 22 causes the arm 51 to rotate about the operating mechanism of the counter 18. The length of travel of the flanges 23 is such that the counter 18 is actuated each time that the tube 22 is forced downwards sufliciently far to uncover the inner vent-30 and the opening 32. In this manner the withdrawal of fluid from the container-46 is permitted only when the counter l8 has been actuated- Itwill be noted that" the pouring device illustrated in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 issubstantially symmetrical'about the vertical axis coincident. with the rod 33 thereby permit- .ing the tube 22 to rotateyin any manner at any time without affecting the operation of the pouring device. The fluid openings 32 and -the inner airvent 30 are so 4 arranged about the circumference of the tube 22 that their operativenessis unaifected by the radial position of the tube 22. The circumferential flanges 23 likewise continue to carry the pin 52 ofthe counter arm 51 irrespective of any rotation of the tube 22. The outer air vent 31 is exposed regardless; of. the radial position of the tube 22. By virtue of this symmetry the assembly of the pouring deviceis greatly facilitated since the radial position of any of the working. parts is unimportant. Likewise, it is unnecessary to restrain the-tube. 22 any fixed radial position during operation, thus providing an easier working device.

The pouring device illustrated. in. the. drawingszis adjustable insofar as. the size of the fluid units is concerned; Since the size of the fluid unit depends upon the distance from. the outen tip off the rod 33 to the outer air vent 31, apart from the diameter or width of the receptacle 47, the size of the fluid unit for any given receptacle may be increased by extending the-rod 33 outwardly. Thismay' beeasily' and accurately accomplished by removing themed-33 from the tube 22* by unscrewing the retaining element- 66 and lowering the lock nut- 37- thereby permitting the gauge tube 36- to be lowered; and lowering the fluted valve 35 until it: meets the gauge tube 36. This maybe done until the desired length of rod- 33 extends from theouter end of the tube '22. The size of the fluid unit therefore'may be easily determined by' maintaining; the fluted valve 35 ina fixed position at all timeswith respect to the outer-air vent 31 when the device is in operation as shown in Fig. 3. This is accomplished by means of the gauge tube 36' which separates the-lock nut- 37' abutting against the shoulder 53 which is always in a fixed position with respect to the outer vent opening 31 through the tube 221 The size of the fluid unit is increased by" lowering the locknut 37, the gauge tube 36 and thefluted valve 35 upon the rod=33 until the mark 54 onthe fluted valve 35 is at the desiredlevel; Since the mark 54-is always positioned atthe inner edge of-the outenair vent 31 when the-device is in operation, the fluid unit will always reach this height. A small allowance may he made forthe fluid trapped in the outer end of the tube 22 upon closing the opening 34.

Thepouring device'is attached-to the open-neck 45 of they container 46 by means of the collar 55, and the washer 56. The closure member-is a: cylindrical cup shaped member of a relatively heavy, flexible material; The flexibility enables it to be attached to containers havingdifferent size necks. At its upper endthe opening57; is-prov-ided which is of a size to tightly fit the inner extended element 14. When the collar 55 is in place, as illustrated: in Figs. 2 and 3, the washer 56, which may be of any materialresistant toattack' from the fluid to be dispensed and is ring-shaped, is fitted within the collar 55 about the inner extended element 14; The inner circumference of the washer 56 is slightly. smaller: than the outer circumference of the inner extended element 14 so thata torcedfit is necessary, ensuring a perfectgseal. The device is then inserted inthe neck 45 .of the container 46 as shown inFig. 2. For purposes of security. a hole 57 may be provided in thecollar 55 through which the cord 58 is looped. The extended portion of the-cord.58 may be affixed to the container 46by means of .a. permanently attached tape 60. In this manner the device-may be sealed to the container 46 withoutv thepossibility of secret, unauthorized removal.

iIn normal use the device is aflixed to a bottle or container 46 as shownin Fig. 1; When a fluid unit-is: to be dispensed, the container 46 is. inverted as shown; in Fig. 2. .By virtue of the openings 50 in the yokemember 42 it is theoretically possible that a certain amount of fluid may enter the tube 22; Since there is no means for air toenter the container other than through the same openings 50; ibisextremely unlikely-that any fluid could be so emitted, and, if so; only undcr unusual cit? cumstances. In the event that any fluid does enter the tube 22 it will be trapped'in the outer end of the tube 22 by means of the fluted valve 35. The container-46 is held over the receptacle 47 into which the fluid is to be poured and the container 46 is lowered as shown in Fig. 3. The rod 33 meets the bottom of the receptacle 47 and remains stationary. The container 46 and the reinainder of the pouring device continue to be lowered about the rod 33. Depending upon the respective strengths of the coil springs 26 and 38, either the valve 35 will open before the tube 22 rises in the outer and inner cap elements 11 and 12, or the tube 22 will be raised until the flanges 23 abut the shoulders 25 whereupon the fluted .valve 35 will be raised to open the outer end of the tube 22. It has been. found preferable to make the spring 38 substantially stronger than spring 26 to maintain the valve 35 closed until the fluid is to be emitted from the device. When the openings 32 and the inner air vent 30 have passed beyond the inner extended element 14 and the fluted valve 35 has been withdrawn from the opening 34 air will be admitted to the container 46 through the outer air vent 31, the recessed groove 28 and the inner air vent 30, whereupon fluid will flow from the container 46 through the openings 32 and 50, the tube 22 and the outer opening 34 into the receptacle 47. When the fluid reaches the height illustrated in Fig. 3, closing the air vent 31, the flow of fluid will cease since no air will be admitted to the container 46. During the step of lowering the container 46 and the device toward the receptacle 47, when the tube 22 slides inward with respect to the outer and inner cap elements 1-1 and 12, the flanges 23 effect the rotation of the counter arm 51 thereby registering uponthe dial face 17. When the fluid unit has been poured the container is removed, thereby extending the tube 22 by virtue of the expansion of the coil spring 26 and the extension of rod 33. The container 46 is returned to the position of Fig.

1 and any fluid which has been trapped in the tube 22 is permitted to drain back into the container 46 through the openings 50 in the yoke 42. The speed or eflectiveness of the evacuation of the tube 22 is, of course, not important to the operation of the pouring device, and it is not essential that the opening 50 be provided since in operation no fluid unit can rise beyond the outer air vent 31.

Employing the invention described above as embodied in the drawings it will be possible to maintain an accurate check of the usage of fluid in a number of containers. The device is attached directly to the container and it does not limit the moveability of the container. -It is not the object of this invention to render it impossible to remove fluid from a container except in certain amounts and upon registering the amounts. It will be apparent that it is possible to remove varying amounts of fluid from the container simply by employing receptacles of difierent diameters, but as normally employed the device will pour a fixed amount of fluid in a receptacle of fixed size and will register each time a unit is poured. This is of particular value to tap room owners, since by employing shot-glasses of fixed dimensions a continuing and accurate inventory may be maintained of their liquid stock, including the amounts remaining in any partially filled containers. Where hundreds of partially filled bottles may be used it is quite important to be able to record the exact quantity of fluid remaining in the bottles. It will be noted that equivalent means may be employed for various elements of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A fluid metering device comprising a housing having an extended fluid intake portion, an extended fluid discharge portion and a central expanded portion, a central co-axial channel formed inside said extended portions, tubular fluid transmission means longitudinally slidable in said channel having fluid intake ports, air admission means formed along the interior of said transmission means having an air vent laterally parallel to said intake ports along their respective outer edges, said intake ports and air vent being closed by said extended fluid intake portion of said housing and openable upon the inward sliding of the tubular transmission means to permit the flow of fluid through said transmission means, a counter disposed'in the expanded portion of said housing and means for actuating said counter simultaneously with the opening of said air vent.

2. A device for metering the flow of fluid from a containercomprising a housing, attachment means for maintaining said housing in sealed engagement with said container, counting means mounted in said housing, tubular fluid transmission means and air admission means integrally attached to each other and slidably mounted in said housing, flange means located on the fluid transmission means and disposed within said housing operatively connected to said counting means, said housing being adapted to close said fluid transmission means and air admission means when they are in a position removed from said container and adapted to open said means when they are in a position within said container, said flange means being adapted to actuate said counting means when said air admission means and fluid transmission means are open.

3. A fluid metering device comprising a housing, a

counter in. said housing, a hollow cylindrical tube slidably mounted in said housing, a second tube fitted within said cylindrical tube forming an enclosed longitudinal channel therewith, said channel having openings through said cylindrical tube near either end thereof, counter actuating means affixed to said cylindrical tube operatively connected to the counter and adapted to actuate said counter.

4. A fluid metering device comprising a housing, a cfluid transmitting tube slidably mounted in said housing having a plurality of fluid ports and an air vent, said housing and said tube being adapted to open said fluid ports prior to opening said air vent thereby permitting the fluid to flow through said fluid ports, a solid rod slidably mounted in said tube having a valve at one end adapted toclose said tube, a gauge tube surrounding said rod adjacent said valve and a lock nut threadably attached to said rod adjacent said gauge tube, said gauge tube being of such length that a predetermined point on said valve is maintained at a fixed distance from said lock nut.

5. A device for metering the flow of fluid from a container comprising a hollow tube containing fluid ports and an air vent, tubular means for closing said ports and air vent surrounding that portion of said tube in which they are situated, resilient detent means urging said tube away from said container thereby closing said ports and air vent, a valved rod adapted to close the end of said tube distant from said container and resilient detent means urging said rod away from said container thereby closing said ports and air vent.

6. In a fluid metering device, fluid transmission and air admission means comprising a first tube having a plurality of parallel fluid intake ports disposed about the inner end of said first tube and an inner air vent disposed outwardly with respect to said ports along said first tube, an enclosed channel extended outwardly along said first tube and communicating with said inner air vent, an outer air vent communicating with the outward end of said channel, a second tube disposed about said first tube covering said ports and inner air vent when said first tube is extended outwardly and uncovering said ports and inner air vent when said first tube is slid inwardly.

7. In a fluid metering device, fluid transmission and air admission means comprising an elongated hollow first tube having a plurality of fluid ports and an inner air vent disposed therethrough near the inner end thereof, an outer air vent through said tube longitudinally spaced from said inner air vent and a valve seat at the outer ,7 endrof said tube,-a:second tubeinserted in saidfirst tube in sealed surface engagement with said first tube .and forming anenclosed ,channe'laconnecting said innenand outenair vents, a valved solid.rod.longitudinallydisposed through said tubes, movable vvalvemeansvnear the outer end ofv said rod adapted to engage said valve seat and yoke means inserted in the inner endof said tubes having an opening adapted to retain-the inner .end of said rod.

8. A metering device for dispensingJiiuid from .a .cont-ainer comprising a housing havingpan intake portion-extending into said container, a tube slidably mounted in said housing and extending .inione' direction beyond the intakeport ion .of said housing into said container, separate air admission means terminating atonezendfoutward of .said housing and at the otheriendinside 'saidhonsing, a counter mounted in said housing havingits face visible through said housing and a counteractuating arm extending from said counter toapoint adjacentsaid tube, .a pair of spaced cireumferentialiflanges on said tube.and.a pinrconnected tosaid actuating arm disposedbetween said flanges. 7

9. A metering device fordispensing fluid from.a-c0ntainerinto ,a receptacle comprising aehousing attached ,to said container, a'fluidtransmiss'iontube slidably mounted in saiilfhousing; a'valvedrod extending throughsaid tube and'beyondth'e endsthereof, an'inner air vent through said tube near'thejnner end thereof andan outer air vent through said tnbe near theouter end thereof, a'ir admissionflmeans connecting said air vents'and slidable valve means rcovering .said intake ports and inner air vent adapted to uncover said air ports andair vent when the container is lowered toward the receptacle.

References iCited'in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 720,562 Castle Feb. 17, .1903

9635638 :Newland 1July '5, 1910 1,287;lf4l Travis .Q. Dec. '10, 1918 2,206,053 Schroeder July "2, .1940 2,455,962 Wheeler et a1 Dec. 14, 1948 2,620,113 Bodendoerfer-etal. 'Dec.'.2, 1 952 2 ,631,755 Woodward Mar. 17, 1 953

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