IL38889A - Liquid pouring spout provided with vent grooves - Google Patents

Description

Liat'IC POURING SPOUT !iOVIDUn L'lTH VENT GROOVES LIQUID POURING SPOUT PROVIDED WITH VENT GROOVES A vented pouring spout formed of synthetic plastics material adapted to be retracted in stored position within a container opening and pulled up to extended pouring position for dispensing of the container contents* The spout is formed at its inner end with venting means for permitting the entry of air within the container through the pcufing spout simultaneously with the liquid dispensing.

Background of the Invention A longstanding problem in the field of liquid container dispensing has been that of providing some effective and economical means for eliminating surging or excessive gurgling during dispensing. Generally speaking, the solution to this problem resides in permitting the container interior to communicate with the atmosphere so that the liquid dispensed can be freely displaced with air. A simple solution is to provide an additional vent fitting in the container through which air can enter as the contents are dispensed. Such arrangements, however, regardless of their simplicity, overlook the requirements dictated by economics* Although attempts have been made to vent the container interior and dispense the container contents through a single opening, these attempts have not been wholly successful. Among tiur deficiencies exhibited by such single fitting arrangements brought forward to date has, first of all, been their inability to completely eliminate the surging action under relatively viscous fluids. Finally, in certain instances the manufacture of the device or the necessary method of attachment to the container is sufficiently complicated as to offset any advantage of economy from the use of a single dispensing fitting.

The invention pre sents an effective solution to the problem in providing a new and novel pouring spout designed to simultaneously dispense a container contents and vent the container interior to the surrounding atmosphere. The spout has a simple unitary construction which facilitates rapid, gurgle free pouring while permitting the entry of atmospheric air through the spout into communication with the container inte rior. This is accomplished by forming radially opening air passages about the circumference of the spout base in conjunction with spout supporting means. An annular baffle is also provided at the innermost end of the spout for separating the dispensing liquid flow from the incoming air supply.

It is accordingly a principal object of this invention to provide a new and improved self-venting pouring spout.

Another object is to provide a one piece self -venting pouring spout economically molded of synthetic plastics material.

A further object is to provide a pull up pouring spout incorpor ating container venting means in conjunction with supporting means fo r rigidly retaining the spout in pouring position.

Other and more detailed objects of the invention will be in part pointed out and in part be obvious as the description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing proceeds.

In that drawing: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the vented pouring spout of the invention; Fig. 2 is a part elevational part sectional view of pouring spout in retracted stored position within a closure nozzle; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the nozzle inserted in a container with the spout in extended pouring and venting position; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the engagement of the spout base with the nozzle; and Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the pouring spout.

As seen in Fig. 1 the vented spout 1, molded of synthetic plastic material, has a cylindrical body 2 terminating at its upper end in a cir cumferential lip 3. A semi-circular lifting bail 4 is hingedly connected to the lip 3 at diametrically opposed points 5. At its lower end the cylindrical spout body has an outwardly tapered portion 6 terminating in a lower edge 7. Four equally spaced radially enlarged feet 8 , having upwardly facing surfaces 9, extend axially below the lower edge 7, and are integrally connected to an annular baffle 10. The baffle 10 is provided with a central aperture 1 1 and is axially spaced from the lower edge 7 so as to form four radially directed openings 12.

The spout 1 is retained within a closure fitting 13, also molded of synthetic plastic material, comprising a nozzle 14 having an internal cylindrical throat 15. The lower portion of the throat 15 has a reduced diameter as indicated at 16 forming a spout retaining ledge 17, clearly seen in Fig. 2.

A container wall engaging surface 18 is formed along the lower exterior of the nozzle throat 15. A circumferentially enlarged cap receiving bead 19 is formed about the upper end of the nozzle 14. The uppermost end of the nozzle throat 15 is closed off by a tear -out sealing diaphragm 20 having an integrally formed ring pull 21 for tearing. A captive snap cap 22 is connected by a strap 23 to the nozzle 14 for fric -tional engagement over the nozzle bead 19.

The fully assembled closure fitting is pre ssed into a closure receiving opening 24 formed in the head 25 of a container 26. As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the container opening 24 bites into the nozzle surface 18 forming a leakproof joint.

In operation, the container is supplied to the filler who performs the filling operation through the opening 24 and pres ses the nozzle!4 into the opening, sealing the container for shipment. The end user opens the snap cap 22, and tears away the sealing diaphragm 20 by means of the ring pull 21 , exposing the readily grasped spout bail 4. The spout 1 is then pulled up to extended pouring position. The pouring action of the spout is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein it can be seen that the container contents are dispensed through the central aperture 1 1 in the spout baffle 10 simultaneously with the entry of air into the spout and through the openings 12.

Regardless of the rotational orientation of the spout 1, the baffle 10 effectively separates the outgoing fluid from the incoming air with the radially directed opening s 12 providing a direct, unimpeded path for air to communi cate with the interior of the container. In addition, the openings 12 are so formed in conjunction with the spout supporting feet 8 as to minimize the spout extension within the container during pouring to facilitate complete emptying of the container.

In. accordance -with the invention, accurate, gurgle free dis pensing is economically accomplished through the provision of the above described self -venting pouring spout applied to a container as a single dispensing fitting thus eliminating the need for a separate vent fitting in the container.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Claims (8)

1. A fluid dispensing closure fitting for containers, comprising an annular dispensing nozzle including a cylindrical throat terminating in a lowermost free edge, a container wall engaging surface surrounding said nozzle throat, closure engaging means formed on the upper end of said nozzle, spout supporting means formed along said nozzle, spout supporting means formed along said nozzle throat, a self-venting pouring spout positioned within said nozssle throat and adapted to be pulled up from a retracted stored position within a container to an extended pouring position, said spout including a substantially cylindrical upper body portion, means formed on the upper rd of said body portion for engaging said spout supporting means alongsaid throat with said spout in retracted stored position, a lower body portion terminating in a spout base, characterised by a baffle (10) having a central aperture and connected to the lower edge surface of the base of the spout (6) by a plurality of axially extending feet (8) forming a series of radially directed openings (12) therebetween and circumferentially spaced about the base of said spout (6), a portion of each of thefeet (8) extending radially outwardly beyond the outer surface of the base of said spout (6), each extending portion of said feet (8) having a top surface (9) which contacts the lowermost free edge of the nozzle (14), when said spout is positioned in an extended pouring position, and the diameter of said baffle (10) being greater than the diameter of the base of said spout (4) and extending radially outwardly beyond said feet (8)·

2. · A self-¾entii¾ pouring spout as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said spout lip (3) including a semi-circular hinged bail (4) to facilitate lifting of the spout to pouring position.

3. A self-venrtirg pouring spout as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said spout lower portion (6) tapering downwardly and radially outwardly.

4. A self-venting pouring spout as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said spout being molded of synthetic plastic material.

5. A self-venting pouring spout as defined in claim 1 in combination with an annular dispensing nozzle having a cylindrical throat terminating in a lowermost free edge, a container wall engaging surface surrounding said nozzle throat, closure engaging means formed on the upper end of said nozzle, spout supporting ireans formed along said nozzle throat, further characterized by said circumferentially spaced means (8) of said spout adapted to engage said nozzle throat lowermost free edge (17) for retaining said spout in extended pouring position within said nozzle (14).

6. A fluid dispensing closure fitting as defined in claim 5 further characterized by said nozzle throat (15) being sealed off with a tamperproof tear out diaphragm (20).

7. A fluid dispensing closure fitting as defined in claim 6 further characterized by said tear out diaphragm (20) having a ring pull (4) tofacilitate removal.

8. A fluid dispensing closure fitting as defined in claim 5 wherein said spout base lower edge (7) and said nozzle lowermost free edge lies in a common plane with said spout in extended pouring position.