US1278244A - Shiftable stopper. - Google Patents

Description

T. C. SPELLING.

SHIFTABLE STOPPER'.

APPLICATION min JAN.22.1917.

1,278,2% Patented sept. 10,1918.

kms Parkas co4. Hum-uma.. wAsHmcmu. a a

THOMAS C. SPELLING, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHIFTABLE STOPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

Application filed January 22, 1917. Serial No. 143,780.

To aZZ whom l? may Concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. SPELLING, citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invent-ed certain new and useful Shiftable Stoppers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combinations of caps and pullers with shiftable Stoppers for bottles and containers for liquids and other substances.

Its purpose is the provision of a simple economical and effective means for pouring out of bottles and other containers liquids and other substances without the necessity of removing the stopper from the bottle or container. It is especially useful in cases of liquids, oils, syrups and mucilaginous substances which stain, grease, corrode, burn or adhere; but the device is of extensive adaptability, and in modified forms may be used in (ponnection with substances other than liqui s.

To facilitate a full and complete understanding of the invention, I will illustrate the preferred and also a modified embodiment of the same, and the details, arrangement and combination of parts willk be learned upon reading the specific description found hereinafter, in connection with 'the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, wherein the' preferred and modified embodiments are illustrated.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a container equipped with the device as it will appear ready for the flow of liquid therefrom at the sidemouth; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bottle-neck member prepared forv equipment with the other parts; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cover member, showing' the edges of the cap abutting and held rigid by means of an angle brace riveted thereto and designed to function as a support, the protector to be later described; Fig. 4 is a perspective, view of the pull member, (hereinafter designated as the puller) exhibiting its principal parts in positions and relations to be occupied and held by them after insertion in the stopper and prior to the applica tion of pull force; and Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views of the positions and relations of the same parts after being set, as a result of applying initial pull force. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the part of the puller hereinafter designated as the sharp clip, and Fig.

8 is a like view of the part hereinafter desig-v nated as the blunt clip. Fig. 9 represents a modification.

Referring more specifically to the` draw-l ings wherein like reference figures designate corresponding parts, 1 is a stopper, of any material of which a stopper may be suitably formed and at 2 is an opening, preferably a gap or groove, the uses of which are made apparent hereinafter. The bottle neck member has the mouth 3, the sidemouth 4; and the slot or gap 5. The cover member has corresponding gaps cut away at 6 to form the opening 7 upon emplacement. The puller has the ringor shield 1G on the stein 11, the sharp point 12, the slots 13 to receive and engage the narrowed portions 14 of the clips. At 14a, the sides of the stein which are to be adjacent to the depressed shoulders of the clip, with the latter in place, are slightly iiattened, thus forming a shallow groove therein, the rotundity of the stem being thus modified, the purpose being to so locate said shoulders in place that they will not seriously interfere with the introduction of the stem to place. The sharp edged clip has the said narrowed portion, the depressed shoulders 15 the wings 16 on which are the sharp edges 17 and the sharp and slightly deflected points 18. The blunt edged clip has the same parts designated by the same reference figures, and differs from the sharp edged clip only in the respect that the said edges 17 are blunt. lEach slot slants from each side of the stem to a common base 19, the narrowed portion of the clip being bent upon insertion to fit and be frictionally held therewithin. y

In order to facilitate insertion of the stem in the stopper, the interior or upper, walls of each slot are beveled at 19n so that, in descending to place, the wings may fold up against the stem. rIhe clips are placed in the stopper at right angles with the incisions or openings in stopper, cover, and bottle, the purpose being the prevention of interference in use of one operation with another, and in order that integral portions of the bottle neck and stopper shall be adjacent to the wings,

Further description will consist largely of a description of the process of emplacement of parts and their operation in use. The stem is introduced into the stopper along its center, the stem point preceding the other adjuncts, small trenches being cut by said sharp wing points and the stopper substance being impacted and possibly slightly torn by the wings, the shoulders not interfering, however, because screened from contact by emplacement in said flattened portions of the stem. VWhen the ring contacts with: the cap, (presently described) on the top surface, the proper depth has been attained by the other parts respectively. The stem is then, by the application of pull force at the ring, caused to move upwardly a short distance, the length of the movement being regulated by the action of thevwings and wing shoulders.

The sharp points 18 ofthe sharp clip, initially enveloped in the stopper substance, are,` by, said pull force, caused to further penetrate at an angle with respect tothe stem and upwardly and outwardly in the stopper substance, and the sharp edges cut their ways in the general direction taken by said wing points. The blunt wingswillsimultaneously indent the stopper substance and impact it out toward the inside surface 0f the neck, probably with incidental but immaterial splitting and tearing.

This puller provides a convenient simple means for upwardly moving all kinds of Stoppers, whether tapered or straight in form, whether loosely or tightly emplaced.

The difficulty encountered in upwardly moving Stoppers is the adhesion at'the surface, resulting from tense contact with the inner surface of the neck ofthe bottle, and a hardening of the outer surface of the stopper, resulting from an linevitable access of atmospliere. Thev interiors of Stoppers remain comparatively soft, and barbs and wings centrally located and not, as here, supplemented,

c usually, especially in the case of tight stoppers, cut their ways upwardly, or tear out the interior, or break and dismember the stopper, leaving either the outer or lower portion in the neck. Usually, the use of a clip having comparatively blunt edged wings alone would effect a removal of the stopper. Such a sharp edged2wing as is here provided is, however, a valuable auxiliary, because of its lifting capacity. Yet uniform success of the pulling process cannot lbe' expected without the coaction of the other clip, with its blunt edged wings. The full force will act simultaneously upon both. The sharp edged wings will carve into the stopper substance with but slight if any effect upon form, but, while its action resulting from a continuance of the pull force, might cause upward movement of the portion aboveit, itwould, in most cases, merely result in a severance of the cork. The blunt winged clip is located on the stem a little below the sharp winged clip. The pull forceproduceg a different effect upon it. As its wings are forced outwardly andat an-angle upwardly, they produce a perceptible separationof the adjacent parts, vand indent, without cutting, the substance. rThey also havezactionY on the outer surface, forcing it to slide upward on the interior surface of the neck. Together, the clips exert not merely lifting power but an upwardly and outwardly directed force; and it isclear, Without illustration, that any required number of such clips, and of both with by lock action, we have all theV parts of the puller, as regards present purposes, finallyV emplaced. The sharp clip will rest in place in the upper slot, alined with the blunt clip. Its wings are identical with each other and are identical in general form with the wings of the sharp clip, but the edges of the former are comparatively blunt.

The stem shoulder 20, uponthe clips being Set by initial pull force will be elevated a little above the top surface of the cap on the stopper, the elevation depending on the length of the wings, which in turn willbe adapted to the size of the stopper in cach case. The buffer 2l rests under the stem shoulder' its base resting on the top of the cap on the stopper. The cap, preferably of thin sheet metal, rests on top of the stopper, and has the hole 22 for the stem, also the in terior shoulderQB, the interior shoulder23a, and the extension 24. When assembled', the top rim of the Ycork will rest against interior shoulder 23,l and the top rimvof the neck will rest against interior shoulder 23a. This extension is a mere continuation of the sheet of which the cap is formed and has the rivet holes 25 correlated to similar holes25'r1 in the cover for fastening these two members to`- gether. Y

The extension of the opening made in the neck from the side-mouth to the top'is not merely a convenience in the manufacture of the container, but its presence allows a attening and creasing of the corresponding portion of the cover, affords room for properly fitting-and fastening its side edges, and guides the stopper and cover in proper course and relation. Speaking with literal correctness, thecap and tubular formation, constituting F ig. 3, together constitute the cover, but to facilitate illustration andvdescription I have termed the portion made to cover thestopper and extend over the rim of the neck the cap, and the other portion the cover. There is a barely perceptible bend to the horizont-al adjacent toreference figure 25, on the cap and betweenA reference` figures 8; and 9 on the cover, When the two y vious that, ordinarily,

edges of the cover are brought together and riveted, and the cap and cover are riveted together, and the flattened sections broughtv into correspondence with each other, and the completed flat section placed across the slot in the neck, (see Fig. 2) such combination will prevent rotary movement of the cover and, in use, the united stopper and cover (the term now including the cap)4 will be held and guided vertically, with the gap in the stopper in alinement with the side-mouth, 1i.

Incidentally to their combined-principal office, the stem and clips constitute a much needed bracing and strengthening for the stopper, without-which, especially in the case of straight and tight stoppers, they would tend to roughen exteriorly, rendering vertical movement in use difficult.

The stopper is first introduced into the neck, through the mouth of the bottle, care being taken to aline the gap or recess therein with the slot and side-mouth in the neck. Next the riveting or soldering whereby the cap and cover and the edges ofthe cover are united is done on the stopper and neck and the cover member thus are emplaced, in proper position and relation with respect to theside-mouth, spout and slot in the neck. The cap now rests on the stopper. Next the puller carrying the clips is inserted in the stopper through the hole 22 in the cap, care being taken that the clips be ranged at an angle, preferably at right angles, with a line drawn vertically through the side-mouth. Since, as is self evident, the initial insertion of the stem with the clips in it will require the application of.

mechanical force, it may be well to explain that, in the process of'insertion, the bottle will be clamped, and the stopper firmly held through the side-mouth by any suitable tool which may be employed. A sharply pointed fork could be used. That part of the stopper has no sealing function, hence its slight mutilation, if resulting, would be of no consequence. As initially inserted the wings of the clips slant upwardly against the stem, the sharp points thereon, having cut their ways down, rest enveloped in the substance of the stopper, as before explained, and the points of the depressed shoulders, are nearto, but slightly separated from the surface of the flattened side of the stem. 1t is oband before upward movement of the stopper can be effected, as a result of the application of wings will be given a punching and penetrating movement which quickly causes the depressed shoulders to contact with the stem in the shallow grooves formed by flattening, as above explained; and such contact arrests the backward movement of the wings. The yielding movement now terminating, if the pull force were continued,the stopper would the open side to be the under side,

pull force, the

be moved upwardly. Of course, however, the contents of the container have been already introduced, Vand upward movement at this stage would be premature. The preliminary pull by which the wings are set results in a slight elevation ofthe ring above the cap and exposure at that point of a small portion of the stem. Now merely for the purpose-of raising the stopper, no buffer under the ring would be needed; but to lower the stopper'after any vdesired use of the side-mouth, the force exerted to replace it and so reseal the bottle below the sidemouth, can be most conveniently exerted on the stem at the ring. Without the buffer 2O thel stem would have downward movement and disarrangethe setting of the clips. So the;buffer 20 is'provided'.' It must be em- -placed last, on the cap around the hole, 22,

ut may be placed around the stem in any one ofy a variety ofways which I think need not be here specified.

After emplacement of the other parts, we shall ind the lower margin of the gap', 26, in the cover some little distance below the spout... Thereto may be attached an appropriately formed lug, 27, to evenly contact with 'the lower side of the spout in the function of arresting upward movement.

The shield 28, carrying the flap or cover 29 may be suitably attached to the upper margin. After emplacement, the shield will rest on,'and the flap orcover will extend over the spout. They might be variously constructed, but it is here suggested that the shield be in the form of a concaved shell, the edges of the shell to extend slightly beyond the outer form of the spout, and that the flap' or cover be attached to the edges of the shell and extend across said open side. 1t would be formed preferably of india rubber, though closely woven cloth would serve the purpose. rEhe shield protects the spout from breakage, and the flap or cover preserves its cleanliness. f

The side-mout and spout, though closely connected, are designated separately, because, for some uses, it will be desirable to form the bottle and the spout of different materials, the spout, in that case, to be suitably attached to thelcontainer, at the sidemouth.

With all parts so emplaced, in use, a pull at the ring mores the stopper upwardly, such movement being arrested by Contact of -said margin, or lug, 27, with the spout. The gap or groove inthe lower portion of the stopper is now opposite and adjacent to said side-mouth and spout, and only a creeping or tipping of the container is required to pour out the contents, entirely or in part, through the spout, after which, the stopper being pushed back to place, the integral and uncut portion of the stopper descends to the interior spacein the neck and again seals the container. acts may be repeatedindeinitely.

'Ilhe mechanism abovevdescrbed could be somewhat. simplied, and` on the other hand couldbe yof more complicated construction,

below the spout The same but the form here described may be adapted'V At 30 is a sieve which may be made of any suitable material and constructed with reference to detachably joined to the-stopper within the recess. The sieve may be made with close meshing, and so constituted a strainer for liquids, or with enlarged meshing, when it will serve as a sifter of other substances placed in the-bottle. The'formation of the recessI effects a diminution of the interiorend ofl the stopper, not only making provision for the introduction and attachment of the sieve, but, since the rend thus diminished will, when mediately below and adjacent tothe sidemouth, it will break up'the mass flowing outwardly and of liquids, and clogging in the case of other substances. A

The modification, illustrated `in Fig. 9 is presented. It involves not the slightest change in the equipment of the stopper if the stopper be shortened and the stem bent and extended over the'buffer and above the upper margin of the opening in the cover previously describedat right angles and the ringv be given the form and function here shown over -the spout through the opening 30a, and used to elevate and lower-the closure. In .this form olf-construction a portion of t-he stem which is thus bent laterally will, of course, have movement, in use, in the slot in the neck. ofthe bottle or container, limited by the range of movement of the cover. A cylinder of wood, fiber or other suitable material might, in that case, be-inserted in the space within the bottle neck above the buffer, at 3l, or said portion of space might remain vacant.

Itis obvious that the cap for the cover now being separated, from the stopper will be devoid'of the shouldering overt'he-stopper, and will have a flat form as seen at 82. In all other respects, construction and emplacement would be substantially the'A same in the two :embodiments I claim:d

l. An article as described,- comp-rising a particular use, and permanently or the stopper is elevated in use, rest im-l so prevent-1 gurgling in the case being suitablyv attached to both the bottle on the yneck thereof and on the stopper, said stopper and cover being slidable, the stopper within, and the cover on, the neck of the bottleand the stopper havingan integral yand a diminishedend, the integral end adapted, when pressed bottle belowlthev side-mouth, the diminished end adapted, after elevation ofthe stopper in the neck preparatory topouring'out the contents of the bottle through the sidemouth to break the continuity of the mass of matter within the bottle and prevent gurgling at the side-mouth when the contents are uid.

'2. In an article as described, the combination with a bottle having ak side-mouth in the neck-thereof, and a stopper carrying a pull member, of al cover for the stopper and neck,.said cover being suitably attached to the bottle on the neck thereof and to the stopper, said stopper and cover being slidable, the stopper within, and the cover on, the neck of the bottle said bottle being slotted between the side-mouth in the neck thereof and the top, saidy slotted portion being formedfto-engage the flattened' sectionV of the cover, in preventing, in use, rotary movement of the cover and preserving alinement of the recess inthe end of the stopper with the side-mouth.

3. An article as described, comprising a bottle, a stopper thereforcarrying a pull member, and a cover yattached to both, said pull mem-ber consisting of a stem having a sharp lowerend point, a ring and shoulder at its upperterminal, and, intermediately, two slots for clips, land carrying winged clips in the slots, one having sharply pointed and sharp edged wings, the other h1aving sharply pointed and blunt edged wings, both clips havingnarrownecks connecting the wings, having also depending shoul-l ders slitted from the wings, the necks adapted tov be fitted into the slots thereby bending the wings upwardly, the sharp winged clip to be placed in the upper and the blunt winged in the lower Slot on the stem, and the shoulders adjacently to flattened portions of the stem below the necks, the sharp edged wings adapted to cut into the substance of a stopper with but slightdisp-lacement, the blunt edged wings to acutely indent but not to cut the substance, and with perceptible displacement of the substancev down full length to seal the poured out, if liquid, and clogging, when the contents are other than liq Y in the lower slot on the stem,

troducing the stem and the attached clips to place' in a stopper, said clips, in coaction, adapted, upon the application of pull force to the stem, to lift the stopper and cause its upward movement without dismemberment.

4. The combination with an article as described, comprising a bottle, a stopper, and a cover, of a pull member set in the stopper, said pull member consisting of a stem having a sharp lower-end point, a ring and shoulder at its upper terminal, and,rinter mediately, two slots Jfor clips, and carrying winged clips in the slots, one having sharply pointed and sharp edged wings, the other having sharply pointed and blunt edged wings, both clips having narrow necksconnecting the wings, having also depending shoulders slitted from the wings, the necks adapted to be fitted into the slots thereby bending the wings upwardly, the sharp winged clip to be placed in the upper and the blunt winged in the lower slot on the stem, and the shoulders adjacently to flattened portions of the stem below the necks, the sharp edged wings adapted to cut into the substance of a stopper with but slight displacement, the blunt edged wings to acutely indent but not to cut the substance, and with perceptible displacement of the substance of the stopper internally, the slots slanted from each side downwardly zto a common point, the adjacent upper portions of the stem beveled to allow the wings to recede toward the stem at but a slight variation from the perpendicular in the act of introducing the stem and the attached clips to place in a stopper, said clips, in coaction, adapted, upon the application of pull force tothe stem, to lift the stopper and cause its upward movement without dismemberment.

5. In an article as described, comprising a bottle, a cover, and stopper, a pull member consisting of a stem having a Ysharp lower-end point, a ring and shoulderA at its upper terminal, and, intermediately, two slots for clips, and carrying winged clips in the slots, one having sharply pointed and sharp edged wings, the other having sharply pointed and blunt edged wings, both clips having narrow necks connecting the Wings, having also depending shoulders slitted from the wings, the necks adapted to be fitted into the slots thereby bending the wings upwardly, the sharp winged clip to be placed in the upper and the blunt winged and the shoulders adj acently to flattened portions of the stem below the necks, the sharp edged wings adapted to cut into the substance of a stopper with but slight displacement, the blunt edged wings to acutely indent but not to cut the substance, and with perceptible displacement of the substance of the stopper internally, the slots slanted from each side downwardly to a common point, the adjacent upper portions of the stem beveled to allow the wings to recede toward the stem at but a slight variation from the perpendicular in the act of introducing the stem and the attached clips to place in a stopper, said clips, in coaction, adapted, upon the appli cation of pull force to the stem, to lift the stopper and cause its upward movement without dismemberment;

6. In 'an article as described, comprising a bottle, cover and stopper, the stopper carrying a pull member, the combination of a sharp winged and a blunt winged clip, each having engagement in slots formed in the stem of the pull member, and adapted', in combination, and in coaction with each other and the stem, tolift the stopper upwardly in the neck of the bottle, upon application of pull `forceto the puller;` 7

7. In an article, as described, the combination withy a bottle having a singleside# mouth, in the neck thereof and a gap in one side of the neck extending from the top down to the side-mouth, the neck being without'the usual shoulder, an autonomous cover for a stopper and for lthe neck, shiftable vertically von the neck within limitations Xed by the cover, the cover adapted to arrest downward movement by means of contact of an interior shoulder inthe cap of the cover with the rim of the neck and to arrest upward movement by means of contact of a lug carried on the base vof a quadrangular gap in the cover formed to be placed aroundand about the side-mouth with the underside of the sidemouth, and a stopper, of a pull member carried by the stopper and permanently anchored therein by means of the indenting wings of resilient clips, the clips carried in slots formed in the stem of the pull member. Y

8. In yan article as described, comprising a bottle having la single side-mouth in the neck thereof Vand a'gap i one side of the neck eX- tending 'from thel top down tothe side-v mouth, the neck `being without the usual shoulder, an autonomous cover for a ystopper and for the neck shiftable vertically on the neck within limitations xed by the cover, the cover adapted t0 arrest downward movement by means of contact of an interior shoulder in the cap of the cover with the rim of the neck and to arrest upward movement by means of contact of a lug carried on the base of a quadrangular gap in the cover formed to be placed around and about the side-mouth with the under side of the sidemouth, and a stopper, a pull member carried by the stopper and permanently anchored therein bymeans of the indenting wings o resilient clips, the clips carried in slots formed in the stem pull member adapted by coaction of the stem and clips, upon the application of pull force to the stem, to lift the lstopper and of the pull member, the

cause its upward movement without dismemberment.

9. VAn article as described, comprising a bottle, a stopper therefor carrying a pull member and a cover attached to both, said pull member consisting of a stem having a sharp lower-end point, a ring and shoulder at its upper terminal, and, intermediately, slots for clips, and carrying winged clips in the` slots the clips having narrow necks connecting the wings, having also depending shoulders-slitted from the wings, the necks adapted to be litted into the slots thereby bending the wings upwardly with the shoulders at rest adjacently to flattened portions of the stem below the necks, the wings adaptedto acutely indent withl perceptible displacement the substance of the stopper internally, the slots slanted from each side downwardly 'to a common point, the adjacentupper portions of thestem .beveled to allow the wings to approach the stem at but a slight variationfrom the perpendicular in theact of introducing the stem and the attached clips toplace ina stopper, said clips, in coaction, adapted, upon the application of pull force to the stem, to litt the stopper and cause its upward movement without dismemberment. f

l0. The combination withan article.k as described, comprising a bottle, a stopper, and a cover, of a pull member carriedvby and set in the stopper, said pull member consisting of a 4stein having a sharp lower-end point, a ring and shoulder at its upper terminal, and, intermediately, two slots for clips, and carrying winged clips in the slots the clips having narrow necks connecting the wings, having also depending shoulders slitted from the wings, the necksy adapted to be iitted into the slots thereby bending the wings upwardly withthe shoulders at rest adjacently tovflattened portions ofthe'stembelow the necks, the .wingsadapted-to acutely indent with Iperceptible displacement the c substance Copies of this patent may be obtained forve cents each, by addressing vthe Washington, D. C.

of the stopper internally, the slots slanted from each side downwardly to a common point, theadjacentupper portions of the stem beveled to allow the wings to approach the stem at but a slight variation from the perpendicular in the act of introducing the stem and the attached clips to place in a stopper, said clips, in coaction, adapted, upon the application of pull force to the stem, to lift the stopper and cause its upward movement without dismemberment;

11. In an article as described, comprising a bottle, a cover, and stopper, a pull member carried by and set in the stopper consisting of a stem having a sharp lower-end point, a ring and shoulder at its upper terminal, and, intermediately, two slots for clips, and carrying winged clips in the slots, the clips having narrow necks connecting the wings, having also depending shoulders slitted from the wings, the necks adapted t0 be fitted into the slots thereby bending the wings upwardly, the shoulders adjacently to flattened portions of the stem below the necks, the wings adapted to `acutely indent with perceptible displacement the substance of the stopper internally, the slots slanted from each side downwardly to a common point, the adjacent upper portions of the stem beveled to allow the wings to approachthe Istem at but a slight variation from the perpendicular in the act of introducing the stem and the attached clips to place in a stopper, said clips, in coaction, adapted, upon the application of pull force to the stem, to lift the stopper and cause its upward movement-without dismemberment.

Signed at New York, county of Y New York, and State of New York, this 7th day of December, A. D. 1916.

lTHOMAS c'. srELLnvo.V Witnesses Y Y PAULINE MAiaGULIs, JOHN GREENBERG.

Commissioner `of Patents.

Images