US1380662A - Dispensing attachment for cans - Google Patents

Description

, P. R. LEVI.

DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR CANS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I8. 1920.

PatentedJune 1921 Wires are preteen PLUS RAND LEVI, 013 CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR CANS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 7, 1921.

Application filed February 18, 1920. Serial No. 359,530.

tachments for Cans, of .which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dispensing appliances for cans.

For the purpose of dispensing the contents of cans which contain condensed milk, evaporated milk, or cream, syrup or other products of a liquid nature, it is customary to punch two holes in the top of the can at diametrically opposite points through one of which openings the contents may flow when the can is tilted and through the other of which openings air may enter to replace the discharged liquid. This method, however, is generally unsatisfactory for one does not always have at hand an implement suitable for use in punching the holes in the can top and not all implements which are some times used for this purpose can be employed without liability of injuring ones hands. Furthermore if the contents are discharged slowly throu h an opening punched directly in the top of such a can, it is likely that the contents will run down the side of the can and be spilled, and at the same time insanitary conditions are created as the liquid is liable to coagulate or harden about the opening in the can and accumulate dust and dirt which will contaminate other portions of the contents subsequently poured fromthe can. Also the opening which is to serve the purpose of a vent is liable to become clogged or, if it remains open, dirt is liable to enter the can through this opening. It is therefore one of the primary objects of the present in- .vide an appliance for the purpose above described which will embody a spout the lower end portion of which constitutes means for piercing the can top to provide the discharge opening and which opening is occupied by the said spout, the upper end portion of the spout being so formed as to best adapt it for the dischargeof the contents of the can without likelihood of spilling orwasting any portion of the contents and creating insanitary conditlons in the vicinity of the discharge opening in the can top.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the appliance that it may be adapted to cans of various diameters and,

will be securely held to the can after application, without the necessity of resorting to any mechanical adjustments of parts.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the appliance that it will constitute a convenient means for handling the can both in carrying the can from place to place'and in pouring the contents from the can.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device embodying the present invention applied to a can;

Fig. 2 is a View partly in side elevation and partly in section illustrating the device applied and the canv tilted to pouring position;

Fig. 3 isa perspective view of the device removed from the can.

The device embodying the present inven tion, except for the pouring spout thereof, is preferably formed from a single integral strip of resllient metal andfcomp'rises a top member which is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and which at its forward end is formed with a gripping jaw 2 which depends therefrom substantially at rightangles and which is preferably transversely curved as indicated by the numeral 3 to conform generally to the cylindrical contour of a can body of the ordinary size. This jaw 2 has its lower end portion deflected in an outward direction as indicated by the numeral lso that this end of the jaw may readily ride over the upper edge of one side of the can in fitting the appliance to the can. At it its opposite end, the top or body member is curved downwardly as indicated by the numeral 5 to provide a hand grip or handle 6, and the strip from which the device is formed is bent as at 7 at the lower end of the handle 6 to provide an upwardly extending clamping jaw 8 which, as in the case of the jaw 2, is also curved transversely to fit the side of the can. As stated the strip from which the device is formed is of resilient metal and normally the jaws 2 and 8 will be sprung slightly inwardly toward each other and the distance between the opposing faces of the jaws will be somewhat less than the diameter of the smallest size of' can in connection with which the appliance is designed to be used. However, due to the resiliency that the same may be applied to cans of greater diameter as the jaws 2 and 8 may be relatively sprung apart without, however, distorting the top or body member of the appliance. It will also be evident that the bend 7 which connects the handle 6 and in the drawings by jaw 8 is a rounded bend and that the outer surface thereof provides a rounded face located opposite the deflected lower end-portion 4: of the jaw 2 so that the jaw 8,may'

likewise readily ride over the upper edge of a can to which the appliance is to be fitted. It will also be apparent that the jaws 2 and 8 will grip the diametrically opposite sides of the body of the can, which is indicated the reference letter C, frictionally with a sufficient degree of firmness to insure of the appliance being securely held upon the can after its application thereto and yet to permit of its removal when required. The can top is indicated by the reference character C and ordinarily the top will be providedwith a flange C circumscribing the upper end of the wall offthe' can body. The-upper end of the jaw 8 is not secured tothe top or body portion 1 of the appliance but is always disconnected therefrom and may terminate slightly short of the said top or body portion and, when the device has been applied to the can, may be brought into enga ement with the lower edge of the flange 2 in the manner shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings so as to positively lock the appliance in place. This locking engagement between the parts is, however, not essential but the fact will be appreciated that the appliance is so constructed that ad- ,vantage may be taken of the presence of the flange C for the pur ose of additionally providing against disp acement of the appliance, where the can to which the appliance is fitted is provided with such a flange.

To provide for dispensing of the contents of the can, the appliance embodies a discharge or pouring spout which is indicated ingeneral by the reference numeral 9 and this spout comprises a tubular body which is fitted and secured through the portion 1 of the appliance adjacent the juncture of of the device it will be evidenthandle.

this portion with the upper end of the jaw 2,

the spout projecting both above and below the plane of the said portion 1. Thus its portion which projects above the plane of the portion 1 and which is indicated by the numeral 10, constitutes its discharge end and may be cut at an angle to best provide for the discharge of liquid therethrough. At its 4 the can when the appliance is fitted to the can and forced downwardly thereon andthus forms in the said top an opening through which the lower portion of the spout 9 projects in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings and which opening is occupied by this spout so long as the appliance is in place upon the can. It will be understood, of course, that if desired any small stopper or the like may be employed in connection with the spout 9 to close the tween these incisions may be struck down to provide a iercing prong'12 for the purpose stated. T is prong is located between the upper end of the jaw 8 and the spout 9 and is, of course, designed to pierce the top of the can at a point diametrically opposite the the can top.

Having thus described the invention, what .is claimed as'new is:

- 1. Adevice of the class described comprissame when thecan is not in actual use and opening the ing aresilient strip-like body to extend across'the top ofa can, one end portion of thebody being extended downwardly for engagement against one side o f the body of the can, theother end portion of the body being extended downwardly and inwardly to provide a handle portion, and beyond .the

handle portion being bent to extend upwardly to provide a gripping jaw portion to engage the opposite side of the can, a spout extending through the body near the first mentioned end portion thereof and above and below the said body and provided with a piercing lower end, and a piercing element from the body near the said' formed up 2. A device of the class described compris- W ing 'a resilient strip-like body to extend across the to of a can, one end portion of the body ,belng extended downwardly for engagement against one side of the body of the can, the other end portion of the body being extended downwardly an inwardly to provide a handle portion, andbeyond the handle portion being bent toextend up- 100 point at which the spout is forced through wardly to provide a gripping jaw portion said handle, the first mentioned end portion to engage the opposite side of the can, a of the body and the portion beyondthe hanspout extending through the body near the dle being transversely curved to conform. to 10 first mentioned end portion thereof and the curvature of the can'body.

above and below the said body and provided In testimony whereof I aifix my signature. with a piercing lower end, and a piercing element formed up from the body near the PLUS RAND LEVI.

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