US2001481A - Dispensing attachment for cans - Google Patents

Description

May`14,19 35. y 'SMBBOTT 2,001,481

DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR CANS Ffned July 16, 1934 Patented May 14, 1935 l g UNITED STATES PATENT orrree DISPENSINGATTACHMENT FOR CAN S t f Scott M. AbbottfChicago, Ill., assigner to Crane Packing'Company, Chicago, Ill.,r a corporation of Illinois Application July 16, 1934, Serial No. V'735,508

14 Claims. (Cl.22123) My invention relates to improvements in disthe outer portion; to provide a device which may pensing attachment for cans. be successfully used by an'inexperienced' per' At present some little difficulty and inconson, and to provide a device which may be with# venience are experienced in the use of ve galdrawn from the can on which it has been used,

lon cans and in smaller sized cans'in which luwithout damaging it, after the can is empty, and 5 bricating oil is commonly sold. It is dicult to may be reused on other cans for an indefinite pour such oil into the crank case opening of auperiod. Y A tornobile engines as the can cannot be lowered The device as shown in the accompanying sufficiently to bring the spout at the upper. end drawing illustrates'a commercial embodiment of l0. thereof low enough to insure pouring the oil the invention and certain minor modifications 10.

into said opening without spilling it. The same thereof. In said drawing: diiliculty occurs to a greater or less extent in Fig. l is a side elevation oi a rectangular canY the'use of cans or containers used for variousI with the dispensing attachment in the form of a other liquids even Where it is possible to hold spigot applied thereto;` l y 15 the spout of the canclose to the receptacle into Fig. 2 is an enlarged side' elevation of the 15 which the liquid is being poured. .This is true SpigOt; v. particularly where the can and its Vcontents are Fig. 3 is a top View thereof partly in section; heavy. Also, in the case of'cans which contain Fig. 4 is a central sectional elevation; maple syrup or other sticky substance of consid- Fig. 5 is a perspectiveY View of' certain details;

erable viscosity the liquid is apt to drip from the Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified spigot o n a 20 outlet, necessitating a cleaning of the can in smaller scale applied to a cylindrical can; and order to handle it conveniently .during subse-. Fig. 7 is an elevationon a small scaleof a quent operations. Various attempts have been spigot having a flexible tube or extension. made heretofore to overcome this diiculty by The can IG is intended to be typical of any attaching an outlet or spout to the container rectangular can, i. e., one having at vertical 25 after it had been filled with the liquid. However, walls, with the usual handle i l at the top and a it has been difcult to apply these devices to the spout l2 closed by a suitable cap.

canin such a way as to insure a tight joint and The body of the dispensing attachment or alsoto provide a device which maybe removed spigot I3 is of generally cylindrical form, thev g from the receptacle after it is empty and which tubular outer. part havingv a ange or shoul-go may be used again. As a result, the theoretical. der i4 and a reduced cylindrical extension advantages of an attachment of this character l5 with a gasket or. compressible washer 'l5' have not been fully attained in actual practice. against the shoulder M. This gasket may bje The general object oi my invention is to pro made of oil proof rubber, cork or'other material vide'an improved device of this character having suitable for the liquid, the vescape of which is '35 a pointed end which is pushed through the wall intended to be prevented by this sealing memof the container and having means whereby said ber. The cylindrical extension l5 has transverse Wall may be firmly clamped between shoulders openings il therethrough,through which the on said device to hold the later securely in place liquid enters in flowing through the tubular and prevent leakage. member I3. The inner end .of the cylindricalv 40 A COIltrblltOYy Objet iS t0 provide an attachextension l5 has a tapered or cone shaped porment of this character having means for extion i8 which acts as a cam surface as hereinpanding the inner part of the attachment, after after described. t it has been pushed through the opening formed The conical end IS has a non-circular openby the pointed inner end, thus forming a posiing in it, i. e. square, hexagonal or of other 45 tive abutment against Whchthe can wall may outline, preferably Square, to receivethe. shaft be clamped from the outside. te of .square cross section, which slides back and Other objects are: to provide a device of this forth in said opening without rotating. The ChaTaCtl Wl'lCh dOCS X101? Tefllll the turning 0f inner end .of the shaft. i9 carries a cylindrical the portion which is forced through the can wall part 20 which has a conical head 2l tapering 50 in order to eliect ther clanflpingl engagement; to to a sharp point. Surrounding the shaft ware provide a device in the form of a spigot, having a plurality of curved` shells which conjointly an improved valve in the outer end; to provide present a cylindrical outline no larger in cross n a device having an adjustableY inner portion section than the cylindrical end 20. In thev which may be expanded and contracted from present case there are two such shellsorwings'55 2 22, 23, which, in eect are pivoted at theirvinner ends near the head and which may be swung foutwardly at their outer ends to increase the effective diameter of theV body and to present positive abutments so that thev wall of the container Il) kmay be clamped Vbetween `these adjustable shells or abutments and the fixed abutment I4, preferably with the interposed, thick,

compressible gasket I6. f

These adjustable abutments are each in the "form of a half cylinder, as shown in Fig. 5. The

longer one 22 has a ring 24 atits inner end ,loosely surrounding the square shaft I9 wherebyV it may swing to a certain anglewithout binding, the opening in said ring being rectangular Vand preferably oblong, with two of the walls at an incline, as shown in Fig. 4....In .like man? ner the half cylinder 23 also has a ring 25 at its inner end, surrounding` saidsquare'shaft I9 but of smaller diameter than the ring 24, as shownin Figs. 4 and 5, the opening in said ring being oblong in this case also, with two inclined walls. The surface or corner of the ring 25 adjacent the ring 24 is beveled or rounded somewhat andthe corresponding corner of the ring 24 Yis also rounded, toV facilitate the swinging or rocking movement of the two abutments to the position shown in Fig. 4 with their outer ends spread 'apart and to insure` their return movement.V The rings are normallyfat vright angles to the shaft I9v and the semi-cylindrical abutments 22,v 23 are at right angles to said rings and hence parallel to said shaft. A helical spring 26is confined between the ring 25 and the conical end I'and holds the two' shells 22,v 23 normallyv in contact withu each other; and parallel to said shaft, bypressing. thetwo rings against the flat surface ofthe head 20.

Y 'The' outerend 421 of the, shaft i9 is threaded 'witha ne thread, and is. received within a screw Vthreaded cone shaped head or nut 28 spaced from but securedtoan annular projection 29 on theV valve 30 by `means .ofl bracketsv preferably formed Vintegral therewith. TheV valve housing 30 may be gripped in the hand asa handle and rotated with referenceto the cylindrical body I3, the part 29 fitting within and rotating in the cylindrical body I3, and the flange 3| serving as a stop to resist'the inward thrust of theshaft under the influence of the helical spring 26. The nut 28'rotates with the valve housing and draws in the `square shaft I9, against theaction of said helical spring, Vthus forcing the outer ends ofj the` pivoted abutments 22 `and23 against the conical' surface I8; 'I'he latteracts as aV cam and spreads the abutments suiciently to enable them to slide: over the cylindrical extension I5 and press theQwall I 0 of the cam against ,theV

gasket Ili andthe shoulder I4,fthus clamping 'said wall between positive abutments and forming a tight seal. If the valve housing 30 is rotated in the opposite direction, the squareL shaft I 94 is moved `to the rear under the action of the spring 26, and thus the pivoted abutments, are

swung down to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 by the pressure of the end of the helical spring against the end rings 24, 25, in which initial position they form 'substantially a complete cylinder of a diameter no greater .than 'and preferably less than the diameter of the cylindrical extension I5.' p t' The valve housing 3U is .equipped with any suitable valve handle 32 above the same, said handle being fastened by a pin 33to the valve stem34, the lower part of which ilares as a cone shaped valve 35 with one side cut out, whereby rotation of said valve opens or cuts oil? communication between the interior of the hollow body I3 and the nozzle 36. The spring 3l' is compressed Vbetween the 'lower surface 38 ofthe handle and the shoulder 39 in the valve housing, thus exerting an upward pressure on the tapering valve and tending to hold it in place, thus preventing leakage without the use vof packing or gaskets.

In view of the foregoing description, the manner 4of applying the device to the can and the koperationof the spigot will be evident. The can I0 is placed on'itsside so that the wall to which lthe dispensing attachment is to be applied, is uppermost. The sharp end is then forced through the metal and thedevice pushed in until further movement is limited by the shoulder I4 and gasket y I6, after which the valve housing 30 is used as a handle and rotated to` expand the two inner abutments and clamp the device firmly in place.

If it is necessary to prevent rotation Aof the device.

as a whole, the body I3 may be held against turning by the other hand. Also, if 'after screwing the device up hard to insure against leakage,the

valve should notbe in vertical position, right side up, the parts may be unscrewed a little to relax the pressure `and the device as a wholerotated byv turning Ythe body I3 the necessary amount, after which the retightening of the parts will bring the valve to vertical position. However, the

thread 21 being a fine thread; and the-gasket I6 being comparativelyy thick, the latter may be com-v pressed enough'to bring the valve tothe desiredV position and make a tight joint merely by screwing the partsv a little tighter and without makingk any adjustment whatever.

Where the device is to be applied to a cylindrical can as distinguished from one havingflat walls, theflange I4 instead of'presenting a at inner face may be curved as shown at 49 in Fig. 6,

although in most casessuch curved flange is not necessary as aflat flangejand the proper gasket will insure a tight seal, even on'a cylindrical can.

Where aexible extension kis desired to afford a little'more latitude in discharging the contents ofthe container, a spigot may be vformed with an extensionfin the form of a flexible hose or cable 4I `which may be an armored cable or otherwise. This short length of flexible tubing may Vbe merely in the form of an attachment toslip over the nozzle` 36.`

- I claim:V f

1. A dispensing attachment comprising abhollow body having a sharp inner end whereby said body may be pushed part'way into a container when said sharp end isforced through the'wall of said container, a movable abutment associated with the portion of said body which peneL1 trates said wall and means on'the outer portion,v

`said members being movable outwardly relatively to each other, and means on the outer end of said body to move said members outwardly beyond the limits of said cross sectional outline and to retract them.

3f.f.An; attachment vspigot for: containers l com-,f prising a hollow? cylindrical bodyhaving':az-pointfv that of the portion of said body which.zp'rotrudes-I into"s'aidcontainerjand an actuating member movable longitudinally within said body, one end of which is connected to said movable members to swing them outwardly, and rotatable means at the other end of said body to move said vactuating member.

4. An attachment spigot for containers comprising a hollow body having a pointed inner end to penetrate a wall of said container, a p-air of movable members mounted on opposite sides of said body and normally having a cross sectional outline, including the outline of said body, no greater than that of the opening in said. wall made by the pen-etration of said pointed end, an actuating member movable longitudinally within said body, one end of which is connected to said movable members to swing them outwardly, and manually operable means at the other end of said body to move said actuating member.

5. An attachable and detachable spigot for containers, comprising an elongated body having a sharp inner end to puncture awall of said container, abutments movably mounted on said body whereby they may expand and contract, resilient means normally holdingl said abutments in contracted position, whereby they do not interfere with the insertion or withdrawal of said body through said punctured wall, and means near the outer end of said body having mechanical connections with said movable abutments, whereby the latter may be expanded against the action of said resilient means and permitted to be retracted thereby.

6. An attachable and detachable spigot for containers, comprising a hollow, elongated body havv ing a sharp inner end to puncture a wall of said container, members movably mounted on said body whereby they may expand to form inner abutments or may contract so as not to interfere With the insertion or withdrawal of said body through said punctured wall, resilient means ncrmally holding said members in contracted position, positively actuated means near theouter end of said hollow body having mechanical connections through the same to said inner abutments, whereby the latter may be expanded against the action of said resilient means and permitted to be contracted thereby, and an outer abutment on said body, between said means and said'movable inner abutments, whereby said container wall surrounding said aperture may be clamped between said outer and inner abutments.

7. An attachment spigot for thin walled liquid containers comprising an elongated body, a rod passing longitudinally therethrough and non-rotatable with respect to the same, the outer end of said rod being -screw threaded, a valveat the outer end of said body having a nut engaging said screw threaded rod whereby rotation of said valve will move said rod longitudinally, a plurality of pivoted members ,mounted on the inner end of said body and actuated by said rod and a sharp inner end on said body to penetrate the container wall.

8. An attachment spigot comprising a body portion having a pointed inner end to puncture a saidfrbodyfpo'rtion' vbetween said 'inner" end? :and said', ange-,i andfadapte'd toextend within-,said

container beyond, said puncturediwallqon the sidel opposite Vsaidefiangeya' pair of abutments pivoted to sa.id-bodf,r ,inwardly-of.- saidf-inclined surfaces,"

and a"-flongitudinally vmovablegshaft -passing throughrsaid lbody for drawing said.'almtments against said inclined surfaces tospread the sameand force them into positive engagementvwith the inner surface of said wall. v

9. An attachment spigot for containers comprising an elongated, hollow body having a reduced inner extension, a shoulder thereon, said.

face and means for moving said rod outwardlyrto cause the outer ends of said wings to ride over said conical surface and spread the' same.

l0. An attachment spigot for liquid containers 3 comprising a shaft, a pair of semi-circular Wings surrounding the same, each wing having a ring at its inner end with an opening through which said shaft passes loosely in non-rotatable engagement, an outer tubular member, for conveying liquid from said container, surrounding the outer end of said shaft, a cam surface on the inner end of said tubular member adjacent the outer ends of said wings, and means near the outer end of said tubular member for drawing said shaft outwardly to cause said cam surface to be engaged by and to spread said wings.

l1. An attachment spigot for liquid containers comprising a tubular casing having a flange intermediate its ends, a transverse opening through said casing on one side of said flange, a closure for the adjacent end of said tubular casing having an axial opening therein, a shaft passing longitudinally through said casing and through said axial opening, a faucet having an extension fitting within the other end of said casing and having a nut spaced therefrom by brackets, the outer end of said shaft having screw threaded engagement with said nut, semi-cylindrical wings each" having a ring at the end thereof through which the inner end of said shaft slides, and a helical spring between said rings and the inner end of said tubular casing.

l2. An attachment spigot for liquid containers comprising a tubular casing having a flange intermediate its ends, the inner end of said casing having a tapering closure with a rectangular opening therein, a rectangular shaft passing through said opening and positioned axially with respect to said casing, the outer end of said shaft being screw threaded, a head affixed to the inner end of said shaft, a pair of rings on said shaft against said head, an axial extension on each ring normally terminating at said tapering closure, a helical spring between said rings and said closure normally holding said axial extensions parallel to said shaft, a handle at the outer end of said tubular casing and a nut carried thereby engaging the screw threaded end of said shaft, whereby when said handle is rotated said axial extensions are caused to diverge by said tapering closure.

13. A device as in claim 12 wherein the handle is a faucet communicating with said tubular casing to discharge liquid from said container.

14. An attachment spigot for liquid containers comprising a tubular casing having a flange intermediate its ends, the inner end of said casing having a tapering closure with a rectangular openingV therein; Ya rectanglar'fshaft passing through said opening and positioned axially with having a fine screw thread thereon, a faucetat 2`,`o'o1",4a1` l the outer end' of said tubular casing, a nut carried thereby engaging said screw thread, whereby when said fauet is rotated said pivoted arms Vare e Y caused to diverge by said tapering closure, and a thick compressible gasket positioned inside said 5 iiange to permit rotation of said `i'aucet to vertifY Y cai position. Y SCUIKTM. ABBOTT;

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