US2044208A - Spouted container - Google Patents

Description

June 16, 1936. c. o. CONNER ET AL SPOUTED CONTAINER Filed Oct/18, 1954 r 1L .1. 281.9 29 2 I 14 J 2 29 INVENTORS Patented June 16, 1936 SPOUTED CONTAINER Guy 0. Conner and Howard W. Karges, Wheeling, W. Va., assignors to Wheeling Steel Corporation, Wheeling, W. 'Va., a corporation of Delaware Application October 18, 1934, Serial No. 748,870 4 Claims. (Cl. 221-27) This invention relates broadly to spouted containers, and more particularly to containers provided with spouts of the retractible type. It further relates to certain improvements in spouted containers and in retractible spouts therefor.

Containers provided with retractible spouts have been open to various objections, among which are the difficulty of pulling out the spout without soiling the hands with the contents of the container, the limitation of the spout to one operative position, the difficulty of preventing leakage between the spout and the container both when the spout is in operative position and when it is in intermediate positions, the necessity of avoiding resting the container on the spout during pouring-due to the danger of recession of the spout and leakage thereabout, the provision of supporting means for the spout extending within the spout and partially obstructing the passageway therethrough, and the difiiculty of keeping the portion of the container outwardly of the spout free from the contents of the container before the filled container is first used.

We provide a container having a spout of the retractible type which obviates the disadvantages of prior containers of this type. Leakage between the container and the spout is positively prevented when the spout is in its outward position and, in one form of structure, when the spout is in any position. The spout automatically moves at least part way to operative position when the container closure member is removed, thus avoiding fishing into the container for the spout with the fingers, and the spout may assume a plurality of adjusted operative positions with its outlet at different distances from the container. When the spout is in its outward position it may be positively fastened with respect to the container so that the container may be rested upon the spout during pouring. The passageway through the spout is unobstructed at all times. These and other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of certain present preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing we have shown certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, in which Figure 1 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view through a container provided with a spout of the retractible type;

Figure 2 is a partial view similar to Figure 1 showing the spout in its outward position;

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, taken on the line I1IIII of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 2 :but of a modified form of constructionand with the spout in intermediate position.

Purely for purposes of illustration and explanation, the invention is shown as applied to a sheet metal container v2 having a rolling ring 3 and provided with .the usual beaded rim '4. Connected with the container is a cover 5 of the lug type having a .circumferentially extending upwardly depressed portion 6 adapted to partially receive the rim 3, and sealing means I are interposed between the rim and the portion '6 of the cover in a manner known in the art. The sealing means l may, for example, be of the type disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Charles H. Rollason, Serial No. 676,131, filed June 16, 1933. The cover .is held in place by a series of circumferentially spaced inwardly bent lugs .8, .as known in the art.

The cover 5 has a depressed portion 9, which is preferably eccentric with respect thereto and adjacent the rim of the container. Seamed to the cover at the portion 9 by a seam I0 is an upwardly extending neck ll externally threaded at 12. The neck H has an upwardly projecting sealing rim l3 and an .inwardly and downwardly extending portion M terminating in an inwardly facing flange l5, shown in plan view in Figure 3. The flange I5 has at intervals therealong substantially semi-circular openings l6, as shown in Figure 3, and intermediate the openings [6 are .small upwardly pressed stop portions H, for a purpose to be presently described.

There is provided a spout I18 of the retractible type which may conveniently be made of sheet metal and which has an upper rim l9 .and a flange 29 at its foot. A sealing gasket 2| is seated on the flange 2%. Above the gasket 2| the spout is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced outward projections 22 the spacing of which is the same as the spacing of the openings I 6 in the flange H5. The projections 22 are of such .size as to pass through the openings 16 and their spacing relatively to the flange 20 and the gasket 2| is such that when the spout is moved to its extreme outward position the projections 22 will just pass through the openings 16 with the lower portions of the projections bearing against the upper surface of the flange l5, whereupon the spout may be rotated about its own axis to move the projections out of line with the openings. The spout may be turned until the respective projections strike the respective stop portions IT, as shown in Figure 3, in which the spout hasbeen moved to its extreme outward position 'andthen rotated in the clockwise direction relatively to the flange 15. The spout is thus positively fastened with respect to the container, being in effect interlocked with the flange l5. A tight seal may be elfected between the gasket 2! and the flange 15, the gasket covering the openings iii and preventing leakage between the spout and the container. If desired, a slight annular downward projection 23 may be provided intermediate the portion l4 and the flange 15, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, such projection serving for cooperation with the gasket 2| instead of the flange i5 itself. As the surface of contact between the projection 23 and the gasket is less than the surface of contact which would exist if the gasket were in direct contact with the under side of the flange i5, this enables the projection 23 to dig slightly into the gasket and effect a somewhat more perfect seal. In either event the spout is positioned with respect to the container with sufficient rigidity and firmness to enable the container to be rested on the spout during pouring without the danger of recession of the spout or leakage thereabout.

A coil spring 24 surrounds the spout l8 and is adapted to bear between the upper rim IQ of the spout and the upper surface of the flange I5. The upper portion of the spring 22 may, if desired, enter the rim i9, as shown in Figure 2, in which case the rim is made hollow for reception of the upper portion of the spring. This assists in maintaining the spring in place at all times and prevents rattling thereof.

The strength of the spring is preferably such that when the container is opened it will project the spout l3 upwardly at least part way. This avoids the necessity of fishing for the spout with the fingers and places the spout in such position that it may easily be grasped with the hand and pulled out to its extreme outward position and then rotated, as above explained, before pouring. The spring is such that when the spout is retracted fully inwardly it is compressed between the rim l9 and the flange l5, as shown in Figure 1, and preferably full compression of the spring brings the upper surface of the rim l9 into substantially the same plane as the upper surface of the sealing rim IS.

A container closure member 25 is provided which may be of usual construction with a downwardly extending internally threaded annular flange 26 adapted to be screwed down on the neck H, as shown in Figure 1. The closure member is provided with gasket means 21 which may comprise a cork gasket faced with tin foil, as shown in Figure 1. Connected with the closure member 25 by rivets 28 is a bar 29 adapted for cooperation with means for tightly screwing down the closure member; The gasket 2? of the closure member cooperates with the sealing rim 13 to seal the container and also with the rim IQ of the spout to seal the spout. If the spring 24 is of such dimensions that application of the container closure member 25 brings about substantial pressure between the gasket 21 and the rim l9 this effectively seals the spout as well as the container, the closure member 25 serving in this case as a common sealing means.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 4, this figure shows a modified construction in which the parts corresponding to the parts of the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 are designated by the same reference numerals but with primes afiixed. In this modification the flange I5 is solid and provided with openings and stop portions similar to the openings l6 and stop portions H. An annular space is provided which is bounded at the top by the flange l5 and at the bottom by the extra piece of metal 30, and there is received within such portion a felt sealing means or wiper 32.

the spout is moved outwardly the contents of the container are wiped off of its outer surface so that such surface will be comparatively clean and suitable for handling in turning the spout. In this construction somewhat more friction is created between the container and the spout than in the construction of Figures 1, 2 and 3 so that the spring 24 is preferably made stronger. It will be understood that the strength of the spring may easily be determined in accordance with the requirements in each particular case.

When the spout I8 is moved to its outward position it is adapted to be interlocked with the flange 3i similarly to the interlocking of. the spout I8 with the flange H5 in the form of Figures 1, 2 and 3, as above explained.

In Figure 4 there is shown a friction cap 33 which is fitted within the top of -thespout [8 to initially seal the spout so as to prevent the contents of the container from passing through the spout before the container is used. This is undesirable as the portion of the container outwardly of the spout and within the container closure member becomes covered with the contents of the container. When the friction cap 33 is used it is not possible for the contents of the container to pass either around or through the spout before the container is first opened so that the spout and the portion of the container thereabove will be clean and easy to handle.

There is provided means 34 for positively urging the wiping means 32 into contact with the spout. The means 34 may be of any suitable resilient material, such as a heavy rubber band or ring or a spring. It is found that without the use of the means 34 the wiping means sometimes loses its tight contact with the spout, permitting some seepage therebetween. This is substantially eliminated by the provision of the means 34.

While we have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the same is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A container having a spout of the retractible type, wiping means about said spout, and means for positively urging said wiping means into contact with the spout.

This felt wiper engages the outer surface ofthe spout l8 at all times and insures that when 70 2. A container having a spout of the retracti- 3. A container having a spout of the retractible type having an outturned rim at its outer extremity and spring means for urging the spout to operative position, said. spring means engaging '5 said rim and being maintained. in place thereby.

4. A container having a spout of the retractible type having a hollow rim at its outer extremity and. spring means for urging the spout to operative position, said spring means being engaged within said. hollow rim.

GUY O. CONNER. HOWARD W. KARGES.

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