US2313278A - Dispensing container construction - Google Patents

Description

March 9, 1943. w. F. STRAUB DIS PENSING CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION Filed April 19, 1940 WaZferfl'Jfraub Patented Mar. 9, 1943 UNITED STATS DISPENSING CONTAINER CONSTRUGTION Walter F. Straub, Chicago, IlL, assignor to W; F.

Straub & Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 19, 1940, Serial No. 330,574

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in dispensing containers and more particularly to a container of this type adapted for use with syrupy liquids such as honey and the like. i a

A general object of the invention is to provide a container provided at the top with novel closure and dispensing means which is of simple and inexpensive construction, is easy to operate, and is efiicient and reliable in use.

A more particular object is to provide a container having a novel friction cap or cover and sealing liner construction.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a container having the dispensing means depressed within the top. which is constructed to be relatively level and free of protruding parts so that one containermay be stacked on another.

Another object is to provide a container in which the top structure is such that the contents can be selectively discharged in either substantially unrestricted flow or as a small relatively restricted, easily controlled stream.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a container having a top construction arranged for controlled dispensing of the container contents in such a manner that only a bare minimum of the contents can remain on the exterior of the top and such remainder is confined against spreading over other parts of the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved friction top closure for containers and a novel liner construction.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description and from the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmental, exploded perspective view of a container embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the container.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary axial sectional view through the container showing the same in pouring position.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a preformed sealing liner for use with the container.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawing and will herein describe in detail a preferred embodiment, but itand scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

For ordinary culinary and table uses the relatively thick, viscous liquids such as honey or syrup present a problem in dispensing due to a tendency for substantial amounts thereof to adhere to and spread or smear over the outside of the container after pouring. -It is therefore desirable to provide means for controlling discharge of the viscous material in a manner to avoid as much as possible any amount of the material remaining upon the outside of the container. Any material that does perchance remain should be directed back into the container or into a portion of the top where it will not be objectionable. The means for this purpose must be inexpensive in order to be commercially practical. In addition such means preferably should not interfere with proper stacking of the containers one upon the other either for shipment or for storage or display purposes.

According to the present invention all of these features may be embodied in a container formed of sheet metal or other suitable material, the' body of which has a large opening at the top closed by a friction cover or cap between which and the seating portion of the container is intera posed a liner forming a tight leak-proof seal.

For pouring the contents from'the large top' opening of the container the friction cap and liner may be removed. On the other hand, for pouring only a relatively small controlled stream of material, the closure cap may have a smaller dispensing aperture for pouring a. small controlled stream, a cover for this aperture aiding in controlling the stream. The liner avoids accidental leakage through the dispensing aperture prior to opening the container for pouring. As a further aid in controlling the stream discharged through the dispensing aperture, a spout is formed upon the closure cap. To enable stacking of one container upon the other, the dispensing aperture and its cover are located in a depressed portion of the closure cap, so as to avoid interfering projections above the general fiat plane of the cap. The pouring spout is also con structed to conform generallyrto the top plane of the cap for stacking purposes.

In the exemplary form of the invention shown in the drawing, the container includes a body H) which has a top opening I I, in the present instance defined by a top in the form of a rim member I2 secured in any preferred manner to the adjacent edge of the container body and in cluding a downwardly or substantially axially inwardly extending annular flange l3. The opening may be of any preferred outline, being shown herein as of round form. Material may be poured from the container through the opening H, and by preference the rim I2 is formed on an inward, herein substantially frusto-conical, slant to assist in controlling the flow and also to assure return toward the interior of the container of the contents material which may remain on the rim after pouring. This avoids running down the outside of the container of such remaining contents material. The container may be formed of any material suitable for the purpose to which it is to be put such as sheet metal and may be of any preferred shape but is shown herein as of conventional round can form.

The rim I2 and the flange I13 provide a seat for a dished friction cover or cap generally designated I4, which provides a closure for the opening II. This cap includes a body or base wall I circumscribed by an angularly disposed wall flange It at the outer edge of which is formed a laterally outwardly extendin per pher flange substantially ofiset from the base wall It. At its" outer edge the flange I? has a reenforcing bead I8 which in the present instance is formed as a turned under narrow retrovert flange. In assembly the flange wall It and the seating flange l3 cooperate in opposed telescopic relation for holding the cap in place and the cap flange overlies the rim l2. The cap flange ll preferably is formed to slant inwardly parallel to the rim l2 and thus fits relatively closely thereto. Through this arrangement the friction cap I4 may be pried off if desired to pour the contents from the container aided by the slanting rim l2. When the cap is in closing relation upon the container, one container may be readily stacked upon the other.

In order to enable dispensing of relatively small, controlled amounts of material from the container, the base wall l5 of the friction cap is provided with a dispensing aperture Id of relatively small discharge area and located adjacent to the wall flange |6. The pouring edge of the dispensing aperture I9 is preferably formed on a radius parallel with the wall flange l5 and somewhat spaced therefrom by a narrow sill 20. The

remaining outline of the dispensing aperture I9 may be of substantially rectangular proportions.

Material discharging from the dispensing aperture |9 passes over a spout member 2| which may be formed'in alinement with the aperture as an integral lateral projection from the cap flange This spout 2| holds the stream away i from the adjacent underlying portions of the container as seen in Fig. 3, and when the container is returned to non-pouring condition any slight amount of material adhering to the spout is prevented from running down the outside wall of the container. Since the base of the spout 2| is actually the adjacent portion of the cap flange I1 and the projecting portion of the spout is beyond the circumference of the flange the bottom of another container may in stacking be freely seated coaxially upon the top surface of this flange. To assure return toward the dispensing opening IQ of any material remaining upon the spout 2| it may be formed to slant inwardly. Upon righting the container after pouring, the remaining material is thus caused to run back down the spout '2I and the slanting spout-base portion ofthe cap flange ll toward the dispensing opening l9. As a result, the exterior of the container is kept free and clean of the material,

A closure for the dispensing opening H! is provided in the present instance by an elongated generally flat slide or cover member 22 mounted upon the base wall l5 for movement into and out of closing relation to the aperture. The cover 22 may be formed from sheet metal and to facilitate manipulation is transversely folded outwardly at its center to form a handle 23 which is manually engageable to facilitate movement of the closure. To avoid interference with stacking of one container upon the other, the handle 23 is dimensioned to lie wholly within the depressed portion of the cap l4 so as not to project out of the general top or stacking plane of the cap.

The length of the sliding cover 22 is so proportioned to the diameter of the cap base wall l5 that in its fully open position the rear end of the cover engages and is stopped by the cap wall flange I5 rearwardly of the dispensing aperture I5, while in its fully closed position the limit of movement is defined by engagement of the forward edgeof the cover with the base of the cap wall flange l6 forwardly of the aperture and inwardly of the spout 2| (see full and broken line positions, respectively, of Figs. 2 and 3). The

width of the cover 22 is preferably such that in the closed position it extends protectively marginally all around the dispensing aperture H! at least to the same extent as thewidth ofthe sill I 23 which it overlies. Moreover, the forward edge of the cover 22 may be of arcuate shape formed on the same radius as the pouring edge of the dispensing aperture i9. Through this arrangement, the cover 22-enables cutting off prior to righting the .container of the stream of material pouring from the dispensing aperture I9, the cover being moved from its open position by manipulation of the handle 23 to carry the forward edge thereof through the stream, gradually attenuating the latter until the cover reaches the sill 26. At this point the stream is stopped and practically all of the discharged material will have left the container cap by the time the container is again righted.

The opening and closing sliding movements of the cover '22 are guided by means such as pairs of lugs or tongues 26 and 25 struck out from the base wall l5 of the cap and respectively overlying the outer side marginal portions. of the front and rear sections of the handle.

Leakage through the openings in the base wall it left by striking out of the tongues 24 and 25, or through the dispensing aperture l9 during handling or transportation, is prevented by a liner 26 which extends across the base wall and completely seals it from the inside.

For convenience in assembly, the liner l9 may be preformed as best seen in Figs. 1 and 4 to receive the friction cap M in snug nested relation and to fit telescopically between the cap and the seating rim structure l2. Accordingly, the periphery of the liner may be offset to provide an angular upwardly extending flange 21 which in assembly fits frictionally between the flange l6 of the cap and the seating rim flange l3 of the container. An outer flange 23 extends laterally from the outer edge of the flange 21 and is received betwen the rim l2 and the cap flange IT. The outside diameter of the flange 28 is preferably such that it will lie within the reenforcing bead is so that the latter protectively closes the gap formed between the rim l2 and the cap flange resulting from interposition of the liner flange. As a result of the preformation of the r liner I9, it can be assembled first either with the friction cap l4 or with the seating rim l2 of the container, whereafter by relative assembly' to undue tension or strain such as might cause a flat liner to rupture in assembly. Complete assurance istherefore had that the container is thoroughly sealed.

The liner 26 may be formed from any material suitable for the purpose such as metal foil or treated fibrous material characterized by severability so that when the user wishes to dispense material through the aperture is an opening can be made through the liner by removing, as by cutting out with a sharp knife or the like, the portion thereof which is exposed through the aperture upon sliding the cover 22 open. To facilitate removal of such portion of the liner, a line of weakening such as scoring 29 (Fig. 4) may be formed in the liner to register with at least the pouring edge of the dispensing aperture l9. This line of scoring 29 may be of an arcuate length to permit considerable angular tolerance in assembly of the liner and the friction cap, and as shown may extend approximately half way around the body of the liner so that registration of the scoring and the pouring edge of the aperture can be effected anywhere within an arcuate range of 180. Thereby more than ample leeway is afforded for relative angular shifting of the liner and cap during assembly. An important advantage of the scoring 29 resides in the ease with which severance of the aperture-sealing portion of the liner may be started even with a blunt instrument and without danger of pulling the adjacent portion, of the liner flanges 2'1? and 28 from sealing relation between the friction cap and the cap-seat rim of the container.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention affords an improved dispensing container of thoroughly efficient and reliable form which requires but few and relatively simple parts adapted to be made inexpensively with available forming machinery. This permits manufacture of the container and closure at low cost.

For handling or shipment prior to opening the container for dispensing purposes, it is thoroughly sealed against any escape of the contents. Then by prying off the friction cap, the contents can be discharged directly through the large top opening of the container, or by opening a port through the sealing liner the material may be discharged in a controlled stream through the dispensing aperture in the friction cap. In either event, any material remaining after pouring and righting of the container is prevented from running down the sides of the container but is directed back toward the opening from which it has been poured. Further avoidance of the disagreeable conditions attendant upon running or spreading of material over the outside of the container is attained by use of the convenient slide cover in cutting off the stream discharging through the dispensing aperture in the cap before returning the container to non-pouring condition. The pouring spout on the closure cap also substantially aids in controlling the cilitates stacking of one container upon the other.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination in a container construction of the character described, a container having a top rim defining an opening, a dished cap to fit within said opening and having a laterally extending peripheral flange, a preformed dished liner member interfitting with said cap and engaging frictionally between the cap and said rim, a laterally extending peripheral flange on said liner member underlying said peripheral cap flange but being somewhat narrower, and a reenforcing bead formed around the outer edge of said peripheral cap flange and protectively closing the gap resulting from interposition of the liner flange between'the cap flange and said rim.

2. A container construction of the character described comprising, in combination, a body having an upwardly facing top rim defining an opening, a friction cap having a generally axially extending peripheral wall flange fitting within said opening and a flange extending laterally from said wall flange overlying said rim, said cap being removable to pour material from the container directly through said top opening, and a dispensing aperture in said cap, said rim and said laterally extending flange slanting inwardly so that material remaining either on said rim after pouring through said top opening or remaining upon said laterally extending flange after pouring through said dispensing aperture will be directed inwardly and prevented from running down the outside of the container body.

3. In combination in a dispensing container 7 construction, a friction cap having an end wall,

stream of material discharging through the dispensing aperture. Moreover, the novel construction of the closure cap with respect to the dispensing aperture cover and the pouring spout faa generally axially extending peripheral flange on said end wall formedon a radius and adapted to engage frictionally at its outer face with the rim of an associated container, and a lateral flange extending outwardly from the end of said periph-.

eral flange and slanting toward said end wall, said end wall having a dispensing aperture adja cent to-said peripheral flange in such relation that the peripheral flange and said lateral flange together form a spout structure for the aperture for controlling a stream of material discharging through the aperture and for returning toward the aperture such material as may remain on the spout structure after pouring.

4. In combination in a dispensing container construction, a friction cap having an end wall, a generally axially extending peripheral flange on said end wall formed on a radius and adapted to engage frictionally at its outer face with the rim of an associated container, a lateral flange extending outwardly from the end of said peripheral flange and slanting toward said end wall, said end wall having a dispensing aperture adjacent to said peripheral flange in such relation that the peripheral flange and said lateral flange together form a spout structure for the aperture for controlling a stream of material discharging through the aperture and for returning toward the aperture such material as may remain on the spout structure after pouring, and an inwardly slanting spout extension on said lateral flange in alinement with said aperture arranged to render the spout structure more effective.

5. A container construction adapted for dispensing viscous materials comprising, in combination, a container body having a top rim defining an opening, a friction cap having an end wall 7 adapted to fit in closing relation within said opening, a generally axially extending peripheral flange on said end wall adapted to engage frictionally with said rim to hold the cap in the closing condition, said end wall having a dispensing aperture adjacent to said peripheral flange, a lateral flange extending outwardly from the upper edge of said peripheral flange and overlying said rim, the portions of said peripheral flange and said lateral flange adjacent to and in alinement with said dispensing aperture cooperating to form a spout structure for controlling a stream of material discharging through the aperture and for returning to the aperture material remaining after pouring, and a spout member formed in alinement with said aperture as an integral lateral projection from said lateral flange, said spout member extending beyond theperiphery of the container body to prevent running down of material along the outside of the container.

6. In a container construction of the character described, a body having a side wall structure and an upwardly facing inwardly directed top flange on said side wall structure defining an annular top opening, a friction closure cap fitting in said opening and having a dispensing aperture adjacent to its periphery, a lateral flange on said cap covering said top flange, and a lip integral with said lateral flange projecting out beyond the side wall of the body in alinement with said aperture and serving as a spout member.

7. In a container construction of the character described, a body having a side wall structure and an upwardly facing inwardly directed top flange on said side wall structure defining an annular top opening, a friction closure cap fitting in said opening and having a dispensing aperture adjacent to its periphery, a lateral flange on said cap covering said top flange, and a lip integral with said lateral flange projecting out beyond the side wall of the body in alinement with said aperture and serving as a spout member, said lateral flange and said lip slanting inwardly to return toward said opening material remaining thereon when the container is righted after pouring.

WALTER F. STRAUB.

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