US2643793A - Can spout with punch and holddown latch - Google Patents

Description

June 30, 1953 J. H. MCILROY ETAL 2,643,793

CAN SPOUT WITH PUNCH AND HOLDDOWN LATCH Filed April 15, 1952 Fig.

Joe H. Mal/ray William N. Lampe INVENTORS BY I ma,

Patented June 30, 1953 can S-POUT wrrn PUNCH AND nommwn LATCH Y Joe Mcllroy' and William N .Lampe,

. Amarillo, Tex. t Application April 15, 1952, Serial No. 282,294

- t 4 Claims. (01. 2 22;.- 90) The present invention relates to readily applicable and removable pouring spouts, generally speaking, and has more particular reference to a simple, practical and economical attachment type'spout which is applicable-to commodity cans to facilitate emptyingthe: contentsof the can either all at once or atspaced timely periods.

-' Spouts in the category underconsideration are, of course, not broadly ew; It follows that the prior art teaches the. use of many and varied styles and forms of can-type spouts which are useful indispensing either-liquids or dry granular and powdered material for handy use and which may be left in place on the container and stored away in the ice box or elsewhere.- 7

The present invention'relates to a construction which, it is believed, is possessed of worthwhile refinements and improvements which when taken strictly into account go to make up a distinct kind of spout which constitutes anovel contribution to the art.

In carrying out the invention'a spout is provided which is susceptible of being used again and again especially because of its durable char acteristics and the fact that the structural details are such that the spout can be easily washed and kept clean and sanitary at all times.

Novelty is also predicated upon a spout construction wherein the attachable end is sealed against the top of a can and wherein the opposite discharge end is provided with *a removable cap wherebythe spout keeps the contents of the can from spilling, leaking and also prevents outside odors from getting into the can and ruining the taste of the contents as is sometimes noticeable with other types of spouts.

A further object, is to provide a spout construction'which is so made that it not only dispenses the liquid from tin and similar containers but also handily dispenses coffee, salt, sugar and other granular products, it being unnecessary with the use of thisspout totransfer the contents of a canto another container immediately upon b n en d- A still further object of the invention is to provide a pouring spout in which manufacturers, retailers and users will find their respective requirements and needs amply and efiectually met.

Briefly, the preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by a tubular open ended pouring spout one open end of the latter having a circular pliant gasket attached thereto and designed to bear against an end of the can to effect a seal between the latter and said spout,- said spout having a can penetrating and opening punch projecting beyond said one end and adapted't'o be forcibly pressed through the coop;- eratingend of the can, a bead attaching and spout fulcruming hook fixedly carried by saidspout and situated in operative relation-to saidpunch, and manually engageable and releasable hold-down latches also carried by said one end of the spout and engageable with marginal edge portions of the can opening formed by'said punch. V Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the afcompanying sheet of illustr'ative drawings. I

In the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views: i

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a commodity canshowing the improved spout and the mannerin which the same is adapted to be applied for use; i

Figure 2 is a view with the portions shown in section andelevation, with the spout in place and ready fo'r use; v

' Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the irregular horizontal line 33 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; Figure 4 is 'a similar section on the line 4-4 looking in the direction of the reversely applied arrows;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional and elevational view detailing'one of the latches and its operating rod and button; and, I

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view detailing the lower fidg or basal construction of the gask'et.

p In the drawings the commoditycan, which is, is denoted by-the letter A and the conventional, top is denoted at B and the rim or bead are;

The improved attachable and detachable spout is of open ended tapering form and it is denoted by the numeral 6.' It is or suitable nomcorr'osive light weight-in'aterial'andcould, if. desired, be or commercial plastics. Inasmuch; however, as it is not only a spout but acan'pu'nch combined, it 'is believed-that it would be desirable to make it of suitable, durable rust-proof metal. The tapering arcuately curved body portion is denoted at 8 and the smaller end is provided with a readily applicable and removable closing cap Ill. The larger basal end portion of the spout which is applicable to the can top is provided with a rubber gasket of annular form which is channelshaped in cross section and which is applied and held in place in the manner shown in Figure 5. The gasket is denoted by the numeral 12 and in use it bears against the surface of the can top as disclosed. Formed integral with the attachable end of the spout is a penetrating member which may be called a can punch and this is denoted by the numeral l4 and in many respects is like the punch used on beer can openers and punches. To this end it is also provided on the exterior with a suitably arranged-flange 'ifi having a hook I 8 which engages the bead of the can and constitutes the desired hook-on and fulcruming means.

It is desirable to make sure that the spout stays in position once it is applied and that leakage is prevented. It is therefore within the purview of the invention to provide latch meansfor. accom-. plishing this end. There are two latches an'd they are both the same and one-is shown in Fig.-

'ure 5. Each latch comprises a spring" finger20 which is suitably shaped and which has one end welded or otherwise secured in place as at 22 to the interior of the: spout. This may be the sole fastening means or it may bedesirable to provide, in addition, agrivet as at 24 for bending the spring finger and putting it under tension although either one ofboth of these fastenings 22 or 24, could perhaps sufiice. The spring finger is properly shaped and located so that the hook on the free end 26 comes into ,play and engages the edge portion of the struck-out openings 28 to provide the desired anchoring, result. The

spring finger is provided with a lug or. car 30 to which a push rod 32 is pivotally connected as at 34. The push rod isoperable through opening means provided therefor as at 36 and the rod extends to the exterior where it is provided with a press button 38 for convenient; access and operation. v

With further reference to the aforementioned gasket ring l2 attention comes to Figure 6 where in it will be seen that, by preferenc the lower or basal edge-of said gasket is preferably molded to include an endless groove or channel l3. This is in effect a suction channel and serves to provide a highly efifective joint between the bas ket and lid or top 13 of the can. v

A careful considerationof the, foregoing description in, conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and a novelty suflicient to clarify the construction of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials or rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice provided that no departure is made e from the invention asclaimed, V

Having described the 'nvention, claimed as new is: p

1. A readily attachable and detachable can attachment compris ng a -tubular open ended that iS pouring spout, one open, end of I the-lat having an endless circular pliant gasket encircling and attachedthereto and designed tobear against an end of the can to effect aseal between the latter and said spout, the surface of said gasket uated in close operative relation to said punch,

and manually engageable and releasable holddown latches also carried by said one end of the spout and engageable with marginal edge portions of the can opening formed by said punch.

*2. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein there are two such latches, the latter being circumferentially spaced from each other and mounted almost wholly within the passage of said spout, each latch comprising a spring finger having one end anchored on said spout and the other end free and terminating in a hook providing a detent.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 and a pushbutton for each latch finger, said push-buttons being accessibly arranged exteriorly of the spout and diametrically opposite to said punch where theymay be simultaneously depressed with the fingers of the users hand.

4. A readily attachable and detachable can attachment comprising a tubular open ended pouring spout, the intake end of ,the latter having a circular pliant gasket attached thereto and having an endless vacuum channel designed to bear against an end of the can to effect a seal between the latter and said intake, said spout having a can penetrating and opening punch projecting beyond said intake end and. adapted to beforcibly pressed through the cooperating end of the can, a bead attaching and spout fulcruming hook fixedly carried by said spout and situated in close operative relation relative to said punch, a pair of vertically disposed spring fingers located wholly within said spout the upper ends of said spring fingers being secured to said spout, at points substantially diametrically op- .posite to said punch, the lower ends being free, spaced from and springable toward and from the body portion of the spout and being provided with lateral hooks providing detents, push-rods slidably mounted in said body portion, said pushrods having their inner ends pivotally connected with their respective fingers, the outer ends of said push-rods being located exteriorly of said body portion and being provided with con veniently actuable push-buttons.

JOE H. MCILROY. WILLIAM N. LAMPE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 940,128 Childs Nov. 16, 1909 1,085,335 Hennaut Jan. 27, 1914 2,505,558 Lyon et al. l Apr. 25, 1950 2,609,968 Ream Sept. 9, 1952

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