US2644578A

US2644578A - Container for a plurality of vacuum bottles

Info

Publication number: US2644578A
Application number: US142165A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bramming Carl
Original assignee: Aladdin Industries LLC
Current assignee: Aladdin Industries LLC
Priority date: 1950-02-03
Filing date: 1950-02-03
Publication date: 1953-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 1970-07-07

Description

July 7, 1953 c. BRAMMING 2,644,578

- con'mmm FOR A" PLURALITY OF VACUUM BOTTLES 4 Filed Feb. 3, 1950 22? INVENTOR."

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 7, 1953 CONTAINER FOR A PLURALITY VACUUM BOTTLES Carl Bramming, Anderson, Ind., assignor to'Aladdin Industries, Incorporated, Chicago, 111., a.

corporation of Illinois Application February 3, 1950, Serial No. 142,165

2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to an improved carrier for a plurality of vacuum bottles.

It is frequently necessary to carry quantities of different foods or beverages at lower or higher than ambient temperatures and to retain them at the heated or cooled condition for long periods of time. Efforts to use as many separate vacuum bottles for this purpose lead. to unacceptable inconveniences, particularly the difficulty of handling many bottles and the large amount of space taken up by them. However, jugs: are not satisfactory for this purpose because they can only hold a single food or drink without mixing and because large vacuum jugs are expensive and exceedingly fragile. Ordinary glass or metal jugs do not hold their contents at elevated or depressed temperatures for long periods.

In accordance with the present invention, a

plurality of vacuum bottles are carried in an array in a single protective carrier. The carrier is arranged so that the food or liquid may be poured from any selected vacuum bottle. In addition, the carrier defines a space for storage of straws, silverware, and other accessories to be used with the vacuum bottles.

The structure of the present invention is'compact, simple, and inexpensive in construction. Yet it provides a highly effective protective housing for the bottles.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved carrier fora plurality of vacuum bottles.

Another object of the present invention is: to provide an improved carrier for a plurality of vacuum bottles that defines a space for straws other accessories.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved carrier for a plurality of vacuum bottles wherein the food or beverage may be poured from any one of the bottles at will. I

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved carrier for a plurality of vacuum bottles that is characterized by simplicity of construction and ease of manufacture and yet effectively protects the bottles against breakage.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and mode of operation, together" with further features and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is .a top plan view of the bottle car rier of the present invention with parts broken away to show the interior structure thereof;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through axis 22, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through axis 33, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sec tional View through axis 44, Figure 1; and,

Figure 4a is a cross-sectional View through axis ic -4a, Figure 4.

As shown in the figures, the vacuum bottle carrier of the present invention holds an array of four spaced parallel vacuum bottles arranged in a square array, the bottles being indicated at Illa, Hlb, i 00, and Hid. As seen best in Figure 2, each bottle has substantially cylindrical side walls terminating at its open end in a lip 12. Adjacent each lip I2, the bottle has reduced size to define a side wall or shoulder [4, Figure 2. At its bottom each bottle is closed and carries a tubulation [6 where the glass is sealed after drawing a vacuum. This tubulation is particularly fragile.

As seen in the broken away portion at the left side of Figure 2, the bottles each have an inner jacket l8 and an outer jacket 28 which together define an enclosed space. The outer wall of the inner jacket and the inner wall of the outer jacket are coated with a reflective material, such as silver, to minimize radiant heat transfer between the jackets. Convection and conductionheat transfer is minimized by drawing a vacuum in the space between the jackets.

The carrier is defined by the outer housing 22 which is of cylindrical shape with a square cross section having rounded edges conforming. to the space occupied by the bottles. The upper lip 22a of the housing is bent back outwardly upon itself and receives the interfitting edge 24a of the: top

member 2'4.

The member 24 conforms in shape to the crosssection of the housing 22 and is securely held thereto by the interfitting edges- Ma and 22a. At 2422 this member extends upwardly in registry with the edge of the housing 22 to define a surface frictionally engaged by the metal cap 26. The top member 24 has a series of circular open. ings 24c, positioned in a square array and each capable of receiving the upper lip I2 of a vacuum bottle but incapableof receiving the main body of the bottle. Adjacent each of the openings 240-, the top member 2'4 defines a raised annular seat 2411 to receive a washer 28 of rubber or like resilient material to cushion the bottle retained in the corresponding opening. Each washer 28 is The ring 39 terminates in an inturne-d lip 391) that is of square configuration with rounded corners and is capable of receiving the bottles lfla, l fib, I 9c and 19d as they are inserted in the housing 22. 32 which snugly fits therein.

This edge forms a seat for the bottom cap The bottom cap or closure 32 defines a wall32a 7 that mates with and snugly fits in the rim-30bof ring 30, the limit of movement being fixed by the annular lip 3217. Within the wall 3211, the cap.

32 forms an impervious cover. As seen best in Figures 2 and 3, the cap 32 is provided with a plurality of upstanding annular dimples 320. Each dimple defines a seat for a rubber tube 34 whioh'is in registry with the corresponding opening Z ic in the top member 24.

The rubber tubes 34 form cushions for the bottoms of the vacuum bottles 10a to ltd and, in addition, protect the fragile tubulations 56. These tubes hold the bottles in erect positions, since the annular dimples 32c prevent shifting movements of the rubber tubes 34. These tubes are under some compression when the bottles are in position to hold them snugly in place.

The bottom cap 32 is secured in position by the hollow post 36 which extends the length of the carrier between the spaces occupied by the bottles. This tube is held against movement relative to the upper member 24 by the annular cap 9.6a which has an outturned lip 35b which abuts the edge of the hole 246 provided in member 24 to receive the post 36. The cap 36a is welded or otherwise secured to the post 36.

The cap 32 is held to the post 36 by the screw '38 which fits in a hole of appropriate size in the cap 32 and is in threaded engagement with the cap at on the bottom end of the post 36. This cap is welded or otherwise secured to the post.

The length of the post 36 and the adjustment of screw 38 is chosen to provide substantial pressure on the tubes 34 and the Washers 28 when the unit is assembled. This assures that each bottle is snugly held in position and at the same time does not interfere with the cushioned suspension of each.

In addition to securing the cap 32 in place, the

post defines a lengthy cylindrical space to receive straws, silverware or other accessories to be used when the contents of the bottles 10a to Mid are consumed. 7

Each bottle 59a to ltd is closed by a corkAZ. A cup 14 fits over each cork and is held in place by the large cap 26 which is in snug frictional fit with the portion 24b of the member 24. The limit of downward movement of the cap 26 is fixed by the rolled rim 26a which seats against the annular surface defined by the interfitting edges 22a and 24a.

The carrier of the present invention is provided with a handle or bail 46 by which it -may be grasped in one hand to pour from any of the vacuum bottles. This bail is of U-shaped configurajacent the opening the housing is pressed out in an eccentric disk 22d which protrudes out from the housing a greater distance below the opening 220 than above to provide the sloping cross-section shown. in Figure l. This causes the carrier to assume a vertical position whencarried and holds'the bail in an upright position when released.

- The bail 46 is made of sufficient size to cause the center portion Giib, Figure 1, to reach nearly to the bottom of the carrier. It is then possible to grasp the carrier with the thumb over the bail and the fingers under the bottom of the unit and pour from any of the bottles in the carrier.

The bottles [0a to |0d are further secured in place by the rubber bands 48 which are received on the bottles adjacent their lower ends. These bands act as spacers between adjacent bottles and between each bottle and the adjacent portion of the housing 22.

In the view of Figure 1 the four bottles are shown in various conditions. The bottle 10a (seen only by dashed lines) is shown with the cover M in place and the cap 26 broken away to show the cover. Bottle 10b is shown with the cap 44 removed and the cork 42 in place. Bottle Hid is shown with the cork 42 and cap 54 removed. The lower left hand opening 240, where the bottle I00 would normally be located, is shown without any'bottle at all. I

From the foregoing description it will be evident that I have provided an improved carrier for a plurality of vacuum bottles which retains the bottles snugly in postion while at the same time protecting the same against shock. Moreover, the structure is simple, compact, easy to manufacture, provides space for accessories, and permits pouring from any selectedbottle.

'While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will of course be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto and that by the appended claims I intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire. to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: v

1. In combination, a vacuum bottle housing defining a space to receive a plurality of vacuum bottles in parallel array having individual vacuum bottle openings at one end, vacuum bottles received in said openings and each defining an annular shoulder adjacent its end, a resilient tion as shown in Figure 1 and has inturned toe in which the inturned toe 46a of the bail fits. Ad-

washer interposed between each shoulder and the portions of the housing marginal to the corresponding opening, a detachable cap at the other end of said housing, the housing having an opening between said bottle openings, a hollow post afiixed to the housing in registry with said last opening and extending to said cap, means detachably securing said cap to said post, a hollow tube of resilient material interposed between the bot tom of each bottle and said cap to protect the fragile tubulation of the bottle, and a band of resilient material surrounding each bottle and extending to the adjacent portion of the housing.

2. In combination, a vacuum-bottle housing defining a space to receive a plurality of vacuum bottles in parallel array having individual vacuum-bottle openings at one end, vacuum bottles received in said openings, each of said bottles having an annular shoulder adjacent its end, a resilient washer interposed between each shoulder and the portions of the housing marginal to the corresponding opening, a detachable cap at the other end of said housing, a post joined at one end to the housing between said bottle openings and extending to said cap, a resilient protective member interposed between the bottom of each bottle and said cap, to protect the fragile tubulation of the bottle, a band of resilient material surrounding each bottle and extending to the adjacent portion of the housing, and means securing the other end of said post to said cap, said means being adjustable for controlling the compression of said resilient washers and protective members.

CARL BRAMMING.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 48,319 Stearns June 20, 1865 Number 15 Number Name Date Berg Aug. 15, 1916 Altenberg Feb. 13, 1923 Morey et a1. June 12, 1923 Wagner Apr. 19, 1927 Bursitzky Feb. 23, 1937 Goebert Sept. 28, 1937 Smith Aug. 13, 1946 Mayer et al. July 22, 1947 Silva Aug. 19, 1947 Eide Mar. 28, 1950 Arthur Nov. 21, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Norway June 18, 1945 France A112. 28. 1924