US2687227A - Unitary laboratory wash bottle - Google Patents

Description

s- 1954 D. o. GUTH 2,687,227

' UNITARY LABORATORY WASH BOTTLE Filed Aug. 17. 1949 2 Shets-Sheet l .Znrenl'czr Durward a G'atk H wawymf g- 24, 1954 D. o. GUTH UNITARY LABORATORY WASH BOTTLE Filed Aug. 17.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 24, a 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE UNITARY LABORATORY WASH BOTTLE Durward Guth, Elmwood Park, Ill.

Application August 17, 1949, Serial No. 110,830

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a unitary laboratory wash bottle, and more particularly, to a wash bottle from which a continuous stream of water may be ejected merely by the manipulation of one hand of a person employing the bottle.

In the laboratory sciences, and particularly, in the chemical arts, the provision of an easily manipulated, inexpensive wash bottle has long been needed. Many various laboratory .expedients have been proposed, but at the present time, the familiar two-tube bottle employing the users lung pressure is still in general laboratory use, and there has not been provided, prior to the present invention, a simple, readily manipulated wash bottle capa le of general use.

The present invention answers this long-felt want by the provision of a simple, relatively inexpensive wash bottle which may be fully operated and manipulated by the use of one hand leaving the other hand free for tasks incidental to the employment of the wash bottle. Pressure is developed within a flexible bulb which is secured to the flask in valve-controlled communication with the interior of the flask and with the atmosphere to provide a pressure space for sub jecting liquid contained within the flask to fluid pressure to eject the liquid therefrom as a continuous stream.

Valve means are provided for controlling the admission of atmospheric air into the bulb without permitting the egress of air upon collapsing of the bulb. Additional valve means are provided for permitting the emission of air pressure from the bulb into the interior of the flask to subject the surface of the liquid contained there'- in to pressure upon the collapse of the bulb without permitting back flow of pressure from the flask to the bulb upon the release of the bulb. Thus, by the use of the device of the present invention a continuous liquid stream may be emitted from a flask of conventional design by merely inflating and deflating the collapsible bulb.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the dimensions and shape of the component parts are so adjusted that automatic venting of the chambers occurs whenever the pressures within any chamber become excessive, thus obviating any possibility of damage to the wash bottle structure by such excessive pressures.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide an improved wash bottle of simple, inexpensive design for delivering a constant stream of liquid from a conventional laboratory flask.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved laboratory wash bottle having means defining an enclosed pressure space in valve-controlled communication with the atmosphere and with the interior of a flask to subject liquid contained within the flask to super-atmospheric pressures so that a constant flow of liquid may be ejected from the flask upon manipulation of the bulb.

It is a further important object of the present invention to provide an improved laboratory wash bottle for use with a conventional laboratory flask, the bottle including a bulb for attachment to the flask, means for admitting air to the bulb and means for admitting air under pressure from the bulb to the flask to pump air from the flask under pressure, with liquid being ejected from the flask in a constant stream upon manipulation of the bulb.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide air pressure means for use with a laboratory flask including a bulb, means for forcing air into the bulb while preventing egress of air therefrom, a valve controlling introduction of air from the bulb into the flask to'subject liquid therein to pressure and an air vent for releasing the pressure over the liquid to stop the flow thereof.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and accompanying drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a laboratory wash bottle embodying certain of the novel features and characteristics of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view,

with parts shown in elevation, of the bottle of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken along the plane IIIII[ of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of the upper portion of a wash bottle illustrating a modified form of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken \along the plane VV of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view, similar to Figure 4, illustrating another embodiment of a wash bottle of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the modification of Figure and Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane VIII-VIII of Figure In Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, of the drawings, a unitary laboratory wash bottle I0 is illustrated which includes a flask ll of conventional type having a lower generally spherical body portion 12 adapted to contain a body of liquid iii, an upstanding, integrally formed cylindrical neck portion [4 which is provided at the top with an outturned neck lip l5.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, I provide an attachment for a conventional flask which may be slipped over the neck of such a flask to provide a novel wash bottle. This attachment comprises a bulb [6, having a lower, generally circular skirt I1 and an upper cylindrical collar l8 which is arranged to be telescoped over the flask neck M. The bulb l6 provides a pressure chamber l9 which communicates with the atmosphere through an air intake passageway 20 formed in a rib 2| which is integral with the bulb I6 and which extends along the neck I4 of flask ll. Passageway 20 provides an air intake to the pressure chamber l9. A second air passageway 22 is also provided by the rib 2| to transmit the air pressure to chamber I3. This passageway 22 communicates with an annular air channel 23 surrounding neck i4 below lip I and communicates with the atmosphere through a vent 24. A third air duct 25 communicates with an air duct opening 25 which extends around the lip l5 and opens into the interior of flask ll.

The-collar I8 is provided with an upper central, circular opening 21 having a beveled inner lower shoulder 28. A special type stopper such as stopper 29 is seated in opening 27, the stopper having a peripheral recess 35 defining a lower inclined flange 3| having an upper surface seated against shoulder 28 and a lower surface spaced from lip l5 and an upper shoulder 32 overlying adjacent portions of the collar defining the opening 27. Stopper 29 is axially apertured to receive delivery tube 33 extending downwardly through neck id for immersion in the body of liquid 53 contained in the fiask H. That portion of tube 33 protruding beyond stopper 29 is bent downwardly as at 34 and a short length of flexible tubing 35 slipped over the free end of tube 33 to retain a tip or nozzle 35 thereon while permitting relative movement of the tip 35 with respect to the tube 33.

The wash bottle attachment is provided with air inlet and. outlet valves in rib 2!. This may be done conveniently by means of a tubular valve insert 37 having a radial aperture 38 in open communication with the pressure chamber l9. Two ball check valves 39 and 4! are provided in the valve insert 37 which cooperate with frustoconical valve seats 49 and 42, respectively. Ball check valve 39 controls the admission of .air into pressure chamber [9 upon expansion of bulb 86 while preventing egress of air through duct 20 upon a forceful collapse of the bulb l6. Ball check valve 41 allows the egress of air from pressure chamber i9 upon collapse of bulb l6 while preventing the flow of air through outlet conduit 22 upon the inflation of bulb IS with air entering through conduit 20 and valve 39 The operation of the device just described will be evident to those skilled in the art. Upon collapse of the bulb 16 by pressure from the hand, air is forced through opening 38, valve M and conduit 22 to annular channel 23. If the exterior opening 24 is left uncovered, the air escapes to the atmosphere. On the other hand, if opening 24 is closed, such as by covering it with the forefinger, the air is forced into the interior of flask ll, thus building up the air pressure within the flask M. This pressure, acting upon the surface of the body of liquid !3, forces liquid through delivery tube 33, flexible tubing 35 and tip 3%. The interior of the bulb it is refilled with air by releasing the hand allowing bulb It to expand, thereby causing air to rush, on account of the difierential in pressure, through conduit '23, valve 39, and aperture 38 into the interior of bulb l5.

It is evident that if the collapsing and release of bulb I6 is repeated in sequence, air is taken into bulb It while liquid is being delivered through tube 33, and hence a constant stream of liquid may be maintained by repeatedly squeezing and releasing the bulb 16.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 4, the flask H has a check valve 51 mounted in the neck Hi thereof. The delivery tube 33, the flexible tubing 3'5 and the tip 36 are the same as hereinbefore described, as well as the stopper 50.

The novel attachment in this embodiment of my invention is a generally ellipsoidal bulb 51 having openings at each end defined by collar portions 152 and 53 through which the neck [4 of the flask ll extends. The upper collar 52 frictionally engages neck 14 immediately below the flask lip l5, and the lower collar portion 53 frictionally engages a lower portion of neck l4 near body portion l2 of flask II. The bulb 5| carries an air inlet valve at having a ball check valve 55 operable against a seating face formed in the interior of valve 54 to allow the passage of air into pressure space 56 defined by the interior of bulb 51 while preventing the egress-of air from pressure space 56. Th valve 5 previously referred to, may conveniently be mounted in an aperture 58 formed in neck it, the housing of the valve 51 being of the snap-ring type formed with a rubber gasket or with an expandable ring asis well known in the art. Valve 5! serves to permit the flow of air from pressure space 56 into flask it while preventing the admission of pressure from the interior of flask H into pressurespace 55. If desired, the valve 51 may be eliminated by dimensioning aperture 53 so that air under pressure from space 55 may pass therethrough while air under less pressure within flask II will not have an opportunity to escape prior to the generation of additional pressure Within space 55. Thus, a continuous flow of liquidmay-occur through discharge tip 36 since back pressure losses from the flask H to the bulb 5| will be negligible. As shown in Figure 5, valve 51 includes a ball check 59 and is similar in construction to valve 54.

The operation of the modification of Figures '4 and 5 is substantially the same as that hereinbefore described in connection with Figures 1 to 3, inasmuch as the admission of atmospheric pressure into pressure space 55 is controlled through valve 54 and the admission of air into the flask. H from pressure space 56 is controlled by valve 5?. It will be apparent that the constant delivery of liquid through tube 33 may be provided upon continuous manipulation of bulb 5i.

In the modification of the present invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, parts .similar to those hereinbeforedescribed are designated by identical reference numerals. In this form of the invention, the attachment may be made vdirectly to a conventional flask H, as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, and the same type of stopper and delivery tubing may be employed.

In this rnodifioation, a bulb to is secured to neck M of flask H by a collar '6! which snugly engages neck l4 adjacent lip 15 and which also overlies the lip H5. The lower portion of bulb 6B is provided with a dependent projection '62 formed integrally therewith :and resting on neck M, the projection 62 being maintained against neck I l by means of a resilient band \or ring 63 encircling neck It and the projection :62. An

inlet valve 64 similar in construction and operation to inlet valve 54 of Figures 4 and 5 is provided to control the ingress of atmospheric air into pressure space 65 defined by bulb 60.

Bulb 60 is provided with a second projection 66 extending upwardly therefrom to lie against the upper portion of neck I4, the projection 66 having mounted therein an outlet valve 61 similar in design and operation to the valve 51 of the modification of Figures 4 and 5. A cylindrical member 68 is provided to connect the projection 66 of bulb 60 with collar 6| hereinbefore described. This coupling 68 includes a short tubular coupling 69 extending into registry with valve 67 and with an air duct opening 70 formed interiorly of collar Bl. Coupling 69 is radially apertured as at H and member 68 is apertured as at 12 in registry with aperture H to provide a vent similar to vent 24 of the modification of Figures 1 to 3, inclusive.

The operation of the modification of Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, will be evident to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description, inasmuch as the operation is substantially identical with that of the modification of Figures 1 to 3, inclusive.

Thus, it may be seen that I have provided an improved unitary laboratory wash bottle adapted for use with laboratory flasks of conventional design and providing means whereby a constant stream of liquid may be ejected from a body of liquid contained within the flask. The flask is extremely simple in operation, and its function may be carried out merely by the manipulation of one hand of the user, thus freeing the other hand for tasks incidental to the employment of the wash bottle. In the modification of Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, and Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, the provision of the vents 24 and 12, respectively, obviates the possibility of the building up of excessive pressures within the flask l I, while in the modification of Figures 4 and 5, it may be seen that the collar portions 52 or 53 automatically provide for the release of excessive pressures. Further, in the modification of Figures 1 to 3, the skirt portion l1 forms a partial thermal insulating jacket for a portion of flask H making feasible the employment of the wash bottle in the dispensing of hot liquid. It will also be appreciated that a similar insulating portion may be provided for the other modified forms of the present invention.

The ease of employment of the present invention and its adaptability for use with conventional flasks is also an important advantage of the present invention, inasmuch as the modifications of Figures 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 may be employed by merely slipping the bulb and collar construction over the neck of a flask. In the modification of Figures 4 and 5, it is merely necessary to provide a small aperture in the neck ll of the flask II and to insert the valve 51 therein followed by slipping the bulb 5| over the neck of the flask so that the flask is ready for immediate use.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. An attachment for a flask of the type having an elongated open-ended neck portion, comprising: a member having a generally cylindrical collar portion arranged to engage around the end portion of such a neck and to extend therebeyond,

a delivery tube-supporting plug inserted in said collar portion, means defining a collapsible bulb on said member, said member having means defining a duct extending from said bulb and opening internally from said collar portion beyond the end of the neck in communication with the neck interior through the end thereof when said member is in position on the neck, and said member having means defining a normally open air vent from said duct to the outside of said member for venting the interior of the flask to the atmosphere.

2. An attachment for a flask of the type having an elongated, open-ended neck, comprising: a member of resiliently deformable material arranged for disposition on a flask neck and having an integral collar portion for embracing the flask neck adjacent the open end thereof and extending therebeyond, a collapsible bulb portion secured to said member and disposed along one side of the flask neck so that the flask may be supported and the bulb portion collapsed by one hand of the user, a duct communicating with said integral bulb portion and extending through said collar portion to a point inside said collar portion and beyond the open end of the flask neck for communication with the interior of the flask, and a normally open vent from said duct to the atmosphere and disposed closely adjacent said collapsible bulb portion and on the same side of the flask neck so that it may be closed by one finger of the hand used to both support the flask and collapse the bulb; inlet check valve means for admitting air into said bulb portion; and second check valve means disposed in said duct between said bulb portion and said vent for allowing air flow from said bulb portion into the flask while preventing backflow from the flask to said bulb portion.

3. An attachment for a flask of the type having an elongated open-ended neck portion, comprising a closure member having a generally cylindrical collar portion open at one end to engage around the top portion of such neck and to extend therebeyond, a plug portion in said closure member for supporting a delivery tube and presenting an inner face closing the open end of the neck, means defining a collapsible bulb on said member extending downwardly from the open end of said collar portion, said member having means defining a duct extending from said bulb along said collar portion and plug and opening internally on the inner face of the plug so as to be in communication with the neck interior through the end thereof when said member is in position on the neck, and said member having means defining a normally open air vent for venting the interior of the flask to the atmosphere.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 296,435 Murdock Apr. 8, 1884 947,468 Fish Jan. 25, 1910 1,048,744 Schoop Dec. 13, 1912 1,238,653 Euverard Aug. 28, 1917 1,328,866 Yeatter June 27, 1920 1,942,845 Stephens Jan. 9, 1934 2,105,957 Severson Jan. 18, 1938 2,362,215 Morreale Nov. 7, 1944 2,510,159 Wiezer June 6, 1950 2,522,864 Degroif Sept. 19, 1950 2,545,302 Lias Mar. 13, 1951

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