US2860821A

US2860821A - Pouring spout

Info

Publication number: US2860821A
Application number: US576293A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard E Hartung; Cleonard F Harms
Original assignee: Plastics Manufacturing Inc
Current assignee: Plastics Manufacturing Inc
Priority date: 1956-04-05
Filing date: 1956-04-05
Publication date: 1958-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 1975-11-18

Description

Nov. 18, 1958 R. E. HARTUNG ET AL POURING SPOUT Filed April 5, 1956 INV EN TOR.

(250/ 440 F 664 mm BY M" United States Patent POURING SPOUT Richard E. Hartung, Rumsen, and Cleonard F. Harms,

East Keansburg, N. 3., assignors to Plastics Manufacturing Inc., Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 5, 1956, Serial No. 576,293

Claims. (Cl. 222-519) This invention relates to pouring devices for use in dispensing of various products from containers. The device of theinvention is adapted to be secured to a container aperture, and embodies novel structural features enabling it to be selectively moved to its open and closed positions, rapidly and accurately, and with a minimum of effort.

Further features of the invention will become apparent on a consideration of the description below and the attached drawings, including novel means to provide an eifective closure seal for the device when in the closed position, to thus seal the container, and the provision of means to preclude the excessive movement or displacement of the parts of the device in use.

These and other advantageous objects, which will appear from the drawings and from the description hereinafter, are accomplished by the structure of my invention, of which an embodiment is illustrated in the drawings. It will be apparent, from a consideration of said drawings and the' following description, that the invention may be embodied in other forms suggested thereby, and such other forms as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered within the scope and purview of the instant invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse, vertical sectional view of a pouring device embodying the invention, shown secured to the apertured end of a container and closing the same.

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 3, showing the pouring device in its open position, enabling the contents of the container to be dispensed therefrom, and

Fig. 3 is a top plan view taken on line 33' of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawings, the device comprises a tube adapted to be suitably secured at its lower end 11, to an opening 12 in a container 13 so as to extend therefrom. The particular means for securing the tube 10 to the container 13 may be varied to suit the taste or requirements of the user of the device, that shown in the drawings being one of an infinite variety of such means suited to the purpose. A spout cap 14 is provided, and complementary means 15, 16 are provided on the spout cap and tube for axial movement of the cap on the tube. For example, said means 15, 16 may be complementary threads, whereby, on rotation of the spout cap 14 in one direction, it would move in a given axial direction on the tube 10; on rotation of the cap in the opposite direction, it will move in the reverse axial direction, thereby selectively opening or closing the outer end 17 of the tube and thereby the container. The cap comprises an end wall 18 and a side wall 19 depending therefrom and defining therewith a cup-shaped cross section; the cap has an aperture 20 in the side wall thereof, and complementary means are provided on the cap and tube to prevent displacement of the cap from the tube. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, illustrating a practical form of complementary means (the drawings will suggest other forms that may be used with equal efiicacy), said complementary means 2,860,821 Patented Nov. 18, 1958 comprise an inwardly extending part 21 formed on the lower end of the cap 14 and a projection 22 formed on the tube 10 in line with inwardly extending part 21. The outer face of the tube may be upwardly tapered at the lower end thereof as indicated at 23, whereby, when the cap is closed on the tube as in Fig. 1, the inwardly extending part 21 of the cap will abut the tapered portion of the tube and thus seal the cap on the tube. The cap has a laterally extending lip portion 24 in registry with the aperture 20 in the side wall of the cap. Said lip portion preferably tapers outwardly and terminates in a' tip edge 25 to prevent capillary or other adherence of the material dispensed. The sides 26 of the lip portion 24 may extend arcuately longitudinally as noted at 36 (Fig. 1). Said lip portion 24 is preferably disposed below the plane of the end wall 18 of the cap so as to be essentially in line withthe upper edge 27 of the tube 10, when the cap is closed.

On movement of the cap to its open position (Fig. 2) and tilting the container 13, the contents thereof will flow smoothly from the opening 28 defined by the upper edge 27 of the tube 10 and the inner face 29 of the end wall 18 of the cap 14.

As will be apparent from a consideration of the attached drawing and the foregoing description, there is thus provided a dispenser unit wherein the cap 14 is captive that is, it cannot be accidentally removed. The cap may be made, for example, of plastic or other material and the inwardly extending part 21 of the cap may be initially forced or snapped over the projection 22 of the tube 10. This may be readily achieved in initial assembly; the parts in use could not then be accidently displaced. When the cap 14 is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 2, it will come to a pronounced stop on abutment of the

parts

21 and 22.

It is found, in practice, that the construction above described provides a means for automatically dispensing measured quantities of materials from containers because of the absence of an air vent. Thus, on tilting the container, a measured quantity of the contents thereof will be discharged automatically; then it will be necessary to restore the container to its vertical position to provide an air vent required for the discharge of another quantity of material from the container on repeating the cycle of tilting the same. A further important feature of the invention consists in a provision of means for sealing the cap to the tube, not only at the

points

21, 22 thereof, but also at the upper edge of the tube by providing a serrated portion 30 on the upper edge 27 of the tube- 10 (Fig. 2), and providing the inner face of the end wall with a portion 35 of complementary outline inwardly of the juncture of said side wall with the end wall 18. Thus, when the cap 14 is closed on thetube 10, the serrated portions 30, 35 of the cap and tube will have interfitting and sealing engagement. The lip portion 24 of the cap 14 may be conical transversely as indicated at 31 in Fig. 3. The tube 10 has an axial opening 32 therethrough and said opening has a portion 33 of smaller diameterfor a length thereof adjacent the upper end of the tube; a portion 34 of said axial opening 32 adjacent the lower end of the tube may be tapered upwardly. Thus the tube is provided with progressively constricted portions defining the opening 32 to slow up the passage of materials therethrough.

We claim:

1. A pouring device for use with a container having an opening, comprising a tube adapted to be secured, at its lower end, in the container opening and extending therefrom, a spout cap having a serrated portion on the inner face of the end wall thereof inwardly of its juncture with the side wall, and a portion of complementary outline at the upper edge of the tube for interfitting engagement with the mentioned portion on saidinner face when the cap is closed on the tube, to then seal the device, and complementary means on the spout cap and tube for movement of said cap axially on the tube to thereby selectively open or close the outer end of the tube and thereby the container, said spout cap comprising an end wall and a side wall depending therefrom and defining therewith a cap-shaped cross-section and having an aperture in said side wall, and complementary means on the cap and tube. to prevent displacement of the cap from the tube, and a laterally extending lip portion on said cap forming a spout tapering laterally from the aperture in the side wall of the cap.

2. In a pouring device as set forth in claim 1, said lip portion being tapered outwardly and terminating in a tip edge below the plane of the upper wall of the cap.

3. In a pouring device as set forth in claim 1, said means to prevent displacement of the cap from the tube comprising an inwardly extended part at the lower end of the cap and a projection formed on the tube, spaced from its lower end in line with said part.

4. In a pouring device as set fourth in claim 1, said projection on the tube being a circumferential ridge.

5. In a pouring device as set forth in claim 4, a tapered portion on the outer face of the tube at the lower end thereof, the tube and cap being so proportioned that said inwardly extending part of the cap will abut the tapered portion of the tube and thus sealing the cap on the tube on axial movement of the cap downwarly on the tube;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 297,952 Rubin Apr. 29, 1884 559,351 Bea'l May 5, 1896 1,478,035 Hothersall Dec. 18, 1923 1,509,419 Colgate et al Sept. 23, 1924 1,509,431 Ittner Sept. 23, 1924 1,601,818 Fusay Oct. 5-, 1926 2,463,152 Clark Mar. 1, 1949