US3048308A - Self-contained combined closure and liquid dispensing unit - Google Patents

Description

B. KLElD Aug. 7, 1962 SELF-CONTAINED COMBINED CLOSURE AND LIQUID DISPENSING UNIT Filed March 23, 1960 M a a n 5 f z a z g 42 WW k Wm w FiG.2

INVENTOR. BORIS KLEI D BY 22%, wmym ATTORN EYS tau .ne.

rates The present invention relates to a novel self-contained combined closure and liquid dispensing unit which is adapted to be snapped or otherwise detachably attached over the mouth of a wide-mouth container, such as conventional food cans and jars, and which includes a novel self-contained vent and spout arrangement for pouring liquid out of the container, the outlet of the vent being in close proximity to the spout outlet so that it can be closed by the spout cap for storage of the unused liquid remaining in the can or jar.

The self-contained combined closure and liquid dispensing unit of the invention is particularly suitable for use with pourable food products, as for example chocolate syrup, which are packaged in conventional tin cans and jars and which are usually used in small quantities over a period of time and must be stored in a covered container between uses to preserve them. The self-contained unit of the invention may be easily snapped over the opened end of conventional tin cans in which such food products are packaged to facilitate pouring when the food product is used and to close the can in a substantially air-tight manner between uses. In this way, the product may be safely stored in its original can or jar until entirely used up and may be conveniently poured from the can or jar when desired.

The unit of the present invention is so simple and inexpensive that it can be sold for a few pennies or given away as a part of a sales or advertising program to induce sales of the canned or jarred product. Simplicity and low cost are important advantages.

It is adapted to be snapped over and off the beaded end of the unopened cans as sold to provide a convenient and attractive package. When the can is ready to be used the unit can be snapped off the end of the can, the can opened at one end and the unit snapped back over the opened end of the can.

Since it will fit conventional cans, it does not require any change in can design, the only requirement being that a different size unit is needed for each can size. The fact that it may be used with conventional can designs is important. Combined liquid dispensing and closure devices having a pouring spout and vent system, the outlets of which are closely adjacent and hence can be closed by a single spout cap, are known, but in every case, a part of the combination, usually the vent system, forms a part of the can and consequently such devices cannot be used with conventional can designs. On the other hand, the unit of the present invention is a self-contained one, the vent system, pouring spout and closure all being contained in a self-contained unit which can be snapped over and removed from the can, as such, and which, when snapped over the open end of the can, is ready for use with no other manipulations required.

An important advantage of the present invention is that all parts can be easily cleaned without the necessity of cleaning implements because all parts are readily accessible. Furthermore, danger of plugging is reduced to a minimum. In a preferred embodiment, hard-to-clean vent tubes which are used in all the above-mentioned known arrangements, are eliminated.

The unit comprises only three or four simple easily fabricated parts, including the cap.

Preferably the parts are made of a flexible thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene, and can be readily and inexpensively molded by injection molding processes.

In a preferred embodiment, the unit comprises a pair of spaced discs fitting over the open end of the can. The lower disc has a vent hole and a pouring spout oppositely disposed from the vent hole and extending upwardly through an opening in the upper disc. The spout is spaced radially inwardly from the opening to provide an escape passage. The can is vented through the vent hole, the flat space between the spaced discs, and the escape passage. A relatively small cap adapted to fit over the spout covers the spout outlet and the escape passage. The upper disc has a depending snap flange which snaps over the beaded mouth of conventional cans and the two discs are detachably attached to each other in spaced relation by an integral snap fastening arrangement which may include as a part thereof the snap flange. By separating the two discs, all parts of the unit are exposed for cleaning.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form which the invention may take and in which FIG. 1 is a section in elevation of a self-contained combined closure and liquid dispensing unit embodying the present invention and snapped over the opened end of a conventional tin can for packaging liquid foodstuffs and FIG. 2 is a top view of the unit of FIG. 1 with the cap removed.

In the figures, 2 represents a unit embodying the present invention snapped over the opened end of a conventional chocolate syrup can 4.

Unit 2 comprises a cover member 6 made of a flexible and resilient polyethylene, a vent member 8 made of the same material, a cap 10 made of the same material, and a spacer 12 which may or may not be integral with either cover member 6 or vent member 8.

Vent member '8 comprises a flat vent disc 14 overlying the open end 15 of the can 4. Disc 14 has a vent opening 16a located closely adjacent to the periphery thereof, a smaller hole 16 at the center thereof and an integral tubular spout 18 oppositely disposed from the vent opening 16a and extending upwardly from the disc, the spout providing an opening 20 through the disc 14 which is greater in diameter than the vent hole 16a. The mouth of the spout is internally beveled at 17. The central portion of the top surface of disc 14 is recessed slightly at 15a.

Cover member 6 comprises a flat disc 22 overlying vent disc 14 and detachably attached to the vent disc in spaced relation therewith by means of a centrally located, downwardly dished portion 24 and a snap fastening button 26 extending integrally and downwardly from the center of dished portion 24 through the hole 16 in vent disc 14. Dished portion '24 functions as a spacer for spacing disc 22 above disc 14 to form a flat vent space 28 therebetween. The button 26 comprises a narrow neck portion 30 fitting snugly in the hole 16 and an enlarged head 32, the head 32 being adapted to be forced through the hole 16 by deformation of the flexible polyethylene aperture wall, whereafter the head snaps through the hole 16 and the aperture'snaps back to its normal shape shown in FIG. 1 with the narrow neck 30 located within the aperture 16 to thereby lock the two discs together in spaced relation with each other. The button maybe pulled out of the hold by deformation of the aperture wall in thesame way to there by separate the discs.

Cover disc 22 has a peripheral flange 34 depending from the periphery thereof and which is adapted to snap over the bead 36 of the can 4 to removably securethe entire closure and liquid dispensing unit 2 over the opened end of the can. The cylindrical flange 34 extends downwardly around the peripheral edge of the vent disc 14 and thence around the head 36, as shown. It forms the peripheral boundary of the space 28 between the discs. The inner surface of the upper portion of the flange 34 has a horizontal shoulder "38 spaced a slight distance downwardly from the disc 22 and resting on the upper surface 40 of the raised peripheral portion of vent disc 41, the shoulder 38 pressing such peripheral portion of the vent disc tightly against the top edge 42 of the can when the flange 34 is snapped over the bead 36, as shown in FIG. 1, to provide a substantially air-tight fit. The inner surface of flange 34 below shoulder 38 slopes inwardly and downwardly at 44 and then outwardly and downwardly at 48 to provide an inwardly extending bead or ridge 46 which forms a thickened portion of the flange and which snaps under the bead 36 of the can to secure the unit 2 on the can. The flange 34 is also snapped over the peripheral edge of vent disc 14 to cooperate with the snap button 26 to secure the two discs together with the upper surface 40 of the peripheral portion of the vent disc 14 pressed snugly against the shoulder 38 and with the center portion of the disc 14 pressed snugly against the lower surface of the dished portion 24. The shoulder 38 and raised peripheral portion of the vent disc 14 cooperate with the downwardly dished portion 24 of the cover disc to hold the two discs in spaced relation with each other. They also provide firm support for the peripheral edges of the discs with respect to each other and with respect to the open edge 42 of the can.

Cover disc 22 has an opening 50 and an integral hollow hub 52 extending upwardly from and over the opening. The hub 52 and opening 50 overlie the opening in the vent disc 14. The spout 18 extends upwardly through and beyond the opening 50 and the hub 52, as shown, and is spaced radially inwardly from the opening 50 and hub 52 to form an annular escape passage 54 therebetween providing communication between the flat space 28 be tween the discs 14 and 22 and the atmosphere, the vent hole 16a providing communication between the interior 19 of the can 4 and the flat space 28. The spout 18 is centered in the opening 50 and hub 52 in spaced relation therewith by a locator or spacer ring 12 either secured to or integral with the hub or spout and having a pair of slots 56 therein to provide communication therethrough between the flat vent space 28 between the discs 14 and 22 and the atmosphere.

The peripheral portion of the top surface of cover disc 22 is recessed slightly at 55. Cap 10 is adapted to be removably placed over the open mouth of the spout 18 and over the escape passage 54, as shown, to seal them off from the atmosphere. The cap comprises a top wall 58 and a depending cylindrical side wall 60, which, when the cap is placed over the spout and moved downwardly to the position shown, is tightly received between the hub 52 and the spout 18, as shown, to seal off the escape passage 54 from the atmosphere. In this position of the cap, the top wall 58 bears downwardly on the top edge of the spout. The snug fit of the side wall 50 of the cap between the spout and the hub holds the cap in sealing position over the spout and escape passage. Wall 60 fits snugly around the periphery of the spout throughout its length to aid in sealing the spout. If desired, the lower portion of the side wall of the cap can extend outwardly over the top edge of the hub and then tightly around the periphery thereof to seal off the escape passage 54 rather than between the hub 52 and the spout.

From the above, it is apparent that unit 2 can be easily snapped over and off the beaded opened or unopened end of a conventional tin can. By snapping it over the opened end of such a can and removing the cap 10, as much of the liquid content 62 of the can as desired can be conveniently poured out of the can without spillage by means of the spout 18, the interior of the can being vented to the atmosphere through hole 16, space 28 and escape passage 56, all of which form part of the unit. Such vent system insures free flow of the liquid out of the spout. The remainder of the contents of the can can be stored and preserved in the can for future use by placing the cap 10 over the spout 18 and escape passage 56 in the position shown in :FIG. 1 to thereby seal the can for storage. By pulling the two discs apart, all portions thereof are exposed for cleaning. There are no small vent tubes which are difiicult to get at to clean.

The unit 2 is a self-contained one containing the spout, vent system and cap so that it can be used with conventional cans without the necessity of modifying them. The unit is extremely simple and can be made at a very low cost. Yet it is rugged and long lasting.

The flange 34 may be provided with an internal thread rather than a snap-on bead for use with jars having an external screw thread at the mouth.

I claim:

1. A self-contained, combined closure and liquid dispensing unit for a wide-mouth container, said unit comprising a top cover disc having an opening therein closely adjacent to the periphery thereof, a vent disc spaced below said cover disc, means detachably attaching said discs together in said spaced relationship with each other to form a vent space therebetween, said space being defined by opposed surfaces of said discs, said vent disc having an opening therein underlying said opening in said cover disc and a pouring spout extending upwardly from and above said opening in said vent disc through and beyond said opening in said cover disc, said spout being spaced inwardly from said opening in said cover disc to provide an escape passage providing communication between the said vent space between said discs and the atmosphere, said vent disc having a vent hole oppositely disposed from said spout and providing communication between the interior of said container and the space between said discs, a cap adapted to be placed over the end of said spout to close said spout and said escape passage, said cover disc having a peripheral depending flange extending downwardly below said vent disc, said flange having means for detachably attaching said unit onto the mouth of said container, the surfaces of said discs defining said vent space being exposed for cleaning by detaching said discs from each other.

2. A self-contained, combined closure and liquid disensing unit according to claim 1, said cap comprising a top wall overlying the open end of said spout and a side wall depending from said top wall and located peripherally around said spout, said side wall closing said escape passage.

3. A unit according to claim 1, said cover disc having an upstanding hollow hub overlying and extending up wardly from said opening in said cover disc, said spout extending upwardly through and beyond said hub and being spaced radially inwardly from said hub.

4. A unit according to claim 3, including spacer means between said spout and at least one of said hub and the wall of said opening in said cover disc for locating said spout in said hub and said last-mentioned opening in spaced relation to said hub and opening, said spacing means being provided with means for providing communication between said space between said discs and the atmosphere.

5. A unit according to claim 4, said discs being made of a resilient, flexible material.

6. A self-contained combined closure and liquid dispensing unit for a wide-mouth container having a beaded mouth edge, said closure comprising a cover member made of a resilient plastic material and comprising a top cover disc covering the mouth of said container and a depending peripheral flange extending downwardly from the periphery of said cover disc and adapted to snap over said beaded edge of said container, an opening in said cover disc close to the periphery thereof, said cover disc having a hollow hub rising upwardly from the wall of said opening, a vent disc located over said mouth and below said cover disc in spaced relationship with said cover disc, means for detachably attaching said vent disc to said cover disc in said spaced relationship to form a vent space therebetween defined by opposed surfaces of said discs, said vent disc having an opening therein underlying said opening in said cover disc and a tubular pouring spout extending upwardly from said opening in said vent disc through and beyond said opening and hub of said cover disc, said vent disc also having a vent hole oppositely disposed from said spout and providing communication between the interior of the container and the space between said discs, said SPOIl't being radially spaced inwardly for said hub and said opening in said cover disc to provide an escape passage therebetween providing communication between said space between said discs and the atmosphere, a cap for closing said spout and said escape passage, said cover disc having a peripheral flange extending downwardly around and beyond the periphery of the vent disc, said flange having means for detachably attaching said unit onto the mouth of said container, the surfaces of said discs defining said vent space being exposed for cleaning by detaching said discs from each other.

7. A unit according to claim 6, said means for attaching said discs comprising an aperture at the center of said vent disc and a snap button extending downwardly from the center of said cover disc and adapted to be snapped into said center aperture of said vent disc to detachably attach the two discs together in said spaced relation, said flange of said cover disc being adapted to be snapped over 6 the periphery of said vent disc to attach said discs together in said spaced relation.

8. A combined closure and liquid dispensing unit according to claim 1, said means for detachably attaching said unit comprising means for releasably snapping said flange onto the mouth of said container and for releasably snapping said flange over the periphery of said vent disc.

9. A unit according to claim 1, said means for detachably attaching said discs together comprising snap fastening means at the center portions of said discs for detachably snap fastening said discs together in said spaced relation.

10. A unit according to claim 7, said snap button extending from a downwardly extending central portion of said cover disc, said downwardly extending central portion engaging the vent disc when the two discs are detachably attached together to space the discs from each other, said flange having a shoulder engaging a raised peripheral portion of said vent disc when the two discs are attached together to space the discs from each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 301,575 Deverall July 8, 1884 1,284,716 Larios et a1 Nov. 12, 1918 2,842,167 'Iupper July s, 1958

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