US3181744A

US3181744A - Reversible dispenser and closure for containers

Info

Publication number: US3181744A
Application number: US273108A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carlos J Hales
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-04-15
Filing date: 1963-04-15
Publication date: 1965-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 1982-05-04

Description

y 4, 1965 c. J. HALES 3,181,744

REVERSIBLE DISPENSER AND CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed April 15, 1963 CARLOS J. HALES Hun.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,181,744 REVERSIBLE DISPENSER AND CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Carlos J. Hales, 5512 E. 5th St., Tulsa, Okla. Filed Apr. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 273,108 6 Claims. (Cl. 222539) This invention relates to a reversible dispensing spout and closure for fluid containers. More specifically, the invention relates to a combined dispensing spout and cap, combined with an adaptor for an opening in fluid containers such as gasoline, paint, and the like.

Dispensing and closure apparatus heretofore used for fluid containers comprised a multiplicity of separate parts to carry out either function. Such parts usually become lost, and therefore become difficult to keep in conjunction with the fluid container to which it pertains. Additionally, the elements are a costly portion of the overall container cost.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a reversible dispenser and closure apparatus for fluid containers which overcomes the objections to devices heretofore used.

Another object of this invention is to provide the combination of a fixed adaptor and a reversible dispenser and closure element which can be readily attached to fluid containers for use therewith.

Another object of this invention is to provide a reversible dispenser and closure element for filllld containers which includes parts which cannot be lost or separated and which permits the device to be readily positioned for dispensing the fluids from the container without leakage around the seal and further permits the opening to be closed and sealed.

These and other objects of this invention will become readily apparent upon further reading of the description and claims when taken in conjunction with the following illustrations, of which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of the apparatus of this invention, partly in cross-section.

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional view of the apparatus of this invention in the closed position.

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional view of the apparatus of this invention in the dispensing position.

Referring now to the various views, the numeral 10 generally designates the reversible dispenser and closure portion, while the numeral 12 generally designates the fixed adapter for portion 10. The adaptor 12 includes an upper flange element 14 and a lower flange element 16 separated by a peripheral groove 18 and one or more key insets 19. In this embodiment the groove 18 and inset 19 is adapted to permit a plastic adaptor to be snapped into and fixed in a circular opening provided in the container 20, the rest of the container not being shown. The adaptor includes a lower cylindrical skirt 22 which includes internal threads 24 adjacent the lower end of the adaptor 12. Between the lower threads and the flange portion are a multiplicity of openings 26 for passage of fluid from the container 20.

The reversible dispenser and closure portion 10 includes a first upper circular threaded portion 30 and a second lower threaded portion 32, the threads of each matching the internally threaded portion 24 of adaptor 12. An intermediate cylinder 34 is attached to and separates the upper and lower threaded

portions

30 and 32 and includes a multiplicity of openings 36. The length of the intermediate cylindrical port-ion 34 is such that when sealingly positioned with respect to adaptor 12 in the dispensing position fluids from the container will pass through adaptor openings 26, thence through openings 36 in the cylinder into the dispensing spout 38 which is in fluid ice communication therewith. The lower threaded portion 32 is closed by bottom portion 40 to become a closure or cap with respect to adapter 12 as is more specifically described in FIGURE 2. Intermediate the upper and lower threaded portions 30 and 3-2 is a coaxial gasket or washer member 42 which is adapted to be moved between the upper and lower limits of the intermediate cylinder 34. The gasket 42 forms an important feature of this invention as it is adapted to provide the seal for the reversible dispenser and closure portion when either in the dispensing or closed position with respect to the adaptor 12, which is specifically shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. In other words, the internal diameter of gasket 42 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of intermediate cylinder 34 and is slightly larger in its outer diameter than the internal opening 23 of the adaptor 12.

Preferably, the parts of this invention are molded or formed from plastic materials comprising three basic parts, i.e. the reversible dispenser and closure portion 10, the adaptor 12, and the gasket 42. Although it is. to be understood that a metal can be used to form one or more of the elements. For example, in the construction of container 20' it may be desirable to stamp or form as a part thereof the adaptor portion 12, whereas the reversible dispenser and closure portion 10 can be constructed of metal or of plastic to be used in connection therewith. Gasket or washer 4-2 may be a rubber or a plastic material suflicient to provide the wedge seal shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

In the construction of the reversible portion 10 it has been found that

elements

30 and 38 can be formed separately as can elements 32 and 34. Thereafter a washer element is positioned over intermediate cylinder 34 and the two parts welded or in some manner joined which may be a removable joint at or near a point designated by the numeral 45, or near point 47.

Although this invention has been described with reference to specific and preferred embodiments, it will be apparent, however, that many modifications can be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the adaptor 12 can be formed to be attached to various sizes and shapes of container openings such as found in existing bottles, jars, jugs, or cans. According-ly, this invention should be construed not to be limited to the embodiment herein described but should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. A flow dispenser and closure for fluid containers comprising in combination,

a tubular adaptor internally recessed from a wall of said container to receive a reversible dispenser and closure member;

said adaptor including:

(a) an internal bore terminating with an internally threaded portion adjacent the innermost end of said adaptor, and

(b) said adaptor perforated in that portion between said container wall and said threaded portion;

said reversible dispenser and closure including:

(a) a first externally threaded portion terminating its end with a dispensing means,

(b) a second externally threaded portion closed at its end,

(0) said first and second portions spaced by and retained to an intermediate perforated tubular member; and

a gasket coaxially received about said intermediate member to move between said first and second portions and seal one of said first and second portions to said adaptor when the other of said first and second portions is in threaded engagement with said internally threaded portion of said adaptor,

2. A flow dispenser and closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said adaptor includes m ans to be snapped into and retained fixed within a circular opening in said container wall.

3. A flow dispenser and closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the length of said intermediate pre-forated tubular member between said first and second portions is at least equal and slightly longer than that portion of said adaptor between said container wall and said threaded portion.

4. A flow dispenser and closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said internally and externally threaded portions are matching.

5. A flow dispenser and closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said adaptor and said dispenser and closure, and said gasket are plastics.

6. A flow dispenser and closure for fluid containers comprising in combination,

said adaptor including:

(a) an internal bore terminating with fastener means adjacent the innermost end of said adaptor, and

(b) said adaptor perforated in that portion between said container wall and said fastener means;

said reversible dispenser and closure including:

(a) a first portion cooperatively engageable with said fastener means of said adaptor terminating its end with a dispensing means,

([2) a second portion cooperatively engageable with said fastener means of said adaptor and closed at its end,

a gasket coaxially received about said intermediate member to move between said first and second portions and seal one of said first and second portions of said adaptor when the other of said first and second portions is in engagement with said fastener means of said adaptor.

Reierences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 356,529 1/87 Dreyer 222-539 X 680,684 8/01 Beatty 222-569 X 2,705,581 4/55 Mack 222 -542 X 2,826,343 3/58 Albiani 222539 2,980,300 4/61 Waddingto-n et a l. 222538 X 3,021,037 2/ 62 Parker 222498 3,052,256 9/62 Smirles 222539 X FOREIGN PATENTS 226,142 12/ 5 8 Australia. 129,868 10/32 Austria.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A FLOW DISPENSER AND CLOSURE FOR FLUID CONTAINERS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A TUBULAR ADAPTOR INTERNALLY RECESSED FROM A WALL OF SAID CONTAINER TO RECEIVE A REVERSIBLE DISPENSER AND CLOSURE MEMBER; SAID ADAPTOR INCLUDING: (A) AN INTERNAL BORE TERMINATING WITH AN INTERNALLY THREADED PORTION ADJACENT THE INNERMOST END OF SAID ADAPTOR, AND (B) SAID ADAPTOR PERFORATED IN THAT PORTION BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER WALL AND SAID THREADED PORTION; SAID REVERSIBLE DISPENSER AND CLOSURE INCLUDING: (A) A FIRST EXTERNALLY THREADED PORTION TERMINATING ITS END WITH A DISPENSING MEANS, (B) A SECOND EXTERNALLY THREADED PORTION CLOSED AT ITS END, (C) SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS SPACED BY AND RETAINED TO AN INTERMEDIATE PERFORATED TUBULAR MEMBER; AND A GASKET COAXIALLY RECEIVED ABOUT SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER TO MOVE BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS AND SEAL ONE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS TO SAID ADAPTOR WHEN THE OTHER OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS IS IN THREADED ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID INTERNALLY THREADED PORTION OF SAID ADAPTOR.