US3442486A - Spigot construction for a liquid dispensing container or the like - Google Patents

Description

3,442,486 N FOR A LIQUID DISPENSING Sheet y 6, 1969 v. J. SERIO. JR

SPIGOT CONSTRUCTIO CONTAINER OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 11, 1966 FIG.2

INVENTQR VINCENT J. SERIO, JR.

H IS ATTORNEYS May 6, 1969 v. J. SERIO. JR

SPIGOT CONSTRUCTION FOR A LIQUID DISPENSIN CONTAINER OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 11, 1966 INVENTOR VINCENT J. SERIO. JR.

y 6, 1969 v. J. SERIO. JR

SPIGOT CONSTRUCTION FOR A LIQUID DISPENSIN Sheet CONTAINER OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 11, 1966 mvamoa VINCENT J.SERIO,JR w

HIS ATTORNEYS May 6, 1969 v J. SERIO. JR 3,442,486

SPIGOT CONSTRUC IION FOR A LIQUID DISPENSING CONTAINER OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 11, 1966 Sheet 4 016 INVENTOR .913 VINCENT J. SERIO,JR.

I m/m BY 20 19 3 3 K 63 HIS ATTORNEYS y 6, 1969 J. SERIO. JR 3,442,486

V. SPIGOT CONSTRUCTION FOR A LIQUID DISPENSING.

CONTAINER OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. I1, 1966 Sheet 5 of6 INVENTOR VINCENT J. SERIO, JR.

HIS ATTOR NE YS 'May 6, 1969 I v J. SERIIO. JR 3,442,486

SPIGOT CONSTRUCIION FOR A LIQUID DISPENSING CONTAINER OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 11, 1966 INVENTOR VINCENT SERIO, JR.

HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,442,486 SPIGOT CONSTRUCTION FOR A LIQUID DIS- PENSING CONTAINER OR THE LIKE Vincent J. Serio, Jr., Henrico County, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 571,757 Int. Cl. F16k 7/00 US. Cl. 251-155 23 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an improved spigot construction for a liquid dispensing container or the like.

In particular, it is well known that liquid dispensing containers have been provided wherein liquid, such as beer, other beverages or the like, is disposed in the container and is pressurized therein by a propellant so that the operator can dispense the desired quantity of the liquid from the container by opening a suitable spigot construction thereof. After the desired quantity of liquid has been dispensed through the open spigot construction, the operator then closes the spigot construction to terminate the dispensing operation.

However, it has been found that in such prior known liquid dispensing containers or the like, the spigot constructions utilized therefor were not efficient in preventing the spigot construction from dripping after the same had been closed to terminate a dispensing operation.

Further, it has been found, according to the teachings of this invention, that such prior known spigot constructions are not readily adaptable for dispensing beer from the previously described containers because the valve means thereof are so constructed and arranged that the same produce adverse turbulence to the beer flowing therethrough and thereby cause excess foaming of the dispensed beer as the same passes out of the spout portion of the spigot construction into the desired liquid receiving receptacle.

Accordingly, it is a feature of this invention to provide a spigot construction which is relatively simple to manufacture and operate while being substantially dripless and which will not cause adverse turbulence to the flow of liquid being dispensed therethrough.

In particular, this invention provides a spigot construction wherein the valve means thereof comprises a stretchable member which in one condition thereof will close oif the flow passage in the spigot construction while preventing dripping thereof and when in another condition thereof will open the spigot construction to permit liquid dispensing without adverse turbulence to the liquid flowing therethrough.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved spigot construction having one or more of the novel features set forth or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which Patented May 6, 1969 proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating one type of liquid dispensing container which can utilize the spigot construction of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the spigot construction of FIGURES 1 and 2 with the spigot construction disposed in its closed position.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates the spigot construction of FIGURE 3 in its opened position.

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view, partially in cross-section, illustrating the various parts of the spigot construction of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates another embodiment of the spigot construction of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates still another embodiment of this invention with the spigot construction of FIGURE 7 illustrated in its closed position.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 and illustrates the spigot construction of FIGURE 7 in its opened position.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9 and illustrates the spigot construction of FIGURE 9 in its opened position.

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 9 and illustrates still another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 and illustrates the spigot construction of FIGURE 11 in its opened position.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for providing a spigot construction for a pressurized liquid dispensing container or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide a spigot construction for other devices as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 2, a typical liquid dispensing container is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and carries a spigot construction 11 of this invention formed in a manner hereinafter described and utilized to selectively dispense a suitable liquid 12 contained within a chamber 13 of the container 10.

In particular, the liquid dispensing container 10 includes a wall means 14 formed of one or more parts to define the chamber 13 therein as well as a countersunk front end wall 15 and an opposed rear end Wall 16. The spigot construction 11 includes a spigot body portion 17 having an inlet tubular part 18 suitably fastened to the front end Wall 15 and adapted to be disposed in fluid communication with a chamber 13 of the container 10.

For example, the front end wall 15 of the container 10 can have a threaded bore 19 passing centrally therethrough and threadedly receiving the tubular inlet part 18 of the spigot construction 11 in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 2 whereby the spigot construction 11 is suitably mounted to the container 10 and is fully received in the countersunk front end wall 15 for protection of the spigot construction 11.

The spigot construction 11 of this invention has a flow passage 20 passing through the body portion 17 thereof with the inlet end of the flow passage 20 being fluidly connected to a tubular member 21 having one end 22 telescoped on the tubular part 18 of the spigot construction 11 that projects into the chamber 13 of the container while an inlet end 23 of the tube 21 is disposed closely adjacent the bottom of the chamber .13 of the container 10 when the container 10 is disposed in its normal horizontal dispensing position as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The rear end wall 16 of the container 10 has an opening means 24 passing therethrough and telescopically receiving a propellant pressure regulator unit 25 having an outer end 26 fastened to the rear end wall 16 and sealably closing the opening 24 thereof in any suitable manner.

The regulator unit 25 includes a small propellant container 27 containing a pressurized propellant 28, such as liquid CO or the like, adapted to be expanded and discharged into the chamber 13 of the container 10 by means of a pressure regulator valve means carried in a housing 29 affixed to the propellant container 27, the pressure regulator valve means being so constructed and arranged that the same is adapted to pressurize the liquid 12 in the chamber 13 of the container 10 at a constant pressure regardless of the liquid level of the liquid 12 remaining in the chamber 13 of the container 10.

In this manner, when the flow passage 20 of the spigot construction .11 of this invention is opened in a manner hereinafter described, the propellant in the chamber 13 of the container 10 forces the liquid 12 therein into the inlet end 23 of the tube 21 and, thus, through the flow passage 20 of the spigot construction 11 and out of a spout portion 30 of the spigot construction 11 into the desired drinking receptacle or the like held below the spigot construction 11 at the front end wall 15.

As previously stated, the spigot construction 11 of this invention is so constructed and arranged that the same is adapted to prevent dripping thereof after a dispensing operation and to prevent turbulence to the liquid flowing therethrough during a dispensing operation.

The particular details of the spigot construction '11 of this invention will now be described and reference is made to FIGURES 3-5.

As illustrated in FIGURES 3-5, the spigot body portion 17 includes a bore means 31 passing completely through a substantially frustoconical part 32 of the body portion 17, the bore 31 being outwardly stepped and internally threaded by threads 33 at the larger upper end 34 of the frustoconical part 32 and defining an inwardly tapering frustoconical outlet part 35 at the smaller end 36 which defines the spout 30 previously described.

A substantially cylindrical bore 37 passes through the tubular part 18 of the body portion 17 and angularly intersects the bore 31 intermediate its ends to cooperate with the bore 31 and provide the previously described flow passage 20 through the spigot construction 11.

A flexible and stretchable thimble-shaped sealing valve member 38 is provided and has its upper opened end 39 provided with an outwardly directed annular head 40 adapted to be received in an annular recess 41 formed in a shoulder 42 of the spigot body portion 17 and defined by the stepped part 33 of the bore 31, valve member 38 being formed of rubber, plastic or the like.

A plug-like cap member 43 is provided and has an inwardly offset and downwardly extending tubular part 44 provided with external threads 45 to cooperate with the threads 33 in the bore 31 to fasten the cap member 43 to the spigot body portion 17, the end 46 of the tubular part 44 being adapted to engage against the annular bead 40 of the sealing member 38 to completely seal the upper part 47 of the bore 31 from the lower part 48 thereof, the lower part 48 of the bore 31 being in complete fluid communication with the bore 37 in the tubular part 18 as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

An elongated stem or guide 49 is carried by the cap member 43 and extends into the thirnble-shaped sealing member 38, the stem 49 and cap member 43 being interrupted by a bore 50 terminating at an end wall 51 in the stem 49 for a purpose hereinafter described. The bore 50 in the stem 49 is interconnected to the interior of the sealing member 38 by a pair of opposed elongated slots 52 formed in the stem 49 in the manner illustrated in FIG- URES 3 and 5.

The sealing member 38 has an inwardly directed annular flange 53 disposed between its upper end 39 and its closed end 54 and is dovetailed in or otherwise fastened in an annular recess 55 formed in a cylindrical actuating collar or member 56 slidably and telescopically disposed on the stem 49.

An actuating plunger or rod 57 is provided and is telescopically received in the bore 50 of the stem 49, the rod 57 having a transverse bore 58 passing through the lower end 59 thereof and receiving a pin 60 which has its opposed ends passing through the slots 52 of the stem 49 and received in suitable apertures 61 of the actuator 56 to fasten the rod 57 to the actuator 56 in such a manner that axial movement of the rod 57 in the bore 50 causes axial movement of the actuator 56 relative to the stem 49.

The actuator 56 is normally urged downwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 against an outwardly directed stop member 62 carried by the stem 49 by a compression spring 63 telescoped on the stem 49 and having one end 64 bearing against the actuator 56 and the other end 65 hearing against the underside of the cap member 43.

When the actuator 56 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 3, it can be seen that the same carried the lower portion of the sealing member 38 therewith so that the same will be disposed in its relaxed condition in sealing engagement with the internal frustoconical part 35 of the bore 31 to completely seal closed the passage means 20 from the outlet port 66 defined at the end 36 of the spout 30 so that fluid can not be dispensed from the container 10 even though the same is under pressure in the flow passage 20. In fact, the pressurized liquid in the flow passage 20 of the spigot construction 11 of this invention further assists the sealing action of the sealing member 38 in its closed position by pushing downwardly on the bulged part 67 of the sealing member 38 that is exposed to the upper portion of the flow passage 20 to cause the sealing member 38 to be more firmly pushed into sealing engagement with the frustoconical part 35 of the bore 31.

An operating handle 68 is provided for the spigot construction 11 of this invention and has a bifurcated end 69 defined by a slot 70 interrupting the end 69 and defining a pair of spaced parallel legs 71 each having a flat bottom surface 72 provided with an arcuate camming surface 73 at the forward corner thereof.

The upper end 74 of the actuating rod 57 has a transverse bore 75 passing therethrough and receiving a pin 76 having the opposed ends thereof received in suitable apertures 77 passing through the legs 71 of the handle 68 to pivotally attach the handle 68 to the actuating rod 57.

With the handle 68 of the spigot construction 11 disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 3, it can be seen that the compression spring 63 has moved the actuating collar 56 downwardly against the stop 62 of the stem 49 to seal closed the spout 30 of the spigot construction 11 while holding the flat surfaces 72 of the legs 71 of the handle 68 against flat top surface 78 of the cap member 43.

With the spigot construction 11 disposed in the closed position as illustrated in FIGURE 3, it can be seen that the closed flat end 54 of the sealing member 38 has a flat lower surface 79 disposed coplanar with the end 36 of the spigot body portion 17 defining the spout port 66 so that no liquid can remain in the spout 30 to drip out of the same below the end 54 of the sealing member 38 whereby the spigot construction 11 of this invention is substantially dripless. This feature is particularly important because the container 10 is normally stored in the horizontal dispensing position thereof on a shelf in a domestic refrigerator whereby the householder or the like merely opens the door of the refrigerator and draws a glassful from the container without removing the container 10 from the refrigerator. However, if the spigot should thereafter drip, the dripping beverage would fall on the other items in the refrigerator and cause an adverse condition.

When the operator desires to open the spigot construction 11 ofthis invention to dispense a desired quantity of the liquid 12 from the container 10, the operator pushes downwardly on the handle extension 80 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 to cause the legs 71 of the handle 68 to pivot relative to the actuating rod 57 onto the camming surfaces 73 thereof whereby such clockwise movement of the handle member 68 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to the position illustrated in FIG- URE 4 causes the legs 71 to cam against the flat surface 78 of the cap 43 and axially move the actuating rod 57 upwardly in opposition to the force of the compression spring 63 to carry the actuating collar 56 axially upwardly relative to the stem 49 and stretch the lower portion 54 of the sealing member 38 into the configuration illustrated in FIGURE 4 about the rounded end 81 of the stem 49 to completely open the spout 30 of the spigot construction 11. In this manner, the liquid 12 in the container 10 can be forced through the flow passage 20 by the propellant 28 in the manner previously described to be dispensed out of the opened spout 30 into the desired drinking receptacle or the like.

When the desired quantity of liquid has been dispensed, the operator releases the handle extension 80 whereby the compression spring 52 again moves the actuating collar 56 back to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 while carrying the actuating rod 57 therewith to pivot the handle member 68 back to its closed position illustrated in FIGURE 3, the actuating collar 56 being moved axially downwardly relative to the stem 49 until the same is disposed against the stop 62 and completely seals closed the frustoconical part 35 of the spout 30 with the sealing member 38 in the manner previously described whereby no liquid 12 will be held in the spout 30 below the sealing end 54 of the sealing member 38 to provide the aforementioned adverse dripping condition.

Therefore, it can be seen that when the thimble-shaped sealing member 38 of this invention is disposed in its relaxed position as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the sealing member 38 completely seals closed the spout 30 at the spout port 66 to provide a dripless spigot construction and when stretched into the condition illustrated in FIG- URE 4, the sealing member 38 fully opens the spout 30 so that the liquid being dispensed therethrough can flow completely around the sealing member 38 in such a manner that the same can flow out of the spout port 66 around the substantially conically shaped and stretched sealing member 38 in a manner that adverse turbulence is not imparted to the liquid 12 being dispensed out of the opened spigot construction 11. This latter feature is particularly desirable when the liquid 12 being dispensed is a carbonated beverage, such as beer, soft drinks and the like so that excess foaming will not occur in the thus drawn glass of beverage or the like.

In addition, it can be seen that when the sealing member 38 is moved to its opened position in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4, the sealing member 38 does not project beyond the plane of the spout port 66 as in prior known spigot constructions, it being found according to the teachings of this invention that if the valve means projects beyond the plane of the spout port 66, such projecting valve member or means causes excessive turbulence to the flow of liquid being dispensed out of the opened spout port.

When the sealing member 38 is being moved upwardly from its closed position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to its opened position illustrated in FIGURE 4, it can be seen that an intermediate part 83 of the sealing member 38 is corrugated or fluted to permit the same to collapse into the configuration illustrated in FIGURE 4 to compensate for such upward movement of the sealing member 38 even though the opened end 39 thereof is held fixed from movement during the movement of the lower portion of the sealing member 38 between its open and closed positions.

In addition, it can be seen that the sealing member 38 not only opens and closes the spigot construction 11, but also the sealing member 38 itself provides the fluid seal for preventing leakage out of the spigot construction 11 around the valve actuating mechanism in a simple and effective manner.

Thus, it can be seen that the spigot construction 11 of this invention provides a simple, inexpensive and easily assembled construction readily adapted to provide a dispensing device for a charged liquid container or the like while having the advantageous features of being substantially dripless and minimizing turbulence of the liquid being dispensed therethrough.

Another spigot construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 11A in FIG- URE 6 whereby parts of the spigot construction 11A that are identical to the spigot construction 11 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter A.

As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the spigot construction 11A is substantially identical to the spigot construction 11 previously described except that the stem 49A does not carry a separate stop member 62 but has a shoulder means 84 to provide a stop means for downward movement of the actuating collar 56A when the sealing member 38A is moved to its closed position by the compression spring 63A.

In addition, the sealing member 38A is not provided with the flutes 83 previously described but has a folded back opened end 85 which permits the upper part of the sealing member 38A to more or less roll upon itself as the sealing member 38A is moved from its closed position illustrated in FIGURE 6 to an open position in substantially the same manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 whereby the rolling effect of the upper end 85 of the sealing member 38A is much the same as a rolling diaphragm or the like.

In addition, the handle means 68A of the spigot construction 11A also has camming surfaces 86 on the other corners of the legs 71A opposite to the camming surfaces 73A previously described so that the handle means 68A can be moved in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction from its closed position illustrated in FIGURE 6 to perform an opening operation of the sealing member 38A in the manner previously described.

Another embodiment of the spigot construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 11B in FIGURES 7 and 8 and parts thereof substantially identical to like parts of the previously described spigot constructions 11 and 11A are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter B.

As illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8, the spigot body portion 17B includes the frustoconical portion 32B having the bore means 31B passing therethrough as well as the tubular portion 18B having the bore 37B passing there through and disposed in communication with the bore 31B. However, the cap member 43B of the spigot construction 11B is slightly changed from the cap member 43 previously described as the cap member 43B is fully telescoped within the stepped part 33B of the bore 31B. In addition, the thimble shaped sealing member 38B has its annular bead 40B trapped between cooperating recess means 87 and 88 formed respectively in the cap member 43B and spigot body portion 17B to seal the cap member 43B to the spigot body portion 17B.

The actuating collar 56B of the spigot construction 11B, while being attached to the actuating rod 57B to be operated by the handle means 68B in the manner previously described, has an outwardly directed substantially frustoconical flange 89 adapted to stretch the sealing member 38B from its relaxed condition illustrated in FIG- URE 8 to its sealing condition illustrated in FIGURE 7 when the actuating member 56B is moved downwardly to its closed position by the compression spring 633 whereby the slanting annular surface 90 on the flange 89 of the actuating member 56 compresses the sealing member 38B into sealing engagement with the frustoconical portion 35B of the bore 31B at the spout 30B to close off the spout port 66B in the manner previously described to provide a dripless spigot construction.

However, when the actuating rod 57B is moved upwardly by clockwise pivoting of the handle means 68B in the manner previously described, the actuating member 56B is axially moved upwardly in opposition to the force of the compression spring 63B to the position illustrated in FIGURE 8 wherein the sealing member 38B moves into its relaxed position around the stem 49B to fully open the flow passage 20B so that the liquid can be dispensed out of the opened spout port 56B in the manner previously described.

Thus, it can be seen that the sealing member 38B of the spigot construction 11B of this invention is stretched into its closed position and is moved into its relaxed position to open the spigot construction whereas the sealing members 38 and 38A previously described are moved into their relaxed condition to close their respective spigot constructions and are stretched to open the same.

However, it can be seen that regardless of whether the sealing member of this invention is stretched or relaxed to close or open the respective spigot construction, each spigot construction of this invention provides a dripless dispensing means in a simple and effective manner while at the same time producing a spigot construction which will not cause turbulence to the liquid flowing therethrough as in prior known spigot constructions.

While the spigot construction 11B has been described with the actuator 56B having a portion 89 which will compress the stretchable member 38B against the frustoconical surface 35B of the spout portion 30B to provide a positive seal at the outlet end 66B of the passage means 31B when the spigot construction 11B is in its closed position, such positive sealing can also be provided for the spigot constructions 11 and 11A, previously described.

For example, reference is now made to FIGURES 9 and 10, wherein another spigot construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 11C and parts thereof identical to the spigot construction 11 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter C.

As illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10, the spigot construction 11C is identical to the spigot construction 11 previously described except that the guide stem 39C thereof does not have the stop means 62 thereon and the actuator collar 56C has been modified to provide a positive sealing of the stretchable member 38C in its closed position.

In particular, the actuating collar 56C has an outwardly directed contoured angular flange 91 at the lower end thereof, so that when the handle 68C is moved to its closed position as illustrated in FIGURE 9, the flange 91 of the actuating collar 56C is in such a position that the same compresses the stretchable member 36C against the internal frustoconical surface 35C of the spout 30C to effect a positive seal thereagainst to close the passage means of the spigot construction 11C in substantially the same manner as the part 89 of the spigot construction 11B previously described.

When the handle 68C of the spigot construction 11C is moved to its open position as illustrated in FIGURE 10, it can be seen that the actuating collar 56C stretches the stretchable member 38C around the guide stem 39C to open the spigot construction 11C in the manner previously described.

While the spigot construction 11C has the flange 91 of the actuating collar 56C compressing the stretchable member 38C against the internal surface 35C of the spout 30C when the member 38C is in its closed position at a point remote from the outlet end 66C of the spout 30C, it is to be understood that such actuating collar could compress the flexible member 38C at the outlet end 66 of the spout 30 in the same manner as the part 89 of the spigot construction 11B, if desired.

For example, reference is now made to FIGURES l1 and 12, wherein another spigot construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference letter 11D and parts thereof similar to the spigot construction 11 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter D.

As illustrated in FIGURES 11 and 12, the actuating collar 56D has its end 92 so constructed and arranged that when the spigot construction 11D is disposed in its closed position as illustrated in FIGURE 11, the end 92 of the actuating collar 56D compresses the stretchable member 38D against the internal peripheral surface 35D of the spout 30D exactly at the outlet end 66D of the spout 30D.

However, when the spigot construction 11D is moved to its opened position, as illustrated in FIGURE 12, it can be seen that the actuating collar 56 does not interfere with the full opening of the stretchable member 38D in the manner previously described in regards to the operation of the spigot construction 11.

Thus, it can be seen that all of the spigot constructions of this invention can be modified in various manners to provide a positive sealing of the stretchable member in its closed position by having the actuating collar compress the stretchable member against the internal peripheral surface of the spout of the spigot construction to eflect a positive seal therebetween when the spigot construction is in its closed position.

Accordingly it can be seen that this invention provides an improved spigot construction having many novel features not heretofore obtainable in prior known spigot constructions.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing spigot construction comprising a spigot body means provided with a flow passage therethrough, said flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end with said outlet end defining an outlet port in said spigot body means, said outlet end of said spigot body means defining an external flat end surface that is interrupted by said outlet port, and movable valve means carried by said spigot body means for opening and closing said passage means, said valve means including a stretchable member disposed inside said spigot body means which in one condition thereof closes said passage means and in another condition thereof opens said passage means, said stretchable member closing said passage means by having a portion thereof closing said outlet port and being coplanar with said end surface of said spigot body means across said entire outlet port to provide a dripless spigot construction.

2. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member is stretched to open said passage means and is relaxed to close said passage means.

3. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member is stretched to close said passage means and is relaxed to open said passage means.

4. A dispensing spigot constructon as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member has an end coplanar with said outlet port when said member opens said passage means to prevent turbulence to the fluid being dispensed out through said outlet port.

5. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stretchable member is substantially thimble-shaped with the closed end thereof closing said passage means when said member is in said one condition thereof.

6. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 5 wherein a movable actuator is carried by said spigot body means and is operatively interconnected to said stretchable member to control the stretching thereof.

7. A dispensing spigot construction comprising a spigot body means provided with a flow passage therethrough, said flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end with said outlet end defining an outlet port in said spigot body means, movable valve means carried by said spigot body means for opening and closing said passage means, said valve means including a stretchable member which in one condition thereof closes said passage means and in another condition thereof opens said passage means, said stretchable member being substantially thimble-shaped with the closed end thereof closing said passage means when said member is in said one condition thereof, a movable actuator being carried by said spigot body means and being operatively interconnected to said stretchable member to control the stretching thereof, and a stationary flow guide stem being carried by said spigot body means and extending into said thimble-shaped member, said stem having an end engaging the closed end of said stretchable member.

8. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 7 wherein said actuator is guided for movement by said stem.

9. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 8 wherein said actuator pulls said thimble-shaped member rearwardly relative to said end of said stem to stretch said member about said stem to open said passage means.

10. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 8 wherein said actuator is moved toward said end of said stem to stretch said thimble-shaped member away from said stem to close said passage means.

11. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 7 wherein a spring means is carried by said body means and normally tends to urge said actuator relative to said stem to a position to cause said stretchable member to close said passage means.

12. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 7 wherein a movable handle means is operatively interconnected to said actuator to move said actuator.

13. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 12 wherein said handle means carried cam means for camming against said body means to move said actuator.

14. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 13 wherein said handle means is movable in two directions from an off position thereof, each direction of movement of said handle means causing opening of said passage means.

15. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 12 wherein an axially movable pin means is operatively interconnected to said actuator and has an end projecting from said body means, said end of said pin means being attached to said handle means whereby movement of said handle means causes movement of said actuator.

16. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 15 wherein said stem has a bore therein and said pin means is axially movable in said bore.

17. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 16 wherein said stem has slot means provided therein and wherein the other end of said pin means is fastened to said actuator by rod means passing through said slot means.

18. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 17 wherein said stem comprises part of a cap means detachably interconnected to said body means.

19. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 18 wherein said stretchable member provides a seal between said cap means and said body means to prevent fluid leakage between said passage means and said cap means.

20. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve means include a movable means for compressing said stretchable member against said spigot body means when said stretchable member is in said one condition thereof to close said passage means.

21. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 20 wherein said movable means compresses said stretchable member against said spigot body at said outlet end of said passage means. i

22. A dispensing spigot construction as set forth in claim 20 wherein said movable means is also operatively interconnected to said stretchable member to control the stretching thereof.

23. A dispensing spigot construction comprising a spigot body means provided with a flow passage therethrough, said flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end with said outlet end defining an outlet port in said spigot body means, movable valve means carried by said spigot body means for opening and closing said passage means, said valve means including a stretchable member which in one condition thereof closes said passage means and in another condition thereof opens said passage means, said valve means comprising a movable means for compressing said stretchable member against said spigot body means when said stretchable member is in said one condition thereof to close said passage means, said movable means being also operatively interconnected to said stretchable member to control the stretching thereof, and a stationary flow guide stem being carried by said spigot body means and extending into said flow passage, said movable means being guided for movement by said stem whereby said movable means stretches said member about said stem to open said passage means and compresses said member against said spigot body at the end of said stem to close said passage means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,533,652 12/1950 Weiffenbach 25l155 2,021,731 11/1935 Leins 251331 X 2,603,445 7/1952 Marchant 251331 X 3,195,573 7/1965 Daumy 137625.4 3,301,525 1/1967 Chernak et a1 251-331 FOREIGN PATENTS 902,924 1/ 1954 Germany. 435,121 10/1953 Italy.

ARNOLD ROSENTHAL, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 251-331

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