US3615150A

US3615150A - Means for draining catsup bottles

Info

Publication number: US3615150A
Application number: US872846A
Authority: US
Inventors: William G Indrunas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-10-31
Filing date: 1969-10-31
Publication date: 1971-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-26

Abstract

A DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A PAIR OF BOTTLES FOR THE DRAINAGE OF A THIXOTROPIC FLUID FROM ONE BOTTLE TO ANOTHER, INCLUDING MEANS FOR INTERCONNECTING SAID BOTTLES AT THE MOUTHS THEREOF, AND SUPPORTING SAID BOTTLES FOR DRAINAGE

SUCH THAT THE PRINCIPAL AXES OF THE BOTTLES ARE ALIGNED AT AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE HORIZONTAL.

Description

oct' 26, 1971 w. G. INDRUNAS MEANS FOR DRAINING GATSUP BOTTLES Filed Oct. 3l, 1969 Aff/Inf.

United States Patent O 3,615,150 MEANS FOR DRAININ G CATSUP BOTTLES William G. Indrunas, 251 E. 32nd St., New York, N.Y. 10016 Filed Oct. 31, 1969, Ser. No. 872,846 Int. Cl. B65b 1/06, 3/06; B670 3/00 U.S. Cl. 141-375 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to bottle coupling and supporting devices, and more particularly to an apparatus for draining catsup and the like.

In connection with the serving of various liquid condiments and sauces, it is desirable that the bottle at the table be substantially full when rst served. To this end, it is usual and customary for waiters `and waitresses to take partially empty bottles and to transfer the contents to other paritally empty bottles, so that there remain a lesser number of substantially full bottles. Because of the high viscosity and consequent slow pouring of these substances, this operation may be slow and time-consuming.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide structure whereby the contents of one bottle may be conveniently transferred to another bottle, requiring attention only at the time the operation is cornmenced, and when completed.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of a device of the class described, which will support the interconnected bottles at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal during the period of draining, whereby the draining action may be facilitated.

Yet another object herein lies in the provision of devices of the character described which may be manufactured on a large scale at relatively low cost to permit consequent wide distribution and sale.

A feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the fact that the devices may be readily cleaned and maintained in sanitary condition, so that food products upon which the condiments are dispensed are uncontaminated.

The objects and feature, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which the reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof as seen from the plane 2 2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view as seen fromy the plane 3 3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view as seen from the plane 5 5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a similar fragmentary sectional view, corresponding to that seen in FIG. 5, but showing an alternate form.

FIG. 7 is a similar sectional view showing a further alternate form.

3,615,150 Patented Oct. 26, 1971 FIG. 8 is a side elevational view showing a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 9 9 in FIG. 8.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: a bottle-supporting element 11 and a bottle coupling element 12, this structure being used in conjunction with first and

second bottles

13 and 14 of conventional, tapered configuration.

The bottle-supporting element 11 includes a horizontal base member 17, the lower surface 18 of which is adapted to rest upon a table (not shown) or other horizontally disposed supporting surface. The upper surface 19 mounts a vertically disposed elongated member 20 having a pivotal connection at the upper end thereof with an elongated member 22 which it adjustably supports at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal. This adjustable connection includes a bolt and nut 21. The upper end of the member 22. mounts a bottle-engaging member 23, and the lower end supports a bottle-engaging member 24.

Referring to FIG. 2, the member 23 may be of planar coniiguration, and is provided with a quasi-circular opening 26, the diameter of which corresponds to a portion of the tapered neck 27 of the bottle 13. As best seen in FIG. 3, the member 24 is of generally similar conigura tion, and includes a larger semi-circular opening 29, the diameter of which corresponds to that of the lower cylindrical portion 30 of the bottle 14. From a consideration of FIG. l, it will be apparent that when the

bottles

13 and 14 are interconnected by the element 12, the engagement of the first bottle 13 within the opening 26 will maintain both bottles against movement while supported upon the element 11.

In the alternate form of construction shown in FIG. 4, the pivotal portion 21 is substituted by a solid construction forming an integral joint 32, where a non-disassembleable construction is desired.

The bottle coupling element 12 may be in the form of a resiliently expandable sleeve 35, having a lirst end 36 engageable upon the threaded portion 37 of the neck of the bottle 13, and a second end 38 similarly engageable upon the threaded portion 39 of the neck of the bottle 14. The sleeve may be formed from any suitable synthetic resinous material, such as polyethylene, or any suitable elastomer which may be readily placed in a sanitary condition. In the alternate form shown in FIG. 6, the element is in the form of a synthetic resinous molding having threads 46 on an internal surface 47 thereof, whereby the por-tions 37 yand .39 may be placed in rigid interconnection. A third variation is shown in FIG. 7, in which the element 48 is molded of relatively rigid material, while yet possessing sufficient expandability to permit a degree of engagement with the threads by virtue of a small degree of distortion. Optional air vents 49 are provided in this construction.

While the rst embodiment is ideally suited for use in conjunction with conventional catsup bottles having Ia generally cylindrical lower portion, and a tapered elongated neck portion, other condiments are often packed in bottles which are substantially cylindrical or those which have a rectangular cross section. In such cases, the rst embodiment cannot be utilized for supporting the bottles in the condition shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is illustrated a second embodiment of the invention, generally indicated by reference character 50i, and suitable for use in conjunction with rectangularly conigured first and

second bottles

51 and 52. Owing to the presence of flat side walls 53, and end walls 54, there is no point on such bottles which can obtain a suitable engagement with the opening 26 of the irst embodiment.

The second embodiment 50 accommodates bottles of such configuration, by providing support to the lower bottle, rather than the upper bottle, and maintaining the same with aligned principal axes in substantially vertical orientation. In the second embodiment, the structures includes a base Wall l56 mounting a plurality of supporting posts 57, the upper ends of which support an upper wall 58 having a rectangular opening 59 therein. By positioning the lower bottle 52 within the opening, to rest upon the upper surface 60 of the base wall 56, substantially an identical process may be carried out.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. In a bottle coupling device for draining catsupf bottles and the like, from one bottle to another, the improvement comprising: a bottle-supporting element including a first member having a lower surface `adapted to rest upon a fixed horizontal surface, a vertical member connected to said first member at a lower end thereof, and4 having an upper end, an elongated member having a principal axis disposed at an acute angle with respect to the plane of said first member, and supported at a point medially disposed between first and second ends thereof; first bottle-engaging means disposed at said first end thereof, and having an opening therein corresponding in size and configuration to the neck of a first bottle, and second bottle-engaging means disposed at said second end, whereby upon the interconnection of said first and second bottles at the mouths of each thereof, and said first bottle is engaged upon said first bottle-engaging member, said interconnected first and second bottles are maintained in fixed position, with their principal axes aligned at said acute angle.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, including means for interconnecting said first and second bottles.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,230,986 1/1966 Worley 141-375 3,261,380 7/1966 Holleman 141--364 HOUSTON S. BELL, JR., Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.