USRE23215E - Cream separator - Google Patents

Description

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April 4, 1950 Original Filed Jan. 25, 19415 April 4, 1950 c E. DEAR-DORFF CREAM SEPARATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Original Filed Jan. 25, 1945 m m M Wu 2 Maw w fif E EMA a my Q Q (2. E. DEARDORFF CREAM SEPARATQR 'Apl il 4, 195.0

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan. 25, 1945 5 R MH VD T 2 T u a .1. B m a 1. 7 7 1 April 4, 1950 c. E. DEARDO'RFF CREAM SEPARA'IfOR Original Fi led Jan. 25, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 AT 7012M? Y5 Reissued Apr. 4, 1950 CREAM SEPARATOR Clarence E. Deardorif, Sacramento, Calif., as-

signor to C. E. Deardorff, Inc., a corporation of California Original No. 2,399,665, dated May '7, 1946, Serial No. 473,564, January 25, 1943.

Application for reissue August 30, 1946, Serial No. 693,843

Claims.

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue The present invention relates to improvements in a cream separator and it consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a cream separator which may be placed in milk bottles or cartons that hold Whole milk. The separator consists of but one part and it does not interfere with the cream rising to the top of the container while the whole milk is standing. The separator coacts with the bottle to form a milk compartment and makes use of a physical law to create a vacuum in the milk compartment to prevent the skim milk from being poured from the container while the cream is poured therefrom. The 1 container must be maintained in a particular position during the pouring of cream. It is possible to pour all of the cream from the container without pouring any of the milk, or, if desired, a mixture of cream and milk can be poured at any time during the pouring by merely rocking the container about its longitudinal axis through an are not exceeding 90, thereby feeding air into the milk compartment for releasing the vacuum.

The device does not make use of any moving parts such as flap valves and the like and it may be used for separating other liquids of different densities Where the less dense liquid rises to the top of the container. It is possible to make the device a permanent part of the container as when it is used in a milk carton or a removable part as when it is used in a milk bottle. It is also possible to use the device in a standard milk carton or milk bottle and by means of a handle insert it in a milk bottle in which the cream has already separated itself from the skim milk. The only point to keep in mind when using the device is to hold the container in a certain position during the pouringoperation.

Other objects and advantages will appear in i the following specification, and thenovel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is the longitudinal section taken alon the line I-I of Figure 2 and shows the milk carton With one form of my device operatively applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of a carton;

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the device shown in a slightly modified form;

Figure 4 is a vertical section through a bottle showing my invention placed at the cream line;

Figure 5 is an isometric view of the cream separator used in the milk bottle; [and] Figure 6 is a cream separator supported by a handle;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section taken through a modified form of carton, in which the partition members providing my cream separator are fashioned from the same blank that makes the carton;

Figure 8 is an elevation looking from the lefthand end of Figure 7, the cap being closed;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 1, but illustruting the partition members of my cream separator overlapping each other and the carton swung beyond the horizontal;

Figure 10 is an elevation of the carton shown in Figure 9, as seen from the left of the latter, the cap being closed;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Figure 7, and disclosing the cream separator partitions overlapping each other and the carton moved beyond a horizontal position;

Figure 12 illustrates a modification of the cream separator disclosed in Figure 3, the view being a longitudinal section through a carton with my modified creamseparator therein;

Figure 13 is an end elevation of Figure 12 and taken from the left thereof, the cap being closed;

Figure 14 is an isometric view of the cream separator shown in Figures 12 and 13;

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 12, but showing overlapping partition members for the cream separator;

Figure 16 is an end elevation of Figure 15, looking from the left of the latter and the cap closed;

' separator employed in Figure 18;

Figure 20 is a view similar to Figure 18, disclosing overlapping partition members for the cream separator, and illustrating the bottle moved beyond horizontal;

Figure 21 is an isometric view of the cream separator used in Figure 20;

Figure 22 is a longitudinal sectional view through a bottle, disclosing a modification of cream separator illustrated in Figure 6; and

Figure 23 is aview similar to Figure 22, the partition members of the cream separator overuppermost.

Zapping each other, and the bottle moved beyond the horizontal.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In carrying out my invention. I make use of a milk carton indicated generally at. A in Figures 1 and 2. The carton may be of any shape desired and made from any material that will hold a liquid. I do not wish to be confined to a milk carton because, as already stated, the device may be used to separate liquids of different densities.

The carton A has an opening I through which the fluid may be poured, and a cap 2 normally closes the opening. The cap is hinged at 3 to the container top 4. It will be noted that the opening 1: is placed near one corner of the carton.

The form of my invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 consists of two transversely disposed partition members 5 and 6 that arev longitudinally spaced from each other-to provide an aperture [on] or slot 1 which, as-shown, extends acrossthe width of the carton. The partition 5 is shown as of less area than the partition 6 and theedge 8 of this partition is. placed near the side 9 of the carton. The partition 6 has its edge I lying substantially in the same longitudinal plane as the edge 8, the plane extending parallel to the side 9. The partition members and 6 maybe secured to the walls of the carton by anymeans desired. I have shown the partition 5. provided with flanges, H and the partition 6 withflanges l2.

These flanges are secured to the. carton walls by any. desired fastening means. The. edge 8 is nearer the carton top than the edge 10. The two partition members function as a single partition having an upwardly opening aperture. or slot I the edges of which lie in substantially a common plane extending at right angles. to the general plane of the partition.

It will be observed that the partition members 5 and 6 arranged as shown in Figure 1- define an opening 1 which affords free communication between a cream chamber l3 anda skim milkchamber ll of the carton, which opening is ample in cross sectional area to permit rapid filling of the container when upright and which due. to the disposition of the edges 8 and [.9] 10. of the partition members one in. front of the other as described, a body .of liquid is trapped behind the partition member 5 when the carton is placed in the horizontal pouring position shown in Figure-1,

which body of liquid effectively seals. the edge Ill against passage of air into the skim milk space [4 of the container and thus prevents discharge of skim milk from behind said partition so long as the container is maintained in this position. The partition 6- is' placed at the cream line, for

' the milk. In other words when the container is feature of the invention is the. provision of a mark- .or indicator I5 whichis placed on theside l6 of the carton in predetermined relation to the.

- opening I and this mark informs the person that if only the cream is tobe. poured from the carton, the side of the car-ton with the. mark-mustbekept In other words it. is necessary that the upwardly opening slot 1. be in a substantially horizontal position during the;v pouring if cream only is desired and that the edge 8 which is nearest the top of thev container face upwardly as shown. It is possible to placethe mark I 5 at the point; l5 a on, the top .4 of the carton rather than on the side I6 if desired. The person must keep the mark lie at the top of the carton during the pouring operation in order that the slot 1 will remainin a horizontal position and that the edge it will remain at the lower half of the carton.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

In Figure l I showthe carton in pouring position with the slot I opening upwardly with the edges 8 and ll) of the slot lying in a substantially horizontal plane and the cream compartment [3 empty. The cover 2 has been opened and the cream poured from the opening I until the compartment I3 is empty. The reason that only cream will be poured and no skim milk is that a vacuum is created in the compartment l4 during the pouring operation and air iseffectively sealed against ingress; into said space M underthe edge Illof the partition member. B-by the'body of liquid trapped behind the partition member 5.. This vacuum is suflicient to, hold all of the skim milk in the compartment solong as the slot 1 is kept in a substantially horizontal plane. Inthis simple way the cream maybe separated from the milk. Any amount of skim milk can be subsequently dispensed by merely rocking the container about its longitudinal axis; for swinging the slot! towarda vertical position. The upper endof the slot 1- will permit air to enter the compartment l4 and relieve the. vacuum. To the extent thatthe vacuum relieved; the skim milk will pour from the. space It through the slot 1 and out through the opening I. In this way the pouring of the milk can be stopped at any time by merely rockingthe container to swing'the slot back into a horizontal position. It is not necessary to return the container to an upright position. A mere. rocking of the container about its longitudinal axis prior to the complete removal of the cream. from the. space. 1.3 will cause the skim milk to pass through the slot I and mix with the cream. By this procedure a mixture of milk and cream can be. delivered during the pouring operation and this mixture. can be of any proportion desired.

' In Figure 3the cream separator indicated at B is in one piece. rather than in two partitions 5 and fi. The separator B comprises a partition I6 that extends across the carton A and'has flanges I] by means of which it is permanently secured to the carton. The partition l6 has a slot i8 therein with one edge I'Ba curved upwardly and the adjacent edge l8b curved downwardly respectively above and below the general plane of the partition member. The edge 18a takes the place of' the edge 8: of the partition 5 and the edge I8btakes the placesoftheedge ll) of the partition 6! Carelshould be taken that when the cream separator I3 is, placed in the carton, the

flange l-lafbe placed .adiacentto the carton side 16 that carries the mark t5. This will dispose the edge 1.8a, which isnearest-thecarton top, at

thelower half of the. container.

The operation of this form of thev device is identical to the:- form. already described. The slot l8 while maintained .:i n an upwardly opensubstantially horizontal position durin the pouring operation by keeping the carton side I6. and. mark: 15 uppermost will. create a vacuum. in. the. milk. compartment. will permit the cream to be discharged from, the cream .engaging with the wall 20'.

the skim milk in the bottle.

space while retaining the skim milk inthe milk space due to the sealing of the edge lBb by the 'milk trapped behind that part of the partition terminating in the edge l8a. A rocking of the carton about its longitudinal axis will cause the slot IB to swing toward a vertical. position and thus permit air to enter and relieve the vacuum in the space M and permit the skim milk to be poured.

In Figure 4 I showmy device applied to a milk bottle indicated generally at C. The neck -l9 of the bottle has a straight portion 20' that frictionally receives and supports my cream separator D. The separator is shown in Figure and it has a circular partition or disc 26 and a circular flange 2| extending from one face of the disc. A slot 22 extends diametrically across the partition and has its edge 22a curved inwardly into the space defined by the flange 2| and its edge 22b curved outwardly. A marker 23 is placed on the flange 2| at a point equidistance circumferentially from the ends of the slot and in position to be [moved] above the upwardly opening slot [i8] 22 when the bottle is in pourin position.

The cream separator D is placed in the bottle and is frictionally held in place by the flange 2! The bottle may now be filled with whole milk and the milk will pass through the slot 22 and into the bottom of the bottle. The slot 22 permits the cream to rise and the cream 24 will fill the top of the bottle while the skim milk 25 will fill the bottom. Figure 4 illustrates the bottle cap removed and the bottle ready to pour. seen through the glass bottle and the portion -of the bottle showing this mark is kept on top during the pouring operation. This will cause the slot 22 to remain in a horizontal plane during the tilting of the bottle and will keep the edge 22b of the slot sealed in the body of milk trapped behind the edge 22a that is nearest the bottle top while the bottle is in a tilted posi tion. The cream can be poured oh and the vacuum created in the bottom of the bottle will hold The skim milk can be poured while the cream is being poured or subsequently thereto by merely rocking the bottle on its longitudinal axis for swinging the slot 22 toward a vertical position when milk is desired. The device functions in exactly the same manner as when used in the carton.

In Figure 6 I show another cream separator indicated generally at E. This separator is identical to that shown in Figure 5 except that it has a handle 26 extending upwardly from the flange 2|. Like parts will therefore be given similar reference numerals. The handle 26 is rigidly secured to the flange 2! at a point on the flange which corresponds to the position occupied by marker 23 on the separator D. When using this device, the separator E can be moved slowly through the cream 24 without disturbing it because the cream will flow through the slot 22. When the top 26a of the handle reaches the rim 2! of the bottle, the cream separator E will be at the required position, i. e., at the cream line. The bottle can now be tilted for removing the cream, care being taken that the handle 26 remains at the portion of the bottle which will be on the upper side of the bottle during the pouring operation. This will maintain the slot 22 in a horizontal position. Only the cream will be removed because the vacuum created in back of the separator will prevent the skim milk from The mark 23 can be tion is illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 11.

other side.

'being poured' A rocking of the bottle about its longitudinal axis will swing the slot 22 toward a vertical position and this will permit air to enter the skim milk compartment to relieve the vacuum, and allow the skim milk to pass through the slot22 and out from the bottle.

The partition in the container or bottle may be raised or lowered to change the richness of the cream which is to be delivered. When the partition is used in a carton, it will reinforce the carton to permit larger cartons to be made and hold a greater quantity of whole milk. The two partitions 5 and 5 could be formed from the same blank that makes the carton. This construc- For example side I6 could be extended and the extended portion 16a folded back on itself and then the end bent at right angles to form the partition 6. In like manner the side 9 could have an extended portion 9a bent back on itself and the end'bent at right angles to form the partition 5. The top 4 could then be secured in place.

Where two separate partitions 5 and 6 are used, the edges 8 and in may overlap each other about an eighth of an inch the desired amount to allow all of the cream to be poured from the chamber 13 without pouring any of the milk. The longitudinal axis of the carton is indicated at a in Figures 9 and 11. It will be noted that this azcis is inclined with respect to the horizontal b. In other words, the partition 5 may extend toward the interior of the container a greater distance than illustrated in Figures 1 and 7. Figures- 9, 10 and 11 disclose the partition members 5 and 6' overlapping each other. When the edge 8 overlaps the edge H3 to a slight extent, the pouring angle with respect to either the transverse or longitudinal axis of the containermay be increased beyond the horizontal position shown and the vacuum will still hold the skim milk in place in the manner clearly shown in Figures 9v and 11, This will allow all of the cream to be poured from the con.- tadner without pouring any of the milk, as previously set forth in the objects of my invention. Rocking of the container about its longitudinal axis for swinging the slot 7 toward a vertical position permits the milk to be dispensed.

\ In the cream separator B it is possible to have two partitions like the partitions 5 and 6, one of the partitions being flush with one side of the flanges I1 and the other being flush with the The width of the flanges l'l determines the distance between the partitions. This arrangement is shown in Figures 12 to 17, in-

elusive. The cream separators in these views have been designated at B, and the flange or marginal strip by the reference numeral 17.

The flange or marginal strip 17 is in the nature of a loop. The flange portion 17a in Figures 12 to 17, inclusive, is placed adjacent to the carton side 16 that carries the mark 15. The partial partition members in Figures 12 to 17, inclusive, are designated at 5 and 6' and the slot therebetween by the numeral 7 The partition mempartitions may overlap each other slightly if desired, as shown in Figures 15, 16 andl7. Again,

the container may be swung until its longitudinal axis a is inclined with respect to the horizontal b. This will permit all of the cream to be poured from the chamber 13, even though the container is rocked about its axis a slightly, without pouring any of the skim milk from the chamber 14. Also, the angular disposition of the carton A in Figure 15 is more natural when pouring out the cream than a true horizontal disposition, as suggested in Figure 12.

The same change can be made in the cream separators D and E where partial partitions may be placed on opposite ends [sides] of the circular flanges 2|. These modifications will pro-- duce the cream separators illustrated in Figures 18 to 23, inclusive.

In Figures .18 and 19, I show such a modified cream separator, which is designated at D. The milk bottle C again is provided with a neck 19 having a straight portion 20' that receives and supports the cream separator D in exactly the same manner as the separator D is supported in Figure 4. The cream separator D includes a circular flange 21 having partial partitions 20a and 20b placed on opposite ends thereof so as to extend inwardly from opposing side sections of the bottle neck and defining a slot 18' extending diametrically across the neck of the bottle. A marker 23' is placed on the flange at a point equidistance circumferentiall'g from the edges of the slot 18, This. marker is disposed above the upwardl yeopening slot 18' when the bottle is in pouringposition. The edge 22a takes the place of the edge 22a in Figure 4, while the edge 22b is the equivalent of the edge 22b in Figure 4. 1*

The operation of the cream separator D is the same as that of the cream separator D.

The construction of the cream separator D" in Figures 20 and 21' is identical with the cream separator D just described in connection with Figures 18 and 19, excepting for the fact that the edges 22a and 22b overlap each other. This change will allow the longitudinal axis a of the bottle C to be swung into angular relation with respect to the horizontal b, as shown in Figure 20. Accordingly, all of the cream may be poured out of the cream chamber 24a over the rim 2? without pouring any of the milk 25 from the milk chamber. However, upon turning the bottle about its longitudinal axis a, milk will be delivered from the bottle.

The cream separator E in Figure 22 is the same as the cream separator D shown in Figures 18 and 19 excepting that a handle 26' has been connected to the circular flange 21 at the same point as the marker 23 is located in Figures 18 and 19. The top of the handle is designated at 26a. the same reference numerals.

In Figure 23 I show a cream separator E" that is identical with the cream separator E, excepting that the edges 22a and 23b of the partial partitions 20a and, 20b, respectively, overlap each other. Again the bottle C in Figure- 23 may be swung into a natural pouring position with its longitudinal axis a inclined. with respect to the horizontal b to allow pouring of all of the cream without discharging any of the skim milk. Rotation of the bottle about its longitudinal axis a will permit pouring. of the milk.

I claim:

[1. An article of manufacture comprising a partition member having an edge flange adapted to frictionally engage the. inner wall of a container, said partition member being provided Corresponding parts have been given with a transversely extending elongated opening, the edges defining said opening being respec* tively curved in opposite directions above and below the general plane of the partition member and lying in substantially a common plane ex.- tending substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the partition member] [2. An article of manufacture comprising a,

partition member having an upstanding flange around the peripheral edge thereof, said flange adapted to frictionally engage the inner wall of a container, said partition member being provided with a transverse opening extending substantially across the full width of the partition member, the edges defining said opening being respectively disposed above and below the gencral plane of the partition member and lying in a substantially common plane extending substam tiall perpendicularly to the plane of the partition member] [3. An article of manufacture comprising a circular partition member with a circular flange adapted to engage irictionally with the inner wall or? a container, said partition member being provided with an opening extending diametrically of the partition member for substantially the full width thereof, the edges defining said opening being respectively curved in opposite directions above and below the general plane of the partition member and lying in substantially a common plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the circular flange] 4. The combination with a transparent glass milk bottle having a neck portion, of [vacuum producing] a partition [means] removably disposed in the bottle at the juncture of cream and milk contained in the bottle [cream line] for dividing [the] an upper cream compartment from [the] a lower milk compartment, said partition [means] having [means defining] an elongated opening, the longer axis of said opening being disposed transversely relative to the bottle, the edges of said opening being spaced longitudinally of the bottle and lying in. a plane which substantially parallels the longitudinal axis of the bottle [container], the longer axis of the opening extending at right angles to the bottle [container] axis, said bottle when [tipped] turned about the longer [opening] axis of the opening from upright into pouring position while maintaining the longer axis of the opening substantially horizontal coacting with the partition and a body of milk at the opening and causing a vacuum to be formed in the lower compartment for trapping the [liquid] mills contained therein and only permitting the [liquid] cream in the upper compartment to be dispensed, and a mark on the partition [means and] viewable through the glass bottle for indicating how to maintain the longer axis of the opening in a substantially horizontal plane while turning the bottle from upright into pouring position .being' positioned substantially midway between the ends of the slot.

6. A milk bottle having a partition spaced from the upper end by a distance such that the capacity of the portion of the bottle above the partition is about equal to the bulk of the cream contained in the whole milk with which the bottle is intended to be filled, said partition having [a] an elongated slot extending transversely of the partition and substantially throughout the extent thereof, the longer axis of said slot being disposed transversely relative to the bottle, the edges which define said slot being spaced longitudinally of the bottle and lying substantially in a plane at right angles to the plane of the partition, and a mark on the partition and vi.ew able through the bottle for indicating how to [tip] turn the bottle from upright into pouring position so that the longer [so that the longitudinal] axis of the slot will remain in a substantially horizontal plane, said bottle when thus turned coacting with the partition and body of millc at the slot and causing a vacuum to be [whereby a vacuum is] created in the bottle portion disposed below the partition for trapping the milk therein and only cream will be delivered from the bottle, the milk being deliverable when the bottle is rocked on its longitudinal axis while in pouring position to swing the slot toward a vertical position, thusbreaking the vacuum in the bottom of the bottle and permitting air to displace the milk.

7. A milk [bottle] container having a cream portion and a milk portion separated from each other by a slotted partition, the partition extending transversely relative to the container, said cream portion having a capacity to hold the cream contained in the milk with which the [bottle] container is intended to be filled, the edges which define the slot lying in a plane extending substantially at right angles to the plane of the partition and permitting the cream to rise to the top when the container is disposed in .to 'be created in the [bottle] container portion disposed below the partition for trapping the milk and only permitting the cream which is above the partition to be poured, the milk being retained by the vacuum in back of the partition until the vacuum is broken by the [bottle] eon- .tainer being rocked on its longitudinal axis for swinging the slot toward a vertical position and permitting air to enter in back of the partition, whereby milk will flow through the slot and out of the [bottle] container.

8. The combination with a milk bottle, of a separator adapted to pass through the mouth of the bottle and extend transversely across the bottle at the juncture of cream and milk contained in the bottle and engage thebottle to form a wall for separating the cream from the milk, the

separator comprising a partition with a slot therein, the edges defining said slot being spaced longitudinally of the bottle and lying in a plane extending substantially at right angles to 'the .plane of the partition, a marker on the separator placed at a point to aid the operator in posiitioning [position] the edge of the slot lying nearest the bottle top at the underneathllower] M portion of the bottle during turning [the tilting] of the bottle from upright into pouring position [for pouring purposes], said marker being viewable through the transparent bottle for indicating that the slot is maintained in a substantially horizontal position during the pouring of the cream when the marker is held at the top of the bottle during the pouring operation, said bottle when thus turned coaoting with the partition and a body of milk at the slot for creating a vacuum in back of the partition to [whereby the vacuum created in the back of the partition will] prevent the milk from being poured.

9. A container having [for milk comprising] a cream portion and a skim milk portion, a partition in the container extending-transversely relative to the container and placed at the juncture of the cream and milk portions, the cream portion having a capacity about equal to the bulk of the cream contained in the whole milk with which the container is intended to be filled, said partition having a slot extending substantially across the width of the container, the slot being formed with [by] one edge of the slot being [bent] disposed closer to the container top than the other edge of the slot, with the two spaced edges of the slot lyin in a plane that is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the container, said container when turned from upright into [tilted in] a substantially horizontal position with the slot facing upwardly and said edges maintained substantially horizontally coacting with the partition and a body of milk at the slot for causing a vacuum to be created in back of the partition to retain the skim milk while the cream is being poured, a rocking of the container about its longitudinal axis to swing the slot toward a vertical position during the pouring operation admitting air through the slot intov the milk portion and relieving the vacuum and permitting the skim milk to be poured.

10. A separator for use with a milk bottle having a cream portion and a skim milk portion, said separator comprising a disc adapted to be passedthrough the mouth of a bottle and extend transversely across the bottle at the juncture of cream and milk contained in the bottle and to engage with the inner wall of the bottle [at the cream line], said disc having a slot that extends substantially across the width of the bottle, one edge of the slot being disposed closer to the bottle top than the other edge thereof, the two spaced 'edges lying in a plane substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bottle, and a rigid handle rigidly fixed to the disc and of such length as to project beyond the mouth of the bottle when the separator is at the juncture of the cream and milk [cream line], the handle being connected to the disc at a point substantially equidistant from the ends of the slot and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the disc, and on that side of the slot whose edge is more remote from the bottle top, whereby the maintaining of the handle at the uppermost side [top] of the bottle during the turning [tilting] of the bottle from upright into pouring position [for pouring] will maintain the slot edges in a horizontal position [line] and will dispose the firstmentioned slot edge at the underneath portion [bottom half] of the bottle, the bottle when thus turned coacting with the disc and a body of milk at the slot and create [thus a creation of] a vacuum in the skim milk portion of the bottle that will permit only the cream to be poured, a.

rocking of the bottle about its longitudinal axis during any portion of the pouring operation [,1 swinging the slot toward a vertical position and admitting air through the slot into the milk portion and releasing the vacuum to permit skim milk to be poured from the bottle.

11. The combination with a liquid container for holding a liquid that will separate upon standing into two volumes of different densities, of a [vacuum producing] partition [means] placed in the container at the point where the two volumes meet and extending transversely relative to the container for dividing the container into an upper and a lower compartment, the container having an opening communicating with the upper compartment, said partitions [means] having an elongated opening, the edges of said partition opening being spaced longitudinally of the axis of the container and lying in a plane which substantially parallels the longitudinal axis of the container, the longer axis of the partition opening extending transversely of the container at right angles to the container axis, said container when turned from upright [whereby a tipping of the container] into pouring position about the longer axis of the partition opening as a pivot [,1 while maintaining said longer axis substantially horizontal will coact with the partition and a body of liquid at the partition opening and will cause a vacuum to be formed in the lower compartment [for] thus preventing the liquid in this compartment from passing through the opening in the [vacuum producing] partition [means] and into the upper compartment while the liquid in the upper compartment is dispensed through the container opening.

12. The combination with a [rectangularlyshaped] container having an opening in its top and near one side of the container, of a cream separator comprising a partition [means] extending transversely across the container and disposed the desired distance from the top to form an upper cream compartment and a lower milk compartment, said partition [means] including [means defining] an elongated opening, the longer axis of said elongated opening ea:- tending transversely relative to the container, the edges of the partition opening lyin in a plane which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container, said partition opening having its longer axis lying substantially parallel with the said side of the container, whereby said container when [swung] turned from upright into a substantially horizontal pouring position while maintaining the longer axis of the partition opening in a substantially horizontal position will coact with the partition and a body of milk at the partition opening and create a vacuum in the lower compartment to trap the liquid contained therein, thus permitting only the liquid in the upper compartment to be dispensed.

13. An article of manufacture comprising a partition member having an edge flange adapted to frictionally engage the inner side walls of a container with the partition member disposed transversely across the container, the flange positioning the partition member transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the container at a desired point between the top and bottom of the container, said partition member being provided with a transversely-extending elongated opening, the edges defining said opening being respectively carved in opposite directions above and below the general plane of the partition v12 member and lying in substantially a common plane extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the partition member.

14. An article of manufacture comprising a partition member having an upstanding flange around the peripheral edge thereof, said flange being adapted to frictionally engage the inner side walls of a container withthe partition member disposed transversely across the container, the flange positioning the partition member transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the container at a desired point between the top and bottom of the container, said partition member being provided with a transverse. opening substantiall across the ,full width of the parti tion member, the edges defining said opening being respectively disposed above and below the general plane of the partition member and lying in a substantially common plane extending sub stantially perpendicularly to the plane of the partition member.

15. An article of manufacture comprising a circular partition member with a circular flange adapted to engage ,irictionally with the inner side walls of a container with the partition member disposed transversely across the container, the flange positioning the partition member transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the container at a desired point between the top and bottom of the container, said partition member being provided with an opening extending diametrically oi the partition member for substantially the full width thereof, the edges defining said opening being respectively curved in opposite directions above and below the general plane of the partition member, and lying in a common plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the circular flange.

16. The combination with a liquid container for holding a liquid that will separate upon standing into two volumes of difierent densities; of partial partition members disposed transversely in the container substantiallyat a point where the two volumes meet, and dividing the container into an upper and a low'ercom'partment'; the container having an opening communicating with the upper compartment; the partition members extending inwardly of the container from opposing" sides of the latter; the inner edge of one partition member being disposed closer to the top of the container than the inner edge of the other partitiommember; said inner edges lying in a common plane which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container and defining a slot be tween the compartments opening toward a side of the container; the uppermost partition member trapping a body of liquid therebehind which fills the slot when the container is moved from upright into pouring position and the container is held in a predetermined position; which body of liquid coacts with the partition members and container and efiectively prevents passage of air from the upper compartment into the lower compartment, whereby discharge of liquid from the lower compartment is precluded due to creation of vacuum therein as lon as the container is maintained in this predetermined position; the slot being positioned to allow entrance of air from the upper compartment to the lower compartment when the container is moved into another position during the pouring operation to break the liquid seal between said body of liquid and the inner edge of the lowermost partition member and thus permit discharge of liquid from the lower compartment.

17. The combination with a liquid container for holding a liquid that will separate upon standing into two volumes of difierent densities;

of partial partition members disposed transverseposing sides of the latter; the inner edge of one partition member being disposed closer to the top of the container than the inner edge of the other partition member; said inner edges lying in a common plane which is parallel to the longitudinal arts of the container and defining a slot between the compartments opening toward a side of the container; the uppermost partition member trapping a body of liquid therebehind which fills the slot when the container is moved from upright into pouring position and the container is held in a predetermined position; which body of liquid coacts with the partition members and container and effectively prevents passage of air from the upper compartment into the lower compartment, whereby discharge of liquid from the lower compartment is precluded due to creation of vacuum therein as long as the container is maintained in this predetermined position; the slot being positioned to allow entrance of air from the upper compartment to the lower compartment when the container is moved into another position during the pouring operation to break the liquid between said body of liquid and the inner edge of the lowermost partition member and thus permit discharge of liquid from the lower compartment; and a marginal strip contacting with the inner side walls of the container and having the partial partition members secured thereto to provide a unitary structure of the strip and partial partition members.

18. The combination with a liquid container; of partial partition members transversely disposed in the container and dividing the container into an upper and a lower compartment; the container having an opening communicating with the upper compartment; the partition members extending inwardly of the container from opposing sides of the latter; the inner edge of one partition member being disposed closer to the top of the container than the inner edge of the other partition member; said inner edges lying in a common plane which is parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the container and defining an upwardly-facing slot between the two compartments when the container is turned from upright into pouring position andv a predetermined s ide of the container is maintained uppermost; the uppermost partition member trapping a body fiof liquid therebehind which fills the slot when said predetermined side of the container is maintained uppermost; which body of liquid codcts with the partition members and container and effectively prevents passage of air from the upper compartment into the lower compartment, whereby discharge of liquid from the lower compartment is precluded due to creation of vacuum therein as long as the container is maintained in this predetermined position; the slot being posi tioned to allow entrance of air from the upper compartment to the lower compartment when the container is moved into another predetermined position to break the'liquid seal between said body of liquid and the inner edge of the lowermost partition member and thus permit discharge of liquid from the lower compartment; the lower compartment having a liquid space below both partial partition members.

CLARENCE E. DEARDORFF.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 670,076 Hoffman Mar. 19, 1901 1,167,448 Van Amburgh Jan. 11, 1916 1,366,056 Burns Jan. 18, 19 21 1,722,396 Reiber July 30, 1929 1,794,596 Dowling Mar. 3, 1931 1,820,549 Williams Aug. 25, 1931 2,052,941 Prevost Sept. 1, 1936 2,199,698 Franzmeier May 7, 1940 2,239,092 Gammill Apr. 22, 1941 2,249,487 Musolf July 15, 1941 2,277,001 Hanson Mar. 17, 1942 2,279,419 Teunisz Apr. 14, 1942 2,311,333 French Feb. 16, 1943 2,320,711 Bramhall -1 June 1, 1943 2,321,660 Courtney June 15, 1943 2,399,665 Deardorfi May 7, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 462,160 Great Britain Mar. 3, 1937

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