USRE23434E - Closure for a container neck and a - Google Patents

Description

1951 w. NUMBERS 23,434

, CLOSURE FOR A CONTAINER NECK AND A MEASURING cup DETACHABLY SECURED IN SAID NECK BY sun CLOSURE Original Filed July 5, 1946 llllllll llllllllllllllllllll ll lllllllllllll H6. 3 -WILLIAM NUMBERS \NVENTOR ATTORNEYS Reissued Nov. 27, 1951 CLOSURE FOR A CONTAINER NECK AND A MEASURING CUP DETACHABLY SECURED IN SAID NECK BY SAID CLOSURE William Numbers, Washington, D. C.

Original No. 2,559,168, dated July 3,. 1951, Serial No. 681,513, July 5, 1946.

Application for reissue September 28, 1951, Serial No. 248,802

4 Claims.

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets I: appears in the original patent but forms no part of: this reissue specification; matter printed in. italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to measuring devices and more particularly to measuring devices for use within any container whereby a given or predetermined quantity of liquid, powder or granular solid may be readily obtainable therefrom.

In using various materials such as, for example, medicines, it is often desirable to obtain only a certain amount of the material from the container'. To eliminate annoyance and the risk of wasting the material, it is desirable that the device for measuring the required amount of material be associated with the lid or top of the container holding it. The varied amounts of material which may be required at a single time and the varied uses to which it is put make the use of a single measuring device attached to the top of the container impractical;

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a measuring device which is readily insertabl'e in and withdrawable from a container top: of given size.

Another object of this invention is to provide aseries of measuring or containing devices which may be readily and successively associated with the top of a container.

A feature of this invention relates to the disclikewasher integral with and supporting the liquid measuring receptacle wherein the said washer is threaded to mesh with the threads of an internally threaded top of given diameter.

Another feature of this invention relates to the: disc-like washer threadably insertable within the container top wherein said washer serves the dual purpose of supporting the measuring device and sealing the container when the top is substantially tightly screwed thereon.

Another feature of this invention relates to the novel organization, arrangement. and association of parts which cooperate to produce an improved measuring device for obtaining a predetermined amount of material from a given container.

Another object of the invention is the provision of. means whereby useful tools and implements such as measuring cups for liquids, powders and granular'solids, medicine droppersg. liquid measuring tubes, solid and brush. applicators for applying liquids, eye cups, automatic liquid measuring devices, liquid or powder storage chambers or the. like: may be inserted and carried by the inner threads-0f bottle caps.

Other objects, features and advantages not par?- ticularly' enumerated are apparent to those skilled in the art as will be evident from the followin descriptions.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view in exploded form. illustrating the principles of this invention.

Fig. 2' is an elevational view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 3' is an elevational view of another modification of the invention.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a measuring device forming another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is an el'evational view, partly in section, of an eye-cup adapted for use in accordance with another form of the invention, and

Fig. 6 is a; sectional elevational view of a storage chamber ior use in accordance with another form of the invention.

Similar numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the medicine bottle HI represents any container having. threads H on the periphery of its top portion. Knurled top [2 is threaded so as to be readily threadably engaged with the threads I I. Washer I3 is the conventional type washer which is pressed or fastened into the recess in the top l2 and when that top is tightly screwed onto the bottle l0, it serves" to seal that bottle.

The measuring receptacle [4 is of any desired diameter which will allow its insertion. into the bottle IU. Scale [5 thereon is graduated to indicate any desired quantities, such as, for example,

minim, drops, tablespoonsful, t'easpoonsf'u'l, et cetera. Receptacle i4 is made integral with disclike washer It and the material used to form these parts may be any suitable material which will not chemically react with the contents of the bottle l0. Washer It is thin relative to the washer l3 and is threaded around its periphery to threadably engage cap I2. When washer I6 carrying measuring receptacle I4 is threadably engaged with top H and that top tightly screwed onto the bottle l0, the compressive forceexerted against washer ['6 causes that washer to seal the bottle ID. that the material used in forming this washer should, inaddi-ti'on to the above requirements,

It is obvious, therefore,-

be sufficiently resilient to provide the type seal required.

It is seen that this invention has the further advantage that conventional removable tops require no adaptation prior to their reception of washer I 8 since that insertion is made either with washer I3 in its normal position within top I2 or with that washer removed therefrom.

When it' is desired to obtain a certain amount of liquid, powder or granular solid from bottle 10, the top I2 carrying the measuring receptacle I4 is removed from the bottle and inverted and the proper amount of material poured into the measuring receptacle I4 through its open end IT. The desired quantity of material is then obtained from the measuring receptacle by utilizing the scale I5 thereon.

Figure 2 shows another type of measuring applicator I8 having an open end I9 for receiving and discharging the liquid. Scale I5 and washer I6 are as described in connection with Figure 1. Opening through the wall of applicator I8 is located intermediate the scale I5 and washer I6 and provides convenient means for obtaining a.

certain definite amount of liquid in or from the applicator. Applicator I8 is suspended in a liquid container and the liquid seeks its level in applicator I8 pushing the air out through opening 20. To obtain a definite amount of liquid the top of the container is removed and withdrawn sufiiciently from the container to enable one to place afinger over opening 20. All of the liquid in applicator!!! at that time remains therein because of well-known capillar action and the excess is discharged through the end I9 by removing the finger from" and replacing it on the opening 20. When scale l5 indicates that applicator l8 contains the desired amount of liquid it may be discharged therefrom by removing the finger from opening 20. In this form of the invention it will be seen that the disc-like portion I6 is strengthened by an annular thickened portion 30.

Figure 3 shows a dropper-type applicator 2I according to the invention. End 22 of applicator 2| provides means whereby liquid is received into the applicator and discharged therefrom. The operation and use of this applicator is identical with that described in connection with Figure 2 except that the liquid may be'readily discharged in quantities of one or more drops at a time. This is because of the relatively small cross-sectional area of end 22.

Figure 4 shows a device of this invention for automatically providing the same predetermined amount of liquid, powder or granular material each time it is used. Measuring receptacle 23 is provided withan opening 24. located relatively close to the washer [6. Opening oppositely located on the wall of receptacle 23 relative to opening' 24 is nearer to the bottom of device 23 than it is to washer IE or the top of that receptacle. In other words, the portion 26 above opening 25 has a volume greater than that of portion 21 below that opening. Portion 2'! has a volume which contains the desired quantity of liquid, such as. for example, a tablespoonful.

If washer I6 is inserted within the top of a liquid container and receptacle 23 is suspended therefrom into a liquid and a predetermined amount of liquid is to be obtained, the container is inverted. When so inverted, the liquid begins to flow immediately into measuring receptacle 23 through openin 24 and air is pushed out of receptacle 23 through opening 25. Assuming there is sufficient liquid in the container this action continues until the device contains an amount of liquid at least equal to the volume of portion 25. The container is now returned to the normal position allowing the liquid in portion 26 to flow into portion 21 until it is filled and then to flow back into the container through opening 25 until all in excess of the volume of portion 27 is returned to thecontainer. The top of the container is now removed and the predetermined amount of liquid contained by portion 21 is obtained therefrom by pouring it through opening 25. This pouring of the liquid is facilitated by a lip 28 located on the outer periphery of receptacle 23 immediately below opening 25. While lip 28 facilitates the final obtaining of the predetermined quantity of liquid, it is obvious that it is not a necessary feature of this invention. It is equally obvious that the construction of receptacle 23 may be such that volume 21 equals any desired volume. It will also be apparent that powders and/or granular solids may be measuredby this device in the same manner as above described for liquids.

Figure 5'shows an eye-cup 29 associated with washer I6 and thereby adapted to the invention as described herein. In this form of the invention it will be seen that the disc-like portion IB is of thicker construction in order to provide a more sturdy base for the relatively heavy eye cup. In the form of the invention disclosed in Figure 6 there is shown a storage chamber 3| which is especially useful Where two associated materials are to be carried in the same container but not in contact with each other. The chamber is provided with an opening 32 at its upper end and the disc-like member is here altered by thickening the outer periphery as indicated at 33.-

While there have been here described preferred embodiments of this invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. Y

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is: 1. A device of the character described includmg, in combination, a container having an exteriorly threaded neck, an interiorly threaded cap engageable with said neck, a compressible washer mounted in said cap, a receptacle having a closed and an open end, and a relatively thin flange of flexible material extending outwardly from the closed end of the receptacle, the periphery of said flange forming a thread of a single convolution engageable with the threads in said cap.

2. A device of the character described including, in combination, a container having an exteriorlythreaded neck, an interiorly threaded cap engageable with said neck, a compressible washer mounted in said cap, a receptacle having a closed and an open end, and an integrally formed relatively thin flange of flexible material extending outwardly from the closed end of the receptacle,"

said container, said supporting means compris- 'ing a relatively thin flange o7 flexible material extending outwardly from the supported article,

5 the periphery of said flange being shaped to form UNITED STATES PATENTS a thread of a single convolution adapted for en- Number Namfl Date gayement with the threads in said cap. 202,263 Keller Apt 9 1373 4. A device as in claim 3 in which said thin 1,047531 M fi t 1912 flar ge is formed integrally with said supported 5 1,937,492 Memne 23, 1933 1,949,902 Desser Mar. 6, 1934 WILLIAM NUMBERS- 2,055,819 Georger Sept. 29, 1936 2,108,692 Pieck Feb. 15, 1938 REFERENCES CITED 2,170,173 Wheatley Aug.22,19'39 The following references are of record in the 10 2,175,735 a s t- 1 3 file of this patent or the original patent: 2,204,471 p l B13 a1 J ne 1 1

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