US2582566A - Dispensing bottle closure - Google Patents

Description

J 1952 w. E. SCHWIMMER ETAL 8 66 DISPENSING BOTTLE CLOSURE Filed March 8, 1950 2? A? +p) s 21 0 I 17 INVEN TOR.

MLLMMEJCl/W/MME/Q BY LE N/m0 Mull/N I a I I I, I

Patented Jan. 15, 1952 DISPENSING BOTTLE CLOSURE William E. Schwimmer and Leonard Maullin, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 8, 1950, Serial No. 148,438

12 Claims.

This invention relates to and has for an object the provision of a simple, economical and effective bottle closure adapted for ,application only .to bottles having special characteristics and arranged in a novel manner so as to provide an efiective seal against leakage of the fluid contents of a bottle when the closure is open and to seal the opening of the bottle against discharge of its contents when the closure is adjusted to closed position.

As distinguished from prior patented and frequently used pouring spouts and measuring dispensers which are usually arranged in the form of stoppers inserti-ble in outlets of most all types of bottles or externally applied to the necks of bottles and inall cases readily removable, our invention contemplates the provision of a dispensing closure which when once aflixed to a bottle is incapable of removal except by breaking the bottle, and to such end can only be applied to specially designed bottles. Hence, the bottle and the closure are inter-dependent.

While our closure may be readily used in connection with bottles or containers for many kinds of liquids and gases, it is particularly adapted for application to glass bottles for liquids such as liquors which are required to be broken after the original contents have been exhausted and to such end it is an object to provide a dispensing closure therefor which is capable of production at extremely low cost and is therefore a dispensable article which may be discarded when the bottles are broken and discarded and unworthy of reuse because of its cheapness in spite of its possible fitness for reuse.

An important object is to provide a bottle having a neck formed with an annular flanged lip and a closure longitudinally adjustable on the neck between closed and dispensing positions and provided with internal means for sealing the bottle opening when in closed position and for sealing the closure against leakage of the bottle contents when the closure is in open pouring position.

A further object is to provide a closure embodying means therewithin which is yieldable to permit application of the closure to a bottle but which is prevented from yielding and serves to lock the'closure on the bottle when moved reversely to a predetermined extent.

Another object is to provide means in the closure for admitting air to and from the presence of the contained liquid so as not to impede the free flow of liquid in a pouring operation and so arranged that a separate air chamber is proto atmosphere.

2 vided in interposition between a liquid dispensing chamber and atmosphere.

Other and more detailed objects of invention may appear as the description progresses.

We have shown a preferred embodiment of our invention in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of our improved dispensing closure attached to a bottle of conventional form but having special characteristics adapting it for use in connection with our new closure;

Fig. 2 is a substantially full size cross sectional view of our closure mounted on the neck of a bottle and in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a similar cross sectional view of the same with the closure in open position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and r Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view in the plane of Figs. 2 and 3, showing a combined seal and look as when the closure is being applied to a bottle in a mannerwhich prevents removal of the closure from a bottle.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 a closure C embodying our improvements is preferably but not necessarily. of circular cross section and is formed with a skirt l0 open at its bottom and closedat its upper end by a wall H. The lower portion of skirt 1 0 is internally threaded at l2 so that the closure may be screwed on to the externally threaded neck l3 of a bottle B to an extent limited by a shoulder I4.

The skirt I0 is provided with spaced internal annular grooves l5 and [6 in which sealing elements I I and I1 respectively are marginally held and between which a dispensing chamber I8 is formed for receiving fluid from bottle B through outlet passage l9, while a separate air chamber 20 is formed between sealing element l1 and wall I l It will be noted that element H is in the form of a disc while element I I is in the form of a ring. Both of the elements I! and H are formed of sufficiently flexible material, such as mildly soft plastic, that they may be inserted one after the other through the open end of skirt l0 and sprung into the grooves l5 and 16, respectively,

and held by their inherent tension. Disc IT has a vent 2| leading between chambers 18 and 20 and chamber 20 has a vent 22 to atmosphere by means of which dispensing chamber 18 is open indirectly A pouring spout 23 is provided on skirt H1 at a point diametrically opposite vent 22 and has an outlet passage 24 leading from chamber l8. Pasassacee sage 24 and vent 22 are preferably originally sealed by teats 25 and 26, respectively, so as to seal the bottle against atmosphere and thereby preserve the contents until time for use. Said teats may be cut away from the outer ends of the passages 22 and 24 when the bottle is initially opened.

Neck 13 has an annularly flanged lip 2! below which is a wide grooveZS in which groove the seal I1 is movable from completely closed position as shown in Fig. 2 to completely open position as shown in Fig. 3 with its inner edge always in engagement with the bottom ofthegrooveilii, thereby preventing leakage of fluid from chamber I8 between skirt l and neckbottle is tilted in a pouring operation.

The skirt H3 is long enough .sothat When-lain"? ing a closure to a bottle the skirt may be screwed on to neck l3 to the extent of at least afew:

threads before sealing ring ll engages the upper end of lip 21; aitenwhich the: continued turning of the closure gradually deforms ring; 1:? up. wardly as the ring is moved over the bevelled edge of lip 21; When: the closure-is suificiently moved on the neck ring ll"will:.resume-itsior1g1- nal form at a point below lip IS in groove-23. Hence, when the inner diameter of skirt Ifl and the outer diametenof. lip 21 are relatively establishedit willb'eimpossible tonretract the ringll beyond'the flat planeofthedower side of thelip and the closure cannot. be removed; fromthe. bottle.

It may be observed? that. the Width of' groove 28 corresponds to the distancethe closure is movable on the bottle between; compl-etely'open: and closed positions but: that: it' is:not necessary to move the closure'toits'extreme outwardzposition to dispense the contents of thebottle from chamber "3. When the closure is: adjustediinwardly to: a pointwher'eat the end of skirt: Iii almost. If; not actually engages shoulder M :on the neck: 13 (Fig. 2), the disc I! will seal passage l5. at the upper side of lip 21 so that'fluidfrom;the bottle cannot be evacuated into chamber i8: even though thebottl'e istilted as impouring position; and in saidposition theringzwlz'l'. 'willzseal; the joint between neck l3" and skirt [0 at.the:-lower end'of groove 28. At all times-athe: innenedge of' ring IT seals the space between skint); and the bottom of groove 28-, andzwherrithe closure is completely openit seals the: spans. between skirt I0 and lip 21 (Fig. 3). I

Vents 2| and 22'to chamber zlflfromschamber l8 and from chamber to. the atmosphere; re. spectively. are suificiently spaced radially from each other'and both from spout"23;.that when the bottle-is tilted to dispense fluid-from chamber it! the fluid from chamber I8 will nott flow into chamber 20 and yetair from chamber I8 will be readily vented to and from chamber. 20 to the atmosphere. Also, air is freely admitted to chamber l8, passage 19 and the bottle to permit-free evacuation of the fiuiclat will;

Fluid in any desirednquantity may be dispensed freely even if the closure is only partly open. Due to the fact that the closure body may be made of-rubber, plastic or other'cheap materialiof but one molded, extruded or stamped piece of material and the seals l1 and 1"! 0f th a diiferent but/softer and more compressible mate'- rial the un tof the closures per'bottle is so minimized that when. the bottles are destroyed the closures may be' discarded" with but insignificant loss to users which is greatlyless-than I 3 as: whenthe ail) losses otherwise arising from free or overgenerous dispensing of valuable liquids and freely available access thereto.

Seals I1 and H are sufficiently stiff that when sealed in their respective grooves I5 and I6 they will not be displaced during use of the closure and yet said elements are compressible and suf ficiently deformable that when the closure is closed the seal Iii will overliee thealip; Z?! of the bottle for closing opening l9 against flow of liquid therethrough even though the bottle is tilted as in pouring position and seal I1 will seal the joint=.between.the skirt Ill and neck l3 at opposite extremes of its movement by engaging the lowerside of 'lip-2 l and the lower shoulder of groove 28.

As. shown..-in" Rig. 5, as the closure is tele-- 27 and skirt I0 is just'wide enough to permit seazl.

I! to move therethrough over the bevelled edge of the lip but not wide enough to permit passage upwardly therethrough inthe absenceof asimilarly bevelled lower lip: surface and; therefore,v prevents removal of'the closure-from the'bottl'e.

Our' improved closure andcontainer combination is unique in its embodiment of the double seal (when open and closed) of the closure on the bottle; the method of applying the closureto a" bottle; the irremovability-of the closure when applied to a bottle-and the-provisionof controlled means for admitting air to and for exhausting air from the dispensing chamber without employ ment'of valves; and the absence of springs and other devices usually provided incontainer closures.

We claim:.

1. In combination, a container having a threadedneck and an annular flanged lip around it'soutlet, and aclosure having a' skirt-adapted" to be. screwedonto. said ,neck and having a top wall, a sealing .di'scrborneby said skirt in a plane spaced from said top walllior. engagement with saidyll'p to close; the containen outlet andsubdividingthe interior of the closure into. an upper: air.v chamber and a. lowerv dispensing. chamber. said dispenser chamber. having an. outlet. through which the contents. of. the container. may. be dispensed; and a sealing ring borne by the .closureyieldable: .to permit itsmovement. over and. to scaling. osition with said neck. ina..-plane.below said lipand tor locking theclosure on the'container against .removal.

2. In combination, a container having a threaded'neck and .an annular flanged. lip around its outlet; and a closure having a. skirt adapted to be screwed onto said neck and having a top wall, asealing disc: borne by saidskintinaplane spaced from said" topwall for. engagement with said lip to close: the containeroutletand:sub.- dividing theinterior of the closureintoan upper air chamber and a lower; dispensing chamber, said dispenser cham'ber'having anoutlet. through which the contents of the container may-'be distpensed, and a sealing ring borne-by the. closure yieldable to permit its movement over and to "sealing'position with said neck in'a plane below saidzlip and forlocking. the closure on the con tainer against removal, saidair chamber having a'vent to atmosphere and a port open to the dispensing chamber, whereby air resident in the dispensing chamber is exhausted to atmosphere as the contents of the container are discharged into the dispensing chamber.

3. In combination, a container having a threaded neck and an annular flanged lip around its outlet, and a closure having a skirt adapted to be screwed onto said neck and having a top wall, a, sealing disc borne by said skirt in a plane spaced from said top wall for engagement with said lip to close the container outlet'and subdividing theinterior of the closure into an upper air chamber and a lower dispensing chamber, said dispenser chamber having an outlet through which the contents of the container may be dispensed, and a sealing ring borne by the closure yieldable to permit its movement over and to sealing position with said neck in a plane below said lip and for locking the closure on the container .its outlet, and a closure having a skirt adapted to be screwed onto said neckand having atop wall, a sealing disc borne by said skirt in a plane spaced from said top wall for engagement with saidlip' to close the container outlet and subdividing the interior of the closure into an upper air chamber and a lower dispensing chamber,

said dispensing chamber having an outlet through which the contents of the container may-be dispensed, and a sealing ring borne by the closure yieldable to permit its movement over and to sealing position with said neck in a plane below said lip and for locking the closure on the container against removal, the upper surface of said lip being bevelled to permit movement of said sealing ring downwardly thereover into sealing and locking position and the lower surface of said lip being flat so as to prevent movement of the sealing ring upwardly over the lip.

5. In combination, a container having a threaded neck and an annular flanged lip around its outlet, and a closure having a skirt adapted to be screwed onto said neck and having a top wall, a sealing disc'borne by said skirt in a plane spaced from said top wall for engagement with said lip to close the container outlet and subdividing the interior of the closure into an upper air chamber and a lower dispensing chamber, said dispensing chamber having an outlet through which the contents of the container may be dispensed, and a sealing ring borne by the closure yieldable to permit its movement over and to sealing position with said neck in a plane below said lip and for locking the closure on the container against removal, said closure body being formed of rigid material and said sealing disc and ring being formed of compressible and resilientmaterial and aflixed at their external peripheries to the skirt of the closure.

6. In combination, a container having a threaded neck and an annular flanged lip around its outlet, and a closure having a skirt adapted to be screwed onto said neck and having a top wall, a sealing disc borne by said skirt in a plane spaced from said top wall for engagement with 'said lip to close the container outlet and subdividing the interior of the closure into an upper air' chamber and a lower dispensing chamber, said dispensing chamber having an outlet through which the contents of the container may be dispensed, and a sealing ring borne by the closure yieldable to permit its movement over and to sealing position with said neck in a plane below said lip and for locking the closure on the container against removal, said air chamber having a vent to atmosphere and a port open to the dispensing chamberpwhereby air resident in the dispensing chamber is exhausted to atmosphere as the contents of the container are discharged into the dispensing chamber,said vent and said port being located at substantially diametrically opposite points on the closure from the closure outlet to prevent flow of liquid from the dispensing chamber .into the air chamber and outwardly therefrom when the container is tilted in a pourin operation. a

k 7, In combination, a, container having a neck formed with an annular external groove the upper extremity of which is'defined by a flanged lip and the lower extremity of which is defined by an annular shoulder, a closure adapted for adjustable telescopic attachment to said neck and formed with a top wall and a pouring outlet below said top wall, and an annular sealing ring borne by and movable with the closure between opposite positions of engagement with the lower surface of said lip and said shoulder while its inner edge engages the bottom of said groove, and cooperating means on the closure and said neck for axially adjusting the closure between pouring and nonpouring positions on the container in accordance with the limitations of movement of the sealing rmgh, I H a 1 8. In combination, a container havinga neck formed with an annular external groove the upper F extremity of which is defined by a flanged lip and the lower extremity of which is defined by an annular shoulder, a closure adapted for adjustable telescopic attachment to said neck and formed'with a top wall and a pouring outlet below said top wall, and an annular sealing ring borne by and movable with the closure between opposite positions of engagement with the lower surface of said lip and said shoulder while its inner edge engages the bottom of said groove, and cooperating means on the closure and said neck for axially adjustingthe closure between pouring and nonpouring positions on the container in accordance with the limitations of movement of the sealing ring, and means on the closure for sealing the container against discharge of its contents when said sealing ring engages said shoulder.

9. In combination, a container having a neck formed with an annular external groove the upper extremity of which is defined by a flanged lip and the lower extremity of which is defined by an annular shoulder, a closure adapted for adjustable telescopic attachment to said neck and formed with a top wall and a pouring outlet below said top wall, and an annular sealing ring borne by and movable with the closure between opposite positions of engagement with the lower surface of said lip and said shoulder while its inner edge engages the bottom of said groove, and cooperating means on the closure and said neck 7 5 for axially adjusting the closure between pouring ausmen-murmg "positions an the icontainer .:in accordance with Ethe limitations to: movement mi dzhe :sealing ring; and :means -:on the closure for :sealing' the nontainer against discharge :of' its contents when Sam sealing ring engages F'Sflid 'shoiLmier, said means including a sealing liel'em'ent engageable with the lip "of the container for zclosfing tthe outlet of ithe container.

10. .In combination, 'a :container having arneck form-ed withianannular external 'gnoove the upper extremity of which is defined iby azflange'd lip and the lower extremity of which is defined by :an annular :shoulder, "a :closure adapted for adjust- -ableRtelesoopic attachment :to said neck and fonmediwithia topiwall and a1pourmgnutletbelow toptwall, and anannularsealingring ibol ne byiand :movable withxthe closure between opposite apositions-inf engagement withthe :lower:sur-

I'ace of :said flip and :said shoulder whil'e sits sinner :edgeenga'ges the bottomrofssaiii groove, and icooperating means on -the closure ."and :said neck for axiallysadjusting' the olosureibetweenspouring and non-pouring "positions on the container in no- :eordancewithithe limitationsaof movement of the sealing ring, and means on the closure for :sealiingthexoontain'er against discharge 10f its contents-wh'en said sealing :ring engages said-shoultier, said means including aa sealing element zen- :ga'geable with the lip of "the 'container for closing the-outlet of the :container said closure having a dispensing acha'mber .outwardly of said :lip and .in

rcommunication'with said pouring outlet and also FBfEBHWBB 'tween the-=c1osure-a11d the container whenathe "container: outlet is :openzand :c'losed andsfor-sealing" the. container aoutlet when the closurefis :ad- 'justed on the container .to :aipredeterminedaextent, .one of :said -sealing elements ziorming a ipartition in said closure for iproviding'aniairz'cham- :ber apart .from the dispensing chamber, :said

chamber being open to atmosphere, said tdispensing chamber beingopen to the "air chamber at-1a pointzremoteiromsaid pouring outlet.

:12. :A. 'container closure comprising: a bfidyifif hard :material having a dispensing chamber and :n' -pourin :ou'tlet therefrom, and :a pair 101' *sealing elements :of resilient material *home :by said .body in spaced planes and itogether movable with the -closure for engagement with different surfaces "of a container for respectively "sealing the joint 'rheimeen athe .elosune :a-nd :the container when :container outlet is open and tclosed iandrforssealing the container outlet when the :elosure :is adjusted onith'e container to :a predetermined extent, rone .of said :sealing :elements forming :a :partition :in "said closure gfor "providing an;air:eham bier :apart .from :the dispensing nhamber, said air chamber-being open ;to iatmosphere,-zsaid dispense :ingxchamber being 'open" to the air chamber-at za anoint remote from said ,pouring outlet,:sa-id other :sealing element forming :a lock :to prevent Te- :moval of the closure from a container when-enigagedwithza portionnfzthenontainer.

LEONARD MAULLIN.

REFERENGES CIT-ED "The following references are *of record in the file 'of this patent:

V UNITED STATES PATENTS Number .Name Date il;36l 290 Spruill v Dec. '11, 1 920 1352,96? .Freedman. ;Apr.. -24, 1923 :1;600;'7 1 8 Chapman Sept. 21, 1-926' i2;22-l;52-7 aschiok Nov. 12,1940 -;2,387Z;699 Bates Got. 23, :1945

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