US2804240A - Dispensing attachment for containers - Google Patents

Description

c. w. ANDERSON 2,804,240

DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 11. 1954 Aug. 27', 1957 DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR CONTAINERS Clifford W. Anderson, Manti, Utah Application October 11, 1954, Serial No. 461,499

16 Claims. (Cl. 222-207) This invention relates to material-dispensing devices adapted for attachment to and use with containers of liquid or powdered materials to be dispensed, especially containers in which such materials are marketed.

The device of the invention is particularly useful as constructed for application to the customary quart cans of automotive motor oil, enabling use of such cans to dispense small quantities of oil from time to time for a variety of lubricating purposes about the home, garage, automotive service station, commercial and industrial establishment, etc., the can being discarded when empty and the device being then applied to a fresh can. In this manner, the merchandising container becomes a useful part of an oil dispensing assembly, and the oil need not be transferred from the original can to the usual long spout oil can for dispensing.

While the device is especially adapted for the above use, its essential structural characteristics are such that it may be dimensioned to fit a variety of types of containers holding a variety of products of liquid or powdered character.

The principal object of the invention is to embody a flexible resilient dispensing bulb in a compact structural arrangement adapted for convenient and quick application to and removal from a container of material to be dispensed, preferably the same container in which the material concerned is packed when purchased.

Additional objects are to achieve simplicity of structure, ease and economy of fabrication and assembly, durability and reliability, a dispensing action which is positive, yet easily controlled, and versatility of operation, e. g. dispensing drop-by-drop or in a continuously flowing stream, or by squirting or spraying.

All of these objects are accomplished by the provision of a squeezable dispensing bulb between and in closely coupled relationship with a cap member and a discharge head, the cap member being formed of flexible resilient material for direct application to the top of the containers from which contents are to be dispensed, and such contents being expelled through the discharge head.

At one of its ends, the bulb communicates with and merges into the cap member, and, at the other of its ends, the bulb communicates with and merges into the discharge head. All of these parts of the device are preferably molded as an integral body from rubber or the like. Check valve inserts are provided between the bulb and cap and between the bulb and discharge head, respectively, to provide for alternate suction intake of material from the container into the bulb, and for pressure discharge of material from the bulb into and through the discharge head.

For supplying the bulb with material to be dispensed, an intake tube extends from the first valve for entry deeply into the container to which the device is applied, and, for facilitating application of the dispensed material wherever required, an elongate discharge tube or spout extends from the discharge head to a suitable extent for any given use of the device.

2,804,240 Patented Aug. 27, 1957 ice An optional feature of considerable importance in most instances of use of the device is a check valve arrangement in the cap member. This may be so constructed and disposed as to be mechanically opened by reason of flexure of the cap member relative to the top of the container at such times as the bulb is squeezed, or as to be operative by reason of the differential pressures existing at opposite sides of the cap member. Either arrangement provides for positive admittance of air into the container as required.

Secondary features of the invention have to do with the particular check valve constructions here disclosed.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred specific embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of the device as constructed for and actually applied to a conventional can in which automotive motor oil is customarily marketed;

Fig. 2, a central vertical section passing through the air-admitting check valve in the cap member, the terminal portion of the discharge tube being broken away for convenience of illustration;

Fig. 3, a detail view in axial section of a spray fitting as applied optionally to the outlet end of the discharge tube;

Fig. 4, a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 2, but illustrating the cap member flexed, as it is during and following squeezing of the bulb, and showing the airadmitting check valve in its resulting open condition;

Fig. 5, a perspective view, per se, of the preferred form of check valve illustrated between the bulb and cap members in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6, a top plan of the valve of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7, a fragmentary view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 2, but illustrating a different air-admitting check valve construction; and

Fig. 8, a view corresponding to Fig. 7, but showing the check valve in open condition under pressure of inflowing atmospheric air.

Referring to the drawings:

In the particular form illustrated, the device is adapted for easily removable attachment to one end of a cylindrical can 10 of motor oil as customarily sold in service stations and garages for pouring into crankcases of automotive vehicles. Heretofore, there has been no way of effectively utilizing such merchandise containers of oil for general lubricating purposes.

As shown, the device comprises a squeezable bulb member 11, a cap member 12 at one end of the bulb member, and a dispensing head member 13 at the opposite end of the bulb member. The three members are formed integrally of flexible resilient material, such as rubber or the like, preferably by a molding procedure utilizing suitable molds prepared for the purpose.

The cap member 12 is relatively broad and shallow, being shouldered internally, as at 12a, Fig. 2, to provide for tight resilient anchorage over the bead rim 10a of the can. As so formed, the cap member 12 presents a broad annular top portion 12b between its rim and its joinder with the bulb member 11. For insuring a tight fit between the side walls of the cap and of the can, the top portion 12b of the cap is advantageously given an upward and inward slope, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2, so as to place the side walls of the cap under tension when the device is attached to the can.

The hollow interior 14 of the bulb member opens into the underside of the cap member 12, and is formed with an internally protruding, annular shoulder 14a which serves to engage and hold in position an intake check valve body 15, also preferably molded from rubber or the like, and having an elongate valve member 15a of finger diaphragm formation directed into the hollow interior of the bulb.

The dispensing head member 13 may be of any suitable formation providing a discharge passage 16 for the flow of material from the device and, preferably, for the introduction bf an elongate discharge tube 17 of rigid material, such as metal tubing, to form a dispensing spout for the device. As illustrated, the spout-receiving portion 13a of the dispensing head is laterally directed,

and the crown portion 13b of such head is of broad and' Intake means in the form of an elongate, rigid tube 20 depends deeply into the can from anchorage in the intake check valve body 15, passing through a hole 21 provided in the otherwise closed top 10b of the can, and thereby providing an entry port 20a adjacent the bottom of the can for passage of the contents of the can into the hollow interior 14 of the bulb.

It will be noted that, with the interior of the intake valve member a opening into the intake/tube and with the interior of the outlet valve member 19a opening into the interior, of the bulb, squeezing of the bulb will serve to expel air or other contents thereof through the slit opening 19b of the outlet valve 19, into, through, and out of the discharge passage 16 and discharge spout 17, valve 15 acting as a check against backflow into intake tube 20. Release of the squeezed bulb will permit atmospheric pressure to force contents of the can 10 into and through intake'tube 20, through slit opening 15b of intake outlet end as a nozzle, the 'oil may be expelled in a spray.

For this purpose, the nozzle piece or formation may be of any suitable type, that illustrated being merely an example.

Inasmuch as it is necessary to provide in some fashion for the entry of air into the can to impart atmospheric pressure and to displace the portion of the contents expelled from the device upon operation thereof, and since it is desirable to otherwise keep the can sealed against contamination, I prefer to provide a check valve in the cap member for opening as such cap member is flexed during operation of the device.

The check valve indicated 23 comprises a movable valve member, having a shank 24 disposed within a valve opening 25 provided through the material of the cap 12, and having a head 26 adapted to seat upon the material of the cap marginal to the opening 25 and thereally squeezing the bulb 11, the broad top portion 12b of the cap 12' is flexed downwardly, as in- Fig. 4, to forcibly upper end headed, as at c.

open the valve against the normal closing urge of spring 27 by reason of abutment of shank 24 against the closed top 10b of the can.

The finger diaphragm valve 15, which serves to control the intake of oil into the bulb 11 from the can, is preferably of special formation in order to insure the freest possible entry into the interior of the bulb, while adequately guarding against backflow therethrough upon the squeezing of the bulb.

I have found that if the slit 15b of this valve is offset from the axial center and slopes outwardly therefrom in its extension from the closed tip end of the valve member 15a'toward the open base end thereof, leaving a relatively small arc of the total circumference of the base portion of such valve member as a freely flexing hinge, the responsiveness of such'valve is considerably enhanced as well as the extent to which it can be effectively opened.

The advantageous functional effectiveness of this special valve 15 is particularly desirable at the intake of the bulb, and in this illustrated embodiment is employed only there, inasmuch as the conventional type of finger diaphragm valve with its 'diametric slit 1% aifords better control of the forced expulsion of material from the bulb.

It should be noted that the finger diaphragm portion of valve 15 extends from a relatively thick and solid base disk 150, which serves to receive the annular shoulder 14a of the bulb and cap members. Such base disk not only serves as an anchorage for the intake tube 20, but imparts desirable rigidity to the central portion of the cap member 12 and to the lower portion of the bulb member 11.

On the other hand, the open end portion of the outlet valve body 19 is relatively flexible, so as to tend to flex with the flexing of the bulb member 11 and thereby aid in the opening of the finger diaphragm 1%.

advantageously employed the check valve of Figs. 7 and 8 in instances where the top wall of the can 10 is removed or is such as will accommodate same.

Such check valve is unique in construction and opera tion, in that it employs a flexible resilient valve member 30 which is preferably molded entirely from rubber or .the like. The valve member 30 includes a stem 30a rising from the interior of a cup 3012 and having its free An air-intake port 31 is provided through the annular top portion 12b of the 'cap member'of the dispensing device, and a receiving opening for the stem 30a is provided therethrough in proximity to such air-intake port.

The valve member 30 is installed by merely pushing the headed end of the stem 3011 through the receiving opening provided therefor in the cap portion 1211, thereby suspending such valve member with its cup at the underside of the cap 12. The cup is sufficiently broad in inside diameter to comprehend and cover the air-intake opening 31, while the stem 30a is of such length relative to the depth of the cup and thickness of the cap portion 12b to bring and urge the cup rim against the underside of cap portion 12b, in resilient sealing relationship therewith. t

In operation, release of the bulb 11 following any squeezing of same, will result in atmospheric pressure pushing open the flexible cup 38b, somewhat as shown in Fig. 8, until the vacuum within the bulb is satisfied by the flow of contents from container 10 into such bulb. Thereupon, the cup 3012 will spring back into the resilient sealing condition of Fig. 7. The flexible cup 3%, thus, provides effective check valve action under the conditions existing in the use of the dispensing device of this invention.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with respect to particular preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the essential teachings hereof as defined by the claims which here follow.

I claim: 1. A pneumatic bulb dispensing device for removable attachment to one end and exteriorly of a containerfor 7 liquid or powdered material to be dispensed, comprising a squeezable bulb member; a cap member at one end of and opening into said bulb member,'sa1d cap member including sealing means for attachment to one end of said container; a dispensing head member at the opposite end of and opening into said bulb member; mtake and outlet check valves interposed between the said bulb and cap members and between the said bulb and dispensmg head members, respectively; intake means directed into the said intake check valve and having an elongate entry portion projecting outwardly from said cap member and adapted to extend deeply into the container to wh ch the device is applied; and discharge means extending outwardly from said dispensing head and provided with a discharge passage for the controlled expelling of contents of said container by the action of said bulb memher.

2. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the bulb member and the cap member are formed integrally from flexible resilient material.

3. The combination recited in claim 2, wherein the cap member is of relatively broad and shallow formation for resilient application to one end of a cylindrical tin can type of container.

4. The combination recited in claim 3, wherein a check valve is provided through the broad portion of said cap member intermediate the rim thereof and the joinder thereof with said bulb member.

5. The combination recited in claim 4, wherein the check valve comprises a headed stem extending through a receiving opening provided in the said broad portion of the cap member, said receiving opening being of greater diameter than said stem but of less diameter than the head of said stern, and said stern having a length exceeding the thickness of said broad portion of the cap member; and resilient means normally maintaining said stem with its head in closing position over said receiving opening and with its opposite end projecting inwardly of the cap member from the undersurface thereof.

6. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the dispensing head member and the squeezable bulb member are integrally formed from flexible resilient material.

7. The combination recited in claim 6, wherein the joinder between the dispensing head member and the squeezable bulb member constitutes a relatively constricted neck formation adapted to be snugly received by and between the thumb and forefinger of a user grasping the bulb member; and wherein the dispensing head member comprises a relatively broad portion overhanging said contricted neck portion, as a suspension member for the device adapted to rest upon the hand of the user which grasps said bulb member.

8. The combination. recited in claim 1, wherein the bulb member, cap member, and dispensing head member are all' molded integrally from flexible resilient material, as a unitary, flexible, resilient body.

9. The combination recited in claim 8, wherein a chamber is formed internally of the dispensing head member; the outlet check valve is an elongated diaphragm of finger formation having its open end freely flexible and anchored immediately above said bulb member and its body extending into said chamber in the dispensing head member; and wherein the intake check valve comprises an elongate diaphragm of finger formation extending inwardly of said bulb member from a relatively-non-deformable base disk anchored centrally of the cap member and at the lower end of the bulb member.

10. The combination recited in claim 9, wherein the said elongate diaphragm of the intake check valve is slit along its length on a plane extending diagonally, in offset divergent relationship with the central longitudinal axis of said finger, from the normally closed tip end thereof toward the open end thereof, leaving a relatively short arcuate connection between the so divided sections as a freely flexing hinge.

11. The combination recited in claim 10, wherein the elongate diaphragm of the outlet check valve is slit diametrically along its longitudinal axis.

12. A check valve, comprising an elongate diaphragm of finger formation slit along its length on a plane extending diagonally, in offset divergent relationship with the central longitudinal axis of said finger, from the normally closed tip end thereof toward the open end thereof, leaving a relatively short arcuate connection between the so divided sections as a freely flexing hinge.

13. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein a check valve is provided through the cap member, said check valve comprising an air-intake passage extending through said cap member; a stem secured to said cap member and projecting from the underside thereof adjacent said airintake passage; and a flexible resilient cup member secured to the projecting end of said stem and comprehending said air-intake passage, the rim of said cup member normally bearing against the underside of said cap member in sealing relationship therewith.

14. The combination recited in claim 13, wherein the stem and cup member are formed integrally from flexible resilient material, the stem being removably anchored in a receiving passage of the cap member.

15. A check valve construction, comprising a wall; an air-inflow passage extending through said wall; a stem secured to said wall in laterally spaced relation to said passage and projecting from one side thereof adjacent said air-flow passage; and a flexible resilient cup member secured to the projecting end of said stem and comprehending said air-flow passage, the rim of said cup member normally bearing against the near surface of said wall in sealing relationship therewith.

16. A check valve construction in accordance with claim 15, wherein the stem and cup member are formed integrally from flexible resilient material, the stem being removably anchored in a receiving passage of the cap member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 603,941 Cartwright May 10, 1898 1,408,356 Jones Feb. 28, 1922 1,553,245 Jaden Sept. 8, 1925 2,690,278 Bocheller Sept. 28, 1954 2,702,147 Brown Feb. 15, 1955

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