US2594161A - Combined opener and pour spout - Google Patents

Description

A ril 22, 1952 J. K. M. HARRISON COMBINED OPENER AND POUR SPOUT Filed Oct. 24, 1947 J 3 a 4 a, w w J 2 w I \,a W W 2 6 7 (4 4 x w W Q m Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED OPENER AND POUR SPOU'I John Kearsley M. Harrison, Gainesville, Va.

Application October 24, 1947, Serial No. 781,973

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to container openers of the self-dispensing type and more particularly to openers of the type that are used with containers having a longitudinal body member of chipboard or the like which is closed at both ends by discs of cardboard, plastic, or like material.

Containers of one type to which the present invention is applicable are described in patents to J. K. M. Harrison such as the container described in Patent No. 2,261,621 issued November 4, 1941. In general, the Harrison containers are cylindrical although the invention may be used in connection with containers of other cross section and are closed at each end by a disc. The ends of the cylindrical container wall are spun inwardly and downwardly to form disc-retaining annuli.

The development of a dispensing opener to work with containers of the foregoing type has presented many difficulties. Ideally the construction should be simple and economical to reduce original cost and should be easy and positive in action so as to assist service station attendants and others who use such dispensers in the prosecution of their work. It has been found desirable to effect a two-stageopening of containers of the Harrison type; the first stage involving displacing the end disc and the second stage involving holding that disc in such a position as not to obstruct the passageway of the pour spout. One development along these lines has involved the disposition of a cutting memher and a disc-positioning member within a container provided with a pour spout. The operation of this assembly is first to pass the opener over the end of the paper container to be opened and to strike a sharp blow causing the disc to be displaced and positioned in a non-obstructing position relative to the top end of the open container. This construction, while affording many advantages, has the disadvantage that once the opening has been effected the dispensing can and the containing can are not locked together, and thence, cannot be safely used except in fully inverted position. Furthermore, any difference between the discharge rate of the inner paper container and the spout attached to the outer dispensing container must be compensated for by a very long skirt on the dispensing container to catch any oil that may flow therealong and tend to spill out.

In accordance with the present invention the foregoing diificulties are overcomeand a pour spout is provided which tightly engages the en tire and edge. of a container simultaneously with 2 the displacement of the end disc of that container so that the original storage container can, and does, function as a dispensing container with resulting economies in the construction of the dispenser and in the time of the operator who is using it.

It is contemplated, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, to provide a vented dispensing spout which can be rapidly'engagedwith a container of the Harrison type: and which is leakproof and reliable in operation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of several embodiments thereof in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein: a

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of a preferred self-dispensing opener constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, said opener being shown in the position assumed thereby immediately prior to the opening of the container;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l showing partially in vertical section and partially in elevation the position of the apparatus immediately inclusive, the assembly comprises a pouring nozzle or funnel portion I!) which is provided with (integral spaced annular flanges I l and which are adapted to grip and receive therebetween the end edge of a container l3. The inner annular flange I2 is provided with a port at M and the bottom of the groove defined between'the flanges I! and I2, is a plate ll which is held in I position by. a screw [8 which is threaded into the body portion of the spout assembly. The plate 11 is provided with a bearing I9 for the reception of a rod 20 for vertical slidingmovement therein. The rod 20 is provided at one end with a stop 2|, and at the other end with a Between thestop. and. the" plate I! I has; is sa ed. a hs 'e were? sib in 3 the thrust of which tends to bias the rod 20 to the position shown in Figure 2.

Above the plate l1, and held in position by the screw l8, there is a strainer screen 24 of conventional construction. To the right of the plate H, as it is shown in Figures 1 and 2, there is provided a tubular vent member 25 which establishes communication through the pour spout assemblyfromthe interiorzone defined by the flange l2 to the exterior atmosphere. I Thepurpose of this vent will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

If reference is made to the portion of the container that is shown in Figure. 1; it will :benoted that the end closure assembly isvmaintained in position by close contact against the-inner wan of the cylindrical container and by abead'26 which is formed by spinning over the end of the cylindrical wall of the container. fit into the outside of the end closure disc I6 and protects the-joint of that disc withthebead 26.

-- -Ori' the inneriacebf disc 16' is a disc-'28-'of.'nonfibrous materialsuch: as cellophane. *or' parch- -ment or P thermoplastic materials. J The I disc J 2 B is firmly bonded-to'fthe inner face 'of 'thelclosure disc I6 as by glue, which, however, does .not extend -t'o the edges of the disc 16." The'dis'c 28 laps overtheedges ofthe disc 'lfi and is bonded in this i regions-to the inner wall of' the container by glue.

In the formation-""of the container the. interior.

wall of the cylindrical portion is :coated with an adhesive 2 9: Whichistacky at the time 10f insery tion of"--the-closure disc assembly. "The closure disc asse'rnbly is a very tight fitin the" tubular body and is preferably of aslightly greater-mama eter than the internal diameter: ofithe body Consequently;-as the disc 'asse'mblyzis thrust. into -place it scrapes up a-portion'ofi' the adhesive 29 --into-anannular fillet' 30, andizthe'fi'llet, together "-"with .the adhesive'which' remains between the wall oi the I cylinder. and the disc '28 firmly cements these two elements together. 3..Thus;.' the con- '-tainer is" cl0sed' ateachendby a composite disc --held in placeprimarily by tight'engagement with *the wansanabyme bead 26; while 'thliquid and vapor type-sal -is: :providedby. the'disc' 28 which is bonded in its central area to disc 'lfiand at its edges to the inner wall oflthe cylindrical portion ---ofthe container while having an-intermediate portion'free o'f both the wall and the disc. Since the disc ldis nonfibrous and maybe comprised of parchment, the container..m'ay'rbe' opened by "'--the-applicationof pressureon'the top edge'of the "-disc' fl near its margin the pressure. functioning '=--to tear the:parchmentandzto'rbreakthe fillet sufi ficiently to permit-the disc'assemblyto move from- -..tion.. I5- of\ flange I2 lie in the same horizontal gfplane; depending portion l5 beginsto bear direbtlyag'aihst alportion of. the margin of. the ..end.. closuredisc..' As movement inflthe direction -;.Jioif-"the arrow continues; the-parchment disc .23 and the fillet?!) are ruptured first immediately :thatflow into'the pour. spout is not obstructed.

Inother words, movement of the disc into an obstructing position at the mouth of the container is prevented by the action of the rod 20, the stop 22' of which is in bearing engagement with the .upper disc 2'! of the end closure assembly.

A small disc -21 is ,"The'annular space defin'ed between the flanges H and I2 is such as to receive tightly the bead *26'of the container. This being the case, it is not necessary to provide a long skirt on the outside ofthe'container [3 to prevent leakage or to .insure the maintenance of a: good .fit between. the pour spout assembly and the container. 7

In Figure 4 there is shown a modified form of apparatus for accomplishing. much the same type of result as that set forth 1 above. .lnsthis'case a -spoutassemblyi ifl isprovided with depending -anfiulai flanges 4| 'and 142 which are adapted to fitover the bead at the top endlof a.Harri'son type container. The inner .fiange 42 is provided "with a -depending portion 43 corresponding in ii structure and function to the part! 5 described in connection with Figures 1 and 2.: Similarly, the fiang fl isprovided with a vent :aperture at 44.

Another vent aperture from...theinterior of v the 'space defined by the 'flanger42 to'atmosphere is provided by the port 45. Screw lfifsupports in position a strainer 41 and a springimember 43,

"the .function 1 of which corresponds generally to 40 thefunction of the rod 29 and'xthe spring and stops associated-therewith.

In the'operation of the'device showniiniFigure 4 the depending portion 43 breaksloose. the'end -closuredisc and the springr48 insures. the maintenance of the disc .in nonobstructingposition relativ'eto" the pour spout. It'willbe'understood that" the material'of which spring "48 is made will be'of suchstrengthandresiliency that the spring :is' compressedu'ntil the depending portion 43 has .1 actedandthereafter serves to maintain the end uclosure disc-out of flow'-obstr.ucting position.

iLIn-rdescribing Figures 1-4. inclusive reference has been'made'to vents-25 and 45 and to ports l4-and 44. I The vents'25 and 45 are for the purforthe purpose'of releasing air which may become trapped between the top of the end closure disc and thespace defined by the flanges l2 and "42, as the case may be, so that the end closure disc' will be knocked out sharply'bythe action "of the depending portions l5 and 43 respectively and not by compressed air. The ports l4 and 44 "also function to permit oil to fiowout'from 'behind the annular pocket defined between the flanges l2 and 42 and the respective .inner walls of the container during the icompletion'of the draining operation.

While this invention has been. described with respect to-but two embodiments thereof, it is to she understood that other modificationsyofathei ine vention are contemplated so? long.:as :meanszare :provided to grip the 'end.;flange' of a; container while rigid means knock out the end disc and resilient means hold the end disc out of flowobstructing position.

What is claimed is:

A pour spout assembly having a fluid passageway defined by a spout member and an integral circumferentially continuous inner flange, an outer flange spaced from said inner flange and defining therewith an annular channel for the reception of the end edge of a container, said flanges adapted to grip said end edge in leakproof relation within said channel, said inner flange being of greater length than said outer flange and depending to engage the end disc of a container adjacent its periphery at points 180 degrees apart, said inner flange having a groove therein remote from its free end and facing the passageway, a supporting member extending across said passageway with one of its ends in said groove, means attaching the other end of said member to said spout, a pin mounted in said member and resilient means normally urging said pin to 9, depending position below the depending portion of said inner flange.

JOHN KEARSLEY M. HARRISON.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 583,470 Harris June 1, 1897 1,810,137 Henion June 16, 1931 1,893,139 Gessler Jan. 3, 1933 1,961,585 Hauskins June 5, 1934 2,047,242 Young July 14, 1936 2,149,227 Olson et a1 Feb. 28, 1939 2,343,602 White et a1 Mar. 7, 1944 2,350,451 Embrey June 6, 1944 2,468,661 Gladstone Apr. 26, 1949

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