US2685978A - Liquid dispensing cap for carbonated beverage bottles - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 10, 1954 D. P. CROCKETT 2,685,978

LIQUID DISPENSING CAP FOR CARBONATED BEVERAGE BOTTLES I Filed July 5, 1952 ll 1 2/ l 32 :3 W P Y 25 INVENTOR.

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Patented Aug. 10, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE LIQUID DISPENSING GAP FOR CARBONATED 'BEVERAGE BOTTLES Donald P. Crockett, Chicago, 111. Application July 5, 1952, Serial No. 297,364 4 Claims. (Cl. 215-78) The present invention relates to liquid dispensing caps for carbonated beverage bottles, and is particularly concerned with an improved construction of bottle cap by means of which the pressure generated by the carbonic acid gas in the bottle may be used for driving the beverage out of the nozzle of the cap.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved dispensing bottle cap for carbonated beverages which will prevent loss of carbonation from the beverage, and which can be reused after the bottle is empty.

Another object of the invention is-the provision of an improved bottle cap for carbonated beverages which retains the pressure in the bottie, and can be used to dispense the contents without removing it from the bottle and will prevent contamination of the contents, and also aid in the mixing of drinks.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved, simplified construction in which the cap is provided with a threaded conduit, enabling the user to place such pressure on the gasket as he deems necessar and increase of pressure in the bottle tends to move the valve into a tighter position, Wher it is initially held by a spring.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved bottle cap construction for carbonated beverages, which is simple, sturdy, capable of economical manufacture, easily and quickly attached or detached, and which is gas and liquid tight.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the single sheet of drawings accompanying the specification,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing the proper dispensing position for a bottle equipped with the valve constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on the plane of the line 22 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a front, elevational view with the cap removed from the bottle;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view taken on the plane of the line 44 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Fig. 1, I indicates a carbonated beverage bottle having a supply of the carbonated beverage, the free level of which is seen at I l in the pouring position.

The dispensing bottle cap is indicated in its entirety by the numeral I2, and the space 13 in the bottle above the beverage is filled with a mixture of carbonic acid gas and air.

The beverage bottles are customarily provided with a bottle opening indicated at E4, the end of the bottle terminating in a circular end surface 15 which is rounded in cross section, as shown in Fig. 2.

The end of the bottle hasa rounded, outwardly projecting lip l6 above a rounded groove H, the bottom of the lip l6 forming a shoulder for retaining the customary bottle cap, and for retaining the present dispensing bottle cap l2.

The present dispensing bottle cap is preferably provided with apartially circular cap member I8 which may have a flat top [9, a partially cylindrical wall 28, and a pair of parallel straight side walls 2|, 22, terminating in an opening 23, Which is complementary in shape to the external shape of the end of the bottle at its lip i6 and groove [1.

The cap member 18 may have its inner wall 24 partially cylindrical, and its inner side wall surfaces 25, 26 plane, but all three of the walls, 24, 25, 26- are provided at the bottom with an inwardly extending lip or rib 27, following the contour of the wall and fitting in the groove I! of the bottle end below the bottle lip l 6.

Thus the cap member l8 has an opening 23 for receiving the top of the bottle, and the bottle end may be moved into the opening 23 until it engages the lip 2'! on the side Wall 24, where the bottle has its lip I5 and groove ll sealed above the lip 21 on three sides, and the bottle is axially located in the cap I8.

The cap it is provided with a centrally located threaded bore 28 in its flat top Wall for receiving the threaded end portion 29 of a nozzle body 30. The threaded portion 29 is long enough to extend into the cap member l8 sufficiently so its plane end 3| may engage the upper surface of a gasket cup 32.

The vertical depth of the cap member [8 and length of threaded portion 29 are also sufiicient so that the gasket cup 32, gasket 33, and valve member 34 may be retracted to a position fully above the upper edge 35 of the opening 23 in one side of the cap. This enables the valve 34 to clear the top of the bottle when the dispensing cap is being installed or removed.

The nozzle body 38 preferably has a relatively large axial bore 36 open at its upper end and communicating with a diagonally extending bore 31, which leads out of a nozzle or spout 33.

The gasket cups 32 may comprise a circular member made of suitable metal, such as brass. stainless steel, die-cast metal, or made of a suitable plastic, as all of the parts except the gasket and the spring may also be made out of these metals or molded plastic.

Gasket cup 32 has a hat upper surface 39, and has a central bore 40 preferably registering with the bore 33. Gasket cup 32 also preferably has a depending cylindrical flange: 41, forming a cup-shaped member for receiving the gasket 33 in its lower side.

Gasket 33 may consist of an annular member of soft, resilient rubber or'm'ay bemadaofi arti-- ficial rubber; and it preferably ha a cylindrical edge 42, a plane upper surface 43,.arplaneilewer surface 44, and a circular bore 45,.the bore registering with the bores 40 and" 36.

The diameter of the gasket 33 and gasket cup 32 is sufiicient so that it overlies the end of the bottleparticularly at the rounded surface which it engages under the thrust caused by the threaded nozzle member 3!) engaging. the upper surface 39' of the gasket cup. The gasket is preferably cemented inside the gasket cup.

The nozzlebody 39' preferably has an axially extending, upper integral. plug 43' which may be solidlandcylindrical, .or any other desired ornamental shape. Plug 46'preierably has a smooth guide. bore 4! extending into. theconduit- 31 and located axially of the plug and bottle, and the plug. has a. counterbore 4-8 at its upper end;

7 Counterbore 48 serves to house a longer spring 49 than could otherwise be used, and the spring 49- comprises a steel or bronze spring. of helical shape having its lower end seatedon the: annular shoulder 50 in thecounterbore 48.

The-bore 41 is adapted to receive and support for sliding. movement, a plunger rod- 51- comprisingaw-smooth, cylindrical rod sliding in the: bore 4-! and. supporting. a valve member 34 at its lower end.

The valve member 34 may be: an integral. part of the-rod 5|, as, for examplewhen it is molded of. plastic or formed asa die-casting; Valve 34 preferably has a circular bottom flange 52 and an upper annular seating surface 53 engaging the=bottom-surface 44' of the gasket 33-, adjacent the bore 45.

In order to center thegasket on the valve; the valve may be provided with afrusto-conical'portion 53, tapering from the'size' of the rod" 5! to the size of the bore'45, which is engaged by the frusto-conical portion 53-, assuring a centering of the gasket onthe valve. of the valve in the gasket bore.

At its upper end the rod 5i may be provided with a reduced portion: 54, whichisreceived in a: bo1'e55' in -a thumbpiece 55, the thumb: piece comprising a circular button which is confined by the: riveted end 5 1- against the annular shoulder 58;

Thumb piece 56 preferably hasa shall'ow'bore 53,.forming aseat for the spring' it, and the spring is initially tensioned so that at all times the 3 spring and plunger draw thevalve as into the gasket bore45 and hold the gasket: and' itscup against the lower surface 3 1-.

The'b'ore 4-1 and rod 5'! preferably have: a fairly close fit, but permitting. a sliding motion, and are not subject to leakage because: there is little pressure in the conduit 3"! when: the: valve is open.

The operation of? my dispensing: bottle cap: is as follows:

After the customary crimped; bottle cap has been removed, the present nozzle bottle 30 is retracted in the cap member 18 until the gasket cup 32 and gasket, and the lower valve flange 52 are sufficiently housed in the upper space 60 in the cap member above the edge 35 at the lateral opening 23.

The dispensing bottle cap may then be slid laterally on the. top of: the bottle. with the lip 21-- engaging in" the groove: li until the bottle is concentrically located with respect to the gasket 33.

The-cap member 18 is then held while the nozzlebody 33"is rotated and then threaded end 23 of the nozzle body progresses into the cap member'- and forces the gasket 33 into engagement-with the top edge surface 15 of the bottle.

This seals the dispensing cap against the top o fithebottle and retains it against any movement, as it is now rigidly attached to the top of the bottle. During this time=the gasket33 has been heldin centeredrelation by the centering frustoconical-surface 53 of the valvev 34,. and the gasket and'its. cup member have. been held against'the ends3i 0f=the nozzle body by the spring 49 acting on plunger 5|.

The dispensing cap is now in position to seal the: contentsagainst contamination and prevent loss of the carbonic acid gas, which is more quickly released from. the liquid beverage. when it is not subjected to any pressure.

Pressure builds upinside the bottle due. to the releaseof the carbonic acid gas which comes out of solution from thebeverage until an equilibrium is reached, and. the beverage is preserved. as well as: it may have-been when confined. by the customary crimped cap.

When it: is desired to dispensethe: beverage the bottle may be turned to the-position'cf: Fig.1 and thebutton Emay be pressed. This opens valve 34 againsttensionl of spring t9. and permits the carbonic acid gas to force the liquid out under considerable pressure.

The: amount of pressure: generated may hereontrolled by shaking; the: bottle. There is little chance: of leakage as thepressure tends to close the valve. Thus the dispensing cap may be-used forejecting. the liquid beverage, which: is. an aid in imixing. eliminating. the necessity for stirring.

The: present; construction utilizes only a-single gasket, whichis; engaged both. by the valveand the bottle and; and. may be used to -dispense beverage as long as there is any in the bottle, when it' can be removed. and used. over" again.

While I have illustrated. a preferred. embodimerit of my invention, many modifications may be madewithout departing: f 'romthe spirit of the invention, and I do not-wish toibelimited. to the precise details. of. construction set forth,.but desire to avail myself oftal-l'changes within thescope oftheappended claimsa Having thus described invention, what I clainras-new and desireito'securemy Letters Pat.- ent of the United States, is: a

A dispensingbottlecapasse'mbly comprising acap member prov-idediwithi a threaded bor'e in its upper wall, and havinga laterally and d-own wardl yopenlower side deflned bythree si'de walls having an inwardly projectinglip for engaging beneaththe lip on the end of a; beverage bottle, a liquid and gas tight sealing member in said cap member for engaging the top of the bottle and having acentral opening and a nozzle member threaded into said? capmember for forcing said sealing member against the top 'oith'ebottle, said nozzle member having a conduit communicating with the interior of the bottle through said sealing member, and a valve carried by said nozzle member and engaging said sealing member to control the flow of liquid from said nozzle member, the said valve being mounted upon a sliding stem and having an actuating member on its outer end, and said valve engaging the bottle side of said sealing member and being urged into tighter engagement by pressure of gas in the bottle, and spring means on said stem and compressed between said nozzle member and said actuating member for constantly drawing said valve into sealing engagement with said sealing member, said valve member including a tapered formation located in the bore of said sealing member and efifecting a centering of the sealing member with respect to the cap member and nozzle member.

2. A dispensing bottle cap assembly comprising a circular gasket of resilient material of sufiicient size to engage the end of a beverage bottle and effect a liquid tight and gas tight seal, said gasket being provided with a central aperture, a rigid reinforcing member supporting said gasket and having a similar aperture, a nozzle body member having a through bore and a threaded end portion and provided with a thrust surface engaging said reinforcing member, a retaining member having a threaded bore for receiving said nozzle member, said retaining member having means for retaining it about the end of a beverage bottle and for resisting an axial thrust, and a valve carried by said nozzle member and located on the inner side of said gasket, a valve stem passing through said gasket aperture, the valve engaging the inner side of said gasket for confining the beverage and gas in a bottle, said retaining means comprising a cap member provided with a lower opening and a lateral opening, said threaded bore receiving said nozzle member and said lower opening being provided with an inwardly extending lip for engaging on three sides with the lip of the end of a bottle.

3. In a liquid dispensing cap for carbonated beverage bottles having an outwardly projecting lip about the bottle opening, and having a groove about the bottle below said lip, the improvement which comprises a bottle cap having a top wall and three side walls and having one open side for receiving the bottle end, the top wal1 having a threaded bore centered over the bottle end, and the bottom of said cap having an opening subtended on three sides by an inwardly extending flange located to be received in said groove, said flange Having a half circular edge portion fitting the bottle groove and having two parallel edge portions leading to said open side for slidably receiving the bottle, said cap having a groove extending above said flange for receiving the bottle lip, to retain the cap on the bottle end, a resilient circular gasket in said cap and engaging and closing the end of said bottle, a gasket cap in said bottle cap above said gasket and cemented thereto, and a threaded member in said bore and rotatably engaging said gasket cap with its end to force the gasket into sealing engagement with the end of the bottle, said threaded member having a central through conduit terminating in a laterally extending nozzle and said gasket and gasket cap having a central through bore, and a tapered valve member slidably mounted in said threaded member in alignment with said through bore and having its largest end engaging in the gasket bore below the gasket, to center the gasket, retain the gasket in the cap and close said conduit.

4. In a liquid dispensing cap for carbonated beverage bottles having an outwardly projecting lip about the bottle opening, and having a groove about the bottle below said lip, the improvement which comprises a bottle cap having a top wall and three side walls and having one open side for receiving the bottle end, the top wall having a threaded bore centered over the bottle end, and the bottom of said cap having an opening subtended on three sides by an inwardly extending flange located to be received in said groove, said flange having a half circular edge portion fitting the bottle groove and having two parallel edge portions leading to said open side for slidably receiving the bottle, said cap having a groove extending above said flange for receiving the bottle lip, to retain the cap on the bottle end, a resilient circular gasket in said cap and engaging and closing the end of said bottle, a gasket cap in said bottle cap above said gasket and cemented thereto, and a threaded member in said bore and rotatably engaging said gasket cap with its end to force the gasket into sealing engagement with the end of the bottle, said threaded member having a central through conduit terminating in a laterally extending nozzle and said gasket and gasket cap having a central through bore, and a tapered valve member slidably mounted in said threaded member in alignment with said through bore and havin its largest end engaging in the gasket bore below the gasket, to center the gasket, retain the gasket in the cap and close said conduit, said valve having a stem slidably mounted in said threaded member, and having a head confining a spring in a counterbore about said stem in said member to bias the valve to closed position and retract the gasket when the threaded member is retracted to loosen said cap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France Oct. 25, 1938

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