US3168221A - Vent means for bottles and jugs - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2, 1965 A. J. PARKER VENT MEANS FOR BOTTLES AND JUGS Filed July 3, 1963 mm M vam

m A v m M n United States Patent 3,168,221 VENT MEANS FOR BOTTLES AND JUGS Allen J. Parker, 113 Urquhart St., Lake Worth, Fla. Filed July 3, 1963, Ser. No. 292,537 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-109) This invention relates to a vented pouring spout for plastic or glass receptacles and whereby to vent the receptacles to permit of a free flowing action of liquid contents from the receptacle and to avoid gurgling or splashing of the contents as presently observed.

The invention comprises a preferably plastic plug having a frictional fitment into the neck portion of the bottle and with the plug having a relatively larger discharge opening and a smaller opening into which is fitted an elongated vent tube that extends downwardly into the bottle and whereby to prevent the accumulation of a vacuum in the bottle during the pouring operation.

The invention further embodies a plug having a flange area that limits the fitment of the plug into the bottle and with the flange having an integral cap and an integral hinge that overlies the pouring spout in a closed position to prevent the accumulation of sediment or other foreign matter over the pouring opening and with the plug and the cap being molded integrally.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view through the upper portion of the bottle and showing the invention applied thereto,

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan view with the cap removed at the point of hinge connection, and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the plug.

Referring specifically to the drawings, there has been illustrated a bottle 13 having a relatively large neck portion 14. Adapted to be fitted within the neck portion 14 is a molded plastic plug 15, having an upper marginal flange 16. The flange 16 is adapted to rest upon the upper marginal edge of the neck 14 to thereby limit the movement of the plug into the neck portion of the bottle. The side walls of the plug 15 are grooved at 17 to exert a frictional contact with the inner side walls of the neck 14 and to prevent displacement of the plug. The plug 15 is provided with a relatively large opening 18 therethrough through which the contents of the bottle may be discharged. The opening 18 is provided upon the top of the plug with a surrounding flange 19 forming a recess 20 and with the flange 19 and the opening 18 constituting a pouring spout and whereby any excess fluid upon the spout will drain backwardly into the recess when the bottle is placed in an upright position. Also formed in the plug 15 parallel to the opening 18 is a relatively smaller aperture 21 that is adapted to receive the upper end of a vent tube 22. The upper end of the aperture 21 is provided with a shoulder 23 that limits the movement of the tube 22 into the aperture 21. The tube 22 is normally curved in manufacture and when assembled with the plug 15 is inserted in the bottle, it will curve outwardly and downwardly toward one side of the botdo 13.

3,168,221 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 ice Means are provided to hingedly connect a cap 24 to the plug at one side comprising a plastic hinge 25 and whereby the cap 24 may be swung laterally to expose the pouring opening 18. The plug and the cap are adapted to be molded integral from a suitable plastic and the side of the cap opposite the end has frictional engagement with a shoulder 26 whereby the cap is retained in its normal closed position.

In the use of this device, the plug 15 is forced into the neck opening of the bottle, having frictional engagement through the medium of the grooves 17 and limited in its downward movement by the flange 16. Prior to the engagement of the plug 15 into the neck opening of the bottle, the tube 22 is forced upwardly through the aperture 21 against the shoulder 23. The tube 22 will normally assume a curved position toward the adjacent side wall of the bottle and with the cap swung upwardly as indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 1, the contents of the bottle may be poured in an uninterrupted stream from the spout formed by the flange 19 and with air following the displaced liquid through the tube 22 relieving any tendency for a vacuum to form in the bottle during the pouring action. Any fluid that may be trapped in a recess 20 will readily flow back to the bottle through the tube 22.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel closure means has been provided for liquid containing receptacles. In each instance, a vent has been provided to relieve the forming of a vacuum that normally causes gurgling or splashing at the discharge end. The cap 24 is shiftbale upon the hinge 25 to and from a covering position with respect to the pouring spout and also the air tube 22.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claim.

I claim:

A vented closure for bottles or jars and with the bottles or jars having a reduced neck extension, a molded plug adapted to have frictional fitting engagement into the neck of the bottle, the plug being cylindrical and circumferentially grooved whereby to have gripping engagement with the inner wall of the neck, the plug being yieldable so that the grooves create a suction engagement with the inner wall of the neck, the plug having an enlarged circumferential flange that is adapted to seat upon the upper end of the neck and to limit the movement of the plug into the bottle, a second flange extending above the first flange and eccentric thereto and with the second flange being inclined downwardly to form a drainage recess, the plug having a relatively large bore extending vertically therethrough and, communicating with the recess, a second relatively small bore that is parallel with the first bore and closely adjacent thereto and with the second bore opening into the recess at the bottom of the recess, the second bore being reduced at its upper end to form a stop shoulder, a vent tube engageable into the second bore to a point that contacts the shoulder and to limit the movement of the tube therein, the tube projecting below the plug and curved intermediate its length to lie against an inner side wall of the bottle, a closure cap that is hingedly connected to the flange at a point slightly outwardly of the first named flange, the cap being cupshaped and means formed upon the first named flange opposite to the hinge for frictionally holding the cap in a closed position, the plug and the cap being integrally molded from plastic, the first namedrbore constituting a pouring spout for contents of the bottle, the tube constituting an air vent for the bottle and with the recess adapted to receive any fluid that is disposed upon the spout after the bottle has been placed in an upright position and whereby to drain the excess fluid back to the bottle through the tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Shaw Mar. 16, 1943 Livadas Mar. 27, 1951 Meshberg Mar. 18, 1952 Sidenius Nov. 20, 1956 Kuzma June 18, 1957 Beall Nov. 5, 1957 Beall Dec. 1, 1959

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