US608890A - Benjamin f - Google Patents

Description

No. 608,890. Patented Aug. 9, I898.

B. F. MORNINGSTAB. MEDICINE SPOON.

(Application filed Apr. 6, 1898.)

(N0 Model.)

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BENJAMIN F. MORNINGSTAR, OF NEFV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND FREDERICK RECHT, OF SAME PLACE.

MEDICINE-SPOON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,890, dated August 9, 1898. Application filed April 6, 1393. $erial No. 676,631, (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. MORNING- STAR, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Medicine- Spoons, of which the following is a specificatiou.

The object of the invention is to provide a receptacle attached to a bottle in such relation to the mouth of the latter as to be always in position to receive its contents when the bottle is inclined to a pouring angle, and also to allow the liquid thus received to be I 5 conveniently taken i'rom the receptacle by the patient.

It consists of a weighted spoon-bowl maintained in the horizontal position by gravity, suspended on trunnions between brackets extending outwardly from the neck of the bottle. In the most complete form the suspending means and brackets are made in one and are detachable from "the bottle, being joined to the latter by a spring-clasp inclos- 2 5 ing the neck.

The invention also consists in certain details of construction to be hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show the manner in which I have carried out the invention.

Figure 1 is a side View showing the attachment in place on the neck of a bottle. Fig. 2 is plan view showing the attachment alone. The remaining figures show modifications. Fig. 3 is a side view. Fig. 4 is a plan view. Fig. 5 is a side elevation showingthe brackets formed in one with the bottle-neck. Fig. 6 shows still another mode of attachment and 0 also a modified form of receptacle.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre- V sponding parts in all the figures.

A is a bottle having a neck A and lip A of any ordinary form or style, and B is the 5 receptacle, provided with oppositely extending projections or trunnions .B,'received in eyes 0, formed in the outer ends or brackets C of a wire support bent to the form shown and clasping the bottle-neck by its spring force.

The support 0 is preferably formed of a single piece of suiiicicntly strong and stiff wire, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) the ends 0 of which extend outwardly and upwardly and form a fork or yoke inclosin g the rear portion of the swinging spoon B. The ends are brought together and joined by'twisting at O and again expanded to form the two loops or wings O shaped to be sprung upon and partially inclose the bottle-neck and to afford consider- 6o able vertical hold thereon. The lower members of the wings are joined by the semicircular portion 0 The outer ends or edges of the wings O are slightly flared to facilitate the entrance of the neck. 6

The receptacle B is preferably spoonshaped, as shown, properly ballasted, as at 13 to insure that the center of gravity shall lie in a line passing perpendicularly through the axial line of the trunnions B, and the cavity is so shaped that the liquid received does not appreciably change the location of such center. Its upper edge lies in a horizontal plane,'wit-h the rear edge close to and a little below the bottle-lip, while the front edge or point is shaped to be conveniently received in the mouth or allow the contents to be poured into a glass or cup.

Ihave shown the receptacle as provided with graduations to aid in determining the exact quantity of liquid received from the bottle, and as the receptacle is preferably of glass the height of the level therein may be easily read. It may-be assumed that when quite full the quantity received equals a table- 8 5 spoonful, the upper mark corresponding to a dessert-spoonful and the lower to a teaspoonful.

The device is intended to accompany modicinal preparations'put up in bottles, so as 0 to enable purchasers to take the required doses Without the inconvenience of providing a spoon for the purpose, and has this important advantage that the dose measured may be uniform and will conform to the measure,- ments understood by the physician and drug gist as comprising a tea, dessert, or table spoonful, which may or may not be the ca pacity of the ordinary domestic spoon.

The operation of the invention will be readioo ily understood by reference to the drawings and a brief description will suffice. The dc vice being clamped upon the bottle-neck, the cork is removed and the bottle tilted toward the receptacle until the liquid flows over the lip in a small stream, filling the spoon to the graduation desired. The bottle is 'then returned to the upright position and the cork replaced. The spoon is then placed to the lips and the contents taken. It will be observed that the spoon hangs always in position to receive the liquid from the first flow until the bottle is completely inverted and the last drops escape.

By reason of the overhang of the spoonpoint medicine may be readily taken therefrom by the patient while recumbent, and he is thus able to help himself without changing his position. The device also affords means whereby a person having the use of one arm only may accurately measure and conveniently take the medicine or other contents of the bottle.

The arms 0 may be sprung apart and the receptacle then removed for cleaning when desired and again replaced, or, as shown in Fig. 1, the eye 0 may be formed open at c to allow the sides of the eye to separate slightly in receiving or releasing the trunnion. The device is simple and is easily and cheaply manufactured. The spoon and its holder may be sold as part of the bottle, attached or ready to be attached thereto, or sold separately to be attached by the purchaser to any bottle he may desire.

Modifications maybe made in the materials employed and in the forms and proportions within wide limits without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing its advantages. 4

I have in this description referred to the receptacle as a spoon, and that form is preferred but it will be understood that the shape and size may be varied indefinitely, it being essential only that the center of gravity lie below the line of suspension. In Fig. 6 the receptacle is represented as a small tumbler or glass supported in a ring carried by trunnions in eyes formed in the bracket ends.

The brackets and clasps may be also varied. Fig. 3 shows a form in which the whole is stamped or cut by dies from a flat sheet of metal, the several arms being subsequently twisted to lie in the proper relative planes.

In Fig. 5 the brackets are of the same material as the bottle and are formed in one therewith. The trunnions are received in recesses on the inner faces, which recesses are preferably tortuous,as indicated,to enable the spoon to be removed and replaced at pleasure, but to hold it against accidental displacement.

The modification in Fig. 6 shows a clasp and bracket formed of two flat pieces joined by a single rivet. The dotted lines indicate a double construction, in which two receptacles are supported on opposite sides of the bottleneck. The trunnions in all cases may be formed on the receptacle, as shown, or formed on the brackets and received in corresponding cavities provided on the spoon.

I claim- 1. A pair of brackets extending outwardly from the bottle-neck, and a receptacle suspended above its center of gravity between such brackets with liberty to turn therein and adapted automatically to maintain a horizontal position by its gravity as the bottle is inclined, the said receptacle mounted in such relation to the bottle-mouth as to receive liquid therefrom when the bottle is inclined in the act of pouring, all combined and arranged to serve substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

2. An attachment for bottles consisting of a spring-clasp adapted to receive and be held upon a bottle-neck, brackets extending outwardly from said clasp, and a receptacle pivotally mounted between said brackets above its center of gravity with liberty to turn on a horizontal axis and adapted automatically to maintain its level by its gravity, all combined and adapted to serve with a bottle substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

The support 0 formed of a single piece of wire and consisting of the brackets 0 eyes 0, and wings O in combination with a weighted receptacle B,and trunnions B thereon received in said eyes, the said receptacle adapted to maintain automatically a horizontal position by its gravity, all arranged to serve with a bottle, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. MORNINGSTAR.

lVitnesses:

FREDERICK Rucrrr,

CHARLES R. SEARLE.

IOC

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