US2625303A - Dispensing closure for bottles which can be locked in closed condition - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 13, 1953 w. w. MAYS DISPENSING CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES WHICH CAN BE LOCKED IN CLOSED CONDITION 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Aug. 29, 1950 AQUQ IQHQHQH @hw fiw m R m INVENTOR. W14 50/??- W IVA 8 BY J22 .424 f J26 3 F761. 2

ATTORNEYS Jan. 13, 1953 w. w. MAYS 2,625,303 DISPENSING CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES WHICH CAN BE LOCKED IN CLOSED CONDITION Filed Aug. 29, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IN V EN TOR.

VV/zawrr W MA m Patented Jan. 13, 1953 OFFICE DISPENSING CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES WHICH CAN BE LOCKED IN CLOSED CONDITION Wilbur-t W. Mays, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application August 29, 1950, Serial No. 182,094

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to dispensing closures for bottles and more particularly to a dispensing closure which can be locked in closed condition.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved dispensing closure or attachment for liquid containing bottles which attachment can be securely attached to the neck of a bottle against unauthorized removal and will remain in either open or closed condition until manually changed, which can be locked in closed position against unauthorized dispensing of the contents of the container to which it is attached, which can be easily removed from one bottle and attached to another, which, when closed, provides a tight seal for the container preventing the escape of vapor as well as the dispensing of liquid contents, which provides a pouring spout for convenient dispensing of the container contents, and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, and neat and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a dispensing closure or attachment illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of the attachment illustrated in Figure 1, a portion being broken away and shown in cross section to better illustrate the construction thereof;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showing the parts in a somewhat different operative position from that illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the component parts of the attachment; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 2.

With continued reference to the drawing, in Figures 3 and 4 the attachment is shown mounted in operative position on a bottle neck It having an open end and an annula groove II spaced from the open end thereof.

A cylindrical sleeve I2 is received in the bottle neck and provided at one end with an end wall I3 which has a centrally located aperture therein and extends marginally beyond the sleeve I2 to provide an annular flange M. The annular flange I4 is circumferentially bevelled on its side remote from the sleeve l2, as indicated at I5, to provide a peripheral portion "5 of less thickness than the remainder of the end wall. The other end of the sleeve I2 is opened and is internally bevelled to provide a valve seat IT. A bore I8, Figure 5, of small diameter in comparison to the wall thickness of the sleeve I2 extends through the end wall I3 and through the cylindrical wall of the sleeve I2 to the valve seat I! to provide a passage for replacement air to enter a bottle as the contents of the bottle are dispensed, the passage receiving a vent tube I 8a which is fixedly secured in such passage and which has an end projecting therefrom.

A bushing I9 of suitable resilient material, such as cork, surrounds the sleeve I2 from one end to the other of the sleeve and provides a, liquid and vapor tight seal between this sleeve and the bottle neck on which the dispensing attachment is mounted.

A tube 28 extends slidably through the aperture in the end wall I3 and through the sleeve I2 and has an external screw thread formation at its end adjacent the end of the sleeve l2 remote from the end wall I3. A bevelled valve head 2i of suitable material, such as metal or hard rubber, has a central screw threaded recess receiving the screw threaded end of the tube 20 and the bevelled periphery of this valve head cooperates with the valve seat I! to close the end of the tube '20 remote from the end wall I3 and preclude the escape of either liquid contents or vapor from the bottle, or other container, on which the dispensing attachment is mounted. The valve head 2| closes the adjacent end of the tube 20 and the tube is provided adjacent this valve head with apertures 22 through which liquid may flow into the tube when the valve head 2 I is displaced from the valve seat I! and the bottle tilted to a pouring angle.

A coiled compression spring 23 surrounds the tube 20 between the end wall I3 and the valve head El and resiliently urges the valve head in a direction away from the valve seat I! to open the valve.

It will be noted that the sleeve adjacent side of the end wall l3 rests on the end of the bottle neck at the open end of the latter and provides a limit stop for the insertion of the sleeve I2 and bushing I9 into the bottle neck.

A curved pouring spout 24 is provided on the end of the tube 2!] remote from the valve head 2| and this pouring spout has at its tube adjacent end a wall thickness greater than the wall thickness of the tube providing an annular shoulder 25 surrounding the tube at a location spaced from the sleeve remote side of the end wall I3. Extending inwardly from the shoulder 25, Figure 5,

and terminating in the interior of the tube is a port a, the port having a portion 25b adjacent the shoulder 25 which is shaped to conformably and slidably receive the projecting end of the vent tube l8a and a portion 250 having one end in communication with the end of the portion 251) remote from the shoulder 25, the portion 250 tapering toward and merging into the interior of the tube 20. A cover 26 is pivotally mounted on the spout 24 at the tube remote end of the spout to cover the open end of the latter.

A second cylindrical sleeve 21 surrounds the bottle neck It! when the device is operatively mounted on a bottle neck and this sleeve is provided at one end with an annular flange 28 a portion of which extends inwardly of the sleeve 21 and rests on the side of the marginal portion l6 of the end wall i3 remote from the sleeve l2. Near its opposite end this sleeve is provided with tapped holes at spaced apart intervals therearound and set screws 29 are threaded through these holes and engage at their inner ends in the groove H in the bottle neck to secure the dispensing device on the bottle neck against unauthorized removal.

Both of the sleeves l2 and 21 are secured to the bottle neck against movement relative to the bottle neck and to each other and a third sleeve 30 surrounds the sleeve 21 and extends substantially from one end to the other of the second sleeve. The sleeve 30 is slidably and rotatably mounted on the sleeve 21 and is provided at its end adjacent the flange 28 with diametrically opposite bosses 3| and 32 and each of these bosses has a tapped hole therein, as indicated at 33 and 34. The bosses 3| and 32 are spaced from the end of the sleeve 30 adjacent the flange 28 and the sleeve 30 is provided with notches 35 and 36, of rectangular shape, which extend from the bosses 3| and 32 respectively to the adjacent end of the sleeve. The sleeve 30 is also provided near its other end with apertures, as indicated at 31, which apertures are in registry with the outer ends of the set screws 29 when the sleeve 30 is in a predetermined position relative to the sleeve 21, as illustrated in Figure 4, to provide access to the set screws for loosening or tightening the screws to remove or apply the device to a bottle neck.

A bridge member 38, in the form of an elongated metallic strip, has a central aperture therein receiving the tube 20 and the shoulder 35 bears on the side of this bridge member remote from the end wall 13.

The bridge member 38 has at each end an offset formation, as indicated at 49 and 44, and each of these formations has therein an inward- 1y opening recess, as indicated at 42 and 43. The recesses 42 and 43 receive the portion of the annular flange 28 extending outwardly of the associated sleeve 21 and the portions of these formations at the side of the flange 28 adjacent the corresponding end of the sleeve 30 are received in the notches 35 and 36 in the sleeve 30. These portions are provided with apertures and cap screws 44 and 45 are inserted through these apertures and threaded into the tapped holes 33 and 34 to firmly secure the bridge member to the sleeve 38. The portions of the formations 40 and 4| at the sides of the recesses 42 and 43 opposite the screw receiving portions of the formations are provided with apertures through which the screws are inserted but the screw heads are covered by the flange 28 and are not accessible through such openings except when the sleeve 30 is in a predetermined rotational position relative to the sleeve 21, as will be presently explained.

As best illustrated in Figure 5, the flange 28 is provided with two diametrically opposed notches 46 and 41 through which the end formations 40 and 4| of the bridge member 33 can pass when these end formations are in alignment with the notches. The flange is further provided with a circumferential recess 48 at one side of the notch 46 which recess terminates at its end remote from the notch in a radial shoulder 49 and is also provided with a circumferential recess 59 extending from the other side of the notch 41 and terminating at its end remote from the notch 41 in a radial shoulder 5|.

When the sleeve 38 is in a rotational position relative to the sleeve 21 such that the end formations 40 and 4| of the bridge member 38 are in alignment with the notches 46 and 41 in the flange 28 respectively, the sleeve 39 can be moved longitudinally relative to the sleeve 21 in a direction away from the flange 28. This will move the bridge member 38 toward the end wall |3 of the inner sleeve 12 permitting the spring 23 to expand and more the valve head 2| away from the valve seat l1. As a matter of fact, the spring 23 acts to move the valve head away from the valve seat as soon as the sleeve 30 has been rotated to bring the formations 4|! and 4| into registry with the notches 46 and 41. With this position of the parts of the device, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 4, the valve is open and the liquid contents of the bottle can be poured from the bottle through the spout 24. At the same time, the apertures 31 in the sleeve 30 are in registry with the outer ends of the set screws 29 so that these set screws can be loosened or tightened by a suitable tool and the heads of the screws 44 and 45 are exposed through the notches 46 and 41 so that these screws can also be removed or inserted.

By moving the sleeve 38 longitudinally relative to the sleeve 21 against the force of spring 23 until the end of the sleeve 36 adjacent the flange 28 is brought substantially into contact with the adjacent side of this flange, the sleeve 30 can be rotated relative to the sleeve 21 moving the formations 40 and 4| onto the circumferentially recessed portions of the flange 28, the rotation of the sleeve 30 relative to the sleeve 21 being limited by the radial stop shoulders 49 and 5 When this is done, bridge member 38 acting against the shoulder 25 forces the tube 20 outwardly of the sleeve I2 against the force of spring 23 until the valve head 2| is brought into firm contact with the valve seat 21 to close the valve. The parts are held in this valve closing position by the portions of the flange 28 received in the recesses 42 and 43 of the formations 40 and 4| of the bridge member.

A key operated lock 52 is mounted on the sleeve '30 at the end of this sleeve adjacent the flange 28 and between the bosses 3| and 32. The lock 52, Figures 2, 5 and 6, is provided with opposed lugs 52a and 52b which bear against the lower end of the flanges 52c and 52d respectively, carried by the sleeve 30 and are secured to the latter flanges by means of threaded bolts 526. This lock has a spring projected bolt 53 provided with a bevelled outer end and the flange 28 has in its side adjacent the lock 52 a bolt receiving recess 54. The recess 54 is located circumferentially of the flange 28 so that the lock bolt 53 projects into the recess when the end formations of the bridge member are in engagement with the portions of the flange 28 at the circumferential recesses 48 and 50 and the "lock then holds the sleeve 38 against rotation relative to the sleeve 21 to bring the end formations of the bridge member into registry with the notches 46 and '4'! to open the valve. The dispensing device is thus automatically locked in valve closin condition by the spring lock 52 and the valve can be opened for dispensing the container contents only by retracting the lock bolt with a proper key inserted into the look.

In order to assemble the device and mount it on a bottle neck, the resilient bushing I9 is first placed on the inner sleeve I2. The inner sleeve with its end wall is then inserted into the second sleeve 2'! until the marginal portion of the end wall I3 is in contact with the inwardly directed portion of the annular flange 28 on the second sleeve. The bridge member 38 is then disposed diametrically across the second sleeve with its central aperture in registry with the central aperture in the end wall I3. The tube 20 is then inserted through the registerin apertures in the bridge member and the end wall of the inner sleeve and the spring 23 is placed on the tube within the inner sleeve. The valve head 21 is then threaded onto the screw threaded end of the tube to hold the spring in position. The

bridge member will have been placed on the second sleeve with its end formations in the notches 46 and 4! respectively and the second or intermediate sleeve 21 is now inserted into the outer sleeve 3!] and the outer sleeve is rotated until the tapped holes therein are in registry with the apertures in the end formations of the bridge member. The screws 44 and 45 are now inserted and threaded down to secure the outer sleeve to the bridge member. The apertures 31 in the outer sleeve will now be in registry with the tapped holes in the intermediate sleeve and the device may be assembled with a bottle neck by forcing the resilient bushing [8 into the neck of the bottle until the end of the bottle neck bears against the adjacent side of the end wall [3. The set screws 29 may now be inserted and tightened to hold the device on the bottle neck. The device is now mounted on the bottle neck with the valve in open condition and with the lock bolt 53 retracted. In order to close the valve the outer sleeve is moved longitudinally outwardly of the intermediate sleeve and then rotated to brin the portions of the flange 28 adjacent the recesses 48 and 50 into the recesses in the end formations 40 and M of the bridge member and when this has been accomplished, the lock bolt 53 will project into the recess and lock the device in valve closing condition.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. A dispensing attachment for a bottle comprising an inner sleeve insertable into a bottle neck and having at one end a centrally apertured end wall projecting marginally beyond said inner sleeve and a valve seat at its opposite end, a tube extending through said end wall and said inner sleeve, a valve head on one end of said tube cooperating with said valve seat, spring means acting between said inner sleeve and said valve head resiliently urging said valve head away from said valve seat, a bushing of resilient material on said inner sleeve, an intermediate sleeve circumspatially receiving said bushing and engaged at one end with the marginal portion of the end wall of said inner sleeve, an outer sleeve slidably and rotatably mounted on said intermediate sleeve, bridge means connecting said outer sleeve to said tube at the side of said end wall remote from said sleeves, interlocking means on said intermediate sleeve and said bridge means releasably holding said tube in valve closin position relative to said inner sleeve, said outer sleeve being rotatable to a predetermined rotational position relativ to said intermediate sleeve to release said interlocking means, and key operated lock means engageable between said outer and said intermediate sleeves to releasably restrain said outer sleeve against rotation relative to said intermediate sleeve to said predetermined position.

2. A dispensing attachment for a bottle comprising coaxial sleeves disposed one within the other and circumferentially spaced apart, a bushing of resilient material on the inner of said sleeves, valve means disposed in said inner sleeve and projecting from one end thereof, spring means urging said valve means to open position, means connected to said valve means at said one end of said inner sleeve and engageable with the outer of said sleeves to releasably secure said valve means in closed position, and key operated lock means acting between said outer sleeve and said means connected to said valve means for securing the last mentioned means in valve closing position.

3. A dispensing attachment for a bottle comprising a first sleeve insertable into a bottle neck and having a valve seat at one end and an end wall at its opposite end, said end wall having a central aperture and being extended beyond said first sleeve to provide an annular flange surrounding the latter and overlying the end of a bottle neck into which said first sleeve is inserted, a bushing of resilient material surrounding said first sleeve to provide a fluid tight seal between said first sleeve and an associated bottle neck, a tube extending through said first sleeve and the aperture in the end wall thereof, a pouring spout on the end of said tube at the side of said end Wall remote from said first sleeve, a valve head on the other end of said tube closing the end of said tube and cooperating with the valve seat at the adjacent end of said first sleeve, said tube having apertures therein adjacent said valve head for the admission of liquid into said tube when said valve head is displaced from said valve seat, a compression spring disposed between said valve head and said end wall resiliently urging said valve head away from said valve seat, a second sleeve surrounding said end wall for receiving an associated bottle neck, an annular flange on one end of said second sleeve extending inwardly of the latter and bearing on the marginal area of said end wall at the side of the latter remote from said first sleeve and extending outwardly of said second sleeve, set screws extending through said second sleeve near the other end thereof for engaging an associated bottle neck to maintain said first and second sleeves on a bottle neck, a third sleeve surrounding said second sleeve and slidably and rotatably mounted thereon, said third" sleeve hearing at one end against the portion of said annular flange extending outwardly of said second sleeve and having diametrically opposed tapped holes in said one end, a resilient bridge member extending diametrically across said third sleeve and havin an aperture therein receiving said tube, said tube having an abutment shoulder thereon bearin on the side of said bridge member remote from the end wall of said first sleeve, said bridge member having recessed formations at its opposite ends receiving the outwardly projecting portion of the annular flange on said second sleeve to hold said tube in position to compress said spring relative to said second sleeve to permit said spring to expand and move said valve head away from said valve seat, screw fasteners extending through the apertures in the recessed formations of said bridge means and threaded into the tapped holes in said third sleeve for securing said bridge memher to said third sleeve, said screw fasteners being covered by said annular flange when said third sleeve is in any rotational position relative to said second sleeve other than said predetermined position, and a lock secured to said third sleeve and having a bolt projecting toward said annular flange, said annular flange having a bolt receiving recess therein for receiving said bolt and securing said third sleeve at a rotational position relative to said second sleeve removed from said predetermined position.

WILBURT W. MAYS.

No references cited.

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