US2641385A - Controlled fluid dispensing container - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1953 H. D. RlVE-S 2,641,385

- CONTROLLED FLUID DISPENSING 'GONTAINER Filed April 20, 1951 INVENTORI ficr/co /zwfi. Fives Patented June 9, 1953 CONTROLLED FLUID DISPENSING TAINER Halcolm D. Rives, Los Angeles, Galifi, assignor to Swingspout Measure Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application April 20, 1951, Serial No. 222,101

CON

3 Claims.

. This invention is concerned with a controlled fluid dispensing containerand it is. a. general ob.- J'ect' of the invention. to provide an effective, dependable, easily operated device that is inexpen sive of. manufacture.

- Various fluids, and. particularly motor oils, are handled or dispensed in containers of particularzsizes or capacities and it. is common to provide. such containers with flexible or shiftable spouts for conducting fluid to points where it is required. to be. used or deposited. It has long been recognized as desirable or advantageous to provide a container or dispensing device of the character mentioned with a control to govern flow from the. body of the container to the spout, and devices or mechanisms that, have been proposed. and, in some cases, used for this purpose have-for the most part, been rather expensive and tend to be complicated in construction.

- It is a general object of this invention to provide a container or fluid dispensing device of the general character referred to having a control or valvevgoverning flow'from the body of the. container to the delivery spout, the valve being un der control of a manually operated means by which it can be opened to any degree and by a manually released gripping means which serves to catch and hold it in any position to which it is moved and which is readily releasable bysimpie manual operation.

Another object of this invention is to providea device or structure of the generalcharacter reierred. to in which the body of. the container is equipped with an inwardly projecting lip crowned in form, as in common in devices of this general character, which device has the. parts so ar: ranged and related that the entire gripping means, save the manually accessible portion, is within the cavity defined by thelip.v

It is a further object of this invention to provide a. container of the general character referred to wherein the gripping means which serves to grip and hold the valve operating mechanism. is formed by and involves a single part which is of very simple, inexpensive form, construction and mounting. In the construction of the present invention the container has a body that is cylindrical in form. A bottom is provided in the body at the lower portion thereof, there being a skirt portion of the body depending below the bottom forming a chamber at the lower end or bottom of the structure. A lip is provided at the upper end of the body and. may be of the form and typecommon to devices of this character, that is, it may be crowned in cross-section or substantially half round'and may have its outer edge fixed or se- 2 cured to the upper end of the body while its inner edge is inward of the upper end. of the body and is in about the same plane as the outer edge. A handle is provided on the body and pretferably involves an. upper arm projecting outwardly or away from the body at the upper end portion thereof, and a lower arm projecting out.- wardly from the body at the lower end portion thereof, for instance, from the skirt. A grip extends between thearms: and, in practice, the arms: and grip are formed of a single continuous element, elongate in form. andv having its ends fixed. or secured to the exterior of. the body. A discharge means is provided and, in a typical case, involves a section located in the chamber at the lower end of the body and in communication with the interior or fluid carrying compartment of the. bodythrough an. opening in the bottom. Another section of the discharge means is joined to or extends from the first. mentioned section and. may be shiftable or flexible in, the manner common. to devices of this general character. A valve islprovided to controlflow of fluid from the.- compartment defined by the, body to the discharge means or spout, and a. manually actuated operating means isv provided for operating. the valve. In a preferred. arrangement the valve operating means involves a stem with a portion located in the body anda portion accessible at the exterior of the body. The stem may be slidably carried by the lip by a bracket in the body so that the manually engageable portion is above. the lipand is accessible to a. thumb or finger of ahandengaging the" handle. A lever operatively connects the stem and valve and maybe pivotally mounted with one arm connectedor linked; to the lower end of the stem while an.- other arm carries the valve. A suitable means such as a sprin normally yieldingly holds the stem. in a position. where the lever operated by the stem holds the valve closed, thus preventing flow of fluid from the body or compartment to the discharge spout. The invention provides a manually operable. releasable gripping means that serves to: catch and hold the valve operating means upon its being moved to any degree or extent from the position where the valve is closed. This gripping means is. preferably confined to the lip or upper end portion of the structure where the lip is located, and it. is characterized by a single element anchoredto or mounted. on the body or apart thereof, such as the lip, and having a free flexible arm that carries a jaw engaged with the stem of the valve operating means. An actuating element projects from the jaw through an opening in the lip and presents a manually engageable part at the exterior of 3 the structure in position to be conveniently actuated by the thumb or finger of a hand engaged with the handle. The structure is such that simple manual depression of the actuating element frees the gripping means, allowing the spring of the spring actuating means to immediately return the valve to the closed position and this I is regardless of the extent to which the operating means has been previously actuated. I

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a structure embodying the present invention, a portion thereof being broken away to show details of the mechanism involved. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view taken substantially as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the structure taken as indicated by line 33 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view through the portion of the structure shown in Fig. 3, being a view taken in the direction indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 3.

, around the upper end of the body or container and it serves to define a cavity 23 that opens downwardly or faces into the compartment I3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken I tainer to the spout and Fig. 9 is a view illustrating a modified form of hook construction suit-.

able for retaining the spout in a predetermined position when the structure is not in use.

The structure embodying or to which the present invention is applied involves a container A formed by a body I 0 having a bottom II and preferably provided with a lip I2 at its upper end. The container is provided with a handle B and a discharge means or spout mechanism C is provided to handle fluid from the container. A valve Dis provided to control flow from the container to the spout and an operating means E is provided for actuating the valve. A manually operable releasable gripping means G is pro vided to catch and hold the means E upon its being actuated to any degree from a position where the valve D is closed and is adapted to be manually operated to free the means Er so that it operates the valve to a closed position. In a typical construction, the body I!) of th container is a vertically disposed cylindrical element and the bottom I I is fixed in the lower portion of the cylindrical body closing it and establishing a fluid carrying compartment I3. In

The flange lip provided on the upper end of body I0 as hereinabove described and as illustrated throughout the drawings serves as a gauge indicating the extent to which fluid is filled into the container and serves to effectively check or retard spilling of fluid from the container in the course of normal operation of the device.

The handle B is provided at the exterior of the container and a typical handle such as is shown in the drawings involves an upper armso projecting outwardly or away from the body at the upper end portion thereof, a lower arm 3i projecting outwardly from the body at the lower end portion thereof, and a hand grip carried by and extending between the arms. In the case illustrated, the arm 30 is joined to the body at the upper end thereof adjacent the lip I2 and it projects outwardly or away from the body at a point opposite or in substantially horizontal alignment with the lip. The lower arm 3I is joined to or projects from the skirt portion I4 of the body. The portions 30, 3I and 32 of the handle are in the nature of a single elongate member or structure, the ends of which are joined to the body as at points 33 and 34. l

' The discharge means C provided for handling fluid from the container may, insofar as the present invention is concerned, be varied widely in form and construction. In the particular case illustrated, the means C involves two sections, an inner section 35 that is located in the chamber I5 and an outer section 36 which is joined to or carried by the section 35 which occurs at the exterior of the structure and is in the form of a the container through an opening 38 provided in the bottom I I of the container. The other end of section 35 projects through or is accessible at an opening I6 provided in the skirt portion of the body III. The section 36 of the discharge means is shiftable or flexible and in the particuaccordance with typical or conventional'construction, the body has a skirt portion I4 depending from or projecting somewhat downwardly below the bottom I I forming an open chamber I5 at the lower end portion of the structure. The skirt opens downwardly and is provided with a plurality of side openings I6, making it apparent that the chamber I 5 exists in the structure below the bead I! provided around the bottom I4 where the bottom II occurs.

At the upper end of the body I0 it has a lip a 1 lar case illustrated it is an elongate flexible tube having one end fixed to and in communi'ca' tion with the fitting 35 while its other endearries a suitable nozzle 39. The section 36 which is, in effect, aspout is of substantial length and in the drawings I have illustrated a retaining means in the form of a hook 40 serving to releasably hold the section 36 in an up or substantially vertical position when the structure is not in'use, In the form of the invention shown in Figsfl and 2 of the drawings, the hook 40 is of simple form and includes a shank 4I pivoted to the body at 42 and has a head 43 shaped to be hooked around the spout section 33.

In Fig. 9, I illustrate a form of hook ll) wheree in there are two spaced parallel arms II pivoted to the body at 42 and having opposed hook parts 43 and outer ends between which the spout section 36 is received.

The valve operating means E may vary widely in form and construction. ,In the drawings-I mam mounting on the stem by meansxof the lip tz and a bracket 56 provided in thebody t0. this menstruation is employed; an" ooemng' fll is provided, in the lip I2 f' and: slidably ypasses the stem Silvano a-bracket=- 56 is fixed to the inner Walk or body and" protects inwardly therefrom below the:z-openingr1t l"ands'zhasan :o em'rrg Fill sltdably passing theistem 50a. Iir accorclamce with V the invention" the stem: 5011s: as above= described sov that the portiowie thereof projects above thei container or above the: lip" :2 of the. container in the immediate vicinity ofiitnahandle, that at a" point close to the: arm 130i or the handle. By thus locatmathe stemi imitsexposea portion 5-5 is readily "accessiblertoaa thumb- "or nngerwof a'hancl griqrping'thehamlle 13. For purpose of convenience provide a suitable: knob wortthe uppervoriterminal.c nde -oi stem'rportion. 50,:as shown throughout the drawings.

'rhezlever- 5i is located in thevcompartment. re and; in the-case illustrated; it iscarried byxarprvot' pin 61 supportedby iaisiritablei bracket szc; which projects up from the bottomi ii of the'contamer, Ths'lever 51 1183 anrar'm ficfwhich is linkedri'or connected; to the lovrer end of thestem' 5tl -andlit has-an: arm'- 64 which carriesrtheavalven, :In' the particular construction? illustrated, i. the f connection provided by the lower end of the sterrti Mandi thearmrea allows certain limited. movement or flexibility between-these :parts and is in the' torm ora log to 'projecting fromthe erid oi arm fis'and engaged- 111 an opening: 1 l prcvidedlhr the fiat-- tenedlower end 12 of western. 'Ihe lever 5| firearms sir-and e1is'normallysubstantially =horirent/11 in the lower portionof compartment i=3, except for the terminal end "portion mofi the arm 13"'which projects downwardlyand occurs over or 1ine with the" crooning 38 provided in the bottom i l of the contalnerl The valve D is carried by the depending i-o-r downwardly proj ec-ting' portion 14 of arm and in the form: of'constructiorrillustratedi it involves a disclike body 80 of suitable seali-ng material cal'rled-"betix een two rigiddiscs or. plates Hand 82. The body fidof theva-lve projects radial-1y byeast the discs fil-and'fllrand is adapted to=seaton or" have sealing engagement, with thdbottom H- where itsul'rorzndsthe" opening 38'. The valve parts just" described "maybe mounted onor -se.-- cured-to the lever arm 14' in any suitablemanner. m the case illustrated, the valve "parts are provided with a centralregistering'sslot which re cives' a tease which projects down from thearm rortion '14, the tab being-spreader wrath-at" the valv parts are maintained on the" valve:

The spring 52 isprovided to normally yieldingl y hold the'ste'm'ifl in an up position so that the lever 5 I is held in position Where the valve D is closed. In the case'illustratecl, the spring"52 is a helical compression spring carried on the lower portion 54 of the stem between the bracket {Wanda stop 'lBprovidedon the-stem.

the -com- 6 whererthewalve n is elosed. ."lrhe-"nreans-ussis characterized by an elongate sfieadbl esrarm mac having one: endf fixed :or anchored to the R: tamer," as; for 'lnstance,= to'-ithe eontasinerrtlrrough suitable meanssuch as fastenersxdt. Themearrs G rusrther' inoludesta; gripping jaw- St on orpro jecting' from the-otherness: tree endaofi the flexible arm-and: .an 'ractuatirrg'celement 93 protects from the portion: accessible atlthecexe terior ofithe: container'so that itivcan be readily actuated manually;

'L'Il reiil exible arm; the jaw 52,: and the actuating eiemenm'iexceptffori the: porttons'requiredsat the exterior-or: the structure-,,:: are preferably located entirelywithintheficontainer'iand it. is preferred that they be located entirelyzwithin the downwanrdlyrzopenin Z3' provided lnxor formed by the: [tofithe container;

armxw i'spreferably; an: elongate member ofsuitable; length aardras shownirrr'tgi iti'spretcurvedorarouate and or thesamesourvaa ture as" the neck. t'zp so' that itextends' around: within; the cavity zawitn clearance or freel'ofi the parts "The-anchored vo: 'fixedaend: $4

amine-(Isis preferablyrounded or: shaped to conform to, the inner? surface or side of the lip l2.- impracticer -the fastening means 5| employed to anchor or secure: the end. 94 to. the: lip may suitable: means I have shown; screw fasteners serving; this, purpose. .The, freecr flexible portion of: armml extends around and; somewhat downfward" from; the anchored: end: 94 sorthattthe Vireo end: 96 i of the arm is spaced aiconsiderable ;dLs.-

tame below the to or crown of: the' lip.

The j'aw-.-92--mav be a flat plate-alike portion projecting: or continuing from the free endrllttoi. the: arm and it has an opening'a'bthatl passesthe stem 1510 of the means. E. In-accordance-wlth the inventionther jaw or plate. 9% extends beyond the-end of the armr sll and somewhatnpwardssc thatvthei-mane ofithe-jaw is pitched or inclined relative-tethelongitudinal axis oi the stem. -The opening-Mainthe-body that passes the stem. in somewhat. larger-than. is required to pass the stem andthesizesoithe opening 9!- is related to the pitch orvangular dispositionof the jaw so that normally diametrically opposite edge portions 9'8 ofi theopenmgslfll engage or grip the'stem. The arm "91!! and" the. jaw 92. are shapedaridproportionedso'that the arm '96 normally yieldingily urges the. jaw upwardly or in a manner to cause gripping of. thestem by the law.

'The actuating element 93. of. means G preferablyv-carried by or projects from. the" jaw, for instance theupper edge/portion of the jaw, and ithas ashank portion [00 that. projects upwardly through'an opening flll' provided in the .111 I2. The opening I01, passes the shank I G0 with clearance. The portion of. the shank. projecting above the lip 'I'Z' fOrmsapart conveniently accessible 'from'the exterioriof the structure so that the thejawfifform, ineffact; a continuation or extensicnof' thearm 9%) and combine with the arm to format! arcuate' or curved unitthat'extends aromid'w'ithin thecavity 23 in-amanner clearly illustratedinFig. 2 of the'drawings. j In accordance with the present inventi on,;it;is preferredthat the jaw92 and the actuating element 93 be formedof a single body or strip of mate rial so that they form a simple, com-pact element that is very simple and inexpensive of manu-;

In operating the structure, a suitable fluid,

say, for instance, oil, can be filled into the. con-.!

tainer, and under normal conditions the .valve operating means E holds the valve D closed. The.

container carrying the desired quantity of fluid can be manipulated or handled in any suitable manner, and when it is desired to" deliver or deposit the fluid the spout section 36 freed from the hook 40 can be swung or flexed in any suitable manner, for instance, to extend downwardly or in any suitable direction from the container,

When desired to discharge the material from the container, the operator depresses the stem 50, as by engaging the knob 60, and, in practice, the stem 50 can be depressed any suitable degree to open the valve D the desired amount. stem 50 moves downwardly or is depressed, it slides through the jaw and is caught or held by the jaw so that it cannot move upwardly under the influence of spring 50 after the operator has released downward pressure from the stem. The jaw 92 operated by the arm 90 will maintain its hold or grip upon the stem until the operator desires to release the mechanism so that spring 52 closes the valve D. To effect release of the mechanism and the closing of the valve, the

immediately operate the stem vertically, with the result that the lever 51 is operated so that the valveD is closed. v

Having described only typical preferred'forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to As the those skilled in the art and fall wi-thin the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim: I

1. A liquid handling device including, a con tainer having a cylindrical body, a bottom at the lower portion of the body and an inwardly projecting lip extending around the upper end of flow from the body to the spout, operating means for the valve including, a lever pivoted in the body and carrying the valve, a stem connected to the lever and projecting upwardly to a point above the lip and in the vicinityof the handle, and a spring normally holding the stem in a ment projecting from raised position with the valve in aclosed posi--;

tion, and stem gripping meansincluding, a;flex-;

ible arm having one end fixed tothe container,';

a jaw carriedlby the arm and normally held thereby in gripping engagement with the stem, and an actuating part at the exterior of the containera-nd in the vicinity of the handle and depressible to release the grip of the jaw, the arm and jaw forming an elongate curvedrpartconfined in said cavity.

2. A" liquid handling device including, a container having a cylindrical body, a bottom at the lower portion of the body and an inwardly pro-.

jecting lip extending around the upper end of the body, the lip being crowned in cross section and defining an annular downwardly facing.

cavity, a spout in communication with the body through the bottom :and having a section shiftable relative to the container, a handlejon the container at the exterior of the body with a por-v tion in the vicinity of the lip, a valve controlling flow from the body to the spout, operating means for the valve including, a lever pivoted in the body and carrying the valve, a stem connected to the lever and projecting upwardly to apoint above the lip and in the vicinity of the handle, and a spring normally holding the stem in a raised position with the valve in a'closed position, and stem gripping means including, an elongate flexible arm having one end fixed to the lip in said cavity, a gripping jaw below the .lip on the other end of the arm and having an opening passing the stem and having edges gripping the s tem,.and a manually operated actuating ele--' the jaw and to a point above the lip. i

'3. A liquid handling device including, a containenhaving a cylindrical body, a bottom at the lower portion of the body and an inwardly projecting lip extending around the upper end of the body, the lip being crowned'in cross section and defining an annular downwardly facing cavity, a spout in communication with the body through the bottom and having a section shiftable relative to the container, a handle on the container at the exterior of the body with a portion in the vicinity of the lip avalve controlling flow from the body to the spout, operating means for the valve including, a lever pivoted in the body and carrying the valve, a stem connected to the lever and projecting upwardly to a point above the lip and in the vicinity of the handle, and a spring normally holding the stem in a raised position with the valve in a closed position, and stem gripping means including, an elongate flexible arm having one end fixed to the lip in said cavity, a gripping jaw below the lip on the other end ofthe arm and having an opening passing the stem and having edges gripping the stem, and a manuallyoperated actuating elementprojecting from the jaw and to a point above the lip, the lip having spaced openings in the vicinity of the handle and passing the stem and said element.

HALCOLYM D. RIVES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,098,307 Webb et al May 26, 1914 1,516,706 Brooliins Nov. 25, 1924 1,555,176 Allen Sept. 29, 1925 1,577,929 Oakes Mar. 23, 1926 1,579,390 Peaden Apr. 6, 1 926- 1,664,560 Hughes Apr. 3, 1928

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