US2989216A - Portion dispensing container - Google Patents

Description

J. J. MORO-LIN 2,989,216

PORTION DIsPENsING CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J M. rl. n N N TP. Z u2- u u A `lune 20, 1961 Filed Feb. 2, 1959 June 20, 1961 J. J. MORO-LIN PORTION DISPENSING CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2, 1959 Jil June 20, 1961 J. J. MRo-LIN PORTION DISPENSING CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 2, 1959 mf. cion/a7, cZ Mw Z2/72 V2,989,216 Patented June 20, 1961 United States Patent Qce 2,989,216 PORTION DISPENSING CONTAINER Joseph J. Moro-Lin, 12-94 Plaza Road, Fair Lawn, NJ. Filed Feb. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 790,508 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-207) This invention relates to a squeeze dispenser for liquid foods, detergents, medicines, sauces, and the like as well as for powdered or pulverized solids which act as liquids under tiow conditions, said dispenser making possible the discharge therefrom of a small portion of the contents thereof. More specifically, it deals witha squeeze ccntainer having an inner freely-moving measuring chamber connectable to a separate discharge tube through which is dispensed the liquid portion to the outside of the container.

Dispensers have been disclosed in the art for controlled discharge of portions of the liquid `contents stored therein. However, they all have disadvantages, such as ditiiculty in filling the measuring chamber, inability to discharge through the bottom of the container, inability to discharge entire contents of container, as well as many others.

The present invention avoids all of these disadvantages and introduces additional advantages, as will be set out in the succeeding discussion.Y The essential features of the dispenser of the present invention include a squeeze container having a measuring chamber disposed therein, and connectable, when desired, in sealing relation to a discharge tube which may, and generally is, led through the bottom of the container. Other features will become apparent from the subsequent description and accompanying drawings in which a number of different embodiments of the invention are described.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the aforesaid accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of a preferred embodiment as used in the hand while discharging a portion of the contents of the container. FIGURE 2 is a top or plan View of the dispenser with a portion of the top of the container cut away to show the measuring chamber. FIGURES 3 and 4 are cross-sectional side views of the dispenser showing successive stages in the assembly and filling thereof. FIGURES 6 and 7 are cross-sectional side views of the discharge end of the discharge tube showing various means of sealing same. FIGURES 8 and 9 illustrate cross-sectional side views of alternative means which may be employed for mounting the discharge tube. FIGURE depicts a crosssectional side view of another form of measuring chamber and discharge tube which may be employed within the dispenser container. Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the various views.

'Referring again to the drawings, numeral 1 represents the side wall of a squeeze container made of plastic sheet or the like. This container is provided with a top 2 and bottom which elements may be of metal or plastic or other conventional material. Top 2 has an outwardly bulged section or well or reservoir which provides space thereunder for measuring chamber or cup 5, the sides 6 of the bulged section serving as limiting means for side movement of cup 5, which latter is preferably made of plastic, but may be made of metal or other material inert to the liquid ingredients 7 in the container. Cup 5 preferably is shaped like a funnel having a downwardlydirected narrower outlet tip 8 which lits into the upper end 9 of rigid discharge tube 10 (which also is preferably made of plastic, but may be made of other suitable inert material).

The discharge end 11 of discharge tube 10 is provided with an annular anchoring and sealing portion 12 to which bottom 3 is `anchored and sealed at edge or opening 13. When discharge tube 10 is thus anchored and sealed to bottom 3, outlet tip' 8 o f cup 5 slides therein and forms a tigh seal at thev juncture 1-4. Space 15 is provided between the top 16 (FIG. 1) of cup 5 and the inner surface of bulged out section 4, sufficient to permit cup 5 to move (if such movement is desired) when the container is inverted and to break the seal at point 14.

The assembly and filling of the. container mayY be effected as outlined inFIGURES 3 and 4, it being understood that vsuch filling of the container is facilitated by making cup 5 and tube 10 yas separate units, rather than as a single one. Container A1 is inverted and filling spout 16 is inserted through opening 13, and then the liquid material 7 to be dispensed is forced into the container, care being taken to leave an air or vapor space 17 having a volume at least 11/2 times that of measuring cup 5. Thereafter, tube 10 is inserted so that end 9 thereof slips over the end of outlet 8 of cup 5, and shoulder 1|2 near the other end of tube 10 is anchored toY bottom 3 ofthe container in leakproof relation thereto by sealing, cementing, soldering, or the like. The outer edge of cup 5 preferably is provided withguides which ride against inner sides 6 of bulged out section 4 and yet allow liquid 7 4to seep through open spaces 19 vfrom the container into cup 5. Tip 11 of discharge tube 10 is disposed outside of bottom 3, and it may be provided with seal 21 which may be cut olf or pierced open for discharge of- -liquid contents of tube 10 out of the container. Y Y

To discharge a portion of the liquid 7 from the container, the container is uprighted as in FIGURE 1, whereupon closure of juncture 14 is insured between cup 5 and dared end 9 of tube 10. Then, side 1 of thecontainer is squeezed by hand 20. This changes the volume-to-area relationship within the container, causing air or vapor to be forced through spaces 19 (FIG. 2) to the top of cup 5 and to force the contents of cup 5 through tube 10 and tip 11, to outside the container. Although it is possible to discharge less than the contents of cup 5 in one squeeze, and to discharge successive bursts of liquid by successive squeezes, it is not possible to discharge more than the contents of cup 5 and the tube without again inverting the container, as in FIGURE 4, and repeating the opera tion.

FIGURE 5 illustrates an alternative form of the invention wherein cup 5 may be wide enough to almost touch side 1 of the container, in which case it is preferred to employ longer guides 22 and 24 attached to the outside of cup 5 so as to prevent excessive tilting of the cup within the container.

As is apparent from FIGURE 5, the discharge end 11 of tube 10 may be provided with a hinged cap or closure 24, or a cut-off tip 21' (FIG. 6), or a plug 21 (FIG. 7), which may be removed at joint 25. It will be noted that when closures 24 or 25 are employed, the breaking of seal 14 enables filling of cup 5 without irst opening the closure.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a container wherein the discharge system is assymetrically disposed within the container. For example, bulged out section 4' may be disposed near the edge of top 2 (which in this case alternatively may be designated as the bottom of the container). Discharge tube 10' has end lll' sealed in side 1 and said end is covered with cap 27, so that discharge of liquid 7 from cap 5' may be effected through the side of the container. Plug .12' thus merely seals off opening 13 used in filling the container.

lIn FIGURE 9, outlet tube 8' of cup 5" is directed at an angle so that tube 10 has its discharge end 26 sealed away from plug 12'. In this case, bulged out section 4 in top (or bottom) 2 is centrally located in respect theret0 lAnother alternative form, shown in FIGURE 10, provides for an elongated outlet tip 8 for cup 5, and a short discharge tube 10a into which tip 8" rides, sealing is elected at shoulder 30.

Among the various advantages of the squeeze container of the present invention may be mentioned the need for using only one hand for the dispensing operation, the control of the amount of liquid to be dispensed, the ease and low cost of manufacture and filling, no accumulation of drip on the container thus eliminating a wiping operation, and the easy, simple motion of reversing the container for refilling the measuring cup.

Since cup 5 must ride in outwardly bulged section 4 when the latter is used (as otherwise it would disengage or jam within tube it is necessary that the distance from tube end 9 to its contacting surface on cup 5 be less than the height 6 of bulged out section 4. Also, tip 8 should be long enough to ride within tube 10 at all times. It will be noted that with the container of the present invention it is possible to discharge the entire contents thereof, thus eliminating unnecessary wastage of the contents.

I claim:

l. A portion dispensing container for liquid comprising a squeeze container having a liexible wall, a bottom, and a top having a reservoir section, a movable funnelshaped measuring cup having an outlet tip serving as the sole draining outlet for said cup, said cup being disposed within said container in a manner so that its sides ride vertically adjacent the sides of said reservoir section and its upper edge is abut-table against the top of said reservoir section, a separate rigid tube connectable at one end to said outlet tip and other end penetrating the bottom of said container in sealing relation therewith to allow discharge therethrough of said liquid when said container is inverted to fill said cup, then uprighted, and the wall is squeezed.

2. A portion dispensing container for liquid comprising a squeeze container having a liexible wall, a bottom and a top having a reservoir section, a movable funnelshaped portion-measuring cup having an outlet tip serving as the sole draining outlet for said cup, said cup being disposed within said container in a manner so that its sides ride vertically adjacent the sides of said reservoir section and its upper edge is abuttable against the top of said reservoir section, a separate rigid tube having one end telescoping said outlet tip in connectable relation therewith and in a manner to allow said tip to slide a short distance out of connecting relation, and the other end penetrating said container in sealing relation therewith to allow discharge therethrough of said liquid when said container is inverted to till said cup in unconnected relation with said tube, then uprighted into cup connecting relation, and the side is squeezed.

3. A portion dispensing container according to claim 1 in which the cup has vertical fins projecting from its sides to guide said cup as it rides against the sides of said reservoir section.

4. A portion dispensing container for liquid according to claim 2 in which the cup has an elongated outlet tip extending, when in discharging position, to near the discharge end of said container and said tube is a short tube connecting with said outlet tip.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,545,480 Boyle July 14, 1925 1,688,372 Barker Oct. 23, 1928 1,707,967 Abbott Apr. 2, 1929 2,702,147 Brown Feb. 15, 1955 2,789,734 Biederman Apr. 23, 1957 2,876,782 Hudgens Mar. 10, 1959

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