US2971664A - Draw-through stopper for vacuum bottles or the like - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 14, 1961 R. H. JACOB 2,971,664

DRAW-THROUGH STOPPER FOR VACUUM BOTTLES OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 17, 1959 INVENTOR. ROB ERT H. JACOB United States Patent DRAW-THROUGH STOPPER FOR VACUUM BOTTLES OR THE LIKE The present invention relates to stoppers for bottles, particularly vacuum bottles, and is especially concerned with a draw-through stopper which permits drinking or sipping of liquid contents out of the bottle while the stopper remains on the bottle.

In recent years cork stoppers which were at one time exclusively used for vacuum bottles have been replaced by stoppers of rubber or artificial plastic materials because the latter materials can be kept fresh and clean, while cork frequently absorbs and retains unpleasant tastes and odors, such as result from foods turned acid or rancid. However, in order to consume the contents of a vacuum bottle it is necessary to remove not only the stopper, but also the outer cap which frequently serves as a drinking cup. The handling of two different closures is somewhat cumbersome, especially for small children. While it is easy for children to remove the outer closure or cup, it is dilficult for many of them to remove the rubber stopper which is often held in by suction. Moreover, the hands of small children are not sufiiciently steady for pouring liquids out of bottles.

In accordance with the present invention these difiiculties are eliminated by a draw-through stopper which is provided with an aperture adapted to receive a drinking straw which extends downwardly into the bottle and a movable mouth piece having a tubular portion movable into alignment with said aperture thereby permitting removal of the contents of the bottle by suction through said straw, said aperture and said tubular portion.

It is an object of the invention to provide a sanitary draw-through stopper which makes it unnecessary to remove the stopper of the bottle for the purpose of emptying the contents. v

It is a further object of the invention to provide a drawthrough stopper having a member movable into a drinking position and into a position of closure.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a stopper which permits emptying of the contents of the bottle while allowing air to enter the bottle to fill the space vacated by the liquid.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following description and the illustrations appearing in the accompanying drawings, where like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the movable draw-through member forming part of the embodiment according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the embodiment in accordance with Fig. 1, taken along section line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the draw-through member illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the draw-through member taken from the right of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the invention, and

ice

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of this alternate embodiment taken along the line 7-7 in Fig. 6.

The draw-through stopper which is generally indicated at 1 comprises a stopper member 2 and a draw-through member 3. The stopper is provided with a raised center and bearing portion 4, on which the support member 3 is pivoted. A first orifice 5 is provided in the stopper 2 centrally of member 3. The orifice 5 is of a size to receive a drinking straw with a snug fit. A second orifice 6 extends through the stopper and through the supporting member which provides for air admission into the bottle on which the stopper is seated while the contents of the bottle is being emptied through the straw and through the stopper.

The raised bearing portion 4 of the stopper presents two side members 8 defining a substantially semicircular cavity 8a to receive member 3 therebetween. Two small prongs 9 extend laterally of member 3 into corresponding recesses 9a defined in the members 8 to provide pivotal bearing support for member 3 in raised bearing portion 4 of stopper member 2.

Member 3 is preferably arranged to be movable into the two positions indicated in Fig. 3. In the position shown in solid lines, orifices 5 and 6 are covered by the arcuate solid portion of member 3 so as to close said orifices. In the position indicated in dashed lines, orifices 5 and 6 are in alignment with tubular passages it and 11, respectively, defined in member 3, thereby permitting the user to place the mouth piece 12 between his lips in order to withdraw the contents of the bottle, to which the draw-through stopper is attached, by suction in a manner similar to drinking by means of a straw. For this position of the member 3, air is permitted to enter the bottle or container through passages 11 and 6.

Member 3 may be provided with a gripping tab 13 which may be grasped between two fingers in order to swing said member around pivots 9, 9a into closing position as shown in solid lines or into position for use as indicated in dashed lines. Gripping tab 13 may be constructed to present two shoulders 14 and 15 which are especially useful when the device is used by children to permit accurate positioning of member 3 in the open and closed positions, respectively.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 the stopper member 2 is preferably made of a softer material such as rubber or artificial plastic while draw-through member 3 is preferredto be of a harder plastic which will readily slide on the soft rub-ber.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is of generally simpler construction than that according to Figs. 1 to 5. Here the gripping tab 13 is replaced by a shoulder member 16 flared upwardly and to the right as indicated in Fig. 6. The draw-through member 3 is manipulated into positions of closure and operation by grasping the mouth piece 12. When member 3 is turned to a position from that shown in Fig. 6 shoulder 16 touches the shoulders defined by members 8 and the orifices 5 and 6 are aligned with tubular passages 10 and 11, respectively.

The stopper member 2 of the soft plastic material is of different design, bulging downwardly to conform with the curved portion 8a, and the mouth piece 12 is readily accessible for manipulation as the upper portion of the stopper is flared outwardly.

Numerous other variations of the device are readily conceivable all of which may incorporate the principle of the invention without departing from the inventive concept. For example, the stopper member 2 may alternately be provided with a downwardly extending skirt portion as generally indicated in dotted lines at 17, in Fig. 6. This adapts the device for use on a glass bottle such as used for carbonated beverages. In that event the upper flanged portion of the stopper, is of course, omitted.

it is also within the scope ofthe invention to make the stopper member of inexpensive cardboard or 'the like and the draw-through of a somewhat harder material such as harder plastic, wood, metal, or even of an edible substance such as sugar or candy in order to make the draw-through stopper expendable.

Embodiments of the invention illustrating the structural features and operation have been described hereinabove while the scope of the protection to be covered by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A draw-through closure, comprising a generally cupshaped stopper adapted to be received in the mouth of a vacuum bottle or the like, said stopper having a generally cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall extending across the lower end thereof, said side wall and said bottom wall defining an upwardly opening cavity in said stopper, means on the upper side of said bottom wall forming an upwardly facing arcuately curved valve seat, said bottom wall having a first substantially vertical passage extending therethrough from said valve seat, a draw-through member having an arcuately curved valve face slidably engaging said valve seat, a tubular spout mounted on and extending from said draw-through member, said member and said spout having a bore extending from said curved valve face and through said member and said spout, means rotatably mounting said draw-through member in said cavity of said stopper for swinging movement with said curved valve face engaging said curved valve seat, said draw-through member being swingable between an open position in which said spout is generally vertical and said bore is aligned with said first passage and a closed position in which said spout is generally horizontal and said draw-through member closes said first passage, and psasage means in said draw-through member and said bottom wall of said stopper and movable into mutual registration when said draw-through member is in said open position for admitting air through said stopper, said draw-through member being of less height and Width than said cavity and being entirely received within the confines of said cavity, said spout being of greater height than said cavity to project above said side wall when said spout is in said generally vertical position, said spout being of less radial extent than the radial extent of said cavity and being entirely received within the confines of said cavity when said spout is in said generally horizontal position.

2. A draw-through closure, comprising a generally cup-shaped stopper adapted to be received in the mouth of a vacuum bottle or the like, said stopper having a generally cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall extending across the lower end thereof, said side wall and said bottom wall defining an upwardly opening cavity in said stopper, means on the upper side of said bottom Wall forming an upwardly facing arcuately curved valve seat, said bottom wall having a first substantially vertical passage extending there-through from said valve seat, a

draw-through member having an arcuately curved valve face slidably engaging said valve seat, a tubular spout mounted on and extending from said draw-through member, said member and said spout having a bore extending from said curved valve face and through said member and said spout, means rotatably mounting said drawthrough member in said cavity of said stopper for swinging movement with said curved valve face engaging said curved valve seat, said draw-through member being swingable between an open position in which said spout is generally vertical and said bore is aligned with said first passage and a closed position in which said spout is generally longitudinal and said draw-through member closes said first passage, and passage means in said drawthrough member and said bottom wall of said stopper and movable into mutual registration when said drawthrough member is in said open position for admitting air through said stopper, said draw-through member being of less height and width than said cavity and being entirely received within the confines of said cavity, said spout being of greater heightthan said cavity to project above said side wall when said spout is in said generally vertical position, said spout being of less radial extent than the radial extent of said cavity and being entirely received within the confines of said cavity when said spout is in said generally horizontal position, said draw-through member having a tab projecting therefrom generally at right angles to said spout and extending upwardly when said spout is in said generally horizontal position so as to be readily accessible for manual grasping and manipulation to move said draw-through member to said open position.

References Cited in. the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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