US3057500A - Bottle with liquid dispenser - Google Patents

Description

1962 F. FORTUNA ETAL 3,057,500

BOTTLE WITH LIQUID DISPENSER Filed March 3, 1961 Frank F orfuna Joseph M. Forfuna 1 N VEN TORS BY waoifim United 3,057,500 Patented Oct. 9, 1962 3,057,500 BOTTLE WITH LIQUID DISPENER Frank Fortuna and Joseph M. Fortuna, both of 2201 Woodlawn Ave, Niagara Falls, N.Y. Filed Mar. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 93,114 4 Claims. (Cl. 215-21) This invention relates to a liquid dispenser bottle stop device of the type which prevents the refilling of the bottle. The present invention is particularly concerned with those liquid containers, as for example, containers for alcoholic beverages, wherein refilling of the bottle is prohibited. The stopper device of the type with which the present invention is concerned therefore, will permit dispensing of the original liquid within the bottle and yet prevent one from refilling said bottle. Devices heretofore used for such purposes have relied solely on the force of gravity for accomplishing the aforementioned purposes. There has been a tendency for such devices in time to become. clogged and incapable of permitting the dispensing of the liquid within the bottle because of the nature of the device and its sole reliance on the forces of gravity acting on the movable elements of the stopper device. Furthermore, prior devices in addition to their erratic operation in dispensing liquid also required tilting of the bottle for liquid dispensing purposes beyond the minimum angle at which liquid would ordinarily be dispensed from the bottle in order to properly effect the passage opening operation of the non-fillable stopper device. In addition, liquid flow was not uniform nor constant.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a non-fillable type of bottle stop dispenser device in which dispensing of liquid through the stopper device is effected in a uniform manner and does not rely on gravity opening of the outlet passage but rather on the fiow of liquid.

Another object of this invention is to provide a nonfillable type dispenser device for bottle in which the cap member thereof is opened to a limited extent only so as to prevent refilling and is closed in response to return of liquid from the neck portion of the bottle into the body thereof.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a non-fillable type bottle dispenser device in which outward flow of liquid positively opens the outlet passage of the device and is restricted to a uniform flow rate regardless of the angle at which the bottle is tilted for dispensing purposes.

An additional object of the invention in accordance with the foregoing objects, is to provide a non-fillable type of bottle dispenser which may be permanently installed within any type of liquid container having a narrow neck portion and requires no structural modification of the liquid container or special bottle construction for accommodation of the dispensing device. The dispensing device accordingly includes a mounting shell member open at both ends for defining therethrough a free passage for the liquid, the shell being permanently installed within the neck portion of the bottle container. The shell will accordingly be made with the same taper, if any, as that of the bottle neck portion. The lower axial end of the shell mounts a slide ring bearing while another slide ring bearing is mounted in spaced relation thereabove and also in spaced relation from the other axial end of the shell. The slide bearing rings slidably receive a rod member which extends therebeyond. Connected to one end of the rod member below the shell is a disk member which responds to the flow of liquid in either direction to be axially displaced with the rod member to which it is connected. Connected to the other end of the rod member is a tapered flow restricting member which is disposed within the shell member and is displaceable outwardly therefrom together with the rod member and flow responsive disk member. Connected to the flow restricting tapered member is a closure cap which rests in closed position on the axial end of the shell. It will therefore be apparent, that when the bottle is tilted from its upright vertical position liquid will impinge upon the flow responsive disk member to axially displace it together with the rod member, flow restricting tapered member and closure cap in a direction causing the disk member to restrict flow into the neck portion of the bottle and at the same time enlarge the restricted passage formed between the tapered member and the shell member at the outlet axial end of the shell member. Also, the closure cap will be opened by virtue of its unseating from the end of the shell member. The disk member will upon abutment against the slide bearing ring mounted in the shell member, limit displacement of the closure cap as well as the displacement of the tapered member and the enlargement of the passage formed thereabout. By proper design of the relative dimensions of the flow responsive disk member, the axial passage through the shell member and the diameter of the tapered member, outward flow of liquid from the bottle may be regulated to a constant and uniform amount regardless of the remaining contents within the bottle and the angle at which the bottle is tilted for dispensing liquids therefrom. It will be furthermore apparent, that upon returning the bottle to an upright position, the liquid disposed within the shell member passage will automatically and positively return the device to its closed position. Refilling of the bottle is accordingly prevented.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to-the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a bottle container within which the novel dispenser device of the present invention is installed.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the upper neck portion of a bottle showing the dispenser device of the present invention installed therein.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by section line 33 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG- URE 2 showing the bottle in a tilted position for liquid dispensing purposes.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that the dispensing device of the present invention which is generally referred to by reference numeral 10 is installed in a glass bottle liquid container generally referred to by reference numeral 12 which includes a bodyportion 14 and a neck portion 16. The device 10, when the bottle is in an upright position as illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 2, will close the outlet end thereof to prevent the introduction of foreign matter as well as to prevent refilling thereof. When the bottle 12 is positioned or tilted at an angle for the purpose of dispensing liquid therefrom as illustrated in FIGURE 4, the dispenser device 10 will permit a limited flow of liquid therefrom and yet prevent refilling of liquid.

The dispenser device 10 is installed within the neck portion 16 of the bottle 12 by means of a mounting shell member 18. The shell member 18 occupies a major portion of the neck portion 16 of the bottle and as illustrated is tapered downwardly in order to conform to the taper of the neck portion 16. The shell member 18 is permanently installed within the neck portion 16. It will however be observed that the construction of the bottle and in particular the neck portion need not be in any way modified for accommodating the dispenser device 10 for which reason the dispenser device is applicable to bottles of all types. At one axial end of the shell member 18 which is the lower end when the bottle is in an upright position as illustrated in FIGURE 2, there is provided a slide hearing ring member 20 which may be connected to the inner walls of the shell member 18 by a plurality of connecting spoke members 22. The number of spoke members 22 will be governed only by the amount of support required for the slide bearing ring member 20. It is however essential, that the supporting spoke members 22 do not appreciably restrict the axial passage 24 defined within the shell member 18. A second slide bearing assembly 26 is mounted within the shell member 18 and is spaced from the outlet end of the shell member 18 or upper end as illustrated in FIGURE 2. It will therefore be apparent that while the first slide bearing assembly which is generally referred to by reference numeral 28 is mounted at the lower axial end of the shell member 18 the other slide bearing assembly 26 is not mounted at the other axial end inasmuch as the slide bearing assembly 28, in addition to its slide mounting function, constitutes a limit stop for the dispensing device as will hereafter be explained further.

Slidably mounted within the slide bearing assemblies 26 and 28, is a rod member 30 which extends axially beyond the slide bearing assemblies. Connected to the lower end of the rod member 30 as viewed in FIGURE 2, is a flow responsive disk member 32 having a spacer portion 33. The disk member 32 is disposed axially beyond the shell member 18 and is displaceable from the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 toward the shell member, limited in its axial displacement toward the shell member by the slide bearing assembly 28 and spacer portion 33 to prevent restriction of flow by the disk 32 through the neck portion of the bottle. Connected to the other end of the rod member 30 between the slide bearing assembly 26 and the upper end of the shell member 18 as viewed in FIGURE 2, is a tapered passage restricting member 34 having a rounded bottom 35 to provide a smooth-wall passage and thereby prevent turbulence. The member 34 is disposed entirely within the shell member 18 as viewed in FIGURE 2 but may be displaced outwardly therefrom to a limited extent as viewed in FIG- URE 4 in which case the annular restricted passage formed thereabout within the shell member 18 is enlarged. Also connected to the outer axial end of the member 34 is the closure cap member 36. As viewed in FIGURE 2, the cap member 36 is seated on top of the shell member 18 and the bottle neck portion 16 for closure thereof. However, when the member 34 is axially displaced outwardly as illustrated in FIGURE 4, the cap member 36 is unseated in order to permit the outward flow of liquid from the bottle 12.

As will be observed in FIGURE 2, when the bottle 12 is in an upright position, the closure cap member 36 will be seated in order to prevent any foreign material entering the bottle. It Will also be observed that the annular restricted passage about the member 34 will be at its maximum restricting position. It will therefore be apparent that refilling of the bottle would be extremely difiicult. When the bottle is tilted at any angle desired, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, the liquid 38 within the bottle will impinge against the flow responsive disk member 32 to move the rod member 30 together with the members 34 and 36, outwardly with repsect to the shell member or neck portion 16 of the bottle. The outward movement of the aforesaid members will however be limited by virtue of the abutment of the disk portion 33 against the slide bearing assembly 28. Under such conditions, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, it will be observed that the flow responsive disk member 32 will not restrict the flow of liquid 38 into the passage 24 of the shell member 18 while at the same time the restricted passage formed about the member 34 will be enlarged in order to accommodate regulated flow of liquid. Also, the cap member 36 will have been displaced a sufiicient amount to also exactly accommodate the fiow of liquid permitted through the regulated passage. As a result thereof, a constant and uniform flow of liquid will occur when tilting the bottle 12 to any desired dispensing angle. It will be further ap parent, that the dispenser 10 will operate in a more reliable and positive manner inasmuch as its movement to a liquid flow dispensing position does not rely solely on the force of gravity on the movable elements of the device 10. Movement of the device to its fiow dispensing position, is rather effected by the flow of liquid. It will also be observed, that should the bottle be tilted so as to position the device to its liquid dispensing position, the introduction of any liquid into the bottle would require flow of liquid in a reverse direction which would tend to displace the flow responsive disk 32 in such a direction as to restrict the passage about the member 34 and seat the closure cap member 36. Refilling is accordingly prevented.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. The combination of a bottle having a neck, and a non-refillable dispensing device for said bottle comprising a substantially tubular shell permanently mounted in the neck of the bottle and having inner and outer ends, a first bearing provided at the inner end of said shell, a second bearing povided intermediate the ends of the shell in axially spaced relation from the first bearing and from the outer end of the shell, a rod slidable in said first and second bearings, a closure member carried by the outer end of said rod and engageable with the outer end of the shell when the rod is slid inwardly, and a disc-like stop member carried by the inner end of said rod and engageable with said first hearing when the rod is slid outwardly, said stop member being large enough to respond to pressure of liquid in said bottle when the bottle is tipped and cause outward sliding of said rod but small enough to permit liquid flow from the bottle into the shell when the stop member engages the first bearing, and said rod being of such length relative to the length of said shell as to provide between said closure member and the outer end of the shell a restricted outlet passage through which the bottle cannot be refilled.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said stop member includes a liquid pressure responsive disc portion of a relatively large diameter facing the interior of said bottle, and a diametrically reduced spacer portion coaxial with said disc portion and engageable with said first bearing, said spacer portion retaining said disc portion is spaced relation from the inner end of said shell to facilitate flow of liquid from the bottle into the shell when the bottle is tipped and said rod slid outwardly.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said closure member includes an enlarged head engageable with the outer end of said shell, and a diametrically reduced plug coaxial with said head and received in the outer end portion of the shell when said rod is slid inwardly, said restricted outlet passage being formed between said shell and said plug and said head upon outward sliding of said rod.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said stop member includes a liquid pressure responsive disc portion of a relatively large diameter facing the interior of said bottle and a diametrically reduced spacer portion coaxial with said disc portion and engageable with said first bearing, said spacer portion retaining said disc portion in spaced relation from the inner end of said shell to facilitate flow of liquid from the bottle into the shell when the bottle is tipped and said rod slid outwardly,

said closure member including an enlarged head engageable with the outer end of said shell and a diametrically reduced plug coaxial with said head and received in the outer end portion of the shell when said rod is slid inwardly, said restricted outlet passage being formed be- 5 tween said shell and said plug and said head upon outward sliding of said rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Winnernore May 14, 1901 Farner et al. Sept. 10, 1912 Berendt Oct. 22, 1935 Wright Oct. 1, 1946

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