US3047195A - Closure cap and flexible pour spout for storage containers - Google Patents

Description

y 31, 1962 R. H. RICHMOND 3,047,195

CLOSURE CAP AND FLEXIBLE POUR SPOUT FOR STORAGE CONTAINERS Filed April 9. 1958 INVENTOR.

ROY H. RICHMOND ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,047,195 CLOSURE CAP AND FLEXIBLE POUR SPOUT FOR STORAGE CGNTAINERS Roy H. Richmond, Wellsburg, W. Van, assignor to Eagle Manufacturing Company, Wellsburg, W. Va., a corporation of West Virginia Filed Apr. 9, 1958, Ser. No. 727,316 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-570) The present invention pertains generally to portable metal storage containers for gasoline, kerosene, oil and other volatile liquids. More specifically, the invention is directed to a flexible rubber pour spout for mounting in a said container closure cap.

The object of the invention is to provide a closure cap and a flexible rubber pour spout for portable storage containers of the character described. Portable containers for storage of gasoline, oil, kerosene, etc. are found about the home, farm and factory for convenient filling of tan-ks of various combustion engine driven tools, outboard motors and heating and lighting appliances. Such containers, being readily portable, are limited to between one and flve gallons capacity and have been heretofore provided with flexible metal pour spouts which are not only expensive to manufacture and present a possible danger due to striking the metal spout against a metal surface causing a spark in the presence of inflammable or explosive vapors from the contents of the containers. Such metal spouts are expensive and their replacement due to rusting out, loss or damage is costly.

In the present invention, I have provided a novel, durable, flexible rubber pour spout for the standard screw cap of the usual metal container for the purpose described. Such a spout may be readily incorporated into or removed from the closure cap and is preferably provided with a strainer to restrict passage of foreign matter during the pouring operation. The open, end of the spout may be easily pinched to cut off flow of the liquid prior to righting of the container at the end of the pouring operation. Preferably a stopper, as shown, is provided and may be readily inserted and removed from the open or pouring end of the spout.

Referring now to the drawing,

FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of a metal storage eontainer and rubber pour spout of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the container and spent of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the spout and closure plug;

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view through the container closure cap and spout.

Referring now to the drawing, where like reference characters refer to like parts, the container 1 is conveniently provided with a carrying bail 2 and a filling opening defined by an upwardly extending neck portion 3 which is closed by a screw cap 4, all of which are of conventional design and available commercially. The screw cap 4 has a top surface 5 having an opening there in defined by an inwardly extending continuous flange 6.

The flexible rubber pour spout as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, comprises a neck portion 7 and a base portion 8. The neck portion 7 has an axially extending opening 9 therein and opening into the base portion 8. Adjacent the outer end portion of the neck 7 the internal opening 9 is restricted by an inwardly extending flange portion 10, for a purpose hereinafter set forth. Within the said restricted end portion of spout neck 7 is mounted a readily detachable rubber plug or closure member 11 comprising the annular head portion 12 and tapering cylindrical portion 13. Intermediate the ends of the portion 13 is an annular outwardly extending ring 14 adapted ice to engage beneath the flange 10 of the spout when the plug 11 tightly engages within the axial opening 9 of the spout for retaining the plug in engagement with the spout. The base 8 of the spout comprises an enlarged annular portion 15 which is larger than theopening in the surface 5 of the closure cap 4 and an outwardly spaced smaller annular portion 16 which is slightly larger than the opening defined by the flange 6 of the closure cap. Connecting the portions 15 and 16 is an annular recess 17 having an inner diameter smaller than the opening defined by the flange 6 of the cap 4. Extending outwardly from the portion 16 is an annular hollow portion 18 of smaller outside diameter than that of the portion 16 and having an inside diameter larger than that of the axial opening 9 in the spout neck portion 7 and is connected therewith. The inner end of the axial opening 9 of the spout 7 is provided with an annular recess 19 for reception of a disc-like metal mesh strainer 20. The spout is assembled with the cap by entering the end portion 18 into the cap opening and forcing the base portion 16 downward-1y so to slightly compress same and permit the flange 6 of the cap to enter the annular recess opening 17, whereupon the base portion 16 returns to its normal size and retains the spout within the cap. The spout base portion 15 being larger than the opening in the cap seals the cap opening.

The storage container with the assembled closure cap and spout in place is as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing. When the container is to be filled with any suitable. liquid the assembled spout and closure cap 4 is suitably rotated .to disengage from the screw threaded neck 3 of the container and the liquid inserted through the stilling opening after which the cap 4 is again screwed into place with the spout neck 7 extending as shown in FIG. 1. For convenient storage of the container :1 without the neck 7 projecting as shown in FIG. 1, the spout may be rotated relative to the cap 4 and the end of the spout inserted beneath the container as shown by dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. When it is desired to dispense liquid from the container the end of vthe spout may be removed from within the bail and the spout rotated to project towards the side ofthe container as desired. The plug 11 may then be removed from the end of spout neck 7 and the container suitably tilted to dispense liquid out of the spout neck 7 which has been inserted in a suitable filling opening of the receptacle receiving the contents of the container. When a suitable quantity of the liquid has been thus dispensed, the end of the spout neck 7 may be pinched to cut off the flow of fluid and the container I returned to an upright position. The plug 11 may then be returned to the open end of spout neck '7 and pressed firmly into place with the annular ring 14- thereof engaging beneath the annular inner flange 10 of the spout neck securely locking the plug in place and sealing the opening of the spout neck 7. The spout neck 7- may then be rotated in a manner previously described and then inserted under the bail 2 of the container, as shown by dotted lines or not as the person elects.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that a storage container equipped with the flexible spout as described, provides a ready and convenient means for storing inflammable or volatile fluid without loss by vaporization and which may be conveniently and safely used in transferring the inflammable and volatile contents from the container into any desired receptacle. The spout neck 7 being of rubber will not cause dangerous sparking upon contact with any metal surface. The neck 7 being flexible is readily deflectable without injury to the person or object with which it may come intocontact during handling of the container. The pour spout elfectively seals the contents of the container against loss by vaporization and may be readily moved relative to the closure cap 4 in the manner desired without developing leakage. The spout is easily manufactured of natural or synthetic rubber or rubber-like materials. I have found that natural or synthetic rubber of approximately 40 to 65 durometer provides adequate flexibility as well as durability in the spout and the closure plug.

I claim:

A pour spout and closure cap for the filling opening of a portable gasoline storage and dispensing container comprising,

a rigid closure cap for detachably mounting upon the filling opening of said container and provided with an apertured top surface portion,

a flexible pour spout base portion of generally cylindrical shape axially insertable into said cap top surface aperture and provided with an annular recess intermediate the ends thereof receiving and sealing the peripheral edges of said closure cap aperture,

said pour spout exterior base portion beneath said annular recess being tapered for initial insertion and compression within said cap aperture surface for reception thereof within the said recess,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Weil July 11, Scypinski Apr. 17, Damkroger Apr. 30, Wilson Nov. 11, Ahlquist Aug. 7, Rielte Dec. 18, Borah Aug. 27, Taylor Oct. 6,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 18,

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