US1426988A - Bottle-cap-dispensing container - Google Patents

Description

L. B. HOOVER.

BOTTLE CAP DISPENSING CONTAINER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1922.

1 42 9 Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

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APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27. I922.

Patented; Aug. 22, 1922.

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UNHTEE LESLIE'B. HOOVER, OFMAIDISONVILLE, KENTUCKY.

BOTTLE-CAP-DISIENSING CONTAINER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

Application filed. February 27, 1922. Serial No. 539,526.

ing bottle caps or crowns, but it is adaptable for various other uses.

The principal object of the invention is to design a container which is such'in construction as to permit the cork linings of the caps to be moistened and kept in such state so as to prevent leakage of liquid from the bottles when the caps are applied.

More specifically speaking, it is an importantobject of the invention toprovide a closed container in which a hopper is arranged, this hopper having openings through which moisture laden air is designed to pass to moisten the cork disks of the caps, such a structure being advantageous in that the caps are fed by gravity through the discharge opening in the casing to permit them to be rapidly used and to dispose them in a convenient place of easy access. A still further and a very important object of the invention is to generally improve upon dispensing containers by providing one which is especially designed for the purpose mentioned, the same being, simple and inexpensive, practical, automatic in operation, and embodying many novel details which insure that the ends sought will be very effectively accomplished.

Other objects and advantages of the in-' vention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of'this specification and in whichlike numerals are employed to designate, like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view illustrating a stand with a plurality of cabinets or' containers arranged thereon.

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of one of the containers. Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 4:. Figure 4 is an enlarged central vertical section through one of the containers. the section being taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5. Figure 5 is a section taken substantially on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a detail elevational view of an opening and closure therefor in the rear side of the container.

Figure 7 is a detail section of the removable drawer. Figure 8 is a top plan view thereof. 7

Figure 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of :Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed indetail, the numeral 1 designates generally a suitably designed stand or support on which a plurality of dispensing containers '2 are arranged. .By preference, each container is of box-like formation and is properly labeled on its front to designate the kind of caps or other articles held therein. Each of the containers is open at its top to permit insertion of the caps C and a hinged cover 3 is employed for closing this open top. The cover' is equipped with a depending flange 4 which surrounds the bead on the upper edges of the side walls of the container and a packing strip 5 is secured or arranged between the cover and container to act in conjunction with the flange to Ienderthe container substantially dust-proof and air-proof. For convenience, the following descriptionwill appear in the singular. Proceeding, it j'lSdSO be; pointed out'that in order to permit the container to serve the ends desired, I arrange a hopper 6 therein, the hopper being formed from a plurality of downwardly and inwardly inclined apertured walls acting in conpunction with the front wall ofthe box to form a complete hopper ,in which the caps are placed. By carefully examining the drawings, it will be seen that the apertures adjacent the upper ends of the sides of the hopper are considerably small, while those near the discharge openings are larger to permit passage 9f a greater quantity of moisture laden air for moistening the cork disks of the caps about to be discharged. It will be noted that the discharge end of the hopper is spaced above the bottom of the box or container and thisspace is occupied by a cap-receiving pocket composed of vertical sides 7 arranged between the hopper and bottom of the box and connected thereto in any suitable manner. In addition to these vertical sides, the pocket includes a substantially semi-circular shelf 8 which is connected at its inner end to the rear vertical side 7 and has its opposite end extending through and'projeoting beyond an opening in the front wall of the container as indicated at 9. p

Co-eperable with the aforesaid shelf 8 and slidable through the opening in the front of the box is a scoop or drawer 10 which rests on the shelf and has its inner end closely spaced from the rear vertical side 7 of the aforesaid pocket as clearly seen in Fig. 5. This scoop is of a size to snugly contact the inner face of theaforesaid shelf to prevent any of the caps from being lodged between the same and shelf. Hence, opening and closing of the drawer is greatly facilitated. It may be. mentioned'here that prevent the entrance of 'air atithis point "which; would tend to dry the cork linings of the caps. The} drawer-is, of course, equipped with a suitable handle or grip by -means of which it is operated.

Any suitable means may be employedfor the purpose of supplying the cork linings I with moisture.

In the showing, I have simply illustrated a sponge S which is located in the container. or box beneath the hopper.

In order to permit insertion and removal ofthe sponge, the rear side of the a position to swing over the opening.

box is formed with a suitably sized opening 12 closed by a disk-like closure 13 pivotally or otherwise connected with the box in suitable arcuate stop or keeper 14' is connected tothis side of the boxand co-opcrates with the closure to limit its swing ing. movement in one direction so that it i will completely cover the opening 12.

In use, all caps for a particular kind of beverage, such as gingerale which are so labeled, are placed in the container designed to receive such caps. Assuming that the container is substantially filledwith caps as 4 shown'in Fig. 5 and that a sponge has been moistened and'placed into the container, it

l I pass through the apertures'in the hopper 6 willbe seenthat the Inoisture'laden air will "and will dampen the cork linings of the caps to keep'them expanded. I may mention here that it istnot essentialnto employ a utilized. It is to be understood that as soon as the scoop 10 is withdrawn through the opening in the front of the box, the caps contained therein will be in a position easy .of access for rapid application to bottles.

As the caps are used, other caps in the hopper will feed by, gravity down into the scoop to position them for use. It will be noted thatwhen the scoop is in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5, that part of the shelf which extends beyond the box willprevent the scoop from being tilted. Consequently, when the scoop is again shoved in, its sliding movement will not be hindered by caps which may otherwise become lodged between the inner end of the scoop and the shelf. After the caps are removed from this dispensing container and applied to bottles, leakage of liquid from the latter will be prevented, because a tight closing will be insured in view of the swollen orexpanded state of the cork linings. I

I wish to point out that although the description and drawings disclose the imfor dispensing and treating bottle caps and crowns, I wish it to be understood that various other articles may be placed within the container to be acted on and dispensed.

By carefully considering the description in connection with the drawings, persons familiar with devices of this class will doubtless be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention. Therefore, a more lengthy and detailed description is deemed unnecessary. I I

Since probably the best results may be obtained with the construction and arrangement herein shown and described, this is taken as the preferred embodiment ofthe invention. However, I wish it to be understood that minor changes comingwitliin the scope of the invention as claimed may be re A sorted to if desired. 1

I claim: p

A bottle cap container and dispenser comprising an open top box formed inits front face adjacent its bottom with an opening through which the caps are discharged and formed in one of its other sides with an opening through which the caps are discharged and formed in one of its other sides with an opening through which a moistening element is designed to be insertedand removed, a pivoted disk closing. the last named opening, a stop for limiting the movement of the disk in one direction, a

cover for the open top of said stop,,a,hopper arranged in said casing and havingits discharge endv disposed above they bottom of the container, said hopper being formed with a plurality of. apertures to permit passage of moisture laden air therethrough to moisten being designed to close the opening in the the corks of the caps Which are placed in front side of said box, and a moistening elethe hopper, a shelf arranged in the box and ment in the box beneath the hopper for disposed beneath the discharge end of the moistening the air therein. hopper and extending through the opening In testimony whereof I have hereunto set in the front Wall of the box, a scoop slidable my hand.

on said shelf, the closed end of said scoop LESLIE B. HOOVER.

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