US2260937A - Closure and dispenser for containers - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 28, 1941. J. T. FREEMAN 2,260,937

CLOSURE AND DISPENSER FOR CONTAINERS Filed April 29', 1940 Ezigil ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 28, 1941 J orge Teofilo Freeman, Buenos Aires, Argentina Application April 29, 1940, Serial No. 332,275' In Argentina December 26, 1939 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a dispensing and closure forming device for use in connection with cardboard or similar containers of granular or powdered material from which it is only desired to remove a portion of the contents at any one time.

Certain products such as various breakfast cereals, coffee, sugar and the like, for instance, are largely put out in cardboard boxes, which must be broken open to get at the contents. Once this is done, the product soon loses its crispness, aroma or freshness generally, as the case may be, and frequently becomes unpalatable, or requires artificial drying before it is again fit for use.

It is therefore one of the objects of my invention to provide a combination dispensing and closure forming device particularly adapted for mounting in a cardboard container, by means of which any desired portion of the contents may b dispensed without breaking open the container, and which enables the dispensing outlet to be closed and substantially sealed against the penetration of dampness when the dispensing operation is completed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose which will enable the contents to be dispensed in the form of a relatively small restricted stream and which while so functioning will agitate the contents and prevent possible clogging of the same at the outlet, so that a smaller outlet carf be used than is otherwise practicable.

In this respect therefore the device is suitable for use in permanent glass jars and other con tainers adapted for refilling and from which it is desired to dispense the contents in small quantitles, and which may be mounted in a normal inverted position against a wall or like surface.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims. a

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container equipped with my improved dispenser.

Figure 2 is a side view of the device as mounted in the container and in a closed position.

Figure 3 is a face or front view of the device as mounted in the container and in a dispensing position.

Figure 4 is a side view of the device dispensing position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of thedevice detached.

Referring now more particularly to th char acters of reference on the drawing, the device comprises what may be termed a paddle wheel, formed of suitable thin rigid material and consisting of a body having a central hub portion I and a plurality of arm 2 projecting therefrom in evenly spaced relation thereabout. Vanes 3, preferably of triangular form, extend along and project in a common transverse direction from one side edge of the arms at right angles thereto, the vanes being so set that their widest part, or their base, is adjacent the hub as clearly shown, while their apex i adjacent the outer end of the arms.

The wheel is set flatly against one side wall 4 of a container near a corner thereof and so that the arms just clear the adjacent top (or bottom) wall 5 of said container. The wheel is turnably mounted in place by means of an axial spindle 6 rigid therewith and projecting through as ina wall 4, where it is connected with a turning knob 1 of suitable form.

A small outlet opening 8 is formed in the wall 5 in radial alinement with the wheel and one of the arms is formed at its outer end with an arcuate shutter 9 projecting from the same face of the wheel as the vanes, and adapted to sub stantially contact with the under surface of the wall 5 and to cover the opening 8 when the wheel is in a certain position. In order that this position may be readily indicated to the operator, an indicating arrow [0 or other mark is placed on the knob I.

In operation, when it is desired to dispense from the container, the same is inverted with the outlet over the vessel into which it is desired that the contents shall fall, and the knob is twirled. This of cours intermittently opens the outlet to allow the contents to issue therefrom, whil at the same time th rotating vanes, being position-ed so that they cut across the path of movement of the contents within the container, keep the same agitated besides tending to force such contents from the outlet. When a dispensing operation is completed, the knob is turned until th indicating mark I0 denotes that the outlet is closed.

It may here be noted that the number and size of the arms and vanes, and the size of the outlet opening, will vary according to the type and size of the product to be dispensed, as obviously many different products may be dispensed with my device.

From the foregoing description it will be read ily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to a do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my-invention, What I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispensing agitator for a container comprising a rotatable unit formed from a sheet of initially fiat bendable material, said unit including a hub portion, fiat arms radiating from the hub portion in the plane of said hub and in circumferentially spaced relation, vane portions formed on side edges of said arms and at right angles to the flat thereof; an axial pin fixed on and projecting from the hub in a direction opposite said vanes, and an operating member on the free end of said pin.

2. A device as in claim 1 in which said vanes are triangular in configuration; the edges of the vanes nearest the axis of rotation being parallel thereto.

3. A dispensing agitator for a container comprising a rotatable unit formed from a sheet of initially flat bendable material, said unit including a hub portion, flat arms radiating from the hubportion in the plane of said hub and in circmnferentially spaced relation, vanev portions formed on side edges of said arms and at right angles to the fiat thereof, and an arcuate shutter on the outer end of one arm beyond but projecting in the same direction as said vanes, the shutter curving on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the hub; an axial pin fixed on andprojecting from th hub in a direction opposite said vanes, and an operating member on the free end of said pin.

JORGE TE'OFILO

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