US3152735A

US3152735A - Tiltable metering dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3152735A
Application number: US329086A
Authority: US
Inventors: Emmor B Caldwell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-12-09
Filing date: 1963-12-09
Publication date: 1964-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1981-10-13

Description

1964 E. a. CALDWELL 3,152,735

TILTABLE METERING DISPENSER Filed Dec. 9, 1963 IIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIII/ /aa invent-0r" mm-a Ca/dwel/ 17y Z.

fl/s At'b'or'ney United States Patent O 3,152,735 TILTABLE METERING DISPENSER Emmor B. Caldwell, Clifton Park Road, Rexford, N.Y. Filed Dec. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 329,086 7 Claims. (Cl. 222455) This invention relates to a container structure for holding a supply of clean liquid and for furnishing a small portion thereof at a time to an open pan for use, while at the same time disposing of a similar liquid portion which has been previously used. More particularly, the invention relates to a container for holding cleansing or disinfecting liquid which, with a single operative movement, disposes of contaminated or dirty liquid and furnishes a supply of clean liquid.

One of the problems associated with the use of a cleansing or disinfecting liquid is that the entire supply may rather quickly become contaminated by the applicator used to apply the liquid when the applicator is dipped into the liquid container to obtain a new supply.

For example, if disinfecting fluid is to be applied with a sponge, immersion of the sponge to obtain more fluid contaminates the whole supply. This can be overcome to some extent by using several containers or by pouring a small amount of liquid into an auxiliary pan from a larger pan and repeatedly emptying the auxiliary pan. This is very time consuming and if the supply of liquid must be transported from place to place while working, the use of more than one container may not be practical.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved container structure for furnishing convenient small amounts of liquid from a larger supply and at the same time disposing of used or dirty liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container, which with a single motion, empties contaminated liquid from a conveniently placed work pan and furnishes the work pan with a fresh supply of liquid from a larger source of liquid carried within the same container.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the container in one form,

FIG. 2 is an elevation drawing, in section, of the container of FIG. 1, taken along line II-II.

FIG. 3 is a perspective drawing, partly broken away, of the top for the container of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a partial view, in section, of the container of FIG. 1, illustrating the operation thereof, and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are a plan view and a sectional elevation view, respectively, of a modification of the invention.

Briefly stated, the invention is practiced by providing a container with a top member in which is formed an open work pan. The top member has an enlarged hollow lip with a dam associated therewith for trapping a portion of the clean liquid from the container inside the lip as the dirty liquid is poured over the outside of the lip from the work pan. Conduit means are provided for conducting the trapped liquid to the work pan as the container is righted.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, my improved container structure is seen to have a reservoir or bottom portion 1 containing a supply of clean uncontaminated liquid 2, such as disinfectant. Fitting tightly within the top edge of the reservoir 1 is a top member shown generally as 3. The top 3 has a turned down circumferential rim 4, an enlarged convexly curving hollow lip 5, and a depressed concave portion in the center thereof defining a work pan 6. The top 3 may be formed in a single piece from metal or plastic by any of several well known techniques such as drawing,

Patented Oct. 13, 1964 casting, or molding. It can also be fabricated by making it in sections and joining them together.

The work pan 6 includes a circumferential side wall 7 which is radially spaced from the side wall of the bottom member 1 to define a passage 8 leading to an interior chamber 9 of the hollow lip 5. Work pan 6 has a bottom 10 located sufliciently lower than chamber 9 so that a convenient supply of liquid 11 can be held in the work pan 6 below the level of the lip.

Secured inside the lip 5 is an arcuate channel-shaped member 12. This member extends circumferentially in either direction from its highest point 12a at the front of the container, and is pitched downward toward its terminating ends 12b, 120. Each of the terminating ends are attached in a suitable leaktight manner to the wall 7 of the work pan.

Openings

13, 14 formed in the wall 7 allow liquid to drain from the channel member 12 into the work pan 6. It is important to note that the

openings

13, 14 are high enough above the bottom 10 of the work pan so that the level of liquid portion 11 will not be higher than the bottom of the openings when the desired amount of liquid is in the work pan. The

openings

13, 14 are also placed slightly to the rearward of the work pan 6 for reasons later to be explained.

At the highest point 12a of the channel-shaped member 12, the inner flange 15 of the channel forms a dam which partitions off a pocket 15a in chamber 9 inside the lip. Thus flange 15 will trap liquid in pocket 15a when the container is tipped. When the container is righted again, it flows in both directions through the downward sloping channel member 12 toward the

openings

13, 14. It remains to note that the reservoir member is provided with a handle 16.

The operation of the container structure depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is better understood by reference to FIG. 4 of the drawing. Assuming a small amount of clean liquid is in the work pan 6, this liquid is utilized for whatever purpose desired, whereupon it becomes dirty or contaminated. The bucket is grasped by the rear handle 16 and tilted forward to the position shown in FIG. 4. The dirty liquid 11 flows out over the top of the hollow lip 5 into a waste receptacle or onto the ground. At the same time clean liquid flows into the opening 8 between the work pan 6 and the sides of container 1, and from there over the top of flange 15 into pocket 15a inside the channel. Thereafter the container is righted, and the fresh supply of clean liquid in chamber 9 runs around through both sides of the channel 12, out of the

openings

13, 14 and into the work pan 6. This new supply of clean liquid can then be utilized until it is dirty, and the cycle is repeated again.

As was mentioned previously, the

openings

13 and 14 are located to the rear of the work pan and higher than the bottom of the work pan. This will prevent dirty liquid from flowing backward through channel 12 when the container is tilted forward.

Another form of the invention, which employs only two pieces instead of three, is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings. Here there is shown a bottom reservoir or container member 17, and a top member 18. The bottom member 17 has a round main side wall 19. At the top peripheral edge of wall 19, and preferably formed integrally therewith is a circumferentially extending wall 20 which extends around the front and sides of the bottom member 17 to join the side wall 19, as indicated at 21. Wall 20 and the main wall 19 together make up a channel 22. Notches 23 are provided in the main wall 19 slightly to the rearward of the container to allow liquid to run out of channel 22. Also, in order to provide a convenient means for attaching the top member 18, the edge of the circumferentially extending wall 20 is enlarged as indicated at 24.

The top member 1% is so formed as to provide a convex pouring lip portion 25 and a concave work pan 26. The lower circumferentially extending edge of the top member is split as shown at 27 so that it will fit over the enlarged circumferentially extending edge 24 of the bottom member and maintain a leak-tight seal. If the container is made of plastic, the engagement along the

edges

24, 27 can be made merely by means of the resiliency of the material. If the container is made of metal, it may be preferable to permanently attach the top and bottom members along this joint by means such as brazing. It is immaterial to the operation of the container Whether the top member 18 is permanently attached to the bottom member 17 or whether it is made so as to be removable, so long as a leak-tight joint is provided along the

edges

24, 27.

As in the previously described embodiment of the invention, the front wall of the work pan 26 is spaced from the main wall 19 by a passage 28 which leads into the channel 22 over the top edge 19a of the main wall 19. The edge 19a acts as a dam to trap liquid in the channel 22 when the container is righted again, and in this sense is equivalent to the flange 15 of the separate channel 12 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

Near the vicinity of the notches 23, the walls of the Work pan are not spaced from the main wall 19, but tightly engage the main walls. If top member 18 is designed to be removable, this can merely be a friction fit. An opening 29, matching the location of the notches 23 is provided to let the liquid flow from channel 22 into the work pan, these openings being disposed above the floor of the work pan and to the rear, as before, to prevent liquid from flowing backward through channel 22.

It remains to note that the back wall 30 of the work pan is spaced from the main wall of the container in order to allow filling without removing the top. Also a handle 31 for tipping the container to operate it is conveniently provided by extending the Wall 39 upward and curling it over.

The operation of the container shown in FIGS. and 6 is exactly the same as described previously. Briefly, when tipped forward, the dirty liquid in work pan 26 flows over the lip 25 and out. At the same time, liquid in the bottom member 17 flows through space 28 and over edge 19a. When righted, edge 19a traps a portion of the clean liquid, which flows circumferentially in both directions in channel 22, to emerge through openings 29 and into the work pan.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, once the principle of the invention is understood, that the size of the space provided inside the hollow lip of my improved container structure, as well as the size of the pocket trapping liquid when the container is righted determine the amount of liquid flowing into the work pan. Therefore these spaces must be selected with consideration for the volume of liquid desired in the work pan, taking account that this volume is limited by the height of the discharge openings above the floor of the work pan. The amount of slope required from the pocket trapping the liquid in the front of the container to the discharge openings is not very great and is exaggerated in FIG. 2 in order to illustrate the principle of operation.

It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that many variations in shape and design are possible without departing from the inventive concept. For example the duct leading from the trapping pocket to the open work pan could vary substantially in design. The duct need not run circumferentially, but could also run down beneath the work pan, and then up again just so long as the level of the discharge opening is below the level of the trapping pocket. The circumferentially flowing arrangement shown is merely believed to be the most convenient way of forming these ducts.

While there have been shown two embodiments of the invention, it is desired to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A container comprising a reservoir member arranged to hold a supply of liquid, a top member sealingly engaged with the reservoir member around a front portion thereof, said top member defining an open work pan disposed above the liquid in the reservoir and also defining a hollow pouring lip having its interior open to the liquid in the reservoir, means defining a pocket inside said lip arranged to trap a portion of the liquid flowing into the lip when the container is tipped and then righted, and conduit means connecting said pocket toa discharge opening in the work pan to the rearward part of the container above the bottom of said work pan for conducting said trapped liquid portion to the work pan when the container is in an upright position.

2. A container comprising a reservoir member arranged to hold a supply of liquid, a top member having a front convex portion sealingly engaged with a front portion of the reservoir member to define a hollow pouring lip arranged to receive liquid on its inside when the container is tipped forward, said top member also having a concave portion defining an open work pan disposed above the liquid in the reservoir, said Work pan having a wall portion toward the rear of the container with a discharge opening therethrough above the bottom of the work pan, means defining a pocket inside said lip for trapping a portion of the liquid in the lip when the container is tipped and then righted, said pocket being at a higher level than said discharge opening, and conduit means connecting the pocket with the discharge opening for conducting the trapped liquid portion from the hollow lip to the work pan.

3. A container comprising a reservoir member with a bottom and sidewalls for holding a supply of liquid, a top member defining an open work pan disposed within said reservoir sidewalls above the supply of liquid, said work pan also having a bottom and sidewalls for holding a small quantity of liquid, the front sidewall of the work pan being spaced from the front sidewall of the reservoir member, said work pan also having a rearward sidewall defining an opening therethrough above the bottom of the work pan, said top member also having a front convex portion defining a hollow pouring lip sealingly engaging the front sidewall of the reservoir member, means defining a channel extending from the interior of the lip at the front of the container around the work pan to said opening in the work pan sidewall, whereby forward tipping of the container will cause any liquid in the work pan to flow out over the pouring lip while liquid in the reservoir member flows into the channel for replenishing the work pan supply when the container is righted.

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein said channel defining means comprises a bifurcated wall portion extending around the top edge of said reservoir member on the front and sides thereof, the inner wall defining an opening therethrough aligned with said Work pan opening.

5. The combination according to claim 3, wherein said channel defining means includes a substantially U-shaped arcuate member disposed within said hollow lip and extending around the work pan to connect with said work pan opening.

6. A container comprising a reservoir member having a bottom and sidewalls for holding a supply of liquid therein, a top member defining an open work pan with bottom and sidewalls disposed within the top part of said reservoir member above the liquid, said top member also defining a hollow lip curving forward from the work pan and sealingly engaging the sidewalls of the reservoir member, a channel member disposed within said hollow lip and extending circumferentially in either direction from a high point inside the lip at the front of the container to discharge openings defined by the sidewalls toward the rear of the work pan, said channel being oriented to trap a portion of the liquid filling the lip when the container is tipped and to conduct said trapped liquid portion to the work pan when the container is righted.

7. A container comprising a reservoir member having a bottom and sidewalls for holding a supply of liquid,

said sidewall being bifurcated to provide inner and outer Wall portions at the top edge thereof around the front and side of the reservoir member forming a channel between them, a top member defining an open work pan with bottom and sidewalls disposed within the ,top part of said reservoir member above the liquid, said top member also having a front convex portion defining a hollow lip with a front edge which sealingly engages the outer wall portion of the reservoir, said inner wall portion and said Work pan sidewall being engaged and having aligned 5 openings therethrough at a point to the rearward of the container and above the bottom of the work pan, whereby liquid trapped between the inner and outer wall portions when the container is tipped will flow to the work pan when the container is lighted.

References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,699,886 James Jan. 18, 1955 2,834,519 Miller May 13, 1958 2,977,028 Joife Mar. 28, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 574,154 France Mar. 24, 1924 1,070,404 France July 26, 1954 222,994 Germany Q. June 13, 1910

Claims

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING A RESERVOIR MEMBER ARRANGED TO HOLD A SUPPLY OF LIQUID, A TOP MEMBER SEALINGLY ENGAGED WITH THE RESERVOIR MEMBER AROUND A FRONT PORTION THEREOF, SAID TOP MEMBER DEFINING AN OPEN WORK PAN DISPOSED ABOVE THE LIQUID IN THE RESERVOIR AND ALSO DEFINING A HOLLOW POURING LIP HAVING ITS INTERIOR OPEN TO THE LIQUID IN THE RESERVOIR, MEANS DEFINING A POCKET INSIDE SAID LIP ARRANGED TO TRAP A PORTION OF THE LIQUID FLOWING INTO THE LIP WHEN THE CONTAINER IS TIPPED AND THEN RIGHTED, AND CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING SAID POCKET TO A DISCHARGE OPENING IN THE WORK PAN TO THE REARWARD PART OF THE CONTAINER ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF SAID WORK PAN FOR CONDUCTING SAID TRAPPED LIQUID PORTION TO THE WORK PAN WHEN THE CONTAINER IS IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION.