CONTAINER FOR DISPENSING VISCOUS LIQUIDS

CONTENANT DISTRIBUTEUR DE LIQUIDES VISQUEUX

English Abstract

CONTAINER FOR DISPENSING VISCOUS LIQUIDS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A container for dispensing viscous fluids
comprising a container body having a neck provided with an
outlet opening. A hollow handle having parts spaced from the
container body communicates with the interior of the
container body. One-way valves are provided in the handle
for admitting air separate from said outlet opening to
replace liquids dispensed from the container. A tube or
conduit may alternatively separately communicate the interior
of the container to the atmosphere. The tube or conduit is
mounted in the hollow handle.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A container for dispensing viscous
liquids comprising a main body having a neck and
restricted opening at the neck, said container having a
hollow handle communicating with said body, and means in
said handle for selectively permitting air to flow through
said handle to replace liquid dispensed from said
container.
2. A container according to claim 1,
wherein at least part of said hollow handle is spaced from
said body to form a hand-receiving space.
3. A container according to claim 2,
wherein said hollow handle has inner and outer surfaces,
said means comprising a one-way valve on the outer surface
of said handle.

4. A container according to claim 1,
wherein said means is a one-way valve on said handle.
5. A container according to claim 2,
wherein said means includes a one-way valve on said
handle, said one-way valve including a plate outwardly of
said handle engageable with the fingers and palm of a hand
to open said one-way valve, said one-way valve being
normally closed.
6. A container according to claim 1,
including a further opening in said neck and means in said
handle communicating with said further opening and with
said body.
7. A container according to claim 1,
wherein at least part of said hollow handle is spaced from
said body to form a hand-receiving space, including a
further opening in said neck and means in said handle
communicating with said further opening and with said body.

8. A container as set forth in claim 7,
wherein said last recited means is a baffle forming a
conduit.
9, A container as in claim 7, wherein said
last recited means is a tube.
10. A container for dispensing viscous
liquids comprising a main body having a neck and
restricted opening at the neck, said container having a
hollow handle communicating with said body, and means in
said handle for selectively permitting air to flow through
said handle to replace liquid dispensed from said
container and a cap fitting over said neck for closing.

11. A container for dispensing viscous
liquids comprising a main body having a neck and
restricted opening at the neck, said container having a
hollow handle communicating with said body, and means in
said handle for selectively permitting air to flow through
said handle to replace liquid dispensed from said
container, at least part of said hollow handle being
spaced from said body to form a hand-receiving space,
including a further opening in said neck and means in said
handle communicating with said further opening and with
said body and a cap for engagement with said neck for
covering both said openings.

Description

f~
iBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I FIELD OF THE INVENTION
i This invention relates to container
construction and, more particularly, to improvements in
container construction for enhanced pourability for
viscous fluids.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Containers, preferably made of molded
plastic having handles integrally molded therewith, are
widely employed. These containers include hollow handles
¦ which communicate wi~h the interior of the container.
Various viscous liquid products, especially
I for household use, have been packaged in molded plastic
¦ containers. Some of these products require controlled
dispensability and, therefore, the containers have
restricted outlet openings to prevent rapid pouring of

il
62301-1728
I even viscous liquids. Little or~ o provision for
il introducing air into containers of less than five liter
capacity have been devised. This results in extremely
slow and difficult pouring.
Hollow handle containers have come into use
I for packaging household products as, for example,
¦¦ detergents, waxes and polishes, fabric softeners and the
like, some of which are viscous.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to
employ the handle of a container to permit and facilitate
entrance of air into the container to replace the product
being poured to eliminate difficulty of pouring with the
ensuing possibility of spilling the product on the hands,
clothes or even into the eyes of the user.
In one embodiment of the invention, a
one-way valYe is provided in the hollow handle for
introducing air into the container.
Another form of the invention includes a
valve which is automatically opened as the container is
lifted for pouring.
An additional form of the invention employs
a pipe or tube for connecting the hollow handle to the
mouth of the container separate from the product flow.
~1 1
!i

~ ~ ~ 9 ~
In yet another form of the invention a
baffle or insert is provided in the hollow handle for
~I communication of the hollow handle with the outlet opening.
¦l BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
¦I Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a
¦, container constructed in accordance with the concepts of
the present invention employing a one-way valve with the
cap being shown exploded from the container;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional
view showing the one-way valve in the handle;
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but
showing a modified valve arrangement;
Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view
j illustrating an embodiment employing a pipe or tube for
intr ducing air into the hollow handle and
Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional detail view
of a further embodiment including an insert or baffle in
the hollow handle for forming a channel for introducing
air into the container.
~ "

"~a.~J. :).J
DETAILED DESC~IP~ION OF ThE I~VE~TION
With continuing reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals
designate similar parts throughout the various views,
reference numeral 10 generally designates a molded plastic
container constructed in accordance with the concepts of
the present invention.
The container 10 includes a main body 11 and
is of the type having a bottom 12, side walls 14 and a
restricted neck portion 16 providing a restricted outlet
opening 18. A conventional closure cap 20 is provided.
Integrally molded with the side walls 14 is
a hollow handle 22. The hollow handle 22 is so molded to
define a space 24 between the handle 22 and the walls 14.
The outer surface 26 of handle 22 lies flush with walls 14
and the lower portion of the handle 22 communicates with
the main portion 28 of the container 10 as at 30 while the
upper portion of the handle communicates with the upper
portion 32 of the container 10 adjacent the neck 16 as at
34.
The space 24 is shaped to facilitate
insertion of the fingers and palm of a hand therein.
Disposed conveniently on the lower portion of the upwardly
and inwardly extending part 36 is a one-way valve 38 which
is easily selectively engageable by the thumb on the hand
graspIng the handle.

The one-way valve 38 is of a normally closed
type and which, when pressed, communicates the hollow
interior of handle 22 to the atmosphere. This permits
flow of air from the handle into the container 10 to
replace liquid being poured out of the restricted opening
18, thus enhancing and providing a better controlled flow
of liquid.
Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown
another embodiment of the invention. The container 110 is
provided with walls 114, a neck 116 and a restricted
outlet opening 118. The container 110 also is provided
with a hollow handle 122 similarly constructed as the
handles in Figs. 1 and 2 and there is provided the finger
and palm receiving opening 124. In this e0bodiment of the
invention a normally closed one-way valve is provided at
140. The valve 140 has an actuator member in the form of
a small plate which the fingers and/or the palm of a hand
would normally engage when holding the container 110. The
plate has an irregularly shaped member which passes
through and normally closes an opening in the handle 122,
but, when actuated by the fingers and palm, permits air to
enter the hollow handle 122 and thence communicate with
the interior of the container 110 and replace liquid
poured from the container llO,

'~l3~
Il I
.I In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, t he
container 210 has the same walls 214, neck 216 and
restricted opening 218. In the handle 222 there is
provided a tube or pipe 250 which has its own opening 252
in the neck 216 of the container 210 and also communicates
with the interior 254 of the handle 222 and thus permits
air to replace liquid poured through the opening 218.
The form of the invention shown in Fig. 5
includes a similar container 310 having walls 314, as well
as a neck 316 provided with a restricted opening 318.
¦ Within the handle 322, there is a plate or
plate-like baffle 360 which forms a conduit 362 and which
l conduit 362 has its own separate opening 364 formed in the
j~ neck 316. Thus, air is permitted to pass through the
opening 364 into the conduit 362 and thence through hollow
handle 322 when liquid is poured out of opening 318 thus
replacing liquid in the container 310 with atmospheric air.

Representative Drawing