Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to kitchen equipment, and
more particularly to a connector for connecting two containers
together so that the contents may be po~lred from one to
another without 5pi 1lage.
In restaurants in particular, but also in the home
setting, it is frequently desirable to transfer the contents
from one container to another, whether to "top up" one of the
containers, or for some other purpose. As just one exa~ple,
it is common in restaurants for the ketchup bottles to be
routinely topped up at the beginning or end of the day.
It is an object of the present invention to provide
a simple, effective and inexpensive connector l:o facilitate
the transfer of contents from one container to another.
In accordance with the invention, a generally
cylindrical body is provided, having bottle-top thread-
engaging means on the inner walls thereof adjacent opposite
ends. Preferably, an ann~lar flange projects inwardly from
the inner wall of the cylinder, halfway along it.
Further features of the invention will be described
or will become apparent in the course of the following
detailed description.
The preferred embodiments of the invention will now
be described by way of example, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective, showing the
preferred embodiment of the connector between two opposing
containers;
Fig. 2 is an elevation view showing two containers
connected by the connector;
Fig. 3 is a top view of the connector;
Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the connector;
Fig. 5 is a side elevation view of the connector;
Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the connector, with two
bottles;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative
embodiment of the connector;
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Fig. 8 is a top view of the alternative embodiment;
and
Fig. 9 is a cross-section of the alternative
embodiment.
Figs. 1, 2 and 6 illustrate the function:ing of the
connector. The connection 1 is interposed between two
containers, such as ketchup bottles 2. The connector has a
generally cylindrical wall 3, and three-thread engaging tabs 4
projecting inwardly adjacent each end of the wall. An annular
flange 6 projects inwardly from the midpoint of the wall, to
provide a seat for the two bottles.
Preferably, to facilitate gripping of the connector,
the wall 3 is knurled.
In the alternative embodiment shown in Figs. 7, 8
and 9, conventional threads 14 are provided instead of the
thread-engaging tabs 4.
Any other suitable thread-engaging means could be
provided. In some cases, such as where the bottles have no
threads, an unthreaded cylindrical wall could be employed, and
the connector could be installed between the bottles via a
friction fitD
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