US3809293A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dispenser having air vent clean-out
Assignee: METALIFE Co
•
Filing: 1973-05-10
•
Granted: 1974-05-07
•
Expires: 1993-05-10
Abstract
Abstract For using dispensers of the type in which a first can of semifluid hand cleaner or similar viscous substance is filled into a dispenser sleeve, and then a second can of the substance is inverted and applied telescopingly over the sleeve, accumulation of the substance in the internal vent tube of a large size dispenser may make it difficult to remove and replace cans, and may interfere with air inflow necessary for dispensing. In the present invention, air inflow, to permit removal of such a first can, is assured by a pull-down piston in the vent tube to drive any clogging substance out through the nozzle passage. On applying a second full can over the sleeve, the cleaned tube permits easy expulsion of intervening air. Even while the tube is clogged, dispensing may proceed normally; a groove leading downward on the outer side of the sleeve permits continuing inflow of air.
Inventors
- 👤 A Chappell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:20
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47K; A47K5/00; A47K5/06; A47K5/12; A47K5/1211
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
313 words
A dispenser for semi-fluid substances packed in cylindrical cans, comprising a substantially vertical cylindrical sleeve whose outer diameter is sized to fit slidingly within such a cylindrical can, a dispenser base closing the lower end of said sleeve, said base including means to discharge the sleeve contents therethrough including a nozzle having a discharge passage, and a tubular air vent tube having a substantially vertical axis and lateral air passages at a plurality of levels, the air vent tube being mounted to extend upwardly from said dispenser base into the upper portion of the sleeve, the dispenser base having a connecting passage from the lower end of the air vent tube to an inner part of said nozzle passage, characterized in that the air vent tube has clean-out means movable downwardly from its upper end to said connecting passage, whereby to permit removal, from the air vent tube to the nozzle, of such semi-fluid substance which may have accumulated therein, thereby to facilitate air inflow through said nozzle and the air vent tube and through its lateral air passages into the dispenser sleeve, and wherein the said connecting passage includes an upper passage portion aligned with the axis of said air vent tube, and the air vent tube and the said upper passage portion are offset laterally from the nozzle discharge passage, and the connecting passage further includes a cross-flow portion connecting to the nozzle passage, the dispenser base further having a pull cable passage on said vent tube axis extending downwardly beneath said cross-flow portion to the exterior, and wherein the said clean-out means includes a piston fitted slidably within said tube and upper passage portions, and the piston has a pull cable extending downwardly along the tube axis through said vertical passage portions to the exterior and further has return spring means connected to the upper end of the vent tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
313 words
A dispenser for semi-fluid substances packed in cylindrical cans, comprising a substantially vertical cylindrical sleeve whose outer diameter is sized to fit slidingly within such a cylindrical can, a dispenser base closing the lower end of said sleeve, said base including means to discharge the sleeve contents therethrough including a nozzle having a discharge passage, and a tubular air vent tube having a substantially vertical axis and lateral air passages at a plurality of levels, the air vent tube being mounted to extend upwardly from said dispenser base into the upper portion of the sleeve, the dispenser base having a connecting passage from the lower end of the air vent tube to an inner part of said nozzle passage, characterized in that the air vent tube has clean-out means movable downwardly from its upper end to said connecting passage, whereby to permit removal, from the air vent tube to the nozzle, of such semi-fluid substance which may have accumulated therein, thereby to facilitate air inflow through said nozzle and the air vent tube and through its lateral air passages into the dispenser sleeve, and wherein the said connecting passage includes an upper passage portion aligned with the axis of said air vent tube, and the air vent tube and the said upper passage portion are offset laterally from the nozzle discharge passage, and the connecting passage further includes a cross-flow portion connecting to the nozzle passage, the dispenser base further having a pull cable passage on said vent tube axis extending downwardly beneath said cross-flow portion to the exterior, and wherein the said clean-out means includes a piston fitted slidably within said tube and upper passage portions, and the piston has a pull cable extending downwardly along the tube axis through said vertical passage portions to the exterior and further has return spring means connected to the upper end of the vent tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-06 | 1977-11-05 | 1978-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-06 | 1981-11-05 | 1982-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-06 | 1985-11-05 | 1986-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |