Technique and device for measuring fluids including finger valve and filler mechanism

Claim 2

In a device for measuring fluids dispensed from a primary container having an upwardly opening mouth for pouring out fluid when said container is rotated from its reference position in a vertical plane at least through its starting pour angle, the principal axis of said primary container being substantially vertical when said container is disposed in its reference position, said device comprising in combination a measuring vessel constructed to be secured adjacent to the mouth of said primary container for measuring and dispensing a measured amount of fluid poured out from said primary container, said measuring vessel having a cross-sectional shape in said vertical plane comprising an enlarged top portion and a constricted base portion at the lower end of said measuring vessel adjacent the mouth of said primary container; means connected to said mouth for providing a modified pour-spout for said primary container to increase the starting pour angle thereof, said means comprising a connecting tube connected in fluid-tight relation between said mouth at its lower end and the upper portion of said measuring vessel, said tube being externally spaced-apart from a lateral wall of said measuring vessel to form a handle; said measuring vessel closed at the top except for a first opening directed to the atmosphere adjacent the top end of said connecting tube, said first opening including a removable valve; and a second opening directed to the atmosphere which is closeable by a conventional cap, comprising a dispensing spout of said measuring vessel disposed on the opposite side of the principal axis of said primary container from said first opening.

Claim 3

The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said valve is manually-operable.

Claim 4

The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said valve is a manually-operable flap-valve.

Claim 5

The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said valve is a manually-operable piston-valve.

Claim 6

The combination in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein said measuring vessel includes at least one volumetric scale calibrated to measure the contents of said measuring vessel.

Claim 7

The combination in accordance with claim 5 wherein said at least one volumetric scale includes a first volumetric scale calibrated to measure the contents of said measuring vessel when said primary vessel is disposed in said reference position, and a second volumetric scale calibrated to measure the contents of said measuring vessel in closed condition when said container is disposed at an angle in said vertical plane which exceeds the increased starting pour angle of said primary container including said modified pour spout.

Claim 8

The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said at least one volumetric scale includes a third volumetric scale calibrated to measure the contents entrapped in said measuring vessel when the axis of said primary container is disposed at a clockwise angle in said vertical plane, relating to said principal axis.

Claim 9

The combination in accordance with claim 7 wherein said third volumetric scale includes remeasure calibration lines which radiate from the point in the upper end of said modifying pour spout into which fluid first flows to return to said primary container, said lines being so disposed as to intersect horizontal calibration lines on one said scale representing a series of equivalent volumes when said primary container is disposed in its reference position, and wherein said remeasure calibration lines are substantially parallel to the surface of the remaining fluid trapped in the measuring vessel when said primary container is tipped in said clockwise direction in said vertical plane at each of a progression of pour-back angles.

Claim 10

The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said measuring vessel is formed so that the inner surface of its lower outer wall defines a substantial concavity providing a rounded cross-section in the vertical plane.

Claim 11

In a device for measuring fluids dispensed from a primary container having an upwardly opening mouth for pouring out fluid when said container is rotated from its reference position in a vertical plane at least through its starting pour angle, the principal axis of said primary container being substantially vertical when said container is disposed in its reference position, said device comprising in combination a measuring vessel constructed to be secured adjacent to the mouth of said primary container for measuring and dispensing a measured amount of fluid poured out from said primary container, said measuring vessel having a cross-sectional shape in said vertical plane comprising an enlarged top portion and a constricted base portion at the lower end of said measuring vessel adjacent the mouth of said primary container; means connected to said mouth for providing a modified pour-spout for said primary container to increase the starting pour angle thereof, said means comprising a first connecting tube connected in fluid-tight relation between said mouth at its lower end and the upper portion of said measuring vessel, said tube being externally spaced-apart from a lateral wall of said measuring vessel to form a handle; said measuring vessel closed at the top except for a first opening adjacent the top end of said connecting tube, said first opening including a removable valve; and a second opening closeable by a conventional cap, comprising a dispensing spout of said measuring vessel disposed on the opposite side of the principal axis of said primary container from said first opening; wherein said means comprising said connecting tube is in substantial vertical alignment with the principal axis of said primary container; and said connecting tube accommodates a second tube of smaller diameter upon removal of said valve which extends from the first opening adjacent the top end of said connecting tube and through the mouth of said primary vessel for filling said primary vessel.

Claim 12

In a device for measuring fluids dispensed from a primary container having an upwardly opening mouth for pouring out fluid when said container is rotated from its reference position in a vertical plane at least through its starting pour angle, the principal axis of said primary container being substantially vertical when said container is disposed in its reference position, said device comprising in combination a measuring vessel constructed to be secured adjacent to the mouth of said primary container for measuring and dispensing a measured amount of fluid poured out from said primary container, said measuring vessel having a cross-sectional shape in said vertical plane comprising an enlarged top portion and a constricted base portion at the lower end of said measuring vessel adjacent the mouth of said primary container; means connected to said mouth for providing a modified pour-spout for said primary container to increase the starting pour angle thereof, said means comprising a first connecting tube connected in fluid-tight relation between said mouth at its lower end and the upper portion of said measuring vessel, said tube being externally spaced-apart from a lateral wall of said measuring vessel to form a handle; said measuring vessel closed at the top except for a first opening adjacent the top end of said connecting tube, said first opening including a removable valve; and a second opening closeable by a conventional cap, comprising a dispensing spout of said measuring vessel disposed on the opposite side of the principal axis of said primary container from said first opening; wherein said means comprising said connecting tube is in substantial vertical alignment with the principal axis of said primary container; and said connecting tube accommodates a second tube of smaller diameter upon removal of said valve which extends from the first opening adjacent the top end of said connecting tube and through the mouth of said primary vessel for filling said primary vessel.

Claim 13

In a device for measuring fluids dispensed from a primary container having an upwardly opening mouth for pouring out fluid when said container is rotated, from its reference position in a vertical plane at least through its starting pour angle, the principal axis of said primary container being substantially vertical when said container is disposed in its reference position, said device comprising in combination a measuring vessel constructed to be secured adjacent to the mouth of said primary container for measuring and dispensing a measured amount of fluid poured out from said primary container, said measuring vessel having a cross-sectional shape in said vertical plane comprising an enlarged top portion and a constricted base portion at the lower end of said measuring vessel adjacent the mouth of said primary container; means connected to said mouth for providing a modified pour-spout for said primary container to increase the starting pour angle thereof, said means comprising a connecting tube connected in fluid-tight relation between said mouth at its lower end and the upper portion of said measuring vessel, said tube being externally spaced-apart from a lateral wall of said measuring vessel to form a handle; said measuring vessel closed at the top except for a first opening adjacent the top end of said connecting tube; and a second opening closeable by a conventional cap, comprising a dispensing spout of said measuring vessel disposed on the opposite side of the principal axis of said primary container from said first opening; wherein the constricted portion of said measuring vessel is connected to said primary vessel through a narrow neck; and valve means is interposed in said neck for opening said neck in response to finger pressure on said neck.

Claim 14

In a device for measuring fluids dispensed from a primary container having an upwardly opening mouth for pouring out fluid when said container is rotated, from its reference position in a vertical plane at least through its starting pour angle, the principal axis of said primary container being substantially vertical when said container is disposed in its reference position, said device comprising in combination a measuring vessel constructed to be secured adjacent to the mouth of said primary container for measuring and dispensing a measured amount of fluid poured out from said primary container, said measuring vessel having a cross-sectional shape in said vertical plane comprising an enlarged top portion and a constricted base portion at the lower end of said measuring vessel adjacent the mouth of said primary container; means connected to said mouth for providing a modified pour-spout for said primary container to increase the starting pour angle thereof, said means comprising a connecting tube connected in fluid-tight relation between said mouth at its lower end and the upper portion of said measuring vessel, said tube being externally spaced-apart from a lateral wall of said measuring vessel to form a handle; said measuring vessel closed at the top except for a first opening adjacent the top end of said connecting tube; and a second opening closeable by a conventional cap, comprising a dispensing spout of said measuring vessel disposed on the opposite side of the principal axis of said primary container from said first opening; wherein the constricted portion of said measuring vessel is connected to said primary vessel through a narrow neck; and valve means is interposed in said neck for opening said neck in response to finger pressure on said neck.

Claim 15

The combination in accordance with claim 11 wherein said valve means comprises self-adhering plastic, the inner surfaces of which are compressed together in a direction substantially normal to said surfaces to form an interface providing a liquid tight seal, said seal responsive to compression in a direction substantially tangential to said interface to open.