Pour Spout Adapter

Abstract

An adapter for openings of bottles and other containers has a cylindrical body provided with flexible outer ribs engaging the inner surface of a bottle opening. The interior of the cylindrical body has at least one passage for the flow of the liquid out of the bottle and at least one other passage for the return flow of air into the bottle.

Description

This invention relates to pour spout adapters and is particularly concerned with spout adapters fitting into bottle openings.

It is a matter of general knowledge that the dispensing of nonalcoholic as well as alcoholic beverages, such as whisky and wines, particularly in bars and restaurants, presents numerous problems. As soon as the cork is removed, the pouring must take place quickly and yet precisely without spilling the beverage or filling the glasses inadequately. This is sometimes difficult for a bartender or a waiter operating under a strain. Another problem results from the fact that half-filled bottles often remain standing for days on bars and shelves where they are easily accessible to outsiders so that it is possible, for example, to remove the contents of a bottle of expensive wine or liquor and to fill the same bottle with a different, cheaper beverage.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a pour spout adapter fitting into bottle openings which will facilitate a uniform adequate outflow of the contents of a bottle but which will prevent quick excessive outpour or refill.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention it was found desirable to provide a pour spout adapter having a hollow cylindrical body provided with resilient circular ribs adapted to engage the inner walls of the bottle opening. The top of the cylindrical body is dimensioned to fit into the top of the average bottle opening and may have a flange extending over a part of the top edge of the bottle opening. The cylindrical body is divided into a plurality of passages for the outflow of liquid and the return flow of air. These passages may be formed by ribs or plates extending through most of the interior of the cylindrical body or only a small portion thereof. The passage for the inflow of air may be connected with an elongated tube extending into the interior of the bottle .

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, showing, by way of example only, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a section through a bottle opening containing the spout adapter of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the portion of the bottle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a somewhat differently constructed spout adapter, a portion thereof being shown in section;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the spout adapter shown in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a bottle 10 provided with the usual neck 11. The spout adapter 12 constituting the subject of the present invention fits snugly into the opening of the bottle. The spout adapter 12 may be made of any suitable material but preferably consists of a plastic material having a certain resiliency; it includes a hollow cylindrical body 13 having outer flexible ribs 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the ribs 14 are bent when the spout adapter 12 is inserted into the bottle neck 11 a they firmly engage the inner walls of the bottle opening. The top portion 15 of the spout adapter has an outer cylindrical surface engaging the inner cylindrical surface of the bottle opening close to the top thereof. The portion 15 terminates in a flange 16 extending over a part of the top surface of the bottle opening. The portion 15 has an inner recess carrying a ring 17 which may be of different color and composition that the spout adapter. The ring 17 extends slightly above the flange 16 and is used to facilitate the pouring of the liquid out of the bottle.

In accordance with the present invention the interior of the spout adapter is divided into several compartments 18. In the construction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 these compartments are formed by four elongated plates 19. Each plate 19 has an edge fixed by any suitable means, such as heat sealing, to an inner surface of the spout adapter, while its other edge is fixed to a centrally located pin 20. Uniform compartments are produced by arranging the plates 19 in pairs extending at right angles to each other.

It is apparent that when liquid is poured out of the bottle, the ring 17 may be used as an effective support. Liquid will flow uniformly at a moderate rate out of some of the compartments 18 while at least one compartment 18 will provide return flow of air into the bottle. The spout adapter constitutes a fixture making it difficult or at least inconvenient to quickly transfer the contents of one bottle into another bottle.

The spout adapter 21 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 also includes a hollow cylindrical body 22 having outer flexible ribs 23 similar in shape to ribs 14. However, in this construction, the interior of the body 22 has no compartments but is closed by a plate 23 firmly connected to the outer flange 24 of the body 22. The plate 23 has a large opening 25 communicating with the interior of the body 22 and used for the outpouring of the liquid. The plate 23 also has a hole carrying the top of a tube 26. The tube 26 extends through the cylindrical body 22 into the interior of the bottle.

This construction can be also used effectively for pouring contents of a bottle through the opening 25, while air will flow into the bottle through the tube 26.

Claims

I claim:

1. A pour spout adapter fitting into a bottle opening and comprising a hollow flexible cylindrical body having a lower portion the diameter of which is substantially smaller than that of the inner surface of the bottle opening and a top portion comprising a part adapted to engage said inner surface close to the top thereof and a flange constituting an extension of said part and adapted to extend over the top of the bottle opening, a ring mounted in said recess and extending above said flange, a plurality of spaced annular flexible ribs carried upon the outer surface of the lower portion of said body, each of said ribs having an outer diameter which before insertion into the bottle opening is greater than that of the bottle opening and having an upper surface extending transversely to the central axis of said cylindrical body and a lower surface extending toward said upper surface and forming an acute angle therewith, a solid pin located centrally substantially within said lower portion of the cylindrical body, and four plates, each of said plates having an edge connected to the inner surface of said lower portion and an opposed edge connected to said pin, each plate extending at right angles to the adjacent plates.