US3540631A - Dispenser - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent Inventor llelmuth T. Schmidt 1 109 Oak St., Arnltyville, New York 1170] Appl. No. 774,441

Filed Nov. 8, 1968 A i Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 659,542, Aug. 9, 1967, abandoned.

Patented Nov. 17, 1970 DISPENSER 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl. 222/181, 222/516, 222/43, 222/554, 251/3 I 2 rm. cl 867d 5/06 Field ot'Seareh 222/181,

554, 516, 43, 486 not searched single ref by memory; 251/312 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves A ssisran! Examiner- Hadd S. Lane AttorneyJerome Bauer References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 505,915 10/1893 Haas... 222/554X 1,136,108 4/1915 Curtis 222/ss4x 1,790,228 1/1931 Chambers. 222/181 1,929,694 10/1933 Judson ZZZ/516 2,740,562 4/ 1956 Belle 222/181 I 2,841,312 7/1958 Bello 222/181 3,240,401 3/1966 Kirschmann 222/486X AB STI IACT: A dispenser for delivering fluids from a conminer-including a valve mechanism comprising a rotatable member having a channel adapted to communicate upon rotable predetermined limits.

- tion between inlet and outlet passages including means for 1 rotating the member and for limiting rotation within adjusta- Patented Nov. 17, 1970 Sheet or 2 INVENTOR. HELMUTHT. SCHMIDT wflflq ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1970 5 3,540,631

' INVENTOR. HEL MUTH T. SCHMIDT ATTORNEY DISPENSER This. application is aconinuation-in-p'art of my'coperi'ding application"; Ser. Nos 659542, filed A'ug.-;9, I967. entitled FIG; is a schematic view of tl'ie moutliand orifice of the correspondingvalve channel and outlet of the valve mechanism;

FIG .-S is'an"eipandc'd perspective"view similarto FIG. 2

Quicktap" nowsabandoncd; and=claimis made to allof'theshowinga modified-version ofthe presnt invention;

equitable and legal benefit's'd eriv'ed th'erefrbmz BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS-F rne'mvsflriou The present invention: is enema to dispensersfor deliver-- ing quantities of such fluids as liquids; powders and-granular materials and is particularly adaptableEfoFuse' inrest rooms," hotels, kitchens andthelike.v for supplying.. controlled' flow "of such items as soaps,--deterjgen't's; syrups; powder confectionss etc.

Dispensers for the purposesiindicated have' ataken various' formsover a goodly number. of yearsJ-lbweiirysuch devices I have depended upon: gravity flow-ofmaterial -into a manually operable valv'el mechanism havingyav receiving cha'inbr Q I wherein measurement iseffectedand fronf whiclisubequerifiZO tairierl d holding transfer to a spoutmay be made-'for'delivery-to theuser'. lt' has been found thatthose devices icurrentlyfknown' aiidiavailable" have a'numberof shortcomings whichfitisthe-object of-the presentinventionto overcome a fluid dispenser which FIG. 6"is asectional viewmr-me mbuifiea version of the dispenser-of FIG. 5'-showingE-its;'assemblyand interior con stru'ction; I

- FIG; 7 is-a' 'detailed"view'of the-axial" spring connecting membersmeasvieeor FlG. 5';i an'd, I p

F IG'. Sisa'detaiIe'd view of the actuating spring mechanism employedin the device of FIG. 5." 1

DETAILED-'DESGRIPTION- Thmingit I-IGL t3 tli'e' presentinvention is embodied is a dispenser l'tl seat ed within a housin'g bi' acket l2by' which'the whoIemay besecUre'd to -awallorotherjsupportiM ounted on the t'o'poft lidi sfii'iser' 'l s'jan" iiive'r'tec'l"jar or" suitabl'e' cona supply .offlu'idl The housing'bracketilidFlGl l) comprisesasplit frame 16 of metalorotlier'suitable matdrial such'as ceramichaving a generallyrectangular shape with" smooth sides and an inverted pairof opposed bracket *members ZZ' ha'vin'g" a plurality of holes 24 by which the -unit* may be secured to its support. When "being secured to tile, glassf'and like" surfaces, an adheive'b'ackin'g niay-rbez employed. Thedisp'enser lo' cornprise's'a tetrahedral body-26 of'a shape' and'taper similar to that of frame-16 mi is adaptedto fit withi'n the' fraine l6 'in'one mode *ordirttifih only so as tobe"se'urely seateq' zheiem by its weight alon'g'against movementexce'pt'inan upward diiection; -.-;The snug-fit of'tlie body within the'frani'e'alsoprovides a firm base'fo'rthe'flu d con'tain h'i'ch is mo'ufi ted-thereon.

To 'm ou nt tli' container 1 V vertical ax s-am F 1G". 3 fofreceiving the neck-of the cony be employedwith a variety w s with :--taine'rand for holding" the contain'ejrin a substantially vertical variety of fluids. I 7 It is another object toprovideadispenserwhereimadjust ment can be made forthe viscositywandkcom I 'sitionof'the' material to' effect'desired flw ratesz position. Wherstaniiard'screw"top containers are used, the

recess 'n"be"provided'=with matir'igthreads as shown into whichthe 'neckmay be" screwedsAwasheror gasketu '(FlG. 2) may also beprovided securelyseal'thecontainer within which the meansfo'r adjusting-theflowrate isinaccessible dill ing usebut which is readily-availablewh'en needed-Tor adjust ment.

It is a furtherobject of th'e 'pr'es'ent inventiom to -provicle a dispenser which mayv-be' 'caused to dispense and} to ceas '50 mascmPrion FTHFDRAWINGW- The aboveobjectandadvantages-as wcllaskothcrsflog'e'tlir through l'ecess a with a complete descrip'tion bfrthc presehtiinvcntionrwill fol-:2 low hereinafter; wherein reference is made? to' th'e attache'd' drawings, invvhicl'lzl FIG: 1 is a perspcctivc'view ofthedispcnserofthe-present bodyinvention asemployedp' FIG. 2 is an exploded expanded-pcrspective wicwof thew presentinventionshowing eachofiits eleinentsr FIG. 3 is a sectional-viewmlongilines ll iofif valve-mechanism andthc interioroi the presentdispenser:'

hou'sin'g-brackt' u and the body l 'fgcfnerally "rectanfiularflThis is pr'efer d-'on ly"because| onibif e's'a'pleasant design with a v rigid- "structure"capable of'securely holdiri the dispenser and V any -danger"ofits f curse, oth'e configurations,

' he" 6:: shfiwribehld'tob criticali" eee'sS SWisa'cylindrical-bore 34 g foritlte now of material from theinverted"container lfi l'h' borcM-interse'cts and commuthe bot-tomifaeea v revent'vacuumformation or cavitatioh'withinthe fies: Any 1omsmuana mia;in" m ultimate delive ter rna be "used1*LA-washr44-isemployed to i 71 sho'iivin'gXi seal th ipout against:leakagetiicccpt fofthe eonvenience of maiiufaeture:thespoutmaybe replaced'with' integral spigot v I the bodyZKisprovidedon its flop-surface 28' with' a suitable "recess-"30;generated about a can e s ub's'titutcd and'it'is"not-in means or other suitable terminal means for the flow of material out to the user; v

The chamber 36 extends from one side of the tetrahedral body 26 substantially through to its opposite side and is formed so that the interior wall of its axially outer portion 46 is cylindrical while the interior wall of its axially inner portion 48 of the chamber is conically'tapered. The chamber 36 thus constitutes a direct path between the inlet and outlet passages and, unless obstructed, fluid would flow by direct gravity between the container and the spout. t v

The chamber 36, however, is supplied with a valve mechanism generally depicted by the numeral'50 which. is designed to regulate the flow of fluid. The valve mechanism comprises a solid truncated conical plug 52 having a depending annular skirt 54 aboufits lower or wider planar face 56. The dimensions of the conical plug 52 substantially conform to the dimensions of the conical portion 48 of the chamber 36 so that when inserted therein it acts to normalLy seal the chamber 36 from ingress and egress of fluid. Since the conical plug 54 is substantially solid, it will also act to seal the internal ends of each of the inlet and outlet passages, thus also normally blocking passage offluid from one to the other.

The bottom face 56 of the plug 52 is provided with a slot or keyway 58. Axially arranged from the plug 52 is a stem 60 which is provided at its inner end with a key member 62 conforming .to the slotted keyway 58 and into which it is adapted to be forcefit. The outer end ofthe stem 60 is shouldered at 64 to provide acylindrical extension 66 of smaller diameter over which is placed a washer 68. The assembly is urged and retained inwardly of the chamber 36 by a C" clamp 70 which is lodgedwithin an annular keyway 72 formed within theinner surface of the outer portion 46 of the chamber. Further, the

washer 68 is provided with means preventing its rotation as by forming its periphery with a V-shaped indentation 74 and by providing the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 46 with a corresponding key 76.

To insure normally firmand continued seating of the conical plug 52 within-the conical portion of the chamber a helical tension spring 78 is placed between the bottom face 56 of the plug 52 and about the inner end and key of the stem'60pThe helical spring 78 is retained in place by a washer 80 surrounding the inner end of the stem 60 which is also-of reduced diameter so as to provide ariinner shoulder 82 for this purpose. V,

It will be observed that the stemv 60 is rotatably mounted within the washers 68.and 80, respectively, which act as bearing members and that because of the keyed connectionwith the stem 60, the plug 52 can also bemade to rotate within the conical portion 48 of the chamber 36. The stem and plug assembly is actuated by a handle 84 which is threaded or otherwise secured to thestem 60 within a radially extending recess 86. The handle extends from thest em 60 outwardly of the body 26 through a slot 88 and is located so as to be proximate to the spout 42 with less than a handspans distance so that it may be engaged simultaneously with the holding of either the hand or a receptacle beneath the spout. The handle extends approximately 20 forward of the vertical plane through the spout so that the hand will automatically and conveniently engage it and push it rearwardfor actuation. The slot 88 extends transversely of the bottom of the body 26 a sufficient distance so that the handle may be moved as desired from front to rear of the body 26 to cause the stem and plug to rotate by at least approximately 20.

To bias the handle 84 forwardly of the body 26 within the slot 88 (and consequently the stem and plug 52) a spiral coil spring 90 is mounted about the stem. The inner end of the coil spring 90 is lodged with a retaining hole 92 drilled radially within the stem 60. The outer end of the coil spring 90 is hooked about and retained by a set screw 94 mounted through v the retaining washer 66. Thus, the outer end of coil spring is fixed by mesne connection to the wall or support, consequently establishing abase and normal position for the ac-' tion of the spring which is overcome by operation of the han-' dle 84. The position of spring 90, handle 84, stem 60 and plugs 52 with respect to the axis B-B, is, of course, to be chosen so that the .elements may be sufficiently rotatable about the axis and will provide sufficienttorque upon the spring 90 so that it will automatically return the actuating elements to their normal rest position.

The valve mechanism is completed by providing the conical pltig 52 with a channel 96 substantially transverse of its longitudinal axis (defined by axis 3-8) which is adapted, on rotation' of the plug, to register with both inlet and outlet passages 34 an d 4!) respectively topermit fluid flow. The inlet mouth. 98"and the outlet mouth 100 at opposite ends of the passage- 96 are made to conform in shape and dimension with the mating orifices 102 and 104 of the inlet passage 34 and the outlet passage 40,.respectively. Conveniently, the inlet passage 34 is formed cylindrically so that its orifice 102, lying on the surfacev and the inlet orifice 104 of the passage 40 are formed opposite each other and of a particular shape so that a variable opening,

and flow rate between them canbeprogressively established as the 'plug 52 is made torotatefffurning to FlG.'4, it will be seen that both the mouth 100 and orifice 104 are formed 451a modified deltoid somewhat like a tear drop. The major portion of the deltoid lies in a line with the elliptical'inlet mouth 98 at the transverse side of the'passage 96 so that full flow through passage 96 is 'effectedi' l-lowever, the apex 106 of the deltoid (mouth 1 00 and orifice 104) are deviated and madeaskew of their material perpendiculars so that both deltoids appear to bend from such a perpendicular and curve around the surfaces of theplug and chamber walls respectively. Additionally, the

outlet passage 40 and its orifice 104 are located with respect to the inlet passage 34 and its orifice 102 so that the major portions of the inlet mouth 98 and the outlet mouth 100 are caused to register simultaneously. 'As a direct consequenceof the mirror image relationship between mouth 100 and orifice 104, rotatiori'of the plug causes the'apex'es 106 to be the first portions of the deltoids to come into registration and as rotation continues greater portions of the deltoids subsequently register thus progressively increasing the opening and flow of fluid between channel 96 and outlet passage 40.

The maximum extent to" which the plug 52 can be rotated and also the amount of registration between the various openings is determined by the extent to which the handle 84 is permitted to'move in slot 88; A pin 108' is provided which may be inserted in any one ofa plurality of holes 110 bridging the slot 88. The holes 110 may be so spaced that small, medium and full flow rates may be established as desired. By presetting the pin 108 in any hole 110:; maximum flow rate is deter mined which remains constant through continued use.

It will be observed that the adjustment of the actuating mechanism must be set before the body 26 and the valve mechanism which it incorporates is inserted within the hous' ing bracket 10 since the housing bracket completely encloses the mechanism. The device is as a result tamper-proof and virtually break-proof during use.

In operation, of course, the device is assembled as described and the flow-rate -preset -by proper insertion of the pin 108 in the desired hole 110. A bottle or jar 14 is screwed into the recess 30 on top of the device and the body 26 is slipped into the housing bracket 12 causing the force of gravity to initiate the flow of the fluid into the valve mechanism.

Delivery of fluid from the spout l2'-is-easily effected with only one hand which. may move the handle84 while simultaneously spanning the positionbeneath the spout. As the han- On the other hand, the outlet mouth 100 of the channel 9 6 dle is moved, the fluid flows in a progressively increasing stream until the maximum flow rate is reached. As soon as the amount of fluid is obtained and the handle released, the spring loading of the handle automatically returns the valve mechanism to its normal position to immediately stop the flow.

The dispenser itself need not be disturbed when a container is emptied and it may be simply replaced by removing the body from the wall mount, unscrewing the same and threading a full new container into the recess. The fluid may of course be liquid or granules and the rate at which flow is accomplished for any form of fluid material may easily be adjusted by resetting the pin 108 to open or close to some greater extent the openings between plug channel and passages. In some instances, it may be necessary to redesign and restructure the facing openings and orifices to accommodate large granular material for example, or other special fluids; however, this detail is well within the teachings herein and the skill of the craftsman.

In addition to the various minor modifications and equivalent structures which have been hereinbefore indicated as substitutable for the specific structures described, the present device may be modified to dispense metered quantities of fluids rather than to deliver an endless stream. This may be easily accomplished by positioning the location of the inlet and outlet orifices 34 and 40, respectively, angularly to each other rather than aligned as shown. The channel 96 can be then made to register with only one of the passages at a time and when so singularly registered is sealed from the other. Thus, the channel 96 will receive a fixed amount of fluid first from the inlet passage 34 and then will subsequently deliver the fixed quantity to the outlet passage 40.

Of course. it will also be obvious that the exact configuration of the exit mouth 100 and orifice 104 may be modified without departing from the concept of variable rate delivery of fluid as a function of rotation of the plug. Various geometrical shapes equivalent to the deltoid formation are readily available.

Furthermore. it is quite obvious also that the shaped mouth and orifice may be employed at the inlet end of the channel 96 rather than at the outlet end or even that both ends may be so provided with shaped openings so that the rate of flow may be controlled at both ends.

In FIGS. 58, there is shown a second embodiment of the present invention in which is demonstrated how the present inventive concepts are readily adaptable with differing constructional materials, such as plastics, since it may sometime be advantageous to provide an all plastic fluid dispenser for use with special, corrosive or reactive fluids.

This second embodiment comprises a tetrahedral body 120 substantially similar to that of the body 26 shown in FIGS. 1- -5. The body is shaped and designed so that it too can seat within a housing bracket similar to that of the preceding figures. The internal construction of the body, except for minor modifications, to be described later, is without change and includes among its features a recess 122 into which the fluid container may be seated, an inlet passage 124, an outlet passage 126 to which is connected a spout 128, and a connecting chamber 130 in which is inserted a conical valve plug 132 having a connecting channel 134, all of which function and operate precisely in the previously described manner.

The mechanism for urging the plug 132 to properly seat within the tapered portion of chamber 130 and for rotating the plug 132 are integrally formed and comprise a cylindrical hollow stern 136 of enlarged outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion of chamber 130. Formed with the stem 136 is a handle 138 which radially extends outwardly. Extending axially of the forward end of the stem 136 is a conically shaped spider web 140 of flexible plastic material. The web 140 is provided with a plurality of legs 142 joined at one end to the stem 136 and at the other by a common member 144. By this construction, the web is resilient in an axial direction but rigid in a circumferential or radial direction. Integral with the common member 144 is a key 146 which is adapted to mate in the corresponding slot or recess 148 formed in the base of the plug 132, Turning to FIG. 8, the key 146 is preferably formed of a conically shaped trapezoid with no two of itssides equal. The slot or recess-148, of course, being shaped in .the same manner. This trapezoidal configuration is believed most suitable for use with plastic material, in that, it provides firm control during rotation and application of torque to the members. However, some sort of unique key means is required in the present modification to insure that the stem 136, to which the handle is integral, is properly seated axially. Accordingly, a key which can only be mated in one manner, as here shown, is necessary.

Since the handle 138 is made integral with the stem 136, the

body must be modified to permit its entry into the transverse slot in which it moves during operation. This is accomplished by providing an axial slot 150 leading into and communicating with the transverse slot 152.

The handle arresting pin 154 and holes 156, for its reception, may. of course, be located as required to facilitate the proper movement of the parts.

The stem retaining means and handle actuating means for automatic closing of the valve are also integrally formed comprising a stem 158. a disc at one end. and an elongated strip 162 attached at one end to the stemand coiled about it as a spring. The disc 160 is angularly offset from the stem 158 to equalize axial and rotational forces and is provided with a small notch 164 is adapted to seat in a key 166 formed at the outer edge of the chamber 130 to prevent rotation ofthe disc and consequently establish a base for spring strip 162. It will also be noted that the outer surface of the stem 136 is provided with a groove 168 to permitits entry into the chamber beyond the key 166. The disc 160'also seats within a circumferential groove 170 locking it against axial movement much in the same manner as provided in the embodiment-shown in FIGS. l-5.

The handle return or actuating spring 162 is shown in generation in FIG. 7 will be seen to have an angular or bent contour so that when coiled about the stem it not only takes on a spiral configuration but also a helical configuration creating a component of force not only for rotation but also for axial movement.

The coiled spring 162 is inserted within the interior of the hollow stem 1 36 which is provided witha longitudinal shoulder or ridge 172 (FIG. 5) which is engaged by the edge 174 of the spring 162 to thereby create the proper spring tension. It is suggested that the entire retaining and handle actuating means and the stern and handle be assembled first as an operational subassembly whereby the spring 162 may be properly loaded. The entire subassembly can, of course, then be easily inserted within the chamber 130.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment shown in FIGS. 58 is eminently suited for manufacture from plasticvmaterial, in that, the major elements may be molded or cast as in- 'tegral units with great ease and that assembly, as-with the embodiment of FIGS. 14, may be effected easily and simply. with little or no tools. Notwithstanding such modifications and use of other structural materials, this' se cond embodiment functions and operates in exactly the same manner as previously described and has all of the advantages inherent in the present invention with the additional advantages of having few for example, the shape of the web 140, the key 146, or the.

1 generation of the spring 162, may be made.

In retrospect, there has been disclosed herein novel dispenser, mechanisms capable of wideand frequent use. The dispensers are designed to be both pleasing in appearance and readily mounted on a wallor support for convenient use. The

dispensers are simply constructed and economical to produce,

easy to adjust, as well as to repair.

Functionally, the dispensers are capable of being adjusted to vary flow rates and to maximize such flow to desired levels. The mechanism is further tamper-proof in that the adjustment means is inaccessible against manipulation during use. The devices are operable by one-handed manipulation, in that, handle and spout are convenient to each other and that return actuation handle and closing of the valve mechanism is automatic.

In view of the various modifications which can be made and of the various equivalent structures which may be employed, it is intended that the foregoing description be exemplary only of the inventive concept herein described and that this invention should not be limited by the specific description but only by the claims as appended hereinafter.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for dispensing fluid materials from a container comprising:

a frame;

a tapered body removably supported within and rendered inaccessible by said frame;

said body having means for mounting said container thereon for gravitational flow;

a symmetrically conical chamber located within said body and generated about a horizontal axis;

an inlet passage from said container to said chamber;

an outlet passage from said chamber to the exterior of said body;

a conical plug conforming to said chamber located therein for rotation relative thereto about said horizontal axis;

a rotatable stem separable from and extending axially from said'plug within said body;

means for axially retaining said stem with said body;

said plug and stem being provided with mating key and keyway members axially aligned to provide positive rotational connection and spring'means located therebetween for resiliently biasing said stem against said plug to seat said plug within said chamber, spring means for resiliently biasing said stem in a predetermined angular direction with respect to said inlet and outlet passages;

lever means radially attached to said stem and extending through said body for manually rotating said stem counter to said bias;

said plug having a channel formed transversely therethrough and aligned with said inlet and outlet passage;

said channel having orifices mating with the orifices of said inlet and outlet passages on manual rotation of said stem and plug and means for selecting and predetermining the extent of rotation of said stem and plug to limit the degree of registration ofsaid orifices; 1

a bracket for mounting the frame to a support;

said frame comprising a tetrahedral form having an open bottom and top being adapted to removably hold the body rendering the plug; and

stem and means determining the extent of rotation of said stem and plug inaccessibly surrounded by the sides thereof.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said mating orifices have a deltoid shape, said orifices being positioned as mirror images of each other so that on rotation registration progresses from the apex of each to the base whereby the opening therebetween is varied.

3. A fluid dispenser comprising:

a substantially solid boxlike body having a threaded recess in its upper surface for receiving an inverted similarly threaded container of fluid and a horizontally formed chamber extending inwardly from one of its sides for receiving a valve mechanism;

a first substantially cylindrical fluid passage from said recess to said chamber;

a second substantially cylindrical fluid passage from said chamber to an outlet spout;

an outlet spout extending downwardly from the bottom'surface of said body;

said chamber comprising an outer cylindrical walled portion and an inner conically tapered wall portion;

a conically tapered core member conforming in dimension and located within said inner chamber portion;

an extension member axially of said core located within said outer cylindrical member;

means including resilient spring means for separably connecting said extension member to said core for conjoint rotary movement;

said resilient means acting to urge said core normally'into engagement with the walls of said inner chamber portion;

means retaining said extension member within said outer chamber portion;

coil spring means for rotatably biasing said extension member in one angular direction;

handle means extending radially from said extension member for rotating said extension counter to said biased angular direction;

said handle extending through a slot in the bottom surface of said body;

adjustable stop means mounted across said slot to limit movement of said handle therein;

said core having a transverse channel therein aligned with said inlet and outlet passages; and

said channel being formed so as to present a variable opening with respect to at least one of said passages as a result of the rotation of said core, the limit of said variable opening being defined by the limit of rotation of said plug caused by the movement of said handle.

4. Apparatus for dispensing fluid materials from a container comprising:

a frame;

a tapered body removably supported within and rendered inaccessible by said frame;

said body having means for mounting said container thereon for gravitational flow;

a symmetrically conical chamber located within said body and generated about a horizontal axis;

an inlet passage from said container to said chamber;

an outlet passage from said chamber to the exterior of said a conical plug conforming to said chamber located therein for rotation relative thereto about said horizontal axis;

a rotatable stem separable from and extending axially from said plug within said body;

means for axially retaining said stem with said body;

said plug and stem being provided with mating key and keyway members axially aligned to provide positive rotational connection and spring means located therebetween for resiliently biasing said stem against said plug to seat said plug within said chamber, spring means for resiliently biasing said stem in a predetermined angular direction with respect to said inlet and outlet passages;

lever means radially attached to said stern and extending through said body for manually rotating said stem counter to said bias;

said plug having a channel formed transversely therethrough and aligned with said inlet and outlet passage;

said channel having orifices mating with the orifices of said 4 inlet and outlet passages on manual rotation of said stem .and plug and means for selecting and predetermining the extent of rotation of said stem and plug to limit the degree of registration of said orifices;

wherein the means for selectively predetermining the extent of rotation of said plug comprises a pin;

a plurality of opposed holes within said body bridging the path of movement of said lever; and

said pin being adapted for insertion within one set of said holes to thereby arrest the movement of said lever.

5. Apparatus for dispensing fluid materials from a container comprising: I

a frame;

a tapered body removably supported within and rendered inaccessible by said frame;

said body having means for mounting said container thereon for gravitational flow;

a symmetrically conical chamber located within said body and generated about a horizontal axis;

an inlet passage from said container to said chamber;

an outlet passage from said chamber to the exterior of said body;

a conical plug conforming to said chamber located therein for rotation relative thereto about said horizontal axis;

a rotatable stem separable from and extending axially from said plug within said body;

means for axially retaining said stem with said body;

said plug and stem being provided with mating key and keyway members axially'aligned to provide positive rotational connection and spring means located therebetween for resiliently biasing said stem against said plug to seat said plug within said chamber, spring means for resiliently biasing said stem in a predetermined angular direction with respect to said inlet and outlet passages;

lever means radially attached to said stem and extending through said body for manually rotating said stem counter to said bias;

said plug having a channel formed transversely therethrough and aligned with said inlet and outlet passage;

said channel having orifices mating with the orifices of said inlet and outlet passages on manual rotation of said stem and plug and means for selecting and predetermining the extent of rotation of said stem and plug to limit the degree of registration of said orifices;

wherein said stem comprises a cylindrical section;

a conical resilient web integral with one end of said section;

a key integrally formed at the apex of said conical web;

said key adapted to mate with a corresponding keyway formed in the base of said plug;

a handle integrally formed with said cylindrical section and extending radially therefrom;

said apparatus further including a retaining disc adapted to be secured with a groove found in the chamber of said body;

said disc having integrally formed therewith a coil spring member; and

said member being adapted to enter into said cylindrical section to rotatively bias said section.

Images