Jug and dispensing valve

A jug and dispensing valve therefore in which the jug, when positioned in a dispensing position, has a threaded dispensing neck extending horizontally from a location of a side wall adjacent the bottom wall, a second neck extending horizontally from a location of said side wall near the top and a third neck extending vertically from said second neck, said third neck having an upper free end substantially co-planar with the top wall and providing access for refilling, said dispensing valve affixed to the threaded dispensing neck and including a liquid receiving member, a split threaded sleeve for securing the liquid receiving member to the jug, a collar for holding the split threaded sleeve together and a spigot for controlling the flow of liquid through the liquid receiving member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a jug functioning as a dispensing 
container having a plurality of openings including side openings and a top 
opening for refilling and venting purposes and a dispensing valve engaged 
therewith to dispense liquid from one of said side openings. 
In handling liquids, particularly in an industrial setting, it is 
frequently desirable to have the liquids stored in a container of a size 
larger than can be conveniently handled and to provide a dispensing valve 
near the bottom from which a small quantity of liquid can be dispensed 
without moving the container. It is frequently desirable that such 
containers have the capability of being refilled without being moved to a 
different position and yet to be refilled to substantially the full 
capacity of the container. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The container and dispensing valve combination of the present invention 
provides a construction which permits the container to be filled to 
capacity while resting on one side through one of a set of opening on an 
opposite side and then gripped by a handle on such opposite side and 
placed on a rack or other supporting means in a position such that the 
handle and the above openings are located on a side with one of such 
openings adjacent the bottom and another adjacent the top. Each of the 
openings is defined by a threaded neck which has a closure affixed thereto 
following the initial filling of the container and during shipment. Prior 
to positioning the container so that such openings are located on the 
side, a dispensing valve of the type described and claimed herein is 
affixed to the threaded neck located adjacent the bottom of such 
container. In order to refill such container without moving it, a third 
opening is provided defined by a neck which extends upwardly, preferably 
as an integral extension out of the side of the upper of the threaded 
necks. During dispensing, the closure on the third neck is loosened to 
provide for venting means as the liquid is dispensed through the 
dispensing valve attached to the lower neck. 
The dispensing valve of the present invention includes a dispensing tube 
and a threaded sleeve for securing the tube to the container dispensing 
neck. It has a new and novel design which permits the threaded sleeve 
portion thereof to rotate independently of the dispensing tube thereby 
permitting the dispensing tube to become sealingly engaged to the neck in 
any desired rotatable position, usually vertically, so that liquid flowing 
may be directed as desired. In the preferred embodiment the sleeve is 
formed with a longitudinal split and integral hinges about which the split 
sections may be pivotally opened and closed. A collar is provided to hold 
the sections of the split sleeve together. Means are provided for opening 
and closing the flow of liquid from the dispensing tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
Referring now to FIG. 1. there is shown a jug generally designated by the 
numeral 10 having a bottom 11, top 12, front wall 13, back wall 14 and a 
pair of side walls 15. Preferably, the bottom 11 and back wall 14 are 
either flat or other contour which will permit the jug 10 to be stable 
when resting on either of such surfaces. The jug may be blow molded from 
one of a variety of plastic materials such as high density polyethylene. 
The jug 10 has a first threaded neck 20 extending from the front wall 13 at 
its juncture with the bottom 11 and a second threaded neck 21 extending 
from said front wall 13 near the top 12. The first threaded neck 20 and 
second threaded neck 21 are each disposed along an axis substantially 
parallel to the bottom. The first threaded neck 20 is provided with a 
first threaded closure 22 and the second threaded neck is 21 provided with 
a second threaded closure 23. Thus, each of the first threaded neck 20 and 
the second threaded neck 21 are disposed in a horizontal position when the 
jug 10 is resting with its bottom 11 on a horizontal surface. The back 
wall 14 is substantially normal to the bottom 11 so that the first 
threaded neck 20 and second threaded neck 21 will be disposed in a 
vertical position when the jug 10 is positioned with its back wall 14 
resting upon a horizontal support. 
Extending upwardly from the second threaded neck 21 at right angles thereto 
is a third threaded neck 24 having a third closure 25 affixed thereto. 
Thus, when the jug is resting upon its bottom 11, the third threaded neck 
21 is extending vertically upwardly out of the second threaded neck 21 and 
the first and second threaded necks 20 and 21 are extending horizontally. 
Also extending from the front wall 13 is a handle 27 which is, preferably, 
integrally molded with the remainder of the jug 10. 
During its initial filling following blow molding, the jug will normally be 
positioned to rest on its back wall 14 with the first threaded neck 20 and 
second threaded neck 21 extending vertically upwardly. It will also be 
transported in this position so that the handle 27 can be readily grasped. 
Following transfer of the jug 10 from the initial filling location to its 
using location, it will have the dispensing valve affixed to the first 
threaded neck 20 while the jug 10 is positioned with the first threaded 
neck 20 extending vertically upwardly. The jug 10 may then be placed with 
its bottom 11 resting horizontally on a rack or other supporting surface 
for dispensing whatever quantity of liquid is desired. The design of the 
jug 10 permits it to be refilled through the third threaded neck 24 
without the necessity of moving it from the supporting rack of other 
surface upon which the bottom 11 is resting. Preferably, the major portion 
of the top 12 is planar and the top of the third threaded neck 24 lies 
substantially in the plane defined by the major portion of said top 12. 
This permits the jug 10 to be completely filled through such third 
threaded neck 24 when it is resting on the bottom 11. 
During dispensing, it will be desirable to loosen the third threaded 
closure 25 to provide vent means through the third threaded neck 24. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2-7, the jug 10 has affixed to the first threaded 
neck 20 a dispensing valve generally designated by the numeral 30. The 
dispensing valve 30 includes a liquid receiving member 31, a split 
threaded sleeve 32, a collar 33 and a spigot 34. The parts of the 
dispensing valve 30 may be injection molded from one or more of a variety 
of plastic material such as polypropylene or low density polyethylene. 
If desired, an annular gasket 35 (See FIGS. 6 and 7) may also be provided 
to assist in providing a liquid tight seal between the dispensing valve 30 
and the first threaded neck 20. 
The liquid receiving member 31 includes a first tubular segment 36 having a 
free end portion 36A which is sized to fit into the first threaded neck 20 
of the jug 10 and terminating in an end 37. Spaced from the end 37 is an 
enlarged shoulder 38 having a diameter larger than the internal diameter 
of the first threaded neck 20. The enlarged shoulder 38 has a forward 
surface 39 facing toward the end 37 lying in a plane substantially 
perpendicular to the axis of the end portion 36A and sized to engage 
either the end of the threaded neck 20 or, if desired, an annular gasket 
35 positioned therebetween. The enlarged shoulder 38 also includes a 
tapered surface 40 defining a frustum of a cone facing away from the end 
37. If desired, as shown in FIG. 8, the enlarged shoulder 38 may have a 
surface 40A facing away from the end 37 which is perpendicular to the axis 
of the end portion 36A. 
The liquid receiving member 31 also includes a second tubular segment 41 
integrally formed with the first tubular segment 36. The second tubular 
segment 41 lies on an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the 
first tubular segment 36. The second tubular segment 41 has an inner 
cylindrical wall 43 with an aperture 44 providing communication between 
the tubular segment 36 and the chamber defined by the inner cylindrical 
wall 43. 
Telescoped over the free end portion 36A and the shoulder 38 of the tubular 
segment 36 is the threaded sleeve 32. In the preferred embodiment, the 
threaded sleeve 32 is split longitudinally with two halves 32A and 32B 
which, when folded together, cooperate to form an annular wall 46 having 
an internal thread 47 engageable with the thread of the threaded neck 20 
of the jug 10. The exterior surface of the wall 46 is formed with a 
plurality of longitudinal grooves 48 or other surfaces irregularity. (See 
FIGS. 4 and 5). Preferably, the halves 32A and 32B of the threaded sleeve 
32 are joined by integrally formed hinges 49 located at one end of the 
wall 46. This construction permits the threaded sleeve 32 to be molded in 
one piece in an open position as shown in FIG. 3. 
The end of the threaded sleeve 32 opposite the hinges 49 has a radially 
outwardly extending bead 53 and a radially inwardly directed wall 50 
having a cutout area 51 which is at least as large in diameter as the 
diameter of the portion of the first tubular segment 36 between the 
shoulder 38 and the second tubular. segment 41 but smaller in diameter 
than the shoulder 38. The diameter of the inner surface of the wall 46 is 
at least as large, and preferably slightly larger than the diameter of 
shoulder 38. The radially inwardly directed wall 50 includes an inwardly 
facing tapered surface 52 which is engageable with the tapered surface 40 
of the enlarge shoulder 38. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the threaded sleeve 
32 may be slipped over the shoulder 38 by opening the halves 32A and 32B 
about the hinges 49 sufficiently to permit the wall 50 to pass over the 
shoulder 38. The havles 32A and 32B of the threaded sleeve 32 are then 
closed therearound. Preferably, the exterior surface of the wall 46 of the 
split sleeve 32 is slightly tapered such that the end adjacent the hinge 
49 is slightly greater in diameter than the bead 53. In the embodiment 
shown in FIG. 8, the radially inwardly directed wall 50 has an inner 
surface 52A perpendicular to the axis of the end portion 36A which is 
engageable with the surface 40A of the enlarged shoulder 38. 
In order to retain the halves 32A and 32B of the threaded sleeve 32 
together after being positioned over the shoulder 38, an annular collar 33 
is provided having an interior wall 56 sized to be telescoped over the 
split threaded sleeve 32. The interior wall 56 of the collar 33 has 
longitudinally extending splines 57 formed therein which engage the 
grooves 48 of the threaded sleeve 32. The collar has a forward end 54 and 
a rear end 55. The rear end 55 is provided with a shoulder 58 which 
engages the radially outwardly extending annular bead 53 of the sleeve 32. 
If desired, the collar 33 may be provided exteriorly disposed longitudinal 
ribs 60 which assist in gripping the collar for ratation. 
The interior wall 56 of the collar 33 is tapered with the diameter of the 
interior wall 56 at the forward end 54 intended to be adjacent the hinge 
49 of the sleeve 32 when assembled, having a diameter slightly greater 
than the diameter of the outside of the bead 53 and substantially the same 
size as or even slightly smaller than the diameter of the outside diameter 
of the wall 46 at its hinged end. The diameter of the interior wall 56 at 
the rear end 55 adjacent the shoulder 58 is slightly smaller than the 
outside diameter of the bead 53 and of the wall portion 46 immediately 
adjacent thereto. Since the diameter of the bead 53 is smaller than the 
interior wall 56 at the forward end 54, the collar 33 may be readily 
slipped over the beaded end of the threaded sleeve 32 and become snugly 
engaged with the exterior surface of the wall 46 as it is moved toward the 
hinged end. In view of the stretchability of the plastic material from 
which these parts are molded, polypropylene or low density polyethylene, 
the collar 33 may become fully engaged with the threaded sleeve 32 even 
though the bead 53 has a slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the 
interior wall portion adjacent the shoulder 58 with the result that, upon 
full engagement, t the bead 53 will snap into locking engagement with the 
shoulder 58. 
As can be seen in FIG. 5, in assembling the threaded sleeve 32 and the 
collar 33 to the liquid receiving member 31, the halves 32A and 32B are 
opened so that the threaded sleeve 32 can be positioned over the enlarged 
shoulder 38 of tubular segment 36. The respective halves 32A and 32B are 
then pivoted about the hinges 40 to a closed position and the collar 33 is 
slipped over the second tubular segment 41 of the liquid receiving member 
31 and into engagement with the threaded sleeve 32, with the splines 57 
aligned to fit within the grooves 48. As will be readily apparent, the 
size of the second tubular segment 41 cannot exceed the smallest opening 
of the interior wall 56 of the collar 33. 
The final portion of the valve member 30 is the spigot 34 having a tubular 
section 65 sized to fit snugly in the second tubular segment 41 of the 
liquid reeiving member 31 and to be in rotatable engagement with the inner 
cylindrical wall 43. The tubular section 65 has a longitudinal passageway 
66 extending to a lower outlet 67 and an integral handle 69. The tubular 
section 65 also includes an aperture 68 extending through the wall which, 
is longitudinally aligned with the opening 44 at the outlet end of the 
tubular end segment 36. (See FIGS. 6 and 7). The spigot 34 may be rotated 
by the handle 69 between an open position in which the aperture 68 aligned 
with the opening 44 to a closed position with the aperture 68 positioned 
away from the opening 44 so that flow through the opening 44 is blocked by 
the exterior surface of the tubular section 65. 
When it is desired to affix the valve 30 to the neck 20 of the jug 10, the 
collar 33 is simply rotated causing the threaded sleeve 32 with its 
internal threads 47 to engage the threads of the neck 20. Such engagement 
causes the tapered sealing surface 52 of the annular wall 50 to engage the 
tapered surface 40 of the shoulder 38 and move the threaded sleeve 32 
toward the end of the neck 20 causing the gasket 35 to be sealingly 
clamped between the end of the threaded neck 20 and the forward surface 39 
of the enlarged shoulder 38. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, engagement 
of the internal threads 47 to the threaded neck 20 results in the inner 
surface 52A of the radially inwardly directed wall 50 engaging the surface 
40A of the shoulder 38 thereby causing the gasket 35 to become sealingly 
clamped between the end of the threaded neck 20 and the forward surface of 
the enlarge shoulder 38. 
As will be appreciate, it is desirable that the second tubular segment be 
aligned vertically so that the passageway 66 is vertical when the valve 30 
is engaged to the neck 20 of the jug 10. The construction of the valve 30 
of the present invention permits the split threaded sleeve 32 to 
threadedly engage a threaded neck without the necessity of rotating the 
liquid receiving member 31 while the threaded sleeve 32 and collar 33 are 
being rotated into sealing engagement with such neck. Thus, the passageway 
66 may always be maintained in a vertical or any other desired position. 
Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a split 
threaded sleeve and a collar in combination with such sleeve, the feature 
of providing a sleeve which may be rotated into threaded engagement with 
the threaded neck of a container without requiring that the liquid 
receiving member 31 and its second tubular segment 41 also be rotated can 
be accomplished by providing other means to hold the sections 32A and 32B 
of the split threaded sleeve 32 together. Thus, the sections 32A and 32B 
could be heat sealed together following assembly ever the enlarge shoulder 
38. Alternatively, an annular band could encircle the threaded sleeve of 
the end opposite the hinges 49. 
Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be limited only by 
the scope of the appended claims.