Improvements in Tips or Caps for Mucilage and like Receptacles.
Year: 1888

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by WALTER HUNNEWELL UNDERWOOD, Lawyer, of
Denver, in the State of Colorado, and NORTON PRENTISS OTIS, Manufacturer,
of Yonkers, in the State of New York, both in the United States of America.]
Improvements in Tips or Caps for Mucilage and like Receptacles.
I HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a tip or cap for mucilage and other similar receptacles or
bottles, which is designed to afford means for automatically closing the receptacle
against the admission of air and the escape of the liquid when not in use, and also to
provide a spreader for distributing the mucilage and other liquid upon the surface to
which it is to be applied.
The form and construction of the tip or cap, and also the arrangement of its
spreader, can be considerably varied without departing from the essential features of
the invention. In order, therefore, to give a full understanding of the nature of the
invention, it will now be described in detail, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings, in which are illustrated a number of tips or caps embodying the invention
in different forms.
In said drawing:
Figs. 1 to 4 illustrate the invention in its preferred form, Fig. 3 being a side
elevation, Fig. 2 a section taken on the line 2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 1 a similar view
upon a reduced scale illustrating the manner of using the tip, and Fig. 4 a view
similar to Fig. 2, showing the tip before it is provided with the discharge slits as will
be hereinafter explained.
Figs. 5 to 24, inclusive, illustrate modified forms which will be hereinafter
referred to

page_text: C
In the preferred form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the distributing tip consists of a
flexible elastic cap A made of rubber or other similar flexible elastic material, and of
suitable form to fit over or onto the neck a of the bottle or other receptacle B, so as
to close the same. The tip is provided with a spreader b, which is of suitable shape
to properly apply the mucilage or other contents of the receptacle to the surface
which is to receive it, and with one or more slits e made without removing any of the
material. The location of the slit or slits depends upon the relative position of the
spreader with which the tip is provided, which spreader serves as a means both of
opening the slit or slits, and also of spreading the liquid. Transverse pressure
against the spreader bends the tip and stretches that portion of it which is on the
outer or convex side of the bend. A slit made in this side, transverse to the line of
strain, will be caused to open by such strain, as shown in Fig. 1, and thus allow the
flow of the liquid at a place convenient for the purposes of the device. The elasticity
of the material composing the tip will cause it to resume its normal shape, as shown
in Fig. 2, as soon as released from this pressure, thus closing the slit or slits, and
preventing the escape of the liquid, or the admission of air to the receptacle.
In the construction illustrated, the spreader bis formed at the extreme end of the
tip, it being connected to the main or body portion of the tip by the portions d of the
material at the end of the slit or slits.
It is preferred to gradually decrease the thickness of the material from the base,
and especially where the slit or slits is or are located, as shown at e. The thickness
of the lips of the slit is thus reduced, affording less surface to be gummed together by
the drying of the mucilage or other contents. The portions d, at the sides of the tip,
are, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, preferably made of increased thickness,
thus giving additional strength and rigidity to those parts. This strengthening in
the different parts tends to insure the bending of the tip at the proper point to open
the slit or slits, and prevents the tip from buckling or breaking down at any other
point, which would interfere with the proper opening of the slit.
The sides of the tip are preferably flattened, as also indicated, that is to say, the
end of the tip is made of greater diameter in one direction than in the other, thereby
giving a flat form to the spreader, which facilitates the spreading of the liquid.
The manner of using the tip thus constructed is as follows:-
So long as the tip is allowed to remain in its normal condition, as indicated in
Figs. 2 and 3, the elasticity of the material will hold the slit or slits c closed, thereby
preventing the escape of the liquid or the admission of air. When it is desired to
apply any of the liquid to a surface, as C, the spreader b will be pressed transversely
against, and moved over said surface, as indicated in Fig. 1. This pressure against
the spreader will cause the spreader to draw apart the lips of the slit c, as indicated in
said figure, thus allowing some of the liquid to escape, and the liquid thus escaping
will be spread upon the surface by the spreader. As soon as the pressure is removed
from the spreader, the elasticity of the material will restore it to its normal position,
and thus close the slit. The flexure of the tip tends, to a certain extent, to reduce the
combined volume of the receptacle and tip, and thus causes an internal pressure,
which aids the flow of the liquid.
The slit or slits c may be formed in the tip before the tip is applied to the receptacle,
but in many cases it may be preferable to apply the tip to the receptacle before the
slits are formed, as indicated in Fig. 4, thus affording a secure closure for the
receptacle during storage and transportation, and until it is desired to use the contents.
When it is desired to use the contents, it is only necessary to make an incision in
one or both sides of the tip at the proper point, to put the tip in condition for use in
applying the liquid contents of the receptacle. This can be done by the use of an
ordinary pen-knife.
To aid the user in making the slit or slits at the proper point, the tip will preferably
be provided with an index mark or marks, as f, to indicate the position in which the
slit or slits should be made.
The form of tip which has been described is, as stated, the preferred form, but this
form may be considerably varied without departing from the essential features of the

page_text: invention. For example, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, the neck a of the receptacle
may be provided with a tubular extension g, which extends into the tip, and is closed
by the base of the spreader. In this case, the slit or slits c may be longitudinal
instead of transverse of the tip, as indicated. When pressure is applied to the
spreader b, it will be tilted so as to partially open the end of the tube 9y and at the
same time the end of the tube pressing against the side of the tip, at the point occupied
by the slit c, will open the slit so as to allow a portion of the contents to escape, when
it will be spread in the manner already described.
It is also apparent that the length of the tip may be reduced so as to allow the
spreader to rest directly upon the mouth of the receptacle, as shown in Figs. 8 to 17.
In this case, the base of the spreader will preferably be provided with an extension i,
which enters the neck of the receptacle, and serves to centre and hold the spreader in
proper position against lateral movement. The elastic portions d which connect the
spreader with the body of the tip in the construction first described, are, as shown in
Figs. 8, 9 and 10, connected to an elastic ring h, which fits around the neck of the
receptacle, and corresponds to the base h of the tip in the construction first described.
The operation of the tip and spreader, when this constructed, is the same as first
described, except that the pressure against the spreader, instead of drawing apart the
lips of the slit, simply tilts the spreader, and opens a slit between the base of the
spreader and the neck of the receptacle for the escape of the contents.
The construction shown in Figs. 11 to 17 is substantially the same as just described,
except that the elastic connection d, in this case, consists of a pair of spring arms
secured to the base of the tip, and projecting into the receptacle, with their ends
engaging with the shoulders of the receptacle below the neck. In this case also,
the extension i, instead of being conical, as in Figs. 8 to 10, is of a shape to conform
to the neck of the receptacle, and is provided in its sides with channels l, which
permit the liquid to flow to and through the slits formed between the base of the
spreader and the neck of the receptacle, when the spreader is tilted, as indicated in
Fig. 13.
The spreader in this case, as in the case first described, may be, and
preferably will be, flattened at its sides, as indicated in Figs. 11, 16 and 17. The neck
of the receptacle may, however, be round, or it may be of oval form, as indicated in
Figs. 14 and 15.
The construction shown in Figs. 18 to 20 is much the same as that shown in
Figs. 5 to 7, but in this case the tubular extension 9 is bent so as to form a lateral
opening. To meet the change in the position of the opening of the tube g, the
spreader is made integral with a cork or stopper which fits into the neck of the
receptacle, and extends vertically so as to press against and close the opening of
the tube. The spreader being made of rubber or other flexible elastic material, its
lower portion d forms an elastic connection equivalent to the elastic connection d of
the constructions already described, so that when pressure is applied to the spreader,
it will be bent away from the opening of the tube g, as shown in Fig. 20, so as to open
the latter and allow the contents to escape. As soon as the pressure is removed, the
elasticity of the material causes the spreader to resume its normal position, and close
the opening of the tube.
The construction shown in Figs. 21 and 22 is substantially the same as that shown
in Figs. 18 to 20, except that in this case the tubular extension g is enlarged so as to
fit over the neck of the receptacle, and is provided with a lateral opening corre-
sponding to the opening in the end of the tube.
The construction shown in Figs. 23 and 24 is also substantially the same as that
just described, but in this case the spreader is arranged to fit against the end of the
neck a, its spreading end extending to one side of the neck. The spreader is secured
to the neck by means of an elastic band h, the same as in Figs. 5 to 10, and is con-
nected to this band by means of an elastic connection d, equivalent to the same
connection already described. In using the tip thus constructed, the operation will
be the same as already described, except that the receptacle will be held in a nearly
horizontal position, so that the pressure applied to the spreader will draw it away from

page_text: the neck, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 24, and thus open a slit between the
neck and the spreader for the escape of the contents.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:
1. A flexible elastic tip or cap for mucilage and other similar receptacles,
having a spreader and a slit or slits which is or are opened by the spreader when
pressure is applied against it, as in the act of spreading, and is or are closed by
the elasticity of the material in resuming its normal shape, substantially as
described.
2. A spreader for mucilage and other similar receptacles which is formed and
adapted to close the discharge opening of the receptacle, and is provided with a
flexible elastic connection for attaching it to the receptacle, which holds it normally
in position to close the discharge opening of the receptacle, but will yield when
pressure is applied to the spreader so as to open the discharge opening, substantially
as described.
3. A flexible, elastic cap or tip adapted to be applied to the neck or opening of a
liquid receptacle, said tip having solid walls and a flattened spreader, substantially
as described.
4. A flexible, elastic cap or tip adapted to be applied to the neck or opening of a
liquid receptacle, said tip having solid walls which are adapted to be slit to form a
discharge opening or openings, and to form a spreader adjacent to the point of the slit
or slits, substantially as described.
5. A flexible, elastic cap or tip adapted to be applied to the neck or opening of a
liquid receptacle, said tip having solid walls which are adapted to be slit, an index
mark or marks to indicate the position of the slit or slits, and a flattened spreader,
substantially as described.
6. A flexible elastic tip for liquid receptacles having a part adapted to operate as
a spreader, and having a slit or slits transverse to said spreader, substantially as
described.
7. A flexible elastic spreading tip having a closed or solid end, and provided on its
side or sides with one or more transverse slits, substantially as described.
8. A flexible elastic spreading tip for liquid receptacles, provided with a slit, and
having the material reduced in thickness at and adjacent to said slit, to aid in securing
the easy opening thereof, substantially as described.
9. A flexible elastic spreading tip for liquid receptacles, having portions of its walls
or sides strengthened, substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of February 1888.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.