John D Manuel

US Patent:

58787976, Mar 9, 1999

Filed:

May 20, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/858474

Inventors:

John F. Manuel - Ramsey NJ
Alexander F. Clarino - Hawthorne NY
Vincent S. Caliendo - East Meadow NY

Assignee:

The Coca-Cola Company - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

B65B 318

US Classification:

141286

Abstract:

A vent tube for a filling apparatus comprises a tube extending from an upper end which is selectively coupleable to the apparatus, to a lower end forming a fill tip, wherein the fill tip includes at least one opening formed therethrough to fluidly couple an atmosphere surrounding the fill tip to the lumen and a spreader having an upper surface extending a predetermined distance from a portion of the tube above the fill tip in a plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the tube. A tapered bottle guide extends from the tube between the fill tip and the spreader, so that a diameter of the bottle guide increases from a minimum diameter at a lower end thereof to a maximum diameter at an upper surface thereof, wherein the upper surface of the bottle guide abuts a lower surface of the spreader.