Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means – Funnel type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-04
2001-04-03
Maust, Timothy L. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means
Funnel type
C141S331000, C222S106000, C222S107000, C222S460000, C222S461000, C222S523000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209595
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a refillable dispensing apparatus particularly adaptable for the dispensing of a granular product such as a lawn fertilizer, and which may be readily refilled with the lawn fertilizer as its contents are being depleted.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,858 entitled “Dispensing Apparatus” and assigned to the assignee of the present invention discloses a dispensing container that has particular utility for the dispensing of granular products, such as a lawn fertilizer and may be provided with a telescopically operated duct device which is preferably rotatably connected to an outlet opening of the container. When the dispensing apparatus is not being utilized to appropriately distribute the granular lawn fertilizer contained therein, the duct device is telescopically contracted such that it is contained within the perimeter boundary of the container's top wall. A removable cap is placed over the container and its telescopically contracted duct device. The removable cap is manually secured to the container to protect the duct device and the container contents against accidental spillage both prior to consumer purchase of the dispensing apparatus, and during the user's storage thereof. When it is desired to utilize the dispensing apparatus, the cap is removed, the duct device is telescopically extended, and the granular particles dispensed therethrough.
In the course of extended use of the dispensing apparatus the granular particles contained therein naturally become depleted. For both environmental and cost effectiveness it is most desirable to be able to refill the container with an additional supply of the granular product which may be separately sold apart from the dispensing apparatus. This necessitates removing the duct device from the container opening and pouring the replacement granules into thee container via the container opening. Since the container opening may be relatively small it is desirable to conveniently permit such refilling of the container without requiring an auxiliary funnel, or other device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention simplifies the refilling of the dispensing apparatus in a cost effective and an extremely simple manner. The previously available cap which fits over the container in its storage condition has been modified to readily permit its conversion into a funnel. More specifically, a portion of the top wall of the cap is reconfigured into a funnel extension which, when the cap is removed and reversed, will interengage the container opening, with the reversed cap defining a trough-like volume for receiving the granular particles which are then refilled into the container via the interengagement of the funnel extension of the cap and container opening.
Accordingly the removable cap which is provided to overlie the top wall of the container will have three operable conditions. A first of those conditions is characterized by the cap being manually secured in engagement with the container to protectively maintain the cap over the container during its storage condition.
A second operative condition is characterized as the cap being disengaged from the container, and separated therefrom, such that the container opening, and duct dispensing device connected thereto, is accessible for dispensing the contents of the container.
The third condition, in accordance with the present invention, is characterized as the cap securement means being disengaged from the container securement means, but with the cap being reversed in orientation with respect to the first condition. The reversed cap is placed against the top wall with its funnel extension extending into the container opening, so as to permit replacement contents to refill the container. Such replacement contents are placed within the trough-like cap, which are then dispensed into the container via the connection of the cap funnel extension and container cap opening.
As another preferable feature of the present invention the container top wall and cap have cooperating support surfaces which will support the cap in its reversed orientation while the container is being refilled via the cap.
In accordance with another preferable feature of the present invention, the cap includes a removable seal for the funnel extension. The removable seal spans the interior area of the tunnel extension and will be in place when the dispensing apparatus is in the retail establishment, and prior to its sale. This prevents inadvertent spilling of the contents out of the container. After the unit is sold and its contents depleted the user will then wish to refill the container. The user may then remove the seal from the funnel extension. This opens the funnel extension and permits the reverse oriented cap to refill the container via the funnel extension.
It is therefore seen that a primary object of the present invention is to provide a refillable dispensing apparatus in which the cap, previously provided to protect the contents of the container during storage, may serve as a funnel for refilling the container.
A further object of the present invention is to provide such a dispensing apparatus in which the cap, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,858, is modified to serve as a funnel during the refilling of the container.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide such a refillable dispensing apparatus in which the cap is removed from the container, reversed in orientation, and placed against the top wall of the container to place the cap in its refilling mode of operation.
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Abelman ,Frayne & Schwab
Maust Timothy L.
OMS Investments, Inc.
Spath Thomas E.
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