Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means – Funnel type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-28
2001-05-01
Douglas, Steven O. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means
Funnel type
C141S31100A, C141S313000, C141S338000, C141S340000, C141S344000, C141S345000, C222S206000, C222S212000, C222S215000, C222S460000, C222S461000, C222S525000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223792
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to fluid containers, and more particularly to a closure device for a fluid container, such as a sports bottle, that also facilitates filling of the fluid container.
BACKGROUND
A variety of fluid containers are known for carrying small amounts of liquid, such as water, for personal use. Such containers generally have a tapered spout on one end which facilitates drinking and a cap that is attachable to the spout to prevent fluid from leaking when the contents of the container are being stored. For example, the cap may be a simple threaded cap that is manually screwed onto similar threads on the spout. Thus, when fluid is introduced into or removed from the container, the cap is removed, the fluid is poured into or out of the spout and then the cap is screwed back on to close the container.
In particular, “sports bottles” have become increasingly popular which have of a pull cap device attached to the spout of a bottle or other container. The pull cap device has an annular cap member which is generally slidable over a collar having a passage therethrough. In a closed position, a seal tab on the collar engages a narrow portion of the cap member to provide a fluid-tight seal and prevent fluid from passing through the collar. The pull cap may be slid along the collar to an open position such that the seal tab is disengaged from the narrow portion and fluid may pass through the passage. Thus, when the pull cap device is attached to a bottle, e.g., by threading the collar onto a spout of the bottle, the cap member may be easily opened and closed to allow removal of fluid from the container without removing the pull cap device from the bottle.
To fill a sports bottle, e.g., after the contents have been drunk or otherwise emptied, the pull cap device is unscrewed from the spout, and fluid may be poured directly into the spout of the bottle. Because the spouts of such bottles are relatively narrow, however, pouring fluid into the container may not be as convenient as desired. Fluid may be spilled over the spout, possibly wasting the fluid and/or creating a mess.
Accordingly, it is believed that a fluid container which may be more conveniently filled and/or which overcomes the problems of previous containers may be useful.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a funnel cap device for a fluid container and to a fluid container incorporating such a funnel cap device. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a funnel cap device is provided that includes a generally funnel-shaped member having a passage therethrough extending between a wide end and a narrow end thereof, and a cap member attached to the funnel-shaped member for selectively opening and closing the narrow end of the passage. The narrow end of the funnel-shaped member may have a connector thereon for attaching to a spout of a fluid container, such as a thread pattern on an inner surface thereof.
In a preferred form, a hub portion extends from the narrow end of the funnel-shaped member, the cap member being slidable on the hub portion between open and closed positions, such that fluid may pass through the passage in the open position. In addition, the cap member may include an aperture and the hub portion may include a seal tab, the aperture being substantially engaged by the seal tab in the closed position for preventing fluid from passing through the passage.
The cap member and hub portion may also include a cooperating track and tab for limiting movement of the cap member between the open and closed positions. For example, the hub portion may have a recessed region extending along the outer surface thereof, e.g. about its circumference, and the cap member may include an inwardly directed tab, e.g. having an annular shape, that may be slidably received within the recessed region. In addition, an annular ridge may be provided in the recessed region for preventing the cap member from inadvertently moving from the open or closed positions. Thus, the cap member may be directed to the open position to allow fluid flow through the passage, and then the cap member may be directed to the closed position, the seal tab engaging the aperture, to prevent fluid flow.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a refillable fluid container is provided that includes a container having a neck and a spout on one end thereof, a generally funnel-shaped member having a passage extending therethrough between a wide end and a narrow end thereof, the narrow end being attachable to the spout, and a closable sealing mechanism on the narrow end of the funnel-shaped member. The funnel-shaped member preferably includes a hub portion extending from the narrow end thereof, and the sealing mechanism preferably is an annular shaped cap member slidable on the hub portion between open and closed positions, as described above.
Preferably, the funnel-shaped member includes an intermediate portion adjacent the hub portion, the intermediate portion having a thread pattern on an inner surface thereof for attaching the funnel-shaped member to the spout in an upright orientation. In the upright orientation, the wide end of the funnel-shaped member is directed over the spout of the container until the spout engages the threads within the intermediate portion, whereupon the funnel-shaped member is rotated to screw it onto the container. In a preferred form, the funnel-shaped member has a shape similar to the neck of the container such that the funnel-shaped member conforms substantially to the shape of the container and occupies little or substantially no extra space.
In addition, the hub portion has a configuration for coupling the hub portion within a spout of the container in an inverted or filling orientation to facilitate filling of the container. For example, in a preferred form, the hub portion may have a cross-section smaller than a cross-section of the spout, whereby the hub portion may be inserted into the spout with the wide end of the funnel-shaped member oriented away from the container. The hub portion may include a plurality of ribs extending radially outward therefrom for engaging an inner surface of the spout. The ribs may include notches therein for receiving the spout and providing air passages between the ribs.
Thus, in the inverted orientation, the wide end of the funnel-shaped member is oriented upward such that fluid may be directed into the wide end, through the passage in the funnel-shaped member, through the spout and into the container. The relatively wide opening of the wide end facilitates filling of the container with substantially less spilling of fluid, reducing the waste and mess that may be associated with filling a container through a small spout.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 129024 (1872-07-01), George
patent: 589659 (1897-09-01), Krack
patent: 782736 (1905-02-01), Epperson
patent: 947917 (1910-02-01), Kollenberg
patent: 1061888 (1913-05-01), Von Der Crone
patent: 1104354 (1914-07-01), Gentle
patent: 1596974 (1926-08-01), Holmes
patent: 4331189 (1982-05-01), Joyner
patent: 5305910 (1994-04-01), Pollacco
Douglas Steven O.
Lyon & Lyon LLP
Maust Timothy L.
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