U.S. patent application number 10/683033 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-14 for dispensing container with funnel overlay.
Invention is credited to Graybill, David Winn SR..
Application Number | 20050077322 10/683033 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34422644 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050077322 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Graybill, David Winn SR. |
April 14, 2005 |
Dispensing container with funnel overlay
Abstract
The present invention provides a disposable dispensing container
suitable for containing liquids comprising a hollow container; a
funnel overlay that fits over the neck and top wall of the
container during its storage condition and, when removed from its
storage position, provides a funnel for dispensing the container's
contents; and a removable cap being manually secured in engagement
with the container to protectively maintain the cap over the
container and over the funnel overlay in its storage position. Once
the cap is disengaged from the container, and separated therefrom,
the funnel overlay is readily converted into a funnel for
dispensing the container's contents by removing the funnel overlay
from its storage position and positioning the funnel overlay into
an opening of a receptacle for receiving the contents of the
dispensing container.
Inventors: |
Graybill, David Winn SR.;
(Athens, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Judy Jarecki-Black, Ph.D. J.D.
467 Ware Road
Camesville
GA
30521
US
|
Family ID: |
34422644 |
Appl. No.: |
10/683033 |
Filed: |
October 10, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/461 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/0223 20130101;
B67C 11/02 20130101; B65D 2501/0081 20130101; B65D 23/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/461 |
International
Class: |
B65D 088/26 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A disposable dispensing container comprising: a container for a
product to be dispensed, said container including side walls and
opposed top and bottom walls and an opening within said top wall
for product dispensing; a funnel overlay for overlaying and
enclosing at least a portion of said top wall; a removable cap for
overlying at least a portion of said funnel overlay, the removable
cap with manually operable securement means for selectively
securing said cap to said container and removing said cap from said
container; said cap having a first and second operative condition
with respect to said container; said first condition characterized
by said cap securement means being in engagement with cooperative
container securement means for securably maintaining said cap over
said funnel overlay and said top wall and providing a protective
cover for said container opening and said portion of said funnel
overlay and said top wall; and said second condition characterized
as said cap securement means being disengaged from said container
securement means, said funnel overlay being removed from said top
wall and being reversed in orientation with respect to said first
condition, the reversed orientation of said funnel overlay defining
a funnel-shaped member for dispensing materials to be dispensed
into an opening of a receiving container through said funnel-shaped
member and container opening.
2. In a disposable dispensing container according to claim 1,
wherein said container including an annular extension surrounding
said container opening to provide a spout, said annular extension
having exterior and interior walls; said funnel overlay having an
exterior wall dimensioned to overlay the exterior wall of said
annular extension when said cap is in said second condition.
3. In a disposable dispensing container according to claim 1,
wherein said container top wall and cap having cooperating support
surfaces for supporting said funnel overlay on said container top
wall when said cap is in said first condition.
4. In a disposable dispensing container according to claim 3,
wherein the funnel overlay has a shape similar to a neck of the
container to which the funnel overlay is attached.
5. In a disposable dispensing container according to claim 1,
wherein the container is made from a material selected from the
group consisting of plastic, glass, paperboard, and mixture
thereof.
6. In a disposable dispensing container according to claim 5,
wherein the container is made from a plastic selected from the
group consisting of polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, high
density polyethylene, and mixtures thereof.
7. In a disposable dispensing container according to claim 1,
wherein the container defines corners between the front walls, the
rear walls, the side walls, the top and the bottom that are
curvilinear.
8. In a disposable dispensing container according to claim 1,
wherein the funnel overlay further includes at least one
handle.
9. In a disposable dispensing container according to claim 1,
wherein the funnel overlay is made from a plastic selected from the
group consisting of polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, high
density polyethylene, and mixtures thereof.
10. In a disposable dispensing container according to claim 1,
wherein the funnel overlay is transparent or translucent.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to a disposable
container particularly suited for containing and dispensing motor
oil and the like. In particular, the present invention comprises a
disposable dispensing container having a funnel overlay that fits
over the neck and top wall of the container during its storage
condition and may be readily converted into a funnel for dispensing
the container's contents.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventional disposable containers for containing motor oil
and the like are well known in the prior art, as are funnels for
dispensing contents of such containers in a manner to avoid excess
spillage. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,504 to Rosen discloses
an improved drain funnel formed by an elongated unitary main body
member and having a spout integral with and at one end of the
elongated unitary main body member.
[0003] A piercing and pouring device for metal or paper containers
of motor oil or the like, disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,945 to
Maynard, comprises a funnel with the tip of a container-piercing
blade vertically positioned on an element releasably secured within
the funnel. The piercing point of the blade engages the top of a
container as it is telescopically positioned within the receiving
portion of the device, permitting the liquid therein to be
dispensed through the spout.
[0004] Often, however, when it is desirable to dispense the
contents of a container, a funnel is not available or is separately
located from the dispensing container. To avoid the inconvenience
of having to locate a funnel to aid in dispensing the contents from
a container, especially one containing motor oil or the like, some
service stations provide paper funnels to purchasers of motor oil.
However, these paper funnels are not study and tend to collapse
when too much oil is poured into them. Additionally, paper funnels
are not easily stored for future use when dispensing the motor oil
is not immediately desirable.
[0005] Other attempts at solving problems associated with
dispensing the contents of a container include modified containers
having a dispensing spout. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,858 to
Tapp et al. discloses a dispensing container comprising a
telescopically operated duct device, preferably rotatably connected
to an outlet opening of the container, for distributing granular
lawn fertilizer contained therein.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,595 to Granath discloses a refillable
dispensing apparatus, particularly adaptable for the dispensing of
a granular product such as a lawn fertilizer, having a removable
cap. The removable cap, which overlies the container in its storage
position, may be readily converted into a funnel for refilling the
depleted container. Neither the container taught by Tapp et al.,
nor the refillable container disclosed by Granath, are easy or
inexpensive to manufacture.
[0007] Nilsson et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,864, disclose a
container for petrochemical products comprising a pour adapter,
disposed within an upper corner area, and further including a pour
spout. To facilitate tilting the container in a direction towards
the pour adapter, a diagonally disposed handle is provided in the
top side of the container while a depression is positioned on the
bottom side. When one hand seizes the handle and the other hand
holds the depression, the outflow is controlled and directed
towards the pour adapter. However, the shape of the container
disclosed by Nilsson et al is not amenable to storage of single-use
products like motor oil and the like.
[0008] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either
singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention
as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
simple, effective, and efficient dispensing container for
containing a liquid, particularly motor oil and the like, and
simplifying the dispensing of such a liquid not easily dispensed
without excess spillage.
[0010] More specifically, the present invention provides a
disposable dispensing container suitable for containing liquids; a
funnel overlay that fits over the neck and top wall of the
disposable container during its storage condition and, when removed
from its storage position, provides a funnel for dispensing the
container's contents; and a removable cap being manually secured in
engagement with the container to protectively maintain the cap over
the container and over the funnel overlay in its storage position.
Once the cap is disengaged from the container, and separated
therefrom, the funnel overlay is readily converted into a funnel
for dispensing the container's contents by removing the funnel
overlay from its storage position and positioning the funnel
overlay into an opening of a receptacle for receiving the contents
of the dispensing container.
[0011] Accordingly the removable cap, provided to be manually
secured in engagement with the disposable container to protectively
maintain the cap over the container and over the funnel overlay
during its storage condition, will have two operable conditions. A
first of these conditions is characterized by the cap being
manually secured in engagement with the container to protectively
maintain the cap over the container and over the funnel overlay to
aid in positioning the funnel overly in its storage condition.
[0012] A second operative condition is characterized as the cap
being disengaged from the container, and separated therefrom, such
that the funnel overlay is readily removed from its storage
position and the container opening is accessible for dispensing the
container's contents after positioning the funnel overlay into an
opening of a receptacle for receiving the contents of the
dispensing container.
[0013] It is therefore seen that a primary object of the present
invention is to provide a disposable dispensing container in which
a funnel overlay, that fits over the neck and top wall of the
container during its storage condition, may be readily converted
into a funnel for dispensing the container's contents.
[0014] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent upon review of the
detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with
the accompanying figures, which are briefly described as
follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a dispensing container
having a disposable container, a funnel overlay, and a removable
cap according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the present invention showing
the funnel overlay positioned over the neck and top wall of the
disposable container and having the cap being disengaged from the
container;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the present invention showing
the funnel overlay positioned over the neck and top wall of the
disposable container and having the cap being manually secured in
engagement with the container to protectively maintain the cap over
the container and over the funnel overlay during its storage
condition;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the present invention showing
the funnel overlay disengaged from the top wall of the container
and in reverse orientation with respect to the container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention
are disclosed in, or are obvious from, the following Detailed
Description, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. It is to be understood by one of ordinary
skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of
exemplary embodiments only and is not intended as limiting the
broader aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are
embodied in the exemplary constructions. In fact, it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
variations can be made in the present invention without departing
from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features
illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used in
another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. It is
intended that the present invention cover such modifications and
variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.
[0020] The present invention, particularly suited for containing
and dispensing motor oil and the like, comprises a disposable
container suitable for containing liquids; a funnel overlay that
fits over the neck and top wall of the disposable container during
its storage condition and, when removed from its storage position,
provides a funnel for dispensing the container's contents; and a
removable cap being manually secured in engagement with the
container to protectively maintain the cap over the container and
over the funnel overlay in its storage position. Once the cap is
disengaged from the container, and separated therefrom, the funnel
overlay is readily converted into a funnel for dispensing the
container's contents by removing the funnel overlay from its
storage position and positioning the funnel overlay into an opening
of a receptacle for receiving the contents of the dispensing
container.
[0021] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4 illustrate one
embodiment of a dispensing container 10 according to the present
invention. Dispensing container 10 typically contains and dispenses
motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and the like; however,
a multiple use container for containing and dispensing liquids not
easily dispensed into single use containers, such as shampoo,
ketchup, and the like, is also contemplated to be within the scope
of the present invention.
[0022] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, dispensing container 10
comprises, generally, container 20; funnel overlay 30; and
removable cap 40 according to the present invention. Container 20
may be a conventional bottle or other substantially enclosed fluid
container formed from known materials such as glass; paper,
including but not limited to, paperboard, corrugated cardboard, and
the like; metal, including but not limited to, aluminum, steel, tin
and the like; molded and extruded plastic, including but not
limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, high-density polyethylene
(HDPE), polyethylene terephtalate (PET), polystyrene, and the like;
and combinations thereof. Container 20 generally has a neck 22 on
one end that terminates in a spout 24, the spout 24 preferably
having a thread pattern 26 formed thereon.
[0023] Funnel overlay 30, formed from known materials such as
plastic or glass, generally comprises neck 32 on one end that
terminates in outlet 34, funnel inlet 36 and, optionally, includes
integral handles 38 extending upwards and along the sides of neck
32 and allowing a user to easily grasp funnel overlay 30. As best
illustrated in FIG. 2, funnel overlay 30 has a shape that
corresponds substantially to the shape and size of neck 22 and top
side 28 of the bottle or other container to which the funnel
overlay is attached, except that the diameter of neck 32 is
slightly larger in size, while being simultaneously shorter in
length, than that of bottle neck 22 such that funnel overlay 30 is
positionable over top portion 28 and neck 22 of bottle 20 yet neck
34 of funnel overlay 30 remains below threaded portion 26 of bottle
20. For example, one embodiment of a dispensing container made
according to the present invention provides a 1 quart (946 ml)
capacity container with dimensions measuring about 31/2 inches
wide, about 81/2 inches high, and about 21/2 inches deep with a
spout having an inner diameter measuring about 7/8 of an inch. In
this embodiment, the diameter of the funnel overlay outlet measures
approximately 3/4 of an inch.
[0024] Returning now to FIG. 1, removable cap 40 of the present
invention is illustrated. Cap 40, which may be formed from a
variety of conventional materials such as plastic, glass, metal, or
a combination thereof, includes threaded portion 42, configured to
securely engage threaded portion 26 of bottle 20 in a manually
releasable manner, and lip 44, configured to overlie neck 32 of
funnel overlay 30 such that funnel overlay 30 is secured onto, and
over, top side 28 and neck 22 of bottle 20 when funnel overlay 30
is in a storage position, as shown in FIG. 3. The two modes of
operation will now be discussed.
[0025] When the dispensing container is originally packaged for
storage at the retail establishment, it will be in condition shown
in FIG. 3. That is, the funnel overlay 30 will be in positioned
over and onto neck 22 and top side 28 of bottle 20, and removable
cap 40 secured to neck 22 via the engagement of threaded portion 26
of bottle 20 with inside threads 42 of cap 40 to advantageously
prevent any accidental spillage of the contents of the bottle 20
during the initial storage.
[0026] When the consumer desires to utilize the dispensing
container, cap 40 is removed, at which time funnel overlay 30 will
still be in the storage position as shown in FIG. 2. Funnel overlay
30 is then removed from its storage position and reversed as shown
in FIG. 4, to provide a funnel for dispensing the contents of
container 10 into a desired receptacle.
[0027] It is therefore seen that the present invention provides a
cost effective and simple way for dispensing the contents of
disposable container 10 by disengaging the removable cap from the
container, removing the funnel overlay from its storage position,
reversing the funnel overlay to create a funnel, and positioning
the funnel into the opening of a receptacle for receiving the
contents thereof.
[0028] While the present invention has been described with
reference to specific features and embodiments, such description is
for illustrative purposes only. The words used are words of
description rather than of limitation. For example, numerous other
constructions of dispensing containers having a funnel overlay with
the ability to reverse to form a funnel for dispensing the contents
thereof are contemplated to be within the scope of the present
invention. It is to be understood that changes and variations may
be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing
from the spirit or scope of the present invention, which is set
forth in the following claims.
* * * * *