U.S. patent application number 13/772048 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-21 for telescoping spout for liquid container with flow control.
This patent application is currently assigned to WD-40 MANUFACTURING COMPANY. The applicant listed for this patent is WD-40 COMPANY. Invention is credited to Brandy LAMB, Patrick J. WADE.
Application Number | 20140231468 13/772048 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51350445 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140231468 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WADE; Patrick J. ; et
al. |
August 21, 2014 |
TELESCOPING SPOUT FOR LIQUID CONTAINER WITH FLOW CONTROL
Abstract
The telescoping spout includes a base through which a flexible
tube extends and a sleeve fixed to the distal end of the tube. The
sleeve is frictionally received on the base and is moveable to a
position remote from the base to extend the tube. The sleeve has an
open end with a protrusion. A cap with a small aperture in its top
surface is received on the sleeve. The cap is rotatable from a
position where the sleeve protrusion seals the cap aperture to
prevent all liquid flow to a position where the liquid flow rate
through the spout is controlled by the location of the sleeve
protrusion relative to the cap aperture. Flow rate control by
rotating the cap can take place regardless of the extension of the
tube. Removal of the cap permits liquid flow at the maximum flow
rate.
Inventors: |
WADE; Patrick J.; (San
Diego, CA) ; LAMB; Brandy; (San Diego, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WD-40 COMPANY |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
WD-40 MANUFACTURING COMPANY
San Diego
CA
|
Family ID: |
51350445 |
Appl. No.: |
13/772048 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/521 ;
222/538 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/061 20130101;
B65D 47/122 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/521 ;
222/538 |
International
Class: |
B67D 3/00 20060101
B67D003/00 |
Claims
1. A telescoping spout for a liquid container of the type having a
mouth defined by a neck and a tube with an open distal end, said
spout comprising a base adapted to be received on the container
neck and through which said tube extends, a sleeve fixed to said
distal end of said tube, said sleeve being adapted to be received
on said base and being moveable to a position remote from said
base, said sleeve having an axis, a tubular section and an
externally threaded section and a cap adapted to be received on
said tubular sleeve section, said cap having an internally threaded
section cooperating with said externally threaded section of said
sleeve such that said cap can be rotated relative to said sleeve to
move said cap along said axis to control liquid flow rate through
said spout, said tubular sleeve section having a distal end with a
protrusion, said protrusion comprising a side wall inclined toward
said axis, said cap comprising a surface with an aperture defined
by a side wall generally parallel to said sleeve protrusion side
wall, wherein rotation of said cap relative to said sleeve causes
said sleeve protrusion to be received in said cap aperture such
that said sleeve protrusion side wall and said cap aperture side
wall engage along the length thereof to prevent fluid flow through
the spout.
2-25. (canceled)
26. The spout of claim 1 wherein said protrusion has a
substantially truncated conical shape.
27. The spout of claim 1 wherein said aperture has a substantially
truncated conical shape.
28. The spout of claim 1 wherein said distal end of said tubular
sleeve section further comprises an opening proximate said sleeve
protrusion through which fluid can pass and wherein said cap
surface comprises a cap protrusion with a semi-circular
cross-sectional shape adapted to be received within said tubular
sleeve section opening when said sleeve protrusion is received in
said cap aperture.
29. The spout of claim 28 wherein said tubular sleeve section
opening has a substantially half-moon shape.
30. The spout of claim 28 wherein said tubular sleeve section
opening comprises two spaced, oppositely oriented half-moon shaped
openings.
31. The spout of claim 28 wherein said cap protrusion is proximate
said cap aperture.
32. A telescoping spout for a liquid container of the type having a
mouth defined by a neck and a tube with an open distal end, said
spout comprising a base adapted to be received on the container
neck and through which said tube extends, an externally threaded
sleeve fixed to said distal end of said tube, said sleeve being
adapted to be received on said base and being moveable to a
position remote from said base, an internally threaded cap having
an aperture adapted to be rotatably received on said sleeve for
movement between retracted and extended positions to control the
amount of liquid passing through said aperture, and first and
second means for sealing said sleeve and said cap, when said cap is
in said retracted position, said first sealing means comprising
correspondingly inclined side walls on said sleeve and on said cap
adapted to engage along the length thereof and said second sealing
means comprising an opening in said sleeve and a protrusion with a
semi-circular cross-section extending from said cap adapted to be
received in said opening.
33. The spout of claim 32 wherein said first sealing means
comprises a substantially truncated conical protrusion and a
substantially truncated conical aperture.
34. The spout of claim 32 wherein said sleeve opening has a
half-moon shape.
35. The spout of claim 32 wherein said sleeve opening has the shape
of two spaced oppositely oriented half-moons.
36. The spout of claim 33 wherein said sleeve opening is proximate
said truncated conical protrusion.
37. A telescoping spout for a liquid container of the type having a
mouth defined by a neck and a tube with an open distal end, said
spout comprising a base adapted to be received on the container
neck and through which said tube extends, an externally threaded
sleeve fixed to said distal end of said tube, said sleeve being
adapted to be received on said base and being moveable to a
position remote from said base, an internally threaded cap having
an aperture adapted to be rotatably received on said sleeve for
movement between retracted and extended positions to control the
liquid flow through said aperture, and means for sealing said
sleeve and said cap, when said cap is in said retracted position,
said sealing means comprising an opening in said sleeve and a
protrusion with a semi-circular cross-sectional shape extending
from said cap and adapted to be received in said opening.
38. The spout of claim 37 wherein said sleeve opening has a
half-moon shape.
39. The spout of claim 37 wherein said sleeve opening has the shape
of two spaced oppositely oriented half-moons.
40. The spout of claim 37 further comprising an inclined side wall
on said sleeve and a correspondingly inclined side wall on said cap
adapted to engage along the length thereof, wherein said protrusion
comprises said side wall on said sleeve and said opening is
proximate said protrusion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a telescoping spout for
dispensing lubricant or other liquid from a container, and more
particularly to a telescoping spout for a liquid container which is
capable of controlling the rate of liquid flow through the spout at
all positions of the spout.
[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art Including Information Disclosed
Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
[0004] Containers for various liquids are well known and commonly
used for many purposes. Many such containers are made of flexible
or semi-rigid material such as plastic or metal which can be
squeezed by the user to cause the liquid in the container to exit
the mouth of the container. Because the mouth of the container must
be relatively large to facilitate filling of the container, it is
common to have a spout associated with the neck of the container.
The spout often has an opening substantially smaller than that of
the mouth of the container such that only a relatively small amount
of liquid can exit the container at one time when the container is
squeezed.
[0005] It is also common to provide a cap for the mouth of the
container. The cap prevents liquid from exiting the container when
it is in place. Often the neck of the container and the spout are
provided with screw threads which engage to mount the cap on and
removed from of the container.
[0006] Certain liquids must be delivered to particular a location
when dispensed from the container. Because the target area to which
the liquids must be dispensed may be small, or may be located in an
inaccessible place, accurately dispensing the liquid directly from
the mouth of the container to the target area may be difficult. To
overcome that, the neck of the container may be elongated to permit
more accurate delivery of the liquid.
[0007] Moreover, in certain situations, because of the nature of
the liquid being dispensed, it may be critical that the liquid be
dispensed only to the target area and not to the surrounding area.
In such situations, an extendible or telescoping spout may be
employed to more accurately convey the liquid from the container to
the target area. Lubricants fall into this category because they
often must be dispensed to small, difficult to reach parts within
large machines without contact being deposited on parts of the
machine not being lubricated.
[0008] In addition, the flow rate of liquid which is dispensed may
be an issue. For example, in the lubricant situation, even if the
lubricant is delivered directly to the part within the machine to
be lubricated, if too large a quantity of liquid is deposited on
the part to be lubricated, the lubricant may drip onto other parts
of the machine where it is not wanted. That is particularly true
when a squeeze bottle type container is used because it is
difficult to accurately gage the amount of pressure which must be
applied to the bottle to dispense only the desired amount of
lubricant.
[0009] It is therefore a prime object of the present invention to
provide a spout for a liquid container which extends to permit
accurate delivery of the liquid to a target area.
[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
extendible or telescoping spout which allows control of the flow
rate of the liquid being dispensed.
[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
extendible or telescoping spout which allows the flow rate of the
liquid being dispensed to be controlled at all extension positions
of the spout.
[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
extendible or telescoping spout in which the position of the cap
controls the flow rate of the liquid through the spout.
[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
extendible or telescoping spout in which liquid flow through the
spout may be prevented entirely, may be controlled or may be
maximized.
[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
extendible or telescoping spout in which liquid may be delivered to
a target located proximate the neck of the container or to a target
located remotely from the container.
[0015] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
extendible or telescoping spout formed of simple, inexpensive parts
which operate together in a highly reliable manner to create a
mechanism with a long useful life.
[0016] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
extendible or telescoping spout formed of parts which cooperate
together and move relative each other in a leak-proof manner.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Those objects are achieved by the present invention which
relates to a telescoping spout for a liquid container. The
container is of the type having a mouth defined by a neck and a
tube which extends into the container and has an open distal end.
The spout includes a base adapted to be received on the container
neck and through which the tube extends. A sleeve is fixed to the
distal end of the tube. The sleeve is adapted to be received on the
base and is moveable from the base to a position remote from the
base to extend the tube. A cap is adapted to be received on and to
cooperate with the sleeve to control the liquid flow rate through
the spout.
[0018] The cap has a surface with an aperture. The cap is moveable
relative to the sleeve between a first position, wherein the
aperture is sealed and liquid flow through the spout is prevented,
and a second position, wherein liquid flow through the spout can
take place through the aperture. The aperture is substantially
smaller than the diameter of the tube.
[0019] The neck of the container is externally threaded. An
internally threaded section of the base is adapted to cooperate
with the externally threaded neck of the container to mount the
spout on the container.
[0020] The base has an elongated section. The sleeve is adapted to
be received on the elongated section of the base.
[0021] The sleeve has an externally threaded section. The cap has
an internally threaded section adapted to engage the externally
threaded section of the sleeve.
[0022] The sleeve includes a tubular section with an open end. The
tubular section is adapted to engage the distal end of the
tube.
[0023] The elongated sleeve section includes means for sealing the
cap aperture when the cap is in its first position.
[0024] The base includes means for engaging the neck of the
container. The sleeve includes means for frictionally engaging the
base. The cap includes means for engaging the sleeve.
[0025] The base has an externally textured surface. One or more
fins radially extend from the elongated section of the base.
[0026] The cap includes an external textured surface having at
least one non-textured portion. Preferably two non-textured
portions are provided on opposite sides of the cap.
[0027] The sleeve includes a protrusion adapted to seal the
aperture in the cap when the cap is in its first position.
[0028] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
a telescoping spout is provided for a liquid container. The
container is of the type having a mouth defined by a neck and a
tube with an open distal end. The spout includes a first part
mounted on the container neck and having an end through which the
tube extends. A second part of the spout is fixed to the distal end
of the tube. The second part is adapted to be received on the first
part and is moveable, with the distal end of the tube, from the
first part to a position remote from the first part. A third part
of the spout is adapted to be received on the second part. The
third part is moveable relative to the second part between a first
position, wherein liquid flow through the spout is prevented, and a
second position, wherein liquid flow rate through the spout is
controlled. The third part is removable from the second part to
maximize liquid flow through the spout.
[0029] The third part has an aperture. The aperture in the third
part is substantially smaller than the diameter of the tube. The
spout includes means for sealing the aperture when the third part
is in its first position.
[0030] The distal end of the tube is moveable between a position
proximate the first part and a position remote from the first part
by moving the second part relative to the first part.
[0031] The third part is rotatably mounted relative to the second
part. The rotational position of the third part controls liquid
flow rate through the spout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS
[0032] To these and to such other objects that may hereinafter
appear, the present invention relates to a telescoping spout for a
liquid container with flow control as described in detail in the
following specification and recited in the annexed claims, taken
together with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals
refer to like parts and in which:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container with the spout
of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container with the spout
of the present invention, the spout being shown partially extended
with the cap removed;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cap;
[0036] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the top of the
cap of FIG. 3;
[0037] FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the distal end of tubular
section of the sleeve;
[0038] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end of the
tube and the sleeve mounted to the tube;
[0039] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the distal end
of the tubular section of the sleeve, taken along line 7-7 of FIG.
5;
[0040] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of base with a section of
the tube extending though the base;
[0041] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the top of the container
with the spout of the present invention mounted thereon, showing
the sleeve mounted on the base and the cap in its flow preventing
position;
[0042] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of
the elongated section of the base with the sleeve mounted thereon,
showing the cap in its flow rate controlling position;
[0043] FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the distal
end of the sleeve with the cap in the flow rate controlling
position, as seen in FIG. 11;
[0044] FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the distal
end of the base with the sleeve mounted thereon and the cap
removed, permitting maximum flow through the spout;
[0045] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the top of a container with
the spout of the present invention mounted thereon, the spout being
shown with the tube in the fully extended position and the cap in
its flow rate controlling position;
[0046] FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the end of
the tube, the sleeve and cap, showing the cap in its flow rate
controlling position; and
[0047] FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the sleeve of
FIG. 14, with the cap removed to permit maximum flow through the
spout.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0048] The telescoping spout of the present invention, generally
designated A, is designed for use with a container 10. Container 10
preferably takes the form of a bottle made of plastic or other
flexible or semi-rigid material, such that the container can be
squeezed by the user to cause the liquid in the container to exit
the open mouth of the container. The spout of the present invention
is particularly well suited for use with container for dispensing a
lubricant or other liquid 12 which sometimes must be deposited on a
part or other target area which would be difficult to reach
directly from the mouth of the container.
[0049] The mouth of container 10 is defined by a neck 14. As best
seen in FIGS. 2 and 9, neck 14 of the container is provided with
external screw threads 16. Spout A is removably mounted to neck 14
by engaging screw threads 16.
[0050] A hollow tube 18, preferably made of flexible plastic or
similar material, is provided within container 10. Tube 18 has an
open proximal end 20 situated within the container. Tube end 20 is
provided with a flange 21 to prevent the tube from being pulled out
of the spout and the spout is extended. The tube also has open
distal end 22 which extends through neck 14 of the container and is
fixed to the spout. Accordingly, as the spout is extended, the
distal end of tube 20 will move with it.
[0051] Spout A is composed of three parts: a base 24; a sleeve 26;
and a cap 28. Base 24 has an internally threaded lower section 30
designed to fit over neck 14 of container 10 and to engage the
external screw threads 16 on neck 14, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 9.
Base 24 also includes an elongated hollow upper section 32 mounted
on threaded section 30. Base 24 has an internal bore 34 through
which tube 18 extends, see FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0052] As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the threaded section 30 of
base 24 is provided with a hollow cylindrical wall 31. Wall 31
extends downwardly into the neck of the container when the base is
mounted on the neck such that the neck is contacted on both its
internal surface and its external surface by the base to prevent
leakage.
[0053] Tube 18 may be moved through the bore 34 in base 24, as seen
in FIG. 2, between a retracted position of the spout, as seen in
FIG. 1, and a fully extended position of the spout, as seen in FIG.
13. The internal diameter of bore 34 is selected to be slightly
larger than the external diameter of tube 18 such that a
liquid-tight seal is achieved between the base and the tube. This
seat prevents liquid from exiting the container on the exterior
surface of the tube as the tube is extended. It also creates a snug
fit between the parts such that friction will cause the tube to
remain at any position relative to the base to which it is moved,
without external assistance.
[0054] Sleeve 26 is mounted on and permanently affixed to the
distal end 22 of tube 18, as best seen in FIG. 6. Sleeve 26 has a
hollow lower section 36 adapted to be received over and
frictionally engage the distal end 40 of the elongated section 32
of base 24. In order to extend tube 18, sleeve 26 is moved away
from base 24, as seen in FIG. 13. Since tube 18 is fixed to sleeve
26, as sleeve 26 is moved away from base 24, so is the distal end
22 of tube 18. Sleeve 26 has a tubular section 38 which extends
from section 36 of sleeve 26.
[0055] Cap 28 is rotatably received over tubular section 38 of
sleeve 26, as seen in FIG. 9. The lower portion of tubular section
38 of sleeve 26 is provided with external screw threads 42, see
FIG. 6. Cap 28 is hollow and has internal screw threads 44 within
its lower portion. The screw threads 42 of the sleeve are adapted
to be engaged by screw threads 44 of cap 28 to mount the rotatably
mount the cap on the sleeve.
[0056] The cap and sleeve cooperate to control the liquid flow rate
through the spout based upon the position of the cap relative to
the sleeve. In one position of the cap, all liquid flow through the
spout is prevented. Rotation of the cap from its flow preventing
position allows the cap to control the liquid flow rate. The
further the cap is moved from its flow preventing position, the
greater the liquid flow rate through the spout, up to a level
defined by the size of an aperture in the cap, as explained below.
When the cap is removed from the sleeve entirely, it no longer
interferes with or restricts liquid flow through the spout, and the
liquid flow rate through the spout is at its maximum, which is
defined by the size of the opening at the end of the tubular
section 38 of the sleeve.
[0057] The position of the cap relative to the sleeve is adjusted
by rotating the cap relative to the sleeve to linearly move the cap
toward or away from the end of the sleeve. As can best be
understood by reference to FIGS. 3-7, the distal end of tubular
portion 38 of sleeve 26 has an opening 46 through which liquid from
the end of tube 18 can flow. Extend over opening 46 is a protrusion
48 which has a truncated conical shape. Protrusion 48 is held in
place over opening 46 by members 50, extending inwardly from the
wall of the sleeve, on either side of the protrusion. Accordingly,
when viewed from above, as seen in FIG. 5, opening 46 appears to be
two spaced, half-moon shaped openings, 46a and 46b.
[0058] Protrusion 48 covers a portion of opening 46 at the end of
the sleeve. However, the majority of liquid which flows through the
end of tube 18 can still pass through the sleeve. That defines the
maximum liquid flow rate through the spout, which occurs when the
cap is removed from the sleeve. Rotating the cap relative to the
sleeve restricts the liquid flow rate to a degree determined by the
position of the cap on the sleeve.
[0059] As is best seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, the top surface 52 of
the cap has an aperture 54. Aperture 54 is substantially smaller
that the diameter of the distal end of tube 18 and of opening 46 at
the end of sleeve section 38. When viewed from the side, aperture
54 has a truncated conical shape, similar to that of protrusion 48,
see FIG. 4. As cap 28 is rotated in a clockwise direction (as
indicated by the arrow in FIG. 13) relative to the sleeve to a
position where the cap is closest to section 36 of the sleeve,
protrusion 48 is received snuggly within opening 54 in the cap,
entirely seals the cap aperture, and prevents all liquid flow
through the spout.
[0060] As cap 28 is rotated relative to the sleeve in the
counter-clockwise direction, the cap moves away from section 36 of
the sleeve, causing protrusion 48 to gradually withdraw from
aperture 54 such that limited liquid flow through the cap aperture,
and hence through the spout, is possible. The more the cap is
rotated to move away from section 36 of the sleeve, the more the
protrusion is withdrawn from the aperture, and the higher the
liquid flow rate through the cap. Eventually, the cap will be
rotated such that the screw threads of the cap no longer engage the
screw threads of the sleeve and the cap can be removed from the
sleeve. Once removed from the sleeve, the cap no longer restricts
the liquid flow rate through the spout, allowing liquid flow
through the spout at the maximum flow rate.
[0061] Control of the liquid flow rate through the spout, obtained
by adjusting the position of the cap relative to the sleeve, can
take place regardless of the extent to which the tube is extended
relative to the container. Accordingly, control over the liquid
flow rate through the spout can be achieved whether the tube is
extended to its maximum length, is not extended at all, or is at
any position therebetween.
[0062] FIGS. 10-12 illustrate the flow control mechanism when the
sleeve is received on the base, that is, tube 18 is not extended.
In FIGS. 10 and 11, the cap is situated on the sleeve but rotated
to a position where the cap aperture 54 is not sealed by sleeve
protrusion 48, such that the flow of liquid from the tube is
restricted by the size of aperture 54 in the cap. FIG. 12 shows
that removal of the cap allows maximum flow through the spout,
which is limited only by the size of the opening 46 at the distal
end of the sleeve, which opening is substantially larger than that
of aperture 54 in the cap.
[0063] FIGS. 14 and 15 show tube 18 in its extended position, where
the sleeve is not received on the base. In FIG. 14, the cap is
mounted on the sleeve but is rotated such that the cap is spaced
from section 36 of the sleeve and protrusion 48 is not situated in
cap aperture 54. In that position, liquid flow through the spout is
possible but only up to the level determined by the size of
aperture 54 in the cap. FIG. 15 shows that when the cap is removed,
maximum flow is possible, restricted only by the size of opening 46
at the distal end of the sleeve.
[0064] Preferably, the external surface of section 30 of the base
is textured to form an irregular surface which is easy to grab,
even with wet fingers. One or more fins 56 radially extend from the
elongated section 32 of base 24. Fins 56 serve to strengthen the
elongated section of the base.
[0065] The exterior surface of cap 28 may also be textured to
improve the user's grip. In addition, the inclined exterior surface
of cap 28 is preferably provided to two oppositely facing
substantially flat, non-textured surfaces 58 to facilitate grasping
and rotation of the cap.
[0066] It will now be appreciated that the present invention
includes a twist to open and close cap which controls the liquid
flow rate through the spout regardless of whether or to what extent
the tube is extended. The half-moon shaped openings at the distal
end of the sleeve allow for even flow of the liquid from the
container.
[0067] The length of tube is only limited by the height of the
container and may extend more than 6 inches beyond the neck of the
container. The telescoping spout therefore can reach into tight
spaces, allowing for precision application of the liquid. The
elongated portion of the base aids in aiming the spout to deposit
liquid into the target area and only where it is needed.
[0068] The base is provided with dual contact areas which are
positioned on either side of the neck of the bottle and prevent
leaking
[0069] The clear bottle design allows the user to observe the level
of liquid remaining in the bottle. The squeezable bottle allows the
user to control the amount of liquid coming out the spout for drip
application or small squirt applications.
[0070] While only a single preferred embodiment of the present
invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is
obvious that many modifications and variations could be made
thereto. It is intended to cover all of those modifications and
variations which fall within the scope of the present invention, as
defined by the following claims.
* * * * *