Patent ID: 6374541
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: A01G,Y10S

Abstract:
A spill-resistant container comprising:a body including a top region and a base located opposite the top region, the base being configured to rest on a horizontal surface, the body defining an interior volume in the container for storing a liquid; a neck connected to the top region of the body which defines and encloses a bent passageway having a first end and a second end, the bent passageway having a bent centerline; a first opening located at the first end of the bent passageway, the first opening coupling the bent passageway to the interior volume of the container; an unrestricted second opening located at the second end of the bent passageway, the second opening coupling the bent passageway to the exterior of the container and being sufficiently large to permit the pouring of the liquid out of the container; a first bend defined by the bent passageway and located between the first end and second end of the bent passageway, the first bend having an apex and the distance between the base and a point of the bent centerline of the bent passageway increasing or remaining the same as the point travels from the first opening to the apex of the first bend; wherein the bent passageway is configured to determine a start-to-pour angle between the base and the horizontal surface at which outside air starts to enter the interior volume of the container and the liquid inside the container starts to flow out of the second opening of the bent passageway, and if the container is tilted less than the start-to-pour angle, outside air can not enter the interior volume of the container and the liquid does not pour out of the second opening of the bent passageway even if the distance between the level of the liquid inside the container and the horizontal surface is greater than the distance between the apex of the first bend and the horizontal surface; where the start-to-pour angle is greater than 45 degrees and less than 180 degrees.