Abstract:
A detachable funnel apparatus for use with a container has an open wide end, an open narrow end, and sidewalls connecting the open wide end to the open narrow end whereby materials poured into the open end pass through the sidewalls and out the open narrow end when the detachable funnel apparatus is coupled to the container. The funnel is configured to removably affix to the container when stored by a coupling mechanism on the inside of the funnel such as a ring snap to create a snap connection between the funnel and a neck ring on the container or threads to connect to the threads on the container normally used by the cap of the container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to bottled water containers, and more particularly to a detachable funnel assembly for use with bottled water containers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There has been an explosion in bottled water use in the United States, driven in large measure by marketing designed to convince the public of bottled water&#39;s purity and safety, and capitalizing on public concern about tap water quality. Health conscience consumers of bottled water have become increasingly interested in adding nutritional supplements to their bottled water, such as protein powder, energy supplements and vitamin supplements. 
         [0003]    Supplements typically come in powdered form and are sold in either large canisters or in single or multiple serving pouches. For large canisters, a scoop is often provided by the manufacturer for the consumer to transfer the powder into a container of water. For pouches, the consumer must pour the powder from the pouch into the container of water. 
         [0004]    The transfer of powder is relatively easy when using a drinking glass as the container. However, the exercise is more challenging when transferring the powder into a bottled water container. The small opening of the bottled water container usually results in powder being spilled. 
         [0005]    One option for pouring powders into small openings is a funnel. The narrow end is placed in the receptacle and the powder is placed in the wide end. While funnels are a common household item, it is not convenient to carry a funnel to the gym or other locations for the sole purpose of pouring powdered supplements into a bottled water container. 
         [0006]    The present invention seeks to solve these problems by providing a convenient portable device for pouring powdered and liquid supplements into a bottled water container. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    One aspect of the present invention is a detachable funnel assembly that is affixed in an inverted position to a bottled water container when not in use, and connected to the mouth of the bottled water container for use a funnel when in use. 
         [0008]    Other objects and advantages, which are set forth in the description of the Detailed Description of the Invention. The features and advantages described in the specification, however, are not all inclusive, and particularly, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings and specification herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a frontal view of the preferred embodiment of the detachable funnel assembly affixed to a bottled water container in the inverted position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2   a  is a cross-sectional view of the detachable funnel assembly and bottled water container depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 2   b  is an enlarged view of the ring snap shown in  FIG. 2   a.    
           [0012]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are exploded frontal views of the preferred embodiment of the detachable funnel assembly separated from a bottled water container with the detachable funnel assembly in the inverted and funnel positions, respectively. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a frontal view of the preferred embodiment of the detachable funnel assembly affixed to a bottled water container in the funnel position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the detachable funnel assembly and bottled water container depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a frontal view of an alternate embodiment of the detachable funnel assembly affixed to a bottled water container in the inverted position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the detachable funnel assembly and bottled water container depicted in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0017]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are exploded frontal views of an alternate embodiment of the detachable funnel assembly separated from a bottled water container with the detachable funnel assembly in the inverted and funnel positions, respectively. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a frontal view of an alternate embodiment of the detachable funnel assembly affixed to a bottled water container in the funnel position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the detachable funnel assembly and bottled water container depicted in  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    The preferred embodiment is a detachable funnel assembly  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . As depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , detachable funnel assembly  10  is shown in an inverted position affixed to bottled water container  12  for shipping and storage. Detachable funnel assembly  10  includes an open narrow end  14  and an open wide end  16 . Detachable funnel assembly  12  is formed by sidewalls  18  having three sections: stem section  18   a , middle section  18   b , and mouth section  18   c . Sidewalls  18  are configured to accept and detachably affix to bottled water container  12 . 
         [0021]    Mouth section  18   c  is sufficiently wide so that cap  20  of bottled water container  12  and top portion  22  of bottled water container  12  may pass through with ease. In contrast, stem section  18   a  is sufficiently narrow so that cap  20  may not pass though and is stopped by the top of stem section  18   a.    
         [0022]    As shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , middle section  18   b  has a ring snap (also known as a snap joint)  26  thereon near intersection  28  with mouth section  18   c . Ring snap  26  is located on middle section  18   b  such that the distance between ring snap  26  and intersection  30  of middle section  18   b  and stem section  18   a  is approximately but no less than the distance from the top (closed end) of cap  20  to just below bottle neck ring  32 . 
         [0023]    Ring snap  26  is configured to create a snap connection between detachable funnel assembly  10  and bottle neck ring  32 . The snap connection is created by configuring snap ring  26  to have a slightly smaller inner diameter than the outer diameter of bottle neck ring  32 . As bottle neck ring  32  passes through the portion of middle section  18   b  with snap ring  26 , middle section  18   b  expands along with the diameter of ring snap  26 . After bottle neck ring  32  passes through snap ring  26 , snap ring  26  snaps back into place to hold detachable funnel assembly  10  to bottle water container  12 . The snap connection may be released by pulling detachable funnel assembly  10  and bottled water container  12  in opposite directions. 
         [0024]    The use of detachable funnel assembly is demonstrated in  FIGS. 3-5 . Once detachable funnel assembly  10  is removed from bottled water container  12 , as shown in  FIG. 3   a , detachable funnel assembly may be re-attached to bottled water container  12  for use as a funnel as show in  FIG. 3   b . Cap  20  is removed from bottled water container  12  and stem section  18   a  of detachable funnel assembly  10  is inserted into container opening  24  of bottled water container  12  so that detachable funnel assembly  10  is set in the funnel position as shown in  FIGS. 4-5 . Supplements, in powder or liquid form, may be added to the contents of bottled water container  12  by pouring the supplements into mouth section  18   c  of detachable funnel assembly  10 . 
         [0025]    Detachable funnel assembly  10  is preferably formed PETE plastic material (preferably polypropylene or polyethylene) by an injection molding process, although other materials and processes may be used. Further, detachable funnel assembly  10  is sufficiently rigid to hold its shape when in use as a funnel, and yet, sufficiently flexible to expand slightly to allow the creation and release of the snap connection with bottled water container  12 . 
         [0026]    The preferred embodiment has the advantage of not disrupting the bottling process. Bottling companies may continue to bottle the water in the same manner as always without any modifications to bottled water container  12 , as detachable funnel assembly  10  is simply snapped on top of bottled water containers  12  at the end of the assembly line after the water is bottled. The size of sidewall sections  18  are customized for the width and length of top portion  22  and container opening  24  of bottled water container  12  so that no re-tooling of the manufacturing of bottled water containers  12  is required. 
         [0027]    An alternate embodiment requiring a modified bottled water container  112  is depicted in  FIGS. 6-10 . As depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , detachable funnel assembly  110  is shown in an inverted position affixed to bottled water container  112  for shipping and storage. Detachable funnel assembly  110  includes an open narrow end  14  and an open wide end  116 . Detachable funnel assembly  112  is formed by sidewalls  118  having three sections: stem section  118   a , middle section  118   b , and mouth section  118   c . Sidewalls  118  are configured to accept and detachably affix to bottled water container  112 . 
         [0028]    Mouth section  118   c  is sufficiently wide so that cap  120  of bottled water container  112  and top portion  122  of bottled water container  112  may pass through with ease. In contrast, stem section  118   a  is sufficiently narrow so that cap  120  may not pass though and is stopped by the top of stem section  118   a . Middle section  118   b  is configured to allow container opening to pass through unimpeded. 
         [0029]    Stem section  118   a  is threaded on both the interior and exterior. Interior threads  126  are divided into two sections—stow threads  126   a  and use threads  126   b , separated by ridge  128 . Stow threads  126   a  are configured to accept exterior threads  130  of container opening  124  when detachable funnel assembly  110  is in its inverted position. Use threads  126   b  are configured to accept exterior threads  130  of container opening  124  when detachable funnel assembly  110  is in its use position. Ridge  128  prevents container opening  124  from passing too far through stem section  118   a  during both use and stowing. Exterior threads  132  are configured to accept interior threads  134  of cap  120  when detachable funnel assembly  110  is in its inverted position. 
         [0030]    The use of detachable funnel assembly  110  is demonstrated in  FIGS. 8-10 . Once detachable funnel assembly  110  is removed from bottled water container  112  by unscrewing cap  120  from stow threads  126   a  of stem section  118   a  and unscrewing stem section  118   a  from container opening  124 , as shown in  FIG. 8   a , detachable funnel assembly  110  may be re-attached to bottled water container  112  for use as a funnel as shown in  FIG. 8   b . With cap  120  removed from bottled water container  112 , container opening  124  is screwed into use threads  126   b  of stem section  118   a  so that detachable funnel assembly  110  is set in the funnel position as shown in  FIGS. 9-10 . Supplements, in powder or liquid form, may be added to the contents of bottled water container  112  by pouring the supplements into mouth section  18   c  of detachable funnel assembly  110 . 
         [0031]    The size of container opening sidewall sections  118  are customized for the width and length of top portion  122  and container opening  124  of bottled water container  112  so that re-tooling of the manufacturing of bottled water containers  112  is limited to re-tooling cap  20  to be sufficiently large to screw onto stem section  118   a . This alternate embodiment has the advantage of having a fully integrated funnel and container such that the connection between detachable funnel assembly  110  and bottled water container  112  is well secured both in use and when stowed. 
         [0032]    From the above description, it will be apparent that the invention disclosed herein provides a novel and advantageous detachable funnel assembly for bottled water containers. The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary methods and embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion that various changes, modifications and variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.