Abstract:
A spout ( 10 ) for mounting on a liquid container ( 12 ) to provide controlled dispensing of liquid therefrom includes a manual control for stopping the flow of liquid through a pouring tube ( 22 ) and an automatic control to prevent spills due to overfilling. Manual control over the amount of liquid flowing through the pouring opening of the spout ( 10 ) is provided by a preferably tubular rod ( 26 ) having a stop ( 28 ) mounted at one end and a push button actuator ( 34 ) at the other end of the rod ( 26 ). The spout ( 10 ) includes a body ( 24 ) with the pouring tube ( 22 ) extending from one side and the push button ( 34 ) for opening the stop ( 28 ) to dispense liquid on the other side of the body. The automatic control is provided through a vent tube ( 30 ) which extends through a port in the pouring tube ( 22 ) and is connected to the tubular rod ( 26 ) which is provided with at least one hole. When the level of liquid in a receiving tank rises over the port, no air enters the liquid container ( 12 ) and consequently the flow of liquid from the pouring tube ( 22 ) is discontinued.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention concerns a spout for use with a liquid container to provide a liquid dispenser, such as a gasoline jug, and which inhibits spillage of liquid due to overflow of the liquid during filing of a receiving tank. More particularly, it concerns a spout which may be readily attached to a liquid container and is manually controllable as well as automatically inhibiting overflow by cutting off the inflow of air once the receiving tank is filled. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     While conventional pour spouts are available and in use by consumers for dispensing petroleum products such as oil and kerosene into gasoline tanks of lawn mowers and similar equipment, increasing attention is being focused on the use of spouts which inhibit spillage. Areas with air pollution problems are looking for ways to reduce to release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere. When a container, such as a gasoline jug, is used to pour gasoline into the fuel tank of an engine, it is common for the user to overfill the tank. The spilled fuel represents not only a fire hazard and may damage plant life, but also represents an undesired source for the release of organic vapors which pollute the atmosphere. 
     One partial solution is shown in my previous U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,746,036 and 4,834,270. These patents show an example of the use of a remotely operated spout where the operator can virtually instantaneously stop the flow of liquid from a tank. This same concept is shown in the separate spout shown in the drawings and labeled “prior art”. This spout is currently offered on a fuel jug sold by No-Spill Research, Inc. of Stanbury, Mo., and features a push-button operated closure with a detachable extension on the spout. The spout permits the user to simply release the button and stop the flow of fuel. However, in the event the user inadvertently keeps the button depressed after the receiving tank is filled, air can continue to flow into the fuel jug adjacent the button, and fuel thereby continues to flow into the tank. 
     Other attempts to solve this problem have resulted in spouts which are difficult to operate. In one case, a spout is actuated by shifting a spring-loaded exterior sleeve engageable with the rim of the receiving tank relative to the remainder of the spout and the fuel jug. The force required to overcome the spring is cumbersome and difficult to control, and the application of force may cause the receiving tank or jug to tip and spill the contents. In addition, a preferred spout will resist the escape of vapors during periods of storage. There has thus arisen the need for a simple and effective pouring spout which inhibits spillage, both by limiting the entry of air once the receiving tank is filled and also by providing a manual control to shut off the flow of liquid. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These and other objects have largely been met by the spill inhibiting spout of the present invention. That is to say, the spout hereof provides both a manual control and a vent control to inhibit undesired overflow of the dispensed liquid from a receiver. The manual control is advantageously spring biased to the closed position and permits one handed operation by the user without the need for shifting the entire spout. The vent control effectively shuts off the flow of air into the spout when the level of liquid in the receiver rises to cover the air intake port. When the spout is fixed in sealing relationship with the container to which it is mounted, the inability to introduce air into the container to replace the volume of the dispensed liquid causes a partial vacuum therein. This in turn slows or stops the flow of liquid out of the spout. 
     The spout air intake is located on a sidewall of the pouring tube and directs a return flow of air into the container when the manual button is depressed and liquid flows from the spout. Advantageously, the intake port communicates the air into the container through a vent tube and then to a tubular rod which also actuates the stop. The holes which allow the air to move from the rod into the container are located inside the body of the spout only when the discharge button is depressed. This largely prevents dangerous and undesirable venting of fumes when the stop is in the closed position, as there is no outlet for the passage of fumes to the atmosphere. The tubular rod mounts the stop and a conduit at one end and spring and the button adjacent the ports on the other end. The stop is preferably frustoconical in configuration to promote laminar flow of the liquid and provide good sealing engagement with an internal annular seat or rim within the pouring tube. 
     The spout hereof can be used with virtually any liquid, can be sized for mounting on containers of various sizes and is easily controlled. The operation of the pouring spout is greatly simplified in comparison to other vent limiting spouts, in that the user can simply tip the dispenser, i.e. the container and spout, so that the pouring tube and its air intake port are located in the receiving tank. By depressing the button positioned opposite the pouring tube, liquid is dispensed past the stop, and releasing the button causes corresponding cessation of liquid flow. If the button is retained in a depressed position until the liquid level in the tank rises to a level covering the air intake port on the pouring tube, a partial vacuum is formed within the dispensing container and liquid slows and then stops flowing from the pouring tube. 
     These and other advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art with reference to the following drawings and description of the preferred embodiment shown therein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top right front perspective view showing the spill-inhibiting spout hereof mounted on a liquid container; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the spout; 
     FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view in perspective along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2, showing the flow release button in a depressed or actuated position; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 2, showing the spout hereof mounted on a liquid container with arrows illustrating the liquid flow and return ventilation of gas into the container with the tubular rod shifting the stop to a first flow permitting position; 
     FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the spout taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 2, showing the flow release button in the extended position to shift the rod and the stop carried thereby to a second position inhibiting the flow of liquid through the pouring spout and past the stop; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4, showing the pouring tube inserted beneath the liquid level of a receiving tank so that the spout air intake is beneath the surface, thereby inhibiting the further discharge of liquid from the spout; and 
     FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 of a prior art spout. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 7 illustrates a prior art spout  1  adapted for coupling to a liquid container by threaded attachment, chemical bonding or heat sealing. The spout  1  as shown includes a pouring tube  2  with a stop  3  for preventing liquid flow. An extension  4  is frictionally fitted over the pouring tube  2 . The stop  3  is carried by a solid shiftable rod  5  connected to a button  6  and carried by a body  7 . Spring  8  biases the button  6  and therefore the rod  5  and stop  3  to a closed position. By pressing on the button  6 , the rod  5  shifts within the pouring tube  2  so that the stop is shifted away from its flow inhibiting position illustrated. Air enters the spout  1  between the body  7  and the rod  5  to replace the volume within the container vacated by the dispensed liquid. Seals  9  surround the rod  5  and are held in position by a seal spring to inhibit the escape of fumes from the spout  1  when the stop  3  is in the closed position, but no provision is made for limiting intake of air from either the pouring tube  2  or the extension  3  when liquid is being dispensed therefrom. 
     FIGS. 1 through 6 illustrate my new spill-inhibiting spout  10  in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the spout  10  hereof is designed to be mounted on a liquid container  12  presenting a hollow reservoir  14 , a graspable handle  16 , and a filler cap  18  threadably mounted on the handle  16  to permit filling of the reservoir  14  without the need to remove the spout  10 . The container  12  may be of metal, polyethylene or other suitably strong and leak-resistant material. The spout  10  may be screwed on to a threaded neck  20 , as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, or alternatively chemically bonded or heat welded onto a smooth neck to ensure proper alignment of the spout  10  relative to the container  12 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 through 6, spout  10  broadly includes a pouring tube  22 , a body  24 , a tubular rod  26  mounting an annular stop  28  and a vent intake tube  30  at one end  32  and carrying a button  34  at the other end  36 . A spring  38  is positioned between the body  24  and the button  34 , thereby biasing the rod  26  toward the button  34  and the stop  28  into seating engagement with a seat  40  on the pouring tube  22 . 
     In greater detail, pouring tube  22  may be provided as a single tubular extension from body  24 , or as shown in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, as a pipe  42  integrally formed with and extending from body  24  and a detachable, flexible extension  44  frictionally fitted over the pipe  42 . The pouring tube  22  includes a pouring opening  46  at the remote end thereof, and a port  48  defined in sidewall  50  of pouring tube  22 . The pouring tube  22  is preferably, though not necessarily, provided with corrugations  52  upstream from port  48  to provide flexibility for the pouring tube  22  and thereby permit the orientation of the pouring opening  46  to be changed. The annular seat  40  is preferably integrally formed with pouring tube  22  as a raised ridge to sealingly engage the stop  28  when seated thereagainst. 
     Body  24  is substantially cylindrical about an upright axis, carrying pouring tube  22  and a button receiver  53  in opposed relationship located along a common normally horizontal axis as illustrated in FIG.  5 . The body  24  includes an internally threaded collar  54  configured for mounting on neck  20 , or alternatively the collar may be smooth for chemical bonding or welding to the neck or lugged for bayonet mounting, or other mounting relationship to permit the spout  10  to be attached to the neck  20  to avoid liquid leakage. The body  24  also includes a circular wall  56  presenting an opening  58  into pouring tube  22  and an opposed access  60  for the passage of tubular rod  26  therethrough. The access  60  is sized just large enough to accommodate rod  26  therethrough and thus not only acts a bushing supporting the rod  26  during shifting of the latter, but also as a seal to inhibit the undesired escape of liquid or vapors between the rod  26  and the body  24 . 
     Tubular rod  26  is shiftably carried by the body  24  for reciprocating movement initiated by button  34  mounted to rod  26  by snap fitting, threads, or, as shown in the drawings, a set screw  61 . The rod  26  presents one end  32  and other end  36  which is internally threaded to receive set screw  60 . An O-ring  62  is mounted on tubular rod  26  and is located between button  34  and opening  58 , the O-ring being biased in sealing relationship against access  60  by spring  38 . Tubular rod  26  also presents at least one and preferably a plurality of holes  64  which are located on the exterior of the wall  56  when the button  34  is free and the stop  28  is resting against seat  40  as shown in FIG. 5, but which are located on the interior of the wall  56  when the button  34  is depressed and the stop  28  is unseated as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. 
     The holes  64  fluidically communicate through a tubular channel within and extending the length of tubular rod  26  to vent intake tube  30  mounted on the one end  32  into the interior of the body  24  and thus fluidically communicate with the hollow interior of the liquid container  12 . Stop  28  is also mounted on tubular rod  26  at one end  32 . The stop  28  is preferably fixed by threading onto rod  26 , adhesive, or other means whereby the stop is prevented from shifting along the rod  26 . The stop  28  also preferably presents a frustoconical outer surface  66  to preferably cause the flow of liquid therepast to be more laminar and also to facilitate seating of the stop  28 . The stop  28  may be of low-density polyethylene or a resilient, petroleum resistant synthetic resin material such as neoprene to further promote sealing. The tubular rod  26  extends forwardly from stop  28  into pouring tube  22  to receive a sleeve  68  of intake tube  30  thereon. Intake tube  30  also includes a curved portion  70  which is preferably of a flexible tubular synthetic resin material and provided with a diagonally cut end  72  to lie flush with the exterior of the pouring tube  22  and within port  48 . The flexibility of the curved portion  68  facilitates shifting of the tubular rod  26 . 
     The spout  10  hereof is useful in dispensing a variety of liquids, but its features are particularly beneficial in connection with dispensing gasoline, kerosene or other petroleum products because the design inhibits undesired escape of vapors of VOCs. In typical operation, the spout  10  is mounted to container  12  to provide a liquid dispenser  73 . The user grasps handle  16  and tilts the container  12  so that the level of the liquid  74  within the container  12  flows through the opening  58  and into the pouring tube  22 . When the user is ready to dispense the liquid  74 , he pushes against the button  34  with a thumb or finger, thereby shifting the tubular rod and stop  28 . This both permits liquid  74  to pass from pouring tube  22  and exposes the holes  62  within the circular wall of the body  24  so that as the liquid passes from the spout  10  through the pouring opening  46 , air is permitted to enter through the vent intake tube  30  and through the holes  64  into the interior of the spout  10  and into the container  12  on which the spout  10  is mounted. At any time, the flow of liquid will cease when the user releases the button and the spring  38  returns the button  34  and tubular rod  26  to their initial position shown in FIG. 5, all the while maintaining O-ring  62  in sealing engagement over the access  60  and against the circular wall  56 . The rearward shifting of the rod  26  also causes the stop  28  to seal against seat  40  to immediately cut off the flow of liquid past the stop  28 . 
     In the event the user is dispensing the liquid  74  into a tank  76  or other receptacle, the level  78  of the liquid received therein may eventually rise to threaten spillage by overflow. The spout  10  hereof, when properly used, resists this eventuality. When the end  72  of the vent intake tube  30  below the rim  80  of the tank  76 , the level  78  of the liquid  74  will rise above the end  72  before the liquid spills over the rim  80  and out of the tank. When the level  78  rises above the end  72  of the vent intake tube projecting through port  48 , air is no longer able to enter into the spout  10  nor into the container  12  when the filler cap  18  is securely in place as shown in FIG. 1. A vacuum begins to build within the container, slowing the discharge of liquid through the pouring tube  22  until the flow therethrough virtually stops as shown in FIG.  6 . Because the holes  64  are within the interior of the spout  10 , no air may enter the container  12 . The vacuum thus created is maintained, so that even if the user inadvertently keeps the button  34  open longer than desirable, spillage will be averted provided the end  72  remains beneath the level  78 . Upon recognizing that the level  78  is at the maximum desired, the user will then know to release the button  34  to close the stop against its seat prior to lifting the end  72  above the level  78 . During storage, vapors are prevented from escaping past the O-ring and the stop  34 , and air may pass through the vent tube  30  without entering the interior of the container  12 , thereby avoiding undesired escape of volatile fumes. 
     The construction of the spout  10  hereof thus permits one handed operation and a minimum of parts which can be readily assembled with a small expense, and is easy to use, maintain and store. 
     Although preferred forms of the invention have been described above, it is to be recognized that such disclosure is by way of illustration only, and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Obvious modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as hereinabove set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example the use of a threaded collar on the spout  10  avoids the necessity for a separate filler cap  18 , making the spout  10  hereof useful in connection with bleach bottles or other chemical containers where the liquids, if spilled, may be harmful. A lever or other engagement member could be substituted for the button  34  to shift the rod  26  from a position exterior to the body. Other examples of such modifications include making the tubular rod  26  of brass, synthetic resin or other crush-resistant material and integrally forming the rod  26  with vent tube  30 . 
     The inventor hereby states his intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of his/their invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.