Abstract:
Disclosed is a pouring dispenser for pouring liquid from a bottle, the pouring dispenser incorporating a removable nozzle section.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 11/098,180, filed Apr. 4, 2005, which claims priority to Australian Application No. 2004 901795, filed Apr. 2, 2004. The contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present invention broadly relates to pouring dispensers and, in particular, to a bottle mounted pouring dispenser for pouring liquids such as liquor. The invention will hereinafter be described with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use. 
         [0004]    2. General Background 
         [0005]    Bottle mounted drink pouring dispensers have long been used in the bar and restaurant industry, as well as in the home, for dispensing liquors in a controlled fashion and with minimal spillage. In their simplest construction, such pouring dispensers comprise a cork or other flexible sealing device designed to seal the bottle opening, and a pour nozzle extending from the interior of the bottle through the cork or other scaling device. The nozzle allows fluid communication between the interior of the bottle and the exterior of the bottle. The nozzle is typically bent to facilitate pouring the liquid from the bottle into a container. An airflow vent in fluid communication with the bottle interior and in communication with the atmosphere facilitates pouring, allowing air to enter the bottle from the atmosphere upon liquid being poured from the bottle, equalising the pressure. 
         [0006]    Known pouring dispensers comprise a moulded plastic or metal pouring nozzle extending through an annular base portion. The annular base portion comprises a cylindrical extension which fits securely into the neck of the bottle, sealing the bottle. This cylindrical extension is commonly over-fitted with a flexible cork, rubber or other sealing device. This sealing device retains the pouring nozzle and base over the mouth of the bottle during use. The pouring nozzle extends through the annular base portion and cylindrical extension such that the interior of the bottle is in fluid communication with the exterior of the bottle by means of the pouring nozzle. The pouring dispenser is therefore inserted into the neck of a bottle to facilitate pouring from the bottle. 
         [0007]    Pouring dispenser cleaning is of particular importance in bars and restaurants. Known pouring dispensers require removal of the entire dispenser for cleaning, leaving the bottle open to the atmosphere or requiring that bottles be covered with plastic wrap or an alternate water impermeable material. This process is time-consuming and not secure. Moreover the need for easy removal of the pouring dispenser from the bottle for the purpose of cleaning means that the pouring dispenser can be knocked off at inopportune times, such as while pouring liquid from the bottle or when the bottle is knocked or dropped. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    According to a first aspect there is provided a pouring dispenser for pouring liquid from a bottle, the pouring dispenser comprising a sleeve adapted to be removably attached with the neck of the bottle, and a pouring nozzle adapted to be removably attached with and extend from the sleeve, such, that the pouring nozzle is in fluid communication with the interior of the bottle. 
         [0009]    In one form the sleeve is adapted to be inserted into and extend from the neck of the bottle and to form a liquid-tight seal with the neck of the bottle. 
         [0010]    In one form the pouring nozzle is adapted to be inserted into the sleeve and to form a liquid-tight seal with the sleeve. 
         [0011]    In one form the pouring nozzle extends through the sleeve. 
         [0012]    In one form the sleeve comprises a neck portion, adapted to be inserted into the neck of the bottle, and an annular shoulder portion, adapted to extend from the neck of the bottle. 
         [0013]    In one form the pouring nozzle comprises a spout portion, adapted to pour liquids, and an annular base portion. In this form the annular base portion is adapted to be removably connected with the annular shoulder portion. 
         [0014]    In one form the pouring nozzle includes an airflow channel, the airflow channel extending from an airflow aperture in the surface of the pouring nozzle into the interior of the bottle. The airflow aperture is elliptical. 
         [0015]    In one form the pouring dispenser further comprises a cover which is adapted for use as a measure. The cover is adapted to be removably attached with the sleeve. 
         [0016]    In one form the sleeve extends from the neck of the bottle substantially in line with the neck of the bottle. 
         [0017]    In one form the cover extends from the sleeve substantially in line with the sleeve. 
         [0018]    According to a second aspect there is provided a pouring dispenser for pouring liquid from a bottle, the pouring dispenser comprising a pouring nozzle through which liquid is dispensed, the pouring nozzle being removable from the pouring dispenser. 
         [0019]    In one form the pouring nozzle is adapted to form a liquid-tight seal with the neck of the bottle. 
         [0020]    In one form the pouring nozzle extends from the interior of the bottle, through the pouring dispenser and is adapted to form a liquid-tight seal with the pouring dispenser. 
         [0021]    In one form the pouring dispenser further comprises a neck portion, adapted to be inserted into the neck of the bottle, and an annular shoulder portion, adapted to extend from the neck of the bottle. 
         [0022]    In one form the pouring nozzle comprises a spout portion, adapted to pour liquids, and an annular base portion. In this form the annular base portion is adapted to be removably connected with the annular shoulder portion. 
         [0023]    In one form the pouring nozzle includes an airflow channel, the airflow channel extending from an airflow aperture in the surface of the pouring nozzle into the interior of the bottle. The airflow aperture is elliptical. 
         [0024]    In one form the pouring dispenser further comprises a cover. The cover is adapted for use as a measure and is removably attached with the pouring dispenser. 
         [0025]    In one form the pouring dispenser extends from the neck of the bottle substantially in line with the neck of the bottle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0026]    A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  is a bottom perspective view of a pouring dispenser in accordance with the preferred embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the pouring dispenser of  FIG. 1 , with cover; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the pouring dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is top perspective view of the pouring dispenser of  FIG. 1 , with cover; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the pouring dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of the pouring dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the pouring dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the pouring dispenser of  FIG. 1 , with cover; 
           [0035]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the pouring dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the pouring dispenser of  FIG. 1 , with cover; 
           [0037]      FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the pouring dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 12  is a top view of the pouring dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0039]      FIGS. 1 through 12  depict a pouring dispenser  1  for pouring liquid from a bottle (not illustrated). The pouring dispenser  1  comprises a sleeve  2 , the sleeve  2  comprising a cylindrical neck portion  3  and an annular shoulder portion  4 . The sleeve  2  is composed of moulded plastic, metal or other material, capable of being formed or moulded. The sleeve,  2  also comprises a sealing portion  5  which over-fits the cylindrical neck portion  3 . The sealing portion  5  is composed of a ribbed or flexible material such as rubber or cork. 
         [0040]    In use the cylindrical neck portion  3  of the sleeve  2  is adapted to fit inside the neck of the bottle. The sealing portion  5  ensures that the cylindrical neck portion is closely fitted inside the neck of the bottle such that little or no fluid escapes the bottle by flowing around the edges of the cylindrical neck portion  3 . The annular shoulder portion  4  is adapted to extend from the bottle and be positioned abutting or proximal to the rim of the bottle neck (not illustrated) such that the pouring dispenser  1  cannot be inserted too far into the bottle. Further, the annular shoulder portion  4  can be utilised as a grip for removing the pouring dispenser  1  from the bottle. 
         [0041]    The pouring dispenser  1  also comprises a pouring nozzle  6 . The pouring nozzle  6  comprises a spout portion  7  extending through an annular base portion  8 . The annular base portion  8  is adapted to be removably attached with the annular shoulder portion  4  of the sleeve  2 . In one form the attachment means (not illustrated) is a resistance fit. In another form the attachment means comprises a helical thread extending outwardly from the annular shoulder portion and inwardly from the annular base portion, the thread being adapted to allow the annular base portion  8  to be threadedly attached to the annular shoulder portion  4 . In another form the attachment means is a snap fit fastening such as a slight undercut around the full inner circumference of the annular base portion  8  and a slight tapering around the full circumference of the annular shoulder portion  4 . 
         [0042]    The spout portion  7  of the pouring nozzle  6  is tubular and facilitates the user dispensing a requested volume of liquid from the bottle out into a measure. The volume of liquid is preferably about 30 millilitres. The spout portion  7  is slightly curved to allow for greater pouring ease. 
         [0043]    The pouring nozzle  6 , also comprises an airflow channel  9  extending from an airflow aperture  10  in the surface of the pouring nozzle  6  to the interior of the bottle. The airflow aperture  10  is elliptical in shape and is positioned close to the annular base  8  of the pouring nozzle  6 , such that a user may cover the airflow cavity  10  with a thumb or forefinger in order to better control the flow of liquid through the pouring nozzle  6 . The airflow channel  9  is adapted to allow air to flow into the interior of the bottle upon liquid being poured from the bottle such that the pressure in the interior and exterior of the bottle are equalised to allow for greater pouring ease. 
         [0044]    The pouring nozzle is composed of moulded plastic, metal or other material capable of being formed or moulded. 
         [0045]    In use the pouring nozzle  6  is inserted into the sleeve  2 . The annular base portion  8  of the pouring nozzle  6  is removably attached with the annular shoulder portion  4  of the sleeve  2 . The pouring nozzle  6  is therefore removable from the sleeve  2 . This feature allows for a greater ease of cleaning the pouring nozzle  6  and allows for cleaning the pouring nozzle  6  while leaving sleeve  2  in place. 
         [0046]    The pouring dispenser  1  comprises a cover  11 . This is clearly illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The cover  11  is removably attached with the sleeve  2  by means of resistance fit, a threaded helix or a snap fit fastening such as a slight undercut around the full circumference of the sleeve  2  and a slight tapering around the full circumference of the cover  11 . 
         [0047]    In use, the cover  11  is removed from the pouring dispenser  1  and inverted such that the cover  11  can be utilised as a container for the liquid dispensed from the bottle. The cover  11  is a measure to accurately dispense a particular volume of liquid from the pouring dispenser  1 . The cover  11 , is adapted to accurately contain 30 mL of liquid or whatever might be a standard measure at the point of sale. 
         [0048]    In one form the cover  11  includes gradations to indicate the volume o liquid contained within the inverted cover  11 . In another form the cover  11  includes an indicator line or variation in external texture, for example, at a half measure or 15 millilitre measure. 
         [0049]    In use the pouring nozzle  6  is removably attached with sleeve  2 . When the pouring nozzle  6  is removed from the sleeve  2 , cover  11  can still be placed over the sleeve  2  and removably attached with the annular shoulder portion  4  in order to seal the bottle. Thus the pouring nozzle  6  can be removed for cleaning and cover  11  can be used to seal the bottle without needing to resort to plastic wrap or other insecure means of sealing the bottle. 
         [0050]    The attachment means (not illustrated) attaching the pouring nozzle  6  with the sleeve  2  is sufficiently stable to ensure that the pouring nozzle  6  is not accidentally separated from the sleeve  2  when the cover it is removed. 
         [0051]    The sleeve  2  and the base of the pouring nozzle  6  extend from the bottle (not illustrated) substantially in line with the neck of the bottle. That is the annular shoulder portion  4  has a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the opening (not illustrated) in the neck of the bottle. This reduces the risk of accidentally removing the pouring dispenser  1  when handling the bottle. The cover  11  extends from the sleeve  2  substantially in line with the annular shoulder portion  4 . 
         [0052]    The foregoing describes only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0053]    The term “comprising”, and its grammatical variations, as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of “having” or “including” and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of”.