Adjustable dispensing cap

Embodiments of the present invention provide dispensing caps, containers, and methods for quickly and easily dispensing liquids of varying viscosities at different flow rates. In one embodiment, an adjustable dispensing cap is provided that permits a user to rotate a first member to select an appropriately sized pour hole and achieve a desired flow rate for the particular liquid to be dispensed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A dispensing cap enables a user to dispense contents of a container without having to remove the cap from the container. Typically, a dispensing cap is designed to dispense a specific liquid having a specific viscosity and will therefore include a pour hole that is sized to allow the liquid to flow at a desired flow rate. For example, dispensing caps designed to dispense foodstuffs or commercial products having a high viscosity (e.g., honey, thick lubricants, or thick adhesives) typically have a larger pour hole than those of dispensing caps designed to dispense less viscous products (e.g., vinegar or thin lubricants or adhesives).

When using a dispensing cap to dispense a liquid having a viscosity for which the cap was not designed (e.g., when reusing a container to dispense a different liquid, or when dispensing a liquid that has become thicker or thinner because of temperature or age), and/or when a user otherwise desires a faster or slower pour, the user must typically compensate to increase or decrease the flow rate of liquid dispensed from the container. For example, when dispensing liquid from a flexible plastic bottle, the user may need to squeeze the bottle with varying amounts of force. However, some users may have difficulty providing the force necessary to dispense a highly viscous liquid (e.g., elderly people or children who do not have sufficient hand strength), and dispensing liquids with a particularly high or low viscosity may simply be beyond the control of any user. Also, some containers, such as rigid bottles, might not be able to be squeezed or manipulated to achieve the desired flow rate.

There is a need in the art for inexpensive, adjustable dispensing caps that provide users with the ability to easily dispense liquids of varying viscosities as well as consistently and predictably achieve one or more desired flow rates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention satisfy the need in the art by providing adjustable dispensing caps that enable a user to quickly and easily dispense liquids of varying viscosities. Embodiments of the present invention incorporate a member having pour holes of various sizes. In operation, a user can rotate a member to select an appropriately sized pour hole and achieve a desired flow rate for the liquid to be dispensed. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide an easy-to-use, cost-effective, and versatile way to dispense liquids having varying viscosities and/or to otherwise control the flow rate of liquid to be dispensed.

In one embodiment, a dispensing cap for a container is provided, where the dispensing cap comprises: a first member having a plurality of through holes; and a second member rotatively coupled to the first member, the second member having a plurality of through holes, wherein each through hole of the first member is disposed such that it can overlap, in whole or in part, each through hole of the second pair member depending on the rotation of one or both of the first member and second member about a longitudinal axis passing through the first member and second member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

In the figures, elements that are similar to those of other embodiments of the present invention are represented by reference numerals increased by a value of 100. Such elements should be regarded as having the same function and features unless otherwise stated or depicted herein, and the discussion of such elements may therefore not be repeated for multiple embodiments.

FIGS. 1 and 2show a perspective view and exploded perspective view, respectively, of an adjustable dispensing cap100in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3shows a sectional view of the adjustable dispensing cap100taken along the line III-III ofFIG. 1.FIG. 4shows a schematic plan view of a first member102of the adjustable dispensing cap100.

The adjustable dispensing cap100comprises a first member102, which includes four through holes103athrough103dthat are aligned into two pairs along diametrical axes (represented by dotted lines) that pass through a central through hole105and post108: 1) a pair of through holes103a,103c; and 2) a pair of through holes103b,103d. Each of the through holes103athrough103dincludes a respective spout104athrough104dadjacent thereto. In this configuration, one through hole of each pair (e.g., through hole103bof the pair of through holes103b,103d) serves as the pour hole for dispensing liquid with the respective spout (e.g., spout104b) helping to direct the flow of liquid and prevent drips during and after a pour, while the other through hole of the pair (e.g., through hole103dof the pair of through holes103b,103d) serves as a vent hole that enhances flow of the liquid, particularly when using rigid containers (i.e., as liquid exits the pour hole, air is drawn into the container through the vent hole to avoid creating a partial vacuum within the container and inhibiting flow of the liquid). As discussed in greater detail below, the through holes of each pair can perform either role (i.e., pour hole or vent hole) depending on which through hole the user decides to use as the pour hole.

Through holes103athrough103deach have a different size in order to accommodate different liquids of varying viscosities, to accommodate liquids whose viscosity changes as a result of factors such as temperature, age, and agitation, and/or to otherwise provide a user with the ability to select multiple different flow rates (i.e., pour speeds). In this embodiment, through hole103dhas the largest size and is intended for use with liquids having a greater viscosity or where an increased flow rate is otherwise desired, while through hole103ahas the smallest size and is intended for liquids having a lesser viscosity or where a decreased flow rate is otherwise desired. Preferably, the through holes of the first member102increase or decrease in size (e.g., in width, diameter, area, etc.) in a fixed proportion between the largest and smallest through holes. Preferably, the fixed proportion falls within the range of 2:5 to 4:5 and, more preferably, the fixed proportion is 3:5. For example, for a fixed proportion of 3:5, through hole103cwould be ⅗ the size of through hole103d, through hole103bwould be ⅗ the size of through hole103c, and through hole103awould be ⅗ the size of through hole103b. The inventor has found that using a fixed proportion for the through hole sizes enables users to conveniently and predictably select a pour hole that they determine to be comfortable for pouring, and later consistently return to that position. The inventor has also found that the specific fixed proportions discussed above are particularly desirable because they enable a user to dispense common liquids (e.g., maple syrup) in acceptable and consistent timeframes (e.g., 3-5 seconds), after which the user might otherwise become uncomfortable or irritated for lack of strength and/or patience.

In this embodiment, through holes103athrough103dand through hole110b(discussed below) have a rounded wedge shape. With reference toFIG. 4, the size of each through hole can be calculated as the area by the following formula:

Area=(θ360)⁢(π⁡(R⁢⁢1+R⁢⁢2)2-π⁢⁢R⁢⁢12)Formula⁢⁢1
where θ is an arc angle, and R1and R2are radii as shown inFIG. 4. The wedge shape provides an advantage over circular through holes (e.g., adjustable dispensing cap400ofFIGS. 8 and 9) by increasing the area of the through holes and the number of through holes that can fit within a given region of a circular first member such as first member102. Accordingly, this embodiment, through holes103athrough103ddecrease in area, as calculated above, in a fixed proportion of 3:5: the area of through hole103cis ⅗ that of through hole103d; the area of through hole103bis ⅗ that of through hole103c; and the area of through hole103ais ⅗ that of through hole103b.

The first member102is rotatively coupled to a second member106. In this exemplary embodiment, the second member106comprises a sealing surface107, a post108having two flexible tabs109, a pair through holes110a,110bthat are aligned along a diametrical axis passing through the post108, and a lip114. The post108is inserted into the center through hole105of first member102, upon which the two flexible tabs109depress toward each other and then re-expand to secure the first member102to the second member106while still allowing the first member102and the second member106to rotate relative to each other and the remainder of the adjustable dispensing cap100about a longitudinal axis that passes through the first member102and the second member106, as shown. In this embodiment, the diametrical axes of the first member102and the second member106are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Through hole110bserves as the pour hole through which liquid flows, while through hole110aserves as the vent hole.

The third member111comprises a lip112, threads113, and an inwardly protruding portion115having an underside surface116. The third member111includes an upper opening117and a lower opening118, between which the threads113are disposed. The threads113are adapted to engage threads of a desired container (e.g., a maple syrup bottle). Accordingly, the shape and size of the third member111depends on the container to which it is to be attached. In this embodiment, the second member106is rotatively coupled to the third member111in a snap-on fashion, where the lip114disposed around the inner circumference of the second member106engages the lip112of the third member111(seeFIG. 3). In this manner, the second member106can be rotated relative to both the first member102and the third member111, while preventing leakage of liquid from the adjustable dispensing cap100. This design also enables the user to easily disassemble the adjustable dispensing cap100for cleaning.

In this embodiment, the inwardly protruding portion115defines the upper opening117, where the upper opening has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the lower opening118. When the third member111is secured to a container, as discussed below, the underside surface116of the inwardly protruding portion115abuts the top of the opening of the container (e.g., the top of the opening in the neck of a bottle), thereby making a seal that prevents liquid that is exiting the container from leaking down the threads113of the third member111and onto the exterior of the container.

In operation, a user screws the third member111onto a container such that the threads113engage threads on the container and the underside surface116of the inwardly protruding portion115creates a seal with the top of the opening of the container. The user can then easily rotate (e.g., with between 0.05 to 0.5 foot-pounds of force) the first member102and/or the second member106relative to each other such that either the pair of through holes103a,103cor103b,103doverlaps the pair of through holes110a,110bof the second member106. Stated differently, the user rotates the first member102and/or the second member106to select a through hole (i.e., pour hole) having a desired size and overlap the selected through hole, in whole or in part, with the through hole110bof the second member106. Because the sealing surface107contacts the underside surface (not shown) of the first member102, a flow path for the liquid is thereby defined from the inner volume of the container, through the through hole110bin the second member106and the selected through hole in the first member102, while a flow path for air is defined from the environment, through the other paired through hole in the first member102that is diametrically aligned with the selected through hole, through the through hole110ain the second member106, and into the inner volume of the container. A user can also achieve a closed position by rotating the first member102and/or the second member106relative to each other such that none of the through holes of the first member102overlap any through holes of the second member106.

Locating the variously sized through holes on the first member102(rather than, for example, the second member as in the adjustable dispensing cap200) increases visibility of the through holes to be selected and therefore can make selection of a pour hole easier for the user. Further, because both the first member102and the second member106rotate relative to each other and the third member111, a user can orient the selected pour hole in any direction relative to the container to facilitate easy pouring. For example, if the container has a handle of a left side of the container, the user may wish to orient the selected pour hole to the right side of the container by rotating the first member102and the second member106in unison relative to the third member111and the container. In another example, a user may wish to orient the selected pour hole to the front or rear of a container so that the user can use two hands to grip the container on the left and right sides and tilt the container toward or away from his or her body.

FIGS. 5 and 6show a perspective view and exploded perspective view, respectively, of an adjustable dispensing cap200in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Like the adjustable dispensing cap100, the adjustable dispensing cap200comprises a first member202, a second member206, and a third member211. In this embodiment, however, the first member202includes a pair of through holes203a,203bdiametrically aligned through a center through hole205, and a spout204adjacent through hole203a. In this configuration, through hole203aserves as the pour hole for dispensing liquid with the spout204helping control the direction of the flow, while through hole203bserves as the vent hole.

In this embodiment, the second member206, rather than the first member202, includes four through holes210athrough210dthat are aligned into two pairs along diametrical axes that pass through the post208: 1) a pair of through holes210a,210c; and 2) a pair of through holes210b,210d. Through holes210athrough210deach have a different size: through hole210dis largest, followed by, in descending order, through holes210c,210b, and210a.

In operation, a user screws the third member211onto a container such that the threads213engage threads on the container. The user then rotates the first member202and/or the second member206such that the pair of through holes203a,203boverlap (i.e., partially or completely align with) either the pair of through holes210a,210c, or the pair of through holes210b,210d. Stated differently, the user rotates the first member202and/or the second member206such that the through hole203a(i.e., the pour hole) overlaps, in whole or in part, a selected through hole in the second member206having a desired size that corresponds to the desired flow rate for the liquid to be dispensed. A flow path for the liquid is thereby defined from the inner volume of the container, through the selected through hole in the second member206and the through hole203ain the first member202, while a flow path for air is defined from the environment, through the other paired through hole in the second member206that is diametrically aligned with the selected through hole, through the through hole203bin the first member202and into the inner volume of the container. A user can also achieve a closed position by rotating the first member202relative to the second member206such that the pair of through holes203a,203bdoes not overlap either pair of through holes in the second member206.

FIGS. 7 and 8show a perspective view and exploded perspective view, respectively, of an adjustable dispensing cap300in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Like the adjustable dispensing cap100ofFIGS. 1 through 4, the adjustable dispensing cap300comprises a first member302and a second member306, where the first member302comprises four differently sized through holes303athrough303dthat are aligned into two pairs along diametrical axes that pass through a central through hole305: 1) a pair of through holes303a,303c; and 2) a pair of through holes303b,303d. Similarly, one through hole of each pair serves as a pour hole while the other through hole of the pair serves as a vent hole, and each of the through holes303athrough303dincludes a respective spout304athrough304dadjacent thereto. However, the adjustable dispensing cap300does not include a third member (e.g., such as third members111and211); the second member306also functions as the third member and includes threads313for engaging with threads on a container.

The through holes303athrough303dof the first member302each have a different size that is intended to accommodate liquid of varying viscosities and/or to otherwise increase or decrease the flow rate of the liquid being dispensed: through hole303dis largest, followed by, in descending order, through holes303c,303b, and303a. The second member306includes a single pair through holes310a,310bthat are aligned along a diametrical axis passing through the post308as shown. In this embodiment, through holes310aand310bare the same size and shape to enable pouring in two directions with respect to the container to which the adjustable dispensing cap300is attached (e.g., left and right pouring)

In operation, a user selects one of the through holes303athrough303dhaving a desired size and rotates the first member302relative to the second member306such that the selected through hole overlaps through hole310aor through hole310b. As previously discussed, a flow path for liquid is thereby defined through the selected through hole in the first member302and the overlapped through hole in the second member306, while a flow path for air is defined through the other paired through hole in the first member302(i.e., the through hole that is aligned with the selected through hole) and the other through hole in the second member306.

FIGS. 9 and 10show a perspective view and exploded perspective view, respectively, of an adjustable dispensing cap400in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Like the adjustable dispensing cap300ofFIGS. 7 and 8, adjustable dispensing cap400does not include a third member because the second member406also functions as the third member and includes threads413for engaging with threads on a container. Similarly, the first member402, rather than the second member406, includes through holes403athrough403dhaving different sizes to accommodate liquids of varying viscosities and/or otherwise achieve different flow rates. Lastly, unlike the adjustable dispensing caps100,200, and300, the adjustable dispensing cap400includes through holes and spouts that are circular in shape, where the circular spouts extend around the entire circumference of the circular through holes as shown. The area for each circular through hole can be calculated with the following formula:
Area=πr2Formula 2
where r is the radius of each circular through hole.

FIGS. 11 and 12show a perspective view and exploded perspective view, respectively, of an adjustable dispensing cap500in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Like the adjustable dispensing caps300and400, the adjustable dispensing cap500does not include a separate third member because the second member506also functions as the third member. Here, the second member506is attached to a container via a pressure fit (e.g., the second member506slides onto the neck of a bottle) rather than via threads. However, this and other embodiments can use any suitable connection means, including, but not limited to, threads, pressure fitting, clips and brackets

In this exemplary embodiment, the through holes503aand503bof the first member are circular in shape but do not include a raised spout portion. Also, the second member506includes six differently sized circular through holes510athrough510fto accommodate liquid of varying viscosities. For example, in this embodiment, through hole510fhas the largest area, followed by, in descending order, through holes510e,510d,510c,510b, and510a.FIG. 11further shows the adjustable dispensing cap500in a closed position (i.e., when not dispensing liquid) where the through holes503aand503bare not overlapped with any of the through holes510athrough510e, but are instead blocked by sealing surface507.

Unlike the embodiments ofFIGS. 1 through 10, the first member502is not coupled to the second member506via a post with tabs. Instead, the first member502is rotatively coupled to the second member506via a circular rim on the underside of the first member502(not shown) that snaps onto and engages a raised circular lip514on the second member506. In general, however, any suitable coupling mechanism can be used that enables the first member to rotate relative to the second member in this and other embodiments.

In the embodiments ofFIGS. 1 through 12, the through holes and spouts have wedge-shaped or circular designs. In other embodiments of the present invention, the through holes and spouts can having varying sizes and shapes apart from those depicted in the drawings in order to achieve desired flow characteristics for liquids. Similarly, a greater number of through holes can be incorporated into the first members and/or the second members so as to accommodate a greater number of different viscosities and/or a greater number of selectable flow rates. The first members and/or second members can also have various different shapes and sizes apart from the circular shapes depicted in the drawings. In addition, the adjustable dispensing caps and components thereof can be made from plastics, metals, composites, or any other suitable material known in the art and combinations thereof.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide dispensing caps that enable a user to dispense liquids of varying viscosities without having to replace the caps, squeeze the container, or otherwise expend energy to compensate for the varying viscosities and/or desired flow rates. In each embodiment, the user, regardless of age or strength, can quickly and easily rotate a first member and/or second member to select a particular pour hole to provide a desired flow rate for a particular liquid. Rather than provide for infinitely variable hole sizes and resulting flow rates, embodiments of the present invention provide discrete hole shapes and sizes that enable the user to predictably and consistently achieve a particular flow rate. If the user wishes to later alter the flow rate of the liquid, or if the user later uses the dispensing cap for another liquid having a different viscosity, the user can simply rotate the first member and/or second member again to select a different pour hole. Further, the relatively simple construction of dispensing caps in accordance with embodiments of the present invention provides for easy disassembly and cleaning. Lastly, while embodiments of the present invention have been discussed herein with respect to liquids, embodiments of the present invention can also be used with other substances capable of flowing through the pour holes, including granular solids (e.g., sugar) and mixtures of liquids and undissolved solids.

EXAMPLES

The following are examples in which adjustable dispensing caps were created and operated in accordance with embodiments of the present invention to demonstrate the effects of pour hole size on liquids of varying viscosities, and also to demonstrate the correlation between pour hole sizes in a fixed proportion and flow rates in a similar fixed proportion.

In this example, the adjustable dispensing cap100ofFIGS. 1 through 4was created, where the pour holes possessed the following design dimensions:

As shown, the through holes of the dispensing cap were designed to have decreasing areas in a fixed proportion of 3:5. The dispensing cap was prepared via 3-Dimensional printing and therefore the actual dimensions of the dispensing cap produced and tested differed slightly from the design dimensions. The measured dimensions (+/−0.002 in) of the tested cap were as follows:

The dispensing cap was tested as follows:

TABLE 3TestLog Cabin Original Syrupliquid:Pinnacle Foods Group LLCCherry Hill NJ 08003-3620UPC: 43000 00037Best By: May 8 20140148 49 S3 31Ingredients: corn syrup, liquid sugar (natural sugar, water), water, salt, naturaland artificial flavor (lactic acid), sodium hexametaphosphate, preservatives(sodium benzoate, sorbic acid), caramel color, phosphoric acidPropertiesLog Cabin Original Syrup is a mixture of several component liquids and a smallof testamount of dissolved solids. The main component liquid is corn syrup, which hasliquid:temperature-dependent viscosity and is known to exhibit the non-Newtonianproperty of viscosity change with sheer rate history. Both variations were shownto be true experimentally for this liquid (see testing protocol).TestingPrevious experimental data indicated that three pours before makingProtocol:measurements was adequate to create repeatable results and mitigate the effectsof temperature and sheer rate history on viscosity. Pre-conditioning (three pours)began with the syrup at a temperature of approximately 37 F.Because the syrup warms over the time needed to perform testing (affecting theviscosity), the hole size was varied in a strict rotation, rather than with using back-to-back runs with a single hole size. For each numbered pour listed below, thesyrup was poured through the noted holes, in sequential order, into a 100 mLgraduated cylinder.The viscosity variation was experimentally indicated in the test liquid bymeasuring the constant vertical speed of a 0.500 inch diameter steel ball fallingthrough the liquid (i.e., in a full 100 mL graduated cylinder). The usefulness of thismeasurement to indicate viscosity is well-known and is not discussed herein. Therange for the test conditions was chosen to correspond to typical conditions forreal-life use: in this case, fluid starting at 40 degrees Fahrenheit (refrigerated) andgradually warming to 59 degrees Fahrenheit and agitated by pouring (59 degreesF was used as the high temperature condition because a container of refrigeratedsyrup left at room temperature for 15 minutes reached this temperature). The testconditions and results were as follows:ConditionMeasured constant vertical speedUnstirred liquid, 40 F.3.1 cm/sAgitated liquid, 40 F.5.6 cm/sUnstirred liquid, 59 F.7.1 cm/sAgitated liquid, 59 F.10.1 cm/sInstead of computing an average flow rate for a given hole, the ratio of calculatedflow rate to the next hole was used and demonstrates control.To make the time measurements, a digital stopwatch with .01 second resolutionwas started and stopped by hand when the liquid level was observed to pass theindicated points (20 mL and 90 mL) on the graduated cylinder. The observationalmeasurement error is estimated to be approximately 0.1-0.2 seconds.A flat surface was set at a fixed 20 degree angle from horizontal to hold thecontainer (a 32 oz maple syrup bottle) at a repeatable angle. The vertical wall ofthe container rested against the flat surface for the entire measured pour.When the liquid was returned to the container to prepare for the next pour, someliquid (e.g., less than 10 mL) remained on the interior surface of the graduatedcylinder. Because of this, and the fact the pour would start before the containerfully arrived at the fixed repeatable angle, the start time mark was chosen to bethe 20 mL mark and the end point was the 100 mL mark. However, not all of theresidual liquid would return to the bottom before the next pour started, whichrepresented a source of measurement error.Time to pour 70 mlof liquid (seconds)Pour hole No.Pour #1Pour #2Pour #3ResultsPour hole 112.018.516.39Pour hole 218.9614.8910.96Pour hole 336.0133.2625.89Pour hole 486.1461.4559.7Flow rate (70 mL/timeto pour) (mL/s)Pour hole No.Pour #1Pour #2Pour #3Pour hole 15.838.2310.95Pour hole 23.694.76.39Pour hole 31.942.12.7Pour hole 40.811.141.17Ratios of flow ratesto next smallest holePour #1Pour #2Pour #3Pour holes 1:20.630.570.58Pour holes 2:30.530.450.42Pour holes 3:40.420.540.43

FIG. 13Ais a graph showing the flow rate results for each pour hole and pour in Tables 1 and 2. For comparison purposes, a fourth series, “Target 3:5”, was plotted starting at the flow rate for Pour hole1at Pour #2and was then reduced by 3:5 for each successive hole. Note that the y-axis scale is logarithmic in this graph.

The data shown in Tables 1 and 2 andFIG. 13Ademonstrates that the ratios of flow rates between pour holes are consistent and are proportionate to the ratios between the pour hole sizes, even where the viscosity of the liquid changes dramatically (i.e., as shown by the constant vertical speed measurements). The data also demonstrates that this embodiment provides an effective way to limit the flow rate of a liquid to a target range (e.g., 3.5 mL/s to 6.5 mL/s) even as the viscosity changes.

In this example, the same adjustable dispensing cap of Example 1 was used to test a second liquid, water, which has a substantially different viscosity than the maple syrup of Example 1. The dispensing cap was tested as follows:

TABLE 4TestPotable waterliquid:PropertiesTemperature of approximately 60 degrees Fahrenheit.of testliquid:TestingApproximately 1000 mL of water was placed in a 32 oz maple syrup bottle,Protocol:and the first 900 to 1000 mL was poured into a second container with 100 mLgraduated lines. Each pour was timed to determine an average flow rate foreach hole size compared to the next smaller hole, as well as the variation inflow rate as the bottle emptied.To make the time measurements, a video recording at 29.97 frames persecond was used to determine the video frame number when the liquid levelwas observed to pass indicated points (100 mL, 200 mL, 300 mL, 400 mL,500 mL, 600 mL, 700 mL, 800 mL, and 900 mL) on the second container. Thegraduated markings on the second container were calibrated using a 100 mLgraduated cylinder of good quality. The error in marking plus observationalmeasurement error is estimated to be approximately 10-30 mL.The 32 oz maple syrup bottle containing the water was placed on a flatsurface and set at a fixed 45 degree angle from horizontal. The vertical wallof the container rested against this flat surface for the entire measured pour.Because the setup requires starting the pour by inverting an upright bottleinto this position, the time when the liquid had already reached 100 mL wasused as the starting time for measurement.The liquid was returned to the 32 oz syrup container after each pour, and thecontainer with liquid was measured to ensure that less that 0.2 oz of liquidwas lost.The empty weight of the 32 oz syrup container was 88 grams.MarkerFramecalc framescalc mL/sPour hole 1Results100 ml5758200 ml58337539.95300 ml58915851.66400 ml59485752.56500 ml60156744.72600 ml60806546.09700 ml61345455.48800 ml61986446.81900 ml62697142.2Weight check: 1080 gAverage = 47.43(container + water)(STDEV = 5.37)Pour hole 2100 ml8117200 ml823511825.39300 ml83208535.25400 ml84119132.92500 ml84988734.44600 ml860210428.81700 ml86969431.87800 ml879810229.37900 ml890310528.53Weight check: 1080 gAverage = 30.82(container + water)(STDEV = 3.36)Pour hole 3100 ml11739200 ml1191517617.02300 ml1204412923.22400 ml1218814420.81500 ml1231412623.78600 ml1246014620.52700 ml1258612623.78800 ml1273114520.66900 ml1286513422.36Weight check: 1083 gAverage = 21.52(container + water)(STDEV = 2.28)Pour hole 4100 ml15648200 ml1592527710.82300 ml1616423912.54400 ml1641324912.03500 ml1668126811.18600 ml1690021913.68700 ml1709519515.36800 ml1733223712.64900 ml1759726511.31Average = 12.44(STDEV = 1.50)Ratios of flow rates to next smallest holePour holes 1:20.65Pour holes 2:30.70Pour holes 3:40.58

FIG. 13Bis a graph showing the average flow rate results for each pour hole from Table 4. For comparison purposes, a “Comparison” series was plotted beginning with the flow rate of Pour hole1and decreasing in a 3:5 ratio. Note that the y-axis scale is also logarithmic in this graph.

The data shown in Table 4 andFIG. 13Bdemonstrate again that the ratios of observed flow rates, which ranged from 0.58 to 0.70, match very closely with ratios of hole areas. Further, as the container emptied, the flow rates did not vary significantly (the standard deviation of calculated flow rate, as a percentage of flow rate, is approximately 12% or less). Accordingly, this data shows that this embodiment also provides a convenient and effective way to limit the flow rate of a liquid to a target range (e.g., 3:5) to control pour speeds with low-viscosity liquids such as water.

While the principles of the invention have been described above in connection with preferred embodiments and examples, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation of the scope of the invention.