OIL POURER WITH MOVABLE FUNNEL SECTION

An oil pourer includes a spout shell that is configured to be connected with a bottle of culinary oil and a collapsible funnel section connected with the spout shell and moveable with respect to the spout shell between an open position and a closed position. When the funnel section is in the open position, the funnel section and the spout shell define an oil-filling opening. When the funnel section is in the closed position, the funnel section seals against the spout shell to close the oil-filling opening. A method of using an oil pourer is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND

Cooks often transfer culinary oil, e.g., olive oil, from a larger bottle or container into a smaller bottle. The smaller bottle often is easier to handle, which makes it is easier to dispense a desired amount of culinary oil.

Transferring the oil from the larger bottle to the smaller bottle can present problems. First, the spout needs to be removed from the smaller bottle. Also, the mouth of the smaller bottle may be too small to pour oil from the larger bottle into the smaller bottle. Traditional kitchen funnels can be inserted into the mouth of the smaller bottle; however, after use the funnel needs to be cleaned and the spout of the smaller bottle needs to be inserted back into the mouth that was once occupied by the funnel.

SUMMARY

An example of an oil pourer that can overcome at least one of the aforementioned shortcomings includes a spout shell that is configured to be connected with an associated bottle of culinary oil and a collapsible funnel section connected with the spout shell. The funnel section is moveable with respect to the spout shell between an open position and a closed position. When the funnel section is in the open position, the funnel section and the spout shell define an oil-filling opening. When the funnel section is in the closed position, the funnel section seals against the spout shell to close the oil-filling opening. Also, when the funnel section is in the closed position, the funnel section is positioned to direct oil toward an oil-dispensing opening when the oil pourer is tilted to pour culinary oil from the associated bottle through the oil pourer.

A method of using an oil pourer is also disclosed, which includes connecting an oil pourer to a bottle of culinary oil. The method further includes positioning a collapsible funnel section of the oil pourer in an open position. When in the open position, the funnel section and a spout shell connected with the funnel section define an oil-filling opening. The method further includes pouring culinary oil from a container into the bottle through the oil-filling opening and the oil pourer with the funnel section in the open position. The method further includes positioning the collapsible funnel section of the oil pourer in a closed position. When in the closed position, the funnel section seals against the spout shell to close the oil-filling opening. The method further includes pouring culinary oil from the bottle through the oil pourer and out an oil-dispensing opening with the funnel section in the closed position.

Another example of an oil pourer includes a spout shell and a collapsible funnel section. The spout shell at least partially defines an oil outlet passage, an oil inlet passage, and a hole connecting the oil outlet passage and the oil inlet passage. The spout shell is configured to be connected with an associated bottle of culinary oil. The collapsible funnel section connects with the spout shell and is movable with respect to the spout shell between an open position and a closed position. When the funnel section is in the open position, the funnel section is spaced from a shell inner surface. When the funnel section is in the closed position, the funnel section contacts the shell inner surface and covers the hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, an oil pourer10includes a spout shell12, a flexible membrane14, a bottle insert16, and a tube18. In the illustrated embodiment, the flexible membrane14includes an integrally formed collapsible funnel section20that is moveable with respect to the spout shell12between an open position (shown inFIGS. 1 and 2) and a closed position (shown inFIG. 3). The oil pourer10can facilitate the transfer of culinary oil from a larger bottle into a smaller bottle and also operate as a spout for the bottle to which it is attached. The collapsible funnel section20of the oil pourer10can be disposed in the open position and operate similar to a traditional funnel to allow culinary oil to be poured through the oil pourer10and into a smaller bottle in which the bottle insert16is inserted. The collapsible funnel section20can then be moved to the closed position, which is shown inFIG. 3, so that culinary oil can be dispensed from the smaller bottle b onto food, a cooking pan, or the like.

The spout shell12is configured to be connected with a bottle b (FIG. 3) of culinary oil. In the illustrated embodiment, the spout shell12connects with the bottle b by inserting the bottle insert16, which is connected with the spout shell12, into the mouth of the bottle. The spout shell12includes an outer shell30and an inner shell32. The outer shell30is connected with the inner shell32, and in the illustrated embodiment, at least a portion of the flexible membrane14is disposed between the inner shell32and the outer shell30. The spout shell12defines an oil dispensing opening34(FIG. 3) through which culinary oil is dispensed from the oil pourer. The oil dispensing opening34is covered by a pivoting dust guard36, which is connected with the inner shell32. The spout shell12also includes a substantially U-shaped edge38, which is on a side of the spout shell12opposite the oil dispensing opening34.

The outer shell30can be made from metal. On a side of the outer shell30opposite the U-shaped edge38the outer shell bulges outwardly so that the spout shell12defines an oil outlet passage40that terminates at the oil dispensing opening34. The inner shell32can be similar in shape and configuration to the outer shell30, while being slightly smaller in size so that the inner shell is received within the outer shell. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner shell32is formed of a rigid plastic material.

With reference toFIG. 2, the inner shell32includes a notch42that spaces the inner shell32from the flexible membrane14in the area of the notch. A recessed channel44, which is shown in phantom inFIG. 2, extends downwardly (per the orientation shown inFIG. 2) towards the bottle insert16and then bends underneath the U-shaped edge38. The recessed channel44can be formed in the inner shell32or the flexible membrane14between the inner shell32and the flexible membrane14. The inner shell32includes a curved inner wall46that extends upwardly from a lower edge48of the inner shell32toward the recessed channel42. The spout shell12includes an air vent opening50that is at least partially defined by the notch42. The air vent opening50is in communication with an air vent passage52, which is defined by the recessed channel44and the internal passage54defined by the curved inner wall46. The air vent passage52is further defined by an internal passage56of the tube18and operates in a manner that will be described in more detail below.

The flexible membrane14is made from a silicone material in the illustrated embodiment. Although other materials may be employed, the flexible silicone material allows the funnel section20to move between an open and closed position. When the funnel section20is in the open position, the funnel section20and the spout shell12define an oil filling opening60. The spout shell12includes a shell inner surface62, which is an inner surface of the inner shell32in the illustrated embodiment. The funnel section20also includes a funnel section inner surface64. The shell inner surface62is concave. The funnel section inner surface64is concave when the funnel section20is in the open position (FIGS. 1 and 2). This provides a large oil filling opening60that facilitates transferring culinary oil from a larger bottle into the smaller bottle b fitted with the oil pourer10. The funnel section inner surface64is convex when in the closed position (seeFIG. 3).

When the funnel section20is in the closed position, the funnel section20seals against the spout shell12to close the oil filling opening60. When the funnel section20is in the closed position, the funnel section20is also positioned to direct oil toward the oil dispensing opening34when the oil pourer10is tilted to pour culinary oil from the bottle b through the oil pourer.

The inner shell32separates the oil filling opening60from the oil dispensing opening34. The inner shell34includes a hole66that leads to the oil outlet passage40in the spout shell12. As seen inFIG. 3, the funnel section20seals against the spout shell12, and more particularly against the spout shell inner surface52adjacent to the hole66, when the funnel section20is in the closed position.

The funnel section20includes a hinge section70adjacent the U-shaped edge38of the spout shell12. As mentioned above, the funnel section20is integrally formed with the flexible membrane14, and the flexible membrane14is interposed between the inner shell32and the outer shell30. The hinge section70can be formed in the flexible membrane14and follows the contour of the shaped edge38of the spout shell12. The hinge section70has a reduced thickness as compared to an adjacent portion of the funnel section20and the flexible membrane14. The funnel section20folds about the hinge section70when moving from the open position toward the closed position, and vice versa. The funnel section20also includes an outwardly extending tab72. The tab72can be gripped by the operator, for example to pull the tab to move the funnel section20from the closed position toward the open position.

The bottle insert16connects with the spout shell12using fasteners80. The bottle insert16can connect with the spout shell12in other conventional manners. The bottle insert16is generally cylindrical in configuration. An over mold82having annular ribs84surrounds and is connected with the bottle insert16. The bottle insert16also includes a curved internal wall86, which is similar in configuration to the curved internal wall46formed by the inner shell32. The curved internal wall86defines a passage88that receives the tube18to further define the air vent passage52. The curved internal wall86separates the air vent passage52from an oil passage90in the bottle insert16. Culinary oil flows into and out of the bottle b to which the oil pourer10is connected through the oil passage90in the bottle insert16. The oil passage90in the bottle insert16is in fluid communication with the oil filling opening60when the funnel section20is in the open position. The oil passage90in the bottle insert16is in fluid communication with oil outlet passage40when the funnel section20is in the open position and when the funnel section20is in the closed position.

The tube18is generally cylindrical in configuration; however, the tube can take other configurations. The tube18is hollow and further defines the air vent passage52. The tube18extends downwardly from the spout shell12to define at least a portion of the air vent passage52. The air vent opening50is open when the funnel section20is in the closed position, which is shown inFIG. 3, and when the funnel section20is in the open position, which is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. This allows air to be displaced from the bottle b to which the oil pourer10is connected both when the bottle b is being filled and when oil is being poured from the bottle b. The tube18includes a flared lower end. In the illustrated embodiment, an end section92connects with the lower end of the tube18. The end section92is trumpet-shaped flaring outwardly from a center line of the tube18. When pouring culinary oil from a larger container into the bottle through the oil filling opening50, the oil passes over the flared end section92and is inhibited from collecting at the lower end of the tube, which could possibly block the egress of air from the bottle b during the bottle-filling operation.

The spout shell12at least partially defines the oil outlet passage40, an oil inlet passage94, and the hole66connecting the oil outlet passage40to the oil inlet passage94. The oil inlet passage94is in communication with the oil passage90in the bottle insert16. The oil inlet passage94is formed when the collapsible funnel section20is in the open position. When the funnel section20is in the open position, the funnel section20is spaced from the shell inner surface62. However, when the funnel section20is in the closed position, the funnel section20contacts the shell inner surface62and covers the hole66formed in the inner shell32. As such, the funnel section20is positioned to direct oil toward the oil dispensing opening34during pouring and oil is precluded from exiting the oil pourer10through the oil filling opening60when the collapsible section20is in a closed position.

To use the oil pourer, an operator connects the oil pourer10to the bottle b of culinary oil, as shown inFIG. 3. The collapsible funnel section20of the oil pourer10is positioned in the open position (FIGS. 1 and 2) where the funnel section20and the spout shell12define the oil filling opening60. Culinary oil from a larger container (not shown) can be poured into the bottle b through the oil filling opening60and through the oil pourer10when the funnel section20is in the open position. After the bottle b of culinary oil is filled, the collapsible funnel section20can be positioned in a closed position (FIG. 3) where the funnel section20seals against the spout shell12, and more particularly the inner surface62of the spout shell, to close the oil filling opening60. With the funnel section20in the closed position, culinary oil from the bottle b can be poured through the oil pourer10and through the oil dispensing opening34.

As mentioned above, the air vent50remains open to ambient when the collapsible funnel section20is positioned in both the open position (FIGS. 1 and 2) and the closed position (FIG. 3). This allows air to exit the bottle b when the bottle is being filled with culinary oil. This also allows air (represented by dashed arrows inFIG. 3) to enter into the bottle b when culinary oil is being poured from the bottle (represented by solid line arrows inFIG. 3) . The tube18includes a flared lower end, which in the depicted embodiment is provided by way of the flared end section92. Pouring the culinary oil from the larger container into the bottle b through the oil filling opening60results in the culinary oil passing over the flared lower end of the tube and directs the oil away from the lower opening of the tube18to facilitate the egress of air from the bottle b during filling.

An oil pourer with a movable funnel section has been described above with particularity. Modifications and alterations will occur to those upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. The invention, however, is not limited to only the embodiments described above. Instead, the invention is broadly defined by the appended claims and the equivalents thereof. It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives or varieties thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.