DRIP-CATCHER, MAINLY FOR A BOTTLE OR SIMILAR CONTAINER OF LIQUID

Abstract: The invention concerns a drip-catcher, mainly for a bottle or similar container for liquids, the drip-catcher being an easily insertable, self-adjusting unit, adapted for being inserted by one hand in the opening of a bottle or container or test-tube, thereafter forming a tightly fitting outlet for the liquid so that a precise pouring is achieved and the jet after pouring is cut off correctly, so that deposition of liquid on the outside is avoided. After pouring, the drip-catcher is removed and the sides, which have been placed in the container, will unfold slowly, so that no liquid will be flung out in 45 DEG to 180 DEG . The drip-catcher may be provided with a logo or warning, always visible above the rim of the container when inserted. The drip-catcher comprises a piece of elastic, smooth material, such as plastic, paper, metal or similar material, cut out in a fundamentally heart-like shape, and being provided with bends at the sides and the bottom, eliminating any problems of insertion, and an incision serving as a stop when pressing down the drip-catcher. The upper part is cut out as a doubly elliptical edge for cutting off different liquids irrespective of their surface tension.

Description: Drip-catcher , mainly for a bottle or similar container of liquid This invention regards a drip-catcher of the kind de sc ribe d at the beginn ing of claim 1 . A similar drip-catcher in known from WO 95/19917. Drip-catchers of this kind are intended for being placed in the opening of bottles, containers, test tubes and other receptacles containing a liquid (hereafter called: container) for improving the flow of liquid, so as to form a well defined jet. Otherwise, the jet is usually uneven and sometimes splashing, e.g. from a bottle. The known drip-catcher: 1. is to be folded and sqeezed in the belonging wings, by use of both hands, and to be kept sqeezed during insertion in the container, the folding of the lower wings being adjusted to the opening of the con¬ tainer, also by the use of both hands. 2. by removal from the container, must be guarded against the unfol- ding force, which usually flings remains of liquid on the inside of the piece over 180°. 3. cuts the flow of liquid several times, caused by a wave effect. See the decription later in the application. it is the purpose of the invention to remedy these defects. This is done by shaping the drip-catcher in question as described in the characterizing part of claim 1. At the tip of its heart-shaped outline, the drip-catcher has a smal bend', which together with the heart-like outline, gives the advantage, that the drop-catcher can be inserted in the container by one hand, not, as seen in other patents, claiming both hands. Moreover, tne heart¬ like outline and the side bend have the effect, that the placing in the opening of the container always will be the same, so that a possible printed text on the front side will always be visible above the contai- ner. The top of the outline is cut to an elliptical shape, the two sides of which consist of a quarter of an ellipse, which, after the pouring has stopped, cuts off the flow, so that no liquid is deposited on the out¬ side of the container. This invention makes the insertion pleasant and easy, also for elder¬ ly people. No adjustments : are necessary, as a cut-out stop assures, that the drip-catcher is correctly inserted and placed. The shape of the bottom and the sides help to bend and shape it so as to fit the neck of the container . In actual use the drip-catcher is installed by holding the cutout piece of foil by two fingers ( as shown in fig.2) and press it lightly down into the container. The bend at the bottom makes the drip-catcher begin to bend in the round shape of the container, and when the two sides of the drip-catcher meet at the middle, the bend at the side will prevent collision and difficulty of insertion. When folding, the drip-catcher, contrary to the known technology in WO 95/19917, will , without difficulty,form an outside and inside, which are the same every time, due to the bend in the tip of the heart shaped outline. This assures, that any stamped og printed text will be correctly placed and always visible at the mouth of the container. The drip-catcher is not nessarily a disposable article, but may be used several times. After insertion the drip-catcher constitutes a cylindrical outlet, closely corresponding to the opening of the container, the flexibility of the material causing a tight fit, so that the liquid can only be let out through the drip'-catcher. When the liquid leaves the drip- catcher, it will be in the form of a regularly shaped jet which can accurately hit its mark without splaching. After the pouring, the dou¬ ble elleptically shaped cut off edge stop the flow in an way to avoid spilling end dripping. Liquids have different specific gravity and consitency. It is therefo¬ re not enough to make a V- og U-shaped cutout at the top of the foil to cut off the liquid flow. This invention embodies not just a cut-out but a mathematically calculated clipping device, which functions in the following way: A liquid to be "clipped" after the pouring has a surface tension va¬ rying logarithmetically in proportion to the amount of liquid pre¬ sent in the cut-off zone. If the V og U design is used, the cutting-off occurs in several steps, starting a smal ' wave, which causes the spilling. In this new inven¬ tion, the liquid flow is cut off sharply in just the right moment, Without any wave effect, at the cut-off points, as happens with the U and V designs. This offers a very stable and precise cut-off point, regardless of the speed as the container is tipped back. The problem is solved by a cut-off edge consiting of two quarter- ellipses facing each other forming a logarithmic cutter. (See drawing fig. 6) . When the drip-catcher is to be removed from the container, the heart shape causes the sides to be slowly unfolded, because of the gently slopi g curve on the sides of the heart shape, so that any liquid on the inside does not fly out over 45° to 180° as may happen with the exixtig drip-catchers of the same kind. This is important whwn e.g. acid id poured. The tip of the heart shaped outlie serves, besides starting the folding, to collect the last liquid remaining on the foil and deliver it back in the container. The outline given to the drip-catcher may be more or less heart shaped, but an outline is important, which provides an easy insertion and re¬ moval without surprises. Briefly described, the drip-catcher consists of a piece of plastic, paper or metal foil, cut out (see drawing, fig.1) in an heart shape as a starting point, but possibly in special variations. ( se dra¬ wing, fig.10 og 11 ) The invention is explained referring to the following figures in the drawing: Fig.1 shows the drip-catcher having fundamentally a heart-like outline with a bend at "t e right and left side. At the top is seen the ellip¬ tical contour for cutting off the drop. At the bottom the kink which serves the beginning of the folding and quick drop release. Fig.2 shows the one-hand insertion. The bend at the bottom starts the formation of an outside and an inside, in this case in a bottle. Fig. 3 shows the the folding, which is performed by a light pressure in the downwards direction, and the predetermined formation of a front and a back , which is important in the case of a text, always plac¬ ed at the mouth outside the bottle. Fig.3 can also show the slow unfolding of the drip-catcher, the gen¬ tle rise of the ' curvature making the unfolding slow. No flaps will strike out quickly and fling residual liquid on the inside of the drop- catcher to all sides. This might be dangerous in the case of agressive liquids. Fig. 4 shows the drip-catcher pressed down to the stop-flap, which pre¬ vents the drop-catcher disapearing in the bottle. Fig.5 shows the pouring of a liquid as a cylindrical jet. Fig.6 shows the cutting-off of the liquid by the elliptical cutter and that the jet is cut-off the very first time, and that the residual li¬ quid thereafter recedes. Fig. 7 shows the drip-catcher placed in a jug or a can. Fig.8 shows the drip-catcher placed in a test-tube, with a possibly aggressive liquid. Fig. 9 shows an embossed og printed text, warning or logo, always pla¬ ced on the outside, above the mouth of the container. Figs. 10 and 11 show variations of the drip-catcher, where a sigle stamping can give a "3D" effect.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. Drip-catcher, mainly for use in a Bottle or similar container for liquids, meant for insertion in the outlet opening of the container with the object of allowing drip-free pouring of liquid from the said contai¬ ner, where the drip-catcher consists of a piece of suitable elastic and flexible sheet material, e.g. plastic foil, and so constructed, that it when used as a drop-catcher can be inserted in the outlet opening, and having a edge, functioning as a stop against the rim of the outlet ope¬ ning, so that it, by the elasticity of the material, will stick in the opening and form a closed, or mainly closed cylindrical shape, forming a mainly tube-like pouring spout and having at the top a cut-off edge for the liquid jet in the form of a cut-out characterized in , that the piece has the shape of a heart, the tip of which is adapted for insertion in the outlet opening, that the stop is made as a triangular flexible flap, integral with the piece and formed by an incision of suita ' ble depth in the downwards going curvature of the heart-shaped piece, that the cut-off edge is at the top of the " heart-shape and con¬ sists of a triangular cut-out, the adjoining sides of which each is a quarter of an elliptical curve turned outwards, the one end of which joins smoothly to the outline of the piece, the two other ends meeting at the •innermost point of the cut-out, and where there , on the oppo- site side of the piece, and below the lower edge of the stop is made a bend in the edge of the piece, so that a flap is formed, which du--. ring the insertion prevents the two side edges from hitting each other, and there is at the tip of the heart shape a short bend in the edge of the piece, starting the bending into the cylindrical form during the insertion. 2. Drip^atcher according tc claim 1. characterized in that there is a printed or embossed slogan or logo on the front of the piece between the cut-off edge and tbe stop..

Inventors: GRANBERG PREBEN, GRANBERG, PREBEN
Applicants: GRANBERG PREBEN, GRANBERG, PREBEN
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65D23
IPC codes: B01L11, B65D23