Container with retractable pouring spout

Abstract: A container for petrol etc. has a pouring spout (30) normally stored within the container (position A) but arranged to the withdrawn lengthwise through the container outlet, the inner end (32) of the spout and the outlet (20) having complementary screw-threads arranged for the spout (30) to be retained in its withdrawn position (B). A closure cap (40) is screw-threaded to the outer end of the spout and to the container outlet.

Description: The present invention relates to a container having a pouring spout and particularly to a container for petrol, or petrol can. Generally a petrol can has a spout provided as a separate component which must be attached to the can when it is desired to pour petrol from the cans. This has the disadvantage that the spout, when detached from the can, may become lost. Petrol cans have also been proposed in which the spout is normally stored at a rest position within the can itself, and is pulled outwards when the can is required for use: however, the arrangements for locking and sealing the lower end of the spout to the outlet orifice of the can are generally of complicated construction or insufficiently secure: moreover, it is often necessary to grip the spout at an intermediate point along its length, which may be wet with petrol from having been immersed in the petrol in the can. US-A-3,804,305 discloses a container having an outlet and a pouring spout normally stored within the container but arranged to be withdrawn lengthwise through the container outlet, the inner end of the spout and the outlet having complementary screw threads arranged for engagement to retain the spout in its withdrawn position. A closure cap is provided for engaging the outer end of the spout and, when the spout is stored within the container, also engaging the container outlet. US-A-4,921,147 discloses a container having a pouring spout and a closure cap which engages with the spout via complementary screw threads. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a container for petrol or other liquid, the container having an outlet, a pouring spout normally stored within the container but arranged to be withdrawn lengthwise through the container outlet, and a closure cap, the inner end of the spout and the outlet having complementary screw threads arranged for the spout to be retained in its withdrawn position, and the closure cap being engageable with the outer end of the spout and, when the spout is stored within the container, with the container outlet. The spout is provided with a screw-thread for engagement by a complementary screw-thread on the closure cap and the closure cap has a second screw-thread for engagement with a complementary screw-thread provided around the outlet of the container, the container being arranged so that, by turning the closure cap in a predetermined direction, firstly the closure cap is unscrewed from the container outlet to enable the spout to be withdrawn, then continuing rotation of the closure cap causes the screw-threaded inner end of the spout to engage the corresponding screw-thread of the container outlet, and finally unscrewing of the closure cap from the outer end of the spout. Preferably the outer end of the spout is formed with its screw-thread, to receive the closure cap, on its interior surface, the closure cap having a central, threaded projection for insertion into the end of the spout. The exterior surface of the spout, at its outer end, can then be plain and avoids the risk of external screw-threads catching on the vehicle filler pipe as the spout is inserted or removed from the filler pipe. Preferably the outer end of the spout is tapered. Preferably the spout itself is flexible, which can facilitate its use when pouring petrol into some vehicle filler pipes. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a view of a petrol can in accordance with the present invention, shown partly cut-away; FIGURE 2 is a diagram showing the spout in its normal position stored within the can and the closure cap of the can sealed onto the can; and FIGURE 3 is a similar diagram showing the spout in its withdrawn or in-use position. Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a petrol can which comprises a vessel or container 10 having a flat bottom and, at its top, a handle 12 which is defined by an opening 14: the surfaces of the handle are textured to enhance the grip. To the rear of the handle 12, the container 10 has an inlet 16 closed by a screw-threaded closure cap 18: the container is, in use, filled through this inlet. To the front of the handle 12, and at the front of the container, there is an outlet which comprises a tubular member 20 screw-threaded into an orifice in the container: this member 20 may be unscrewed and removed if required. A transparent window 22 extends up the front of the container, to enable the user to see the level of petrol within the container: the window 22 is marked with a scale to indicate the volume of petrol. The flat bottom of the container has a hooked sheet of Velcro (hook-and-pile fastener) adhered to it, so that the container will grip the pile of the floor covering usually provided in the boot of a vehicle. The container is furthermore provided with a tubular spout 30 which is normally positioned within the container, as shown at A in Figure 1, but which can be withdrawn to an extended position, shown at B in Figure 1. The spout 30 is flexible, due to a number of concertina sections, and has a screw-thread 32 on the exterior of its inner end: its outer end is tapered at 34 and provided with an internal screw-thread 36. The container further comprises a closure cap 40 retained to the container by a strap 41 in conventional manner: the cap 40 has an internal screw-thread 42 to engage an external screw-thread 24 on the outlet member 20 of the container; the cap 40 also has a central, internal projection 44 formed with a screw-thread 46 to engage the screw-thread 36 within the outer end of the spout. Figure 2 shows the spout 30 when inserted into the container 10 and the container closed by the cap 40. It will be noted that the cap 40 is secured to the outer end of the spout and also to the outlet member 20 of the container. Then, for use of the container, the closure cap 40 is turned in the counter-clockwise direction to unscrew it from the outlet member 20 so that the spout can be withdrawn lengthwise. By continuing to turn the closure cap 40, and with it the spout 30, in the same direction, the thread 32 on the inner end of the spout engages a screw-thread 26 on the interior of the outlet member 20. A flange 33 on the inner end of the spout 30 compresses a seal 21 against the inner end of the outlet member 20. Finally, by yet further rotation of the closure cap 40, still in the same direction, the cap unscrews from the outer end of the spout. Figure 3 shows the spout in its extended, in use position. After use of the container, the closure cap 40 is engaged with the outer end of the spout by rotation in the clockwise direction: by continuing this rotation, the inner end of the spout is unscrewed from the outlet member 20 of the container, so that it can then be pushed into the container. Finally, the closure cap 40 is screwed onto the outlet member 20 to seal the container. It will be appreciated that the container is opened and its spout withdrawn in a simple manner, with one continuous rotation of the closure cap, and is closed in a similarly simple manner. In each operation, the user need only grip the closure cap, and not any part of the spout itself.

Claims: A container for petrol or other liquid, the container having an outlet (20), a pouring spout (30) normally stored within the container but arranged to be withdrawn lengthwise through the container outlet (20),and a closure cap (40), the inner end of the spout (30) and the outlet (20) having complementary screw threads (32, 26) arranged for the spout (30) to be retained in its withdrawn position, and the closure cap (40) being engageable with the outer end of the spout (30) and, when the spout (30) is stored within the container, with the container outlet (20), characterised in that the spout (30) is provided with a screw-thread (36) for engagement by a complementary screw-thread (46) on the closure cap (40) and the closure cap (40) has a second screw-thread (42) for engagement with a complementary screw-thread (24) provided around the outlet (20) of the container, the container being arranged so that, by turning the closure cap (40) in a predetermined direction, firstly the closure cap (40) is unscrewed from the container outlet (20) to enable the spout (30) to be withdrawn, then continuing rotation of the closure cap (40) causes the screw-threaded inner end (32) of the spout (30) to engage the corresponding screw-thread (26) of the container outlet (20), and finally unscrewing of the closure cap (40) from the outer end of the spout (30). A container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the spout (30) is formed on its interior surface with said screw-thread (36) for engagement with the complementary screw-thread (46) of the closure cap (40), the closure cap (40) having a central projection (44) formed with its said complementary screw-thread (46). A container as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the exterior surface of the spout (30), at its outer end, is plain. A container as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the outer end of the spout (30) is tapered (34). A container as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that said spout (30) is flexible.

Inventors: ARISH MOHAMMED, ARISH, MOHAMMED
Applicants: ARISH MOHAMMED, ARISH, MOHAMMED
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B65D25
IPC codes: B65D25