Container having improved pouring capabilities

Abstract: The invention concerns portable liquid containers with improved pouring capabilities. Particularly, there is disclosed a container comprising a body region (1) a hollow handle (3) with first and second ends (4, 5), an outlet spout (6) which communicates with both the body region (1) and the first end of the handle (3) and an elongate pouring tube (2) firmly located and fixed in position relative to the outlet spout (6). The pouring tube (2) has a first end (23) via which the interior of the pouring tube (2) directly communicates with the body region (1) and a second end from which, in use, liquid is dispensed. According to the invention, the interior of the pouring tube (2) forms a first passageway for the exit of liquid from the container, and a second passageway for allowing air to enter into the container is formed by an air gap (x) defined between a second portion (22) of the outer surrounding surface of the pouring tube (2) and the spout (6), air entering the container to replace displaced water, flowing into the air gap (x) and then into handle (3) before entering the body region (1).

Description: The invention relates to portable liquid containers according to the preamble of claim 1 which, in use, exhibit improved pouring characteristics. Classical portable liquid containers comprising a single spout through which the liquid exits invariably exhibit turbulent pouring characteristics. This is due to the liquid completely filling the spout on pouring, and the inefficient mode in which such containers are vented to the exterior thereby rendering them unable to equalise the pressure inside with the external atmospheric pressure. Turbulent flow is a main cause of liquid spillage and, where the liquids in question are hazardous chemicals, this may place the user under potentially dangerous conditions. With a view to reducing this problem users often try holding the container at an angle at which the liquid does not entirely block the spout, such that air may enter in a counter-flow direction to the exiting liquid, thereby equalising the pressure inside with that outside the container. Such an angle however will tend to be unsatisfactorily small and result in extended pouring periods. Alternative methods of circumventing turbulent flow characteristics from liquid containers as described above have been previously suggested. Such examples generally rely upon introducing some means for letting air into the container using a type of air duct design. The example given in GB 1329471 describes a complex pouring tube which is both extendible and retractable and arranged to be centrally mounted within an outlet spout of a container and spaced therefrom by means of four spacers to provide a continuous air passageway between the spout and the pouring tube. The air passageway formed between spout and pouring tube is sealed from a liquid outlet hole of a liquid holding receptacle portion of the container and leads instead into a hollow handle region formed on one side of the container. As the container is tilted to pour, air is channelled by the passageway and the handle to enter the receptacle portion by a first route whilst the liquid is poured out via a second route comprising the outlet hole of the receptacle portion and the interior of the pouring tube itself. Whilst the arrangement described in the above document is a commercially successful, it does still exhibit some disadvantages. Firstly, because the tube itself is arranged to extend/retract for improving the container reach, the sealing between the exterior of the pouring tube and the liquid outlet hole of the receptacle portion is quite critical and generally requires a complicated tube formation to achieve satisfactory results. Secondly, having the tube centrally mounted within the pouring spout requires spacers between tube and spout interior to keep the tube in such a central position. Thirdly, it has been observed that when the tube is retracted and a pouring operation carried out at a shallow angle, some of the liquid can in certain circumstances get into the air passageway around the pouring tube and affect its efficiency. Finally, the pouring tube itself and its required spacers are of a relatively complex design due to both the perceived need to mount the tube centrally within the spout and to provide the extension feature. Such complication rules out the use of a simple extruded tube and means that a plastics injection moulding technique needs to be adopted. US 4,804,119 (Goodall) is the closest prior art and discloses the features of the preamble of claim 1, especially a container including a neck portion leading to an outlet from the neck located outwardly thereof, the cross sectional area of the outlet being greater than the cross sectional area of the neck portion thereby providing a shoulder in the neck which in a pouring operation causes liquid flowing from the container to separate from an upper portion of the outlet and a duct communicating between the neck and the interior of the container whereby as liquid empties from the container in a pouring operation the resulting pressure differential arising between the interior of the container adjacent the inlet of the duct and the atmosphere draws air in an unimpeded manner into the container. With a view to solving or reducing at least one of the problems outlined above, it is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to provide a portable liquid container which displays good flow characteristics achieved by the incorporation of novel and simple modifications which are cheap to produce. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a container comprising: a body region, a hollow handle with first and second ends, said second end communicating with said body region, an outlet spout extending above said body region and communicating with both the first end of said handle and, at a lowermost end region thereof, with said body region, and an elongate pouring tube, the pouring tube comprising a first end via which the interior of the pouring tube directly communicates with the body region and a second end from which, in use, liquid is dispensed such that the interior of the pouring tube forms a first passageway for the exit of the liquid, and such that a first portion of an outer surrounding surface at the first end of the pouring tube contacts with a corresponding first portion of an interior wall of the spout and a second passageway is formed by the handle and a region formed by an air gap (x) between a second portion of the outer surrounding surface of the pouring tube and a second portion of the interior wall of the outlet spout to allow air to enter into the body region through said handle from the exterior of the container, the pouring tube has a cross-section which is, at least in part, of a corresponding formation to the cross-section of the outlet spout such that the radius of curvature of an outer surrounding surface of the pouring tube in the first portion is substantially the same as the radius of curvature of the interior wall of the outlet spout, the container being characterised in that the first portion of the outer surrounding surface of the pouring tube and the corresponding first portion of the interior wall of the spout form an interference fit with one another so that the pouring tube is firmly located and fixed in position relative to said outlet spout, the first end of the pouring tube being joined to a lowermost circumferential surface of the spout to seal the spout from the body region and the pouring tube is of a uniform transverse cross-section throughout it's length. Preferably, the first and second portions of the outer surrounding surface of the pouring tube when added together substantially form the totality of the outer surrounding surface and the first portion forms a larger proportion of the total outer surface area of the pouring tube than the second portion. The pouring tube may be an extruded plastics tube. Preferably, the outlet spout is of a generally circular cross-section and the pouring tube preferably has a cross-section which is of a corresponding circular formation, at least in part. The pouring tube may be held in position by fixing means. The fixing means may comprise adhesive. Preferably, the lowermost circumferential surface of the spout where the first end of the pouring tube joins with it is in the form of a lip of material which provides locating means by which the first end of the pouring tube is located within the spout. An upper region of the outlet spout may be provided with a top retaining lip for maintaining the pouring tube in position once inserted. Preferably, the body region of the container may be thin walled and moulded out of a tough, liquid-resistant material, for example, a suitable synthetic plastic. The material may be coloured. The volume of the body region may be in the range of 1/2 litre to 30 litre. The pouring tube may extend beyond the outlet spout so as to itself form an extension which increases the effective pouring length. The outlet spout is preferably formed by a neck region of the container. Spout extension means may be provided for increasing the effective length of the pouring tube. The spout extension means may incorporate an integral air passage. The spout extension means may include means for threaded connection with the container. Alternatively, the spout extension means may include a cap with which both the extension means and the container cooperate to join the extension means to the container. The cap may have an internal thread formed thereon for cooperation with a corresponding external thread formed on the exterior of the container outlet spout. The cap may include ventilation means for allowing air to pass directly from the cap into the second passageway. For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a container according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the neck of the container of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the container of Figure 1 in a pouring position; Figure 4A shows a first embodiment of pouring tube extender and a retaining cap; Figure 4B shows a plan view of the extender of Figure 4A in place on a container; and Figure 4C shows another variant of pouring tube extender. Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a container for liquids having an "antiglug" facility. The container comprises a body region 1 in which, in use, liquid is stored, a pouring tube 2, a hollow carrying handle 3 having a first end 4 and a second end 5, and an outlet spout shown generally as reference numeral 6. The body region 1, handle 3 and outlet spout 6, in the embodiment shown, are a single piece of material formed by a blow/rotational moulding technique and the pouring tube 2 is formed separately possibly by an extrusion method. Considering Figure 2, which is a plan view of the container, it can be seen that the pouring tube 2 is a close fit inside the outlet spout 6. More specifically, the pouring tube 2 is an elongate tube of plastics material of substantially uniform cross-section having a first exterior portion 21 [shown by dashes (- - - - )] of it's surface having a first formation and a second portion 22 [shown dotted (.......)] of a second formation. The first portion 21 of the surrounding surface of the tube 2 being arranged to contact intimately with an interior surface of the outlet spout 6, and the second portion 22 being arranged so as to deviate from the general shape of the outlet spout 6 and create an air gap X (shown in Figure 1) between the outer surface of the pouring tube 2 and the inner surface of the spout 6 in a region adjacent to the first end 4 of the hollow handle 3. From a point of view of dimensions, the first portion 21 of the pouring tube 2 is arranged to have a radius of curvature very closely matching to that of the interior wall of the outlet spout 6 so that the pouring tube 2 is effectively an interference fit within the spout 6, around the first portion 21. The pouring tube 2 is prevented from disappearing into the body region 1 of the container by providing the container with a ring of material or one or more protruding lips 61 towards the base of the outlet spout 6. In this way, an end region 23 of the pouring tube 2 is prevented from entering the body region 1. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the lip 61 gives a ledge of material being provided by providing a pinched in region below the tube 2. This would be simple to achieve during blow/rotational moulding of the container. As an alternative to providing a lip 61, a lower most portion of the outlet spout may be arranged to taper inwardly so as to resist insertion of the pouring tube 2 beyond a certain point of the outlet spout 6. Around the top circumferential edge of the neck region 6, there may also be provided (as shown in Figure 1) an upper retaining means such as deformable upper lip 62 to resist outward movement of the pouring tube 2. The deformable lip 62 (not shown in Figure 2 as it would obscure part of the tube 2 formation) at the top and the ledge provided by the bottom lip 61 may, in themselves be sufficient to positively locate in place the pouring tube 2 once inserted and may also be elastic enough to provide the required seal at the bottom of the tube 2. Although not shown, it will be appreciated that the container of Figures 1 and 2 would include standard fittings such as the exterior part of the spout 6, at its uppermost region, having an external thread formed thereon for the reception of an internally threaded cap to seal the container. Features such as this will not be described in any more detail as they are not crucial to the understanding of the present invention. Operation of the container of Figures 1 and 2 will now be described. It will be appreciated that body region 1, in use, would contain a liquid such as oil/petrol/chemical for instance. Any cap will of course be removed prior to use and then the container picked up by the handle 3 and tilted in the manner shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3, liquid in the container is shown by shading, and the general level of the liquid within the container is shown by the horizontal datum line Y-Y'. As can be seen from the Figure, tilting of the container allows liquid to exit via a first passageway formed by the interior of the pouring tube 2 and allows air to enter into the body region 1 of the container via a second passageway shown by the broken chain line (-.-.-.) via a second passageway formed by the air gap "X", and the hollow handle 3. As will be appreciated Figure 3 shows a container which is practically full. Prior art type containers can have the disadvantage that with overfull containers liquid can flow back around any air-ducting arrangements and defeat them. However, with embodiments of the present invention even when the container is overfilled, since the second passageway is arranged, in pouring operations, to always be above the first passageway through which the liquid exits, erratic movements by the person pouring the container should not result in any back-flow of liquid down the second passageway, giving it an advantage over other methods. Referring now to Figure 4A, there is shown a simple spout extender which can be used with containers of the type shown in Figures 1 to 3. The spout extender 7 has a neck region 71 and a base region 72, the base region being arranged to be inserted into the top of the pouring tube 2. The base region 72 is arranged to have the same general transverse cross-sectional shape as the pouring tube 2, but may be slightly flared/tapered to form a contact fit with the pouring tube 2. It will be appreciated that whilst only a relatively short neck region 71 is shown, the neck 71 may be of any suitable length and advantageously sufficiently long to cope with whatever a users requirement may be. A shoulder 73 may act as a location means for a collar 74. In use, the extender 7 is inserted so that the base region 72 enters the pouring tube 2 and the shoulder 73 sits on the lip of the spout 6. Collar 74 is then passed over the neck 71 of the extender 7 and screwed onto an externally threaded region of the spout 6 to firmly locate the extender. Plan view 4B shows the extender in position. Figure 4C shows another variant of spout extender 7' having an integral air way 75. It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the container and still be within the scope of the present invention. Variations on handle design are of course possible and more than one handle may be provided. As described above, containers according to embodiments of the present invention exhibit a number of advantages over prior art type containers in that as well as solving the "glugging" problem, they also have a simplified construction in that they do not require spacers or complicated injection moulded pieces. Further, it will be appreciated that by moving the pouring tube away from a centrally located position, extra advantages are achieved and that the simple formation of the tube lends itself to common extrusion techniques.

Claims: A container comprising: a body region (1), a hollow handle (3) with first and second ends (4, 5), said second end (5) communicating with said body region (1), an outlet spout (6) extending above said body region (1) and communicating with the first end (4) of said handle (3) and, at a lowermost end region thereof, being connected with said body region, and an elongate pouring tube (2), the pouring tube (2) comprising a first end (23) via which the interior of the pouring tube (2) directly communicates with the body region (1) and a second end from which, in use, liquid is dispensed such that the interior of the pouring tube (2) forms a first passageway for the exit of the liquid, and such that a first portion (21) at the first end (2) of an outer surrounding surface of the pouring tube (2) contacts with a corresponding first portion of an interior wall of the spout (6) and a second passageway is formed by the handle (3) and a region formed by an air gap (x) between a second portion (22) of the outer surrounding surface of the pouring tube (2) and a second portion of the interior wall of the outlet spout (6) to allow air to enter into the body region (1) through said handle (3) from the exterior of the container, the pouring tube (2) having a cross-section which is, at least in part, of a corresponding formation to the cross-section of the outlet spout (6) such that the radius of curvature of an outer surrounding surface of the pouring tube (2) in the first portion (21) is substantially the same as the radius of, curvature of the interior wall of the outlet spout (6), the container being characterised in that the first portion (21) of the outer surrounding surface of the pouring tube (2) and the corresponding first portion of the interior wall of the spout (6) form an interference fit with one another so that the pouring tube is firmly located and fixed in position relative to said outlet spout (6), the first end of the pouring tube (2) being joined to a lowermost circumferential surface of the spout to seal the spout from the body region (1) and the pouring tube (2) is of an uniform transverse cross-section throughout it's length. A container according to claim 1 wherein the first and second portions of the outer surrounding surface of the pouring tube (2) when added together substantially form the totality of an outer surrounding surface of the pouring tube (2) and wherein the first portion forms a larger proportion of the total outer surface area of the outer surrounding surface of the pouring tube (2) than the second portion. A container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet spout (6) is of a generally circular cross-section. A container according to any preceding claim, in which the lowermost circumferential surface of the spout where the first end of the pouring tube (2) joins with it is in the form of a lip (61) of material which provides locating means by which the first end (23) of the pouring tube (2) is located within the spout (6). A container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an upper region of the outlet spout (6) is provided with a top retaining lip (62) for maintaining the pouring tube (2) in position within the outlet spout (6) once inserted. A container according to any of the preceding claims, in which the pouring tube (2) may be arranged to extend beyond an uppermost portion of the outlet spout (6) so as to itself form an extension which increases the effective pouring length of the container. A container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein spout extension means (7, 7') are provided for increasing an effective length of the pouring tube (2). A container according to claim 7, wherein the spout extension means (7') incorporates an integral air passage (75). A container according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the spout extension means (7, 7') further comprises means for threaded connection to the container. A container according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the spout extension means (7, 7') further comprises a cap (74) with which both the extension means (7, 7') and the container cooperate to join the extension means (7, 7') to the container. A container according to claim 10, wherein the cap includes an internal thread formed thereon for cooperation with a corresponding external thread formed on the exterior of the container outlet spout (6). A container according to claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the cap (74) includes ventilation means for allowing air to pass directly from the cap (74) into the second passageway.

Inventors: BURNHAM DOUGLAS PETER, FIELDING ALLAN, BURNHAM, DOUGLAS PETER, FIELDING, ALLAN
Applicants: BURNHAM DOUGLAS PETER, FIELDING ALLAN, BURNHAM, DOUGLAS PETER, FIELDING, ALLAN
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B65D25
IPC codes: B65D25