Abstract:
A funnel system and method for introducing and dispensing a material are presented. In this funnel system two frusto-conical devices having intake ports which have a larger diameter than the diameter of their exit ports may be mated. When mated, a passage exists through the devices&#39; exit ports. Both frusto-conical devices may have partially eclipsed exit ports such that when one device rotates with respect to the other, the passage throttles between a substantially open and a substantially closed position. In this method the devices may be rotated such that the passage may be in the substantially closed position and a material may then be introduced into the second device&#39;s intake port. To dispense the material, the devices may be rotated such that the passage may be in a substantially open position whereupon the material may be dispensed from the first device&#39;s exit port.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a funnel system for directing the flow of material such as liquids or granular solids from a first container to a second container. More specifically, the present invention relates to a funnel system which holds material from a first container and may prevent the flow of the material to the second container. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    When cooking, it is often necessary to measure materials or pour materials from one container to another container. Although several methods exist to perform these tasks, none are ideal. One such method would be to first pour the material from the first container into a measuring cup to ensure the proper amount of material and to then pour the material from the measuring cup into a second container. Even if the measuring cup has a spout, it is difficult to ensure that all of the material flows into the second container without spilling. This is especially true if the second container has a narrow opening. A second method further improves the first method by employing a funnel which is inserted into the second container. Instead of pouring the material directly from the measuring cup, the material may be poured from the measuring cup to the funnel thus ensuring that none of the material spills. However, this method requires the purchase, storage, and cleaning of two separate pieces of equipment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A funnel system may include a first hollow frusto-conical device having an intake port and an exit port, wherein a diameter of the exit port may be smaller than a diameter of the intake port The funnel system may further include a second hollow frusto-conical device having an intake port and an exit port, wherein a diameter of the exit port may be smaller than a diameter of the intake port, and wherein the second device may be adapted for mating with the first device for forming a passage from the second device through the first device, wherein the exit ports may be partially eclipsed so that when the second device rotates with respect to the first device the passage throttles between a substantially open position and a substantially closed position. 
         [0006]    A method for introducing and dispensing a material may include providing a first hollow frusto-conical device having an intake port and an exit port, wherein a diameter of the exit port may be smaller than a diameter of the intake port. The method may further include providing a second hollow frusto-conical device having an intake port and an exit port, wherein a diameter of the exit port may be smaller than a diameter of the intake port, and wherein the second device may be adapted for mating with the first device for forming a passage from the second device through the first device, wherein the exit ports are partially eclipsed so that when the second device rotates with respect to the first device the passage throttles between a substantially open position and a substantially closed position. The method may further include rotating the second hollow frusto-conical device relative to the first hollow frusto-conical device for throttling the passage to the substantially closed position. The method may further include introducing the material into the intake port of the second hollow frusto-conical device. The method may further include rotating the second hollow frusto-conical device relative to the first hollow frusto-conical device for throttling the passage to the substantially open position. The method may further include dispensing the material from the exit port of the first hollow frusto-conical device. 
         [0007]    A funnel system may include a first funnel, including an intake port and an exit port, wherein a diameter of the exit port may be smaller than a diameter of the intake port. The funnel system may further include a second funnel adapted to mate with and operably rotate with respect to the first funnel, including an intake port and an exit port, wherein a diameter of the exit port may be smaller than a diameter of the intake port. The funnel system may further include a passage through the exit ports. The funnel system may further include a first occluding member disposed within the exit port of the first funnel, wherein the first occluding member partially eclipses the exit port of the first funnel. The funnel system may further include a second occluding member disposed within the exit port of the second funnel, wherein the second occluding member partially eclipses the exit port of the second funnel, and wherein when the second funnel rotates with respect to the first funnel the passage throttles between a substantially open position and a substantially closed position. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Various embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the following drawings, which are meant to be exemplary only and are not limiting on the scope of the present invention, and in which 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side view drawing of a funnel system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side view drawing of a funnel system with an optional tube attachment in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side view drawing of the funnel system of  FIG. 2 , rotated  90  degrees from  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4   a  is a top view drawing of a first frusto-conical device in accordance with the funnel system of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4   b  is a top view drawing of a second frusto-conical device in accordance with the funnel system of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view drawing of the funnel system of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    In the following description, various aspects of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details presented herein. Furthermore, well known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the present invention. 
         [0016]    A side view drawing of an embodiment of funnel system  100  is shown in  FIG. 1 . Other views are shown in  FIGS. 2-5 . The funnel system  100  is generally constructed of two separable devices, for example, a first hollow frusto-conical device  110  and a second hollow frusto-conical device  130 . The first hollow frusto-conical device  110  is comprised of side walls  122  which taper from an intake port  112  and which lead to an exit port  114 . The diameter of the exit port  114  is smaller than the diameter of the intake port  112 . The first hollow frusto-conical device  110  may also have a depending cylindrical member  116  which may lead from the exit port  114 . The second hollow frusto-conical device  130  is comprised of side walls  142  which taper from an intake port  132  and which lead to an exit port  134 . The diameter of the exit port  134  is smaller than the diameter of the intake port  132 . 
         [0017]    The second hollow frusto-conical device  130  is adapted for mating with hollow frusto-conical device  110 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the side walls  142  of the second hollow frusto-conical device  130  conform to the inner dimensions of the side walls  122  of the first hollow frusto-conical device  110 . In this embodiment, the second hollow frusto-conical device  130  fits within first hollow frusto-conical device  110  so that the exit port  134  of the second device  130  sits within the exit port  114  of the first device  110 . When the two devices are mated, a passage  160  is created through exit port  134  and exit port  114 . The mating between the two devices allows the second hollow frusto-conical device  130  to rotate with respect to the first hollow frusto-conical device  110 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when mated, the intake port  132  of the second device may extend beyond the intake port  112  of the first device in a direction distal to the exit ports of both devices. In another embodiment of the present invention, the intake port  132  of the second device may not extend beyond the intake port  112  of the first device. 
         [0018]    A locking mechanism  170  shown in  FIG. 1  may be used to lock the two hollow frusto-conical devices  110  and  130  in a mated position so that the two devices cannot be separated. However, even in embodiments of the invention that may include a locking mechanism  170 , the second hollow frusto-conical device  130  is free to rotate with respect to the first hollow frusto-conical device  110 . An unlocking mechanism (which may be incorporated into locking mechanism  170 ) may also be used when a locking mechanism is employed to unlock the two devices from the mated position and allow their separation. 
         [0019]    The exit ports  114  and  134  of the first and second devices further include occluding members  118  and  138  respectively. The occluding members  118  and  138  may be formed integral to their respective exit ports or may alternately be removable. The exit ports  114  and  134  are preferably partially eclipsed by occluding members  118  and  138 , respectively. An embodiment of the occluding members is shown in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   b . When the second hollow frusto-conical device  130  is made to rotate with respect to the first hollow frusto-conical device  110 , the occluding member  138  also rotates with respect to occluding member  118 . During this rotation, the occluding members  118  and  138  are made to cause the passage  160  created between exit ports  114  and  134  to throttle between a substantially open and a substantially closed position. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the occluding members  118  and  138  may each be formed as a semi-circular disk. In other embodiments, the occluding members  118  and  138  may be formed into alternate shapes which partially eclipse the exit ports  114  and  134  as is well known to those skilled in the art. In another embodiment, only one occluding member may be used which expands and contracts, or which opens and closes when the two hollow frusto-conical devices are rotated relative to each other. In this way, they may cause the passage  160  to throttle between a substantially open and a substantially closed position. 
         [0020]    The second hollow frusto-conical device  130  may further include one or more measuring scale(s)  136 . An embodiment of the measuring scale  136  is shown in  FIG. 4   b . The measuring scale  136  may be for example a volumetric scale useful for determining the quantity of material within the funnel system. The measuring scale(s)  136  may be a liquid scale with labels such as teaspoons, tablespoons, ounces, cups, pints, quarts, milliliters, liters, or the like. The measuring scale(s)  136  may alternately or additionally be a solid (or dry) scale with labels such as ounces, pounds, grams, kilograms, or the like in which the scale is based on the density of a particular solid (or dry) material to be measured. 
         [0021]    The second hollow frusto-conical device  130  may also include a handle  140 . The handle  140  may be used to ease rotating the second hollow frusto-conical device  130  with respect to the first hollow frusto-conical device  110 . The handle  140  may also be used for transporting the funnel system  100 . The handle  140  may be either solid or may have a through-hole which may be used to hang the funnel system  100  on a hook. The through-hole may also be sized for the finger or fingers of a user. The second hollow frusto-conical device  130  may also have a spout  144  shown in  FIG. 3  that may be used for pouring materials from the funnel system  100 . 
         [0022]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the funnel system  100  may also include an hollow exit port attachment  150  adapted for mating with exit port  114  of the first hollow frusto-conical device  110 . An embodiment of the hollow exit port attachment  150  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The hollow exit port attachment  150  may be comprised of an intake port  152 , an exit port  154 , and a depending cylindrical member  156  attached to exit port  154 . In some embodiments of the present invention, a locking mechanism (not shown but similar to locking mechanism  170 ) may be used to lock hollow exit port attachment  150  and first hollow frusto-conical device  110  in a mated position so that the two cannot be separated. An unlocking mechanism (which may be incorporated into the locking mechanism) may also be used when a locking mechanism is employed to unlock the hollow exit port attachment  150  from the first hollow frusto-conical device  110  and allow their separation. In some embodiments of the present invention, the depending cylindrical member  156  may be narrower than the exit port  114  of the first frusto-conical device  110  in order to allow the funnel system  100  to be used with containers having a narrower opening. In other embodiments of the present invention, the depending cylindrical member  156  may be wider than the exit port  114  of the first frusto-conical device  110  in order to allow the funnel system  100  to be used with containers having a wider opening. 
         [0023]    The first frusto-conical device  110 , the second frusto-conical device  130 , and the hollow exit port attachment  150  can be made from a wide variety of materials such as-glass, plastic, ABS, stainless steel, or the like. Further, not all of the components of funnel system  100  need be made from the same materials. For example, the second frusto-conical device  130  may be made of glass and the first frusto-conical device  110  may be made of plastic. Clear materials may be preferred in order to view the volume of the material within the funnel system with measuring scale(s)  136 . 
         [0024]    The funnel system  100  may be used both to measure a volume of material from a first container and to dispense the material into a second container. In such an embodiment, the first hollow frusto-conical device  110  is first rotated with respect to the second hollow frusto-conical device  130 . During this rotation, the passage  160  created between exit ports  114  and  134  is preferably throttled into the substantially closed position. Once the passage  160  is substantially closed, a material such as a liquid or a granular solid, may be introduced into the intake port  132  of the second hollow frusto-conical device  130 . Since the passage  160  is substantially closed, the material will remain within the funnel system  100 . The material may then be measured using measuring scale(s)  136 . Material may then be removed or added to the funnel system  100  based upon whether too much or too little material has been introduced into the funnel system  100 . Once the desired measure of material is within the funnel system  100 , the exit port  114  of first hollow frusto-conical device  110  may be aligned with the opening of a second container. Optional depending cylindrical member  116  or optional hollow exit port attachment  150  may be used to aid in the alignment of the funnel system  100  if the material contained therein is to be discharged into a container. Once aligned, the first hollow frusto-conical device  110  is rotated with respect to the second hollow frusto-conical device  130 . This rotation may be in the same direction as the first rotation or in a different direction. During this second rotation, the passage  160  created between exit ports  114  and  134  is throttled from the substantially closed position to a substantially open position. As the passage  160  is opened, the material within the funnel system is discharged therefrom. For example, it may be introduced into a container by way of the exit port  114  of the first hollow frusto-conical device  110 . 
         [0025]    Various devices (not shown) which alter the material as it is introduced into the second container may be incorporated into the funnel system. Such devices may be a permanent part of the funnel system  100  or may be optionally attached or interchangeably exchanged. The physical location of these devices will depend upon the device, but they may be incorporated in or attached to exit port  114  or  134 , occluding member  118  or  138 , hollow cylindrical depending member  116 , hollow exit port attachment  150  or other members of the funnel system  100 . An exemplary embodiment of such a device is an aerator which introduces air into a material as it exits the funnel system  100 . Such a device may be useful for wines or other beverages. Another exemplary embodiment of an additional device may be a strainer which only allows material of a certain dimension to pass through the funnel system  100 . Such a device may be useful for creating a sieve or for removing sediment from a liquid. Another exemplary embodiment of such a device is a sifter which may be useful for both aerating a material and allowing material of only a certain dimension to pass through the funnel system  100 . Other devices which act upon the material as it exits the funnel system  100  are also possible. Alternately, devices may be employed which act upon the material while still within the funnel system  100 . Such devices may include mixers or separators. 
         [0026]    Although particular embodiments are shown and described herein, further modifications of the present invention will occur to persons skilled in the art. All such modifications are deemed to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.