Abstract:
A flow rate enhancement device that comprises a tube and a band, the tube allowing for air communication from outside of a container to the floor of the container, thus preventing negative pressure from building within the container as it is emptied, and the band helps secure the device to the container&#39;s opening.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    To the full extent permitted by law, the present application claims priority to and the full benefit from Patent Application No. 61/688,430, Container with Stem, filed May 14, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and this application also claims priority to and the full benefit from patent application Ser. No. 13/340,831, Liquid Container with Enhanced Fluid Flow, filed Dec. 30, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and this application also claims priority from patent application Ser. No. 29/443,663, Flow Rate Enhancement Device, filed Jan. 21, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     None 
     PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     None 
     REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING 
     None 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The disclosure generally relates to pouring liquids out of containers, and more specifically to a flow rate enhancement device for doing the same. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    The disclosure relates generally to a flow rate enhancement device and a method of using the same. 
         [0006]    When pouring liquids out of containers, it is common for the liquid to completely occlude the opening of the container. This temporarily prevents air from entering the container, creating reduced (negative) pressure inside the container. This slows down the outward flow of liquid, until finally a pocket of air pushes the liquid aside to get inside the area of reduced (negative) pressure. When this happens, the flow of the liquid is interrupted. 
         [0007]    Therefore, it is readily apparent that there is a recognizable unmet need for a flow enhancement device that is easy to use, easy to produce, and allows liquids to be poured from containers more efficiently. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present apparatus and method overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such a device by providing a flow rate enhancement device that is easy to use, simple to manufacture, and allows for easier use of containers with liquids. 
         [0009]    The present apparatus and method includes a flow rate enhancement device that includes a tube and a band. The tube allows air communication from outside of a container to the floor of the container, thus preventing negative pressure from building within the container as it is emptied. The band can be used to secure the device to the container&#39;s opening. 
         [0010]    According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present disclosure describes a flow rate enhancement device, the flow rate enhancement device comprising a tube. The tube is placed in a container that has an opening and a floor, the opening of the container having an interior wall. The tube partially occludes the container&#39;s opening, and the tube provides fluid communication, of air, between the opening and near the container&#39;s floor. 
         [0011]    The tube has a top, a bottom, and a channel through which the air flows. The bottom of the tube is placed near the container&#39;s floor, and the top of the tube is near the container&#39;s opening. 
         [0012]    The flow rate enhancement device also has a band, and the band has an outer wall that is proximate, or even in contact with, container&#39;s opening&#39;s interior wall. The band&#39;s upper edge is near to the container&#39;s opening. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the tube&#39;s bottom is non-linear, thus preventing the bottom from forming a seal with the container&#39;s floor. Alternatively, tube may not be long enough to reach all the way to container&#39;s floor. 
         [0014]    The flow rate enhancement device may be adhesively secured to the container, or it may be fixedly secured to container, or it may be manufactured as part of the container or the band alone may be manufactured as part of the container. 
         [0015]    In use, the flow rate enhancement device is inserted into a container that has a floor and an opening, and the tube provides air flow from the container&#39;s opening to the container&#39;s floor. Whatever the container holds, such as a liquid or liquid-like substance, is poured out of the container, and air flow concurrently flows through the tube, such air flow may result from a vacuum created in the container by liquid exiting the container when tipped upside down. 
         [0016]    More specifically, the present disclosure of a preferred embodiment is a flow rate enhancement device, the flow rate enhancement device having a tube and a band. The tube has a top, a channel, a bottom, and an air opening. The band has an inner wall, an outer wall, an upper edge, a lower edge, and a liquid opening and/or an air opening; such liquid opening may include the container opening. The flow rate enhancement device is placed in the container opening or the tube is placed in the container opening having an air opening, and the container has an opening, an interior wall, and a floor. 
         [0017]    The air opening lies within the channel near the top of the tube. The liquid opening lies within the interior of the inner wall of the band. 
         [0018]    The channel lies within the tube, and fluidly communicates the tube&#39;s top with the tube&#39;s bottom. The band&#39;s outer wall lies on the exterior periphery of the band, and the band&#39;s inner wall lies in the interior periphery of the band. The band&#39;s upper edge is near the tube&#39;s top. The band&#39;s lower edge may be approximately ¼″ below upper edge, although it will be recognized that the lower edge may be any distance from upper edge or even therewith. The air flows into the tube&#39;s channel as liquid flows through the band and out of the container. 
         [0019]    In use, the flow rate enhancement device is inserted into a container via the opening, by first inserting the tube&#39;s bottom into the container. The tube&#39;s bottom may be non-linear, thus preventing the bottom from forming a seal with the container&#39;s floor. For exemplary purposes only, the tube&#39;s bottom may be a jagged edge, or the bottom may be angled or the bottom may comprise a slit partly up the tube that provides fluid communication between the channel and near, but not directly against, the container&#39;s floor. Also, tube may not be long enough to reach the container&#39;s floor. 
         [0020]    When the flow rate enhancement device is fully inserted in the container, the bottom is near the container&#39;s floor. Further, the top and the band are near and within the container&#39;s opening. The outer wall is in contact with the container&#39;s interior wall, and friction between the outer wall and the interior wall prevents flow rate enhancement device from falling fully into the container. 
         [0021]    Rather than being secured via friction to the container, the device may also be secured via an adhesive such as glue, it may also be manufactured into the container such that the device is fixedly secured to the container, and the flow rate enhancement device may be manufactured as part of the container such that the container&#39;s interior wall includes the band of the flow rate enhancement device. 
         [0022]    Accordingly, a feature of the flow rate enhancement device is its ability to be easy to install and use. 
         [0023]    Another feature of the flow rate enhancement device is its ability to be inexpensive to manufacture. 
         [0024]    Yet another feature and advantage of the flow rate enhancement device is its ability to be used in many different types of containers with many different types of liquids. 
         [0025]    Yet another feature and advantage of the flow rate enhancement device is its ability to be manufactured directly into the containers. 
         [0026]    Yet another feature and advantage of the flow rate enhancement device is its ability to be transferable from one container to another. 
         [0027]    Yet another feature and advantage of the flow rate enhancement device is its ability to be easily cleaned. 
         [0028]    These and other features of the flow rate enhancement device will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the prior Summary, and following Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, and Claims when read in light of the accompanying Detailed Drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    The present flow rate enhancement device will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and in which: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0031]      FIG. 1B  is a top cross-sectional view the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the top of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1A , in dotted line form so as to more easily see depth; 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1A , shown partially inserted into a bottle; 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1A , shown fully inserted in a bottle; 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is a perspective cut-away view of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1A , shown inserted in a bottle and the bottled tipped; 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a container the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1A  may be used with; 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a container the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1A  may be used with; 
           [0039]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a container the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1A  may be used with; and 
           [0040]      FIG. 10  is another exemplary embodiment wherein the band is split; 
           [0041]      FIG. 11  is another exemplary embodiment wherein the band and the tube are separate; 
           [0042]      FIG. 12  is another disposition of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 11 , shown assembled; and 
           [0043]      FIG. 13  is blown-up perspective view the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 11 , shown affixed to a container. 
       
    
    
       [0044]    It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the disclosure to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0045]    In describing the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-13 , specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The present disclosure, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions. Embodiments of the claims may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forth herein are non-limiting examples, and are merely examples among other possible examples. 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-9  by way of example, and not limitation, therein is illustrated an example embodiment flow rate enhancement device  100 , wherein flow rate enhancement device  100  comprises tube  200  and a fitting, such as band  300 . Tube  200  comprises top  210 , channel  220 , bottom  230 , and air opening AO. Band  300  comprises inner wall  310 , outer wall  320 , upper edge  330 , lower edge  340 , and liquid opening LO. Flow rate enhancement device  100  is placed in container C, wherein container C comprises opening O, interior wall IW, and floor F. 
         [0047]    Turning now to  FIG. 1B , air opening AO lies within channel  220  proximate top  210  of tube  200 . Liquid opening LO lies within interior of inner wall  310  of band  300 . 
         [0048]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , channel  220  lies within tube  200 , and fluidly communicates top  210  of tube  200  with bottom  230  of tube  200  to enable air flow from top  210  to bottom  230 . Outer wall  320  of band  300  lies on the exterior periphery of band  300 , and inner wall  310  lies in the interior periphery of band  300 . Upper edge  330  of band  300  is proximate top  210  of tube  200 . Lower edge  340  of band  300  is approximately ¼″ below upper edge  330  in this embodiment, although it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that lower edge  340  may be any distance from upper edge  330 . 
         [0049]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , in use, air flow AF flows into channel  220  of tube  200 , wherein air flow AF enters channel  220  proximate to top  210 , and air flow AF exits channel  220  proximate to bottom  230 . Liquid flow LF enters liquid opening LO of band  300  proximate lower edge  340 , and liquid flow LF exits liquid opening LO of band proximate upper edge  330 . 
         [0050]    Turning now to  FIG. 4 , in use, flow rate enhancement device  100  is inserted into container C via opening O of container C, wherein bottom  230  is inserted into container C first. Bottom  230  of tube  200  is non-linear, thus preventing bottom  230  from forming a seal with floor F of container C, wherein such a seal would prevent or inhibit air flow AF via tube  200 . For exemplary purposes only, bottom  230  of tube  200  may be a jagged edge, or angled, or bottom  230  may comprise a slit (not shown) partly up tube  200  that provides fluid communication between channel  220  and proximate near floor F of container C. It is also contemplated herein that tube  200  may not be long enough to reach floor F of container C. 
         [0051]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , when flow rate enhancement device  100  is fully inserted in container C, bottom  230  of tube  200  is proximate floor F of container C. Further, top  210  of tube  200  and band  300  are proximate and within opening O of container C. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , outer wall  320  is in contact with interior wall IW of container C, wherein friction between outer wall  320  and interior wall IW prevents flow rate enhancement device from falling fully into or out of container C. 
         [0052]    It is contemplated herein that flow rate enhancement device  100 , in addition to being secured via friction to container C, may also be secured via an adhesive such as glue, it may also be manufactured into container C such that flow rate enhancement device  100  is fixedly secured to container C, and flow rate enhancement device  100  may be manufactured as part of container C such that interior wall IW of container C comprises band  300  of flow rate enhancement device  100 . 
         [0053]    Turning now to  FIG. 6 , in use, when container is tipped over, air flow AF enters channel  220  of tube  200  proximate top  210 , and concurrently liquid flow LF exits band  300  proximate upper edge  330 . Thus, air flow AF enters container C and counteracts the lost volume from liquid flow LF exiting container C to prevent a vacuum from forming inside container C. 
         [0054]    Turning now to  FIGS. 7 ,  8 , and  9 , shown herein are sample containers that flow rate enhancement device  100  may be used with. However, it is contemplated herein that flow rate enhancement device  100  may be used with any liquid container, or indeed any container with a substance that needs to be extracted, such as a gas. 
         [0055]    In an alternate embodiment (not shown), flow rate enhancement device  100  may comprises tube  200  but not band  300 . In this embodiment, tube  200  still provides air flow AF from container&#39;s C opening O and container&#39;s C floor F, and tube may be secured to container&#39;s opening via adhesives or being manufactured therewith container C. 
         [0056]    Turning now to  FIG. 10 , displayed therein is an exemplary embodiment wherein band  300  is split, thus creating first end  320 A and second end  320 B. This embodiment is made of a material, such as plastic, that allows band  300  to be bent inward and outward. This embodiment of flow rate enhancement device  100  has band  300  that naturally takes a shape larger than interior wall IW of container C. When this embodiment of flow rate enhancement device  100  is placed in container C, band  300  needs to be forced slightly inward to insert therein. Thus, band  300  presses outward against interior wall IW of container C, which provides additional friction between flow rate enhancement device  100  and container C, which thus better secures flow rate enhancement device  100  in opening O of container C. Another advantage of this embodiment is that if container C is made of a bendable material, such as plastic, this embodiment better allows flow are enhancement device  100  to also bend with container C, thus reducing the chance of band  300  breaking or being permanently deformed. 
         [0057]    Turning now to  FIGS. 11 ,  12 , and  13 , illustrated therein is another embodiment of flow rate enhancement device  100 . In this embodiment, band  300  further comprises band top  350  and band opening  360 , wherein band opening  360  is disposed within band top  350 . Band top  350  is disposed proximate upper edge  330 , and in use tube  200  is placed through band opening  360 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . Turning more particularly to  FIG. 13 , band  300  is shown as being manufactured as part of container C, at container&#39;s C&#39;s opening O. After band  300  is exposed, tube  200  is inserted through band opening  360 . Moreover, tube  200  may be sealed in a sealed pouch and affixed thereto container C. 
         [0058]    It is contemplated herein that band opening  360  or channel  220  may be configured otherwise, such as a mouth having pointed or arced ends, a bent kidney bean having curved ends, or other the openings or passageways known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0059]    The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments. Having thus described exemplary embodiments, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.