Abstract:
A container closure and pouring device comprises a cap with a hollow interior defined by a cylindrical wall having internal threads and a number of inlet ports. The cap receives a spout formed with external threads which is movable between a closed position in which it seals the inlet ports and is threaded into engagement with the cap, and an open position wherein the inlet ports of the cap are uncovered allowing liquid from a container to pass into the spout for pouring.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to container closures, and, more particularly, to an apparatus for sealing a container which includes a spout movable between a closed, sealing position and an open pouring position in which the spout is extended and rotatable to facilitate pouring of the contents of the container into a receptacle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A variety of containers are used to store liquids which must be poured into hard-to-reach places. This is particularly true in the automotive industry where motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, coolant and the like must be periodically added or changed. Often, the inlet openings in the vehicle for the addition of these fluids are placed in locations which make it difficult to pour the contents of the container without spillage. 
     Containers for automotive fluids such as oil and the like have evolved from generally cylindrical-shaped metal cans to thinner plastic containers, some of which have an elongated neck. The cylindrical cans typically are used with a funnel to permit pouring of their contents into a vehicle engine, and such cans cannot be resealed after use. In many instances, the funnels cannot be independently supported within a given inlet opening, making it necessary to hold the funnel with one hand and pour with the other. After use, the funnel must be thoroughly cleaned to avoid contamination when used again with another fluid. 
     As noted above, plastic containers with an elongated neck portion have steadily replaced metal cans and other types of containers for automotive and other fluids. Such containers are relatively thin to make them easier to grasp and hold on to even if some of the fluid drips out on the sides of the container and causes the outer surface to be slippery. The elongated neck provides a gap between the liquid in the container and its discharge outlet, thus allowing the container to be tipped at different angles to some extent before the fluid inside begins to flow from the container. This is true even if the container is completely full when the pouring begins. 
     Although easier to use than metal cans, plastic containers with an elongated neck have disadvantages. In order to hold a standard quantity of liquid, e.g. a quart or liter, while maintaining a relatively thin profile or depth for ease of handling, plastic containers are typically relatively wide and tall. This configuration either limits the areas or open spaces in the engine compartment of a vehicle within which the container can be held in a position to pour the liquid, or restricts manipulation of the container once it is located near an inlet opening for the liquid. The neck of the container is integrally formed with the container body and cannot be rotated, extended or otherwise manipulated to align with an inlet opening once the container is in the pouring position. Consequently, it is often necessary to employ a funnel even with plastic containers of this type. 
     These problems have been addressed to some extent in pour spouts of the type disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,610 to Cheek et al. This patent teaches a pour spout which is adapted to thread onto external threads formed near the mouth of a container where a cap is conventionally attached. The pour spout comprises a body portion insertable within the interior of the container, and a conduit which is movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the body portion. In the closed position, the conduit is seated within the interior of the body portion to seal inlet openings formed therein and prevent the escape of liquid from the interior of the container. The conduit is pulled outwardly from the interior of the body portion to uncover the inlet openings and permit the flow of liquid from the interior of the container, through the body portion and then out the conduit. In the open position, the conduit is rotatable with respect to the body portion so that it can be positioned as desired without further manipulation of the location of the container. 
     One disadvantage of pour spouts of the type disclosed in the Cheek et al patent is that there is no positive connection between the conduit and the body portion. The conduit is at all times slidable relative to the body portion to the open position. As a practical matter, it is likely that one using the container will have a tendency to pick it up by the conduit thus causing it to slide to an open position before the user is ready to pour from the container, which can damage the conduit and/or result in leakage of the liquid within the container. Furthermore, if the conduit and body portion are not fully seated during shipment or storage leakage can occur. There is no way to visually determine if the conduit is completely seated within the body portion, and therefore the contents of the container may be exposed to air, contaminants or subject to leakage without the knowledge of the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore among the objectives of this invention to provide a container closure and pouring device which is useful with a variety of containers, which provides an effective seal in both the open and the closed positions, which resists inadvertent movement from the closed position to the open position, which can be manipulated in the open position to aid in pouring the contents of the container and which is inexpensive to manufacture. 
     These objectives are accomplished in a container closure and pouring device comprising a cap with a hollow interior defined by a cylindrical wall having internal threads and a number of inlet ports. The cap receives a spout formed with external threads which is movable between a closed position in which it seals the inlet ports and is threaded into engagement with the cap, and an open position wherein the inlet ports of the cap are uncovered allowing liquid from a container to pass into the spout for pouring. 
     An important aspect of this invention is the provision of a threaded connection between the cap and the spout in the closed position of the spout. Unlike designs of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,610 discussed above, the threaded connection between the cap and spout protects the spout from damage and ensures that a seal is maintained even if the container to which the device of this invention is attached is picked up by the spout or the spout is otherwise contacted during shipment or the like. Without the threaded connection between the spout and cap, it is difficult to determine if the spout is in a seated, sealed position with respect to the cap. If a good seal is not maintained during shipment and storage of the container, air, dirt and other contaminants may be allowed to pass into the contents of the container, and/or the container could leak. 
     In the presently preferred embodiment, the cap and spout are formed with complimentary seals which engage one another in both the open and closed positions of the spout. In the open position, the spout is freely rotatable with respect to the cap so that it can be manipulated into alignment with wherever the contents of the container are to be poured. An extension can be attached to the outlet end of the spout, if desired. 
     The cap is preferably integrally formed with a skirt which extends radially outwardly from the cylindrical wall of the cap and is formed with internal threads. The skirt is threaded onto the external threads at the neck of the container so that the cap extends into the interior thereof. Flow of liquid from the interior of the container therefore moves along a flow path defined by the inlet ports of the cap and the interior of the spout. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The structure, operation and advantages of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an assembled, perspective view of the spout and cap with the spout in the closed position; 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 except with the spout in an open position; 
     FIG. 3 is a disassembled perspective view of the spout and cap; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the spout; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the cap; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the assembled cap and spout, with the spout in a closed position; 
     FIG. 6A is a enlarged cross sectional view of an encircled portion of FIG. 6 depicting one seal between the spout and cap; 
     FIG. 6B is an enlarged cross sectional view of an encircled portion of FIG. 6 showing one of the seals between the cap and spout; 
     FIG. 6C is an enlarged cross sectional view of an encircled portion of FIG. 6 showing the bottom portion of the spout seated at the base of the cap; 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, except with the spout in the extended, open position; 
     FIG. 7A is an enlarged cross sectional view of an encircled portion of FIG. 7 showing a seal between the cap and spout with the spout in the open position; 
     FIG. 7B is an enlarged cross sectional view of an encircled portion of FIG. 7 showing another seal between the cap and spout, with the spout in the open position; 
     FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 except with the device of this invention mounted to a container; and 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the assembled cap and spout with an extension mounted to the spout. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring initially to FIGS. 1-5, the closure and pouring device  10  of this invention comprises a spout  12  and cap  14  which are removably connected to one another and assembled as a unit to the neck of a container  16 , as described below. See also FIG.  8 . For purposes of the present discussion, the term “vertical” is meant to refer to the orientation of the spout  12  and cap  14  as depicted in the Figs., while “upper,” “lower,” “top” and “bottom” refer to positions relative to vertical. The term “horizontal” refers to the orientation perpendicular to vertical as the spout  12  and cap  14  are shown in the Figs. 
     In the presently preferred embodiment, the spout  12  includes a vertical tube  18  having a cylindrical wall  20  forming a hollow interior  22  with an inlet end  24 . The vertical tube  18  is connected to a horizontally oriented, pouring section  26  having a wall  28  forming a hollow interior  30  with an outlet or discharge end  32 . The hollow interiors  22 ,  30  of the vertical tube  18  and pouring section  26 , respectively, collectively form a flow path for the passage of liquid from the container  16 , as discussed below. Preferably, the inner surface  34  of the wall  28  of the pouring section  26  is angled slightly more than 90° relative to vertical so that any liquid remaining within the pouring section  26  after a pouring operation is completed flows in a direction toward the vertical tube  18  instead of dripping from the discharge end  32 . 
     The wall  20  of the vertical tube  18  is formed with a number of sealing members which cooperate with seals formed in the cap  14  to seal the contents of the container  16 , as described below with reference to a discussion of FIGS. 6 and 7. The bottom portion of the wall  20  includes a bottom surface  36 , an inner edge  38  and an outer edge  40 . A lower ridge seal  42  extends radially outwardly from the wall  20  near the bottom portion of the vertical tube  18 , and a second, upper ridge seal  44  is located vertically above the lower ridge seal  42 . In the presently preferred embodiment, external threads  46  are formed on the wall  20  near the upper portion of the vertical tube  18 , and a stop  48  is extends from the wall  20  at its juncture with the pouring section  26 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, the cap  14  includes a body portion  50  formed with at least two inlet ports  52  near its lower end  54  which extend into a hollow interior  56 . The lower end  54  is closed by a base  58  which is formed with a seat  60  having an inner wall  62  and an outer wall  64  terminating at a top edge  66 . The inner and outer walls  62 ,  64  are tapered and angle away from one another, as shown. The body portion  50  has a wall  68  located above the inlet ports  52  which is formed with a radially inwardly extending ramp seal  70 , a stop seal  72 , a tapered surface  74  and internal threads  76  adjacent the upper, open end  78  of the cap  14 . In the presently preferred embodiment, a skirt  80  is integrally formed with the wall  68  of body portion  50 . The skirt  80  extends from the upper portion of the wall  68 , and then downwardly toward the lower end  54  with a radial space being formed between the skirt  80  and wall  68 . The skirt  80  is formed with internal threads  82  which are adapted to mate with external threads  84  formed on the neck  86  of the container  16  as best seen in FIG.  8 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 6-7B, the spout  12  and cap  14  are shown assembled together, first in the closed position (FIG. 6) and then the open position (FIG.  7 ). Initially, the spout  12  and cap  14  are interconnected by inserting the vertical tube  18  of spout  12  into the open end  78  of the body portion  50  of cap  14 . In the closed position depicted in FIGS. 6-6C, the bottom portion of the vertical tube  18  extends all the way to the lower end  54  of the cap  14  and the uppermost end of the cap  14  engages the stop  48  on the vertical tube  18  of the spout  12 . 
     A number of seals are created between the spout  12  and cap  14  in the closed position shown in FIG.  6 . As best seen in FIG. 6C, a multi-surface seal is created between the bottom portion of the vertical tube  18  and the lower end  54  of cap  14 . The inner edge  38  of vertical tube  18  contacts the inner wall  62  of seat  60 , the outer edge  40  of vertical tube  18  engages the outer wall  64  of seat  60  and the lower ridge seal  42  rests atop the top edge  66  of the outer wall  64  or cap  14 . The inlet ports  52  of the cap  14  are closed by the wall  20  of vertical tube  18 . As shown in FIG. 6B, the upper ridge seal  44  of the vertical tube  18  engages and seals with the ramp seal  70  of the cap  14 . The lowermost external thread  46  on the vertical tube  18  seals with the tapered surface  74  located near the open end  78  of the cap  14 , and seal is also created between the remaining external threads  46  of the spout  12  and the internal threads  76  of the cap  14 . See FIG.  6 A. 
     The threaded connection between the spout  12  and cap  14  is advantageous because the spout  12  is maintained in a sealed position relative to the cap  14  even if the container  16  is picked up by the spout  12  or some other force is exerted on the container  16  or vertical tube  18  of spout  12  during shipment or otherwise. The bottom portion of the spout  12  is urged into contact with the lower end  54  of the cap  14 , forming the seals noted above, and is retained in that position until the spout  12  is unthreaded from the cap  14 . This ensures that the wall  20  of the vertical tube  18  of the spout  12  is maintained in a closed or lowered position to cover and seal the inlet ports  52  of the cap  14 , preventing leakage of the contents of container  16 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 7-7B, the spout  12  and cap  14  are shown in the open position. Initially, the spout  12  is unthreaded from the cap  14 , and then the spout  12  is pulled vertically upwardly so that the bottom surface  36  of the vertical tube  18  clears the inlet ports  52  of the cap  14 . A flow path is therefore created from the interior of the container  16 , into the inlet ports  52  of the cap  14  and through the hollow interiors  22  and  30  of the vertical tube  18  and pouring section  26 , respectively, of the spout  12 . The spout  12  is fully rotatable relative to the cap  14 , with a 360° range of motion, when in the open or extended position. See also FIG.  2 . 
     Seals are created between the spout  12  and cap  14  when in the open position to prevent leakage of the contents of the container  16  during a pouring operation. As best seen in FIG. 7A, the lower ridge seal  42  on the wall  20  of vertical tube  18  engages and seals against the ramp seal  70  on the body portion  50  of cap  14 . With reference to FIG. 7B, the upper ridge seal  44  of the vertical tube  18  seals against the “stop” seal  72  of the cap  14 , which is also effective to prevent the spout  12  from further upward vertical movement so that the spout  12  and cap  14  do not become separated. The spout  12  is returned to the closed position by moving it vertically downwardly within the cap  14 , as described in connection with a discussion of FIG. 6, and threading the two members together. 
     As noted above, the spout  12  freely rotates relative to the cap  14  and container  16  in the open position. This allows the discharge end  32  of the pouring section  26  of the spout  12  to be placed in the desired position relative to a receptacle for the contents of the container  16 . In the particular application where the container  16  is filled with motor oil, manipulation of the spout  12  is advantageous since the fill hole for the oil is often placed in a hard-to-reach location in many types of engines. As shown in FIG. 9, an extension  90  may be attached to the pouring section  26  of the spout  12  to further assist in the pouring operation. The extension  90  preferably includes a cap  92  to close it for storage of the container  16 . 
     While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.