Patent Publication Number: US-2019194008-A1

Title: Self-Supporting Funnel

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/608,682 filed on Dec. 21, 2017. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to funnels. More specifically, the invention provides a conical body tapering inward from a first end to a second end, with a spout extending from the second end, wherein the spout is configured to removably secure to a stopper which is configured to removably secure to an aperture in a car engine. 
     Many people often use funnels to pour new cleaning fluids or wiper fluids into their car, or otherwise provide maintenance to their vehicle. However, these funnels require stabilization while pouring liquids through them, or the liquid will spill, wasting money and infuriating the user. Unfortunately, the bottles used to refill the maintenance areas of the car are often large, heavy, and otherwise unwieldly, often leading to spills and wasted product. Although individuals may ask another person to help them pour the liquid, it can sometimes be difficult to find a second person, as additional individuals are not always available. Thus, an improved self-supporting funnel that can efficiently allow s to use both hands to pour liquids therethrough at a specified angle is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of self-supporting funnels now present in the known art, the present invention provides self-supporting funnel wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when desiring to allow a user to use both hands to pour liquids therethrough at a specified angle. 
     The present system comprises a self-supporting funnel. The self-supporting funnel comprises a conical body having a first end disposed opposite a second end, wherein the first end has an opening configured to receive liquids therethrough and the second end has an opening configured to expel liquids therethrough. The first end includes a diameter greater than a diameter of the second end, such that the conical body tapers inward from the first end to the second end, forming a specified angle. A spout having an aperture therethrough is affixed to the second end and extends away from the conical body. A stopper is removably secured to a distal end of the spout, wherein the stopper includes an aperture extending therethrough. In this way, a user is able to secure the self-supporting funnel within an aperture and thereby use both hands to pour liquids therethrough at a specified angle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the self-supporting funnel. 
         FIG. 1B  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the self-supporting funnel with the stopper detached. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the self-supporting funnel. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the self-supporting funnel in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the self-supporting funnel. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1A , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the self-supporting funnel. The self-supporting funnel  10  comprises a conical body  11  with a first end  12  disposed opposite a second end  13 . The conical body  11  is configured to receive liquid therethrough; as such the first end  12  comprises an opening in communication with an interior of the conical body  11 . Additionally, the second  13  comprises an opening in communication with the interior of the conical body  11 , such that liquid can flow unimpeded from the first end  12  to the second end  13 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the first end  12  and the second end  13  are each annularly shaped, such that the first end  12  has a first diameter and the second end  13  has a second diameter. In the shown embodiment, the first end  12  is at least twice as large as the second end  13 , such that the diameter of the first end  12  spans a distance at least two times greater than the diameter of the second end  13 . Thus, the first end  12  is appropriately dimensioned to allow the user to easily view the liquid poured into the conical body  11  while the second end  13  is appropriately dimensioned to fit within the desired location. As the first end  12  is greater than the second end  13 , the conical body  11  tapers inwardly from the first end  12  towards the second end  13 . In this way, liquid is conveyed from the first end  12  to the second end  13  via gravity. 
     The second end  13  of the conical body  11  further comprises a spout  15  extending away from the second end  13 . In the illustrated embodiment, the spout  15  is configured to mirror the shape of the second end  13 , such that the spout  15  forms a cylinder extending away from the second end  13  and having an interior volume with a diameter equivalent to the second end  13 . In the shown embodiment, the spout  15  has a consistent diameter therealong, such that the interior volume of the spout  15  is continuous along a linear axis and liquid flows unimpeded therethrough. 
     The self-supporting funnel  10  further comprises a stopper  14  configured to removably secure to the spout  15 . As such, the stopper  14  has an aperture which extends therethrough the body of the stopper  14 , thereby allowing liquids poured into the conical body  11  to travel through the stopper  14  as well. The stopper  14  is configured to removably secure into an aperture of a car engine. In the shown embodiment, the stopper  14  is composed of rubber. However, in other embodiments, the stopper  14  is composed of any material that includes a friction coefficient greater than one, such that the stopper  14  forms a seal about the aperture the stopper  14  is placed therein. Thus, the stopper  14  prevents liquid from spilling outside the desired aperture. In the illustrated embodiment, the stopper  14  has an outer surface which includes a plurality of flexible flange members disposed thereon to ensure additional sealing while providing additional surface area for a friction fit into the aperture of the engine. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1B , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the self-supporting funnel with the stopper detached. In the illustrated embodiment, the stopper  14  includes a stopper flange  141  at a first end thereof. The stopper flange  141  is disposed about a perimeter of the first end of the stopper  14 , as to allow a user to delineate the break between the stopper  14  and the conical body  11  and provide a grip to remove the stopper  14  therefrom. In the shown embodiment, the stopper flange  141  is distributed consistently about the perimeter of the stopper  14 , such that the stopper flange  141  has a consistent width therearound, such that the user may grip the stopper  14  at any angle. In one embodiment, the stopper flange  141  includes a textured outer surface to provide increased friction for a more secure grip. Additionally, the stopper flange  141  includes a planar upper surface, thereby to provide a smooth surface for the user to grip when remove the stopper  14  from the spout  15 . 
     The stopper  14  further includes a lower end  142 , wherein the lower end  142  is configured to removably secure within an aperture of an engine of a vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, the stopper  14  is tapered inward from the stopper flange  141  to the lower end  142 , such that an outer body of the stopper  14  has a greater diameter proximate to the stopper flange  141  when compared to the diameter of the outer body of the stopper  14  proximate to the lower end  142 . Regardless, in the shown embodiment, the aperture of the stopper  14  extends linearly therethrough, such that the diameter of the aperture wherein the spout  15  is received is equivalent to the lower end  142  providing a constant diameter therethrough independent of the tapering of the outer surface of the stopper  14 . The tapered nature of the outer body of the stopper  14  allows the user to easily remove the stopper  14  from the spout  15 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the conical body  11  tapers radially from the first end to the second end, such that a consistent funnel angle  111  is measured throughout. In the illustrated embodiment, the funnel angle  111  is configured to measure 45 degrees from a central axis of the conical body, wherein the central axis extends through a center of each of the first opening and the second opening. Thus, the angle thereby allows the liquid poured therein to quickly descend through the conical body  11  and into the desired aperture of the engine and allowing for use when the user is not able to properly grasp or support the conical body  11 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a perspective view of another embodiment of the self-supporting funnel. In the illustrated embodiment, the self-supporting funnel further comprises a tapered spout  16  having an aperture therethrough. In the shown embodiment, the tapered spout  16  is disposed on the distal end of the spout  15 , such that the tapered spout  16  extends away from the spout  15  and the conical body  11 . The tapered spout  16  is configured to taper away from the spout. The interior of the tapered spout  16  is configured to taper inwardly, such that the aperture of the tapered spout  16  has a diameter greater than the diameter of the proximal end of the tapered spout  16  affixed to the spout  15 . Additionally, the body of the tapered spout  16  tapers outward, such that a first edge of the exterior of the tapered spout  16  forms a tapered spout angle  161  with an adjacent edge of the spout. In the illustrated embodiment, the tapered spout angle  161  is dimensioned at 135-degrees, thereby providing an optimal angle for pouring liquid therethrough. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the self-supporting funnel in use. In operation, the user will threadably secure the stopper  14  into an aperture of the engine  72 , wherein the engine aperture the stopper  14  is secured thereto is in communication with the oil tank. The user will then frictionally secure the spout  15  of the funnel  11  into the stopper  14 , such that the conical body  11  is in communication with the oil tank. The user is then able to utilize both hands to pour fluid  71  from a bottle  70  into the first end  12  of the conical body  11  without supporting the conical body  11 , thereby channeling the fluid  71  into the desired area of the vehicle in a fast and controlled manner. In this way, the self-supporting funnel  10  allows a user to removably secure the device without relying on additional help to support the funnel while in use. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.