Patent Publication Number: US-6216923-B1

Title: Liquid pouring device

Description:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an improved liquid pouring device. More specifically this invention relates to a hand held liquid pouring device that aids the user in pouring oil from a typical oil can/bottle into a typical engine oil filler hole, thereby eliminating the occurrence of oil spillage onto the engine block and/or ground. 
     BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     Many engine designs have placed the oil filler hole in such a location that an owner is required to use a large cumbersome funnel to pour oil into the engine. In the days of large cylindrical paper and metal oil cans, the user had to insert a large metallic spout into the can that allowed a user to directly insert the oil can into the engine with little or no oil spillage. These spouts were metallic and would pierce the oil can top when inserted into the can. Within the past 10 years however, the oil industry has switched over to plastic oil cans that incorporate a small neck and a small hole from which the oil pours. These metallic oil spouts are no longer useable. To pour the oil into the engine with this new oil can, the user must first insert a funnel into the engine oil hole. In the alternative, the user could try to pour the oil directly from the oil can into the engine oil hole. Both of these current approaches have considerable drawbacks. The use of the funnel reduces the chance of spillage on the engine, but once the funnel is removed from the engine, any residual oil still in the funnel will continue to flow with gravity and cause spillage. Attempting to pour the oil without the use of a funnel almost always results in spillage onto the engine and the floor. An improved device that allows the user to pour oil from these new oil cans to the engine without spillage is needed. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are to provide an improved liquid pouring device. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide an liquid pouring device which effectively allows for the pouring of a desired amount of oil from plastic oil bottles into the oil receiving port of an engine without spillage. 
     It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improved liquid pouring device which is drip free and which can accommodate different sized oil receiving ports on engines through the use of a easily removable cap-like means. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved liquid pouring device which allows the user to control the exact starting and stopping of the oil flow from the can into the engine without the need to touch any portion of the device that has contacted the oil, thereby keeping the user clean of oil. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of the improved liquid pouring device. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the improved liquid pouring device. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the improved liquid pouring device as located near the opening of a typical plastic oil can. 
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
       10 —improved liquid pouring device 
       12 —blocking cap 
       14 —vertical member 
       16 —handle 
       18 —oil bottle 
       20 —hole 
       22 —oil bottle outlet 
       24 —engine oil port 
     DESCRIPTION—FIGS.  1 - 2   
     Referring now to FIG. 1, FIG.  2  and FIG. 3, a preferred embodiment improved liquid pouring device  10  is generally shown. The improved liquid pouring device  10  is comprised of a vertical member  14  having a predetermined length and cross section. Located at the top distal end of the vertical member  14  is a hole  20  with a blocking cap  12  rigidly inserted into the hole  20 . The blocking cap  12  protrudes from the vertical member  14  and is circular in shape, the diameter of the blocking cap  12  being of a predetermined size to completely cover the opening of a typical plastic oil bottle  18 . Rigidly affixed to the lower distal end and protruding perpendicular from the vertical member  14  is a handle  16 . The handle  16  is similar in cross section to the vertical member  14 , having a predetermined length for comfortable interface and use by a human hand. The handle  16  allows a person to place the improved liquid pouring device  10 , specifically the blocking cap  12 , up against the oil bottle outlet  22 , thereby preventing the flow of oil from the oil bottle  18 . When the blocking cap  12  is removed from the oil bottle outlet  22 , oil is allowed to flow into the engine oil port  24 , thereby eliminating the spillage of oil and the need for the human hand to touch surfaces that have been soiled with oil. 
     OPERATION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation of the improved liquid pouring device  10  is very simple and straightforward. The user grips the improved liquid pouring device  10  by grasping the handle  16  and further orients the vertical member  14  so that the blocking cap  12  is completely covering and blocking the oil bottle outlet  22  of the oil bottle  18 . With the improved liquid pouring device  10  held in this relative position, the user lowers and rotates the oil bottle  18  to interface with the engine oil port  24 . As the improved liquid pouring device  10  is positioned close to the engine oil port  24 , the handle  16  is turned and pulled away so that the blocking cap  12  is removed from the path of the oil flow from the oil bottle outlet  22 . As oil starts to flow from the oil bottle  18  into the engine oil port  24 , the oil bottle  18  is inserted fully into the engine oil port  24 , thereby eliminating the occurrence of oil spillage. 
     To stop the flow of oil from the oil bottle  18 , the process is reversed. The oil bottle  18  is removed from the engine oil port  24  and the blocking cap  12  is placed up against the oil bottle outlet  22 , completely blocking and preventing the further flow of oil from the oil bottle  18 . This relative position is maintained while the user removes the oil bottle  18  and brings the oil bottle  18  to a full upright position. 
     SUMMARY, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE 
     Accordingly, the reader will see that an improved liquid pouring device is shown that allows the user to quickly and neatly pour oil from today&#39;s plastic oil bottles. Spillage and leakage is prevented and the user is kept clean while pouring the oil. The device is simple to use, inexpensive, and easily stored in a vehicle glove box or storage bin. 
     Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, this device could easily be made from stamped sheet metal thereby the structure would look visually different than those depicted. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.