Patent Publication Number: US-2005133110-A1

Title: Funnel stand

Description:
The benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/531,378, filed Dec. 19, 2003 and entitled REFILLER FUNNEL STAND, is hereby claimed. The disclosure of this referenced provisional application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to means and methods for transferring fluid from one container to another container and relates, more particularly, to a funneling device facilitating the transfer of a fluid from one container to another container.  
      During the course of changing oil in an engine, used oil is commonly drained from the crankcase of the engine and collected, for example, in a shallow collection pan, and then the crankcase is refilled with new, unused oil which has been purchased in quart-sized containers. For ease of disposal of the used oil which has been collected within the collection pan, the used oil is commonly poured from the collection pan into the emptied quart-sized containers within which the new, unused oil was purchased, and then the used oil is returned to a recycling center, or station, within the quart-sized containers.  
      For purposes of transferring the used oil from the collection pan to the emptied quart-sized containers, a funnel can be placed within the mouth of a container so that the funnel is supported by the container, and then the used oil is poured from the collection pan into the funnel where it is directed downwardly into the container. However, such a quart-sized container is susceptible of tipping over as the oil is poured from the collection pan into the container-supported funnel; and if such a tipping over does occur, then used oil is likely to spill from the container or the funnel. It would therefore be desirable to provide a means for funneling used oil poured from a collection pan into an empty quart-sized container which reduces the likelihood that the quart-sized container will tip over as the used oil is poured from a collection pan into the quart-sized container.  
      Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved funnel stand facilitating the transfer of fluid from one container to another container.  
      Another object of the present invention to provide such a stand which is particularly well-suited for use when transferring a drained fluid, such as used motor oil, from a collection pan into a small (e.g. quart-sized) container for disposal.  
      Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a stand which is compact in size, uncomplicated in structure, and effective in operation.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention resides in a funnel stand facilitating the funneling of fluid into a small container having an open mouth.  
      The stand includes a base platform having a support surface upon which a small, open-mouthed container is positionable so that the open mouth of the container is directed upwardly and a funnel portion having a relatively large entrance opening and a smaller discharge opening. The stand also includes means for supporting the funnel portion in an elevated condition above the base platform for funneling a fluid poured into the funnel portion downwardly through the discharge opening thereof and so that the height of the spacing as measured between the discharge opening of the funnel portion and the support surface of the base portion closely approximates the height of the small container. Therefore, when the container is positioned upon the support surface of the base platform so that the mouth of the container is positioned in vertical registry with the discharge opening of the funnel portion, the mouth of the container is closely positioned adjacent the discharge opening to accept fluid which flows out of the funnel portion through the discharge opening thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view depicting the prior art process involving the funneling of used motor oil which has been collected within a collection pan into a quart-sized container.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a funnel stand within which features of the present invention are embodied.  
       FIG. 2   a  is a fragmentary perspective view of the funnel portion of the  FIG. 2  stand, and drawn to a slightly larger scale.  
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the  FIG. 2  stand as seen generally from the left in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 4  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 2  stand as seen along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the  FIG. 2  stand as seen generally from above in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating the  FIG. 2  stand and a quart-sized container positioned within the stand.  
       FIG. 7  is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of a stand within which features of the present invention are embodied.  
       FIG. 8  is a top view of the  FIG. 7  stand as seen generally from above in  FIG. 7 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS  
      Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1  an exemplary prior art process of transferring used motor oil, indicated  12 , which has been collected (e.g. drained from beneath a vehicle engine) within a shallow collection pan  14  into an empty, relatively small (e.g. quart-sized) container  16  by means of a funnel  18 . For this purpose, the funnel  18  has been placed and thereby supported within the mouth of the container  16 , and then the oil  12  is poured from the collection pan  14  and into the funnel  18  where the oil is directed downwardly into the container  16  for collection.  
      The container  16  within which the used oil is collected is envisioned to be a small container within which new, or replacement, motor oil is purchased for the purpose of replacing the used oil which has been drained from an engine and into the collection pan  14 . In other words, once the used motor oil is drained from an engine and replaced with oil which was purchased in small (e.g. quart-sized) containers, then the empty containers are available for accepting used oil poured therein from the collection pan  14 . As each container is filled with used oil, the container  16  is closed (e.g. with a screw-type top) and rendered ready to return to a recycling center for disposal. Since the number of quarts of used oil removed from an engine is rarely expected to exceed the number of quarts of oil replaced within the engine, there should always be enough empty small (e.g. quart-sized) containers on hand following an oil-changing operation to contain the used motor oil collected within the collection pan  14 .  
      It will be appreciated, however, that as oil is poured into the funnel  18  from the collection pan  14  in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the container  16  is susceptible of tipping over. Such a susceptibility to tipping over is believed to be due to a number of factors, such as the relatively small size of the bottom of the container  16  and the disposition of the mouth of the container  16  to one size of the container—rather than being disposed centrally above the container bottom. The container  16  could be manually steadied by a second individual during the  FIG. 1  oil-transferring process, but such a second individual is not always available when the oil-transferring process is desired to take place. As will be apparent, the invention described herein is intended to improve upon the illustrated prior art oil-transferring process of  FIG. 1  in that it reduces the likelihood that a small container into which a fluid is funneled will tip over as the fluid is funneled therein.  
      With reference to  FIGS. 2-5 , there is illustrated an embodiment, generally indicated  20 , of a funnel stand within which features of the present invention are embodied. The depicted stand  20  includes a base platform  22 , a pair of legs  24  extending upwardly from the base platform  22 , and a funnel portion  26  supported in an elevation condition above the base platform  22  by the legs  24 . As will be apparent herein, the legs  24  are spaced apart by a sufficient distance to permit an empty (e.g. quart-sized) container  30  ( FIG. 6 ) to be positioned upon the base platform  22  and beneath the funnel portion  26  for acceptance of a fluid funneled into the container  30  by way of the funnel portion  26 .  
      Although the embodiment  20  is described herein in conjunction with the transfer of an engine fluid (e.g. used motor oil) which has been drained from a vehicle engine into small, quart-sized containers (e.g. empty oil bottles), the embodiment  20  can be used to transfer other fluids from one container to another container. For example, a homemaker may employ the embodiment  20  described herein for transferring a quantity of cleaning fluid which has been purchased in a large, economy-sized container into a smaller (e.g. quart-sized) spray bottle from which the cleaning fluid is ultimately dispensed. Accordingly, the principles of the present invention can be variously applied.  
      With reference to  FIGS. 2-5 , the base platform  22  is platen-like in shape and is adapted to rest upon a floor  32  or similar underlying support surface. The platform  22  defines a flat, upwardly-facing, rectangular support surface  34  upon which a container  30  is positionable during use of the stand  20 . If desired, the frictional grip between the support surface  34  and the bottom surface of the container  30  positioned thereon can be enhanced by providing the surface  34  with a roughened or soft, rubber-like texture. The base platform  22  can be constructed, for example, of hard plastic, but other materials can be used. If constructed (e.g. molded) out of plastic, strengthening ribs  35  can be integrally formed across the underside of the platform  22  for strengthening purposes.  
      The funnel portion  26  of the stand  20  has a relatively large, rectangular upper opening  36  and a smaller, circular discharge spout, or opening  38 . The funnel portion  26  also has sidewalls  40  having straight-walled sections  42  which border the upper opening  36  and tapered sections  44  which are disposed beneath the straight-walled sections  42  and taper inwardly, or converge toward one another, as a path is traced downwardly from the straight-walled sections  42  toward the discharge opening  38 . The discharge opening  38  is provided by a short, conduit section  46  which is joined to, so as to depend downwardly from, the lower end of the tapered section  44 . Preferably, a plurality of vertically-disposed ribs  39  (best shown in  FIG. 2   a ) are defined along (and thereby protrude from) the outer surface of the conduit section  46  for a reason which will be apparent herein. In the depicted stand  20 , there are four such ribs  39  which are regularly disposed about the conduit section  40 . Furthermore, the tapered sections  44  of the depicted stand  20  meet at corners which are, for the most part, rounded in shape as a path is traced from the regions where the straight-walled sections  42  are joined together downwardly to the conduit section  46 .  
      It is a feature of the stand  20  that the discharge opening  38  is disposed to one side of the funnel portion  26  or, in other words, offset to one side of the vertical centerline, indicated  58  in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Since replacement oil is commonly purchased in containers, like the container  30  of  FIG. 6 , whose mouth is disposed to one side of the vertical centerline of the container in an “easy to pour” configuration, the position of the discharge opening  38  relative to the vertical centerline  58  of the funnel portion  26  permits the container  30  to be positioned centrally of the support surface  34  of the base platform  22  while the mouth, indicated  48  in  FIG. 6 , of the container  30  is positionable in vertical registry with the discharge opening  38 .  
      It is another feature of the stand  20  that it includes means, generally indicated  50 , for supporting the funnel portion  26  in a spaced and elevated condition above the support surface  34  of the base platform  22 . In this connection, the supporting means  50  includes the pair of legs  24 , introduced earlier, which are disposed on opposite ends of the base platform  22  and extend upwardly therefrom to the funnel portion  26 . Each leg  24  is relatively flat, or planar, in form and as seen in  FIG. 4 , has a shape which resembles an hourglass. In addition, the legs  24  are spaced a sufficient distance apart to accept a container  30  ( FIG. 6 ) positioned upon the platform  22  and beneath the funnel portion  26 . Moreover, each leg  24  is joined at its lower end to the base platform  22  at a corresponding end thereof and is joined at its upper end to a corresponding side of the funnel portion  26 . If the stand  20  is molded as a unitary structure, the legs  24  can be formed integrally with the base platform  22  and funnel portion  26 .  
      The legs  24  support the discharge opening  38  in a spaced relationship above the support surface  34  of the base platform  22  so that the height of the spacing, indicated  52  in  FIG. 3 , measured between the discharge opening  38  of the funnel portion  26  and the support surface  34  of the base platform  22  closely approximates the height of the small container  30  into which fluids are intended to be funneled with the stand  20 . With the discharge opening  38  spaced above the support surface  34  in this manner, the container  30  ( FIG. 6 ) can be positioned upon the support surface  34  and manipulated into place beneath the funnel portion  26  so that the (open) mouth of the container  30  is positioned in vertical registry with the discharge opening  38  of the funnel portion  26  and is closely positioned adjacent the discharge opening of the funnel portion to accept fluid which flows downwardly and out of the funnel portion  26  through the discharge opening  38  thereof. Furthermore, the container  30  is less likely to tip over when the open mouth of the container  30  is closely positioned adjacent the discharge opening  38  in this manner.  
      Desirably, the height of the spacing  52  as measured between the discharge opening  38  of the funnel portion  26  and the support surface  34  of the base platform  22  is within about 0.5 inches of the height of the container  30 . To further reduce the likelihood that the container  30  will tip over as the container  30  is being filled beneath the funnel portion  26 , it is preferable that the height of the spacing  52  as measured between the discharge opening  38  of the funnel portion and the support surface of the base platform  22  is slightly less than the height of the container  30  so that when the container  30  is positioned upon the support surface  34  of the base platform  22  so that the mouth of the container  30  is positioned in vertical registry with the discharge opening  34  of the funnel portion  26 , the mouth of the container  30  encircles the discharge opening  38 , or more specifically, the conduit section  46  of the funnel portion. With the container mouth encircling the discharge opening  34  in this manner, any tipping of the container  30  in one direction (e.g. rightwardly) or the other direction (e.g. leftwardly) will cause the inside surface of the container mouth to abut the outside surface of the conduit section  46  and thereby prevent the container  30  from tipping over any further.  
      The ribs  39  ( FIG. 2   a ) defined along the conduit section  46  are advantageous when the mouth of the container  30  accepts, so as to encircle, the discharge opening  38 . In particular, the ribs  39  permit the escape of air from the container  30  as the container  30  is being filled. In other words, as fluid is poured through the funnel portion  26  of the stand  20  and into the container  30 , air is permitted to escape from the container interior through the spacings provided between the ribs  39  and the inside surface of the container mouth  48  ( FIG. 6 ). This way, air which is present within the container  30  will not become trapped as fluid is poured therein so that the flow of additional fluid into the container  30  is not disrupted or prevented. By comparison, a funnel, like the funnel  18  of  FIG. 1 , which possesses a smooth outer surface and which rests upon a container so that the discharge opening of the funnel is disposed within the container mouth (having a smooth inner surface) is likely to cooperate with the container mouth to trap air within the container when fluid is poured into the container through such a smooth-surfaced funnel.  
      To position the container  30  within the stand  20  for use and with reference to  FIG. 6 , the container  30  (when empty) is positioned upon the base platform  22  so that the bottom of the container  30  rests upon the support surface  34  of the base platform  22  and so that the open mouth of the container is disposed in vertical registry with the downwardly-directed discharge opening  38  of the funnel portion  26  of the stand  20 . Even if the height of the spacing as measured between the discharge opening  38  of the funnel portion  26  and the support surface of the base platform  22  is slightly less than the height of the container  30 , the container  30  can be manipulated (e.g. moved in the direction of the arrow  66  from the position illustrated in phantom line in  FIG. 6  to the position illustrated in solid lines in  FIG. 6 ) so that the mouth of the container  30  encircles the discharge opening  38 , or more specifically, the conduit section  46  of the funnel portion. With the container  30  positioned upon the base platform  22  in this manner, the fluid to be funneled into the container  30  is then poured into the funnel portion  26  of the stand  20  so that the fluid funnels downwardly into the empty container  30 .  
      By monitoring the level of fluid collected within the container  30  as the container  30  is filled, the container will not be overfilled (in a manner causing the fluid to overflow the container mouth). Upon completion of the container-filling process, the container  30  is carefully removed from beneath the funnel portion  26  and closed, or capped, to prevent spillage of fluid from the container  30 . If the container  30  has a cap which screws on or off the mouth to close or open the mouth, the cap is simply replaced upon the mouth to close the container  30 . If additional fluid is to be collected (i.e. more than can be collected within one container  30 ), another container is positioned within the stand  20  so that its mouth is disposed in vertical registry with the discharge opening  38  of the funnel portion  26  and the container-filling process is repeated.  
      It follows from the foregoing that a funnel stand  20  has been described which facilitates the transfer of collected fluid (e.g. used motor oil) into a relatively small (e.g. quart-sized) container  30  while reducing the likelihood that the container  30  will tip over as the container is being filled. Furthermore, the funnel stand  20  is relatively compact in size, rendering it easy to store or transport, and uncomplicated in construction.  
      Exemplary dimensions of the stand  20  are as follows: The total height of the stand is about 12.375 inches; the (horizontally-measured) length and width of each of the base platform  22  and upper opening of the funnel portion  26  are about 6.0 inches and 5.5 inches, respectively; the discharge opening  38  is about 7.375 inches from the upper surface of the base platform  22 ; the (vertically-measured) length of the conduit section  46  is about 0.5 inches; and the outer diameter of the conduit section  46  is about 0.75 inches; the thickness of the base platform is about 0.5 inches; and the vertical centerline of the discharge opening  38  is offset from the vertical centerline  58  of the funnel portion  26  by about 1.5 inches.  
      It will be understood that numerous modifications and substitutions can be had to the aforedescribed embodiment  20  without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, although the stand  20  of  FIGS. 2-6  has been shown and described as including a funnel portion  26  possessing tapered sections  44  which meet at rounded corners, the funnel portion  26  may possess an alternative shape. For example and with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , there is illustrated a funnel stand  60  which has a funnel portion  62  which includes tapered sidewall sections  68  which are joined to one another along linear corners  64 . Accordingly, the aforedescribed embodiment  20  is intended for the purpose of illustration and not as limitation.