Patent Abstract:
A pitcher for safely receiving, transporting and decanting a hot liquid includes a body with first and second openings, and a bottom cover removably attached to the body. An opening baffle near the first opening reduces the hot liquid flow rate through the first opening during decanting, and a funnel near the second opening directs the hot liquid through the second opening when receiving the hot liquid. The funnel directs the hot liquid from the second opening to the first opening opening if the hot liquid exits the second opening during decanting. The pitcher includes an elongated handle, a fin for dividing the hot liquid during decanting, and a scalloped outer sidewall for limiting contact with a user&#39;s hand.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Food service companies use hot liquids in food preparation and cooking processes, and often for cleaning. Thousands of injuries occur every year in commercial food service operations due to scalding from hot liquid. Scalding injuries are severe. Third degree burns occur from liquid contact above 150 degrees Fahrenheit for only two seconds. Similar burn can be caused by a six-second exposure to 140 degree liquid, or from a thirty second exposure to liquid at 130 degrees. Notably, commercial hot water dispensers in the food service industry commonly dispense water at temperatures approaching 200 degrees. Scalding injuries are primarily caused by employees spilling vessels, such as pitchers, while transporting hot liquid from a dispenser to another location. 
         [0002]    Currently, transporting a hot liquid in a commercial setting, such as a restaurant kitchen or commissary, involves filling a vessel and walking with it to a desired location. Although covered vessels are typically indicated for such uses, open containers are frequently used. Hot liquid in an uncovered vessel is prone to slosh up and out of the vessel when agitated by an employee&#39;s walking and turning movements. If some portion of the hot liquid leaving the vessel contacts the employee&#39;s hand, face or body, the typical reaction is to release the entire vessel, which falls to the floor, ejecting the remaining hot liquid in uncontrolled directions and creating a high risk of injury to the employee and other persons in the vicinity. Bums resulting from such a spill come at great expense to the employer due to employee injury, lost work time, and worker compensation and medical claims. 
         [0003]    Covered vessels usually have a secured lid to prevent hot liquid from sloshing out when moved. Although this lowers the likelihood of scalding from spilled hot liquid, vessel lids typically have a tenuous connection to the vessel, or are removable. If a lidded vessel is inadvertently dropped, or even tilted over in many instances, the lid may disengage, allowing hot liquid inside to splash out and cause injury. Other problems with lidded vessels is the tendency for removable lids to become lost, or many times simply thrown away by employees, thus encouraging use of the vessel without a lid. The very nature of removable lids encourages employees to not use, or discard lids, deeming them an inconvenient nuisance. 
         [0004]    For these reasons it is an object of the present invention to provide a vessel for safely containing, transporting, and decanting hot liquids. Another object is to provide a vessel capable of safely accepting hot liquid from a dispenser and securely holding the hot liquid, preventing it from sloshing or splashing during filling, during transport when full, and during decanting. Another object is to provide a vessel with a lid incapable of dislodging, if the vessel is inadvertently dropped, or removed by a user. Another object is to provide a vessel allowing only a controlled release of hot liquid when poured or inadvertently dropped. Another object is to provide a vessel easy to disassemble, clean, and dry. Another object is to provide a locking mechanism incapable of allowing the pitcher to inadvertently disassemble. These and other objects are more fully discussed herein. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A pitcher for safely receiving, transporting and decanting a hot liquid includes a body having a first opening and a second opening, a bottom cover attached to the body but able to he removed, an opening baffle in fluid communication with the first opening, the opening baffle near the first opening to reduce the hot liquid flow rate through the first opening during decanting of the hot liquid, and a funnel near the second opening to direct the hot liquid through the second opening during receiving the hot liquid. The funnel directs the hot liquid from the second opening to the first opening opening during decanting of the hot liquid. 
         [0006]    Preferably, the bottom cover is larger in diameter than the funnel at the top of the pitcher to reduce tipping, and the pitcher includes an elongated handle extending from near the funnel to near the bottom cover for ease of the user grasping the pitcher during decanting. A fin near the first opening divides the hot liquid&#39;s flow during decanting of the hot liquid. The body includes an outer sidewall with a scalloped surface for less surface area for contacting the user&#39;s hand. The body also has a chamber baffle inside the pitcher for settling the hot liquid during transporting of the hot liquid, and a lower flange in peripheral contour with the bottom cover. The bottom cover has an inner wall extending into the body of the pitcher. 
         [0007]    The pitcher for safely receiving, transporting and decanting a hot liquid, may also be described as having a body with a funnel and a sidewall extending downward from the funnel. The funnel includes a first opening next to the sidewall and a second opening below the first opening. The handle is preferably opposite the first opening. An opening baffle in the body next to the first opening hinders the hot liquid when decanting, and a bottom cover is attached, but removable, to the body. The pitcher is configured such that the funnel directs the hot liquid from the second opening toward the first opening when decanting. 
         [0008]    A third characterization of the pitcher for safely receiving, transporting, and decanting a hot liquid, is the pitcher having a body with a baffle to settle the hot liquid in the body. A funnel is formed in the body, and the funnel has a first opening for dispensing the hot liquid and a second opening for receiving the hot liquid. A bottom cover is removably attached to the body, wherein the funnel directs the hot liquid from the second opening to the first opening when decanting the hot liquid. A hole in the body fully drains the hot liquid from the body when the pitcher is inverted. And the body has a flange in peripheral contour with the bottom cover, the bottom cover having an inner wall extending into the body of the pitcher. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a hot liquid safety pitcher. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the pitcher. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top plan view of the pitcher. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom view of the pitcher. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the pitcher with a bottom cover removed. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom view of the pitcher with the bottom cover removed. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates a section view of the pitcher filled with hot liquid. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates a section view of the pitcher tipped to a normal angle decanting the hot liquid. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  illustrates a section view of the pitcher tipped to an extreme angle safely decanting the hot liquid. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a pitcher  10  for transporting a scalding hot liquid  100  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) includes a body  12  and a locking bottom cover  14 . The body  12  is characterized by a handle  16 , a flange  18 , a sidewall  20 , and a splash guard  22 . In addition to having a smaller diameter than the flange  18 , the sidewall  20  may also decrease in diameter from the flange  18  toward the splash guard  22 , thereby enhancing the pitcher&#39;s  10  low center of gravity. The sidewall  20  is characterized by a circumferential series of vertically oriented scallops  24 . The scallops  24 , recessed in the sidewall  20 , create ridges  26  to reduce surface area contact when touching the hot pitcher  10 . 
         [0019]    The sidewall  20  also includes grading  28  for accurate measuring. The pitcher  10  may be clear or partially opaque to allow viewing the hot liquid  100  level, or alternatively, only the grading  28  may be transparent, thereby showing the hot liquid  100  level. Multiple grading  28  indicia on the sidewall  20  are contemplated to allow measuring in different units, such as metric versus U.S. customary. Preferably, all components of the pitcher  10 , including the body  12  and bottom cover  14 , comprise food grade BPA-free and FDA approved materials. 
         [0020]    The splash guard  22  extends upward from the sidewall  20  to prevent the hot liquid  100  from splashing out of the pitcher  10 , and preferably includes a lip  30  to help prevent adhesion to the pitcher  10  during decanting. That is, the hot liquid  100  running down the sidewall  20  of the pitcher  10 . The splash guard  22  surrounds a funnel  32  integrally formed as part of the body  12  which functions as a non-removable lid. Although molding the funnel  32  with the body  12  is preferred, alternative embodiments may include a separately constructed Runnel  32  affixed to the body  12 , preferably requiring a special tool for removing the funnel  32  from the body  12 . 
         [0021]    The funnel  32  includes first openings  34  through which hot liquid  100  is decanted. The first openings  34  preferably include an opening guard  36  to prevent hot liquid  100  from gushing out of the pitcher  10 , and a fin  38 , preferably bisecting the first openings  34  and opening guard  36 , for added directional pouring control and to reduce splashing. The funnel  32  also incorporates small holes  40  to aid in equalizing displaced air as hot liquid  100  enters or exits the pitcher  10 . The small holes  40  also allow drainage and drying after use when the pitcher  10  is inverted and resting on a flat surface. 
         [0022]    The handle  16  is preferably shaped in a broad arc, extending from the splash guard  22  to the flange  18 , to more easily control the pitcher  10 , particularly when full. An elevated thumb guard  42  where the handle  16  joins the splash guard  22  extends higher than the splash guard  22  for both added protection, and to allows drainage and drying when the pitcher  10  is inverted on a flat surface (not shown) by allowing air flow under the splash guard  22 . 
         [0023]    At the top of the handle  16  adjacent the thumb guard  42  is a groove  44  to accommodate a user&#39;s finger or thumb (not shown). The groove  44  is enlarged and lengthened to accommodate a variety of sizes. Below the groove  44 , the handle  16  includes a channeled section  46 . The groove  44  and channeled section  46  provide dual purposes of providing for effective gripping while also reducing the quantity of material needed to construct the pitcher  10 . 
         [0024]    The bottom cover  14  is positioned just below the flange  18  when installed on the pitcher  10 . The bottom cover  14  is preferably at least the same diameter as the flange  18  and includes a locking mechanism  48 , discussed in more detail below, for preventing the bottom cover  14  from inadvertently disengaging from the pitcher  10 . To assist affixing the bottom cover  14  to the pitcher  10 , an upper indicator  50  and a lower indicator  52  are used. The upper indicator  50  is preferably disposed on the flange  18 , adjacent the handle  16 , and the lower indicator  52  is disposed on the bottom cover  14 . A release  54  allows the locking mechanism  48  to be unlocked. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the funnel  32  extends to the splash guard  22  and thumb guard  42 . The opening guard  36  and fin  38  are also preferably incorporated into the funnel  32  opposite the handle  16 . Also shown in this view, the flange  18  extends beyond the scallops  24  and ridges  26  of the sidewall  20 . The funnel  32  also includes one or more second openings  56  and a domed section  58 . The second openings  56  accept hot liquid  100  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) poured into the funnel  32 , and the domed section  58  helps direct hot liquid  100  from the funnel  32  toward the second. openings  56  to prevent splashing. Providing multiple second openings  56  also facilitates venting of displaced air as hot liquid  100  enters the pitcher  10 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the bottom cover  14  preferably includes a rotating grip  60  to facilitate grasping and rotating the bottom cover  14  relative to the body  12 . Aligning the upper indicator  50  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) with the lower indicator  52  and turning the bottom cover  14  with the rotating grip  60  to align the release  54  with the upper indicator  50  locks the bottom cover  14  onto the body  12 . Depressing the release  54  allows the bottom cover  14  to rotate in the opposite direction and eventually disengage from the body  12 . In the illustrated embodiment the rotating grip  60  is a single cross piece bisecting two semi-circular indentations  62 , although any configuration effective for turning the bottom cover  14  is contemplated. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the pitcher  10  is shown with the bottom cover  14  separated from the body  12 . To assemble the pitcher  10 , the bottom cover  14  is aligned with the body  12  and rotated against it. To ensure fast and easy alignment, an inner wall  64  is provided on the bottom cover  14 , sized to fit just inside the body  12 . A first thread  66  on the body  12  aligns with a second thread  68  surrounding the inner wall  64 . When the inner wall  64  is inserted into the body  12  and the bottom cover  14  rotated, the first thread  66  engages the second thread  68 , bringing the bottom cover  14  up against the flange  18 , and in a corresponding movement, drive the inner wall  64  further into the body  12 . 
         [0028]    As the first and second threads  66 ,  68  rotate against each other, driving the bottom cover  14  onto the body  12 , the release  54  eventually encounters a wedge member  70  projecting from the flange  18 . The wedge member  70  passes between the release  54 , and a release tab  72 , thereby impinging on the release tab  72  to deflect a resiliently deformable arm  74  holding the release  54  and release tab  72 . 
         [0029]    When the bottom cover  14  reaches a fully engaged position, the release tab  72  clears the wedge member  70 , allowing the resiliently deformable arm  74  to return the release tab  72  to an obstructed position behind the wedge member  70  with an audible “click.” At the same time, the upper indicator  50  and lower indicator  52  come into alignment, providing visual confirmation that the bottom cover  14  is locked onto the body  12 . In the locked position, a gasket  76  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ), for example an o-ring as shown in the illustrated embodiment, is pressed between the body  12  and the bottom cover  14 , rendering the pitcher  10  leak proof. 
         [0030]    To uninstall the bottom cover  14 , the release  54  is depressed, bending the deformable arm  74  and causing the release tab  72  to clear the wedge member  70 , thereby allowing the bottom cover  14  to rotate in the opposite direction. When the first thread  66  clears the second thread  68 , the bottom cover  14  may be pulled away from the body  12 . 
         [0031]    Referring  FIG. 6 , the body  12  is shown with the bottom cover  14  (not shown) removed. In this view the first thread  66  and wedge member  70  of the flange  18  are shown, along with additional structures of the body  12  interior, including the sloping nature of the sidewall  20 , a chamber baffle  78  and two opening baffles  80  that reduce turbulence under the funnel  32 . The chamber baffle  78  extends downward from the funnel  32  to help settle agitated hot liquid  100  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) in the body  12 . The opening baffles  80  serve that purpose as well, but also prevent hot liquid  100  from pouring freely through the first openings  34 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a bilateral section view of the pitcher  10  shows the bottom cover  14  installed on the body  12 , the first and second threads  66 ,  68 , the release  54  and release tab  72  in a locked position, and the gasket  76  preventing the hot liquid  100  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) from escaping. Also shown is the chamber baffle  78 , which settles the hot liquid  100  and the fin  38 , which directs and guides the hot liquid  100  as it leaves the pitcher  10 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a non-bilateral section view of the pitcher  10  is shown, tipped to a normal angle for decanting the hot liquid  100 . The pitcher  10  is tipped sufficiently to cause the hot liquid  100  to flow through the first openings  34 . Hot liquid  100  flowing toward the first openings  34  encounters the opening baffles  80  ( FIG. 6 ). As the hot liquid  100  flows against and around the opening baffles  80 , changes in flow direction increase turbulence in the hot liquid  100 , slowing it down. After travelling around the opening baffles  80 , the hot liquid  100  passes through the first openings  34  and encounters the fin  38 , which introduces more turbulence, slowing the hot liquid  100  down further. The position of the fin  38  causes hot water  100  glancing off the fin  38  to leave the pitcher  10  at the lip  30 . Hot liquid  100  in the pitcher  10  may be decanted in this manner until the pitcher  10  is empty. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a non-bilateral section view of the pitcher  10  is shown, tipped to an extreme angle when decanting the hot liquid  100 . Occasionally, the pitcher  10  may be inadvertently tipped too far over during decanting, such that the hot liquid  100  reaches the level of the second openings  56 . When this happens, the hot liquid  100  exits the second openings  56  in addition to exiting the first openings  34  in the manner shown in  FIG. 8 . When the hot liquid  100  reaches the second openings  56  and passes through them, the funnel  32  directs the hot liquid  100  toward the fin  38 , where it joins the hot liquid  100  exiting the first openings  34  and leaves the pitcher  10  at the the lip  30 . 
         [0035]    While there are no structures immediately adjacent the second openings  56  to slow down the hot liquid  100 , the second openings  56  are sized so that only a small volume of the hot liquid  100  can exit through the second openings  56 . Some additional turbulence is introduced in embodiments having numerous second openings  56  as shown due to the hot liquid  100  encountering and traveling around the domed section  58 . With the funnel  32  holding back most of the hot liquid  100  (except the hot liquid  100  exiting the first openings  34  and second openings  56 ) when the pitcher  10  is tipped severely, a person operating the pitcher  10  has time to notice or to be alerted to the incorrect pour angle and correct it before the hot liquid  100  can spill and cause injury. 
         [0036]    Once all of the hot liquid  100  is decanted, the pitcher  10  can be taken away for cleaning, or refilled. To refill the pitcher  10 , the hot liquid  100  is introduced into the funnel  32 , where it travels over the domed section  58  and through the second openings  56  until the pitcher  10  is full. As is the case with decanting, when filling the pitcher  10 , the first openings  34  and second openings  56  work together for safety. Namely, if the hot liquid  100  is introduced into the funnel  32  at too great a rate so that it builds up behind the second openings  56 , the first openings  34  provide a relief point of entry, thereby preventing the hot liquid  100  from rising up and over the splash guard  22  and causing injury. 
         [0037]    The structure of the pitcher  10  having been shown and described, its method of use will now be discussed. 
         [0038]    When retrieving, transporting, and decanting hot liquid  100 , a user Obtains an empty pitcher  10 . If the bottom cover  14  is separated due to prior use, cleaning or storage, the user brings the body  12  against the bottom cover  14  and inserts the inner wall  64  into the body  12 . The user then rotates the bottom cover  14 , causing the first and second threads  66 ,  68  to bring the upper indicator  50  and the lower indicator  52  into alignment, whereupon the release tab  72  “clicks” behind the wedge member  70 , urged into position by the deformable arm  74 , and locking the bottom cover  14  against the body  12  with the body  12  held tightly against the gasket  76  to prevent leakage. 
         [0039]    The pitcher  10  may then be filled with hot liquid  100 , which is introduced into the funnel  32 . Splashing hot liquid  100  entering the funnel  32  is retained by the splash guard  22 , and travels downward where it encounters the domed section  58  which directs it through the second openings  56  and into the pitcher  10 . If the hot liquid  100  builds up behind the second openings  56 , it will reach the first openings  34  and enter the pitcher  10  that way. If the hot liquid  100  is introduced at a flow rate exceeding what the second openings  56  and first openings  34  can accommodate, the splash guard  22  above the funnel  32  confines the hot liquid  100 , giving a user time to adjust the hot liquid  100  flow rate. 
         [0040]    As the hot liquid  100  fills the pitcher  10 , the user may also observe grading  28  on the sidewall  20  to accurately measure a particular desired volume of hot liquid  100 . Once the pitcher  10  is full or a predetermined volume of the hot liquid  100  received therein, the hot liquid  100  supply (not shown) is turned off. The pitcher  10  may then be transported to a desired location for decanting the hot liquid  100 . After the hot liquid  100  is decanted, the pitcher  10  may be refilled or cleaned for storage. 
         [0041]    When a user needs to clean and dry the pitcher  10 , or remove the bottom cover  14  for any reason, the release  54  is depressed, the bottom cover  14  rotated in a releasing direction until the first thread  66  clears the second thread  68 , allowing the bottom cover  14  to disengage from the body  12 . With the bottom cover  14  removed, the user can access all surfaces of the body  12  and the bottom cover  14 . To dry the pitcher, the bottom cover  14  is preferably kept separate from the body  12  and the body inverted over a drying rack (not shown) or similar drying structure. Any remaining moisture (not shown) will drain through the small holes  40  where the funnel  32  meets the splash guard  22 , which is the lowest point of the body  12  when inverted, thereby allowing the body to dry completely and avoid moisture-related contamination such as mold buildup. 
         [0042]    The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the Invention is sufficient in detail to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is understood, however, that the detail of the preferred embodiment presented is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, in as much as equivalents thereof and other modifications which come within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this specification.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0