Patent Description:
Pouring liquid out of a container, such as a tank or a bottle, into a narrow opening without spilling is a long existing problem, in particular in the field of car maintenance, for instance when refilling window washer liquid and topping-up engine oil. A more recent need is re-filling diesel cars with a liquid commercially available under the name 'Adblue', an aqueous urea solution made with urea and deionized water, which is consumed in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) that lowers NOx concentration in diesel exhaust gases.

A common approach for avoiding spilling is the use of a funnel. However, use of a funnel entails several disadvantages. Liquid is still spilled quite easily over the edge of the funnel, the funnel can easily become dislodged, a funnel occupies relatively much space when not in use and when a funnel is used, an inner surface of the funnel wetted with liquid is relatively exposed, so that it can easily be touched by a user causing soiling of the user's hand.

Another approach for avoiding spilling, which is commonly used when pouring fuel from a portable tank into a tank of for instance a car or a boat, is to pour the liquid via a pour spout which is coupled to an opening of the container from which liquid is to be poured. A problem associated with the use of pour spouts is that venting of the container from which liquid is poured is needed for controlled and reasonably quick pouring of the liquid. To that end portable fuel tanks are typically provided with a venting opening at a distance from the opening to which the pour spout is to be coupled. However, in particular in applications in which the container is disposable, the added costs and complexity of such a venting opening, which needs to be closed during storage and transport and needs to be opened prior to pouring, is a serious disadvantage. It is also known to provide a venting conduit extending through the pour spout, but such solutions add to the costs of the pour spout and generally do not provide effective venting during pouring.

It is noted that <CIT> discloses a pour spout according to the pre-characterizing portion of the appended independent claim <NUM>.

It is further noted that <CIT> discloses a pouring cap for a milk bottle. As best seen in <FIG> of <CIT>, the pouring cap has an upper wall and a circumferential jacket part. The upper wall has a pouring opening. The pouring cap further has a pouring lip which protrudes outwardly from part of the circumferential edge of the pouring opening. The pouring lip is located on a pouring direction side of the pouring opening and is inclined in the pouring direction with a small acute angle of inclination relative to the upper side of the upper wall of the pouring cap. As best seen in Fig. 3a of <CIT>, the pouring cap further has a ventilation channel, which is extending at least along an inner side of the jacket part of the pouring cap. The ventilation channel is located on a side of the pouring opening which is diametrically opposite to the pouring direction side where the pouring lip is located.

It is an object of the present invention to provide at least an alternative solution for pouring a liquid from a container into a filling opening without spilling, which is simple and fool proof in use, and which provides effective venting without spilling during pouring.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing a pour spout according to the appended independent claim <NUM>. Preferable embodiments of the invention are provided by the appended dependent claims <NUM>-<NUM>.

Because a venting channel interrupts the sealing surface or surfaces for allowing venting of the container through a passage between the coupling cap portion of the pour spout and a portion of the container facing the venting channel, the venting channel is achieved in a particularly simple manner by just leaving some material out inside the coupling cap portion. Furthermore, because the venting channel extends along a surface portion of the coupling cap portion, an outside end of the venting channel is at a side of the coupling cap portion facing away from the pour conduit, i.e. at an extreme proximal end of the pour spout. This extreme proximal end of the pour spout is vertically most elevated over the distal end of the pour channel during pouring with the conduit portion pointing generally downwards from the coupling cap portion. Due to this maximized difference in level between the outside end of the venting channel and the downstream end of the pour channel during pouring, venting reliably occurs via the venting channel, so that liquid does not tend to flow out via the venting channel.

The venting channel between the coupling cap portion and the container causes that the pour spout is not hermetically sealed at the interface to the coupling cap portion. This is no problem, because the pour spout is mounted instead of a hermetically sealing closure cap. If pouring has to be stopped before all of the contents of the container has been poured out, the pour spout can be removed from the container, which can then be re-closed hermetically using the closure cap.

It is noted that the pour spout which is known from the above-mentioned document <CIT> does not have a venting channel according to the characterizing portion of the appended independent claim <NUM>.

Further features, effects and details of the invention appear from the detailed description and the drawings.

In the drawings, an example of a pour spout <NUM> according to the invention is shown. In <FIG> and <FIG>, the pour spout <NUM> is shown mounted on an example of a container <NUM>, which can be provided as part of a kit including a container according to the invention. In <FIG> a cut-away portion of a neck portion <NUM> of the container <NUM> extending around an opening <NUM> is also shown. Preferably, such a kit also includes a closure cap (not shown) for hermetically closing off the container <NUM> for storage and transport. The pour spout <NUM> and the container <NUM> can for instance be made from plastic material. The container <NUM> can for instance be blow molded from an injection molded preform and the pour spout can for instance be completely injection molded or blow molded from an injection molded preform and subsequently be cut open at a free end. However other materials for the container and/or the pour spout, such as glass or metal are conceivable as well.

The pour spout <NUM> has an elongate conduit portion <NUM> projecting from a coupling cap portion <NUM>. A pour channel <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) extends in a longitudinal direction through the conduit portion <NUM>. The coupling cap portion <NUM> is arranged for coupling to a container <NUM> with the pour channel <NUM> in communication with the opening <NUM> of the container <NUM>. First, second and third sealing surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the coupling cap portion <NUM> sealingly engage the container <NUM> around the opening <NUM> when the pour spout <NUM> has been mounted to the container <NUM>. In this example, a third one of the sealing surfaces <NUM> is a generally cylindrical internal surface provided with an internal thread <NUM> for engaging and sealing against a matching external thread <NUM> on the neck portion around the opening in the container. However, alternative solutions for connecting the connecting cap portion to the container can be implemented as well, for instance a bayonet catch coupling, a coupling based on clamping engagement between the neck or opening of the container and coupling cap portion or a coupling with a snap member arranged for hooking behind a retention edge of the neck surrounding the opening of the container.

For additional sealing, the coupling cap portion <NUM> has a rib <NUM> projecting axially in a direction away from the conduit portion <NUM> and extending around an area proximally adjacent to a proximal end <NUM> of the pour channel <NUM>. The first one of the sealing surfaces <NUM> is provided on an outer surface of the rib <NUM> and tapers from a largest diameter to a smaller at a free end rim <NUM> of the rib <NUM> for wedging against an interior surface <NUM> of the opening <NUM> of the container <NUM> to which the pour spout <NUM> is coupled, to reliably seal against that interior surface <NUM>.

The second seal surface <NUM> is a generally planar, annular surface extending around the rib <NUM>, for contacting a top end rim surface <NUM> of the neck <NUM> of the container <NUM>. While in the present example three sealing surfaces are provided, also more or less sealing surfaces can be provided, e.g. one, two or four sealing surfaces. If a plurality of sealing surfaces is provided, these can be arranged in a coaxial of other configuration.

A venting channel <NUM> interrupts the sealing surfaces for allowing venting of the container <NUM> through a passage between the coupling cap portion <NUM> and a portion of the container <NUM>, in this example the neck <NUM>, facing the venting channel <NUM>. The venting channel <NUM> is provided in the form of a recess in the third sealing surface <NUM>, which extends axially from a proximal end of the third sealing surface to a distal end of the third sealing surface. At the distal end of the third sealing surface, the venting channel <NUM> continues as a recess in the second sealing surface and an opening in the rib <NUM> interrupting the first sealing surface <NUM>. Thus, the venting channel <NUM> provides a passage between the neck <NUM> of the container <NUM> and the coupling cap portion of the pour spout, which forms an interruption of the first, second and third sealing surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> of the coupling cap portion <NUM>, which allows air to pass along these surfaces into the container during pouring via the pour channel <NUM>. The venting channel <NUM> is obtained in a particularly simple manner by just leaving some material out inside the coupling cap portion <NUM>. For instance in an injection mold this can be achieved in a simple manner by providing a protrusion on a core for molding the inside of the coupling cap portion <NUM>.

Furthermore, because the venting channel <NUM> extends along a surface portion <NUM> of the coupling cap portion <NUM>, an outside end of the venting channel <NUM> is at a side of the coupling cap portion <NUM> facing away from the pour conduit <NUM>, i.e. at an extreme proximal end of the pour spout <NUM>. As is illustrated by <FIG>, this extreme proximal end of the pour spout <NUM> is vertically most elevated over the distal end of the pour channel <NUM> during pouring with the conduit portion <NUM> pointing generally downwards from the coupling cap portion. Due to this maximized difference in level between the outside end of the venting channel <NUM> and the downstream end of the pour channel <NUM> during pouring, venting reliably occurs via the venting channel <NUM>, so that liquid does not tend to flow out via the venting channel <NUM>.

The venting channel <NUM> between the coupling cap portion <NUM> and the container <NUM> causes that the pour spout <NUM> is not hermetically sealed at the interface to the container <NUM>. This is no problem, because the pour spout <NUM> is mounted to the container <NUM> instead of a hermetically sealing closure cap. If pouring has to be stopped before all of the contents of the container <NUM> has been poured out, the pour spout <NUM> can be removed from the container <NUM>, which can then be re-closed hermetically using the closure cap.

In the present example of a pour spout <NUM> according to the invention, venting channel <NUM> is provided on one single lateral side of the cap portion <NUM> only. This counteracts leaking of liquid through a venting channel, while the container is vented through another venting channel, in particular if the conduit portion is held in a generally horizontal position.

The cap portion <NUM> has an internal end surface (in this example formed by the second sealing surface <NUM>) having an outer circumferential portion extending in a plane <NUM> (see <FIG>). The longitudinal direction of the conduit portion <NUM> is oriented at an oblique angle α relative to the plane <NUM>. The lateral side where the venting channel <NUM> is provided is in a radial direction <NUM> (see <FIG>) in which an angle α between the longitudinal direction of the conduit portion <NUM> and the plane <NUM> is smallest. This is advantageous for allowing easy pouring of the liquid into an opening in a flank of a vehicle <NUM> for filling up the 'Adblue' tank (<FIG>).

For ease of pouring of the liquid into an opening in a flank of a vehicle <NUM> it is further advantageous if the container <NUM> has a largest dimension in a direction perpendicular to the plane <NUM>. Thus, the container <NUM> can be tilted very far, before it contacts the flank of the vehicle <NUM>.

To allow the conduit portion <NUM> to point obliquely downwards and laterally into the filling opening of the car <NUM>, while the container <NUM> is held upside down, the conduit portion <NUM> of the spout <NUM> is preferably pointing in a direction deflected towards the car <NUM> compared to a direction perpendicular to the plane <NUM>. When the container <NUM> and the pour spout <NUM> are tilted into such an orientation from an orientation in which the container <NUM> is generally upright, the pour spout <NUM>' and the container <NUM>' pass through intermediate positions in which the conduit portion <NUM>' is oriented approximately horizontally, with the side of the coupling cap portion <NUM> where the angle α between the longitudinal direction of the conduit portion <NUM> and the plane <NUM> is smallest facing upwards. Because the venting channel <NUM> is then located only on the most upwardly facing side of the coupling cap portion <NUM>, the liquid reaches the venting channel <NUM> only when the liquid starts to flow out of the pour channel <NUM> over the full cross-section of the pour channel <NUM>. Accordingly, when the liquid reaches the venting channel <NUM>, a partial vacuum already starts to be created inside the container <NUM>. This in turn forces air in through the venting channel <NUM>, so that spilling of liquid via the venting channel <NUM> is effectively counteracted. It is also noted that already when the conduit portion <NUM> is pointing in a generally horizontal direction, the venting channel <NUM> opens into the environment at a level above a distal (outlet) end of the pour channel <NUM>. Accordingly, static liquid pressure is lower where the venting channel <NUM> opens into the environment than at the distal (outlet) end of the pour channel <NUM>. Thus, venting air will enters the container <NUM> more easily via the venting channel <NUM> than via the pour channel <NUM>, so when the container <NUM> and the pour spout <NUM> are is tilted in the most convenient way for pouring a liquid into an opening in a flank of a car, as liquid starts to flow out and reaches the venting channel, venting will (almost) immediately start via the venting channel <NUM> and no or only very little liquid will flow out via the venting channel.

For avoiding leakage of liquid via the venting channel <NUM>, it is furthermore advantageous if, as in the present example, the venting channel <NUM> has a first section in a cylindrical, radially inwardly facing surface <NUM> of the coupling cap portion <NUM> and a second section connecting to that first section extending radially in an end surface <NUM> extending inwardly from the cylindrical, radially inwardly facing surface <NUM>. The radial portion adds to the difference in levels between the outlet end of the pour channel <NUM> and of the outer end of the venting channel <NUM> when the conduit portion <NUM> is pointing in a generally horizontal direction, while the axial portion of the venting channel adds to the difference in levels between the outlet end of the pour channel <NUM> and of the outer end of the venting channel <NUM> when the conduit portion <NUM> is pointing in a generally vertical downward direction. Furthermore, if at the start of pouring any liquid enters the venting channel, the combined length of these first and second sections of the venting channel <NUM> cause to flow path to be long enough to avoid all or most of that liquid exits the venting channel <NUM> into the environment before venting via the venting channel <NUM> urges that liquid back into the container <NUM>.

For reliable venting at one location only, and thus further reducing any leakage via the venting channel <NUM>, it is furthermore advantageous that the venting channel <NUM> breaks through the rib <NUM>.

Since the venting channel <NUM> is provided in the form of a continuous groove in the coupling cap portion <NUM>, it can be formed in a simple low-cost manner, while it is reliably ensured that the venting channel is open even if large manufacturing tolerances are allowed for the container neck <NUM> and for the coupling cap portion <NUM>.

For ensuring that air entering via the venting channel <NUM> entrains any liquid that has entered the venting channel <NUM> back into the container <NUM>, it is preferred that the venting channel has a cross-sectional area of less than <NUM><NUM> and more preferably less than <NUM> mm2 and more preferably less than <NUM><NUM>. On the other hand, the cross-section of the venting channel <NUM> should large enough to allow enough air to enter the container to allow smooth and quick pouring. To that end, the venting channel preferably has a cross-sectional area of more than <NUM><NUM> and more preferably more than <NUM> and more preferably more than <NUM><NUM>.

Claim 1:
A pour spout (<NUM>) with an elongate conduit portion (<NUM>) projecting from a coupling cap portion (<NUM>), wherein a pour channel (<NUM>) extends in a longitudinal direction through the conduit portion, wherein the coupling cap portion is arranged for coupling to a container (<NUM>) with the pour channel in communication with an opening (<NUM>) of the container, wherein at least one sealing surface (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of the coupling cap portion is arranged for sealingly engaging the container around the opening, wherein the coupling cap portion has an internal end surface having an outer circumferential portion extending in a plane (<NUM>), wherein the longitudinal direction of the conduit portion is oriented at an oblique angle relative to said plane,
characterized in that:
a venting channel (<NUM>) interrupts the at least one sealing surface (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for allowing venting of the container (<NUM>) through a passage between the coupling cap portion (<NUM>) and a portion of the container facing the venting channel,
the venting channel (<NUM>) is provided on one single lateral side of the coupling cap portion (<NUM>) only, and
the lateral side where the venting channel (<NUM>) is provided is in a radial direction in which an angle between the longitudinal direction of the conduit portion (<NUM>) and the plane (<NUM>) is smallest.