Patent ID: 7757728

Claim:
A funnel for filling a container with fluid including: a side wall defining a reservoir and a spout passageway; a float movable within said spout passageway from an open position where the fluid can flow from the reservoir to the sprout passageway to a closed position where the fluid flow from the reservoir to the sprout passageway is restricted; an upper permanent magnet secured to said side wall; a lower permanent magnet secured to said float wherein at least a portion of the float is positioned above the lower permanent magnet so that when the funnel is in the closed position the upper and lower permanent magnets do not contact one another; wherein when fluid is provided to the container through said reservoir and said spout passageway, said float is initially lifted in response to an increase in a fluid level in the container; and wherein the upper and the lower permanent magnets are sized and positioned to provide a magnetic force that is sufficient to lift the float to the closed position after the float is initially lifted by the fluid.