AU2019101119A4

AU2019101119A4 - Easy pour container

Info

Publication number: AU2019101119A4
Application number: AU2019101119A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Chris Shellis; Andrew YU
Original assignee: A&J Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: A&J Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2019-09-26
Filing date: 2019-09-26
Publication date: 2019-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 2027-09-26

Abstract

An easy pour moulded container 10 for aiding handling of large volumes of liquid comprising a main enclosure body 11; an outlet 15, a first handle 21 and a second handle 22 on a side of the container within the footprint of the container and in line so the user can hold the container simultaneously by the first 21 and the second 22 handles to enable pouring from the outlet 15 and to allow ready stackabililty and the handles 21, 22 overlying recesses 31, 32 and including further recesses 33 if required where the recesses 31, 32, 33 provide one or more of the functions of: a) Providing a space under the handle for the fingers of the user to extend when grasping the container by the handle; b) Providing a recess for receiving protrusions of adjacent containers when closely stacked together; c) Providing a receiving space within the footprint of the container for receiving and holding removably an article for use with the container

Description

[001]The present invention relates to an easy pour container and in particular to a multifunctional easy pour container.

[002] The invention has been developed primarily for use in/with easy pour container for aiding handling of volumes of liquid and particularly viscous liquids like oils and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

Background of the Invention [003] A container for a liquid is usually a moulded container formed as a single piece but usually as a two-part mould with a single continuous seam. The benefit of forming containers as moulded products is that they can be formed with thin smooth plastic material that provides a light but strong product and has a smooth easily self-draining internal volume.

[004] However a major complication with liquid containers is that they need to be stackable. Primarily therefore all liquid containers usually have a single protruding handle that can fit into a moulded recess However to retain the stackability no other variations are used.

[005]There are clearly problems with such containers as this means that all liquid containers have a singular use of being lifted by the single top handle and poured through the top outlet. The angle of the pouring hand is thereby at a forward over-rotational extension that is difficult to achieve and difficult to maintain. This is exacerbated when the liquid is denser than water and thereby quite heavy. It is further exacerbated when there are larger containers.

[006] Also, when pouring viscous liquids, whether they are food products like honey, olive oil or molasses or whether they are engineering materials as engine oils, paints etc there is a need to stay in the pouring position for a longer period as the viscous material slowly

2019101119 26 Sep 2019 pours out. Also, viscous materials are likely to clump together and to glug when pouring out and therefore there needs to be better control when pouring.

[007] It can be seen that known prior art easy pour containers have the problems of:

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a) Difficulty in holding for slow pouring viscous materials

b) Difficulty in aiming of pouring for liquids being poured into small channels

c) Awkwardness in handling viscous material

d) Difficulty in providing multifunction while allowing stacking

e) Strain on user in pouring action;

f) Need to attenuate clumping and glugging of viscous material in pouring action;

[008] The present invention seeks to provide an easy pour container, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[009] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Invention [0010] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an easy pour container for aiding manual handling of large volumes of liquid comprising:

a) a main enclosure body;

b) an outlet at or near the top of the container;

c) a first handle on the top of the container;

d) a second handle on a side of the container;

wherein the outlet, the first handle and the second handle are in a line such that the user can hold the container simultaneously by the first and the second handles to enable pouring from the outlet;

2019101119 26 Sep 2019 and wherein the second handle extends over a side recess formed in a side of the main enclosure body whereby the second handle does not protrude from the side and allows ready close stacking of a plurality of the easy pour containers.

[0011] Preferably the container is formed as a moulded body with: a top moulded 5 recess formed in a top of the main enclosure body; and at least one side moulded recess formed in a side of the main enclosure body; the first handle formed by the moulded body and having a moulded handle portion bridging over the top moulded recess; and the second handle formed by the moulded body and having a moulded handle portion bridging over one of the at least one side moulded recess respectively; wherein one or to more of the top moulded recess and/or one or more of the at least one side moulded recesses is shaped to receive and removably hold an article for use with the container from the list including:

• A funnel for attaching to the outlet of the easy pour container • A funnel for use with the easy pour container · A filter to filter the liquid in the easy pour container.

• An ancillary container for use with the easy pour container.

[0012] The container can include at least one internal anti-glug channel extending from near the mouth of the opening and to an upper liquid free location of the internal volume of the container; wherein, in a tilted pouring position, air is able to pass above the pouring liquid exiting the mouth of the opening and through the at least one internal antiglug channel to an upper liquid free location of the internal volume of the container.

[0013] The invention also provides a method of aiding handling of large volumes of liquid including the steps of:

a) Forming an easy pour container having a moulded body with an outlet and 25 having at least two moulded recesses in one or more of the top, sides and bottom of the container and protrusions only on a top surface of the moulded body which can be received in a bottom recess of another easy pour container allowing a closely stackable plurality of easy pour containers;

2019101119 26 Sep 2019

b) Providing first and second moulded handles bridging over two of the at least two moulded recesses in the moulded body wherein the outlet, first handle and second handle are in a line such that the user can hold the container simultaneously by the first and the second handles to enable pouring from the outlet;

c) Providing at least one of the at least two moulded recesses ability to receive and hold one or more articles within the recess for use with the container from the list including:

• A funnel for attaching to the outlet of the container • A funnel for use with the container to • A filter to filter the liquid in the container;

• An ancillary container for use with primary container.

[0014] In one form the invention provides a easy pour container including an easy pour moulded container for aiding handling of large volumes of liquid comprising: a moulded body forming a main enclosure body an outlet on the top of the container; a top recess moulded into the moulded body and extending across the container; a first handle on the top of the container formed by a protruding moulded portion bridging over the top moulded recess; a bottom recess extending across the container; a side recess extending across a side of the container; a second handle on a side of the container formed by a moulded portion bridging over the side moulded recess but substantially coplanar with the rest of the side ofthe container; wherein the easy pour moulded containers are closely stackable with the outlet and the first handle aligned and receivable in the bottom recess of another container and the sides of the containers having no protruding elements and stackable directly alongside another container; and wherein the outlet, first handle and second handle are aligned such that the user can hold the container simultaneously by the first and the second handles to enable pouring from the outlet; wherein the easy pour container can be substantially assembled with improving security including any one or more of the following:

improvements in structure and construction in order to provide extra functions without bulging or protruding to affect stackability;

2019101119 26 Sep 2019 ii. Improvements in better handling;

iii. Improvements in user OH&S (occupational health and safety);

iv. Improvements in multifunctions;

v. Improvements in pourability;

vi. Improvements in allowing extra articles or containers for co-use with the container; vii. Improvements in packaging.

[0015] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0016] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is easy pour container for aiding handling of large volumes of liquid in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an overhead view of the container of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of A-A of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an underneath view of the container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is easy pour container for aiding handling of large volumes of liquid in accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention with an attached spout and held funnel;

Fig. 8 is a side view of the container of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side view of a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 10 is a side view of a yet further preferred embodiment of the present invention with an attached spout and held funnel;

Fig. 11 is a top viewof another further preferred embodiment of the present invention with an attached secondary container;

Fig. 12 is an underneath view of the container of Fig. 11; and

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Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic flow diagram of a method of aiding handling of large volumes of liquid in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Description of Preferred Embodiments [0017] It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features.

[0018] Referring to the drawings and particularly Figs 1 to 6 there is shown an easy pour container 10 for aiding handling of large volumes of liquid. The container is moulded from plastic and comprises a main enclosure body 11 which has an internal volume 45, 46, 47. This could be of 7 litres, 10 litres 15 litres or 20 litres or even up to 30 litres. This is further shown in other embodiments in the drawings and described below. However the containers are for manual handling.

[0019] The container 10 has an outlet 15 at the top surface 13 of the container 10 and also a first handle 21 on the top of the container. The first handle 21 overlies a first recess 31 in the top surface and is formed by the moulded body having a moulded handle portion bridging over the top moulded recess 31. The moulded handle 21 is hollow and aids air flow in the internal volume 45 to provide anti-glug assistance and easy pour.

[0020] The outlet 15, even with the screwed-on lid 16, and the first handle 21 are the only two protrusions on a top surface 13. The other four sides 12 and bottom 14 of the 6 box-like sides of the container body 11 remain within the box volume such that the side walls 12 fall within a rectangular or square footprint with rounded corners. This allows for close stacking of a plurality of containers on a pallet for easy transport.

[0021] The bottom side 14 of the container has a moulded bottom recess 33 extending across the container. This is sized and shaped to correspond and receive the protrusions of the outlet 15 and the protruding first handle 21 on the top side 13 of the container. This allows for stacking of a plurality of containers on top of each on a pallet for easy transport. As can be seen in Fig. 1 the bottom recess is at right angles to the line of the outlet 15 and the linear extension of the first handle 21. In this way each container is rotated 90° to the container below and this ensures tight compact and better locking together of

2019101119 26 Sep 2019 adjacent Further any weakness in container is not amplified by alignment in exactly the same orientation but instead is reduced by rotational stacking.

[0022] The container has a second handle 22 on a side 12 of the container. This is achieved by the side 12 of the container having a second recess 32 extending across the width of the side 12 of the container. However this recess could be localized around the handle if the recess is only performing the single purpose of providing space for the fingers of the user grabbing the handle. The second handle 22 extends over the side recess 32 and is formed in a side of the main enclosure body whereby the second handle does not protrude from the side and allows ready close stacking of a plurality of the easy pour containers. From above as shown in Fig. 2 the second handle is not seen as it is within the footprint of the container and the square (with rounded corners) top surface 13.

[0023] The outlet 15, the first handle 21 and the second handle 22 are in a line such that the user can hold the container simultaneously by the first and the second handles to enable pouring from the outlet.

[0024] The recesses 31,32, 33 provide one or more of the functions of:

a) Providing a space under the handle for the fingers of the user to extend when grasping the container by the handle;

b) Providing a recess for receiving protrusions of adjacent containers when closely stacked together;

c) Providing a receiving space within the footprint of the container for receiving and holding removably an article for use with the container from the list including:

i) A funnel for attaching to the outlet of the easy pour container ii) A funnel for use with the easy pour container iii) A filter to filter the liquid in the easy pour container.

iv) An ancillary container for use with the easy pour container.

[0025] It can be seen that the recess 31 has both features a) and c) in that there is a space under the handle for the fingers of the user to extend when grasping the container by the handle and that there is a further space a receiving space within the footprint of the container for receiving and holding removably an article for use with the container.

2019101119 26 Sep 2019 [0026] The top moulded recess 31 is shaped to receive a funnel 52 that is retained in a lower part of the recess 31 and held there by frictional engagement of protruding ridges 35 that require forcible clipping in and pulling out of the funnel. Due to the plastic resilience of the funnel 52 and the moulded container 10 including the protruding ridges

35 there is enough resilient deformation to provide a holding mechanism.

[0027] It can also be seen in Figs 1 and 2 in particular that the easy pour container 10 further includes a pair of internal anti-glug channels 42 extending in opposing curved paths from openings 41 within the internal volume 45 from near the mouth of the opening 15 and to an upper liquid free location of the internal volume 45 of the container away from the opening. In use in a tilted pouring position, air is able to pass above the pouring liquid exiting the mouth of the opening 15 and through the internal anti-glug channels 42 to an upper liquid free location of the internal volume of the container.

[0028] Referring to Figs. 7 and 8 there is shown a different embodiment of container 110 but with similar features. However in this form there is a differing volume and thereby the shape of the container is slightly reduced while retaining the same inventive concepts. Further there is an attached funnel 51 to the outlet 15 and screw on lid 16. In the first recess is also a separate funnel 52 that can be unclipped and used with the container when pouring the viscous liquid from the container into a restricted volume such as a opening in a tank or a vehicle engine etc.

[0029] Fig. 9 is a container 210 that is again with smaller internal volume 46 such as litres and thereby with a squat moulded body. However the features of aligned first and second handles 21,22 over recesses 31,32 and small footprint is retained.

[0030] Fig. 10 is a container with spout 51, detachable funnel 52 and further detachable funnel 53. It can be seen that side recesses can be on any side 12 if they are merely holding an article such as a funnel or secondary container. However they remain within the footprint of the container and retain close stackability.

[0031] Referring to Figs 11 and 12 there is shown further container 410 that includes a shaped first recess 31 that holds a secondary container 54. This secondary container could be an oil container that is used with the container 410 as a fuel container so that

2019101119 26 Sep 2019 combined fuel and oil can be used in required quantities for 2-stroke or 4-stroke engines such as motor mowers or motor bikes.

[0032] It can be seen that in use, the invention as shown in Fig 13, provides the aiding of handling of large volumes of liquid by inclusion of the step of forming an easy pour container having a moulded body with an outlet and having at least two moulded recesses in one or more of the top, sides and bottom of the container and protrusions only on a top surface of the moulded body which can be received in a bottom recess of another easy pour container allowing a closely stackable plurality of easy pour containers.

[0033] The next step is to provide first and second moulded handles bridging over two of the at least two moulded recesses in the moulded body wherein the outlet, first handle and second handle are in a line such that the user can hold the container simultaneously by the first and the second handles to enable pouring from the outlet.

[0034] A further step is to provide at least one of the at least two moulded recesses ability to receive and hold one or more articles within the recess for use with the container from the list including:

a) A funnel for attaching to the outlet of the container

b) A funnel for use with the container

c) A filter to filter the liquid in the container;

d) An ancillary container for use with primary container.

[0035] It can be seen that these steps allow close stacking with the outlet and the first handle aligned and receivable in the bottom recess of another container and the sides of the containers having no protruding elements and stackable directly alongside another container

Interpretation

Embodiments:

[0036] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present ίο

2019101119 26 Sep 2019 invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

[0037] Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[0038] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Different Instances of Objects [0039] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

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Specific Details [0040] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Terminology [0041] In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the 10 drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as forward, rearward, radially, peripherally, upwardly, downwardly, and the like are used as 15 words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

Comprising and Including [0042] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, 20 except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

[0043] Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

2019101119 26 Sep 2019

Scope of Invention [0044] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

[0045] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Industrial Applicability [0046] It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described are applicable to the easy pour container for aiding handling of large volumes of liquid industries.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. An easy pour container for aiding manual handling of large volumes of liquid comprising:

5 a. a main enclosure body;

b. an outlet at or near the top of the container;

c. a first handle on the top of the container;

d. a second handle on a side of the container;

wherein the outlet, the first handle and the second handle are in a line such that the 10 user can hold the container simultaneously by the first and the second handles to enable pouring from the outlet;

and wherein the second handle extends over a side recess formed in a side of the main enclosure body whereby the second handle does not protrude from the side and allows ready close stacking of a plurality of the easy pour containers.
2. An easy pour container according to claim 1 wherein the container is formed as a moulded body with:

a. a top moulded recess formed in a top of the main enclosure body; and

b. at least one side moulded recess formed in a side of the main enclosure

20 body;

c. the first handle formed by the moulded body and having a moulded handle portion bridging over the top moulded recess;

d. and the second handle formed by the moulded body and having a moulded handle portion bridging over one of the at least one side moulded recess

25 respectively;

wherein one or more of the top moulded recess and/or one or more of the at least one side moulded recesses is shaped to receive and removably hold an article for use with the container from the list including:

2019101119 26 Sep 2019 ίο

i. A funnel for attaching to the outlet of the easy pour container ii. A funnel for use with the easy pour container iii. A filter to filter the liquid in the easy pour container.

iv. An ancillary container for use with the easy pour container.
3. An easy pour moulded container for aiding handling of large volumes of liquid comprising:

a. a moulded body forming a main enclosure body

b. an outlet on the top of the container;

c. a top recess moulded into the moulded body and extending across the container;

d. a first handle on the top of the container formed by a protruding moulded portion bridging over the top moulded recess;

e. a bottom recess extending across the container

f. a side recess extending across a side of the container

g. a second handle on a side of the container formed by a moulded portion bridging over the side moulded recess but substantially coplanar with the rest of the side of the container;

wherein the easy pour moulded containers are closely stackable with the outlet and the first handle aligned and receivable in the bottom recess of another container and the sides of the containers having no protruding elements and stackable directly alongside another container;

and wherein the outlet, first handle and second handle are aligned such that the user can hold the container simultaneously by the first and the second handles to enable pouring from the outlet.
4. An easy pour container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container includes

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a. at least one internal anti-glug channel extending from near the mouth of the opening and to an upper liquid free location of the internal volume of the container;

b. wherein, in a tilted pouring position, air is able to pass above the pouring
5 liquid exiting the mouth of the opening and through the at least one internal anti-glug channel to an upper liquid free location of the internal volume of the container.

5. A method of aiding handling of large volumes of liquid including the steps of:

a. Forming an easy pour container having a moulded body with an outlet and
10 having at least two moulded recesses in one or more of the top, sides and bottom of the container and protrusions only on a top surface of the moulded body which can be received in a bottom recess of another easy pour container allowing a closely stackable plurality of easy pour containers;

b. Providing first and second moulded handles bridging over two of the at least
15 two moulded recesses in the moulded body wherein the outlet, first handle and second handle are in a line such that the user can hold the container simultaneously by the first and the second handles to enable pouring from the outlet;

c. Providing at least one of the at least two moulded recesses ability to receive
20 and hold one or more articles within the recess for use with the container from the list including:

i. A funnel for attaching to the outlet of the container ii. A funnel for use with the container iii. A filter to filter the liquid in the container;

iv. An ancillary container for use with primary container.