AU2023202262A1 - Container with Pouring Spout - Google Patents

Abstract

A spout of a liquid containing container for pouring of a liquid into a liquid receiving inlet; the spout integral with the container. 4L4 '262 5S 5Fge Figure 4

Description

4L4

'262

5S

Fge

Figure 4

Container with Pouring Spout TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to containers for pourable

liquids.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Containers for pouring liquids are well known in the

art. Containers such as glass bottles through to plastic bottles

for milk through to engine oil are commonly known. A constant in

the industry is the design trade-off between storage capacity and

ease of handling and pouring by the user.

[0003] Typically, a liquid container that is optimised for

capacity is of a square or rectangular nature to allow the maximum

use of space in any allocated storage area, with the disadvantage

that design makes it harder for the user to handle and pour.

[0004] For example, an engine oil container is typically

optimised for storage space which means that a typical oil

container is rectangular in shape with a spout of limited length

and generally sitting very close to the main body of the container

to ensure the maximum capacity of stored oil in the minimum space.

This is to make distribution and storage as efficient as possible.

[0005] However, this design means that the user often has

problems trying to connect the container spout to the oil intake

of a car engine. It is not uncommon for users to have to use a

funnel to add oil to their engine. Alternatively, some users try

to judge where the falling oil will pour and simply pour it into

the oil intake from a distance. This is inherently dangerous if

the engine is hot, potentially leading to a fire.

[0006] Some manufacturers have added a funnel or extension that

sits inside the container and faces inwards during distribution so

that the user can remove it and reverse its direction to face it

outwards for use as an extended spout when pouring oil into the

engine. While practical this introduces mess for the user to handle and introduces manufacturing complexity and cost for the user to absorb.

[0007] Another known arrangement known in the art is that of

US1983101, in which an oil container is provided with a screw-on

spout and cap. Again, the disadvantage of this spout is the extra

storage space and cost involved, as well as the need to assemble a

separate component to the container for use.

[0008] To date no container manufacturer has combined an

extended spout in a rectangular space saving design that allows

the container to access complicated intakes such as an engine oil

inlet.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to address or

at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages or provide a

useful alternative.

Notes

[00010] The term "comprising" (and grammatical variations

thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of

"having" or "including", and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of".

[00011] The above discussion of the prior art in the Background

of the invention, is not an admission that any information

discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common

general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[00012] In one broad form of the present invention, there is

provided a spout of a liquid containing container for pouring of a

liquid into a liquid receiving inlet; the spout integral with the

container.

[00013] Preferably, the spout extends from an angled portion of

wall of the container.

[00014] Preferably, the length of the spout is adapted to a

selection of liquid receiving inlets.

[00015] Preferably, the spout extends from the container to a

length at which an outer end of the spout is approximately level

with upper surfaces of a handle of the container.

[00016] Preferably, diameters of the spout are sized to suit the

selection of liquid receiving inlets.

[00017] Preferably, space around the spout at the wall of the

container is adapted to configurations of liquid receiving inlets.

[00018] Preferably, the liquid is oil.

[00019] Preferably, the liquid receiving inlet is an oil inlet

of an engine.

[00020] Preferably, the liquid receiving inlet is an oil inlet

of a transmission.

[00021] In yet another broad form of the present invention,

there is also provided a method of pouring a liquid into liquid

receiving inlets; the method includes the steps of

forming a liquid container with an integral spout,

arranging a length of the spout to allow access to selected ones

of the liquid receiving inlets

[00022] Preferably, a diameter of the spout of the container is

adapted to the selected liquid receiving inlets.

[00023] Preferably, the pouring of liquid is the pouring of oil

into the oil inlet of an engine.

[00024] Preferably, the pouring of liquid is the pouring of oil

into the oil inlet of a transmission.

[00025] In yet another broad form of the present invention,

there is also provided with a liquid storage and dispensing

container, the container comprises:

a pouring spout,

a storage portion,

walls defining storage space of the storage portion,

a grasping portion connected to the walls of the storage portion,

wherein the pouring spout extends from the walls;

and wherein the pouring spout comprises a neck portion and a

delivery portion; the pouring spout delivering liquid from the storage portion to a receiving inlet through the neck portion and then through the delivery portion when the container is inclined at a liquid delivery angle.

[00026] Preferably, the delivery portion is aligned with the

neck portion.

[00027] Preferably, the delivery portion is aligned at an obtuse

angle with reference to the neck portion.

[00028] Preferably, the walls comprise side walls, a top wall,

and a bottom wall.

[00029] Preferably, the walls include an angled portion

connecting the side walls to the top wall.

[00030] Preferably, the pouring spout extends from the angled

portion of the walls.

[00031] Preferably, the neck portion extends substantially

perpendicularly from the angled portion of the side walls.

[00032] Preferably, the neck portion is elongated.

[00033] Preferably, outer diameter of the delivery portion and

at least part of the neck portion is equal to or smaller than

inner diameter of the receiving inlet.

[00034] Preferably, the neck portion is telescopic.

[00035] Preferably, the container includes a resealable sealing

cap for the delivery portion.

[00036] Preferably, the liquid is oil.

[00037] Preferably, the receiving inlet is an oil inlet of an

engine.

[00038] Preferably, the receiving inlet is an oil inlet of a

transmission.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[00039] Embodiments of the present invention will now be

described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[00040] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an existing

oil container (prior art);

[00041] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a container

with pouring spout;

[00042] Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of the pouring spout of

the container of figure 2;

[00043] Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the container

of figure 2 in use.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[00044] Figure 1 shows an example of prior art for illustrative

purposes and comparison. In a typical example of the prior art, a

container 10 is used for transporting and handling fluids such as

engine oil. The container 10 typically has features such as a

carrying handle 11, a spout 13 and lid 12 to allow access to and

pouring of the enclosed oil. The dimensions 14 and 15 are

typically optimized for the efficient shipping of the fluid in

amounts or volumes commensurate with the consumer's typical usage

needs.

[00045] A limitation of this design is that the spout diameter

16 is usually designed to be large enough for the fast pouring of

contained liquids without consideration for the receiving inlet

size since traditionally a professional or experienced user

working in the vehicle maintenance field would have access to and

use a funnel.

[00046] Another limitation of this design is the absence of an

elongated neck and reduced spout diameter to enable an outer end

of the spout to fit within the opening of an oil receiving inlet,

typically that of the engine oil inlet.

[00047] This design usually means that access to a funnel is

required or that the user must attempt to aim the flow of oil into

the engine oil inlet from a distance while the container is

suspended above and at a distance from the engine oil inlet. This

practice is messy, inconvenient and can be dangerous if oil is

spilled onto the engine.

First Preferred Embodiment

[00048] Figure 2 discloses the example embodiment of the

invention. The modified container 20 contains the same features

such as a handle 21, and a lid 23 as the prior art and the same

general dimensions 27, 28 and storage capacity as those of the

prior art but includes a modified spout 22 where the diameter 24

of the spout 22 is optimised and reduced to fit inside the mouth

of an average engine oil inlet. Preferably, the outer end of the

spout is threaded 33 to receive a correspondingly threaded lid 23.

The neck 26 of the spout is also elongated and at an optimised

angle to allow it to more easily be maneuvered into the mouth of

the engine oil inlet. This design allows more space 25 around the

spout 22 to enable easier maneuvering and handling of the

container when directing it to, and placing it in, the engines oil

inlet.

[00049] Figure 3 shows an enlarged cutout view of the spout 22

of the container 20. As shown the spout neck 26 is longer and at

an angle and position to allow it to be easily directed to, and

into an engine oil inlet. The diameter 24 of the open end of the

spout 22 is reduced in size when compared with the prior art to

allow the spout 22 to be placed into or sit comfortably inside a

standard engine oil inlet. Also, the angle of the spout 22 and the

space around the spout make it easier to maneuver by the user.

This design is particularly advantageous for users who do not have

access to a pouring funnel or who only add oil to an engine on an

infrequent basis where it is impractical and inconvenient to use a

funnel.

[00050] Figure 4 shows the example embodiment in situ and in

use. The container 20 is positioned by the user so that the mouth

of the container spout 22 fits comfortably within the mouth 56 of

the engine 51 oil inlet 52. The oil 53 can flow freely from the

container 20 into the engine 51. The mouth of the container spout

24 is of a reduced diameter so that it can easily fit inside the

diameter 56 of the engine oil inlet 52. The additional space around the container spout 22 allows the spout to be more easily maneuvered and placed into the engine oil inlet 52.

Alternative Embodiments

[000511 The example embodiment discloses an application of the

invention applied to the storage and pouring of engine oil. An

alternative embodiment could be applied to any fluid or

application with changes to the container that are similar to the

example embodiment.

[00052] The example embodiment was optimised with a spout

length, angle and size for use with a vehicle engine and

specifically the oil inlet access typically available in most

engine cavities.

[00053] Preferably, the spout 22 extends from an angled wall the

container 20 to a length at which the outer threaded end and the

lid 23 of the spout are approximately level with upper surfaces of

the handle 21 of the container 20.

[00054] An alternative embodiment could use any spout length,

angle or size to suit the pouring target or surrounding cavity

space 57, 58 that is appropriate for the situation.

[00055] For example, an inlet for an engine's transmission fluid

may be in a more inaccessible location with a smaller inlet

diameter. In this instance the transmission fluid container with a

spout based on the invention may have a longer spout length than a

spout designed for oil pouring, and have a modified spout angle

and diameter customised for the specific circumstances of the

transmission fluid inlet as against the oil inlet in the example

embodiment.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[00056] The container of the above described invention thus

avoids at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art by

providing an integral spout on a container which may be adapted in

length and diameter to the pouring of a contained liquid into a receiving inlet, of which the oil inlet of an engine or a transmission are just two possible applications.

Claims (27)

1. A spout of a liquid containing container for pouring of a

liquid into a liquid receiving inlet; the spout integral with

the container.

2. The spout of claim 1 wherein the spout extends from an angled

portion of wall of the container.

3. The spout of claim 1 or 2 wherein the length of the spout is

adapted to a selection of liquid receiving inlets.

4. The spout of claim 3 wherein the spout extends from the

container to a length at which an outer end of the spout is

approximately level with upper surfaces of a handle of the

container.

5. The spout of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein diameters of the

spout are sized to suit the selection of liquid receiving

inlets.

6. The spout of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein space around the

spout at the wall of the container is adapted to

configurations of liquid receiving inlets.

7. The spout of any one of claim 1 to 6 wherein the liquid is

oil.

8. The spout of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the liquid

receiving inlet is an oil inlet of an engine.

9. The spout of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the liquid

receiving inlet is an oil inlet of a transmission.

10. A method of pouring a liquid into liquid receiving inlets; the

method includes the steps of

- forming a liquid container with an integral spout,

- arranging a length of the spout to allow access to selected

ones of the liquid receiving inlets

11. The method of claim 10 wherein a diameter of the spout of the

container is adapted to the selected liquid receiving inlets.

12. The method of claim 10 or 11 wherein the pouring of liquid is

the pouring of oil into the oil inlet of an engine.

13. The method of claim 10 or 11 wherein the pouring of liquid is

the pouring of oil into the oil inlet of a transmission.

14. A liquid storage and dispensing container, the container

comprising:

a pouring spout,

a storage portion,

walls defining storage space of the storage portion,

a grasping portion connected to the walls of the storage

portion,

wherein the pouring spout extends from the walls;

and wherein the pouring spout comprises a neck portion and a

delivery portion;

the pouring spout delivering liquid from the storage portion

to a receiving inlet through the neck portion and then through

the delivery portion when the container is inclined at a

liquid delivery angle.

15. The container of claim 14 wherein the delivery portion is

aligned with the neck portion.

16. The container of claim 14 wherein the delivery portion is

aligned at an obtuse angle with reference to the neck portion.

17. The container of claim 14 wherein the walls comprise side

walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall.

18. The container of claim 17 wherein the walls include an angled

portion connecting the side walls to the top wall.

19. The container of claim 18 wherein the pouring spout extends

from the angled portion of the walls.

20. The container of claim 19 wherein the neck portion extends

substantially perpendicularly from the angled portion of the

side walls.

21. The container of any one of claims 14 to 20 wherein the neck

portion is elongated.

22. The container of any one of claims 14 to 21 wherein outer

diameter of the delivery portion and at least part of the neck portion is equal to or smaller than inner diameter of the receiving inlet.

23. The container of any one of claims 14 to 22 wherein the neck

portion is telescopic.

24. The container of any one of claims 14 to 23 wherein the

container includes a resealable sealing cap for the delivery

portion.

25. The container of any one of claims 14 to 24 wherein the liquid

is oil.

26. The container of any one of claims 14 to 25 wherein the

receiving inlet is an oil inlet of an engine.

27. The container of claim 26 wherein the receiving inlet is an

oil inlet of a transmission.