US20050236066A1

US20050236066A1 - Spill proof funnel

Info

Publication number: US20050236066A1
Application number: US11/111,330
Authority: US
Inventors: Jay Reinhardt; Reza Ardekani
Original assignee: EVER SCIENTIFIC Inc
Current assignee: EVER SCIENTIFIC Inc
Priority date: 2004-04-21
Filing date: 2005-04-21
Publication date: 2005-10-27

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward various embodiments of a funnel device and methods of using the same. Funnel devices of the present invention employ the use of an actuator gauge which is positioned within the conical and stem portion of the funnel and extends into the fill space of a collection container. The actuator gauge is designed to allow a user pouring materials into the funnel to fill the container to a desired volume. The funnel devices described herein reduce the chance of spilling the materials or overfilling the container.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/563,998 filed Apr. 21, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to funnels, specifically to funnel designs which prevent spilling and overflowing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Laboratories and other facilities use funnels to handle and transfer materials and to fill containers. A funnel is generally a conical device having a small hole or narrow tube or stem at the apex which is used to channel the flow of a substance, as into a small-mouthed container. A funnel has a relatively wide open upper end into which a user may pour materials and a relatively narrow lower end or stem. The stem generally functions to direct the flow of the materials into the container and is positioned into the neck or mouth of a container.
Variations to the traditional designs of funnels include for example, the design described in U.S. Pat. No. 606,927, herein incorporated by reference. This design includes the use of a plunger which fits into the stem of the funnel, such that the container into which the funnel is inserted is protected from insects, dust and air when it is not in use.
Another variation to the traditional design of funnels may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,892, herein incorporated by reference. This ecological funnel is designed for use in dumping volatile solvents into an underlying carboy, wherein the solvent is blocked from evaporating from the carboy into the atmosphere. The funnel has an extended stem, an obturating ball in the throat of the funnel to block evaporation through the stem of the funnel, and a lid on the funnel body to block evaporation.
In one use of a funnel, a user pours a substance into the funnel to fill a container to a certain volume. One problem encountered in pouring a substance into a container that is not fully transparent is that a user may not be able to see the increasing volume of the substance in the container. The user may also be careless and pour too much substance into a container through a funnel. It is easy to overfill a container or spill liquids despite the use of a funnel.
There is a need to provide an improved funnel for the handling and transferring of materials. There is a need to provide funnel devices that prevent spills and overfilling when using a funnel to transfer materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward various embodiments of a funnel and methods of using the same.
One embodiment of the invention is a funnel device comprising a conical tapered body portion, a stem having an upper end attached to and extending downwardly from the body portion and an open bottom portion, an actuator gauge positioned within the body and stem of the device, which extends beyond the bottom portion of the stem and a throat valve positioned over the upper portion of the stem which positions the actuator gauge.
Another embodiment of the invention is a funnel device comprising a conical tapered body portion, a stem having an upper end attached to and extending downwardly from the body portion and an open bottom portion, an actuator gauge positioned within the body and stem of the device comprising a head, and a throat valve positioned over the upper portion of the stem, wherein the actuator gauge is positioned between an opening in the throat valve and the head is positioned above the throat valve.
Another embodiment of the invention is a funnel device comprising a conical tapered body portion, a stem having an upper end attached to and extending downwardly from the body portion and an open bottom portion, an actuator gauge positioned within the body and stem of the device, a throat valve positioned over the upper portion of the stem which positions the actuator gauge, and an occluding ball attached to the actuator gauge extending beyond the bottom portion of the stem.
Another embodiment of the invention is a method of pouring a substance into a collection container comprising a neck portion using a funnel and actuator gauge system comprising placing the funnel and actuator gauge system into the neck portion of the container, pouring the substance into the funnel, and filling the container to a desired volume. Methods of the present invention may employ any of the various funnel devices described herein. Methods of the present invention prevent spilling and overflowing of poured materials. Methods of the present invention may also reduce backflow of the materials to be poured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects and applications of the present invention will become apparent to the skilled artisan upon consideration of the brief description of the figures and the detailed description of the invention, which follows:
FIG. 1 is a traditional drawing of a prior art funnel.
FIG. 2 is a drawing of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a drawing of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a drawing of one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before the present compositions and methods are described, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular devices, components, compositions, or methods described, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited only by the appended claims.
It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to the “container” is a reference to one or more containers and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the invention is not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.
Systems and methods are described herein which would allow a user of a funnel to pour materials through a funnel into a container with a diminished chance of said materials overflowing or spilling. One such system includes an actuator gauge positioned within the body and stem of the funnel to indicate to the user pouring materials into the container the amount of volume remaining in the container. This actuator gauge extends beyond the length of the stem of the funnel and may contact the surface of the substance poured into the container. As the volume of the substance increases within the container, the actuator gauge is pushed upward toward the user by the rising level of materials collected therein. There is thus a direct relationship between the volume collected in the container and the height the gauge reaches in the upper body portion of the funnel. In this manner the user is notified that the volume of the container is reaching a pre-determinable volume or height, so that the user may stop pouring the substance into the container. Such a system reduces spilling and overflowing.
This invention provides several changes to the existing funnel technology currently available. A funnel is defined as a conical, tapered device that has a relatively wide open upper end and a relatively narrow lower end. A traditional prior art funnel 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1, which shows the design including a body portion 12 and a stem 14 inserted into a neck 16 of a container 18.
The proposed device has several design variations of which several are depicted in FIGS. 2-4.
FIG. 2 depicts a funnel device 20 in one embodiment of the invention. The funnel device 20 has the advantage of allowing the user to monitor a fill volume in a collection container while also preventing backflow of materials out of the container. The funnel device 20 includes a conical tapered body portion 22, a stem 24 having an upper end 26 attached to and extending downwardly from the body portion 22 and an outlet or open bottom portion 28, an actuator gauge 30 positioned within the body portion 22 and stem 24 of the device 20, a throat valve 32 positioned over the upper end 26 of the stem 24 which positions the actuator gauge 30, and an occluding ball component 34 attached to the actuator gauge 30 extending beyond the open bottom portion 28 of the stem 24 into a fill space of the container 38.
The actuator gauge 30 includes a head 36 and an end portion 40, and may move vertically depending upon the volume of materials introduced into the container 38. The actuator gauge 30 may be graduated to indicate to a user the amount of unused volume left in the container 38. Alternatively, actuator gauge 30 may be configured to indicate the volume of materials contained in the container 38.
The throat valve 32 is positioned over the opening or upper end 26 of the stem 24 of the funnel device 20. The throat valve 30 may be wider than the diameter of the stem 24 of the funnel device 20 to fit the throat of the stem to occlude the opening of the upper end 26 of stem 24 of the funnel device 20. Additionally, in several embodiments of the invention, the throat valve 32 has a density less than that of materials that will be used in the funnel device 20. This density of the throat valve 32 allows materials poured into the funnel 20 device to flow through the funnel and into the container 38. As the materials are added to the funnel device 20, the throat valve 32 will rise and permit flow through the stem 24 and into container 38. The throat valve 32 may have a narrow opening through which the actuator gauge 30 is positioned so that the actuator gauge 30 may move freely up and down.
FIG. 2 also depicts the occluding ball component 34 attached to the end portion 40 of the actuator gauge 30 which extends into the fill space of the container 38. The occluding ball 34 is attached to the actuator gauge 30 and has a diameter which is greater than the open bottom portion 28 of the stem 24 which extends into the container 38. The occluding ball 34 may have a density that is less than the density of the material being added to the funnel device 20 and container. If the occluding ball 34 has a density that is less than that of the poured materials, than the occluding ball 34 and thus the actuator gauge 30 will be gravitationally forced upward as the material is added to the container 38 and the surface level in the container rises. When the container 38 is filled to a pre-determinable level, the occluding ball 34 will be trapped against the open bottom portion 28 of the stem 24 creating a seal 50, as shown in FIG. 3, and thus preventing material from entering or leaving the system. Thus the funnel device 20 and container system forms a self regulating system that prevents overfill of the collection container 38.
In a preferred embodiment the funnel device 20 includes the following components. The head of the actuator gauge 30 is greater in diameter than the hole in the throat valve 32. The opening in the throat valve 32 is greater in diameter than the body of the actuator gauge 30 but is smaller in diameter than the head 36 of the actuator gauge 30. The occluding ball 34 is greater in diameter than the open bottom portion 28 of the stem 24 of the funnel. The actuator gauge 30 is attached appropriately to the occluding ball 34 which is shaped appropriately in order to create the seal 50 in the funnel device 20 once the volume has reached its pre-determinable level. The actuator gauge 30 is longer than the length of the body portion 22 of the funnel devices, which allows the occluding ball 34 to form a tight seal with the open bottom portion 28 of the stem 24. The actuator gauge 30 and occluding ball 34 together are less dense than the materials to be poured into the collection container 38 through funnel device 20. The density requirement allows the actuator gauge 30 to rise in the device and allows the materials to unrestrictedly flow through the funnel into the container 38.
FIG. 3 illustrates a funnel device according to an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 3, a state of the system is depicted, wherein the container is filled to its pre-determinable value and the user is signaled to stop pouring materials into the funnel device.
FIG. 3 shows that the seal 50 around the outlet or open bottom portion 28 of stem 24 by virtue of the occluding ball 34 may be maintained in the funnel device 20. This seal 50 prevents backflow of material into the funnel. Additionally, the head 36 of the actuator gauge 30 may be above the level or top surface of the funnel indicating the container is full.
Another important embodiment of the invention may be seen in FIG. 3. If a user overpours materials slightly into the funnel there may be a volume of material left in the funnel that cannot enter the container via conventional flow because the seal 50 has been created between the occluding ball 34 and the open bottom portion 28 of stem 24. If the total volume of the funnel is less than the volume of the dead space left in the container the system can be “flushed”. The materials left in the funnel after the seal is created may be deposited into the container if the volume funnel device is less than the empty space remaining in the container. A user may simply press down on the head 36 of the actuator gauge 30 to allow the residual volume of materials in to be released into the container 38. Pre-determined funnel and container volumes allow for these embodiments.
FIG. 4 illustrates another funnel device 20 embodiment of the invention. This funnel device allows for monitoring the fill volume of the container 38. This funnel device also prevents the overfilling and spilling of materials to be transferred to the collection container 38. The funnel device 20 includes conical tapered body portion 22, stem 24 having upper end 26 attached to and extending downwardly from the body portion 22 and outlet or open bottom portion 28 of stem 24, actuator gauge 30 positioned within the body portion 22 and stem 24 of the device 20 having a head 36 and end portion 40, and throat valve 32 positioned over the stem 22. The actuator gauge 30 is positioned between an opening in the throat valve 32 and the head 36 is positioned above the throat valve 32.
As seen in the other embodiments of the funnel device, the actuator gauge may move vertically depending upon the volume introduced into the container. The actuator gauge may be graduated to indicate to a user the amount of volume remaining in the collection container. As seen in the other embodiments of the funnel device, the throat valve functions to position the actuator gauge in the body portion and stem of the funnel device and to allow the materials to flow through the funnel into the container.
In a preferred embodiment, as displayed in FIG. 4, the funnel device 20 includes a number of components. The end portion 40 of the actuator gauge 30 that extends into the container 38 is an open cylindrical shape so that pressure will force the actuator gauge 30 upwards as materials collect in the container 38. The head 36 of the actuator gauge 30 is greater in diameter than the opening in the throat valve 32. The actuator gauge 30 is longer than the length of the funnel body portion 22 and stem 24. The actuator gauge 30 is less dense than the material introduced into the container 38, allowing for the actuator gauge 30 to rise appropriately in the funnel device 20 as materials flow through the funnel.
The materials of the various funnel devices thus described herein including an actuator gauge may be any suitable material such as glass or polymeric materials. The densities of the throat valve and actuator gauge are pre-determinable knowing the density of materials to be poured into the container via the funnel device. The density of the throat valve, actuator gauge and its components should therefore be less than the density of the materials poured through the funnel, so that flow through the funnel is not restricted by the presence of the actuator gauge. Additionally, the buoyancy of the surface of the materials in the container will act to push the actuator device upwards and towards the user, as the volume of the substance in the container increases. Suitable materials to be poured include any fluid which may be poured through a traditional prior art funnel, including liquids, semi-fluid materials, and the like.
In any suitable funnel device, there will be a direct relationship between the volume collected in the container and the height the gauge reaches in the upper body portion of the funnel. In one embodiment, attached to the actuator gauge is an object such as a ball that will rise in the container as the volume of material increases in the collection container. As the volume in the container increases the occluding ball will rise in the container. At a pre-determinable point the volume in the container will reach such a point that the ball will block the stem outlet. At this point, the gauge will indicate to the user that the container is full so she will be notified to stop pouring the substance into the container. Optionally, the amount of “dead space” or unfilled volume left in the container when the ball reaches the bottom of the funnel stem may be greater than the total space available in the body of the funnel. If the user over fills the funnel portion of the system, she may push the gauge back into said container flushing any residual material back into the container. In this system, overfilling and spilling are prevented.
In several embodiments of the invention, the buoyancy forces of the collected materials in the container that push the actuator upward are less than those forces that maintain the funnel device over the neck of the container. In other words, the force of the actuator moving upwards should not force the entire funnel device off of the neck of the container. The funnel device should therefore be designed with materials of an appropriate properties so that the funnel will remain resting on the neck of the container.
Optionally, in several funnel device embodiments, an O ring may be used to prevent as much vapor release as possible. O rings are devices which are generally employed in ecological funnels and are known in the art. Other components that have been described in an ecological funnel or another funnel variation may also be employed in the several funnel devices of the invention. These optional components may include a plunger, a lid on the funnel, an obturating ball in the throat of the funnel, and an extended stem.
The several embodiments of the funnel device may be utilized in methods of transferring materials. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of pouring a substance into a container comprising a neck portion using a funnel and actuator gauge system comprising placing the funnel and actuator gauge system into the neck portion of the container, pouring the substance into the funnel, and filling the container to a desired volume. Methods of the present invention may employ any of the various funnel devices described herein. Methods of the present invention reduce spills of materials to be transferred to the collection container. Methods of the present invention may also reduce backflow of the materials to be poured.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description and the preferred versions contain within this specification.

Claims

1. A funnel device comprising:

a conical tapered body portion;

a stem having an upper end attached to and extending downwardly from the body portion and an open bottom portion;

an actuator gauge positioned within the body portion and the stem of the device which extends beyond the bottom portion of the stem; and

a throat valve positioned over the upper end of the stem which positions the actuator gauge.

2. The funnel device of claim 1, wherein the actuator gauge has a bottom portion of an open cylindrical tube shape.

3. The funnel device of claim 1, wherein the actuator gauge is graduated.

4. The funnel device of claim 1, wherein the throat valve has a diameter that is greater than the stem.

5. The funnel device of claim 1, wherein the actuator gauge has a head which is positioned above the throat value.

6. The funnel device of claim 1; wherein the actuator gauge has a density less than a predetermined value such that the actuator gauge will be able to move upwards in the body portion and the stem of the device once a liquid is poured into the body portion of the device, the liquid having a density greater than said predetermined value.

7. The funnel device of claim 1, wherein the throat valve has a density that is less than a predetermined valve such that the throat valve floats on a liquid having a density greater than the predetermined valve.

8. A funnel device comprising:

a conical tapered body portion;

a stem having an open bottom portion and an upper end attached to and extending downwardly from the body portion;

an actuator gauge positioned within the body portion and the stem of the device which extends beyond the bottom portion of the stem, wherein the actuator gauge comprises;

a head; and

a throat valve positioned over the upper end of the stem,

wherein the actuator gauge is positioned between an opening in the throat valve and the head is positioned above the throat valve.

9. The funnel device of claim 8, wherein the actuator gauge has a bottom portion of an open cylindrical tube shape.

10. The funnel device of claim 8, wherein the actuator gauge has a bottom portion of an occluding ball.

11. The funnel device of claim 8, wherein the actuator gauge is graduated.

12. The funnel device of claim 8, wherein the throat valve has a diameter that is greater than the stem.

13. The funnel device of claim 8, wherein the actuator gauge has a density less than a predetermined value such that the actuator gauge will be able to move upwards in the body portion and the stem of the device once a liquid is poured into the body portion of the device, the liquid having a density greater than the predetermined value.

14. The funnel device of claim 8, wherein the throat valve has a density that is less than a predetermined valve such that the throat valve floats on a liquid having a density greater than the predetermined valve.

15. A funnel device comprising:

a conical tapered body portion;

an actuator gauge positioned within the body and stem of the device;

a throat valve positioned over the upper end of the stem which positions the actuator gauge; and

an occluding ball attached to the actuator gauge extending beyond the bottom portion of the stem.

16. The funnel device of claim 15, wherein the occluding ball is shaped to form a seal with the open bottom portion of the stem.

17. The funnel device of claim 15, wherein the occluding ball has a diameter that is greater than the stem.

18. The funnel device of claim 15, wherein the occluding ball has a density that is less than a predetermined value such that the occluding ball floats on a liquid having a density greater than the predetermined value.

19. The funnel device of claim 15, wherein the actuator gauge is graduated.

20. The funnel device of claim 15, wherein the actuator gauge has a density less than a predetermined value such that the actuator gauge will be able to move upwards in the body portion and stem of the device once a liquid is poured into the body portion of the device, the liquid having a density greater than said predetermined value.

21. The funnel device of claim 15, wherein the throat valve has a density that is less than a predetermined valve such that the throat valve floats on a liquid having a density greater than the predetermined valve.

22. A method of pouring a substance into a collection container comprising a neck portion using a funnel and actuator gauge system comprising the steps of:

placing the funnel and actuator gauge system into the neck portion of the container such that an actuator gauge extends beyond the stem into the container;

pouring the substance into the funnel; and

filling the container to a desired volume.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the funnel and actuator gauge system comprises a funnel body, a funnel stem, an actuator gauge positioned within the body and stem of the funnel, and a throat valve positioned over the stem.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the funnel and actuator gauge system further comprise an occluding ball attached to the actuator gauge extending into the volume of the container.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the actuator gauge has a bottom portion of an open cylindrical tube shape.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the funnel and actuator gauge system further comprise a head attached to the actuator gauge to position the actuator gauge within the throat valve.