WO2005106402A1

WO2005106402A1 - Graduated vessel

Info

Publication number: WO2005106402A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/000646
Authority: WO
Inventors: Douglas Arthur Sims
Original assignee: 3P Australia Ltd
Priority date: 2004-05-04
Filing date: 2005-05-04
Publication date: 2005-11-10

Abstract

A vessel (11) adapted to contain a volume of liquid wherein the level of liquid contained can be observed through a transparent or translucent portion of the side wall (13) of the vessel (11), the liquid being dispensed from the vessel (11) by tilting the vessel (11) from an upright position so that the liquid is caused to pour over a rim (15) of the vessel wherein the vessel contains a graduated scale (25) comprising a first set of spaced indicia where each indicium identifies a volume of liquid contained by the vessel when the vessel is tilted at a respective angle and the surface (26) of the respective volume of liquid is at the level of the rim (15) and is located to be aligned with the surface (26).

Description

"Graduated Vessel"

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a graduated vessel. In particular, the vessel relates to a graduated vessel from which a liquid or a like fluid can be poured.

Background of the Invention

A wide variety of vessels have been devised to contain liquids wherein such vessels have at least a portion of their side wall formed from an at least a partly transparent or translucent material and wherein the portion is provided a graduated scale indicating the volume of liquid contained in the vessel. In order to read the volume contained by the vessel the vessel must be oriented in an upright position.

Very often it is necessary to pour from the vessel a specific volume of liquid that is less than the volume contained within the vessel. Thus, to pour out a specific volume of liquid it is first necessary to position the vessel in an upright orientation and take a reading of the volume contained, pour from the vessel a limited volume of liquid and reorient the vessel in an upright position to take a subsequent reading. The difference between the initial and subsequent readings identifies the volume of liquid poured from the vessel. Where a specific volume is required it is thus necessary to repeat the pouring operation a number of times, each time pouring a successively reduced volume of liquid until the desired volume is approached. It can be seen that this technique is unsatisfactory in that it requires multiple operations to pour out the required volume of liquid. In addition it is quite easy to pour out excessive volume.

Within the specification, the description is made with reference to liquids. However the invention also applies to, suspensions, slurries and particuiate solids which can flow in a manner similar to liquids including, but not limited to, materials such as sand, grain, sugar, and other like material. Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly the invention resides in a vessel adapted to contain a volume of liquid wherein the level of liquid contained can be observed through a transparent or translucent portion of the side wall of the vessel, the liquid being dispensed from the vessel by tilting the vessel from an upright position so that the liquid is caused to pour over a rim of the vessel wherein the vessel contains a graduated scale comprising a first set of spaced indicia where each indicium identifies a volume of liquid contained by the vessel when the vessel is tilted at a respective angle and the surface of the respective volume of liquid is at the level of the rim and is located to be aligned with the surface.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, each indicium comprises a line arranged to be aligned with the surface of the liquid of the respective volume when the vessel has been tipped to the respective angle.

According to a preferred embodiment, the graduated scale further comprises a second set of spaced indicia positioned to indicate a respective volume of liquid contained by the vessel when upright.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second set of indicia comprise an indicium to indicate a pre-determined maximum volume level.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first set of indicia is calibrated to identify the volume of liquid dispensed from the vessel relative to the predetermined maximum volume level.

According to a preferred embodiment, the vessel is formed of a translucent or transparent material.

According to a preferred embodiment, the portion of the vessel comprises a window formed of a translucent or transparent material. According to a preferred embodiment, the rim is associated with a spout to enable the liquid to be poured in a controlled manner.

According to a preferred embodiment, the vessel is provided with a handle adapted to hold the vessel in an upright orientation and in a tilted orientation when liquid is poured from the vessel.

The invention will be more fully understood in light of the following description of several specific embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a jug in accordance with the first embodiment;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the jug of Figure 1 positioned in an upright orientation;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the jug of Figure 1 shown in a first tilted orientation; and

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a jug according to Figure 1 shown tilted in a second tilted orientation;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a container according to the second embodiment;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the container of Figure 5 shown in a tilted orientation. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

The first embodiment of the invention is directed to a jug 11 adapted to contain a predetermined volume of pourable material such as a liquid. The embodiment is shown in Figure 1 to Figure 4.

The jug 11 of the embodiment comprises a flat, circular base 12 and an external wall 13 extending from the base 12 to define the interior of the jug 11 and having an open mouth 14 formed by the rim 15 of the external wall 13 at the end of the jug 11 opposed to the base 12. A forward portion of the external wall 13 in the vicinity of the rim 15 defining the open mouth is formed as a spout 16 to direct the flow of liquid when liquid is poured from the jug 11. Extending from the external wall 13 in the region opposed to the spout 16 is a handle 17 adapted to be grasped by a user to hold the jug 11 and tilt it when liquid is poured from the jug 11. The handle 17 is configured such that when the jug 11 is held by a user it can be readily held in an upright position and in a tilted position for pouring of the liquid.

The external wall 13 is translucent or transparent and is typically made from a plastics material or glass through which the upper level of the liquid contained within the jug can be viewed.

It is to be recognised that the invention may be applied to a wide variety of designs of jugs or other vessels and that the particular embodiment described is merely exemplary in identifying the features shown.

The jug 11 is provided with a maximum indicium 22 indicating a predetermined maximum volume of liquid to be held within the container when the jug is oriented in an upright position and liquid is filled to the level of the indicium 22. In the embodiment, the maximum indicium 22 is the uppermost of a first graduated scale 21 which indicates the volume of liquid contained within the jug when the jug is in an upright position. It should be noted that while the maximum indicium 22 is required, the remainder of the first graduated scale is optional to the embodiment and is not essential to perform the invention.

In addition the jug comprises a second graduated scale 25 comprising a second set of indicia oriented along the side of the jug. The markings of this scale are directed obliquely and are aligned such that each marking identifies a volume of liquid contained by the vessel when the vessel is tilted at a respective angle and the surface 26 of the respective volume of liquid is at the level of the rim and the marking is located to be aligned with the surface. The markings are calibrated to identify the volume of liquid that has been poured from the container relative to the maximum marking 22.

In the figures, the upper level is shown holding six litres and each main marking of the secondary scale 25 of the second scale are graduated in one litre markings. Additional markings intermediate the main markings may be provided and, in the figures, half litre markings are indicated.

The precise positioning of the markings of the second graduated scale will depend upon the exact shape and positioning of the spout so that each marking represents a further discharge of a predetermined unit of the liquid. Typically, a spout has a low point 23 at which the spout blends into the external wall 13 of the jug and the lower most markings will therefore be co-linear with this low point 23 of the spout 16, as shown in Figure 4. Depending upon the particular design of the spout, upper markings may be co-linear with the actual uppermost tip of the spout 24, as shown in Figure 3.

As a result of this novel means of providing the second scale 25 on the jug, a user can fill the jug to the predetermined level and then pour liquid from the jug until the level is at the required indicium, indicating that the required volume of liquid has been dispensed. The user therefore does not have to rotate the vessel to an upright position a number of times in order to ascertain when sufficient volume of liquid has been dispensed. In addition the invention avoids the likelihood of the user dispensing a greater volume of liquid than desired, since it is no longer necessary to estimate when sufficient liquid has been dispensed.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 5 and 6. The second embodiment comprises an enclosed vessel 31 suitable for retail sale of a liquid. It is envisaged that such a vessel would be particularly appropriate for use with liquids such as motor oil where the user wishes to pour a specific volume from the container, for instance when undertaking an oil change. The container 31 comprises a typical cuboidal vessel with a circular opening 32 at one end of the top closed by a screwed cap 33. Typically, a predetermined volume of liquid is supplied in the vessel so it is not necessary to provide an indicium corresponding to the pre-determined maximum indicium 22 of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the vessel 31 includes an angled graduated scale 34 similar to the second graduated scale described in the first embodiment whereby each indium identifies a successive predetermined volume of liquid which has been dispensed. The user can thereby accurately dispense the required volume of oil into his engine without overfilling. The remaining oil can be re-enclosed by the cap. Additional oil may be added on a future occasion to enable the appropriate volume of liquid to be dispensed next time.

It should be noted that it is not necessary with either of the embodiments that the vessel be filled to the a maximum indicium in order that the user can accurately dispense the required volume of liquid. In an alternative manner of use, the vessel is tilted until flow is about to commence from the vessel and the level noted on the angled scale and then the required volume is dispensed to the subsequent level, the difference between the two levels indicating the volume dispensed.

In the second embodiment, the external wall of the jug is predominantly made from an opaque material suitable to be printed with advertising material, but a translucent or transparent window is provided with the markings arranged and calibrated to identify the volume of liquid dispensed. It should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention need not be limited to the particular scope of the embodiments described above.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A vessel adapted to contain a volume of liquid wherein the level of liquid contained can be observed through a transparent or translucent portion of the side wall of the vessel, the liquid being dispensed from the vessel by tilting the vessel from an upright position so that the liquid is caused to pour over a rim of the vessel wherein the vessel contains a graduated scale comprising a first set of spaced indicia where each indicia identifies a volume of liquid contained by the vessel when the vessel is tilted at a respective angle and the surface of the respective volume of liquid is at the level of the rim and is located to be aligned with the surface.

2. A vessel as claimed in claim 1 wherein each indicium comprises a line arranged to be aligned with the surface of the liquid of the respective volume when the vessel has been tipped to the respective angle.

3. A vessel as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 wherein the graduated scale further comprises a second set of spaced indicia positioned to indicate a respective volume of liquid contained by the vessel when upright.

4. A vessel as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second set of indicia comprises an indicium to indicate a pre-determined maximum volume level.

5. A vessel as claimed in claim 4 wherein the first set of indicia is calibrated to identify the volume of liquid dispensed from the vessel relative to the predetermined maximum volume level.

6. A vessel as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the vessel is formed of a translucent or transparent material.

7. A vessel as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the portion of the vessel comprises a window formed of a translucent or transparent material.

8. A vessel as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the rim is associated with a spout to enable the liquid to be poured in a controlled manner.

9. A vessel as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the vessel is provided with a handle adapted to hold the vessel in an upright orientation and in a tilted orientation when liquid is poured from the vessel.