Funnel with automatic air bleeding and valved outlet

Abstract

A funnel comprises a downwardly tapered generally frustoconical shell and a tube extending along the axis of the shell and having an open lower end adjacent the lower outlet of the shell and an upper end above the upper mouth of the shell. The tube is straight and is formed between its ends with a lateral opening. A pair of arms support a sleeve in the center of the shell which embraces the tube, this sleeve being formed with a downwardly extending skirt surrounding the tube at the level of the lateral opening. The tube is limitedly axially displaceable relative to the shell and is provided at its upper end with a handle engageable with the support sleeve and at its lower end with an upwardly tapered valve body sealingly engageable in the outlet of the funnel so as to prevent fluid flow therefrom. The funnel is filled with a liquid when the valve body is lifted up against the outlet, then the funnel is set on a vessel to be filled and the valve body and tube are lowered in order to allow the liquid to flow out of the outlet opening while allowing air in the vessel to escape upwardly through the tube. Liquid entrained by the upwardly rising air exits from the tube at the lateral opening and does not sprinkle the user.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.