US 4,286,634 AGranted

Sample container with collapsible funnel

OwnerElizabeth M. Wisnerinventor

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Abstract

A plastic sample container with an attached collapsible funnel comprising several frusto-conical rings which interlock with one another in a raised position to form a funnel attached to an upright neck of the container. The funnel may be collapsed into the form of separate rings which rest upon radially extending upstanding support members attached to the top of the container. When the funnel is collapsed, the upper surfaces of the supporting members, the upper edges of the individual frusto-conical rings, and the top of a removable cap for the neck of the container all fall within a plane generally parallel with the bottom of the container, allowing several of the containers to be stacked one upon another. Graduations are provided on the side of the container, which is preferably constructed of tough translucent material, permitting visual ascertainment of the volume of a sample contained therein.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A sample container, comprising:

(a) a body having a generally horizontal bottom and a side wall connected thereto;
(b) a top connected to said side wall, said top including an upwardly extending neck having an upwardly open mouth, and a sloping top surface extending downward from said neck toward said side wall;
(c) a collapsible funnel attached to said neck for guiding fluid through said mouth into said neck, said funnel comprising a plurality of interlockable, telescopically overlapping frusto-conical rings having respective top edges;
(d) support means attached to said top, for holding said frusto-conical rings;
and
(e) said support means comprising at least three upstanding support members spaced about said top, each of said upstanding support members defining a plurality of notch means therein for receiving and supporting said frusto-conical rings atop said container, wherein the respective top edges of at least some of said rings define a substantially planar horizontal surface for supporting an object such as a similar container stacked thereon when said funnel is in a collapsed configuration.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.