US 5,249,611 A · Pour spout

Abstract

A hollow tube attachable at one end to a container of fluid is provided at the other end with an end cap in which is formed a fluid discharge opening through which to transfer fluid. The end cap includes a first portion inserted into the tube, while a second portion remains exterior thereto. A slide valve on the exterior of the tube is biased into a closed position, precluding fluid transfer until the discharge opening is inside a receiving vessel. An air vent passageway in the form of an air vent recess in the outer surface of the first portion of the end cap communicates between the interior of the container and the exterior of the fluid conduit. When the receiving vessel is filled, fluid in the receiving vessel closes entry to the air vent passageway, terminating air flow into the container and stopping fluid flow through the conduit. Capillary sections of reduced cross-sectional area relative that of the air vent passageway are located at either end of the air vent recess. One is formed as an outer air vent aperture through the wall of the tube at the end of the air vent recess remote from the container; the other is formed in the outer surface of the first portion of the end cap at the opposite end of the air vent recess.

Claims50

Dependent claims

A pour spout for permitting transfer of a fluid from a container of the fluid to a receiving vessel, the pour spout comprising:

(a) a fluid conduit opening at one end thereof into the container of fluid, said fluid conduit being provided at a location remote from the container with a fluid discharge opening through which fluid from the container is transferred into the receiving vessel;
(b) closure means for precluding any transfer of the fluid through said discharge opening into the receiving vessel until said fluid discharge opening is inside the receiving vessel;
and
(c) venting means for admitting air into the interior space within said fluid conduit and the container during transfer of the fluid from the container, air flow into said interior space through said venting means becoming terminated when the receiving vessel becomes filled with the fluid, said venting means comprising:
(i) an air vent passageway communicating between said interior space and the exterior of said fluid conduit at a location that is inside the receiving vessel when said closure means ceases to preclude the transfer of fluid from said fluid conduit;
and
(ii) a capillary section located in said air vent passageway, said capillary section having a cross-sectional area less than that of said air vent passageway.

4 more elements

A pour spout for permitting transfers of a fluid from a container of the fluid to a receiving vessel, the pour spout comprising:

(a) a fluid conduit opening at one end thereof into the container of fluid, said fluid conduit being provided at a location remote from the container with a fluid discharge opening through which fluid from the container is transferred into the receiving vessel, said fluid conduit comprising:
(i) a tube having first and second open ends, said first end of said tube opening into the container of fluid;
and
(ii) a fluid conduit end cap attached to and at least partially closing said second end of said tube, said end cap having formed therein said fluid discharge opening;
(b) a slide valve having a closed position in which transfer of the fluid through said discharge opening is precluded;
(c) bias means for urging said slide valve into said closed position thereof;
(d) slide valve release means for co-acting with the receiving vessel to move said slide valve out of said closed position thereof when said fluid discharge opening enters the receiving vessel;
and
(e) venting means for admitting air into the interior space within said fluid conduit and container during transfer of the fluid from the container, air flow into said interior space through said venting means becoming terminated when the receiving vessel becomes filled with the fluid, said venting means comprising:
(i) an air vent passageway communicating between said interior space and the exterior of said fluid conduit at a location that is inside the receiving vessel when said slide valve is out of said closed position thereof;
and
(ii) air vent passageway constriction means for retarding the entry of fluid into said air vent passageway when fluid is being transferred from the container to the receiving vessel, thereby retaining a column of air in said air vent passageway during transfer of the fluid.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pour spout

Life of this patent

Pour spout

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims50