A self-storing spout assembly for use on a container having a threaded neck opening defining a circular rim portion centered about a main axis, the spout assembly comprising, in combination:
- an annular cap ring having a circumferentially depending skirt portion and a substantially planar top portion defining a centrally disposed substantially circular portal, said skirt portion having complimentary screw threading on an interior surface thereof to operatively engage the threaded neck opening of said container to retain said cap ring over said neck opening with said portal in substantial axial alignment with said main axis;
- a neck insert means comprising a substantially cylindrical main body portion, a first flange portion projecting radially outwardly from said main body portion adjacent an upper end of said main body portion and a second flange portion projecting radially inwardly from said main body portion adjacent a lower end thereof, said second flange portion defining a central orifice and one or more secondary apertures circumferentially arrayed around said second flange portion external to said central orifice, said first and second flange portions and said main body portion being sized and otherwise dimensioned for floating supported retention of said main body portion within said neck opening of said container with said central aperture in substantially axial alignment with said main axis when said first flange portion is positioned in overlying relation to said circular rim portion;
- an annular resilient sealing means positionable upon the circular rim portion of the neck opening in underlying relation to said first flange portion and adapted to be compressed into sealing engagement between said circular rim portion and said first flange portion of said neck insert means when in said underlying relation;
- a hollow spout member having an open pouring end, a closed base end, and a tubular body wall connecting said ends, said body wall having one or more radially directed flow passages positioned between said open pouring end and said closed base end in a region adjacent to said closed base end, an outer surface of said body wall in said region being of cylindrical cross section and being dimensioned to releasably, sealingly engage both of said portal in said cap ring and said central orifice of said neck insert means when said hollow spout member is inserted into said neck insert means in a pouring configuration in which said closed base end is positioned within said central orifice and said pouring open end is positioned external to said container with said cap ring operatively overlying and impinging in a downward direction upon said first flange portion, and when said hollow spout member is inserted into said neck insert means in a reversed closed configuration, in which closed configuration said closed base end is positioned in sealing relation within said portal and said pouring open end is positioned within the neck opening internal to said container with said cap ring operatively engaging the threaded neck of the container in overlying and downwardly impinging relation to said first flange portion.