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US 5,857,504 AGranted
Collapsible funnel
AssigneeNone recorded
InventorChristian Tremblay
Life of this patent
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AssigneeNone recorded
InventorChristian Tremblay
Estimating the term…
The present invention relates to a collapsible funnel that is easily adaptable to a variety of liquid receptacles, with an associated moveable rod, extending within the funnel, connected to a screw cap which provides for the funnel to be pushed into a liquid receptacle, through a filling spout therein, in a collapsed position when not in use. The collapsible funnel needs to be pulled out of the liquid receptacle to automatically assume a standing and extended operative position over and in association with the spout and facilitates the filling of the liquid receptacle, especially when moveable rod with screw cap partially clear the way in order for funnel to easily receive the liquid.
In combination with a liquid receptacle having a filling spout and a screw cap for closing said spout;
A funnel assembly for attaching to a liquid receptacle having a filling spout and a screw cap for closing said spout, said assembly comprising a collapsible funnel for insertion into said receptacle through said spout when collapsed and extending over said spout when erected, a wheel-like member having a rim to which the lower, smaller end of said funnel is secured and having a hub connected to said rim by spokes, a rod having an upper end adapted to be secured to the inside of said cap, extending within said funnel and having a lower end connected to said hub for rotation and pivotal movement relative to said hub, said rod of a length to maintain said cap at a distance from said hub to clear the upper edge of said funnel, and a stop secured to and depending from said wheel-like member away from said funnel, and having a receptacle abutting portion downwardly spaced from said wheel-like member, wherein said funnel, rod, wheel-like member and stop are adapted to extend within said spout and receptacle and said cap can close said spout in the collapsed position of said funnel, and wherein said stop is adapted to extend through said spout, said abutting portion is adapted to abut said receptacle around said spout and said wheel-like member is adapted to be located at the level of the free end of said spout with said rod inclined and resting on the free top edge of said funnel and with said cap when secured to said rod partially clearing said free top edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
Funnels, e.g. for liquids: without discharge valves
Cleaning, filling with liquids or semiliquids, or emptying, of bottles, jars, cans
Term ended 13 May 2018 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
The present invention relates to funnels and more particularly to collapsible funnels.
Prior patents for collapsible funnels have been issued. Most of these inventions provide for collapsible funnels to be inserted and enclosed into liquid receptacles and to spring out when the closing cap is removed. Later improvements also included rods to push funnels into or pull them out of necks or filling spouts of various liquid receptacles such as automobile radiators, when not being used or when in operative position respectively.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,461,654 dated Jul. 10, 1922 to W. J. Haessler discloses a collapsible funnel with a rod vertically arranged within the funnel and inseparably attached to a screw cap. The limitation of the prior art is that the rod and the cap are in the way, since the rod is unmoveable, when the user pours a given liquid into the funnel, such an arrangement makes it difficult to use the device, causes spillage, accidental splashing and gets liquid onto the screw cap which the user wants to avoid.
In the annexed drawings, like reference characters indicate like elements throughout.
FIG. 1 is a partially broken perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a collapsible funnel in an extended position;
FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the preferred embodiment showing the funnel attached to and extended over a spout of a liquid container with a rod in a straight and fully lifted position and attached to a screw cap;
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 8 the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purposes and by no means as of limitation.
FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein funnel 10 is in a fully erected and extended position with its smaller and lower end 12 being secured on to rim 14 of a wheel-like member 16, wheel-like member 16 preferably having radially oriented spokes 18 projecting inwardly from rim 14 and connected to a central annular hub 20. FIG. 1 also illustrates funnel 10 having a plurality of resilient, spaced arms 22 integrally joined to and outwardly biased from rim 14, arms 22, preferably made out of thermoplastic material, constitute the supporting frame of the body of funnel 10. Arms 22 are also shown being integrally joined to intervening flexible membranes 24, wherein flexible membranes 24 are made out of non-permeable material, preferably thin rubber like material. When funnel 10 is in a fully erect and extended position as in FIG. 1, arms 22 and membranes 24 form a substantially wide, relative to lower end 12, top edge 26. The extended position allows for the funnel 10 to easily receive a variety of liquids.
Referring again to FIG. 1 there is also drawn rod 28 extending within funnel 10 and shown here being inclined approximately midway between the straight standing position (see FIG. 2) and the fully inclined resting position (see FIG. 4), with disc 30 secured on its upper end 32, and having its lower end 34, preferably of a split-arrow like shape, removably connected to hub 20 for rotation and pivotal movement relative to hub 20. Disc 30 is adapted to allow a user to rotate and tilt rod 28.