Spill-resistant container for liquids

A semi-resistant container for a liquid comprising:

• a body having a base and a first axis that intersects the base, the body defining an interior volume about the first axis for storing a liquid such that the container has an upright position when the base is parallel to a horizontal surface and the container has a start-to-pour position when the base is rotated to a start-to-pour angle relative to the horizontal surface;
• a neck located at a first portion of the body and defining a curved passageway having a first end and a second end;
• a first opening located at the first end of the curved passageway to couple the interior of the curved passageway with the interior volume of the container;
• an unrestricted second opening located at the second end of the curved passageway to couple the interior of the curved passageway with the exterior of the container and the second opening being sufficiently large to permit the pouring of the liquid out of the container;
• a first curve located between the first end and the second end of the curved passageway and defining a two dimensional curved centerline within the curved passageway, the two dimensional curved centerline lying on a first plane which is substantially vertical with respect to the horizontal surface;
• a second axis perpendicular to the first plane which defines a pivot for rotating the first plane, wherein the first plane is defined to be rotating in a counter-clockwise direction when the first plane is rotating about the second axis such that the first opening is rotated toward the second opening along the two dimensional curved centerline while the first plane remains substantially vertical with respect to the horizontal surface;
• the curved passageway being configured to determine the start-to-pour angle between the base and the horizontal surface at which outside air starts to enter the interior volume of the container and the liquid inside the container starts to flow out of the second opening of the curved passageway when the container is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction, the curved passageway being further configured such that if the base is rotated relative to the horizontal surface at an angle less than the start-to-pour angle when the container is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction, outside air can not enter the interior volume of the container and the liquid in the container does not pour out of the second opening of the curved passageway even if the level of the liquid inside the container is higher than the second opening of the curved passageway;
• where the start-to-pour angle is greater than 45 degrees and less than 180 degrees.

A curved neck for converting a liquid-storage container having an opening into a spill-resistant container, the container having a base configured to rest on a horizontal surface, the curved neck comprising:

• a neck body defining a curved passageway having a first end plane, a second end plane and a first curve located between the first end plane and the second end plane;
• a first opening located at the first end plane of the curved passageway;
• a connector located at the first end plane of the curved passageway which permits the first opening of the curved passageway to be sealingly connected to the opening of the container;
• an unrestricted second opening located at the second end plane of the curved passageway and being sufficiently large to permit the pouring of the liquid out of the container;
• when the curved neck is connected to the container to form a spill-resistant container, the curved passageway determines an angle wherein if the container is rotated equal to the angle, the liquid starts to pour out of the second opening of the curved passageway;
• if the container is rotated more than the angle, the liquid inside the container flows out of the second opening of the curved passageway, and if the container is rotated less than the angle, the liquid does not pour out of the second opening of the curved passageway even if the distance between the level of the liquid inside the container and the horizontal surface exceeds the distance between the second opening and the horizontal surface;
• where the angle is greater than 45 degrees and less than 180 degrees.

A spill-resistant container for a liquid comprising:

• a body having a base and an axis that intersects the base, the body defining an interior volume around the axis in the container for storing a liquid such that the container has an upright position when the base is parallel to a horizontal surface and the container has a start-to-pour position when the base is tilted at a start-to-pour angle from the horizontal surface;
• a neck located at a first portion of the body and defining a bent passageway having a first end and a second end;
• a first opening located at the first end of the bent passageway to couple the bent passageway with the interior volume of the container;
• an unrestricted second opening located at the second end of the bent passageway to couple the bent passageway with the exterior of the container and the second opening being sufficiently large to permit the pouring of the liquid out of the container;
• a first bend located between the first end and the second end of the bent passageway;
• the bent passageway having a bent centerline inside the bent passageway extending from the first opening through the first bend to the second opening of the bent passageway, the distance between the bent centerline and the base stays the same or increasing along the bent passageway starting from the first opening through the first bend to the second opening;
• the bent passageway further being configured to determine the start-to-pour angle between the base and the horizontal surface at which the liquid inside the container starts to flow out of the second opening of the bent passageway;
• where the start-to-pour angle is greater than 45 degrees and less than 180 degrees;
• and
• wherein the bent passageway is configured such that if the base is tilted from the horizontal surface at an angle less than the start-to-pour angle, the liquid does not pour out of the second opening of the bent passageway even if the level of the liquid in the container is higher than the bent centerline.