Self-deploying funnel
OwnerMark Rinaldiinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerMark Rinaldiinventor
Estimating the term…
A funnel assembly includes a collapsible funnel mounted to a base. The funnel is formed by consecutive windings of spring steel wire. Each winding has a reduced diameter so that the windings collectively form a funnel having a conical shape and an inherent bias. The funnel is confined into a relatively small storage space and the funnel is compressed when a cap releasably engages the base. Upon disengaging the cap from the base, the bias unloads and fully deploys the funnel. A downspout depends from the base and engages the fill spout of an oil crankcase so that the funnel assembly is mounted to the fill spout. A user therefore does not hold the funnel assembly while pouring oil from a can into the deployed funnel. By holding the base in one hand and the cap in the other, a user may deploy the funnel and return it to storage without touching the funnel.
A funnel assembly, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.