Bucket funnel
AssigneeMartin Christian DeGraaf, III
InventorsMartin Christian Degraaf, III, Timothy Corcoran Repp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bucket funnel has a funnel body which clips onto a bucket with a top flange. The funnel body has a semicircular lower edge which has about the same radius of curvature as the bucket, but only extends about halfway around. There are outer tabs with inward facing channels at the ends of the lower edge of the funnel body to clip into the flange of the bucket. There is also a spring loaded release clip at about the middle of the lower edge to clip onto the outer flange of the bucket. An inner apron extends down from the lower edge of the funnel body to form a seal against the inner wall of the bucket. An interchangeable conical nozzle attaches to the funnel body for dispensing of fluids of various viscosities, such as glue, paint or fresh concrete.
Claims20
A bucket funnel comprising a funnel body, said funnel body comprising:
- a) a semicircular lower edge;
- b) a funnel rim above said lower edge;
- c) a converging hopper extending outward of said funnel rim and said lower edge, said converging hopper comprising a hopper opening at its apex;
- d) a first outer tab at a first end of said lower edge, said outer tab comprising an inward facing channel;
- e) a second outer tab at a second end of said lower edge comprising an inward facing channel;
- f) an inner apron extending down from said lower edge, said inner apron comprising:
- i. a back plate;
- and
- ii. a flexible skirt at the bottom of said back plate, said flexible skirt extending in the direction of said opening of said hopper;
- and
- g) a release clip attached to about the midpoint of said lower edge, said release clip comprising:
- i. a spring hinge attaching said release clip to said lower edge;
- and
- ii. a handle extending downward from said spring hinge, said handle comprising a notch facing towards said inner apron and away from said opening of said converging hopper such that said release clip will secure said bucket funnel to a rim of a bucket when said inner apron is inside of said bucket and said release clip is outside of said bucket.
A bucket funnel comprising a funnel body, said funnel body comprising:
- a) a semicircular lower edge;
- b) a funnel rim above said lower edge;
- c) a converging hopper extending outward of said funnel rim and said lower edge, said converging hopper comprising a hopper opening at its apex;
- d) an inner apron extending down from said lower edge, said inner apron comprising:
- i. a back plate;
- and
- ii. a flexible skirt at the bottom of said back plate, said flexible skirt extending toward said opening of said hopper;
- and
- e) a release clip attached to about the midpoint of said lower edge, said release clip comprising:
- i. a spring hinge attaching said release clip to said lower edge;
- and
- ii. a handle extending downward from said spring hinge, said handle comprising a notch facing towards said inner apron and away from said opening of said hopper such that said release clip will secure said bucket funnel to a rim of a bucket when said inner apron is inside of said bucket and said release clip is outside of said bucket.
A method for dispensing a flowable material from a bucket as a continuous uniform stream, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) securing a bucket funnel to a rim of said bucket, said bucket funnel comprising:
- i. a semicircular lower edge;
- ii. a funnel rim above said lower edge;
- iii. a converging hopper extending outward of said funnel rim and said lower edge, said converging hopper comprising an inlet opening and a hopper opening at an apex of said converging hopper;
- iv. a nozzle attached to said hopper opening, said nozzle having an axis inclined at an angle of 20 to 60 degrees with respect to said rim of said bucket when said bucket funnel is secured to said rim of said bucket;
- v. an inner apron extending downward from said lower edge, said inner apron being adapted to form a liquid tight seal with an inner wall of said bucket when said bucket funnel is secured to said rim;
- and
- vi. a release clip attached to about the midpoint of said lower edge, said release clip comprising:
- 1. a spring hinge attaching said release clip to said lower edge;
- and
- 2. a handle extending downward from said spring hinge, said handle comprising a notch facing towards said inner apron and away from said hopper opening such that said release clip will secure said bucket funnel to the rim of said bucket when said inner apron is inside of said bucket and said release clip is outside of said bucket;
- and
- b) tipping said bucket at a tipping angle such that said flowable material flows over said inner apron, into said converging hopper and fills at least a portion of said nozzle such that said flowable material flows out of said nozzle as said continuous uniform stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.