This invention relates generally to pour spouts mountable to bottles such as liquor and wine bottles for dispensing liquids and, more specifically to a sealable pour spout to not only assist in keeping the liquid inside the bottle fresh but also to reduce waste due to evaporation.
This application claims priority to currently pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/456,996; filed on Apr. 4, 2023; titled BOTTLE POUR SPOUT WITH SHUT-OFF MECHANISM.
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Pour spouts mountable to liquor or wine bottles for the purpose of making it easier for the user to pour liquid supported within the associated bottle to dispense the liquid quickly and efficiently are known in the art. These pour spouts generally include a nozzle used for the dispensing of liquid and an air tube that allows air to enter the container as the liquid is dispensed.
The nozzles of the existing pour spouts generally are not sealable and remain open, which oftentimes leads to waste due to contamination such as resulting from dust and insects entering the bottle or evaporation or the staleness of the liquor. The present invention is directed at solving the above problems by providing a sealable pour spout that includes a shut-off recognition mechanism.
The present invention also comprises a bottle pour spout with shut-off mechanism that includes a hollow elongated main body having a first end, a second end, and a fluid passage extending from the first end to the second end of the elongated main body to allow for the flow of liquids therethrough. Extending from an exterior surface of the elongated main body is at least one liquid bottleneck engaging member securing the elongated main body to an interior surface proximal to an open end of a liquid bottle in a fluid-tight manner.
Located proximal to the first end of the elongated main body is a bottle stopper having a first side and a second side sealing the open end of the liquid bottle and an air vent extending through a portion of the bottle stopper and located on the first end of the bottle stopper is a reinforced stop.
Extending from the first end of the elongated main body is a hollow spout tapering towards a free end and including a pour orifice located proximal to the free end to allow the pouring of liquids from inside the bottle therethrough. Located within the liquid bottle and connected to the air vent is an air tube that allows air to flow into the bottle when liquid is poured through the orifice of the hollow spout. Matingly engaging an exterior surface of the hollow spout is a spout cap having a cap orifice alignable with the pour orifice of the hollow spout to allow for the flow of liquids therethrough.
Located on an exterior surface of the spout cap in a spaced condition from each other is a first gripping wing and a second gripping wing with the gripping wings facilitating the axial rotation of the spout cap with respect to the hollow spout. Connecting the first gripping wing to the second gripping wing is a stop cover which also engages a portion of the first side of the bottle stopper with the spout cap having a first closed position identified by the pour orifice of the hollow spout not in alignment with the cap orifice and a portion of the stop cover blocking the air vent to prevent liquids from being poured out of the bottle and a second open position identified by the pour orifice in alignment with the cap orifice and the air vent being unobstructed to allow the pouring of liquids out of the bottle.
Briefly, the present invention comprises a bottle pour spout that includes a hollow elongated main body having a first end, a second end, and a fluid passage extending from the first end to the second end of the elongated main body allowing for the flow of liquids therethrough. Extending from an exterior surface of the elongated main body is at least one liquid bottle neck engaging member securing the elongated main body to an interior surface proximal to an open end of a liquid bottle in a fluid-tight manner. Located proximal to the first end of the elongated main body is a bottle stopper having a first side and a second side sealing the open end of a liquid bottle and located on the first end of the bottle stopper a reinforced stop.
Extending from the first end of the elongated main body is a hollow spout tapering towards a free end with the hollow spout including a pour orifice located proximal to the free end and allowing the pouring of liquids from inside the bottle therethrough. Located on the hollow spout is an air vent connected to an air tube located within the liquid bottle to allow for air to flow into the bottle when liquid is poured through the pour orifice of the hollow spout.
Matingly engaging an exterior surface of the hollow spout is a spout cap that includes a cap orifice alignable with the pour orifice of the hollow spout to allow for the flow of liquids therethrough. The spout cap includes a first gripping wing and a second gripping wing located on an exterior surface of the spout cap in a spaced condition from each other with the gripping wings facilitating the axial rotation of the spout cap with respect to the hollow spout.
Located on the spout cap is a screened orifice having a different overall shape than the shape of the air vent with the screened orifice alignable with the air vent of the hollow spout to allow for air to flow into the bottle when liquid is poured through the pour orifice of the hollow spout.
The spout cap further includes a stop cover connecting the first gripping wing to the second gripping wing while engaging a portion of the first side of the bottle stopper with the spout cap having a first closed position identified by the pour orifice not in alignment with the cap orifice and a portion of the spout cap completely blocking the air vent and a second open position identified by the cap orifice in alignment with the pour orifice and the air vent being at least partially aligned with the screened orifice to allow the pouring of liquids out of the bottle.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a sealable pour spout that includes a shut-off recognition mechanism to not only help keep the liquid inside the bottle fresh but also to reduce waste due to evaporation.
The present invention is also designed to improve the safety and efficiency of bottles, specifically those used to hold alcohol or oil, and is especially beneficial to those using a bottle by the flute of the bottle point, as they are unable to hold it by the neck of the bottle, resulting in a poor distribution of alcohol or oil. The aforementioned positioning can cause long-term wrist positioning with weight unequally distributed, leading to carpal tunnel and work comp claims.
There have thus been outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the disclosing subject matter be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.
In addition, the accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of any potential claims.
The present invention is directed at solving the above problems of bottle contamination due to dust and insects entering the bottle or evaporation or the staleness of the liquor by providing a sealable pour spout that includes a shut-off recognition mechanism.
In one embodiment of the shut-off recognition mechanism of the present invention, a sealable pour spout may include a mechanical trigger made up of 1″ high increase across the entirety of a ‘closure notice’ trigger facing the off position, in addition to a reinforced stop. The aforementioned size maybe 3 times the size of the shut-off recognition mechanism in the current stop position pin, which will help prevent the fracture of the closure valve from the 360-position action. It also reduces the risk of a foreign plastic product being injected into the bottle, which can cause damage and even choking or suffocation if accidentally ingested.
The shut-off recognition mechanism may function to improve the safety and efficiency of the bottles that are used with the mechanism by reducing the risk of fracture of the closure valve during the closure and opening function, the entry of a foreign plastic product, and the accidental ingestion of the pin.
Referring to the drawings,
The bottle pour spout 10 includes a hollow elongated main body 12 having a first end 12a, a second end 12b, and a fluid passage 12c extending from the first end 12a to the second end 12b of the elongated main body 12 allowing for the flow of liquids therethrough.
The hollow elongated main body 12 includes at least one liquid bottle-neck engaging member and preferably a plurality of liquid bottle-neck engaging members 13 extending from an exterior surface 12d of the elongated main body 12 with the bottle-neck engaging member 13 to secure the elongated main body 12 to an interior surface 11a proximal an open end 11b of the liquid bottle 11 in a fluid-tight manner by creating a frictional fit and resist against the removal of the elongated main body 12 from the bottle 11.
Referring to
The bottle pour spout 10 includes a hollow spout 16 extending from the first end 12a of the elongated main body 12 with the hollow spout 16 tapering towards a free end 16a. Located proximal to the free end 16a of the hollow spout 16 is a pour orifice 17 that allows for the pouring of liquids from inside the bottle 11 therethrough. Located within the liquid bottle 11 and connected to the air vent 15 is an air tube 18 to allow air to flow into bottle 11 when liquid is poured through the pour orifice 17 of the hollow spout 16.
The bottle pour spout 10 also includes a spout cap 19 having an interior surface 19a matingly engaging an exterior surface 16a of the hollow spout 16. The spout cap 19 is rotatable about the hollow spout 16 with an internal geometry of the spout cap 19 with respect to the exterior geometry of the hollow spout 16 allowing for reduced friction and wear while also improving the seal between the two parts.
The spout cap 19 includes a cap orifice 20 alignable with the pour orifice 17 of the hollow spout 16 to allow for the flow of liquids therethrough. The spout cap 19 also includes a first gripping wing 21 and a second gripping wing 22 located on an exterior surface 19a of the spout cap 19 in a spaced condition from each other.
The gripping wings 21, 22 facilitate the axial rotation of the spout cap 19 with respect to the hollow spout 16 by increasing the ease of the user's rotation of the spout cap 19 about the hollow spout 16 between the open condition and the closed condition of the bottle pour spout 10 with the unique design of the gripping wings 21, 22 providing the user with a visual cue as to which position the spout cap 19 is in.
Connecting the first gripping wing 21 to the second gripping wing 22 while engaging a portion of the first side 14a of the bottle stopper 14 is a stop cover 23. In the embodiment of
Referring to
Located on the first end 14a of the bottle stopper 14 is a reinforced stop 24 that functions to prevent further rotation of the spout cap 19 with respect to the hollow spout 16 when either of the gripping wings 21, 22 comes to engagement with the reinforced stop 24. In one embodiment of the present, the reinforced stop comprises a “half-moon” design to increase the structural support of the reinforced stop to reduce the chances of the reinforced stop breaking from the bottle stopper 14 and potentially ending up in a cup.
In the embodiment of
The stop cover 23 may also include the feature of exposing a portion of the first side 14a of the bottle stopper 14 to provide a visual indicator to a user of the spout cap in either the open position or the closed position. For example, the exposed portion of the first side 14a of the bottle stopper 14 may be color-coded to represent the spout cap in either the open position or the closed position or alternatively displaying the word “CLOSED” when the spout cap 19 in the closed position and displaying the word “OPEN” when the spout cap in the open position.
Referring to
Unlike bottle pour spout 10, bottle pour spout 27 also includes a screened orifice 33 located on a spout cap 32, the screened orifice 33 having a different overall shape than the shape of the air vent 29. The screened orifice 33 is at least partially alignable with the air vent 29 of the hollow spout 28 to allow for air to flow into the bottle when liquid is poured through the pour orifice 31 of the hollow spout 28. That is, since the overall shape of screened orifice 33 is different from the shape of the air vent 29 the screened orifice 33 does not have to be fully aligned with the air vent 29 of the hollow spout 28 for operations to allow for air to flow into the bottle when liquid is poured through the pour orifice 31 of the hollow spout 28.
Referring to
In the operation of the bottle pour spout 27 the spout cap 32 includes a first closed position identified by the pour orifice 31 being not in alignment with a cap orifice 34 and a portion of the spout cap 32 completely blocking the air vent 29 and a second open position identified by the cap orifice 34 in alignment with the pour orifice 31 and the air vent 29 being at least partially aligned with the screened orifice 33 to allow the pouring of liquids out of the bottle.
As shown in
Similar to pour spout 2, the screened orifice 42 may include a different overall shape than the shape of an air vent 43 located on a hollow spout 44 and attached to an air tube 45. The screened orifice 42 is preferably at least partially alignable with the air vent 43 of the hollow spout 44 when a pour orifice 46 of the hollow spout 44 is in alignment with a cap orifice 47 of the spout cap 39 through the rotation of the spout cap 39 with respect to the hollow spout 44 to allow for air to flow into the bottle 11 when liquid is poured through the pour orifice 46 of the hollow spout 44.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63456996 | Apr 2023 | US |