Patent Application
20060191983
This invention relates generally to packaging and materials handling, and more particularly, to a carton having an integral funnel that can be detached and configured to channel the flow of a pourable substance.
Adding or changing engine oil can be a messy job, particularly when the oil is poured from its original container into the engine via the relatively small oil inlet opening that is typically located on the engine valve cover. Many different versions of channeling devices such as funnels and pour spouts have been developed to reduce the likelihood that oil will spill onto the engine and the ground below. Such channeling devices usually have a relatively wider end that provides a larger aperture into which to pour the oil, as well as a relatively narrower end that channels the oil into the oil fill hole.
Typical funnels and pour spouts are made from a sturdy reusable material such as plastic or metal. The difficulty with such devices arises when one is needed and cannot be found, or when a used channeling device has to be stored. The former problem commonly afflicts those having cluttered garages and those have vehicles that require oil at inconvenient times, such as when the operator of the vehicle is away from home. The latter difficulty is common to all who employ reusable funnels—the device must be cleaned before it can be stored or oil will contaminate the storage location. The cost of reusable devices generally discourages disposing of oily channeling devices after every use. Further, users frequently do not clean the funnels between use, which allows dirt and grit to collect on the oily interior surface. This problem introduces impurities into the engine that may cause damage.
What is needed is a funnel or other channeling device that is conveniently provided with the oil or other pourable substance, is inexpensive, and is easily disposable after a single use.
The various embodiments of the present invention overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a disposable channeling device that is integral to and detachable from at least one of the walls of a carton that encloses containers filled with the liquid that is to be poured. The channeling device is preferably a funnel that is defined and distinguished from the remainder of the carton wall by a perforated line. A user can detach the funnel by breaking the perforations and separating the funnel from the carton wall. The funnel can then be configured into a usable shape by furling, folding, creasing, bending, or otherwise creating a configuration that can be used to control and direct the flow of a pourable substance that is poured through the funnel.
Generally described with reference to the various exemplary embodiments, the funnel is integral to a carton for enclosing one or more containers, such as cans or bottles, each containing a pourable substance such as engine oil. The user detaches the funnel, folds the funnel into its usable configuration, and positions the funnel so as to channel the pourable substance as it is poured from one of the containers. While pouring the substance, the funnel is preferably but not necessarily positioned in close relation to the container or to the inlet opening of the receptacle into which the pourable substance is poured.
The funnel is preferably provided as part of a package, carrier, or other means for enclosing a convenient number of singly or multiply-packed containers. For instance, for the consumer's convenience, oil can be provided in packages enclosing several cans or bottles having an aggregate volume that is sufficient to change the engine oil in an automobile. Such a package is commonly referred to as a case or a multi-pack. More than one funnel may be provided as an integral part of a single package. That is, a case of engine oil may include several detachable funnels that are identical, or that have varying types sizes, or configurations
For the purpose of clarity and not of limitation, in the exemplary embodiments, the means for enclosing the containers is a rectangular carton having six enclosed walls, although one or more of the walls may be at least partially open or missing altogether.
In certain embodiments, each of the walls is formed from a foldable sheet material that enables each wall to hingedly connect to at least one other wall. Examples of suitable sheet materials include paperboard, corrugated board, plastic, or the like. The carton is preferably formed from a unitary blank. In certain other embodiments, one or more of the carton walls is formed from a more rigid material than the other carton walls, such as to provide a relatively stronger base. The material, its thickness, its burst and tensile strengths, and other associated characteristics are design choices that can be determined by considering the weight of the containers enclosed, the shape and size of the carton, and the manner and degree of handling that the package must withstand.
According to one aspect of the invention, at least one carton wall includes a detachable funnel integrally formed therefrom. The funnel is defined by a severance line that is preferably weakened to facilitate breaking the severance line to remove the funnel from the carton wall. It is contemplated that the severance line is weakened by any suitable means, such as but not limited to, perforations, a line of perforations, a line of short slits, a line of half cuts, a single half cut, any combination of perforations, slits, and half cuts, short score lines, or the equivalent. To easily initiate tearing of the severance line, the severance line may include a tear initiation means such as a more extensively weakened portion or a pull tab.
The detachable funnel functions as means for channeling the pourable substance as it is poured from one of the containers. After being detached, the detachable funnel is configurable to form a channel that may be connected to a handle. The handle provides a means for preferably single-handed holding of the funnel and supports the channel. Alternatively, the funnel may be supported by the inlet opening, where the relatively narrower end of the funnel is seated inside the inlet opening of the receptacle, and the inlet opening holds the funnel in place while the substance is poured into the inlet opening and through the funnel.
The channel is foldable into a usable shape, such as a cone, trough, or a furrow, for directing the flow of the pourable substance. That is, with some manipulation by the consumer, at least the channel portion of the originally flattened funnel is folded, curled, bent, spooled, or otherwise configured to assume a configuration that is conducive to channeling a liquid or other pourable substance. It should be noted that folding the channel into the usable shape does not necessarily entail creasing any portion of the channel, which may be only curved instead of permanently or temporarily creased along a fold line.
The funnel preferably includes fold lines disposed along the length of the configured channel, such that one end of each fold line extends toward the end from which the pourable substance exits the channel. The fold lines facilitate configuring the channel by indicating where the channel should be folded, curled, or otherwise reshaped. Each fold line may be defined by any suitable means for facilitating controlled folding, including but not limited to scores, half cuts, perforations, and the like. Alternatively, the fold lines simply may consist of printed lines that indicate where a fold should be made or that illustrate the direction of flow of the pourable substance.
When configured for pouring, the channel preferably narrows along the direction of flow. In other words, the channel can be wider at the end into which the substance is poured, and relatively narrower at the end from which the substance exits the channel.
In certain embodiments, single-handed use of the funnel is facilitated by securing the channel in its configured condition using a catch. The catch can include a tab that is inserted into a recessed notch. Alternatively or additionally, the catch may include any combination of securing means, such as tabs, notches, temporary adhesives, permanent adhesives, semi-permanent adhesives, or hook and loop fasteners such as VELCRO®.
The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the aspects and features of the present invention, which should be construed to be merely illustrative of various potential applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples to illustrate aspects of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known materials or methods have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the present invention. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a basis for the claims and for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, the drawings illustrate certain of the various aspects of exemplary embodiments of a channeling device that is provided as an integral and detachable portion of a carton. In the exemplary embodiments, the channeling device is a funnel, although it is contemplated that the channeling device may be a pour spout, wicking device, or any other device for directing the flow of a pourable substance using the principles and teachings of the invention.
The exemplary carton 100 is a simple rectangular box preferably formed from a single piece of foldable sheet material, although the shape, size, components, or configuration of the carton are design choices that are dictated by any number of practical or marketing considerations. The carton 100 includes six walls, each hingedly connected to at least one and preferably all adjacent walls. For example, the carton 100 includes top wall 102, which is hingedly connected to side walls 104 and 106 and to front wall 108 and rear wall 110. Similarly, bottom wall 112 is also hingedly connected to side walls 104 and 106 and to front wall 108 and rear wall 110. The front wall 108 is hingedly connected to side walls 104 and 106, as is rear wall 110. All of the hinged connections are along fold lines, such as fold line 114 that connects front wall 108 to side wall 104, fold line 116 that connects front wall 108 to side wall 106, fold line 118 that connects top wall 102 to side wall 106, fold line 120 that connects side wall 104 to rear wall 110, fold line 122 that connects side wall 104 to bottom wall 112, fold line 124 that connects top wall 102 to rear wall 110, and fold line 126 that connects top wall 102 to front wall 108. Additional fold lines are similarly situated but obscured in the figure, although the locations thereof can be readily anticipated.
The carton 100 includes a channeling device D that is integral to and detachable from one of the carton walls—in this example, front wall 108. The periphery of the channeling device D is preferably defined by a perforated or otherwise weakened line to facilitate detachment. The channeling device D may also include additional fold lines (best shown in
Severance line 202 is intersected or approached by four fold lines 204, 208, 210, 212, each of which radiates from severance line 203. The funnel 200 includes several sections that cooperate when the funnel 200 is configured for use. Section 214 is somewhat semicircular, and is hingedly connected to section 216 along fold line 204. Section 216, the lower portion of which is somewhat triangular, is hingedly connected along fold line 208 to section 224. Sections 224 and 230 are also somewhat triangular in shape, each of the somewhat triangular sections having notches 226, 228 removed from one side, and having one point of the triangle concavely rounded off by severance line 232. Section 224 is hingedly connected along fold line 210 to section 230, which is hingedly connected along fold line 212 to section 214. Thus, section 214 is defined by severance line segment 202a and by fold line 204, severance line 203 and fold line 212. Section 216 is defined by fold lines 204 and 208, as well as by severance line 203 and severance line segment 202b. Section 216 includes a partially detachable tab 218 that is defined by severance lines 220 and 222 and fold line 206. Section 224 is defined by severance line 203, severance line segment 202c, and fold lines 208 and 210.
A recess 226 in section 224 relates to the shape of tab 218, which has a neck portion 219 that is hingedly connected along fold line 206 to the substantially triangular lower portion of section 216. Tab 218 also has winged edges 234, 236 disposed on either side and slightly above neck portion 219. A similarly shaped and sized recess 228 is formed in section 230, which is defined by severance line 203, severance line segment 202d and fold lines 210 and 212. Removable section 232 is defined by severance line 203. The width of the neck portion 219, as defined by the distance D1 between severance lines 220 and 222, is less than or substantially equal to the width of either of the recesses 226 or 228. The height of the neck is at least as great as the sum of the thickness of the material comprising section 224 and the thickness of the material comprising section 230.
To detach-the funnel 200 from the carton 100, severance line 202 is broken and funnel 200 is torn away from the carton 100. Alternatively, the severance line 202 may serve to indicate where the user should cut the carton 100 to remove the funnel 200.
When the funnel 200 is configured for channeling a pourable substance, section 214 of the funnel 200 forms a channel, and sections 216, 224, and 230 forms a catch for maintaining the configuration of the funnel 200 by locking those sections in place. To configure the funnel, severance lines 220 and 222 are broken, thereby partially detaching tab 218. Severance line 203 is broken, and section 232 is removed and may be discarded. Sections 216 and 224 are folded toward one another along fold line 208 such that the outside surfaces thereof are brought into a face-contacting relationship, and sections 224 and 230 are folded toward one another along fold line 210 such that the inside surfaces thereof are brought into a face-contacting relationship. In this manner, the lowest point of each recess 226 and 228 is substantially aligned with fold line 206. Tab 218 is pressed through recess 226 and 228, its winged edges 234 and 236 being secured by respective projections 238 and 240. The inside surfaces of sections 214 and 216 may also be folded at least slightly toward one another along fold line 204.
An alternative embodiment of an exemplary channeling device D is shown in
Section 424 is defined by severance line 408, severance line segments 402c, 402e, and fold lines 410 and 404. Section 426 is hingedly connected to section 424 by fold line 404, and is defined by fold lines 404 and 406, and by severance line segments 402b and 402e. Section 428 is hingedly connected to section 426 by fold line 406. Section 428 is defined by severance line 412, severance line sections 402a, 402e and by fold lines 406 and 414. Sections 424 and 428 are each hingedly connected to respective tabs 416 and 418 by respective fold lines 410 and 414. Tab 418 includes a notch 420 that is defined by severance line segment 402f. Thus, tab 418 is defined by fold line 414, severance line 412 and severance line segment 402f. Tab 416 includes a slit 422 for matingly engaging notch 420. Tab 416 is further defined by fold line 410, severance line 408, and severance line segment 402d.
To configure funnel 400 for use, as is depicted in
To maintain this configuration, tabs 416 and 418 are folded toward one another along respective fold lines 410 and 414 until notch 420 and slit 422 are in close proximity, at which time the end 430 of tab 416 is passed through notch 420 and is pressed downward so that slit 422 matingly engages notch 420. In this manner, tabs 416 and 418 cooperate to form a catch.
To configure the funnel 600, sections 608 and 616 are folded toward one another along respective fold lines 604 and 606, thereby forming a channel C. Severance line 624 in section 608 is broken so as to remove section 626, thereby creating an aperture. Flap 618 is partially detached from section 616 along severance line 612, and tab 628 is preferably folded along optional fold line 622 at least some extent, and preferably up to 180 degrees. Flap 618 is folded along fold line 614 to place a relatively narrow end portion 630 of flap 618 in alignment with the aperture. With tab 628 folded, end portion 630 is passed through the aperture and notch 620 is secured against an edge of the aperture. Tab 628 can then be folded along fold line 622 substantially to its original position, thereby creating a catch that secures the flap in association with section 608 and maintains funnel 600 in its configured condition, as shown in
Funnel 800 includes four sections. Section 810 is hingedly connected along fold line 804 to section 812, which is hingedly connected along fold line 806 to section 814, which is hingedly connected along fold line 808 to section 816. Section 810 is defined by severance line segment 802d and by fold line 804. Section 812 is defined by severance line segments 802e and 802c, as well as by fold lines 804 and 806. Section 814 is defined by severance line segments 802f and 802b, as well as by fold lines 806 and 808. Section 816 is defined by severance line segment 802a and by fold line 808.
To configure funnel 800 to channel a pourable substance from a container 900 (such as the bottle shown in
Unlike the previous embodiments, funnel 800 does not require a catch to be held in its configured state, shown in
In use, funnels 200, 400, 600, and 800 can be held at one end, shown generally as handle H, while a pourable substance is poured through the channel C. The handle H may be held in the user's hand during pouring, or may be held against the container from which the pourable substance is poured. Alternatively, and particularly but not only in the embodiments shown in
The present invention has been illustrated in relation to a particular embodiment which is intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is capable of many modifications and variations without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, as used herein, directional references such as “top”, “base”, “bottom”, “end”, “side”, “inner”, “outer”, “upper”, “middle”, “lower”, “front” and “rear” do not limit the respective walls of the carton to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these walls from one another. Any reference to hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a junction including a single hinge only; indeed, it is envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more potentially disparate means for hingedly connecting materials.
Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the package described represents only one example of the various packaging types and configurations that will be suitable for implementation of the various embodiments of the invention. In addition, any suitable material or device may be used as a catch, including magnets, non-permanent adhesives, or hook and loop fasteners such as VELCRO®, which is a trademark registered to Velcro Industries B.V. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is described by the claims appended hereto and supported by the foregoing.
This application claims priority to U.S. application No. 60/657,025, filed Feb. 28, 2005, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60657025 | Feb 2005 | US |
