POUR SPOUT

Abstract

A pour spout is disclosed having a top wall including a rim adapted to seat in a container, a side wall to assist in securing the pour spout in the container, a cover extending from about the top of the top wall at an angle to about the bottom of the side wall, and a spout in the cover adapted to dispense a material.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pour spout. More particularly, the invention relates to a pour spout for use in a jar, such as a mason jar, for the pouring of liquids, such as distilled spirits, and other materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pour spouts are known in the art for jars. However, the presently available pour spouts are inefficient in use, are complex in some instances and/or are expensive to manufacture.

One type of pour spout is for use in a jar for pouring a liquid such as a distilled spirit, e.g. Moonshine. The present pour spouts do not fit properly into the jar and are not capable of closing the jar after the pour spout has been inserted. Additionally, these pour spouts may leak and are cumbersome to use.

Accordingly, the presently known pour spouts have various shortcomings. These and other shortcomings of the known pour spouts are addressed by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide for a new and useful pour spout.

Another primary object of the present invention is to provide a pour spout which is easy to use.

Another primary object of the present invention is to provide a pour spout which is easy to insert into a container such as a jar and easy to remove.

Another primary object of the present invention is to provide a pour spout which is efficient in use, including pouring a liquid such as a distilled spirit.

Another primary object of the present invention is to provide a pour spout which may be used with a container such as a jar and which is removeable and may be reused.

Another primary object of the present invention is to provide a pour spout of plastic or other material which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another primary object of the present invention is to provide for a pour spout for use in a jar such as a mason jar or similar type jar for the pouring of a liquid such as, but not limited to, distilled spirits, including Moonshine.

Another primary object of the present invention is to provide a pour spout which may be used to pour distilled spirits from a jar and used by a bartender at a restaurant, bar or similar facility for serving drinks.

The pour spout of the present invention comprises a top wall including a rim and adapted to seat in the neck of a container, a side wall adapted to aid in securing the pour spout in a container, a cover extending from about the top of the top wall at an angle to about the bottom of the side wall, and a spout in the cover adapted to dispense a liquid or other material. The cover may include a drain at a lower part of the cover opposite the spout. The sidewall may include a plurality of vertical ribs to assist in sealing and retaining the pour spout in the container.

These primary and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of the specific non-limiting embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structures are indicated by like reference numbers.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the pour spout of the present invention used in a jar.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pour spout of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the pour spout of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the pour spout of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a first side view of the pour spout of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a second side view of the pour spout of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the pour spout of FIG. 1 in a jar.

FIG. 8 is a cross-section of the pour spout in a jar taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pour spout of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the pour spout of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the pour spout of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a first side view of the pour spout of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a second side view of the pour spout of FIG. 9.

FIG. 14 is a cross-section of the pour spout taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pour spout of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the pour spout of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a cross-section of the pour spout taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed to a pour spout for use in a container. The pour spout may be removeable from the container. The pour spout is useful in the pouring of liquids or other materials. In a preferred embodiment, the pour spout may be used to pour distilled spirits, including Moonshine, from a jar such as a mason jar or related style jar. The pour spout invention will be described in use with a mason jar and for pouring distilled spirits such as Moonshine. However, it is understood that the pour spout of the present invention may be used for pouring other liquids such as, but not limited to, beverages, olive oil, grilling sauces, motor oil and the like, and other materials such as, but not limited to, granular materials such as, but not limited to, sugar, salt and the like.

FIGS. 1-8 show a first embodiment of the pour spout of the present invention. FIGS. 9-14 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 15-17 show a third embodiment of the present invention. As discussed hereafter, the primary difference between the first and second embodiments is the location of the rib in the side wall of the spout. It is believed that having the rib in the side wall of the spout as shown in FIGS. 9-14 may provide a more robust pour spout as discussed below. The primary difference between the second and third embodiments is the addition of a plurality of vertical ribs to the side wall of the pour spout which may aid in the sealing and retaining of the pour spout in a container.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a mason jar J having a cover C. The cover C is screwed onto to the neck N of the mason jar J by corresponding threads as known in the art. It is common in the distilled spirits industry to sell Moonshine in mason jars such as PALMETTO MOONSHINE® sold by Palmetto Distilleries of Anderson, S.C. The Moonshine is sold in a mason jar having a cover which may be opened and a pour spout placed therein for pouring the Moonshine. Presently known pour spouts are inefficient including because, among other things, they extend out of the container, they leak, they cannot be sold as part of the product and/or they cannot be used in accordance with safety seal regulations. Additionally, the known pour spouts are not necessarily aesthetically pleasing. Further, the prior art pour spouts must be taken out of the jar before putting the cover C back on jar J. The pour spout of the present invention solves the shortcomings of known pour spouts as discussed below.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a pour spout 10 in mason jar J. The pour spout 10 includes a top wall 12, a side wall 14, a bottom wall 16, a cover 18, a spout 20 and a drain 22. Each of these elements of the pour spout 10 will be described in further detail below.

Top wall 12 includes a rim 30 which seats at the upper end 32 of jar J inside the neck of the jar and is secured in the neck of the jar by friction fit. The rim also precludes the pour spout from being pushed into jar J. Preferably, the rim 30 does not cover the upper lip 34 of jar J and allows for the cover C to be placed on jar J with the pour spout 10 in place in jar J. Upper wall 12 further includes a pull member 36 which allows for removal of pour spout 10 from jar J. Pull member 36 includes a lip 38 which may be grasped by a person's finger to remove pour spout 10 from a jar J.

Pour spout 10 includes a side wall 14 extending downwardly from top wall 12. The side wall 14 includes a rib 40 extending outwardly from side wall 14. Rib 40 serves to aid in securing pour spout 10 in jar J by friction fit and provides a seal to prevent leakage of the distilled spirits in jar J. It is understood that sidewall 14 may include more than one rib 40 without departing from the scope of the invention. Side wall 14 further includes a tapered portion 44 at the bottom of side wall 14 which allows for ease of insertion of pour spout 10 in jar J. This tapered portion 44 leads to bottom wall 16. Pour spout 10 seats snuggly against the inside neck N of jar J by rim 30 and spout 10 will not come out of jar J without the pressure applied to pull member 36 as discussed below.

Pour spout 10 includes a cover 18 which is preferably integral with side wall 14 and covers and encloses the contents of jar J. Cover 18 extends at a downward angle from about the top wall 12 to near the bottom of side wall 14, preferably at an angle in the range of about 40 to 60 degrees and most preferably at about a 45 degree angle. It is understood however that the cover may be at different angles and positioned at different locations of the side wall. Cover 18 includes a spout 20 for dispensing of the distilled spirits or other material and a drain 22 as discussed below. Additionally, cover 18 may include a brand name or logo or other design (not shown).

Spout 20 in a preferred embodiment is rectangular in shape. However, it is understood that other shapes of spout 20 may be used without departing from the scope of the invention, including a circular shape. Spout 20 preferably extends slightly above top wall 12 for ease of pouring of the distilled spirits from spout 20. There is further included a drain 22 opposite the spout 20 and adjacent side wall 14. Any of the distilled spirit which may drip from the side of spout 20 will run down the angled cover 18 to drain back into the jar J at drain 22.

As discussed above, top wall 12 includes a pull member 36 for removal of the spout 10 from jar J. The pull member 36 is at the opposite side of spout 20 and the angled cover 18 provides for a place to put one's finger when engaging the pull member 36 for removal of spout 10. The inside wall 14A of side wall 14 below pull 36 may be textured to allow for ease of grasping the spout when removing the spout.

In use, the spout 10 is inserted into a jar J. The cover C will fit over the spout 10 and may be closed on jar J. When pouring a liquid such as Moonshine from jar J, the cover is removed and the jar J is lifted and the Moonshine is poured from spout 20. To the extent that any Moonshine drips from the spout 20 it will run down the angled cover 18 to drain 22. The spout 10 is, therefore, quite useful for bartenders serving Moonshine from containers such as a mason jar J. When not in use, the cover C may be placed back on jar J without spout 10 interfering with the closure of cover C on jar J. After the Moonshine is used, the spout 10 may be removed from jar J by grasping pull member 36 and reused.

It is understood that the pour spout 10 may be sold with the product or may be sold separately. As disclosed above, spout 10 may be used for other liquids or other materials.

Pour spout 10, therefore, fills a need in the industry for the efficient and easy pouring of liquids or other materials from a container. Pour spout 10 is simple in use and inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

In a preferred embodiment, spout 10 is made of plastic such as, but not limited to, polypropylene. However, other materials may be used. Pour spout 10 is preferably made by injection molding.

Referring to FIGS. 9-14, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the pour spout of the invention. Referring to these Figures, there is shown a pour spout 100. This pour spout is similar to pour spout 10 as described above and therefore uses like reference numbers to refer to the common structure and which structure is not repeated herein. Pour spout 100 does not use a rib 40. Rather, pour spout 100 uses a rib 140 at the upper portion of side wall 14. However, it is understood that pour spout 100 may use rib 140 and a rib 40. It has been found that rib 140 provides a more robust spout as it may be easier and less expensive to mold spout 100 with rib 140 than spout 10 with rib 40. Rib 140 functions similarly to rib 40 except for its location on the spout and serves to avoid leakage of the distilled spirits.

Referring to FIGS. 15-17, there is shown a further alternative embodiment of the pour spout of the invention. Referring to the Figures, this pour spout 110 is substantially the same as the pour spout in FIGS. 9-14 and uses like numbers to refer to the common structure and which structure is not repeated herein. The difference between the pour spout of FIGS. 15-17 and the pour spout of FIGS. 9-14 is the addition of a plurality of vertical ribs 50. Ribs 50 may assist in sealing and retaining the pour spout 110 in a container. As seen in the Figures, the vertical ribs 50 include a wider area 52 which transitions to a narrower area 54. Vertical ribs 50 may provide additional sealing and retaining benefits when the pour spout 110 is inserted into a mason jar.

The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the invention. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, various modifications can be made within the scope of the aforesaid description. For example, multiple ribs 40 may be used in the side wall for securing the pour spout in a container or the pour spout may be secured by friction fit or other means. Such modifications being within the ability of one skilled in the art form a part of the present invention and are embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pour spout for a container comprising a top wall including a rim and adapted to seat in the neck of the container, a side wall having at least one rib adapted to assist in securing the pour spout in the container, a cover extending at an angle from about the top of the top wall to about the bottom of the side wall, and a spout in the cover.

2. The pour spout according to claim 1 wherein the cover extends at an angle of about 40 degrees to 60 degrees.

3. The pour spout according to claim 1 wherein the cover extends at an angle of about 45 degrees.

4. The pour spout according to claim 1 further comprising a drain in said cover.

5. The pour spout according to claim 1 further comprising a pull member adapted to assist in removing the pour spout from the container.

6. The pour spout according to claim 1 wherein the sidewall further includes a plurality of vertical ribs adapted to assist in sealing and retaining the pour spout in the container.

7. The pour spout according to claim 1 in a container.

8. A pour spout for a container comprising a top wall including a rim and adapted to seat in the neck of the container, a side wall having at least, one rib adapted to assist in securing the pour spout in the container, a cover extending at an angle of about 40 degrees to about 60 degrees from about the top of the top wall to about the bottom of the side wall, a spout in the cover, a drain in the cover and a pull member adapted to assist in removing the pour spout from the container.

9. The pour spout according to claim 8 wherein the cover extends at an angle of about 45 degrees.

10. The pour spout according to claim 8 wherein the sidewall further includes a plurality of vertical ribs adapted to assist in sealing and retaining the pour spout in the container.

11. The pour spout according to claim 8 in a container.