Pour Spout

Abstract

A spout is provided herein, which may be incorporated in a cap that connects to a lid. The spout may include a back portion, an orifice, and a lip. The orifice may be configured for fluid to flow out of the spout, and the lip positioned near a front portion of the spout. Fluid may exit the spout via at least one of a primary pouring region and a secondary pouring region.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a spout. More specifically, the invention relates to a spout for pouring fluid that may be integrally formed with a lid.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Portable bottles and containers are a common tool and product used by consumers. Some of such bottles and containers include lids and spouts for pouring liquids or other fluid from the spout. Existing systems, however, may include spouts that cause spillage and fluid buildup on the lid due to such spillage. The spouts may be configured in such a manner that, when fluid is poured out of the spout, the fluid is not efficiently or effectively poured out. A need exists for a lid with a spout that aids in preventing fluid spillage and buildup on the lid.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention overcomes many of the shortcomings and limitations of the prior art devices discussed above. The invention described herein includes several embodiments of a pour spout.

As discussed above, existing systems, including existing spouts on lids, may cause undesired outcomes. A pour spout as provided herein may be configured to effectively and efficiently pour fluid from a bottle or container. The spout may be shaped in such a manner to cause fluid to be poured from the spout without significant spillage or undesired overflow.

A spout is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the spout includes a back portion; an orifice configured for fluid to flow out of the spout; and a lip positioned near a front portion of the spout. Fluid may exit the spout via at least one of a primary pouring region and a secondary pouring region.

In some instances, the back portion of the spout comprises a seal plug.

In one aspect, the spout is configured to be received in a cap of a lid, the cap comprises a spout cover configured to contain the spout, and a profile of the back portion provides geometric guidance for the spout to be retained within the spout cover.

In another implementation, the primary pouring region and the secondary pouring region span approximately 180 degrees of a circumference of the spout.

In yet another aspect, the lip comprises an abrupt “cutoff” edge, and the edge encourages fluid to flow into a region of a desired target.

In another exemplary embodiment, a cap for attaching to a lid is provided that includes a spout comprising: a back portion; an orifice configured for fluid to flow out of the spout; and a lip positioned near a front portion of the spout, the lip comprising an abrupt “cutoff” edge. Fluid may exit the spout via at least one of a primary pouring region and a secondary pouring region.

In some instances, the back portion of the spout comprises a seal plug.

In one aspect, the spout is configured to be received in a cap of a lid, the cap comprises a spout cover configured to contain the spout, and a profile of the back portion provides geometric guidance for the spout to be retained within the spout cover.

In another implementation, the primary pouring region and the secondary pouring region span approximately 180 degrees of a circumference of the spout.

In yet another aspect, the edge encourages fluid to flow into a region of a desired target.

In yet another implementation, the edge minimizes fluid from passing from the spout into the lid.

In another exemplary embodiment, a lid is provided that includes a spout comprising an orifice and a lip, wherein the lip includes an abrupt “cutoff” edge; and a cap configured to cover the spout when the lid is in a closed position, the cap comprising a spout cover configured to contain the spout.

In some instances, fluid is configured to exit the spout via the orifice.

In one aspect, the edge minimizes fluid from passing from the spout into the lid.

In another implementation, fluid exits the spout via at least one of a primary pouring region and a secondary pouring region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lid with a spout constructed according to the teachings of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the lid of FIG. 1;

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

FIG. 4 is a first side view of a lip of the spout of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a second side view of a lip of the spout of FIG. 1.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof is shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description presented herein are not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiment disclosed, but to the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.

Turning first to FIG. 1, a lid 1 may be attached to or integrally formed with a bottle or other container (not illustrated). The lid 1 may include a side wall 5 that may include ridges, as illustrated, or other desirable designs or functional aspects. The lid 1 may include a cap 10 configured to cover a spout 15 of the spout portion 20, when the lid 1 is in a closed position. More specifically, the cap 10 may include a spout cover 25, which may be configured to contain the spout 15.

When the lid 1 is in a closed position, the spout cover 25 may receive the spout 15 and may aid in preventing fluid from leaking out of the lid 1. According to various embodiments, a back portion 30 of the spout 15 may include a seal plug (not illustrated) to enter the spout cover 25 unobstructed as the lid 1 rotates into and out of the sealed or closed position. The profile of the back portion 30 of the spout 15 may provide geometric guidance for the spout 15 to be retained within the spout cover 25. The lid 1 may include a latching mechanism or other mechanism known in the art to close the lid 1 and keep the cap 10 attached to the spout portion 20.

The spout 15 may include an orifice 35 whereby fluid may exit the spout 15. The orifice 35 may substantially fill the circumference of the spout 15, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In alternative embodiments, the orifice 35 may take any shape desired and may be any shape known in the art.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the spout 15 may include a lip 40 where fluid may exit through the spout 15. The lip 40 may be located at a front portion 45 of the spout 15. The lip 40 may be specifically configured to aid in preventing leakage and undesired spillage from the lid. The lip 40 may be molded at a particular angle such that fluid efficiently and effectively exits through the spout 15. Such configuration and angles are discussed in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 3-5.

Turning now to FIG. 3, fluid may exit the spout 15 at the front portion 45 of the spout 15. According to one embodiment, fluid may preferably exit the spout 15 in the primary pouring region 50 between line A1 and line A2. According to various embodiments, fluid may exit the spout 15 in the primary pouring region 50 as well as in the secondary pouring region 55 between line B1 and B2. According to various embodiments, the primary pouring region 50 and the secondary pouring region 55 may span 180 degrees of the spout 15, but in various embodiments, such angle may be greater or lesser than 180 degrees.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the lip 40 may have an abrupt “cutoff” edge. Such sharp cutoff edges may aid in minimizing the fluid from progressing around or over the edge and into the lid 1. Rather, such edges may aid in allowing the fluid to flow beyond the edge and depart from the spout 15 and into or onto the desired target. The primary pouring region 50 may include an angular edge 60, such that fluid does not collect or spill into the lid 1. The secondary pouring region 55 may include a sharp edge 65, such that fluid does not collect or spill into the lid 1. As illustrated in FIG. 5, fluid may flow off of the primary pouring region 50 in the direction of arrow 70, and fluid may flow off the secondary pouring region 55 in the direction of arrow 75. Such flow may prevent the fluid from flowing in the direction of lines 80 and 85.

All of the aforementioned components may be molded and may be tooling friendly due to their designs. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications, applications, variations, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. Many such changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications of the present constructions will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. All such changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present inventions are deemed to be covered by the inventions which are limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. A spout comprising: a back portion;an orifice configured for fluid to flow out of the spout; anda lip positioned near a front portion of the spout;wherein fluid exits the spout via at least one of a primary pouring region and a secondary pouring region.

2. The spout of claim 1, wherein the back portion of the spout comprises a seal plug.

3. The spout of claim 1, wherein the spout is configured to be received in a cap of a lid.

4. The spout of claim 3, wherein the cap comprises a spout cover configured to contain the spout.

5. The spout of claim 4, wherein a profile of the back portion provides geometric guidance for the spout to be retained within the spout cover.

6. The spout of claim 1, wherein the primary pouring region and the secondary pouring region span approximately 180 degrees of a circumference of the spout.

7. The spout of claim 1, wherein the lip comprises an abrupt “cutoff” edge.

8. The spout of claim 7, wherein the edge encourages fluid to flow into a region of a desired target.

9. A cap for attaching to a lid comprising: a spout comprising: a back portion;an orifice configured for fluid to flow out of the spout; anda lip positioned near a front portion of the spout, the lip comprising an abrupt “cutoff” edge;wherein fluid exits the spout via at least one of a primary pouring region and a secondary pouring region.

10. The cap of claim 9, wherein the back portion of the spout comprises a seal plug.

11. The cap of claim 9, wherein the spout is configured to be received in a cap of a lid.

12. The cap of claim 11, wherein the cap comprises a spout cover configured to contain the spout.

13. The cap of claim 12, wherein a profile of the back portion provides geometric guidance for the spout to be retained within the spout cover.

14. The cap of claim 9, wherein the primary pouring region and the secondary pouring region span approximately 180 degrees of a circumference of the spout.

15. The cap of claim 9, wherein the edge encourages fluid to flow into a region of a desired target.

16. The cap of claim 9, wherein the edge minimizes fluid from passing from the spout into the lid.

17. A lid comprising: a spout comprising an orifice and a lip, wherein the lip includes an abrupt “cutoff” edge; anda cap configured to cover the spout when the lid is in a closed position, the cap comprising a spout cover configured to contain the spout.

18. The lid of claim 17, wherein fluid is configured to exit the spout via the orifice.

19. The lid of claim 17, wherein the edge minimizes fluid from passing from the spout into the lid.

20. The lid of claim 17, wherein fluid exits the spout via at least one of a primary pouring region and a secondary pouring region.