Claims
- 1. A pour spout for permitting transfers from a container of fluid to a receiving vessel, the pour spout comprising:
- (a) a fluid conduit opening at one end thereof into the container of fluid, said fluid conduit being provided at a location remote from the container with a fluid discharge opening through which fluid from the container is transferred into the receiving vessel;
- (b) closure means for precluding any transfer of fluid through said discharge opening until said fluid discharge opening is inside the receiving vessel; and
- (c) venting means for admitting air into the interior space within said fluid conduit and within the container to enable an even-flowing transfer of fluid from the container after an initial transfer of fluid through said discharge opening without admitting air into said interior space reduces the pressure of air therein sufficiently below atmospheric pressure to substantially curtail continued transfer of fluid through said discharge opening, air flow into said interior space through said venting means terminating when the receiving vessel become filled with fluid, thereby effecting prompt curtailment of said continued transfer of fluid, said venting means comprising:
- (i) an air vent tube communicating between said interior space and the exterior of said fluid conduit at a location which is inside the receiving vessel when said closure means ceases to preclude transfer of fluid from said fluid conduit; and
- (ii) a capillary section located in said air vent tube having an inside diameter less than that of said air vent tube.
- 2. A pour spout as recited in claim 1, wherein said closure means comprises:
- (a) a slide valve having a closed position in which transfer of fluid through said discharge opening is precluded;
- (b) a spring urging said slide valve into said closed position thereof; and
- (c) slide valve release means for coacting with the receiving vessel to move said slide valve out of said closed position thereof when said fluid discharge opening on said fluid conduit enters into the receiving vessel.
- 3. A pour spout as recited in claim 2, wherein said slide valve comprises:
- (a) a sleeve closely conforming to the exterior surface of said fluid conduit and mounted for sliding motion thereupon; and
- (b) a valve seat on said fluid conduit on the side of said fluid discharge opening remote from the container of fluid, said sleeve being urged by said spring into sealing engagement with said valve seat in said closed position of said slide valve.
- 4. A pour spout as recited in claim 3, wherein said valve seat comprises a resilient seal encircling said fluid conduit on the side of said fluid discharge opening remote from the container of fluid, said seal being encircled by and in engagement with the inner surface of said sleeve in said closed position of said slide valve.
- 5. A pour spout as recited in claim 4, wherein said seal is a lathe-cut seal.
- 6. A pour spout as recited in claim 4, wherein said seal is a square ring seal.
- 7. A pour spout as recited in claim 4, wherein said seal is an O-ring.
- 8. A pour spout as recited in claim 4, wherein said slide valve release means comprises a projection secured to said sleeve for catching the receiving vessel and drawing said sleeve out of said closed position of said slide valve as said discharge opening on said fluid conduit enters the receiving vessel.
- 9. A pour spout as recited in claim 3, wherein said spring is disposed encircling said fluid and retained in compression between said sleeve and a longitudinally fixed point on said fluid conduit.
- 10. A pour spout as recited in claim 3, wherein said spring is disposed encircling said fluid conduit inside said sleeve, and wherein said spring is retained in compression between said sleeve and a longitudinally fixed point on said fluid conduit to urge said sleeve along said fluid conduit in a direction away from the container.
- 11. A pour spout as recited in claim 1, wherein said discharge opening communicates with the interior of said fluid conduit through a discharge passageway, and said discharge passageway and said fluid discharge opening are so configured that fluid transferred through said discharge opening is imparted a substantial component of momentum away from the container parallel to the longitudinal axis of said conduit.
- 12. A pour spout as recited in claim 11, wherein a first end of said discharge passageway communicates with said interior of said fluid conduit and is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, and wherein at a second end of said discharge passageway opposite from said first end thereof the wall of said discharge passageway closest to the center of said fluid conduit turns outwardly from the center of said fluid conduit and intersects the exterior of said fluid conduit to form the edge of said discharge opening remote from said container.
- 13. A pour spout as recited in claim 1, wherein said fluid conduit comprises:
- (a) a conduit tube having first and second open ends, said first end of said conduit tube opening into the container of fluid; and
- (b) a fluid conduit end cap attached to and at least partially closing said second end of said conduit tube, said end cap having formed therein said fluid discharge opening and a discharge passageway communicating from said discharge opening to the interior of said conduit tube.
- 14. A pour spout as recited in claim 13, wherein said end cap on the side of said fluid discharge opening remote from the container of fluid is encircled by a continuous groove in which to retain a resilient seal.
- 15. A pour spout as recited in claim 13, wherein said venting means communicates between said interior space and the exterior of said fluid conduit through said end cap.
- 16. A pour spout for permitting transfers from a container of fluid to a receiving vessel, the pour spout comprising:
- (a) a fluid conduit opening at one end thereof into the container of fluid, said fluid conduit being provided at a location remote from the container with a fluid discharge opening through which fluid from the container is transferred into the receiving vessel, said fluid conduit comprising:
- (i) a conduit tube having first and second open ends, said first end of said conduit tube opening into the container of fluid; and
- (ii) a fluid conduit end cap attached to and at least partially closing said second end of said conduit tube, said end cap having formed therein said fluid discharge opening and a discharge passageway communicating from said discharge opening to the interior of said conduit tube, said end cap comprising a first portion which is inserted into said second end of said conduit tube and a second portion which is exterior thereto, and wherein an elongated recess disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of said fluid conduit is formed along the full length of said first portion and along a section of said second portion contiguous therewith, the part of said recess formed in said first portion of said end cap in combination with the interior surface of said second end of said conduit tube functioning as said discharge passageway, and the part of said recess formed in said second portion of said end cap functioning as said discharge opening;
- (b) closure means for precluding any transfer of fluid through said discharge opening until said fluid discharge opening is inside the receiving vessel; and
- (c) venting means for admitting air into the interior space within said fluid conduit and the container to enable an even-flowing transfer of fluid from the container after an initial transfer of fluid through said discharge opening without admitting air into said interior space reduces the pressure of air therein sufficiently below atmospheric pressure to substantially curtail continued transfer of fluid through said discharge opening, air flow into said interior space through said venting means terminating when the receiving vessel becomes filled with fluid, thereby effecting prompt curtailment of said continued transfer of fluid.
- 17. A pour spout for permitting transfers from a container of fluid to a receiving vessel, the pour spout comprising:
- (a) a fluid conduit opening at one end thereof into the container of fluid, said fluid conduit being provided at a location remote from the container with a fluid discharge opening through which fluid from the container is transferred into the receiving vessel;
- (b) a slide valve having a closed position in which transfer of fluid through said discharge opening is precluded;
- (c) bias means for urging said slide valve into said closed position thereof;
- (d) slide valve release means for coacting with the receiving vessel to move said slide valve out of said close position thereof when said fluid discharge opening on said fluid conduit enters the receiving vessel;
- (e) an air vent opening formed in said fluid conduit at a location which is inside the receiving vessel when said slide valve ceases to preclude transfer of fluid from said fluid conduit;
- (f) an air vent tube communicating through said air vent opening between the interior space within said fluid conduit, the exterior of said fluid conduit; and
- (g) air vent tube constriction means located in said air vent tube remote from said air vent opening for retarding the entry of fluid into said air vent tube when fluid is being transferred from the container to the receiving vessel, thereby to retain a column of air in said air vent tube during transfer of the fluid.
- 18. A pour spout as recited in claim 17, further comprising a seal at said air vent opening for closing said air vent opening when said slide valve is in the closed position thereof.
- 19. A pour spout as recited in claim 17, wherein said air vent tube is disposed within said fluid conduit communicating at one end thereof with said air vent opening.
- 20. A pour spout for permitting transfers from a container of fluid to a receiving vessel, the pour spout comprising:
- (a) a fluid conduit opening at one end thereof into the container of fluid, said fluid conduit being provided at a location remote from the container with a fluid discharge opening through which fluid from the container is transferred into the receiving vessel;
- (b) a slide valve having a closed position in which transfer of fluid through said discharge opening is precluded;
- (c) bias means for urging said slide valve into said closed position thereof;
- (d) slide valve release means for coacting with the receiving vessel to move said slide valve out of said closed position thereof when said fluid discharge opening on said fluid conduit enters the receiving vessel;
- (e) an air vent tube communicating between the interior space within said fluid conduit and the exterior of said fluid conduit at a location which is inside the receiving vessel when said slide valve ceases to preclude transfer of fluid from said fluid conduit;
- (f) air vent tube construction means for retarding the entry of fluid into said air vent tube when fluid is being transferred from the container to the receiving vessel, thereby to retain a column of air in said air in said air vent tube during transfer of the fluid, said air vent tube constriction means comprising a capillary section located in said air vent tube having an inside diameter less than that of said air vent tube.
- 21. A pour spout as recited in claim 20, wherein said capillary section is located at a second end of said air vent tube remote from said air vent opening.
- 22. A pour spout as recited in claim 20, wherein said inside diameter of said air vent tube is greater than or equal to about 1.5 times the inside diameter of said capillary section.
- 23. A pour spout as recited in claim 20, wherein the inside diameter of said air vent tube is greater than or equal to about two times the inside diameter of said capillary section.
- 24. A pour spout as recited in claim 20, wherein said venting means further comprises relief means for automatically draining fluid from said air vent tube after each transfer of the fluid.
- 25. A pour spout as recited in claim 24, wherein said relief means comprises:
- (a) a relief passageway communicating between said air vent tube and the exterior of said fluid conduit; and
- (b) one-way relief valve means located in said relief passageway for admitting air into said air vent tube when the air pressure therein is less by a predetermined amount than ambient air pressure.
- 26. A pour spout as recited in claim 25, wherein said one-way relief valve means comprises an umbrella valve that precludes the passage of air or fluid from said air vent tube to the exterior of said fluid conduit.
- 27. A pour spout as recited in claim 26, wherein said relief passageway is formed through said end cap, and wherein said umbrella valve is housed in a relief valve chamber in said relief passageway.
- 28. A pour spout for permitting transfers from a container of fluid to a receiving vessel, the pour spout comprising:
- (a) a fluid conduit opening at one end thereof into the container of fluid, said fluid conduit being provided at a location remote from the container with a fluid discharge opening through which fluid from the container is transferred into the receiving vessel;
- (b) a slide valve having a closed position in which transfer of fluid through said discharge opening is precluded;
- (c) bias means for urging said slide valve into said closed position thereof;
- (d) slide valve release means for coacting with the receiving vessel to move said slide valve out of said closed position thereof when said fluid discharge opening on said fluid conduit enters the receiving vessel;
- (e) an air vent opening formed in said fluid conduit at a location which is inside the receiving vessel when said slide valve ceases to preclude transfer of fluid from said fluid conduit;
- (f) an air vent tube communicating through said air vent opening between the interior space within said fluid conduit, the exterior of said fluid conduit; and
- (g) two capillary sections spaced apart and located in said air vent tube.
- 29. A pour spout as recited in claim 28, wherein a first of said two capillary sections is located at a first end of said air vent tube proximate to said air vent opening.
- 30. A pour spout as recited in claim 29, wherein said fluid conduit comprises:
- (a) a conduit tube having first and second open ends, said first end of said conduit tube opening into the container of fluid; and
- (b) a fluid conduit end cap attached to and at least partially closing said second end of said conduit tube, said end cap having formed therein said fluid discharge opening and said air vent opening.
- 31. A pour spout as recited in claim 30, wherein said first of said two capillary sections is formed in said end cap, and wherein said air vent tube is attached to said first of said two capillary sections at the end thereof remote from said air vent opening.
- 32. A pour spout as recited in claim 30, wherein the surface of said end cap located opposite said slide valve when said slide valve is in the closed position thereof defines a side surface of said end cap, and wherein said venting means comprises a recess formed in said side surface, said air vent opening being formed in said recess, and wherein said venting means further comprises a seal at said air vent opening for closing said air vent opening when said slide valve is in the closed position thereof.
- 33. A pour spout as recited in claim 32, wherein said seal at said air vent opening comprises:
- (a) a lever pivotally mounted in said recess for movement between a closed position blocking said air vent opening and an open position apart from said opening;
- (b) bias means urging said lever into said open position thereof; and
- (c) closure means on said lever for forcing said lever into said closed position thereof when said slide valve is in the closed position thereof.
- 34. A pour spout as recited in claim 28, wherein a second of said two capillary sections is located at a second end of said air vent tube remote from said air vent opening.
- 35. A pour spout as recited in claim 34, wherein a sleeve inserted in said second end of said air vent tube and said second of said two capillary sections is formed through said sleeve.
- 36. A pour spout as recited in claim 35, further comprising a seal at said air vent opening for closing said air vent opening when said slide valve is in the closed position thereof.
- 37. A pour spout as recited in claim 28, wherein the inside diameters of said two capillary sections are substantially equal.
- 38. A pour spout as recited in claim 37, wherein the inside diameter of said air vent tube is greater than or equal to about 1.5 times the inside diameter of said capillary sections.
- 39. A pour spout as recited in claim 37, wherein the inside diameter of said air vent tube is greater than or equal to about two times the inside diameter of said capillary sections.
- 40. A pour spout as recited in claim 32, wherein said end cap comprises a first portion which is inserted into said second end of said conduit tube and a second portion which is exterior thereto, and wherein said recess is formed in a portion of said size surface comprising contiguous surfaces of said first and said second portions of said end cap.
- 41. A pour spout as recited in claim 40, wherein said closure means comprises an activation lobe formed on said lever and protruding from said second portion of said end cap out of said recess in said open position of said lever.
- 42. A pour spout as recited in claim 41, wherein said slide valve forces said activation lobe into said recess in the closed position of said slide valve.
- 43. A pour spout for permitting transfers from a container of fluid to a receiving vessel, the pour spout comprising:
- (a) a fluid conduit opening at one end thereof into the container of fluid, said fluid conduit being provided at a location remote from the container with a fluid discharge opening through which fluid from the container is transferred into the receiving vessel;
- (b) an air vent opening formed in said fluid conduit at a location which is inside the receiving vessel when fluid is transferred therefrom into the receiving vessel;
- (c) an air vent tube communicating at a first end thereof with the interior space within said fluid conduit and within the container and communicating at a second end thereof with said air vent opening;
- (d) air vent tube constriction means for retarding the entry of fluid into said air vent tube when fluid is being transferred from the container to the receiving vessel, thereby to retain a column of air in said air vent tube during transfers of the fluid, said air vent tube constriction means comprising a capillary section located in said air vent tube having an inside diameter less than that of said air vent tube.
- 44. A pour spout as recited in claim 43, wherein said capillary section is located at said first end of said air vent tube.
- 45. A pour spout as recited in claim 43, wherein said air tube constriction means comprises two capillary sections spaced apart and located in said air vent tube.
- 46. A pour spout as recited in claim 45, wherein a first of said two capillary sections is located at said first end of said air vent tube.
- 47. A pour spout as recited in claim 46, further comprising relief means for draining fluid from said air vent tube after each transfer of the fluid.
- 48. A pour spout as recited in claim 43, further comprising relief means for automatically draining fluid from said air vent tube after each transfer of the fluid.
- 49. A pour spout as recited in claim 48, wherein said relief means comprises:
- (a) a relief passageway communicating between said air vent tube and the exterior of said fluid conduit; and
- (b) one-way relief valve means located in said relief passageway for admitting air into said air vent tube when the air pressure therein is less by a predetermined amount than ambient air pressure.
- 50. A pour spout as recited in claim 49, wherein said relief valve means comprises an umbrella valve that precludes passage of air or fluid from said air vent tube to the exterior of said fluid conduits.
- 51. A pour spout as recited in claim 43, wherein said fluid conduit comprises:
- (a) a conduit tube having first and second open ends, said first end of said conduit tube opening into the container of fluid; and
- (b) a fluid conduit end cap attached to and at least partially closing said second end of said conduit tube, said end cap having formed therein said fluid discharge opening and said air vent opening.
- 52. A pour spout as recited in claim 51, further comprises relief means formed in said end cap for draining fluid from said air vent tube after each transfer of the fluid.
- 53. A pour spout as recited in claim 43, further comprising closure means for precluding any transfer of fluid through said discharge opening until said fluid discharge opening is inside the receiving vessel.
- 54. A pour spout for permitting transfer from a container of fluid into a receiving vessel, the pour spout comprising:
- (a) a fluid conduit opening at one end thereof into the container of fluid, said fluid conduit being provided at a location remote from the container with a fluid discharge opening through which fluid from the container is transferred into the receiving vessel;
- (b) a slide valve having a closed position in which transfer of fluid through said discharge opening is precluded;
- (c) a spring for urging said slide valve into said close position thereof;
- (d) slide valve release means for coacting with the receiving vessel to move said slide valve out of said closed position thereof once said fluid discharge opening on said fluid conduit enters into the receiving vessel;
- (e) an air vent opening formed in said fluid conduit at a location which is inside the receiving vessel when said slide valve ceases to preclude transfer of fluid from said fluid conduit;
- (f) an air vent tube communicating at a first end thereof with the interior space within said fluid conduit and within the container and communicating at a second end thereof with said air vent opening; and
- (g) a capillary section located in said air vent tube having an inside diameter less than that of said air vent tube.
- 55. A pour spout as recited in claim 54, wherein said fluid conduit comprises:
- (a) a conduit tube having first and second open ends, said first end of said conduit tube opening into the container of fluid; and
- (b) a fluid conduit end cap attached to and at least partially closing said second end of said conduit tube, said end cap having formed therein said fluid discharge opening and said air vent opening.
- 56. A pour spout as recited in claim 54, further comprising closure means for preventing entry of fluid into said air vent tube from said second end thereof when said slide valve is in said closed position thereof.
- 57. A pour spout as recited in said claim 56, wherein said closure means comprises a seal at said air vent opening for closing said air vent opening when said slide valve is in the closed position thereof.
- 58. A pour spout as recited in claim 54, further comprising relief means for automatically draining fluid from said air vent tube after each transfer of the fluid.
RELATED APPLICATION
This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 27,014 filed on Mar. 16, 1987 in the name of Verl Law for an invention entitled "Pour Spout," which issued on May 30, 1989 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,151.
US Referenced Citations (21)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1179560 |
May 1959 |
FRX |
368214 |
Mar 1932 |
GBX |
1569872 |
Jun 1980 |
GBX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
27014 |
Mar 1987 |
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