Patent Application
20050241727
This invention relates generally to filling a cup having a lid, and more particularly to a vented funnel for use with a cup having a lid, and to a method of filling a cup having a lid.
Refilling paint cups having lids can be a messy process. When the lid is removed to refill the cup, paint can drip off the lid onto the table, other equipment, and the user's hands. The dripped paint must be cleaned up, which generally requires the use of solvent and increases the time needed to complete the painting job.
A funnel can be used to refill the cup without removing the lid. The funnel is typically selected to fit snugly in the opening in the lid so that the funnel is stable while the paint is being added to the cup. However, when the paint is poured into the cup, there is no way for the air to escape from the inside of the cup. As a result, the paint does not flow smoothly into the cup. It flows in intermittently as air escapes in bubbles through the paint in the funnel. This increases the length of time needed to fill the cup. In addition, the paint remaining in the funnel when it is removed can drip onto the lid and the table, which must then be cleaned.
Attempts have been made to provide vented funnels. These solutions have generally involved including vent tubes in the funnel or making double walled funnels. These have the disadvantages of being complex to manufacture, and being difficult to clean.
Therefore, there is a need for a funnel to fill a cup having a lid which allows paint to flow smoothly into the cup.
The present invention solves this need by providing a vented funnel for use with a closed container. The vented funnel includes a funnel-shaped upper portion; and a neck extending downward from the funnel-shaped upper portion, the neck being substantially cylindrical and having a circular portion and a flat portion, the circular portion extending at least about half way around a circumference of the neck, the flat portion providing a vent in an opening of the closed container to allow air to escape from the closed container.
Another aspect of the invention is a method of filling a cup having a lid. The method includes providing a funnel comprising a funnel portion and a neck, the neck being substantially cylindrical and having a circular portion and a flat portion, the circular portion extending at least about half way around a circumference of the neck, the flat portion providing a vent in an opening in the lid to allow air to escape from the inside of the cup; inserting the funnel into the opening in the lid; filling the funnel with a fluid, wherein the fluid flows into the cup through the neck, and air escapes from the cup through the vent.
Although the vented funnel of the present invention is described as being used for filling a paint cup with a lid, one of skill will recognize that it can be used with any fluid to be poured into a closed container.
The neck 20 extends downward from the funnel-shaped upper portion 15. There can optionally be a rib 25 around the inside the neck 20. The rib 25 can be slightly upward from the bottom of the neck 20. The rib 25 can extend completely around the inside of the neck, or only part of the way. The rib 25 collects paint which flows down the sides of the neck 20, reducing dripping from the funnel when the cup has been filled and the funnel is removed.
The vented funnel can be made of a solvent-resistant plastic, such as polyethylene, or some other material, such as paper.
The vented funnel can be disposable, if desired. This would eliminate clean up time and save solvent. A disposable funnel must be inexpensive. One way to reduce the cost is make the vented funnel very thin. A very thin vented funnel may need a funnel-shaped support. If a funnel support is used, the vented funnel would be put into the funnel support before the vented funnel is inserted into the opening in the lid.
Alternatively, the vented funnel could be lined with a funnel liner, which could be made of paper. This could also reduce or eliminate clean up. If a funnel liner is used, it would be placed in the vented funnel before the vented funnel is filled with paint.
The vented funnel of the present invention is easy to manufacture, simple to use, and easy to clean (if needed).
While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for purposes of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the apparatus and methods disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.
