Pullout Spout Container and Method

This invention relates to a container and method of dispensing a fluid such as an automatic transmission fluid from a container in a manner that a funnel or other accessory device is unnecessary.

Many times it is necessary to pour fluid from a container into a filling opening which is remote and limited in access. Particularly, in automobile engines the filling opening for transmission fluid and oil is often disposed in an inconvenient location. Either a long-necked funnel or other accessory device need be inserted in the filler opening so that the fluid may be poured from the container into the filler opening. Many times a funnel or other device is not available making it difficult if not impossible to pour the container contents into the filler opening.

Heretofore, containers with pouring spouts which may be removable or extendable have been known such as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,736,469 and 1,473,925, and 1,631,951.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,181,745 discloses a container having a tube which may be removed from the container and affixed to the container in a manner that the fluid may be poured into the filling opening.

However, the above do not provide a satisfactory container and pour spout configuration for many applications such as automobile fluids. Moreover, to utilize many containers it becomes necessary to handle the spout after it has been immersed into the fluid. Fluids such as engine oil and transmission fluids do not clean easily from the hands. When the fluid is being added by self-service it is particularly troublesome to use a spout such as disclosed in the prior art. Many stations do not have hot water and soap that is needed to remove the fluids from the hands and most of the time the self-service user is dressed in clothing which he does not wish to soil.

Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is to provide a pour spout container which may be stored in the container and cleanly removed outwardly therefrom to pour a fluid into a remote filling opening.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pour spout container in which the pour spout may be removed from the container interior without the necessity of handling the pour spout directly by hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pour spout container and method for dispensing the fluid from the container by which a pullout pour spout may be extended from the container without handling of the fluid contaminated area of the pour spout so that dispensing may be done with clean hands.

The above objectives are accomplished according to the invention by providing a pour spout container having a pullout pour spout which may be extended from the container for dispensing fluid to a remote filling opening. Most advantageously, the pour spout may be pulled out from the container by means of a container sealing cap which is attached both to the container and to the pour spout. The cap is attached to the container and pour spout in a manner that the cap may be removed from the container without being removed from the pour spout whereby the cap may be grasped to pull out the pour spout. Preferably, threads are provided attaching the cap to the container and pour spout and the threads between the pour spout and the cap include a larger number of turns whereby the cap may be unthreaded from the container by remaining threaded to the pour spout. After the pour spout has been extended from the container by grasping the cap the cap can then be unthreaded from the pour spout. Means for preventing the pour spout from rotating relative to the pour spout while the cap is unthreaded are provided. In the above manner, an extendable pour spout is provided for dispensing fluid into remote and inacessible filling openings in a clean and convenient manner.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a pour spout container constructed in accordance with the present invention with spout enclosed;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a pour spout container and method according to the invention with spout extended;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the pour spout container of FIG. 3 with the pour spout enclosed;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a pour spout container and method according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the pour spout container of FIG. 5 with the pour spout extended; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 5.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a pour spout container is illustrated as including a container 10 having a neck 12 with an opening 14. The container and neck are preferably formed from a plastic material.

On the outside of neck 12 are threads 16. There is a cap 20 having internal threads 22 which threadably mate with threads 16.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, there is a pullout spout 24 which is initially retracted and enclosed in the container when capped. Pullout spout 24 may be affixed to the interior of container 10 such as in a manner that the two are one piece as can best be seen in FIG. 3. Thus there is continuous sealing web at 26 around the interior end of opening 14 so that fluid passes through opened end 28 of pullout spout 24. The web uniting the spout and container provides means for preventing the spout for turning relative to the container during cap removal.

First and second thread means are provided for threadably attaching sealing cap 20 and neck 12, respectively. Third and fourth thread means are provided for threadably attaching inner cap 20a and pout spout 24. At a remote end of pullout spout 24 there are external threads 30 which mate with threads 32 carried on an inner cap 20a of cap 20. The threads 32 and 30 include more turns than the threads 16 and 22. For example, there may be three turns of threads 30, 32 and only one turn of threads 16, 22. In this manner, cap 20 may be turned and released from neck 12 while still retained on the dispensing end of pullout spout 24.

Once the pullout spout is fully extended, the cap 20 may be removed further by additional turning and separation of threads 30 and 32. In this manner, the spout may be retracted without the need of handling that portion of spout 24 which has been retracted within the interior of container 10 and in contact with fluid. The user may withdraw the pullout spout without getting his hands dirty and dispense the fluid into a filling opening. This provides an excellent container and method for dispensing automatic fluids such as motor oil and automotive transmission fluid.

FIG. 4 illustrates the container with pour spout in a retracted configuration with sealing cap 20 in place about both the pour spout and the container neck. FIG. 3 illustrates the pour spout in a fully extended configuration where the sealing cap 20 may be removed from the dispensing end of the pour spout as described above.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 7, an alternate embodiment of the invention is illustrated wherein an extending pour spout 48 is provided that is not made as one piece with the container. There is a container 40 illustrated having a neck 42. There is an opening 44 formed in the neck. A cone-shaped outlet 46 is formed in the upper container wall within opening 44 of neck 42 with spout 48 slidably carried in the outlet 46.

As can best be seen in FIG. 5, there is a sealing cap 50 having internal threads 52 which threadably mate with threads 54 formed externally on neck 42. There is an inner cap 50a inside sealing cap 50 which includes threads 56 which mate with threads 58 externally formed on the end of pour spout 48.

As can best be seen in FIG. 5, there is a conical lip 60 formed on the end of pour spout tube 48 which is shaped to correspond to the conical outlet 46 of the container. There are a pair of ribs 62 formed longitudinally along pour spout 48. Ribs 62 engage in corresponding notches 64 formed in conical outlet 46 to prevent pour spout 48 from rotating.

Threads 52 and 54 which interlock sealing cap 50 on neck 42 have only one turn. Threads 56 and 58 formed between the inner cap 50a and pour spout 48 have three turns. In this manner, sealing cap 50 may be disengaged from neck 42 and extended fully as shown in FIG. 6. With ribs 62 interlocked in notches 64, pour spout 48 is prevented from rotating. Sealing cap 50 may then be disengaged from the end of pour spout 48 without the need of holding the pour spout 48. In this manner soiling of the hands does not occur due to the anti-turning means provided by the ribs 62 and notches 64. This is highly preferable since an object of the invention is to provide a container and method by which fluid may be dispensed from a container and into a remote and inacessible filling opening without the user's hands becoming dirty or without the soiling of clothing.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.