Lubricant dispenser with nozzle

• US 20090230158A1
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trico Holdings Limited (Crowne Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Trico Holdings Limited (Crowne Group LLC)
• Inventors: Scherer, Nicholas, Gundrum, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,220,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/507
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/005 Spouts

Abstract

An apparatus according to the present invention provides a fluid pour spout including a plunger having a variable position for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough. Also provided is a fluid container having a fluid pour spout including a plunger having a variable position for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, the spout being at least partially integrally formed with the container or removably coupled thereto. A further apparatus according to the present invention is a lid including a fluid pour spout including a plunger having a variable position for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, the lid being removably coupleable to a fluid container.

Claims

1. A pour spout for use in the transfer of fluids, said pour spout comprising:

a support tube;

a plunger slidably and rotatably disposed at least partially within said support tube; and

a flow control collar rotatably disposed at least partially on said support tube,

wherein rotation of said flow control collar about said support tube causes said plunger to slide at least partially within said support tube.

2. A pour spout according to claim 1, said support tube comprising a generally cylindrical support wall surrounding a support fluid flow conduit and extending between an entrance end and an exit end.

3. A pour spout according to claim 2, said support tube further comprising a radial sealing flange disposed about said support wall.

4. A pour spout according to claim 3, said support tube further comprising a flange gasket disposed on said sealing flange.

5. A pour spout according to claim 2, said support tube further comprising at least one reinforcement rib disposed on said support wall.

6. A pour spout according to claim 2, said support tube further comprising at least one flow control guide post extending generally radially outward from said support wall.

7. A pour spout according to claim 6, said support tube comprising a plurality of flow control guide posts extending generally radially outward from said support wall.

8. A pour spout according to claim 7, said plurality of said flow control guide posts spaced substantially equally about said support wall.

9. A pour spout according to claim 2, said support tube further comprising at least one plunger guide slot, said plunger guide slot extending from said exit end towards said entrance end longitudinally along said support tube and radially about a longitudinal axis about which said support tube is formed, said plunger guide slot being formed at least partially through said support wall.

10. A pour spout according to claim 9, said support tube comprising a plurality of said plunger guide slots.

11. A pour spout according to claim 10, said plurality of said plunger guide slots spaced substantially equally about said support fluid flow conduit.

12. A pour spout according to claim 2, said plunger comprising:

a plunger wall extending from an open plunger entrance at least partially towards a closed plunger tip,

said plunger wall surrounding a plunger fluid flow conduit and said plunger wall having an outside diameter that is less than an inside diameter of said support fluid flow conduit.

13. A pour spout according to claim 12, said plunger further comprising at least one plunger guide post extending generally radially outward from said plunger wall.

14. A pour spout according to claim 13, said pour spout further comprising:

a plurality N of plunger guide slots, said plunger guide slots extending from said exit end of said support tube towards said entrance end of said support tube longitudinally along said support tube and radially about a longitudinal axis about which said support tube is formed, said plunger guide slots being formed at least partially through said support wall; and

a plurality N of said plunger guide posts extending generally radially outward from said plunger wall,

said plurality of said plunger guide posts being slidably engageable with said plurality of said plunger guide slots.

15. A pour spout according to claim 12, said plunger further comprising at least one fluid port extending through said plunger wall.

16. A pour spout according to claim 15, said plunger further comprising a plunger gasket disposed around a circumference of said closed plunger tip.

17. A pour spout according to claim 2, said flow control collar comprising:

a collar wall extending between an open support end and an open fluid exit, said collar wall being a stepped substantially cylindrical wall.

18. A pour spout according to claim 17, said flow control collar comprising:

a rear support flange portion;

a medial collar portion; and

a flow control nozzle,

said rear support flange extending from said open support end to a first end of said medial collar portion and said flow control nozzle extending from a second end of said medial collar portion to said open fluid exit.

19. A pour spout according to claim 18, said rear support flange portion further comprising:

at least one flow control guide channel extending from said open support end; and

at least one flow control guide slot extending radially at least partially around said rear support flange and intersecting at least one of said at least one flow control guide channel.

20. A pour spout according to claim 19, said pour spout further comprising:

a plurality N of flow control guide posts extending generally radially outward from said support wall of said support tube;

a plurality N of said flow control guide channels; and

a plurality N of said flow control guide slots,

said plurality of flow control guide posts being insertable through said plurality of said flow control guide channels into said plurality of flow control guide slots.

21. A pour spout according to claim 18, said medial collar portion comprising at least one plunger guide channel formed at least partially longitudinally along and at least partially through said collar wall.

22. A pour spout according to claim 21, said pour spout further comprising:

a plurality N of said plunger guide posts extending generally radially outward from said plunger wall; and

a plurality N of plunger guide channels, said plunger guide channels extending from said first end of said medial collar portion towards said second end of said medial collar portion longitudinally along said medial collar portion, said plunger guide channels being formed at least partially through said collar wall.

said plurality of said plunger guide posts being slidably engageable with said plurality of said plunger guide channels.

23. A pour spout according to claim 18, said pour spout further comprising at least one nozzle locking post extending generally radially outward from said collar wall.

24. A pour spout according to claim 23, said at least one nozzle locking post extending from said medial collar portion.

25. A pour spout according to claim 18, said flow control nozzle extending from said second end of said medial collar portion through a chamfered transition section of the collar wall.

26. A pour spout according to claim 18, said rear flange portion having a larger diameter than said medial collar portion and said medial collar portion having a larger diameter than said fluid control nozzle.

27. A lid to be placed on a container for use in the transfer of fluids from said container, said lid comprising:

a top surface;

a container engaging means opposed from said top surface;

a pour spout extending from said top surface, said pour spout comprising;

a support tube;

a plunger slidably and rotatably disposed at least partially within said support tube; and

a flow control collar rotatably disposed at least partially on said support tube,

wherein rotation of said flow control collar about said support tube causes said plunger to slide at least partially within said support tube.

28. A lid according to claim 27, said lid further comprising a vent aperture formed through said top surface.

29. A lid according to claim 28, said lid further comprising a cap adapted to at least partially cover said vent aperture.

30. A lid according to claim 27, said lid further comprising a labeling means disposed on said top surface.

31. A lid according to claim 30, said labeling means comprising:

a pair of label rails integrally formed with said top surface; and

a tag slidably engageable with and supported at least partially by said pair of label rails.

32. A container to be used in transferring fluids, said container comprising:

a fluid reservoir;

a pour spout in fluid communication with said fluid reservoir, said pour spout comprising;

a support tube;

a plunger slidably and rotatably disposed at least partially within said support tube; and

a flow control collar rotatably disposed at least partially on said support tube,

wherein rotation of said flow control collar about said support tube causes said plunger to slide at least partially within said support tube.

33. A container according to claim 32, said container further comprising:

at least one handle operatively coupled to said fluid reservoir.

34. A container according to claim 33, at least one of the at least one handle formed integrally with said fluid reservoir and disposed parallel a geometric central axis of said reservoir.

35. A container according to claim 33, each of said at least one handle formed integrally with said fluid reservoir and disposed parallel a geometric central axis of said reservoir.

36. A container according to claim 35, said fluid reservoir comprising:

a front surface;

a top surface coupled to said front surface;

a first handle formed integrally with said front surface, said first handle being disposed at least substantially parallel to a first geometric central axis of said reservoir; and

a second handle formed integrally with said top surface, said second handle being disposed at least substantially parallel to a second geometric central axis of said reservoir.

37. A container according to claim 36, said fluid reservoir further comprising:

a rear surface coupled to said top surface and generally oppositely disposed of said front surface; and

a third handle formed integrally with said rear surface, said third handle being disposed at least substantially parallel to said first geometric central axis of said reservoir.