Funnel for use with reusable plastic containers
First Claim
1. A funnel for use in connection with plastic bottles, comprising:
- a body portion, a spout portion extending from the body portion to a lower open end, the spout portion being formed of downwardly extending inner and outer portions in spaced apart relation from one another to define a gap therebetween sized for receiving an upper portion of a fill spout of the plastic bottle therewithin, the outer portion being formed of a rigid material and having an interior surface facing the inner portion, a lower portion of the interior surface having an inwardly upwardly tapered portion adapted for receiving an outwardly extending portion of the fill spout in pressing engagement therewith to allow compression of the outwardly extending portion against the interior surface as the outwardly extending portion is caused to move upwardly against the inwardly upwardly tapered portion for connection with the plastic bottle with the inner portion sized and positioned remote from the outwardly extending portion of the fill spout to form a gap therebetween and the outer portion adapted for spaced apart positioning from a top lip of the fill spout.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A funnel for use in connection with reusable plastic bottles or containers includes a body portion and a spout portion extending from the body portion to a lower open end. The spout portion is formed of downwardly extending inner and outer portions in spaced apart relation from one another to define a gap therebetween sized for receiving an upper portion of a fill spout of the plastic bottle. The outer portion has an interior surface facing the inner portion. A lower portion of the interior surface has an inwardly upwardly tapered portion adapted for receiving an outwardly extending portion of the fill spout in pressing engagement therewith to allow inward compression of the outwardly extending portion against the interior surface.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A funnel for use in connection with plastic bottles, comprising:
- a body portion, a spout portion extending from the body portion to a lower open end, the spout portion being formed of downwardly extending inner and outer portions in spaced apart relation from one another to define a gap therebetween sized for receiving an upper portion of a fill spout of the plastic bottle therewithin, the outer portion being formed of a rigid material and having an interior surface facing the inner portion, a lower portion of the interior surface having an inwardly upwardly tapered portion adapted for receiving an outwardly extending portion of the fill spout in pressing engagement therewith to allow compression of the outwardly extending portion against the interior surface as the outwardly extending portion is caused to move upwardly against the inwardly upwardly tapered portion for connection with the plastic bottle with the inner portion sized and positioned remote from the outwardly extending portion of the fill spout to form a gap therebetween and the outer portion adapted for spaced apart positioning from a top lip of the fill spout.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A funnel for use in self-supported connection with plastic milk type bottles having a fill spout, comprising:
- a frusto-conical body portion, a cylindrically shaped spout portion extending from the body portion to a lower open end, the spout portion being formed of annular shaped downwardly extending inner and outer portions in spaced apart relation from one another to define an open bottom annular gap therebetween sized for receiving an annular upper portion of the fill spout of the plastic bottle therewithin, the outer portion being formed of a rigid material and having an annular shaped interior surface facing the inner portion, a lower portion of the interior surface having a generally flat inwardly upwardly tapered portion extending circumferentially about the interior surface and adapted for receiving an outwardly extending portion of the fill spout in pressing engagement therewith to allow inward compression of the outwardly extending portion against the interior surface as the outwardly extending portion is caused to move upwardly against the inwardly upwardly tapered portion for removable engagement with the plastic bottle with the inner portion sized and positioned remote from the outwardly extending portion of the fill spout to form a gap therebetween and a top lip of the fill spout being spaced apart from the outer portion.
- View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A funnel for use in self-supported connection with recyclable plastic milk type containers having a vertically oriented fill spout, the funnel comprising:
- a frusto-conical body portion, a cylindrically shaped spout portion extending from the body portion to a lower open end, the spout portion being formed of annular shaped downwardly extending inner and outer portions in spaced apart relation from one another to define an open bottom annular gap therebetween sized for receiving an annular upper portion of the fill spout of the plastic bottle therewithin, a diameter of a lower end of the inner portion being less than an interior diameter of the fill spout, a diameter of a lower end of the outer portion being greater than an exterior diameter of the fill spout, the outer portion being formed of a rigid material and having an annular shaped interior surface facing the inner portion, a lower portion of the interior surface having a generally flat inwardly upwardly tapered portion extending circumferentially about the interior surface and adapted for receiving a substantially annular shaped outwardly extending portion of the fill spout in pressing engagement therewith to allow inward compression of the outwardly extending portion against the interior surface as the outwardly extending portion is caused to move upwardly against the inwardly upwardly tapered portion for removable engagement with the plastic bottle with the inner portion sized and positioned remote from the outwardly extending portion of the fill spout to form a gap therebetween and a top lip of the fill spout being spaced apart from the outer portion, lower most edges of the lower portion being engageable in resting position against a top portion of the container extending about a perimeter of the fill spout when the spout portion is engaged with the fill spout.
- View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A funnel and plastic bottle combination, comprising:
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a plastic bottle having a fill spout, the fill spout having a compressible annular shaped outwardly extending portion, and a funnel structure having a body portion, a spout portion extending from the body portion to a lower open end, the spout portion being formed of downwardly extending inner and outer portions in spaced apart relation from one another to define a gap therebetween sized for receiving an upper portion of the fill spout of the plastic bottle therewithin, the outer portion being formed of a rigid material and having an interior surface facing the inner portion, a lower portion of the interior surface having an inwardly upwardly tapered portion adapted for receiving the outwardly extending portion of the fill spout in pressing engagement therewith causing compression of the outwardly extending portion against the interior surface with the inner portion sized and positioned remote from the outwardly extending portion of the fill spout to form a gap therebetween allowing an annular interior surface of the upper portion to remain spaced apart from the inner portion, a top lip of the fill spout being spaced apart from the outer portion, lower most edges of the lower portion engaging in resting position against a top portion of the plastic bottle extending about a perimeter of the fill spout. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification