Dispenser with funnel overcap

• US 6,209,595 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2000
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OMS Investments Incorporated (Scotts Miracle-Gro Company)
• Original Assignee: OMS Investments Incorporated (Scotts Miracle-Gro Company)
• Inventors: Granath, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US09/498,327
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 141/311 R, 141/331-345, 222/460, 222/461, 222/523, 222/525, 222/106, 222/107, 222/206, 222/212, 222/215
• US Class Current: 141/340
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/02 for hand use
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/18 of polygonal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/102 Gripping means formed in the walls, e.g. roughening, cavities, projections
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/44 Telescopic or retractable nozzles or spouts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/50 arranged to be plugged in two alternate positions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2501/0081 Bottles of non-circular cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/10 having frangible closures
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 11/02 without discharge valves

Abstract

A refillable dispensing apparatus is disclosed in which a removable cap is utilized to protectively overlie the container during its storage condition and the cap may be readily converted into a funnel for refilling the depleted container. The conversion of the cap into a funnel is achieved by removing and reversing the cap, with the cap being configured and dimensioned to define a trough like container having a funnel extension which communicates with the container opening.

Claims

1. A refillable dispensing apparatus comprising:

a container for a product to be dispensed, said container including side walls and opposed top and bottom walls, and an opening within said top wall for product dispensing and filling;

a removable cap for overlying and enclosing at least a portion of said top wall, with manually operable securement means for selectively securing said cap to said container and removing said cap from said container;

said cap having first, second, and third operative conditions with respect to said container;

said first condition characterized by said cap securement means being in engagement with cooperative container securement means for securably maintaining said cap over said top wall and providing a protective cover for said container opening and said portion of said top wall;

said second condition characterized as said cap securement means being disengaged from said container securement means, said cap being separated from said container and said container opening being accessible for dispensing the contents of said container; and

said third condition characterized as said cap securement means being disengaged from said container securement means, said cap being reversed in orientation with respect to said first condition, and said cap including a funnel extension passing through said container opening and into said container, the reversed orientation of said cap defining a trough-like volume for receiving materials to be dispensed into said container through said funnel extension and container opening.

2. In a refillable dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said container including an annular extension surrounding said container opening to provide a spout, said annular extension having exterior and interior walls;

said funnel extension having an exterior wall dimensioned to engage the interior wall of said annular extension when said cap is in said third condition.

3. In a refillable dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said container top wall and cap having cooperating support surfaces for supporting said reversed orientation cap on said container top wall when said cap is in said third condition.

4. In a refillable dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said dispensing apparatus further includes a removable duct device for dispensing the contents for said container when said cap is in said second condition, said duct device including a first portion having an inner annular wall dimensioned to snugly engage the exterior wall of said container opening annular extension.

5. In a refillable dispensing apparatus according to claim 4, said duct device further including a second duct portion which is telescopically connected to said first duct portion, said second duct portion having a first retracted condition wherein said duct portion is completely within the boundary of said container top wall and said cap may be placed thereover to establish said second cap condition, and said second duct portion telescopically extendible to a second dispersing condition when said cap is in said second condition and said second duct portion extends beyond the boundary of said interior top wall.

6. In a refillable dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, said cap further including a removable seal spanning the interior area of said funnel extension.

7. In a refillable dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, said cap further including a removable seal spanning the interior area of said funnel extension.

8. In a refillable dispensing apparatus according to claim 4, said first portion being rotatably connected to said container annular extension.

9. In a refillable dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, said cap further including an annular recess surrounding said funnel extension, said annular recess defined by said exterior funnel wall, a radially outward annular wall and a bottom wall, said container opening annular extension located within said annular recess when said cap is in its third operative condition.

10. In a refillable dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus further comprising a duct device for removable attachment to said opening for dispensing the contents of said container when said cap is in said second condition, wherein said cap in said first condition covers said duct device attached to said opening.

11. A refillable dispensing apparatus comprising:

a container for a product to be dispensed, said container including side walls and opposed top and bottom walls, an opening within said top wall, and an annular extension with exterior and interior walls surrounding said opening to provide a spout for product dispensing and filling;

a removable cap for overlying said top wall, with manually operable securement means for selectively securing said cap to said container and removing said cap from said container;

said cap having first, second, and third operative conditions with respect to said container;

said first condition characterized by said cap securement means being in engagement with cooperative container securement means for securably maintaining said cap over said top wall and providing a protective cover for said container opening;

said second condition characterized as said cap securement means being disengaged from said container securement means, said cap being separated from said container and said container opening being accessible for dispensing the contents of said container; and

said third condition characterized as said cap securement means being disengaged from said container securement means, said cap being reversed in orientation with respect to said first condition, and said cap including a funnel extension passing through said container opening and into said container, the reversed orientation of said cap defining a trough-like volume for receiving materials to be dispensed into said container through said funnel extension and container opening, wherein said funnel extension has an exterior wall dimensioned to engage the interior wall of said container opening annular extension and cap further includes a annular recess surrounding said funnel extension and defined by said exterior funnel wall, a radially outward annular wall and a bottom wall, said annular extension being located within said annular recess, which has a depth closely corresponding to the length of said annular extension such that the free end of said annular extension contacts said bottom wall of said recess to support said funnel extension on said container, when said cap is in said third condition.

12. In a refillable dispensing apparatus to claim 11, said cap further including a removable seal spanning the interior of said funnel extension, said removable seal initially closing the upper end of said funnel extension when said cap is in its first operative condition, and said seal being manually removable to convert said cap to said third condition.

13. In a refillable dispensing apparatus according to claim 11, said cap including a portion spaced from funnel extension for resting against said top wall of said container when said cap is in said third condition.

14. A refillable dispensing apparatus comprising:

a container for a product to be dispensed, said container including side walls and opposed top and bottom walls, and an opening within said top wall;

a duct device removably attached to said opening, said duct device being movable between a deployed position for product dispensing and filling from said opening and a stored position overlying said top wall;

a removable cap for overlying said top wall and said duct device, with manually operable securement means for selectively securing said cap to said container and removing said cap from said container;

said cap having first, second, and third operative conditions with respect to said container;

said first condition characterized by said cap securement means being in engagement with cooperative container securement means for securably maintaining said cap over said top wall and providing a protective cover for said container opening and said duct device;

said second condition characterized as said cap securement means being disengaged from said container securement means, said cap being separated from said container and said duct device being accessible for dispensing the contents of said container; and

said third condition characterized as said cap securement means being disengaged from said container securement means, said cap being reversed in orientation with respect to said first condition, and said cap including a funnel extension passing through said container opening and into said container, the reversed orientation of said cap defining a trough-like volume for receiving materials to be dispensed into said container through said funnel extension and container opening.

15. In a refillable dispensing apparatus according to claim 14, said duct device having a first portion removably attached to said container and a second portion telescopically connected to said first duct portion, wherein said second duct portion is in a first retracted position and said dispensing device overlies said top wall of said container completely within the boundaries thereof when said dispensing device is in said stored position, and said second duct portion is in a second extended position when said dispensing device is in said deployed condition.

16. In a refillable dispensing apparatus according to claim 15, said cap substantially enclosing said container top wall.

17. In a refillable dispensing apparatus according to claim 16, said cap further including a removable seal spanning the interior of said funnel extension, said removable seal initially closing the upper end of said funnel extension when said cap is in its first operative condition, and said seal being manually removable to convert said cap to said third condition.