Curved tubular spout with distal chamfer

• US 8,534,511 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David D.E. Carvalho
• Original Assignee: David D.E. Carvalho
• Inventors: Carvalho, David de
• Primary Examiner(s): Durand, Paul R
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEMBO, MATTHEW A
• Application Number:
  US12/676,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20100181349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,841 Days
• Field of Search: 222566-573, 222/575, 239/601, 239597-599, 138/92, 138/109, 138/DIG.11, 604/272
• US Class Current: 222/571
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/48 Separable nozzles or spouts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 35/38 Nozzles

Abstract

Improvement in a pouring spout for liquids of various viscosities comprising a small tube with adequate diameter and length (1) presenting its distal extremity curved in a cuneiform angle (2) forming a pouring mouth (3), oval or elliptical, angularly oriented downwards, which larger axis (4) extends longitudinally along with such small tube (1) so that its superior extremity or superior distal edge (5) is extended outwards and its inferior opposite edge (6) is retreated backwards.

Claims

1. A non-drip spout for liquids of various viscosities, for use with rigid, semi-rigid or flexible containers, comprising:

a small tube having a substantially constant diameter along its entire length, through which liquid in the container is poured for dispensing the liquid, the tube extending from a proximal end configured for attachment to the container, to a distal extremity comprising a pouring mouth, the tube comprising a straight portion and a curved portion, wherein the curved portion extends from the pouring mouth back at least part of the way towards the proximal end;

wherein the pouring mouth is created by a chamfered cut in a plane that passes only through the curved portion, the pouring mouth comprising a superior edge and an inferior edge, the superior edge extending distally outwards and the inferior edge retreating proximally backward, the pouring mouth lies entirely in a plane that passes only through the curved portion of the tube at an acute angle with respect to a central axis of the tube at the pouring mouth tangent to the superior edge such that the pouring mouth is oval or elliptical with a major axis thereof extending generally longitudinally along the tube;

wherein a wall thickness of the tube measured in the plane of the pouring mouth varies about said perimeter thereof, from a minimum wall thickness at said superior edge to a maximum wall thickness at said inferior edge, wherein the superior edge of the perimeter of the pouring mouth is more-rounded than said inferior edge thereof;

wherein an angle between the central axis of the tube at the proximal end and the central axis of the tube at the pouring mouth tangent to the superior edge, which angle represents a net total amount of curving of the tube between the proximal end and the pouring mouth is greater than 0° and

less than 90°

; and

wherein the curved portion is configured such that when the container with the spout is tipped from an initial vertical position to pour liquid out from the pouring mouth, the pouring mouth faces generally downwardly and liquid is guided through the superior edge, the superior edge being positioned lower than the inferior edge during pouring, and when the container is returned to the initial vertical position, the inferior edge is positioned lower than the superior edge and the liquid is guided through the superior edge back to the container.

2. The non-drip spout of claim 1, wherein a finishing of the entire perimeter of the pouring mouth is sharp-edged.

3. The non-drip spout of claim 1, wherein the tube includes a straight part located proximally with respect to the curved portion.