Apparatus and method of dispensing fluid

• US 20060091152A1
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Union Street Brand Packaging
• Original Assignee: Union Street Brand Packaging
• Inventors: Gieda, Christopher, Evans, Christopher T., Bertram, Paul, Mizrahi, Benjamin, Sears, Charles W., Schultz, David J.
• Application Number:
  US11/199,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20060091152A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/26 wherein the measuring chamber is filled and emptied by tilting or inverting the supply vessel, e.g. bottle-emptying apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/262 for liquid or semi-liquid

Abstract

A method of pouring a fluid from a container (having a spout with a fluid outlet) tilts the container to at least one angle that causes fluid to enter the spout. As a result, fluid exits the spout through the fluid outlet. The fluid passing through the spout also causes the mechanical member to move. The method then correlates movement of the mechanical member with visual or other indicia showing the volume of fluid passing through the fluid outlet.

Claims

1. A method of pouring a fluid from a container having a spout with a fluid outlet, the method comprising:

tilting the container to at least one angle that causes fluid to enter the spout, tilting causing the fluid to exit the spout through the fluid outlet, the fluid passing through the spout causing the mechanical member to move; and

correlating movement of the mechanical member with visual indicia showing the volume of fluid passing through the fluid outlet.

2. The method as defined by claim 1 wherein the mechanical member is within the spout.

3. The method as defined by claim 1 wherein the mechanical member moves along a track.

4. The method as defined by claim 3 wherein the mechanical member includes a rotatable member that moves along the track.

5. The method as defined by claim 1 further including a drip cup.

6. A spout comprising:

a housing forming an inlet, an outlet, and a channel between the inlet and the outlet, the housing having a housing volume between the inlet and the outlet; and

indicia adapted to show the approximate volume of fluid that passes through the outlet in real time, the indicia including indicia identifying at least one volume that is greater than the housing volume between the inlet and the outlet.

7. The spout as defined by claim 6 wherein the indicia includes movement of a mechanical member.

8. The spout as defined by claim 6 wherein the indicia include graduations formed on the housing.

9. The spout as defined by claim 6 wherein the housing includes a pour chamber having a pour inlet and a pour outlet, the housing also including an indicating chamber having an indicating inlet for receiving fluid, the indicating chamber including the indicia.

10. The spout as defined by claim 6 wherein the indicia includes an audible sound.

11. The spout as defined by claim 10 further including a sensor adapted to produce the audible sound as a function of fluid flowing through the housing.

12. The spout as defined by claim 6 wherein the housing includes an indicating chamber in fluid communication with the channel, the indicating chamber having the indicia and receiving an amount of fluid generally proportional to fluid passing through the outlet.

13. A spout comprising:

a housing forming an inlet, an outlet, and a channel between the inlet and the outlet, the housing having a housing volume between the inlet and the outlet; and

means for showing the approximate volume of fluid that passes through the outlet in real time, the showing means including means for identifying at least one volume that is greater than the housing volume between the inlet and the outlet.

14. The spout as defined by claim 13 wherein the showing means includes indicia.

15. The spout as defined by claim 13 wherein the showing means includes movement of a mechanical member.

16. The spout as defined by claim 13 wherein the showing means includes graduations formed on the housing.

17. The spout as defined by claim 13 wherein the showing means includes an audible sound.

18. The spout as defined by claim 13 wherein the housing includes means for receiving an amount of fluid that is generally proportional to the fluid flowing through the outlet.

19. The spout as defined by claim 18 wherein the receiving means includes an indicating chamber in fluid communication with the channel.

20. A method of dispensing fluid from a container, the method comprising:

providing a dispenser having a chamber with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the fluid inlet being larger than the fluid outlet, the chamber having indicia for identifying fluid levels within the chamber when fluid exits the fluid outlet during a single pour;

permitting fluid to begin filling the chamber; and

correlating the level of the fluid with the indicia to identify the volume of fluid passing through the fluid outlet.