Drip-catcher

• US 5,651,481 A
• Filed: 04/05/1995
• Issued: 07/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1990
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Brian Vang Jensen
• Original Assignee: Brian Vang Jensen
• Inventors: Jensen, Brian Vang
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bomberg, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US08/417,255
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 222/530, 222/566, 222/574, 222/527, 222/569, 222/1, 141/337, 141/338, 141/390, 141/391, 215/100 R, 215/387, 215/388, D 9/440, D 9/447, D40/310, D40/311, 229/800
• US Class Current: 222/566
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/065 Loose or loosely-attached drip catchers or drip preventing means

Abstract

The invention relates to a drip-catcher for, for instance, a bottle and intended for preventing dripping and drops seeping from the bottle orifice during pouring. The drip-catcher of the invention simply consists of a piece (1) of flexible and elastic foil material, preferably plastic material foil having the thickness of 0.1-0.2 mm. The diameter of the piece of material may be 60-80 mm. When used as a drip-catcher the piece of material is rolled into an oblong cylindrical form and inserted in the orifice of the bottle. Due to its elasticity the piece of material will positively engage the orifice and constitute a tube-formed outlet spout. Due to the small thickness of the foil material and its liquid-repellent nature this spout cuts off the jet very efficiently and is also a very efficient drop-catcher. The drip-catcher of the invention is extremely simple and cheap. Its use is uncomplicated and it is universally applicable because the piece of material adjusts itself to the bottle orifice irrespective of its size. The effect of the drip-catcher is remarkable due to the small thickness and liquid-repellent surface of the material.

Claims

1. A drip catcher in combination with a container having an opening from which a liquid is poured for enabling drip free pouring of the liquid from the container and for preventing drips of the liquid during pouring from leaking from the container down an outside surface thereof comprising:

a resilient and rolled sheet of material having a circular cross section positioned in the opening of the container from which drip and leak free pouring of the liquid is made, the resilient and rolled sheet having an outer diameter conforming to the opening of the container with the outer diameter extending from a first end of a tube to a second end of the tube, a fluid tight seal disposed at the first end between an outer surface of the tube and a surface defining the opening to prevent flow of the liquid between an outer surface of the tube and the inner surface of the opening of the container and a pour spout disposed at the second end having an edge within the outer diameter for cutting off the flow of liquid at the end of pouring without the formation of drips; and

wherein

the sheet of material, prior to being rolled, has only an outwardly curved outside periphery defining a continuous flat surface which upon rolling forms the pour spout with the edge of the pour spout being formed from a portion of the outside periphery.

2. A drip catcher in combination with a container in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the material is flexible and elastic with the fluid-tight seal being formed by the elasticity and flexibility of the material producing a radially outward force causing the diameter of the tube to expand outward to conform to the opening of the container.

3. A drip catcher in combination with a container in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

an inner surface of the tube has a property of repelling the liquid and a low adhesion for the liquid whereby formation of drips at the edge of the pour spout are lessened.

4. A drip catcher in combination with a container in accordance with claim 3 wherein:

the sheet has a thickness of 0.1 to 0.2 mm providing the elasticity and flexibility which form the fluid tight seal with the opening of the container.

5. A drip catcher in combination with a container in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

the sheet has a thickness of 0.1 to 0.2 mm providing the elasticity and flexibility which form the fluid tight seal with the opening of the container.

6. A drip catcher in combination with a container in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

an inner surface of the tube has a property of repelling the liquid and a low adhesion for the liquid whereby formation of drips at the edge of the pour spout are lessened.

7. A drip catcher in combination with a container in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the tube has opposed portions of the sheet which overlap.

8. A drip catcher in combination with a container in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the tube has opposed portions of the sheet which are non-overlapping.

9. A drip catcher in combination with a container in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the sheet is plastic.

10. A drip catcher in combination with a container in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the sheet is a metal foil.

11. A drip catcher in combination with a container in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the sheet, prior to being rolled, is circular having a diameter between 60 and 80 mm and upon being rolled, the outer diameter of the tube is equal to the opening of the container which is a wine bottle.

12. A method of drip free pouring of a liquid comprising:

providing a container having an opening from which the liquid is to be poured;

rolling a resilient sheet of material into a tube having a circular cross section, the sheet of material, prior to being rolled, having only an outwardly curved outside periphery defining a continuous flat surface which upon rolling forms the pour spout with the edge of the pour spout being formed from portion of the outside periphery;

positioning the tube in the opening of the bottle with the tube as positioned in the opening having an outer diameter conforming to the opening of the container with the outer diameter extending from a first end of the tube to a second end of the tube to form a fluid seal disposed at the first end between an outer surface of the tube and a surface defining the opening to prevent flow of the liquid between the outer surface of the tube and the inner surface of the opening of the container and a pour spout disposed at the second end having an edge within the outer diameter for cutting off the flow of liquid at the end of pouring without the formation of drips; and

pouring the liquid from the container through the tube past the edge and cutting off the flow of liquid with the edge to stop the formation of drips.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein:

the material is flexible and elastic, and forming the fluid tight seal with elasticity and flexibility of the material producing a radially outward force causing the diameter of the tube to expand outward to conform to the opening of the container.

14. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein:

an inner surface of the tube has a property of repelling the liquid and a low adhesion for the liquid and lessening formation of drips at the edge of the pour spout during cutting off the flow as a result of the inner surface repelling the liquid and the low adhesion of the inner surface for the liquid.

15. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein:

the tube has opposed portions of the sheet which overlap.

16. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein:

the tube has opposed portions of the sheet which are non-overlapping.

17. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein:

the sheet is plastic.

18. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein:

the sheet has a thickness of 0.1 to 0.2 mm providing the elasticity and flexibility which form the fluid tight seal with the opening of the container.

19. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein:

the sheet, prior to being rolled, is circular having a diameter between 60 and 80 mm and the outer diameter of the tube is equal to a diameter of a wine bottle.