POUR ASSIST DEVICE

Abstract

A pour assist device. The pour assist device can include an outlet and a closure receiver proximal the outlet. The pour assist device can include a container support shroud extending from the closure receiver. The container support shroud can have an interior surface sized and dimensioned to envelop at least a part of a container. The container support shroud can include a connecting member proximal the closure receiver. The pour assist device can include a handle extending from the container support shroud.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Device for assisting with pouring of a liquid from a container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Liquids for consumer use are commonly packaged in plastic containers. Examples of liquids for consumer use sold in such containers include soda, laundry detergent, milk, juice, and household cleaning agents. A consumer trend is for consumers to demand larger containers for such liquids. For example, whereas soda was commonly sold in the 1970's in volumes of approximately 0.3 L, in the 1980's that expanded to 2 L, and more recently even 3 L. A similar trend has occurred for laundry detergents, with liquid laundry detergents being marketed in ever larger containers in response to consumers tending to shop less frequently and the perception of value associated with larger packages.

As the containers of liquid become larger and larger, the mass of such filled containers increases approximately proportionally. The specific gravity of liquids such soda, milk, and laundry detergent is typically about 1 or greater. Thus, a 2 L container filled with such fluid can have a mass of 2 kg.

Liquid containers for laundry detergent, milk, juice, and household cleaning agents are often provided with a handle to assist the consumer. Making a liquid container with a handle can be technically challenging. Since large volumes of fluids are heavy, the forces can be high between the portion of the container where the handle joins the remainder of the container. To resist such high forces, relatively thick walls are used to reduce the corresponding stresses, which thereby limits deformations to acceptable levels. One problem with using relatively thick wall sections is that more plastic must be used, which increases the cost of the container, which in turn increases the cost of the product to the consumer.

One way to reduce the cost of the container for the consumer is to use a simply constructed container of thin walled plastic that does not have a handle. Such a solution might be attractive except that such a container, devoid of a handle, might not be easily poured from by adults having small hands, children who do not have fully developed strength and or motor skills and people who have limitations in motor skills and strength, for instance due to age, disease, or other condition. Further, such lightweight thin walled containers tend to crumple easily, which while that property might be desirable for recyclable materials that must be stored before transferring, crumpling can detrimentally interfere with pouring.

With these limitations in mind, there is a continuing unaddressed need for a device for assisting with pouring from a container that is not provided with a handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A pour assist device. The pour assist device can comprise an outlet and a closure receiver proximal the outlet. The pour assist device can comprise a container support shroud extending from the closure receiver. The container support shroud can have an interior surface sized and dimensioned to envelop at least a part of a container. The container support shroud can comprise a connecting member proximal the closure receiver. The pour assist device can comprise a handle extending from the container support shroud.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pour assist device shown with a container engaged therewith, portions of the container support shroud, cap, and closure receiver rendered in sectional view.

FIG. 2 is a container, a portion of which is rendered in sectional view.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of a pour assist device with a container installed therein, the section being taken at a location that passes through the handle and viewed towards the outlet.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a connecting member.

FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view of a pour assist device.

FIG. 6 is a pour assist device having a transparent portion.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a pour assist device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A pour assist device 1 is shown in FIG. 1. The consumer can experience the benefit of the pour assist device 1 as follows, by way of non-limiting example. The consumer can purchase a simply constructed container 30 from a store. The container 30 can be a thin-walled plastic container 30 having the minimum structural properties required to endure filling, shipping, and storage. The container 30 can have a simply constructed cylindrical cap. Since the components of the container 30 and cap are simply constructed, the container 30 and cap can be low cost, especially compared to a container having a handle and provided with an ergonomic or otherwise functionally enhanced cap. The consumer can benefit by saving money or the marketer can provide enhanced characteristics to the contents of the container. For example, if the content of the container is a liquid laundry detergent, the cost structure may permit the marketer to provide an enhanced bleaching technology with no change or a net decrease to the price per load to the consumer as compared to price per load when the detergent is marketed in a more substantial/complex container or a cap for pre-treating stained garments.

The container 30 can be for a product selected from the group consisting of liquid laundry detergent, liquid soap, household cleaner, soda, milk, and fruit juice.

Once in her home, the consumer can remove the simply constructed cap and install the container into the pour assist device 1. For instance, the consumer can insert the open end of the container 30 into the pour assist device 1 or lower the pour assist device 1 over the container 30 until the pour assist device 1 click-engages with the container 30. The consumer can then use the pour assist device to help pour the liquid contained in the container 30. The pour assist device can be provided with a cap 12 that serves as a dosing cup, like that commonly deployed for liquid laundry detergents, or dose/flow metering device, or a cap 12 having other functionality that can act to contain the contents of the container 30. The cap 12 can be a cap as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,630, U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,209, US Patent Application 2011/0162151 A1, and US Patent Application 2011/0311296 A1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pour assist device 1 comprises an outlet 10 and a closure receiver 15 proximal to the outlet 10. The pour assist device 1 further comprises a container support shroud 20 extending from the closure receiver 15. The container support shroud 20 has an interior surface 25 sized and dimensioned to envelope at least part of a container 30. That is, the interior surface 25 of the container support shroud 20 can define an interior space 26 of the container support shroud 20. A handle 40 can extend from the support shroud 20. The container support shroud 20 can comprise a connecting member 200 proximal the closure receiver 15. The connecting member 200 can sealingly engage with a container 30.

The interior space 26 can be sized and dimensioned to receive a container 30. The interior space can have a volume greater than about 500 mL. The interior space 26 can have a volume greater than about 750 mL. The interior space can have a volume greater than about 1000 mL. The interior space can have a volume greater than about 1500 mL. The container support shroud 20 can have a receiving end 27. The receiving end 27 can be sized and dimensioned to receive a container 30.

The outlet 10 can provide for an opening in the pour assist device 1 such that liquid can be dispensed through the outlet 10. For instance, the pathway of liquid transport can be from the container 30, through a neck of the container, to and through the outlet 10 of the pour assist device 1.

The pour assist device 1 can further comprise a cap 12 sealingly engaged with the closure receiver 15. The closure receiver 15 can comprise threads to which a cap 12 can be screwed. A cap 12 can provide for containing the fluid within the container 30 when the pour assist device 1 is not in use. The cap supplied as a closure for the container 30 when the container is presented to the consumer in a store can be the same cap 12 that can be connected to the closure receiver 15 or a different cap 12 can be employed. The cap 12 shown in FIG. 1 is rendered in partial section view to show the cap 12 sealingly engaged with the closure receiver 15. By sealingly engaged it is meant that liquid does not leak between the cap 12 and the closure receiver 15 under the maximum hydrostatic pressure that can occur with the pour assist device 1, given the depth of the liquid contained in the container 30. The cap 12 can be sealingly engaged with the closure receiver 15 with a threaded connection. Threaded connections are thought to be efficacious for preventing leaks between caps and containers. The cap 12 can be a flip top cap having spud that sealingly engages with an orifice in the closure receiver 15. The cap 12 can be any kind of closure that is capable of sealingly engaging with the closure receiver 15 so as to prevent or reduce the potential for leakage from the pour assist device 1.

Having the closure receiver 15 as part of the pour assist device 1 can provide for a number of benefits. For example the cap sold with the container in the store can be a simple circular/cylindrical plastic cap, like those commonly used for 2 L containers of soda in the United States. These caps are typically screw caps that are generally cylindrically shaped and have a plurality of lines around the outer surface of the cap in a direction orthogonal to the direction of rotation of the cap. Such caps are inexpensive but can suffer from having an inadequate griping surface and may be too small for a consumer to grip tightly so as to allow the consumer to twist off the cap from the container. Thus, marketers of liquid containers must find the right balance between cost of the cap and the possibility of having a more complex ergonomic design that is beneficial to the consumers.

In absence, of a pour assist device 1 as shown in FIG. 1, the consumer will unscrew and screw the cap many times until the contents of the container are spent. Thus, a cap having a poor ergonomic design can have a negative impact on the consumer's usage experience. With pour assist device 1, once the consumer removes an inexpensive/simple cap provided with the container 30 in the store, a more ergonomically acceptable cap and/or better technically performing cap that is provided with and connects to the pour assist device 1 can be used by the consumer, which can enhance the consumer's usage experience. A more ergonomically acceptable cap 12 can comprise thermoplastic elastomer and/or foam and be contoured to conform with a consumer's grip.

The cap provided with the pour assist device might have a diameter that is approximately 3 cm as compared to a simple circular plastic cap that has a diameter of 1.5 cm. Larger diameter caps tend to be more ergonomically acceptable than small diameter caps, up to a certain diameter within which a typical human hand can grasp in a palm grasp or grasp between the thumb and index finger.

To provide for improved consumer comfort, the handle 40 can comprise a first material 42 and the container support shroud 20 can comprise a second material 43 having a chemical composition different from said first material. For instance, the first material 42 can comprise polypropylene, rubber, neoprene, and/or KRATON and the second material can be high density polyethylene, polyamide, and/or styro lacrylintrol. To provide for improved consumer comfort, the handle 40 can comprise a thermoplastic elastomer that is soft to the consumer's touch.

One potential advantage of the pour assist device 1 can be that marketers of such devices can invest in making a high quality pour assist device 1 and/or cap 12 that the consumer retains when the container 30 is spent. The consumer can then purchase a replacement container 30 and reuse the high quality pour assist device 1 and/or cap 12. Since the pour assist device 1 has a handle 40, the marketer of the liquid filled container 30 need only to provide a basic container 30 that can withstand the stresses of manufacture, shipping, and storage. The container need not include other functional elements such as a handle, since that attribute is provided by the pour assist device 1. Providing individual containers 30 with handles and grips is an expensive proposition and can add significant cost to products. Providing the consumer with a single reusable pour assist device 1 can be economically attractive to the consumer, since she will not have to pay for the complexity of providing a container with a handle or grip with every purchase of the container 30. Further, fewer raw materials may be consumed in making a basic container 30 as compared to a more substantial container having a handle.

An embodiment of a container 30 that can be employed in the pour assist device 1 is shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the container 30 can have can have an open end 110 and a base 120 opposing the open end. The container 30 can have a sidewall(s) 140 extending from the periphery of the base 120. Between the sidewall(s) 140 and the open end 110, the container 30 can have a neck 130. The neck 130 can be a portion of the container 100 in which the shape of the bottle is tapered between the sidewall(s) 140 and the open end 110. The container 100 can have a container height CH extending between the base 120 of the container 100 and the open end 110 of the container. The container 30 can have a peripheral lip 150 proximal the open end 110. The peripheral lip 150 can extend completely around the container 30. The lip 150 of the container 30 can facilitate a connection between the container support shroud 20 and the container 30 via the connecting member 200.

The container support shroud 20 can cover more than about 10%, more than about 20%, more than about 30%, more than about 40%, more than about 50%, more than about 60%, more than about 70%, more than about 80%, or more than about 90% of the container height CH at a any location on the container 30.

The handle 40 can be a through handle which is a handle through which one or more of a consumers fingers can pass completely through and the consumer fixes her grip by wrapping her fingers around the handle. Through handles can provide for a sturdy grip for many consumers and are employed in milk containers in the United States and in liquid laundry detergent containers sold in the United States under the brand TIDE.

The handle 40 can be continuously integral with the container support shroud 20. By continuously integral it is meant that the handle 40 and the container support shroud 20 are formed in a single molding step or a multiple shot injection molding process. Without being bound by theory, it is thought that an embodiment in which the handle 40 is continuously integral with the container support shroud 20 can be less expensive to manufacture and may provide for better structural stability, as compared to forming the handle 40 from a separate material and joining the handle 40 and the container support shroud 20 in a subsequent step via a mechanical connection or chemical bonding of the two parts.

The interior surface 25 of the container support shroud 20 can define a hollow space into which a container 30 can fit to engage with the container support shroud 20. If the container 30 is so flimsy such that the neck 130 of the container does not have sufficient strength to support the filled container 30 when engaged with the container support shroud 20 and the container 30 would deform significantly or crumple proximal the neck 130 of the container 30, the interior surface 25 of the container support shroud 20 can be sized and dimensioned to substantially conform with at least part of the container 30, as shown in FIG. 3, which is a sectional view that is cut through the handle 40. By substantially conform it is meant that at least some portion of the sidewall(s) 140 of the container 30 is supported by the container support shroud 20 when liquid is poured from the container 30. Such an embodiment can allow the forces that are developed when the container 30 is tipped to pour to be distributed to the interior surface 25 of the container support shroud 20. Significant deformation of the container 30 might cause a leak in the container 30 or might cause a leak in the connection between the container 30 and the container support shroud 20. The interior surface 25 of the container support shroud 20 can substantially conform with part of the container 30, for instance, the upper quarter, the upper one-third, the upper one-half, or the upper two-thirds of the container 30. The interior surface 25 of the container support shroud 20 can be sized and dimensioned to substantially conform with a majority of the surface area of container 30, the conformance being measured based on the outer surface area of the container 30. The interior surface 25 of the container support shroud 20 can be sized and dimensioned to substantially conform with more than about 5%, more than about 10%, more than about 20%, more than about 35%, more than about 50%, more than about 60%, more than about 80%, more than about 95%, or more than about 99% of the surface area of container 30.

The container support shroud 20 can substantially conform with the entire sidewall 140 of the container 30 such that only the base 120 of the container 30 is free from being covered by the container support shroud 20. The container support shroud 20 can be a solid contiguous material. The container support shroud 20 can have one or more hollow portions to reduce the mass of the container support shroud 20. The container support shroud 20 can be made by injection molding as is known in the art. The container support shroud 20 can be formed from polypropylene, polyethylene, acrylic, or other plastic material having sufficient strength properties to with stand the forces encountered during pouring.

The connecting member 200 operably engages the container 30 with the container support shroud 20. The connecting member 20 can be joined directly with the container support shroud 20. The connecting member 200 can be joined to the container support shroud 20 through another element, such as the closure receiver 15. The connecting member 200 can be integral with the container support shroud 20.

A non-limiting example of a connecting member 200 that can be employed in the pour assist device 1 is shown in FIG. 4. The connecting member 200 can be any structure that is capable of sealingly engaging the container 30 with the container support shroud 20.

The connecting member 200 can comprise a moveable latch 210. The connecting member 200 can comprise a plurality of moveable latches 210. The latch 210 or latches 210 can be operably engageable with the peripheral lip 150 of the container 30. The latch(es) 210 can be translationally mounted within the connecting member 200. One or more arms 230 can extend from the moveable latch 210 to a button 220 opposing the moveable latch 210. Movement of the button 220 in and out moves the arm(s) 230 which moves the latch 210.

As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting member 200 can comprise two latches 210 on opposing sides of the connecting member 200. In such an embodiment, the arm(s) 230 that drive movement of each latch 210 can be layered upon one another. The latch(es) 210 can be biased to be in a position for engaging with a peripheral lip 150 of a container 30. The latch(es) can contact more than about 1% of the circumference of the peripheral lip 150, more than about 10% of the circumference of the peripheral lip 150, more than about 25% of the circumference of the peripheral lip 150, more than about 33% of the circumference of the peripheral lip 150, or about 50% of the circumference of the peripheral lip 150.

The bias can be provided by one or more springs 240, a spring being a structure that deforms under load and substantially returns to its original shape after unloading, within the range of applied loads within the connecting member. The spring(s) 240 can be a resilient material or structure that exhibits linear-elastic behavior within the range of applied stresses and loads. The springs 240 can connect the arms 230 of one latch 210 with the arm of another latch 210 and be biased to maintain the latches 210 towards the center of the 200 connecting member 200. When the button(s) 220 is depressed, the arm 230 moves the latch 210 in a direction away from the center of the connecting member 200 to allow release of the peripheral lip 150 and loads the spring 240. Upon release of the button(s) 220, the latches 210 move back towards the center of the connecting member 200 and engage with the peripheral lip 150 of the container 30, if present. The range of motion of the latches 210 can be constrained by one or more posts 245 between which a tab 246 on the arm 230 can move, the post(s) 245 being joined to the connecting member 200. When the button(s) 220 is in a released position, the latch(es) can engage with a peripheral lip 150 on the container (30). The latch(es) can have a sloped tip that biases the peripheral lip 150 of the container (3) in a direction towards a sealing ring in the container support shroud 20 such that a leak tight connection between the peripheral lip 150 of the container 30 and the container support shroud 20 is formed. Downstream of the sealing ring can be the closure receiver 15 and outlet 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the button 220 on the right side of the figure is depressed, the arm 240 drives movement of the latch 210 that is on the opposite side of the connecting member 200 from the button 220 that is depressed, the latch 210 moving away from the center of the connecting member 200. Concurrently spring 240 in the upper right portion of FIG. 4 is loaded in compression.

The connecting member 200 can be threaded, for example with a thread 250 or threads 250. The thread(s) 250 can be sized and dimensioned to coordinate with corresponding thread(s) at the open end 110 of container 30. Such an embodiment might be desirable because threaded connections tend to be structurally stable and strong and can be free from leaks. If the connecting member 200 is threaded, the container support shroud 20 can be sized and dimensioned such that the container 30 can freely rotate within the container support shroud 20 to allow the threads 250 to engage with the corresponding threads on a container 30. In an alternative embodiment, the connecting member 200 can be rotatably mounted in the container support shroud 20 so as to allow the connecting member to be screwed to the open end 110 of the container 30.

At least a portion of the container support shroud 20 can be transparent, as shown in FIG. 6. A container support shroud 20 having a transparent portion 300 can be desirable because it can allow a portion of the container 30 to be visible to the consumer in use. The portion of the container visible in use can include indicia 310. Indicia 310 can be a brand name or inspirational text. Indicia can be a mark on the container 300 that is visible to the consumer in use and indicates that the container 30 is properly mounted in the pour assist device 1. For instance the indicia 310 can be an arrow that appears to touch a boundary between a transparent portion 300 and another portion of the container support shroud 20 when the container is properly mated with the container support shroud 20. The indicia 310 can be a dot on the container 30 that becomes aligned with a dot on the transparent portion 300 when the container 30 is properly mounted in the pour assist device 1. A transparent portion 300 can also be desirable to the consumer in that it might help the consumer determine when the container 30 needs to be refilled or a new container 30 needs to be purchased.

A portion is considered transparent if the opacity is greater than about 70%. Opacity is the property of a substrate that characterizes the capacity of the substrate to hide or obscure from view an object placed behind the substrate relative to a point from which an observation is made. Opacity is the ratio, in percent, of the diffuse reflectance of a substrate backed by a black body having a reflectance of 0.5% to the diffuse reflectance of the same substrate backed with a white body having an absolute reflectance of 89%. Opacity is measured as described in ASTM D 589-97, Standard Test Method for Opacity of Paper (15°/Diffuse Illuminant A, 89% Reflectance Backing and Paper Backing).

In another embodiment, at least a portion of the container support shroud can be translucent. A portion of the container support shroud 20 being translucent can be practical so as to allow the underlying container 30 to be visible through the translucent portion. A portion is considered translucent if the opacity is between about 15% and about 70%, according to the test method set forth previously. Such an embodiment can be practical for protecting the fluid from exposure to light or certain wavelengths of light.

In another embodiment, at least a portion of the container support shroud can be opaque. A portion of the container support shroud 20 being opaque can be practical so that decorative artwork, branding, or other indicia 310, on the container does not show through container support shroud 20. Thus, decorative artwork, branding, or other indicia on the container support shroud 20 can appear more clearly to the consumer. A portion is considered opaque if the opacity is less than about 15% according to the test method set forth previously. Such an embodiment can also be practical for protecting the fluid from exposure to light or certain wavelengths of light.

To improve the dosing accuracy that consumers are able to achieve when using the pour assist device 1, the pour assist device 1 can further comprise a flow measuring device 400 attached to the closure receiver 15. The flow measuring device 400 can be a device as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,845,524. Such a device can be attached to the pour assist device via a threaded connection, a lug and groove connection, a compression fitting, or other type of connection that is resistant to leakage. The flow measuring device 400 can be pouring chamber through which the liquid being poured passes and causes a water wheel to rotate, the consumer being able to choose the appropriate dose based on counting the number of rotations of the wheel.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a pour assist device. As shown in FIG. 6, the container support shroud 20 defines a space into which a container 30 can be inserted.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.”

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A pour assist device comprising:

an outlet;

a closure receiver proximal to said outlet;

a container support shroud extending from said closure receiver, said container support shroud having an interior surface sized and dimensioned to envelop at least part of a container, wherein said container support shroud comprises a connecting member proximal said closure receiver; and

a handle extending from said container support shroud.

2. The pour assist device according to claim 1, wherein said interior surface is sized and dimensioned to substantially conform with at least part of said container.

3. The pour assist device according to claim 1, wherein said handle is a through handle.

4. The pour assist device according to claim 1, wherein said interior surface of said container support shroud is sized and dimensioned to substantially conform with a majority of said container.

5. The pour assist device according to claim 1, wherein said pour assist device further comprises a flow measuring device attached to said closure receiver.

6. The pour assist device according to claim 1, wherein said pour assist device further comprises a cap sealingly engaged with said closure receiver.

7. The pour assist device according to claim 6, wherein said cap is sealingly engaged with said closure receiver with a threaded connection.

8. The pour assist device according to claim 1, wherein said connecting member comprises a movable latch.

9. The pour assist device according to claim 1, wherein said connecting member is threaded.

10. The pour assist device according to claim 1, wherein said handle is continuously integral with said container support shroud.

11. The pour assist device according to claim 1, wherein said handle comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

12. The pour assist device according to claim 1, wherein said handle comprises a first material and said container support shroud comprises a second material having chemical composition different from said first material.

13. The pour assist device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said container support shroud is transparent.

14. The pour assist device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said container support shroud is opaque.

15. The pour assist device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said container support shroud is translucent.