Receptacle Having Moveable Base for Measuring, Transporting, and Dispersing Flowable Substances

Abstract

The present invention is a device for measuring, transferring, and dispersing a liquid or powder substance. The device is a funnel-shaped cup attached to a handle. On the bottom of the funnel-shaped cup is a cover that can be retracted in order to allow the liquid or powder in the cup to be released.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND ON THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to measuring, transferring, and delivering flowable substances. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cup-like device for measuring flowing substances in which the cup has a moveable base for dispersing the measured flowable substances with substantially no loss of the flowable substance.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are various products commercially available which require careful measuring of a product from its original container to a second container. For example, in baking, one may transfer a tablespoon of baking powder from its box to a mixing bowl having numerous other ingredients such as, for example, sugar, flour, etc.

Typically, when measuring, transferring, and dispersing a flowable substance as the above baking powder example, the tablespoon in which the baking powder is measured and transferred to the bowl is significantly smaller in size than the mixing bowl into which the baking powder is dispensed. As such, careful dispersing of the baking powder into the mixing bowl is usually not required.

However, there are circumstances in which similar careful measuring and transferring of a flowable substance must be conducted into an opening, into which the flowable substance is to be dispensed, is significantly smaller than, for example, the above-mentioned mixing bowl, or even the tablespoon.

For example, powdered nutritional supplements and physical enhancers typically are available to consumers in large tubs. It is suggested to combine and mix these powdered substances with liquids such as, for example, water and/or fruit juices. However, most athletes need to combine the powdered nutritional supplements and physical enhancers into easy-to-carry sports bottles or commercially-available bottled water containers.

Commonly, these sports bottles and bottled water containers have small openings, sometimes as small as one inch opening. The scoops provided with the powdered nutritional supplements and physical enhancers are often much greater in diameter such that it is difficult to dispense the powdered nutritional supplements and physical enhancers into the small opening without spilling the powdered nutritional supplements and physical enhancers outside of the bottle, thereby creating a mess and a loss of product.

Attempts have been made to remedy this problem. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,592,159 to Masri, a scoop having an elongated hollow tube having a funnel configuration is described. However, the described scoop does not allow for proper and adequate measuring of the flowable material to be transferred.

US. Pat. No. 6,974,056 to Rea describes a two-part cup; the first part being a cup, and the second part being a funnel-shaped dispenser which serves as a leveler and aids in accurately dispersing a particularly amount of powdered substance. The two-part cup is flipped over to dispense the powdered material, which does not lend well to dispersing of liquids and liquid-like substances, and may cause a mess if the two-part cup is not flipped accurately.

Thus, what is a desired is a simple device for measuring, transferring, and dispersing a flowable substance into a container, especially containers having relatively small or narrow openings.

SUMMARY

The various exemplary embodiments include a device for measuring, transferring, and dispersing flowable substances. The device is comprised of a substantially funnel-shaped receptacle having a top opening and a bottom opening, wherein the top opening is larger than the bottom opening. A handle may be attached to the receptacle. There is also moveable retaining means to which a lever may be connected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, are described in the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a side view of another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the moveable retaining means is in a closed position.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the moveable retaining means is in an open position.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a side view another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the moveable retaining means is in an open position.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the moveable retaining means is located between the top opening and the bottom opening.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a side view of another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the moveable retaining means is located between the top opening and the bottom opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, of the embodiments of the inventions are shown. Identified like elements of the present invention are identified with like numbers throughout the drawings.

As used herein, the phrase “flowable substance” is defined as any powder, granule, grain, gel, fluid, foam, paste, or other similar material.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present device 10 for measuring, transferring, and dispersing a flowable material. The device is comprised of a receptacle 20 which may be attached to a handle 15 for convenience of an individual to hold the device during its use. The receptacle and handle may be molded or cast as a single piece.

The receptacle 20 may be of any desired predetermined size.

The handle, if present, may be of any desired shape and size.

The receptacle 20 is comprised of two openings, a top opening 40 and a bottom opening 50. The perimeter of the top opening may be of any desired shape, such as, for example, square or circular. The perimeter of the bottom opening may be of any desired shape such as, for example, square of circular. The top opening and bottom opening need not be of the same shape, but is preferred that they are of the same shape, as exemplified in FIG. 5.

In a preferred embodiment, the bottom opening is about three-quarters of an inch to about an inch in diameter.

In various exemplary embodiments, the receptacle is funnel-shaped such that the top opening is larger than the bottom opening. Thus, for example, if the top opening and bottom opening each have a perimeter that is substantially circular in shape, the top opening should have a larger diameter of the perimeter than the diameter of the bottom opening.

In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the receptacle may include predetermined measuring increments (not shown) for identifying the amount of flowable substance in the receptacle. Such predetermined measuring increments may be in the form of an indent, notch, or other mark, visible on the inside or outside of the receptacle.

In various exemplary embodiments, a moveable retaining means 30 substantially covers the bottom opening 50 of the receptacle.

When in a closed position, that is the moveable retaining means substantially covering the bottom opening, substantially any flowable substance in the receptacle is not released via the bottom opening.

When in an open position, that is the moveable retaining means is moved from its closed position, flowable substance in the receptacle may be released via the bottom opening.

The moveable retaining means may be altered from a closed position by retracting, peeling, breaking, puncturing, dissolving, sliding, hinging, or a combination thereof of the retaining means.

In the exemplary embodiments wherein the moveable retaining means is peeled, broken, punctured or dissolved, the retaining means may be a single-use retaining means that is then disposed of after being moved from a closed position. In a preferred embodiment wherein the retaining means is peeled, broken, or punctured, the retaining means is comprised of a thin film. In a preferred embodiment wherein the retaining means is dissolved, the retaining means is comprised of a digestible material.

In the exemplary embodiments in which the moveable retaining means may be used more than once, the moveable retaining means may be comprised of plastic, metal, alloy, ceramic, and the like. In various exemplary embodiments, it is preferred that the moveable retaining means comprise a rubber or rubber-like layer on a side adjacent to the bottom opening of the receptacle. Such layer may better provide a proper and adequate seal between the moveable retaining means and the bottom opening thus substantially ensure that liquid and liquid-like substances do not leak from the receptacle when the moveable retaining means is in a closed position

In exemplary embodiment, the moveable retaining means may be connected to a lever 35 or button (not shown). In FIG. 3 the lever is shown as being adjacent to the handle such that an individual may slide the lever in a direction “A” away from the receptacle in order to put the moveable retaining means in an open position. In other words, the moveable retaining means slides from a closed position to an open position.

To put the moveable retaining means back into a closed position, the lever is moved in a direction “B” towards the receptacle, as exemplified in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in the exemplary drawings, if a lever is present, the lever may be located on a topside or bottom side of a handle.

Thus far, the moveable retaining means is shown to have a sliding movement when moved from an open position to a closed position, and vice versa. However, as shown in FIG. 4, the moveable retaining means may also function as a trap door in that the moveable retaining means pivots or hinges downward such that the flowable substance is directed out of the receptacle at the bottom opening. Such hinging movement of the moveable retaining means may be spring-loaded such that the hinge is moved back to a closed position when such spring in a relaxed, i.e., not extended, position. As in the previous exemplary embodiment, the moveable retaining means may be connected to a lever in order to activate the movement of the moveable retaining means from an open position to a closed position, and vice versa.

In various exemplary embodiments, the moveable retaining means 30 is located between the top opening and the bottom opening as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. In this embodiment, a portion of the receptacle above the moveable retaining means may be used to measure and transport a desired amount of flowable substance. As the moveable retaining means is placed in an open position, any flowable substance can proceed to a portion of the receptacle below the moveable retaining means and out of the receptacle via the bottom opening. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, portion of the receptacle between the top opening and the moveable retaining means may comprise any shape. It is preferred, though, that in such represented exemplary embodiment that the portion of the receptacle between the moveable retaining means and the bottom opening be funnel-shaped.

In various exemplary embodiments, the portion of the receptacle between the bottom opening and the moveable retaining means may be detachable from the remainder of the receptacle. Likewise, the portion of the receptacle between the top opening and the moveable retaining means may be detachable from the remainder of the receptacle.

In various exemplary embodiments, the receptacle, or portions of the receptacle, may be expanded outwardly to allow for introducing a greater amount of flowable substance when the moveable retaining means is in a closed position. The expansion of the receptacle may be performed by moving walls of the receptacle away from one another by sliding, unfolding, and other means known in the art.

The top opening and/or the bottom opening of the receptacle may be covered with a lid.

The receptacle and handle may be comprised of plastic, metal, alloy, ceramic, and the like. The receptacle may be comprised of paper or fabric. In the exemplary embodiments wherein the receptacle is comprised of paper or fabric, it is preferred that the receptacle is pleated such that it can expand outward or contract inward as desired.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A device for measuring, transferring, and dispersing one or more flowable substances, the device comprised of:

a receptacle having a top opening and a bottom opening, wherein the top opening is larger than the bottom opening; and

a movable retaining means.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a handle.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the movable retaining means substantially covers and is adjacent to the bottom opening when in a closed position.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the moveable retaining means is adjacent to the bottom opening when in an open position such that the flowable substance may be released via the bottom opening.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the movable retaining means slides in a direction away from the receptacle when in an open position.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein the movable retaining means hinges away from the receptacle when in an open position.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the moveable retaining means includes a rubber or rubber-like layer on a side adjacent to the bottom opening.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the moveable retaining means is able to be peeled, broken away from, or dissolved from the receptacle.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the moveable retaining means is punctured to put the receptacle in an open position.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle further includes predetermined measuring increments.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the moveable retaining means is located between the top opening and the bottom opening of the receptacle such that in a closed position substantially no flowable substance may pass from the top opening through the bottom opening.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein when the movable retaining means is in an open position, any flowable substance introduced into the receptacle may be released via the bottom opening.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the movable retaining means slides in a direction away from the receptacle when in an open position.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein a portion of the receptacle at least between the top opening and the retaining means is detachable.

15. The device according to claim 11, wherein a portion of the receptacle at least between the bottom opening and the retaining means is detachable.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is substantially funnel-shaped.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is able to be expanded or contracted to a variety of shapes and sizes.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the receptacle is able to be expanded or contracted to a variety of shapes and sizes.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the top opening is covered with a lid, the bottom opening is covered with a lid, or both the top opening and the bottom opening are each covered with a lid.