DEVICE FOR RAPID FLUID OF LIQUID

Abstract

According to one aspect, a device for conducting liquid is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the device has a first conduit with a first end that defines a first opening, a second end that is opposite to the first end and that defines a second opening, and a body portion that is defined between the first end and the second end and that defines a channel inside the body portion along the longitudinal axis. The body portion has an inner surface and an opposite, outer surface. The device is operative to direct a fluid received in the first opening to the second opening. The device also has a second conduit that is arranged external to the inner surface and the bore of the first conduit, and proximate to the outer surface. The second conduit has a first end that defines an opening, a second end that is opposite to the first end that defines a second opening, and a body portion that is defined between the first end and the second end. A bore is defined inside the body portion. The second conduit is operative to permit the passage of a gaseous medium.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional devices and methods for conducting liquids in a desired direction or otherwise specifically controlling aspects of the flow of the liquid from one location to another use a single conduit to direct a fluid from one end to another, opposite end. Conventional funnels, for example, can be used to direct a liquid into a storage container (see FIG. 3). These conventional means suffer from drawbacks attributable to the influence of gaseous mediums interacting with the fluid. In the exemplary context of a liquid fuel container with a single intake opening that is being filled with liquid, gaseous mediums such as fumes or air have a restricted ability to pass from inside the container out to the external environment while the container is being filled via the intake opening, due to in part from the displacing presence of the incoming liquid. Undesirable effects such as spillage and a slow rate of fluid flow may thereby result. In other words, conventional funnels lack an effective means for allowing air or other gaseous mediums to escape from inside the container that is being filled with a liquid. Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a device for rapid fluid of liquid. According to one exemplary embodiment, the device has a first conduit with a first end that defines a first opening, a second end that is opposite to the first end and that defines a second opening, and a body portion that is defined between the first end and the second end and that defines a channel inside the body portion along the longitudinal axis. The body portion has an inner surface and an opposite, outer surface. The device is operative to conduct a fluid received in the first opening to the second opening. The device also has a second conduit that is arranged external to the inner surface and the bore of the first conduit, and proximate to the outer surface of the first conduit.

The second conduit has a first end that defines a first opening, a second end that is opposite to the first end that defines a second opening, and a body portion that is defined between the first end and the second end. A bore is defined inside the body portion. The second conduit is operative to permit the passage of a gaseous medium but not a liquid medium.

Practice of one or more aspects of the present invention allows for more efficient and uniform flow of a liquid being directed through a first conduit into a target area such as a container.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the following drawings, although variations and modifications therein may be affected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the written description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1A illustrates a side view of a device for conducting liquid according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 illustrates a device according to one embodiment of the present invention, in operation for conducting liquid.

FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional device in operation for conducting liquid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various embodiments of the invention are now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Now referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B of the drawings, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a device 100 for conducting liquid is disclosed. As shown, the device 100 has a first conduit 110 in the basic shape of a funnel, with a first end 110a defining a first opening 120, a second end 110b opposite to the first end 110a and defining a second opening 130, and a body portion 110c defined between the first end 110a and the second end 110b. A channel 140 is defined inside the first conduit 110 along the longitudinal axis. The first conduit 110 is operative to conduct a fluid (see FIG. 2) received in the first opening 120 to and out of the second opening 130. As shown, the body portion 110c of the first conduit 110 has an inner surface 110e and an opposite, outer surface 110d. The device according to this embodiment also has a second conduit 150 that is arranged external to the inner surface 110e of the first conduit. That is, the second conduit 150 is disposed on the outside of the first conduit 110 and external to the channel 140, such that the structure of the second conduit 150 does not obstruct the flow of liquid through the first conduit 110. As shown, the second conduit 150 has a first end 150a defining a first opening 152 and a second end 150b that is opposite to the first end 150a and defines a second opening 154. A body portion 150c of the second conduit 150 is defined between the first end 150a and the second end 150b, and a bore 156 is defined inside along the longitudinal axis. As shown, the longitudinal axis of the second conduit 150 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first conduit 110. The second conduit 150 is operative to permit the passage of gaseous medium but to prevent the passage of liquid medium from the second end 150b to the first end 150a. According to one embodiment, at least a portion 110f of the first conduit 110, that is proximate to the second end 110b thereof, is operative to be inserted into an opening of a container for holding liquid that is conducted into the container via the first conduit (see FIG. 2).

In one embodiment, the length of the second conduit 150 along the longitudinal axis is selected such that the second end 150b of the second conduit 150 terminates before the portion 110f of the first conduit 110 that is insertable into a container for holding liquid, such that in operation while a liquid is being conducted through the first conduit 110, a gaseous medium is allowed to pass through the second conduit from inside the container and out to the external environment, and such that liquid medium is prevented from passing through the second conduit 150 from the second end 150b to the first end 150a.

In an alternative embodiment, the length of the second conduit 150 along the longitudinal axis is selected such that the second end 150b of the second conduit 150 terminates proximate to, but does not extend past, the second end 110b of the first conduit 110, such that in operation, a gaseous medium is allowed to pass through the second conduit 150 from inside the container and out to the external environment, and such that liquid medium is prevented from passing through the second conduit 150 from the second end 150b to the first end 150a.

In one embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2, the first conduit 110 is substantially shaped as a funnel. The second conduit 150 can also be substantially shaped as a funnel. The second conduit 150 can be fastened to at least one portion on the outer surface 110d of the first conduit 110. At least a portion of the second conduit 150 can be formed integrally with at least a portion of the first conduit 110.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to activate others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.

Claims

1. A device for channeling a flow of a liquid substance, comprising:

a first conduit having a first end defining a first opening, a second end opposite to the first end and defining a second opening, and a body portion defined between the first end and the second end and defining a channel therein along the longitudinal axis, operative to channel a flow of a liquid substance received from the first opening to the second opening, the body portion having an inner surface and an opposite, outer surface; and

a second conduit disposed external to the inner surface and the bore of the first conduit and proximate to the outer surface of the first conduit, the second conduit having a first end defining a first opening, a second end opposite the first end and defining a second opening, and a body portion defined between the first end and the second end and defining a bore therein for operably permitting the passage of a gaseous medium.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first conduit proximate to the second end thereof is operative to be inserted into an opening of a container.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the length of the second conduit is selected such that the second end of the second conduit terminates before the portion of the first conduit that is insertable into a container for holding liquid, such that in operation, a gaseous medium inside the container is allowed to pass through the bore of the second conduit from the second opening of the second conduit to the first opening of the second conduit.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the length of the second conduit is selected such that the second end of the second conduit terminates proximate to but does not extend past the second end of the first conduit, such that in operation, a gaseous medium inside the container is allowed to pass through the bore of the second conduit from the second opening of the second conduit to the first opening of the second conduit.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first conduit is substantially shaped as a funnel.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the second conduit is substantially shaped as a funnel.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the second conduit is substantially tubular in shape.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the second conduit is fastened to at least one portion on the outer surface of the first conduit.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the second conduit is formed integrally with at least a portion of the first conduit.

10. A funnel for channeling a flow of a liquid substance into a container, comprising:

a funnel body having a first end defining a first opening, a second end opposite to the first end and defining a second opening, and a body portion defined between the first end and the second end and defining a channel therein along the longitudinal axis, operative to channel a flow of a liquid substance received from the first opening to the second opening, the body portion having an inner surface and an opposite, outer surface; and

a gas conduit disposed externally to the inner surface and the bore of the funnel body, and fixedly attached to the outer surface of the funnel body, the gas conduit having a first end defining a first opening, a second end opposite the first end and defining a second opening, and a gas conduit body portion defined between the first end and the second end and defining a bore therein for operably permitting passage of gaseous medium through the gas conduit from the second opening of the gas conduit to the first opening of the gas conduit.

11. The funnel of claim 10, wherein a portion of the funnel body at the second end thereof is operative to be inserted into an opening of a container.

12. The funnel of claim 11, wherein the length of the gas conduit is selected such that the second end of the second conduit terminates before the portion of the funnel body that is insertable into a container for holding liquid.

13. The funnel of claim 11, wherein the length of the gas conduit is selected such that the second end of the gas conduit terminates proximate to but does not extend past the second end of the funnel body.

14. The funnel of claim 10, wherein the funnel body is substantially conical in shape.

15. The funnel of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the gas conduit is formed integrally with at least a portion of the first conduit.

16. The funnel of claim 15, wherein the gas conduit is fixedly attached to the outer surface of the funnel body such as to be disposed along substantially the entire length of the funnel body along the longitudinal axis from the first end of the funnel body to the second end of the funnel body.

17. A means for channeling a flow of a liquid substance, comprising:

a means for conducting liquid from a first opening defined at a first end to a second opening defined at a second, opposite end, through a channel defined by a body portion between the first end and the second end, along the longitudinal axis; and

a means for allowing the passage of gaseous medium between a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second, opposite end disposed external to the conducting means.

18. The directing means of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the liquid conducting means that is proximate to the second end thereof is operative to be inserted into an opening of a container for holding liquid.

19. The directing means of claim 18, wherein the length along the longitudinal axis of the gas passage means is selected such that the second end of the gas passage means terminates before the portion of the liquid conducting means that is insertable into a container for holding liquid, such that in operation, gaseous medium is allowed to pass through the gas passage means from inside the container to the external environment, and such that liquid is prevented from passing through the gas passage means from inside the container.

20. The directing means of claim 17, wherein the liquid conducting means is substantially conical in shape.