SPOUT ASSEMBLY

Abstract

Presented are a spout assembly, bottle and a method of forming. An exemplary spout assembly includes a tubular spout, the cylindrical spout having an endless wall defining a passage, the endless wall having a top open edge fluidly connecting the passage, a bottom open edge fluidly connecting the hollow passage, and at least three vertical ribs extending inwardly from the endless wall within the passage. The spout assembly further includes a tilted trough extending from the bottom open edge circumscribing the tubular spout, the trough having at least one opening located such that fluid flow is directed toward the at least one opening. The spout assembly still further includes a cylindrical side wall extending from the tilted trough.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for dispensing. The present disclosure relates more specifically to a spout assembly and a bottle assembly for dispensing.

Description of Related Art

A bottle is a rigid container with a neck that is narrower than the body and a mouth. By contrast, a jar has a relatively large mouth or opening which may be as wide as the overall container. Bottles are often made of glass, clay, plastic, aluminum or other impervious materials, and typically are used to store liquids such as water, milk, soft drinks, beer, wine, cooking oil, medicine, shampoo, ink, and chemicals. A device applied in the bottling line to seal the mouth of a bottle is termed an external bottle cap, closure, or internal stopper. A bottle can also be sealed by a conductive “innerseal” by using induction sealing.

A plastic bottle is a bottle constructed from plastic. Plastic bottles are typically used to store liquids such as water, soft drinks, motor oil, cooking oil, medicine, shampoo, milk, and ink. Plastic bottles have become popular with both manufacturers and customers due to their lightweight nature and relatively low production and transportation costs when compared with glass bottles. However, the biggest advantage plastic bottles have over glass, is their superior resistance to breakage, in both production and transportation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a spout assembly, a method of forming, and dispensing assembly.

A first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a spout assembly for use in a bottle neck. The spout assembly includes a cylindrical spout, the cylindrical spout having an endless wall defining a passage, the endless wall having a top open edge fluidly connecting the passage, a bottom open edge fluidly connecting the hollow passage, and at least three vertical ribs extending inwardly from the endless wall within the passage. The spout assembly further includes a tilted trough extending from the bottom open edge circumscribing the cylindrical spout, the trough having at least one opening located such that fluid flow is directed toward the at least one opening. The spout assembly also includes a substantially cylindrical side wall extending from the tilted trough, the cylindrical side wall configured to extend substantially parallel and adjacent an inner surface of the bottle neck, the cylindrical side wall having a retaining bead circumscribing the cylindrical side wall, and a top edge flange, wherein the cylindrical side wall has a height that is one of (i) less than a height of the bottle neck and (ii) equal to the height of the bottle neck.

A second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method of forming a spout assembly. The method includes forming a tubular spout, the tubular spout having an endless wall defining a passage, the endless wall having a top open edge fluidly connecting the passage, a bottom open edge fluidly connecting the passage, and at least three vertical ribs extending from the endless wall within the passage. The method further includes forming a tilted trough extending from the bottom open edge circumscribing the tubular spout, the trough having at least one opening located such that fluid flow is directed toward the at least one opening. The method still further includes forming a cylindrical side wall extending from the tilted trough, the cylindrical side wall being spaced from the tubular spout, the cylindrical side wall having a retaining bead circumscribing the cylindrical side wall, and a top edge flange, wherein the cylindrical side wall has a height that is one of (i) less than a height of the bottle neck and (ii) equal to the height of the bottle neck.

A third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a dispensing assembly. The dispensing assembly includes a bottle, the bottle comprising a body with a cavity and a mouth defining a passage to the cavity, the mouth defining an end of a neck with a height and a retaining shoulder circumscribing an interior of the neck. The dispensing assembly further includes a spout removeably coupled to the neck of the bottle, the spout comprising a pouring surface fluidly connected to a trough and a friction fit cylindrical side wall, the pouring surface defining a passage through the port to the cavity, the friction fit cylindrical side wall extending from the trough and comprising a flange and a snap bead, the snap bead circumscribing the friction fit cylindrical side wall and sized to seal the friction fit cylindrical side wall to the interior of the neck, wherein a height of the friction fit cylindrical side wall is one of (i) substantially the same as the height of the neck or (ii) less than the height of the neck.

A fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method of assembly. The method includes forming a bottle, the bottle comprising a body with a cavity and a port defining a passage to the cavity, the port having a neck with a height and a retaining shoulder circumscribing an interior of the neck. The method further includes forming a spout removeably coupled to the neck of the bottle, the spout comprising a pouring surface fluidly extending from a trough and a friction fit cylindrical wall, the pouring surface defining a passage through the port to the cavity and having at least three interior ribs, the trough comprising a slanted plane circumscribing the pouring surface and a drain hole, the friction fit neck extending from the trough comprising a flange and a snap bead, the snap bead circumscribing the friction fit cylindrical wall and sized to seal the spout to the interior of the neck, the flange configured to engage the retaining shoulder, wherein a height of the friction fit cylindrical wall is one of (i) substantially the same as the height of the neck of the port or (ii) less than the height of the neck of the port, and engaging the spout to the port of the bottle.

A fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a bottle assembly. The bottle assembly includes a bottle having an opening defined by a neck, the neck having an inside surface and a threaded outside surface defined by a neck height, and a seating shoulder extending inwardly from the neck. The bottle assembly further includes a spout assembly having a peripheral wall, a floor extending inwardly from the peripheral wall and a pour spout extending from an inner portion of the floor, and a seating flange extending from the peripheral wall and sized to contact the seating shoulder. The bottle assembly still further includes a snap bead extending outwardly from the peripheral wall and configured to sealingly engage the neck, the snap ring spaced from the seating flange a sufficient distance to retain the seating shoulder therebetween.

The following will describe embodiments of the present disclosure, but it should be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments and various modifications of the disclosure are possible without departing from the basic principle. The scope of the present disclosure is therefore to be determined solely by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear side view of an exemplary spout suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary spout suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an exemplary spout suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an exemplary spout suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an exemplary spout suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an exemplary spout suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a close-up view of an exemplary spout suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary bottle and spout suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of an alternative exemplary bottle and spout suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a top side perspective view of an exemplary bottle suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of an exemplary bottle suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a close-up view of the top of an exemplary bottle suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a close-up cross sectional view of the top of an exemplary bottle suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a rear view of an exemplary spout assembly for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a side view of an exemplary spout assembly for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of an exemplary spout and bottle for use in practicing embodiments of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a spout assembly that can be removeably attached to a bottle. For purposes of description, the bottle has a body and a mouth, wherein the mouth defines a termination of a neck and a shoulder interconnects the body to the neck. The neck thus has a dimension, or neck height, from the mouth to the shoulder. Embodiments further provide an integral spout assembly having an endless side wall that corresponds to the neck height of the bottle. Embodiments provide a dispensing assembly that includes a bottle with a spout that allows a user to substantially pour out all of the contents of the bottle. That is, as the side wall of the spout assembly does not project into the interior of the bottle substantially beyond the neck, there is no cavity formed by the shoulder of the bottle and side wall of the spout assembly which can retain contents upon inversion of the bottle. Embodiments still further provide a bottle with a removeable spout that prevents the build-up of the contents of the bottle between the bottle and the removeable spout along the spout neck. Aspects provide a removeable spout with a drainage trough and vertical ribs that prevent stacking or nesting of multiple spouts. Embodiments include a spout made of plastic with a wall thickness between approximately 0.036 inches to 0.1 inches. Embodiments include a bottle made of plastic with a wall thickness between approximately 0.036 inches to 0.1 inches.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a spout assembly 102, which includes spout 104, trough 106, and side wall 108. The spout has a generally tubular configuration, wherein the cross section along a length of the spout can be constant or varied, as well as symmetrical or asymmetrical along a longitudinal axis of the spout. For purposes of description, the spout is described as cylindrical. However, it is understood the spout can have any of a variety of tubular configurations. Spout assembly 102 as shown in FIG. 1 is a cylindrical spout that has an endless wall that defines passage 110 through spout assembly 102. Spout 104 has a top open edge 112 fluidly connected to bottom open edge 114. Passage 110 fluidly connects the top open edge 112 and the bottom open edge 114 of spout 104. The top open edge 112 can lie in a single plane, or can occupy a given volume. Spout 104 includes multiple vertical ribs 116 extending inwardly from the endless wall within the passage 110.

Embodiments of spout assembly 102 include three vertical ribs 116 that serve at least two purposes. First, vertical ribs 116 are located along endless wall of spout 104 such that during use (such as pouring a liquid through spout assembly 102) the flow is directed along the longest portion of spout 104. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the longest portion of spout 104 is enclosed by two of the three vertical ribs 116. Second, vertical ribs 116 provide a means that prevent stacking, clustering, or nesting of multiple spout assemblies 102 on top of one another during sorting, packaging, or assembly.

Embodiments of vertical ribs 116 include vertical ribs 116 that have the same thickness throughout their long axis that extends from the top open edge 112 to the bottom open edge 114. In other words, the distance vertical ribs 116 extend within passage perpendicular from the endless wall 110 is the same throughout the extent of vertical ribs 116. In another embodiment, vertical ribs 116 can have a different thickness or a thickness that gradually changes along its long axis. Further, the vertical ribs 116 can have different cross sectional profiles, either along a length of the rib or between ribs. Embodiments of vertical ribs 116 can have a cross sectional thickness of approximately 0.05 inches to 0.103 inches.

The bottom open edge 114 is connected to trough 106. Trough 106 circumscribes the bottom open edge 114. Trough 106 provides a means to trap and direct a flow of liquid from spout 104. Trough 106 has a flat surface that is angled towards a drainage hole 120. Thus, trough 106 directs a flow (through gravity) of liquid toward drainage hole 120 such that liquid drains back into a bottle to which spout assembly 102 is removeably attached. Drainage hole 120 can be located at many different locations along trough 106, however, embodiments of drainage hole 120 are located such that substantially all of a liquid that enters trough 106 is able to flow out of trough 106 through drainage hole 120. Embodiments of trough 106 can include one or more drainage holes 120.

Side wall 108 is coupled to trough 106 and extends around spout 104 thereby circumscribing spout 104. Embodiments of side wall 108 have a height that is equivalent to the neck height of the bottle to which spout assembly 102 is removeably attached. Embodiments of side wall 108 allow a flow of substantially all liquid from a bottle to which spout assembly 102 is removeably attached. In other words, embodiments of side wall 108 prevents a build-up of liquid between the bottle and side wall 108.

Side wall 108 includes an outwardly extending retaining bead 122 that engages the neck of the bottle and resists removal of spout assembly 102 from a bottle. Retaining bead 122 also allows spout assembly 102 to be affixed and removed from a bottle to which spout assembly 102 is attached with a predetermined force from either a user or a machine during manufacturing or assembly.

Side wall 108 also includes a lip 124 which extends outwardly perpendicular from side wall 108. Lip 124 substantially resists or prevents spout assembly 102 from being completely pressed inside a bottle. Lip 124 is configured to engage the mouth of the bottle to limit passage of the spout assembly and locate the spout assembly relative to the neck. Embodiments of lip 124 outwardly extends circumferentially from side wall 108 approximately 0.061 inches and has a height of approximately 0.036 inches.

Spout assembly 102 is operable to be removeably attached or permanently attached to a bottle 126 (shown in FIG. 8). Bottle 126 includes a body 128 and a neck 130. Body 128 defines a hollow cavity that is operable to maintain a fluid. Body 128 can also include a handle 132 to aid a user during use in pouring a fluid from body 128. Neck 130 is sized to correspond with side wall 108 of spout assembly 102 creating a sealed interface by a friction fit (intentional interference) between bottle 126 and spout assembly 102. Neck 130 includes a thread 134 that circumscribes an exterior of neck 130.

Neck 130 also includes a retaining shoulder 136 which extends perpendicular from the interior wall of neck 130. Retaining shoulder 136 circumscribes the interior portion of neck 130. Retaining shoulder 136 is operable for interacting retaining bead 122 of spout assembly 102 to aid in sealing the spout assembly to the bottle. When placing spout assembly 102 within neck 130 of bottle 126 retaining bead 122 is snapped or pushed over retaining shoulder 136. Then lip 124 of spout assembly 102 sits on the mouth. Thus lip 124 substantially prevents spout assembly 102 from completely passing through neck 130 into body 126.

As side wall 108 has a height substantially equal to, or less than, the height of the neck of the bottle, no pocket or cavity is formed between the outside of the side wall and the shoulder of the body. In other embodiments, side wall 108 is not uniformly distanced from the center of spout assembly 102, but has a radius distance from the center of spout assembly 102 that decreases gradually or uniformly toward the bottom of spout assembly 102 (shown in FIG. 14, FIG. 15, and FIG. 16). In these embodiments, side wall 108 with retaining bead 122 and neck 130 still creates a sealed interface by friction fit (intentional interference) near the top of neck 130, but the bottom portion of side wall 108 is not in contact with the interior of neck 130 of bottle 126. Thus, a pocket 138 is created between neck 130 and side wall 108. This allows for alternative manufacturing capabilities because of the self-centering aspects of spout assembly 102 combined with the decreased radius along the bottom of side wall 108, which allows for decreased machine error during insertion.

Embodiments of side wall 108 further include instances wherein the height of side wall 108 is not uniform through the circumference of side wall 108. For instance as shown in FIG. 16, embodiments of side wall 108 include the height of side wall 108 nearest the tallest portion of spout assembly 102 (also known as the pouring side) having the same height or substantially the same height as neck 130, and the opposite side of side wall 108 having a height that is greater than that of neck 130. In other words, side wall 108 has a height that substantially prevents a buildup of excess liquid between bottle 126 and spout assembly 102 between neck 130 and side wall 108 during proper use. Excess liquid between bottle 126 and spout assembly 102 along the pouring side drains to the pouring side and is thus not retained with in the bottle 126. That is, the pocket 138 (volume) defined between side wall 108 and neck 130 along the pouring side of the bottle 126 and spout assembly 102 is minimized with respect to the height of the neck 130 and side wall 108. The pocket 138 defined by the side wall 108 and neck 130 along the pouring side substantially defines the volume of retained material in the bottle 126. As the volume is minimized, the percentage of material dispensed from the bottle 126 to material introduced into the bottle 126 is increased.

Embodiments of spout 104 are located such that the longest portion of spout 104 is nearest to the adjacent side wall 108 relative other portions of spout 104. However, embodiments of spout 104 further provide that spout 104 is sufficiently spaced from side wall 108 such that after spout assembly 102 is affixed to neck 130 of bottle 126, spout 104 is positioned such that it does not interfere with or obstruct the ability to pressure check the seal between neck 130 and side wall 108. Embodiments of spout 104 are positioned such that an air tight seal can be formed along the top of neck 130 and side wall 108 allowing verification that air and liquid is substantially prevented from passing between neck 130 and side wall 108.

The present configuration effectively eliminates the pocket of the prior art by locating a bottom of the side wall at the bottom of the neck. Thus, upon tipping or inverting the bottle to pour from the spout assembly, substantially none of the material in the bottle is captured in a pocket between the spout assembly and the inside surface of the bottle. This allows a consumer to use more of the purchased material, thereby increasing value and decreasing waste.

Embodiment 1: A method of assembly, the method comprising: (a) forming a bottle, the bottle comprising a body with a cavity and a port defining a passage to the cavity, the port having a neck with a height and a retaining shoulder circumscribing an interior of the neck; (b) forming a spout removeably coupled to the neck of the bottle, the spout comprising a pouring surface fluidly extending from a trough and a friction fit cylindrical wall, the pouring surface defining a passage through the port to the cavity and having at least three interior ribs, the trough comprising a slanted plane circumscribing the pouring surface and a drain hole, the friction fit neck extending from the trough comprising a flange and a snap bead, the snap bead circumscribing the friction fit cylindrical wall and sized to seal the spout to the interior of the neck, the flange configured to engage the retaining shoulder, wherein a height of the friction fit cylindrical wall is one of (i) substantially the same as the height of the neck of the port or (ii) less than the height of the neck of the port; and (c) engaging the spout to the port of the bottle.

Embodiment 2: The method according to Embodiment 1, wherein the spout is removeably affixed to the port of the bottle.

Embodiment 3: The method according to Embodiment 1, wherein the bottle and the spout are injection molded.

Embodiment 4: The method according to Embodiment 1, wherein the bottle is an integral one piece construction, and the spout is an integral one piece construction.

Embodiment 5: A bottle assembly comprising: (a) a bottle having an opening defined by a neck, the neck having an inside surface and a threaded outside surface and defined by a neck height; (b) a seating shoulder extending inwardly from the neck; (c) a spout assembly having a peripheral wall, a floor extending inwardly from the peripheral wall and a pour spout extending from an inner portion of the floor; (d) a seating flange extending from the peripheral wall and sized to contact the seating shoulder; and (e) a snap bead extending outwardly from the peripheral wall and configured to sealingly engage the neck, the snap ring spaced from the seating flange a sufficient distance to retain the seating shoulder therebetween.

Embodiment 6: The bottle assembly according to Embodiment 5, wherein the snap bead sealingly engages the neck in a non-threaded engagement.

Embodiment 7: The bottle assembly according to Embodiment 5, wherein a top surface of the seating flange is substantially coplanar with a free end of the neck.

Embodiment 8: The bottle assembly according to Embodiment 5, wherein a height of the peripheral wall is less than or equal to the neck height.

Embodiment 9: The bottle assembly according to Embodiment 5, further comprising an overcap sized to receive a portion of the spout assembly, the overcap including a plurality of internal threads configured to engage the threaded outside surface of the neck.

While the invention has been described in connection with several presently preferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many modifications and changes may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention which accordingly is intended to be defined solely by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A spout assembly for use in a bottle neck, the spout assembly comprising:

(a) a spout, the spout having an endless wall defining a passage, the endless wall having a top open edge fluidly connecting the passage, a bottom open edge fluidly connecting the hollow passage, and at least three vertical ribs extending inwardly from the endless wall within the passage;

(b) a tilted trough extending from the bottom open edge circumscribing the spout, the trough having at least one opening located such that fluid flow is directed toward the at least one opening; and

(c) a substantially cylindrical side wall extending from the tilted trough, the cylindrical side wall configured to extend substantially parallel and adjacent an inner surface of the bottle neck, the cylindrical side wall having a retaining bead circumscribing the cylindrical side wall, and a top edge flange, wherein the cylindrical side wall has a height that is one of (i) less than a height of the bottle neck and (ii) equal to the height of the bottle neck.

2. The spout assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least three vertical ribs are spaced from an expected fluid flow location along the endless wall.

3. The spout assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spout, the tilted trough, and the cylindrical side wall are an integral one piece construction.

4. The spout assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least three vertical ribs substantially prevent nested stacking of a first spout assembly and a second spout assembly.

5. The spout assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spout, the tilted trough, and the cylindrical side wall have a thickness of 0.036 inches to 0.1 inches.

6. The spout assembly according to claim 1, wherein the retaining bead is sized to substantially create a seal when removeably affixed to the bottle neck.

7. A method of forming a spout assembly, the method comprising:

(a) forming a tubular spout, the tubular spout having an endless wall defining a passage, the endless wall having a top open edge fluidly connecting the passage, a bottom open edge fluidly connecting the passage, and at least three vertical ribs extending from the endless wall within the passage;

(b) forming a tilted trough extending from the bottom open edge circumscribing the tubular spout, the trough having at least one opening located such that fluid flow is directed toward the at least one opening; and

(c) forming a cylindrical side wall extending from the tilted trough, the cylindrical side wall being spaced from the tubular spout, the cylindrical side wall having a retaining bead circumscribing the cylindrical side wall, and a top edge flange, wherein the cylindrical side wall has a height that is one of (i) less than a height of the bottle neck and (ii) equal to the height of the bottle neck.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the tubular spout, the tilted trough and the cylindrical side wall are injection molded.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least three vertical ribs are spaced from an expected fluid flow location along the endless wall.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the tubular spout, the tilted trough, and the cylindrical side wall are an integral one piece construction.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least three vertical ribs substantially prevent nested stacking.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the tubular spout, the tilted trough, and the cylindrical side wall have a thickness of 0.036 inches to 0.1 inches.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein the retaining bead is sized to substantially create a seal when removeably affixed to the bottle neck.

14. A dispensing assembly comprising:

(a) a bottle, the bottle comprising a body with a cavity and a mouth defining a passage to the cavity, the mouth defining an end of a neck with a height and a retaining shoulder circumscribing an interior of the neck; and

(b) a spout removeably coupled to the neck of the bottle, the spout comprising a pouring surface fluidly connected to a trough and a friction fit cylindrical side wall, the pouring surface defining a passage through the port to the cavity, the friction fit cylindrical side wall extending from the trough and comprising a flange and a snap bead, the snap bead circumscribing the friction fit cylindrical side wall and sized to seal the friction fit cylindrical side wall to the interior of the neck, wherein a height of the friction fit cylindrical side wall is one of (i) substantially the same as the height of the neck or (ii) less than the height of the neck.

15. The dispensing assembly according to claim 14, wherein the pouring surface comprises at least three interior ribs, and wherein the trough comprises a drain hole and a slanted plane circumscribing the pouring surface.

16. The dispensing assembly according to claim 14, wherein the bottle and the spout are injection molded.

17. The dispensing assembly according to claim 14, wherein the at least three vertical ribs are spaced from an expected fluid flow location along the pouring surface.

18. The dispensing assembly according to claim 14, wherein the bottle is an integral one piece construction, and the spout is an integral one piece construction.

19. The dispensing assembly according to claim 14, wherein the at least three vertical ribs substantially prevent nested stacking of the spout.

20. The dispensing assembly according to claim 14, wherein the bottle neck comprises a thread circumscribing an exterior of the bottle neck.

21. The dispensing assembly according to claim 14, wherein the bottle has a thickness of 0.036 inches and the spout has a thickness of 0.036 inches.