LIQUID POURING SPOUT

Abstract

Described herein is a liquid pouring spout system that is configured to provide user with a predefined volume of liquid being dispensed from a bottle, such a premeasured shot of liquor for a user to either consume directly from the bottle or vessel or to pour into another holder. The liquid pouring spout system is optionally equipped with a cap cover and includes a pouring spout and a bottle grip. This liquid pouring spout system is reusable, adjustable, and universal. This liquid pouring spout contains a bottle adapter, filling reservoir, and at least one tilt valve.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional application with Ser. No. 63/161,438, filed on Mar. 15, 2021, with the same title, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The inventive concept relates generally to a liquid pouring spout.

BACKGROUND

Currently, there are a number of solutions for pouring liquids to measure from various types of bottles. One of these solutions attempts to utilize a funnel, but this solution fails to meet the needs of the market because funnels can be inconvenient and do not measure the quantity of liquids. Another solution attempts to utilize a shot spout or a cork and tube assembly that directs the liquid out of the bottle (such as a liquor bottle or an olive bottle) for ease of dispensing, however this solution is similarly unable to meet the needs of the market because these pouring spouts do not measure the liquid when pouring and must be poured into another vessel for accurate liquid measurement. Still another solution seeks to utilize an automatic dispenser, which meters the fluid flowing through it to give the user a better gauge on how much is being dispensed either in a glass or directly if they chose to dispense the fluid directly from the bottle, but this solution also fails to meet market needs because automatic dispensers may be expensive and not easily portable. Therefore, there currently exists a need in the market for an improved apparatus or device that pours a shot or a pre-measured amount of liquid from the dispensing bottle or vessel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed is a liquid pouring spout, for use with any bottle or vessel containing the liquid to be poured or dispensed, that has a substantially cylindrical polymer tube assembly designed to be disposed or located partially within a neck portion of a bottle member or vessel, the cylindrical tube assembly having a spout portion (or outlet) at a proximal end of the cylindrical tube assembly designed to be disposed or extend from the outside the bottle member, the spout portion having a proximal rim portion set at an oblique angle to a center axis of the cylindrical tube assembly. In a related embodiment, the polymer tube assembly is either metal or glass and can have a round opening. A reservoir portion at a distal end of the cylindrical tube assembly is designed to be disposed within the neck portion of the bottle member, the reservoir portion containing a reservoir member designed to hold a selected and substantially consistent amount (or a predefined volume) of an aqueous solution. At least one fill tilt valve member is disposed on a proximal portion of the reservoir portion designed to allow entry of the aqueous solution into the reservoir member when the bottle member is angled downward and the fill tilt valve member faces substantially downward. At least one pour tilt valve member is designed to release the aqueous solution from the reservoir member when the bottle member is angled downward and the pour tilt valve member faces substantially downward. A cylindrical polymer grip portion circumscribes a center portion of the cylindrical polymer tube assembly. A plurality of ridge members circumscribes the polymer grip portion and is designed to be disposed at least partially within an open top and neck portion of the bottle member. A removable cap member is designed to contain the proximal portion of the cylindrical tube assembly, a distal rim portion of the removable cap member defining an open portion of the removable cap member designed to contiguously abut a proximal rim portion of the cylindrical polymer grip member when the removable cap member is coupled to the cylindrical tube assembly.

Further disclosed is a method of using the liquid pouring spout, the method involving disposing the substantially cylindrical polymer tube assembly partially within a neck portion of a bottle member, the reservoir portion at the distal end of the cylindrical tube assembly disposed within the neck portion of the bottle member, the reservoir portion containing the reservoir member designed to hold a selected and substantially consistent amount of an aqueous solution, the cylindrical tube assembly having the spout portion at the proximal end of the cylindrical tube assembly disposed outside the bottle member, the spout portion having the proximal rim portion set at an oblique angle to the center axis of the cylindrical tube assembly. Removing the removable cap member containing the proximal portion of the cylindrical tube assembly, the distal rim portion of the removable cap member defining the open portion of the removable cap member contiguously abutting the proximal rim portion of the cylindrical polymer grip member when the removable cap member is coupled to the cylindrical tube assembly. Gripping the cylindrical polymer grip portion circumscribing the center portion of the cylindrical polymer tube assembly, the plurality of ridge members circumscribing the polymer grip portion disposed at least partially within an open top and neck portion of the bottle member. Angling the bottle member downward with the at least one fill tilt valve member facing substantially downward, the at least one fill tilt valve member disposed on the proximal portion of the reservoir portion, allowing entry of the aqueous solution into the reservoir member when the at least one fill tilt valve member is facing substantially downward. Raising the bottle member back to an upward position. Angling the bottle member downward with the at least one pour tilt valve member angled downward to release the aqueous solution from the reservoir member to travel through the spout portion.

In one example embodiment, the removable cap member may be used as a shot glass.

The inventive concept may be used in many applications that require a consistently measured amount of an aqueous solution, such as with an olive or vegetable oil bottle. In yet another example embodiment, the premeasured spout device described herein is used for dispensing medication from a bottle or vessel, such as cough or pain medication that is in liquid form, thereby making it easier to dispense to seniors or children.

It would be advantageous to have a liquid pouring spout that is reusable or can be configured to be disposable. Furthermore, it would also be advantageous to have a liquid pouring spout that is universal. Still further, it would be advantageous to have a liquid pouring spout that is adjustable in terms of the fluid being dispensed to the user.

The inventive concept advantageously fills the aforementioned deficiencies by providing a liquid pouring spout, which provides a convenient way to pour a shot of liquor.

The inventive concept includes a shot pouring spout that facilitates direct dispensing into a user's mouth of a premeasured or predefined amount of liquor or liquid each time it is used. Further, the spout opening can also be round and can include an optional flap member to close off the opening.

In one example embodiment, the liquid pouring spout has a bottle grip and an optional cap cover. The inventive concept fulfills the need for liquid measuring spout.

Among other things, it is an advantage of the liquid pouring spout to provide a liquid pouring spout that does not suffer from problems or deficiencies associated with prior solutions.

It is still further an advantage of the liquid pouring spout to be adaptable to various bottles or vessels with openings of various sizes. Still further, the liquid pouring spout has at least one tilt valve.

In yet another related embodiment, the spout system described herein is used to pour powders or items such as sugar, salt, baby formula when a predefined volume of such item is needed as the spout system is configurable to accommodate pourable or easy flowing powders.

The inventive concept now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This inventive concept may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete, and will fully convey the full scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the front view of the liquid pouring spout.

FIG. 2 illustrates the back view of the liquid pouring spout.

FIG. 3 illustrates the right side view of the liquid pouring spout.

FIG. 4 illustrates the left side view of the liquid pouring spout.

FIG. 5 illustrates the bottom view of the liquid pouring spout.

FIG. 6 illustrates the top view of the liquid pouring spout.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate front perspective views of the liquid pouring spout.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate back perspective views of the liquid pouring spout.

FIG. 9 illustrates a view of a removable cap member of the liquid pouring spout.

FIG. 10 illustrates rotated left, perspective and right views of pour tilt valves.

FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate a flowchart of a method of using the inventive liquid pouring spout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Following are more detailed descriptions of various related concepts related to, and embodiments of, methods and apparatus according to the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that various aspects of the subject matter introduced above and discussed in greater detail below may be implemented in any of numerous ways, as the subject matter is not limited to any particular manner of implementation. Examples of specific implementations and applications are provided primarily for illustrative purposes.

Referring to the figures, FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a liquid pouring spout system 100 that has a substantially cylindrical polymer tube assembly 110 designed to be disposed or located partially within a neck portion of a bottle member or vessel, the cylindrical tube assembly 110 having a spout portion 120 at a proximal end 110A of the cylindrical tube assembly 110 designed to be disposed outside the bottle member. Spout portion 120 has an oval proximal rim portion 111 set at an oblique angle to a center axis 105 of the cylindrical tube assembly 110. A reservoir portion 180 at a distal end 190 of the cylindrical tube assembly 110 is designed to be disposed within the neck portion of the bottle member, the reservoir portion 180 containing a reservoir member 170 designed to hold, in this embodiment, substantially 1.5 ounces of an aqueous solution. Reservoir member 170 is configurable to hold other amounts of an aqueous solution and is not necessarily limited to 1.5 ounces.

In this example embodiment and referring to FIGS. 7A-10, at least one fill tilt valve member 131 is disposed on a proximal portion 181 of the reservoir portion 180 designed to allow entry or flow through of the aqueous solution into the reservoir member 170 when the bottle member is angled or tipped downward and the fill tilt valve member 131 faces substantially downward. At least one pour tilt valve member 139 is designed to release the aqueous solution from the reservoir member 170 when the bottle member is angled downward and the pour tilt valve member 139 faces substantially downward.

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 7A-8B, a cylindrical polymer grip portion or gasket ring 150 circumscribes a center portion 145 of the cylindrical polymer tube assembly 110. A plurality of ridge or rib members 155 circumscribes the polymer grip portion 150 and is designed to be disposed at least partially within an open top and neck portion of the bottle member, thereby securing tube assembly 110 in the bottle or vessel and preventing leakage from the bottle or vessel of liquid in the bottle.

Referring now to FIG. 9, an optional removable cap member 160 is designed to contain or cover the proximal portion 110A of the cylindrical tube assembly 110, a distal rim portion 169 of the removable cap member 160 defining an open portion 168 of the removable cap member 160 designed to contiguously abut a proximal rim portion 151 of the cylindrical polymer grip member 150 when the removable cap member 160 is coupled to the cylindrical tube assembly 100. In a related embodiment, removable cap member 160 serves as a drinking vessel.

FIGS. 1-10 illustrate that in some embodiments of the liquid pouring spout 100 the oblique angle of the proximal rim portion 111 is set at an oblique angle substantially between 40 degrees and 50 degrees from a center axis of the cylindrical polymer tube assembly 105. In another embodiment, proximal rim portion 111 need not include an oblique angle and has a basic circular opening. In this example embodiment, three ridge members 159 circumscribe the polymer grip portion 150. A proximal ridge member 156 of the three ridge members 159 has a larger diameter than a middle ridge member 157. The middle ridge member 157 of the three ridge members 159 having a smaller diameter than the proximal ridge member 156. A distal ridge member 158 of the three ridge members 159 has a smaller diameter than the middle ridge member 157. The ridge members 159 are designed to secure the cylindrical polymer tube member 100 to bottle necks of multiple bottle neck diameter sizes.

FIG. 1-10 illustrates that in some embodiments of the inventive concept, a concave or tapered grip portion 153 of the polymer grip member 150 is designed to be grasped at least by a finger and thumb to assist in locating spout assembly 100 in a bottle. In FIG. 10, reservoir portion 180 has a right-side pour tilt valve member 139R and a left side tilt pour valve member 139L. The removable cap member 160, in this example embodiment, is designed to be used as a shot glass, with a proximal portion 161 of the removable cap member 160, when capping the cylindrical tube assembly 100, serving as a substantially planar base portion of the shot glass and the body of the cap member holding the liquid.

FIG. 1-10 illustrates that in some embodiments of the inventive concept, at least the spout portion 120 is substantially clear, transparent or translucent. In some embodiments of the inventive concept, at least the spout portion 120 is color coded, for use with multiple users or identifiers for various types of drinks being dispensed.

FIG. 1-10 illustrates that in some embodiments of the inventive concept, an inner ridge member 167 of the removable cap member 160 has a smaller interior diameter than an upper ridge member 152 disposed on a proximal end of the polymer grip member 150, the removable cap member 160 designed to be removably coupled to the polymer grip member 150 by being pressed over the upper ridge member 152 of the polymer grip member 150.

FIG. 1-10 illustrates that in some embodiments of the inventive concept, the fill tilt valve 131 is a valve that typically has an integrated molded hollow reservoir portion 180 and molded reservoir member 170. The reservoir member 170 normally fully seals, except when the tilt valve 131 is tilted. The outer lower wall of the reservoir member 170 and the inner wall of the reservoir portion 180 defines an annular space 183. At least one molded metering opening below the upper edge of the reservoir member 170 extends from the annular space 183 through the reservoir portion 180.

FIG. 11A-11C illustrates a method 1000 of using the liquid pouring spout 100, the method including the step 1110 of disposing or inserting the substantially cylindrical polymer tube assembly 100 partially within a neck portion of a bottle member or vessel or container, the reservoir portion 180 at the distal end of the cylindrical tube assembly 190 disposed within the bottle member, the reservoir portion 180 containing the reservoir member 170, in one embodiment, designed to hold substantially 1.5 ounces of an aqueous solution, the cylindrical tube assembly 100 having the spout portion 120 at the proximal end of the cylindrical tube assembly 110 disposed outside the bottle member, the spout portion 120 having the proximal rim portion 111 set at an oblique angle to the center axis of the cylindrical tube assembly 105. The method further includes the step 1110, removing the removable cap member 160 containing the proximal portion of the cylindrical tube assembly 110, the distal rim portion of the removable cap member 169 defining an open portion 168 of the removable cap member 160 contiguously abutting the proximal rim portion of the cylindrical polymer grip member 151 when the removable cap member 160 is coupled to the cylindrical tube assembly 100. The method further includes the step 1120, gripping the cylindrical polymer grip portion 150 circumscribing the center portion of the cylindrical polymer tube assembly 145, the plurality of ridge members 155 circumscribing the polymer grip portion 150 disposed at least partially within an open top and neck portion of the bottle member. The method further includes the step 1130, angling the bottle member downward with the at least one fill tilt valve member 131 facing substantially downward, the at least one fill tilt valve member 131 disposed on the proximal portion of the reservoir portion 181, allowing entry of the aqueous solution into the reservoir member 170 when the at least one fill tilt valve member 131 is facing substantially downward. The method further includes the step 1140, raising the bottle member back to an upward position. The method further includes the step 1150, angling the bottle member downward with the at least one pour tilt valve member 131 angled downward to release the aqueous solution from the reservoir member 170 to travel through the spout portion 120.

FIG. 11A-11C further illustrates a method of using a liquid pouring spout, the method further including the step 1155, inventorying use of bottle contents at the selected measure of liquid per use. The method may further include the step 1160, mixing proportions from the contents of multiple bottle members. The method may further include the step 1165, inventorying use of multiple bottle contents at the selected measure of liquid per use. The method may further include the step 1170, allowing substantially 1.5 ounces of the aqueous solution to flow into the reservoir portion 180 for pouring through the spout portion 120 therefrom. The method may further include the step 1175, inventorying use of bottle contents at substantially 1.5 ounces of liquid per use. The method may further include the step 1180, inventorying use of combined bottle contents at substantially 1.5 ounces of liquid per use of each bottle.

FIG. 11A-11C further illustrates a method 1000 of using a liquid pouring spout, the method further including the step 1185, installing the polymer grip portion 150 wherein the at least one of three ridge members 152 circumscribing the polymer grip portion 150 seals to an interior portion of a bottle neck. The method may further include the step 1190, gripping the concave grip portion 153 with a finger and thumb, the grip portion 153 circumscribing the polymer grip member 150 proximally from the proximal ridge member and controlling the pouring spout portion 120. The method may further include the step 1195 removing the removable cap member 160 capping the cylindrical tube assembly 100 and using the removable cap member 160 as a shot glass member.

The following patents are incorporated by reference in their entireties: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,619,515; 6,662,959; 9,119,490 and D801,184.

While the inventive concept has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the inventive concept is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Upon reading the teachings of this disclosure, many modifications and other embodiments of the inventive concept will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this inventive concept pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the inventive concept should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.

Claims

1. A liquid pouring spout system for a bottle or vessel comprising:

a substantially cylindrical tube assembly adapted to be disposed partially within a neck portion of a bottle member, the cylindrical tube assembly having a spout portion at a proximal end of the cylindrical tube assembly adapted to be disposed outside or protruding from the bottle member, the spout portion having a proximal rim portion on an opening disposed about a center axis of the cylindrical tube assembly;

a reservoir portion at a distal end of the cylindrical tube assembly adapted to be disposed within the neck portion of the bottle member, the reservoir portion containing a reservoir member adapted to hold a predefined volume of an aqueous solution;

at least one fill tilt valve member disposed on a proximal portion of the reservoir portion adapted to allow entry of the aqueous solution into the reservoir member when the bottle member or spout portion is angled downward and the fill tilt valve member faces substantially downward;

at least one pour tilt valve member adapted to release the aqueous solution from the reservoir member when the bottle member or spout portion is angled downward and the pour tilt valve member faces substantially downward; and

a polymer grip portion circumscribing a center portion of the cylindrical tube assembly, a plurality of ridge members circumscribing the polymer grip portion and designed to be disposed at least partially within an open top and neck portion of the bottle member.

2. The liquid pouring spout of claim 1 wherein the proximal rim portion of the opening of the spout portion is set at an oblique angle to a center axis of the cylindrical tube assembly opening.

3. The liquid pouring spout of claim 2 wherein the oblique angle of the proximal rim portion is set at an oblique angle substantially between 40 degrees and 50 degrees from a center axis of the cylindrical polymer tube assembly.

4. The liquid pouring spout of claim 1 wherein three ridge members circumscribe the polymer grip portion, a proximal ridge member of the three ridge members having a larger diameter than a middle ridge member, the middle ridge member of the three ridge members having a smaller diameter than the proximal ridge member, and a distal ridge member of the three ridge members having a smaller diameter than the middle ridge member, the ridge members adapted and configurable to secure the cylindrical polymer tube member to multiple bottle neck diameter sizes.

5. The liquid pouring spout of claim 4 wherein a concave grip portion or gasket ring is adapted to be grasped at least by a finger and thumb circumscribes the polymer grip member proximally from the proximal ridge member.

6. The liquid pouring spout of claim 1 wherein the reservoir portion has a right-side pour tilt valve member and a left side pour tilt valve member.

7. The liquid pouring spout of claim 1 further comprising a removable cap member adapted to contain the proximal portion of the cylindrical tube assembly, a distal rim portion of the removable cap member defining an open portion of the removable cap member adapted to contiguously abut a proximal rim portion of the cylindrical polymer grip member when the removable cap member is coupled to the cylindrical tube assembly.

8. The liquid pouring spout of claim 7 wherein the removable cap member is adapted to be used as a shot glass, a proximal portion of the removable cap member, when capping the cylindrical tube assembly, becoming a substantially planar base portion of the shot glass.

9. The liquid pouring spout of claim 1 wherein at least the spout portion is color coded.

10. The liquid pouring spout of claim 7 wherein an inner ridge member of the removable cap member has a smaller interior diameter than an upper ridge member disposed on a proximal end of the polymer grip member, the removable cap member adapted to be removably coupled to the polymer grip member by being pressed over the upper ridge member of the polymer grip member.

11. A method of using a liquid pouring spout system for a bottle or vessel, the method comprising:

disposing a substantially cylindrical tube assembly partially within a neck portion of a bottle member, a reservoir portion at a distal end of the cylindrical tube assembly disposed within the bottle member, the reservoir portion containing a reservoir member adapted to hold a selected and substantially consistent amount of an aqueous solution, the cylindrical tube assembly having a spout portion at a proximal end of the cylindrical tube assembly disposed outside the bottle member, the spout portion having a proximal rim portion set at an opening located about a center axis of the cylindrical tube assembly;

gripping a cylindrical grip portion circumscribing a center portion of the cylindrical polymer tube assembly, a plurality of ridge members circumscribing the polymer grip portion disposed at least partially within an open top and neck portion of the bottle member;

angling the bottle member downward with the at least one fill tilt valve member facing substantially downward, the at least one fill tilt valve member disposed on a proximal portion of the reservoir portion allowing entry of the aqueous solution into the reservoir member when the at least one fill tilt valve member is facing substantially downward;

raising the bottle member back to an upward position; and

angling the bottle member downward with the at least one pour tilt valve member angled downward to release the aqueous solution from the reservoir member to travel through the spout portion.

12. The method of using a liquid pouring spout of claim 11, the method further including inventorying use of bottle contents at the selected measure of liquid per use.

13. The method of using a liquid pouring spout of claim 12, the method further including mixing proportions from the contents of multiple bottle members.

14. The method of using a liquid pouring spout of claim 13, the method further including inventorying use of multiple bottle contents at the selected measure of liquid per use.

15. The method of using a liquid pouring spout of claim 11, the method further including allowing substantially 1.5 ounces of the aqueous solution to flow into the reservoir portion for pouring through the spout portion therefrom.

16. The method of using a liquid pouring spout of claim 15, the method further including inventorying use of bottle contents at substantially 1.5 ounces of liquid per use.

17. The method of using a liquid pouring spout of claim 15, the method further including inventorying use of combined bottle contents at substantially 1.5 ounces of liquid per use of each bottle.

18. The method of using a liquid pouring spout of claim 11, the method further including gripping a concave grip portion with a finger and thumb, the grip portion circumscribing the polymer grip member proximally from the proximal ridge member and controlling the pouring spout portion.

19. The method of using a liquid pouring spout of claim 11, the method further including removing a removable cap member containing the proximal portion of the cylindrical tube assembly, a distal rim portion of the removable cap member defining an open portion of the removable cap member contiguously abutting a proximal rim portion of the cylindrical grip member when the removable cap member is coupled to the cylindrical tube assembly.

20. The method of using a liquid pouring spout of claim 11, the method further including configuring the opening of the spout portion to include an oblique angle to the center axis of the cylindrical tube assembly.