Smart liquid container

Abstract

This invention provides a liquid container apparatus and method to prevent spilling of a liquid, such as oil, while adding liquid to an engine or other component, without the use of a funnel and without inverting the container, and to make the liquid-adding operation easier and safer for a user, providing a smart cap with a smart-cap opening turnably mounted upon an opening protrusion on a container body such that the smart cap can be closed and opened without detaching the smart cap from the container body, the liquid can be dispensed without inverting the container, and the rate of liquid flow can be controlled by a user, providing a container able to be placed upon or near an engine for the required time, providing a container that dispenses liquid without being inverted, and providing a container that visually indicates the amount of liquid within, consequently simplifying the use of the container.

Claims

1. A smart liquid container apparatus comprising: (i) a container body having a top surface, a bottom, and a side wall, adapted to safely hold liquid and contain a flow of contents; (ii) a container handle at extending above the top surface of said container body, the container body having an upright orientation with the container handle extending upwardly from the top surface; (iii) a sealable air vent near the top surface of said container body; (iv) an opening protrusion extending from a side wall of said container body near the bottom of the side wall, the protrusion having exterior threads; (v) a body opening flush with an outer face of said opening protrusion and positioned near a lower circumference thereof; (vi) a smart cap rotatably mounted upon said opening protrusion, the smart cap having a tubular rim with internal threads that mate with the exterior threads of said opening protrusion, said smart cap adapted for sealing said body opening against the flow of contents out of said container body in a closed position; and (vii) a smart-cap slot formed on and flush with an outer surface of the tubular rim of said smart cap and circumferentially extending along a lower portion of said tubular rim, said smart-cap slot below and aligning with the body opening to allow the flow of contents out of said container body when said smart cap is in an open position, while the container body remains in the upright orientation; where, in use, the placement of said smart cap and smart-cap opening in a closed position moves said smart-cap slot above said body opening to prevent the flow of contents out from said container body, and the placement of said smart cap and smart-cap opening in an open position allows the flow of contents out from said container body, while the smart cap remains engaged with the container body.

2. The smart contents container apparatus of claim 1, further comprising volume indicators placed upon said container body.

3. The smart contents container apparatus of claim 2 wherein said container apparatus is translucent to allow a user to visually ascertain a volume of contents therein.

4. The smart contents container apparatus of claim 1, further comprising said container body made of plastic.

5. The smart contents container apparatus of claim 1, further comprising said container body made of HDPE plastic.

6. The smart contents container apparatus of claim 1, further comprising said container body made of metal.

7. The smart contents container apparatus of claim 1, further comprising said container body adapted to hold substantially 5 gallons or 19 liters.

8. The smart contents container apparatus of claim 1, further comprising said container body having a planar exterior bottom surface adapted to facilitate for increased stability of the container body.

9. The smart contents container apparatus of claim 1, wherein the smart cap further comprises a closing plate attached to an outer periphery of the tubular rim of the smart cap and adapted to prevent the flow of contents from said container body while the smart cap is in the closed position.

10. The smart contents container apparatus of claim 1, wherein the smart cap opening is configured to form a downwardly-facing opening when the smart cap is in the open position.

11. The smart contents container apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body opening has a horizontal central axis and said smart cap slot has a vertical central axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of the smart liquid container of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the container body of the smart liquid container of the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the smart cap of the smart liquid container of the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the smart liquid container of the invention, in use, closed;

(6) FIG. 5 is a section view of the smart liquid container of the invention, in use, closed;

(7) FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the smart liquid container of the invention, in use, opening;

(8) FIG. 7 is a section view of the smart liquid container of the invention, in use, opening;

(9) FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the smart liquid container of the invention, in use, open; and

(10) FIG. 9 is a section view of the smart liquid container of the invention, in use, open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) Referring to FIG. 1, the smart liquid container 10 apparatus of the invention comprises a container body 1 to safely hold oil and similar heavy, viscous liquids, having a top, bottom, and sides, with a container handle 6 at or near the top of the container body, for safe carrying and manipulating of the container, and having, optionally, volume indicators 8 showing the volume of oil or similar fluids in the container. Also, at or near the top of the container body is placed a sealable air vent 7, which, when opened, prevents any vacuum lock from hampering the flow of liquid. The container body 1 is made of a clear or translucent material allowing a user to visually ascertain the volume of liquid within the container by reference to the volume indicators 8. The container body 1 is of a shape that allows resting or temporary placement of the smart liquid container 10 upon or near the engine, above the engine's liquid inlet such as an oil inlet. The container body 1, especially at the bottom should be able to withstand the consequent heat of the engine, and the bottom should have a flat, stable profile.

(12) Referring additionally to FIG. 2, on a side, and near the bottom of the container body is placed an opening protrusion 2 having threads which tend to pull an encircling object closer or push it away when turned in different directions. Upon the opening protrusion 2 is placed a body opening 3 which, when unsealed, allows the flow of liquid out of the container body 1.

(13) Referring additionally to FIG. 3, a smart cap 4 is provided to be mounted upon the opening protrusion 2 such that, when turned in one direction, the smart cap is pulled toward the container body, and the body opening 3 is sealed, preventing the flow of liquid; and when turned in the opposite direction, the smart cap is pushed away from the container body, and the body opening 3 is unsealed, allowing the flow of liquid. A smart-cap opening 5 is provided to allow liquid flowing from the body opening 3 to pass out of the smart cap 4 when the smart cap 4 is in an open position.

(14) Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in use in a closed position, the smart cap 4 is held tight against, and blocks or seals, the body opening 3 in the opening protrusion 2. The smart-cap opening 5 therefore cannot pass any liquid, and the location of the smart-cap opening does not have any effect upon the non-existent flow of liquid.

(15) Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, in use in a partially open position, the smart cap 4 is moved slightly away from the body opening 3 in the opening protrusion 2, and a partial flow of liquid is allowed. The smart-cap opening 5 moves into a position allowing a partial flow of liquid through the smart cap 4. This allows a user to control the rate of outflow of the liquid.

(16) Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, in use in a fully open position, the smart cap 4 is moved farther away from the body opening 3 in the opening protrusion 2, and a full flow of liquid is allowed. The smart-cap opening 5 moves into a position allowing a full flow of liquid through the smart cap 4.

(17) During use, the smart cap 4 is not removed from the opening protrusion 2 of the container body 1. The smart cap 4 is easily, conveniently, and safely manipulated to deliver a precise flow of liquid, even in awkward positions; and the smart cap 4 cannot be misplaced but is always at hand to be turned again to stop or modulate the flow of liquid.

(18) Many other changes and modifications can be made in the system and method of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.