Funnel Apparatus

Abstract

A funnel apparatus for facilitating pouring substances into pliable bags includes a tubular wall that converges inwardly from a top end to a bottom end. A clip is mounted to the tubular wall adjacent to the bottom end. A grip is mounted to the tubular wall adjacent to the top end. The clip may position a rim of a bag around the tubular wall adjacent to the bottom end.

Claims

1. A funnel apparatus for filling pliable bags, the apparatus comprising: a tubular wall having a top end and a bottom end, the tubular wall defining a channel therein with a top opening at the top end and a bottom opening at the bottom end, the tubular wall converging inwardly from the top end to the bottom end such that the channel decreases in width from the top opening to the bottom opening; a clip mounted to an exterior surface of the tubular wall, the clip having a pair of jaws, the clip being positionable in an open configuration in which the jaws are spaced from each other, the clip being positionable in a closed configuration in which the jaws abut each other, the clip being configured to grasp a bag via the jaws and position a rim of the bag around the tubular wall between the bottom end and the top end thereof, one of the jaws of the clip immediately bordering the bottom end of the tubular wall; and a grip mounted to and extending away from the exterior surface of the tubular wall, the grip being positioned adjacent to the top end of the tubular wall.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular wall has a conical shape.

3. (canceled)

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clip comprises a biasing member configured to bias the clip toward the closed configuration.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the grip is planar and lies on a common plane with the top end of the tubular wall.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a thickness between a top surface and a bottom surface of the grip is uniform.

8. (canceled)

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grip is positioned diametrically opposite to the clip across the tubular wall.

10. A funnel apparatus for filling pliable bags, the apparatus comprising: a tubular wall having a top end and a bottom end, the tubular wall defining a channel therein with a top opening at the top end and a bottom opening at the bottom end, the tubular wall converging inwardly from the top end to the bottom end such that the channel decreases in width from the top opening to the bottom opening, the tubular wall having a conical shape; a clip mounted to an exterior surface of the tubular wall, the clip having a pair of jaws, the clip being positionable in an open configuration in which the jaws are spaced from each other, the clip being positionable in a closed configuration in which the jaws abut each other, the clip being configured to grasp a bag via the jaws and position a rim of the bag around the tubular wall between the bottom end and the top end thereof, one of the jaws of the clip immediately bordering the bottom end of the tubular wall, the clip comprising a biasing member configured to bias the clip toward the closed configuration, the biasing member comprising a spring; and a grip mounted to and extending away from the exterior surface of the tubular wall, the grip being positioned adjacent to the top end of the tubular wall, a top surface of the grip being planar and lying on a common plane with the top end of the tubular wall, a thickness between the top surface and a bottom surface of the grip being uniform, the grip being positioned diametrically opposite to the clip across the tubular wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0010] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a funnel apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a top front perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken from Window 4 in FIG. 3.

[0015] FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 6 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new funnel embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0018] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the funnel apparatus 10 generally comprises a tubular wall 12 with a top end 14 and a bottom end 16. The tubular wall 12 defines a channel 18 therein with a top opening 20 at the top end 14 and a bottom opening 22 at the bottom end 16. The tubular wall 12 converges inwardly from the top end 14 to the bottom end 16 such that the channel 18 decreases in width from the top opening 20 to the bottom opening 22. The tubular wall 12 has a conical shape but may have other converging shapes in other embodiments. For example, the tubular wall 12 may have a square pyramidal shape, a hexagonal pyramidal shape, or the like.

[0019] A clip 26 is mounted to an exterior surface 24 of the tubular wall 12. The clip 26 is positionable in an open configuration 32 in which a two jaws 28 of the clip 26 are spaced from each other and in a closed configuration 34 in which the jaws 28 abut each other. The clip 26 is configured to grasp a bag 44 via the jaws 28 and position a rim 46 of the bag 44 around the tubular wall 12 between the bottom end 16 and the top end 14 thereof. The jaws 28 of the clip 26 are positioned adjacent to the bottom end 16 of the tubular wall 12 such that the clip 26 is configured to position the rim 46 adjacent to the bottom end 16. The clip 26 comprises a biasing member 30 configured to bias the clip 26 toward the closed configuration 34. The biasing member 30 comprises a spring such as a U-shaped flat spring, a torsion spring, a tension spring, or the like. Any suitable biasing member 30 may be used.

[0020] The clip 26 may be mounted to the tubular wall 12 via various means. For example, one of the jaws 28 may be integrally formed with the tubular wall 12 while another one of the jaws 28 is movably coupled to the one jaw 28 such that it moves alternately toward and away from the tubular wall 12. The clip 26 also may be adhered to the tubular wall 12 or fastened via threaded fasteners, weldments, or the like. In some cases, the jaws 28 and biasing member 30 of the clip 26 may be integrally formed with the tubular wall 12.

[0021] A grip 36 is mounted to and extends away from the exterior surface 24 of the tubular wall 12. The grip 36 is positioned adjacent to the top end 14 of the tubular wall 12. A top surface 38 of the grip 36 is planar and lies on a common plane with the top end 14 of the tubular wall 12. A thickness between the top surface 38 and a bottom surface 40 of the grip 36 is uniform. The grip 36 is sized and configured to be grasped by a hand 42. The grip 36 is positioned diametrically opposite to the clip 26 across the tubular wall 12. The grip 36 may be integrally formed with the tubular wall 12.

[0022] In use, a portion of the bag 44 is inserted between the jaws 28 of the clip 26, which are released such that the biasing member 30 closes the jaws 28 around the portion of the bag 44. During this process, the rim 46 of the bag 44 may be positioned adjacent to the bottom end 16 of the tubular wall 12 and between the bottom end 16 and the top end 14 of the tubular wall 12. By positioning the rim 46 between the bottom end 16 and the top end 14, the risk of spilling a substance 48 from the funnel apparatus 10 rather than successfully placing the substance 48 into the bag 44 is decreased. By positioning the rim 46 adjacent to the bottom end 16, the tubular wall 12 does not extend substantially into the bag 44, thereby taking up space within the bag 44 and obstructing the substance 48 from filling that space. The grip 36 is grasped by the hand 42, and the hand 42 may move the funnel apparatus 10 via the grip 36 to facilitate successfully funneling the substance 48 into the bag 44. The substance 48 is poured into the bag 44 by pouring it through the channel 18 defined by the tubular wall 12, in the top opening 20 and out the bottom opening 22 to an interior of the bag 44. The bottom of the bag 44 may also be supported to facilitate positioning of the funnel apparatus 10 with respect to the bag 44 in a desirable manner.

[0023] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0024] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.