Abstract
A popcorn funnel assembly for directing popcorn from a popcorn bag includes an inlet end having an inlet opening that is arranged to fit a popcorn bag and an outlet end having an outlet opening suitable for conveying popped popcorn into the mouth of a person who is eating popcorn. The funnel assembly includes a funnel portion and a sleeve portion. The funnel portion includes a transversely oriented inwardly curved lower wall that is adjacent to the outlet end of the funnel portion and that presents a transversely arranged pattern of holes that are pear shaped with wider lower portions and that are of a suitable size for rejecting popped popcorn and for receiving un-popped kernels and directing them out of the funnel portion and into a receiving space for retaining kernels, the receiving space being enclosed by the inwardly curved wall of the funnel portion and the sleeve portion.
Claims
1. A popcorn funnel assembly for directing popcorn from a microwave popcorn bag of the type of popcorn bags that are used for popping popcorn in microwave ovens, the popcorn funnel comprising: a funnel portion and a sleeve portion, the funnel portion having an inlet end, the inlet end having an inlet opening that is arranged to fit a popcorn bag and an outlet end having an outlet opening that is reduce in size in relation to the size of the inlet opening, the outlet opening suitable for conveying popped popcorn into the mouth of a person eating popcorn, the funnel portion further including an inwardly curved wall that is adjacent to the outlet end and that presents a transversely arranged pattern of holes that are pear shaped with the wider portion oriented downwardly and that are sized for capturing un-popped kernels and directing them out of the funnel portion and into a space for retaining un-popped kernels, the space for retaining un-popped kernels being bounded by the inwardly curved wall of the funnel portion and at least one wall of the sleeve portion.
2. The popcorn funnel assembly of claim 1, wherein; the funnel portion includes a generally rectangular portion that includes an upper wall, two side walls and a lower wall, the lower wall transitioning to an offset lower wall portion by a connecting curved wall segment that connects between the lower wall and the offset lower wall portion, the offset lower wall portion being parallel to and inwardly offset from the lower wall, the curved wall segment being a partial cylinder that extends in a tangential manner from the offset lower wall and connects with the lower wall, a series of evenly spaced holes being defined in the curved wall segment so as to appear circular when viewed longitudinally and pear shaped when viewed transversely, and wherein the sleeve portion encloses the funnel portion such that a void is defined between the curved wall segment of the funnel portion and the sleeve portion for capturing and holding un-popped popcorn kernels.
3. The funnel assembly of claim 2, wherein; the offset between the lower wall and the offset lower wall is at least 0.3 inches.
4. The funnel assembly of claim 2, wherein; the funnel assembly is arranged about a center axis, and the offset between the lower wall and the offset lower wall is at least 0.3 inches and wherein the holes of the pattern of holes in the curved wall segment are defined by removing material from the curved wall segment that would interfere with a cylinder that is parallel to the lower wall and between the lower wall and the offset lower wall and parallel to the center axis of the funnel assembly, the interfering cylinder for defining the holes of the pattern of holes having a diameter that is between 0.25 and 0.35 inches.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the popcorn bag funnel assembly.
(2) FIG. 2 is a front view of one embodiment of the popcorn bag funnel assembly.
(3) FIG. 3 is a rear view of one embodiment of the popcorn bag funnel assembly.
(4) FIG. 4 is a side view of one embodiment of the popcorn bag funnel assembly.
(5) FIG. 5 is a top view of one embodiment of the popcorn bag funnel assembly.
(6) FIG. 6 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the popcorn bag funnel assembly.
(7) FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the popcorn bag funnel assembly.
(8) FIG. 8 is a cross section view of one embodiment of the popcorn bag funnel assembly taken from plane 8-8 indicated in FIG. 1.
(9) FIG. 9 is a second rear view of the funnel portion of the popcorn bag funnel assembly.
(10) FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the funnel portion of the popcorn bag funnel assembly.
(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the popcorn funnel shown being used by a user 4 who is able to hold the popcorn funnel 2 with her hand 4A to consume popcorn.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(12) Referring to FIG. 1, a popcorn bag funnel assembly 10 is shown, including a funnel portion 20, a sleeve portion 50 and a cap 80. Funnel portion 20 and sleeve portion 50 are adapted and arranged for use with a standard microwavable popcorn bag 2.
(13) FIGS. 1 and 7 depicts the insertion of funnel portion 20 into the mouth of bag 2. Bag 2 has inside surfaces that come into contact with the outside surfaces of funnel portion 20. Sleeve portion 50 fits around the outside surfaces of bag 2 and funnel portion 20. Overlapping straps 52 and 54 preferably have corresponding Velcro elements or similar interlocking corresponding textured surface pads of a type that is well known in the art and that are suitable for temporarily fastening the overlapping portions of straps 52 and 54. By way of further example, 3M Dual Lock segments may also be adhesively fixed to corresponding portions of straps 52 and 54 so that strap 52 is able to engage strap 54 in a securing by releasable manner.
(14) FIGS. 7-10 depict funnel portion 20 and sleeve portion 50. As is shown in FIG. 10, funnel portion 20 extends from an inlet opening 20A to an outlet opening 20B. As can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, funnel portion 20 includes an upper wall 22, side walls 24 and 26 and a lower wall 28. Upper wall 22, side walls 24 and 26 and lower wall 28 are arranged in a rectangular shape at inlet end 20A. In this example side walls 24 and 26 present side wing portions 24A and 26A respectively to facilitate engaging the inside of popcorn bag 2. As can be seen in FIGS. 7-10, a converging portion 42 (indicated in FIG. 9) connects between walls 22, 24, 26 and 28 and outlet opening 20B (indicated in FIG. 10). Crucially, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, lower wall 28 transitions to an offset lower wall portion 34 by a curved wall segment 32 that connects between offset lower wall portion 34 and lower wall 28. Offset lower wall portion 34 is parallel to and vertically offset from lower wall 28 by approximately 0.3 inches. Curved wall segment 32 begins as extending tangent from offset lower wall portion 34 and curving down in a transversely oriented cylindrical fashion with a radius of curvature of approximately 1 inch until it connects with lower wall 28. In this example the transition between curved wall segment 32 and lower wall 28 is a fillet 32F which may have a radius of about 0.2 inches.
(15) As can be best seen in FIGS. 8-10, a pattern of openings 36 is defined in curved wall segment 32. In this example, holes 36 are arranged between the left and the right sides and are evenly spaced. The definition of openings 36 may be envisioned by removing material as defined by cylinder 36G indicated in FIG. 8. Cylinder 36G may be envisioned as being arranged longitudinally in contact with the inside surface of lower wall 28 so that it is parallel to centerline 4L indicated in FIG. 8 and also extending forward to intersect with curved wall segment 32. By removing the material defined by the intersection of cylinder 36G and curved wall segment 32, an opening 36 is defined. This opening definition process is repeated in an evenly spaced manner to define openings 36 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The skilled reader will note that the resulting openings appear circular in an end view as in FIG. 9, but are actually pear shaped having a wide portion at the lower extent of curved wall segment 32 adjacent to lower wall 28 and a relatively narrow portion near the upper extent of curved wall segment 32 adjacent to offset lower wall portion 34. The applicant has found that this particular shape for openings 36 is optimal for capturing and removing un-popped popcorn kernels.
(16) As can be best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, sleeve portion 50 serves a second function aside from securing funnel portion 20 to bag 2. Sleeve portion 50 includes a reservoir wall portion 62 (indicated in FIG. 8) that encloses the forward lower extent of funnel portion 20 that is adjacent to openings 36. Thus, reservoir wall portion 62 provides an enclosed volume that is suitable for receiving and retaining the un-popped popcorn kernels that will usually result from the popcorn popping process described above.
(17) As can be best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8, popcorn funnel assembly 10 includes a removable cap 80 that is able to provide a closure for funnel assembly 10. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the forward end of funnel portion 20 presents a spout 46 which is adapted to guide popcorn into a user's mouth. Cap 80 and spout 46 present a number of features which are adapted for enabling the retention of cap 80 in the closed position shown in FIG. 1 but also for enabling the easy removal of cap 80. Cap 80 includes a flat portion 80F (indicated in FIG. 8) that is shaped to correspond discharge opening 20B (indicated in FIG. 7). The upper extent of cap 80 presents a hood portion 80H (indicated in FIG. 8). The lower end of flat portion 80F presents a protruding tab 80A (indicated in FIG. 7) that is received by a corresponding slot 46A (indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7) that is defined in spout 46. The right and left ends of hood portion 80H and flat portion 80F are gapped to present slots 80B (indicated in FIG. 7) which are able to receive the right and left upper ends of spout 46. Spout 46 also has ridges 46L which further guide and retain flat portion 80F of cap 80. Spout 56 also presents longitudinal ridges 46H as shown in FIG. 1. Longitudinal ridges 46H are received by corresponding notches 80N (indicated in FIG. 7) in the periphery of flat portion 80F of cap 80 when cap 80 is installed as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8. Thus cap 80 and spout 46 are configured and arranged so that cap 80 can be installed as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8, but also removed when it is desired to pour popcorn from bag 2 through discharge opening 20B.
(18) Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the scope of the claims below. Embodiments of the concept have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after and because of reading it. Alternative means of implementing the aforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of the claims below. Certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims.
