Adaptive universal funnel pourer

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to funnels, specifically, funnels made to supportably adapt to containers with varying neck opening dimensions and configurations. Disclosed herein is a funnel that can be used to both funnel substances into varying sized containers as well as used to neatly pour the substances within the container back out, wherein the particular dimensions and configurations of the neck opening of that container is unimportant.

Claims

1. A funnel comprising: a frustoconical top portion having a wide mouthed top opening tapering down to a concentrically smaller bottom opening, the whole of which has an inner surface and an outer surface; a stem bottom portion with a top opening and a bottom opening the whole of which has an inner surface and an outer surface wherein the top outer surface of the stem is the same size and connected to the bottom outer surface of the frustoconical top portion and further that the bottom opening of the stem outer surface is smaller in circumference and tapering from the top portion outer surface of the stem; a ring collar positioned on the lower outer surface of the frustoconical top portion comprising a ring extending vertically downward from said outer surface of the frustoconical top portion further comprising at least one resilient tab positioned on the bottom portion of the ring collar.

2. The funnel of claim 1 wherein there are four resilient tabs.

3. The funnel of claim 1 further comprising a handle.

4. The funnel of claim 3 wherein the handle comprises at least one hole.

5. The funnel of claim 1 wherein such funnel is made from a solid one-piece construction.

6. The funnel of claim 1 wherein such funnel is made from silicone.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 depicts a top view of one embodiment of the funnel of the present disclosure peering into the top from above showing the inside surface of the upper frustoconical portion (1A), the inside surface of the upper frustoconical portion where it joins with the upper portion of the bottom stem (2A), the upper large opening of the frustoconical upper portion showing the components of the beveled edge (3A) and (4A), and a configuration of a handle attached to the upper frustoconical top (5).

(2) FIG. 2 depicts a side view of one embodiment of the funnel of the present disclosure looking at the outer surface areas showing the outer surface of the upper frustoconical portion (1B), the side of the top of the frustoconical portion showing the outer surfaces of the beveled edge (3B) and (4B) and handle (5), the outer surface of the lower portion of the frustoconical top where it meets the outer surface of the top of the lower stem portion (2B), the top of the lower stem portion (6B) and lower area of the lower stem portion (7B) showing a slight taper, and the ring collar (8) and resilient tabs (9).

(3) FIG. 3 depicts a side view of one embodiment of the funnel of the present disclosure looking at the outer surface areas showing the outer surface of the upper frustoconical portion (1B), the side of the top of the frustoconical portion showing the outer surfaces of the beveled edge (3B) and (4B), the outer surface of the lower portion of the frustoconical top where it meets the outer surface of the top of the lower stem portion (2B), the top of the lower stem portion (6B) and lower area of the lower stem portion (7B) showing a slight taper, and the ring collar (8) and resilient tabs (9).

(4) FIG. 4 depicts a bottom view of one embodiment of the funnel of the present disclosure peering up from the bottom showing the funnel hole through which materials pass through (10), the outside surface of the upper frustoconical portion (1B), the underside of the upper ring beveled edge (3B), the underside of the handle (5), the ring collar (8) and resilient tabs (9), and the inside surface of the lower stem portion (7A).

(5) FIG. 5 depicts a cutaway view of one embodiment of the funnel of the present disclosure showing the outside surface of the top of the lower stem portion (6A) contacting the inside surface area of the neck opening of a small drink bottle (21) wherein the tabs (9) stay above the mouth opening. The outer surface area of the frustoconical top portion of the funnel (1A), beveled edge (4A), handle (5) and area where the lower part of the upper frustoconical portion joins with the upper area of the slightly tapered bottom stem portion (2) are also shown.

(6) FIG. 6 depicts a cutaway view of one embodiment of the funnel of the present disclosure showing the outside surface of the top of the lower stem portion (6A) not contacting the inside surface area of the neck opening of a large mouth drink bottle (22) wherein the tabs (9) contact the upper portion of the mouth opening and secure the outside surface area of the frustoconical top portion of the funnel (1A) against the mouth opening. The beveled edge (4A), handle (5) and area where the lower part of the upper frustoconical portion joins with the upper area of the slightly tapered bottom stem portion (2) are also shown.

(7) FIG. 7 depicts a cutaway view of generally the downward insertion of one embodiment of the funnel of the present disclosure fitting into the small mouth opening of a small drink bottle (21).

(8) FIG. 8 depicts a cutaway view of generally the downward insertion of one embodiment of the funnel of the present disclosure fitting into the large mouth opening of a large drink bottle (22).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) For clarity of disclosure, and not by way of limitation, the detailed description of the invention is divided into the following subsections that describe or illustrate certain features, embodiments or applications of the present invention.

Definitions

(10) “frustoconical top portion” as used herein means the top portion of a funnel from the wide top opening to the point where it meets and joins with the stem bottom portion.

(11) “stem bottom portion” as used herein means the bottom stem portion of a funnel from its tip at the bottom that inserts into the opening of a container to be filled up to the point where it meets and joins with the frustoconical top portion.

(12) “ring collar” as used herein means a specialized attachment means for attaching resilient tabs to the outer surface of the frustoconical top portion.

(13) “resilient tabs” as used herein means semi-flexible tabs attachable to the frustoconical top portion of the funnel used to secure the funnel to containers wherein the mouth opening of the container is larger than any portion of the outer surface diameter of the stem bottom portion.

The System and Method of the Present Invention

(14) An ordinary funnel has a frustoconical top portion and an stem bottom portion and can be made from almost any material. However, one of the untold truths of the mechanical arts is that such funnels need to be stabilized to be used safely and neatly. Typically, this requires an extra hand.

(15) The present disclosure teaches embodiments of a funnel that securably attaches to the container that is to be filled. Embodiments herein disclose that the funnel may have a bottom stem portion that securely and snugly fits into the mouth of a properly sized container such that simple insertion and friction keep the funnel inserted, secure and watertight.

(16) In an alternative embodiment, where the container opening is larger than the largest outer circumference of the bottom stem portion of the funnel, the funnel also contains a ring collar with resilient tabs that catch the outer rim of the container and grip it snugly to secure a portion of the outer surface of the bottom of the frustoconical top portion of the funnel to keep it inserted, secure and watertight.

(17) In one embodiment, the funnel also contains a handle to aid in funnel manipulation and storage.

(18) Herein is taught the utilization of materials with inherent properties of resiliency and stability and friction that allow the funnel to be snug without having to overtight, to be watertight without having to be forcibly clamped in place, only gripped by resilient tabs or merely snugly inserted. Such materials include silicone and semi-rigid vulcanized rubber.

EXAMPLES

(19) The present invention is further illustrated, but not limited by, the following examples.

(20) In a preferred embodiment, the outer diameter of the top opening of the top of the frustoconical top portion is 2¾ inches. In the same preferred embodiment, the bottom outside diameter of the bottom of the stem bottom portion has a diameter of approximately 11/16 of an inch or just less than ¾ of an inch. In the same preferred embodiment, the top of the stem bottom portion has a diameter of 13/16 of an inch or just over ¾ of an inch. In the same preferred embodiment, the outside diameter of the ring collar is approximately 1⅞ of an inch and has four evenly spaced resilient tabs. In the same preferred embodiment, the ring collar has a height of approximately ¼ of an inch and the resilient tabs have a height of approximately ⅛ of an inch. In the same preferred embodiment, the funnel has a thickness of approximately 3/32 of an inch and is made of silicone.

(21) In a preferred embodiment, the handle has a hole punched into it so that the funnel may hang.

(22) In a preferred embodiment, the funnel is formed by forcing liquefied silicone into a mold, cooling it and removing it so that it is all one piece construction.

(23) Publications cited throughout this document are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Although the various aspects of the invention have been illustrated above by reference to examples and preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is defined not by the foregoing description but by the following claims properly construed under principles of patent law.

(24) Each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more of such features, is included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in such a combination are not mutually exclusive.