Pouring device

Description

POURING DEVICEFIELD OF INVENTIONThis invention relates to an improved pouring device and to a container including such a pouring device, and in particular, though not exclusively, to a container for liquid.BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA number of problems exist with presently known pouring devices and with container incorporating such pouring devices. For example, containers for engine oil usually comprise—a screw lid that screws on to a threaded neck of the container. In use, a user removes the lid from the container, positions the neck of the container over the filling point of a vehicle's engine and pours the oil into the engine. This type of container suffers from the disadvantage that oil can be spilt from the container before the neck is correctly positioned over the filling point of the engine and while the oil is being poured into the engine. This type of container also suffers from the disadvantage that the rate of flow of oil from the container cannot be easily controlled.It is a further object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a container having a pouring device that al l ows a ' user to ' control the rate of flow of fluid or liquid through the pouring device.It is a further object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a container that allows a pouring device of a container containing fluid or liquid to be placed in a non-vertical pouring position, which can be, for example, around 4 5. degree; to the vertical, above a receiver for the fluid or liquid, before any of the fluid or liquid leaves thecontainer.In particular, it ianobject of atleast one embodimentofthepresentinvention to provide acontainerfor anengine oilthat preventsspillageof theengine oilwhile the container is beingposi ti onedover -a........f-ilTing point of avehicle's engine and placed in a pouring position.in particular, it is a further object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a container for an engine oil that allows a user of the container to control the rate of flow of oil from the container in order to reduce or prevent spillage when the oil is poured into a vehicle's engine.According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a pouring device for a container,' the pouring device comprising a first, rear portion and a second, front portion and means for retaining the device in association with a container, wherein in a first non-pouring position the second portion is in sealing engagement with the container, while, in use, depressing of the first portion causes at least part of the second portion to move from the first non-pouring position to a second pouring position.In use the component parts of thepouring device are not remotely separated.This will therefore prevent the componentparts of the device from being misplaced.A user of a container having the pouring device of the present invention can control the rate of flow of fluid or liquid from the container, controlling the rate of flow of fluid or liquid from a container will allow a user......to reduce or preventspillage of the fluid or liquid.A user of a container having the pouring device of the present invention canalso position the : container in i t s non vertical , pouring position before any fluid or liquid 1 eaves the container. Th'i s will therefore allow a user to prevent the fluid or liquid from prematurely leaving the container.Advantageously a first hinge isprovided between the first and secondportions.A second hinge may also be formed at arearmost end of the first portion.The first portion may be of a bentplanar form .The second portion may have point provided thereupon spaced a pivotfrom thefirst hinge.Thus, in use, depression of the first portion may cause flexure of the first hinge thereby causing the second portion to pivot about the pivot point, the at least part of the second portion thereby being caused to move from the first non-pouring position to the second pouring position.Depression of the first portion is preferably achieved by the action of downward pressure of a user's thumb or finger on the first portion, preferably on a thumb-receiving depression on the first portion.Advantageouslythe device comprises a first body part which carries the first and second portions and preferably also a second body part which carries means for retaining the device in association with the contai ner.The first body part and the second body part preferably form a one-piece component.The fi rst and second body parts may be retained in association with one another by a third hi nge.Biasing means may be provided such that, in use, ceasing depression of the first portion causes the biasing means to urge the first and second portions to readopt the first non-pouring position.The second portion may carry first and second lugs at the pivot point, which lugs are capable of being received within corresponding first and second recesses formed in the second body part.The second portion may carry sealingmeans which, when the second portion is inthe first position cause a seal to beformed between the device and a pouringaperture .In a fi rst embodiment the pouring ape rtu re i s not formed on the devi ce but is p rovi ded on the container. In a second embodi ment the pou ri ng aperture i s formed on the second body part. The sealing means may provide an inverted v-shaped slot at a front most portion thereof.The device may incorporate an anti-glug device. The anti-glug device is preferably integral with the pouring device.The second body portion may carry one or more inwardly facing lugs or clips which, in use, ...... co-act.....with respectiveapertures or recesses formed in. the container to retain the device and container together.Advantageously the device may provide tamper evident means, for example, frangible tamper evident lugs formed between the first portion or second portion and the second body part, first depression of the first portion.....causing the lugs to shear. The tamper evident means is preferably clearly visible to a user.The device may also provide a frangible transit lock, for example frangible seal(s) between the first and second body parts, which seal (s) is / are broken by depression of the second portion.The' device may also 'provide a locking mechanism for locking the second, front portion in the non-pouring position. This locking mechanism will prevent leakage from the container when it is in transit or when itisinstorage.The device may be made of a moulded plasti cs mate rial.According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a container including a pouring device according to the, first aspect of the present invention.The container may include a handle. The container may include two or more handles.in use, a user may hold the container with one hand and with a thumb / finger of that hand depress- the.....first portion of thedevice thereby causing the second portion to move to the second position allowing pouring of contents of the container. The container of the present invention can therefore be used with just one hand.The container may be adapted for containment of liquids, and particularly viscous liquids.                       ,The container may be particularlyadapted    for contami nant of liquid hydrocarbons, f o r example, oil, and , i n parti cular , engi ne oil. Accordi ng to a third aspect of the present invention there i s provided a method of pouring contents from a container, the container including a pouring device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the method compri si ng :holding the container with one hand;depressingtheportion with athumb / finger ofthat hand whilst ’tippingthecontainer so as to pour atleast partofthe contents of thecontainer;andreleasing the first portion.Advantageously releasing of the first portion causes the second portion to readopt the first non-pouring position the reby closi ng the contai ner .BRIE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYINGDRAWINGSEmbodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are:fig. 1 a secti onal- -si-de -vi ew of a first embodiment of a pouring device according to the present invention in an assembled first, non-pouring- position fitted to a con tai ne r;FIG. 2 a partial sectional top view of’ the pouring device of FIG. 1;FIG. 3 a perspective view to one side and above of the pouring device of fig. 1 in a disassembled position;fig. 4 (a) a schematic sectional side view of the pouring device of FIG. 1 in the first, non-pouring position;fig. 4 (b) a schematic sectional side view of the pouring device of fig. 1 in an assembled second, pouring position;FIG. 5 a partial perspective view to one side and the rear of the pouring device of fig. 1 in the first position attached to a container;fig. 6 a partial perspective view to one side and the rear of the pouring device of FIG. 1 in the second position attached to a container;FIG. 7 a partial perspective view tothe other side and the front of the pouringdevice of FIG. 1 in the second positionattached to a container;FIG. 8 a partial perspective view toone side and the rear of a secondembodiment of a pouring device according to the present invention in a first, nonpouring position attached to a container;fig. 9 a partial perspective view to the other side and the front of the pouring device of FIG. 8 in a second, pouring position attached to a container;FIG. 10 a partial perspective view to one side and behind of the pouring device of FIG. 8 in the second position attached to a container;fig. 11 a sectional side view of a third embodiment of a pouring device according to the present invention in an assembled first, non-pouring position;FIG .   12 a sectional side view of the pou ring devi ce of FIG. 11 in an assembled second , pouring position; FIG. 13 a perspective view to one side and above of the pouring device of FIG. 11 in a disassembled -position; .FIG . 14 a perspective view to the other side and below of the pou ri ng device of FIG. 11 i n a di sassembled position J FIG . 15 a view from one si de of the pou ri ng device of FIG. 11 i n the fi rst position; and FIG . 16 a perspecti ve view from one side above and.....to... the......rear, of the pouringdevice of FIG. 11 in the first position;DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTSReferring firstly to FIGS. 1 to 7 there is illustrated a first embodiment of a pou ri ng devi ce , .....general 1 y - desi gnated 5a ,according to the present invention attached to a container 10a. The pouring device 5a comprises a first, rear portion 15a and a second, front portion 20a and a means for retaining the device 5a in association with the container 10a, wherein, in a first nonpouring position (i.e., as noted by the solid lines in FIG. 1 and as shown in FIG. 5), the second portion 20a is in sealing engagement with the container 10a while, in use, depressing of the first portion 15a causes at least part of the second portion 20a to move from the first non-pouring position to a second pouring position (i.e., as shown in dashed line in fig. 1 and as shown in FIG. 6).A first living hinge 25a is provided between the first and second portions 15a, 20a. Further a second living hinge 30a is formed at a rearmost end of the first portion 15a. The first portion 15a is of an angled (arcuate) planar form, while the second portion 20a has a pivot point 35a provided thereupon spaced from the first hinge 2 5a.Thus, in use, depression of the firstporti on 15a causes flexure ! of the first hinge 25a , thereby c a u s i ng the second portion 20a to pivot about the pivot poi nt 3 5a, the at 1 east part of the second portion 20a thereby being caused to move from the first non-pouring position to the second pouring position.In this embodiment the de vi ce 5a comprises a fi rst body part 40a which carries the first and second portions 15a, 20a and also a second body part 45a which carries the means for retaining the device 5a in association with the container 10a. The first and second body parts 40a, 45a, are retained in association with one another by a third hinge 50a.Biasing means in the form of a mouldedspring 55a are provided such that, in use, ceasing depression of the first portion 15acauses the spring 55a to urge the first and second portions 15a,  20a to readopt thefirst non-pouring position.The second portion 20a carries first and second lugs 60a, 65a at the pivot point 35a, which lugs 60a,  65a are capable ofbeing received wi t h i rv co r responding f i r s t and second recesses 70a, 75a formed in the second body part 45a.Further the second portion 20a carried sealing means 80a which, when the second portion 20a is in the first position causes a seal to be formed between the device 5a and a pouring aperture 85a. In this embodiment the pouring aperture 85a is not formed on the device......5a. but is provided onthe container 10a. However, it should be appreciated that in a modification, such as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 to 16, the pouring aperture 85a may be formed on the second body part 45a.in the first embodiment the sealing means 80a are in the form of a frusto-cylindrical body providing an inverted V-shaped slot 90a at a front most portion thereof.The second body part 45a carries a plurality of inwardly facing lugs or clips 95a which, in use, co-act with respective aperture or recesses 100a formed in the container 10a to retain device 5a and container 10a together.The device 5a provides tamper evident means, comprising frangible tamper evident lugs 105a formed between the first portion 15a (or second portion 20a) and the second body part 45a, first depression of thefi rst portion 15a causing the tamper evident lugs 105a to shear . The. devi c e. ......5a further provides a frangible transit lock comprising frangible seal (s) 110a between the first and second body parts 40a,  45a, which seal (s)  110ais / are broken by depression of the second portion 20a .The device 5a may be made in one piece of a suitable moulded plastics material.In use, a user may hold the container 10a with one hand by means of a handle 115a and with a thumb / finger of that hand depress the first portion 15a of the device 5a thereby causing the second portion 20a to move to the second position allowing pouring of contents of the container 10a.Due to provision of spring 55a releasing of the first portion 15a causes the second portion 20a to readopt the first non-pouring position thereby closing the container 10a.Referring now to FIGS. 8 to 10 there is illustrated a second embodiment of a pouring device 5b according to the present invention attached to a container 10b. Parts of the device 5b are identified by the same numerals as employed in the device 5a of the first embodiment but suffixed with b' rather than 'a'.The device 5b provides a tamper evident band 120b on the second portion 20b and the second body part 45b, which when the device 5b is used for the first time breaks but is retained on the second portion 20b.to FIGS. 11 to 16Finally, referringthere is illustrated a third embodiment of a pouring device 5c according to the present invention attached to a container 10c. Parts of the device 5c are identified by the same numerals as employed in the device 5a of the first embodiment but suffixed with c' rather than 'a'.The device.....5 c i s -similar to the device5a in many respects. However, the device 5c provides an alternative form of mouldedspring 5 5c , and further provides a pouring aperture 85c integrally formed on the second body part 45c . It should be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention hereinbeforedescribed are given by way of example onlyand are not meant......to- limit the scope of theinvention in any way.FIG. 1FIG. 270»20a 25aCASTROL LIMITEDApplicantABELLO CONCEPCION REGALA AND CRUZ By:flG. 5ABELLOBy.CASTROL LIMITEDApplicantCONCEPCION REGALAand cbdzJOSUE SIM M. ZUNIEGAAttorney20aFIG. 6CASTROL LIMITEDApplicantABELLO CONCEPCION REGALA AND CRUZ20aFIG. 7CASTROL LIMITEDApplicantABELLO CONCEPCION REGALA AND CRUZ By:120bFIG. 1010bFIG. 9CASTROL LIMITEDApplicantABELLO CONCEPCION REGALA AND CRUZ By:70CABELLO CONCEPCION REGALA AND CRUZ By:JOSUE SIM M. ZUNIEGA Attorney80cCASTROL LIMITEDApplicantABELLO CONCEPCION REGALA AND CRUZ By.20C                40CCASTROL LIMITEDApplied        CRUZABELLO CONCEPCION REGALA A BY'- —---Ar-A20cCASTROL LIMITEDApplicantABELLO CONCEPCION REGALA AND CRUZ By:

Claims

finger of the holding hand while tipping the container so as to move the pouring device to the second position, and to pour at least  part of the  contents  of thefinger of the holding hand while tipping the container so as to move the pouring device to the second position, and to pour at least  part of the  contents  of the5   container   through the   pouring   device.Thereafter,  . the first.....portion   may bereleased.What is claimed is:’Ci r1.       A pouring device for acontainer that is suitable -forliquids or fluids, comprising:a first body part which carries a first rear portion and a second front portion,a second body part which carries a retaining means for retaining the device in association with the container, andbiasing means; whereinsaid device has a first nonpouring position in which the second portion is in sealing.....-engagement with thecontainer, and a second, pouring, position , so that depression of the first portion causes at least part of the second porti on to move from the first non - pouring position i to the second......pouring position, andcessation of depression of the first portion causes the biasing means to urge the first and second portions to readopt the first nonpouring position.

2. The  pouring device as recitedin claim 1, wherein the first portion, comprises a bent planar form .3 . The pouring d e v i c e as recited in claim 1, w h e r e i n said first portion has a thumb- or finger- receiving depression. 4 . The pouring devi ce as recited in claim 1, w h e r e i n the first and second body parts are retained in association with one another by a third hinge. 5 . The pouring devi ce as recited in claim 1, wherein the second porti on   carries fi rst and second lugs at a pivot point, said lugs capable of being received within corresponding first and second recesses formed in the second body part. 6 . The pouring device as recited in claim 1, wherein a pouring aperture is formed on the second body part. 7 . The pouring device as recited in claim 1, wherein the second bodyportion carries one or more inwardly facing lugs or clips which, in use, co-act with respective apertures or recesses     formed     in     the container to retain the device and container together. 8 . The pouring device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device is made of a molded plastics material . 9 . The pouring device as recited in claim 1, wherein the second portion carries sealing means which, when the second portion is in the first position, cause 10 .11.12 .13 .a seal to be formed between the device and a pouring aperture.The pouring device as recited in claim 9, wherein the sealing means includes an inverted V-shaped slot at a front most portion thereof.The pouring device as recited in claim 1, wherein the pouring device further includes tamper evident means; The pouring device as recited in claim 11, wherein the tamper evident means comprises frangible tamper evident lugs formed between the first portion or second portion and the second body part, so that depression of the first portion causes- the- lugs to shear.The pouring device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a frangibletransit lock.14 . The pouring device as recited in claim   13,   wherein   the frangible................ transit      lock comprises     at     least     one frangible   seal   between   the first and second body parts, and positioned so that the frangible seal is broken by depression    of    the    second portion. 15 . The pouring device as recited in......claim......1-,- further comprising a first hinge between the first and second portions. 16 . The pouring device as recited in claim 15, further comprising a second hinge at a rearmost end of the first portion. 17 . The pouring device as recited in claim 15, wherein the second portion has a pivot point provided thereupon spaced from the first hinge. 18 . A combination comprising a container and a pouring device mountedtosaid container,wherein said pouring devicecompri ses:a first body part which carriesa first rear portion and asecond       front       portion, a second body part which carries a retaining means for retaining the device in association with the container,and - ...........biasing means; whereinsaid device has a first nonpouring position in which the second portion is in sealing engagement with the container, and a second, pouring, portion, so that depression of the first port i on. .causes at least part of the second portion to move from the first non-pouring position to the second pouring position, and cessation of depression ofthe first portion causes the biasing means to urge the first and second portions to readopt t h e. f .i r s.t.. no n -. p o uring position.19 .20 .21.22 .The combination recited inclaim 18, further comprising a handle integral with the container.The combination as recited in claim 18, further comprising a pouring aperture provided on the container.The combination as recited in claim 18, wherein the container is constructed so that it can be used with just one hand.A method of pouring contents from the container recited in claim 18, comprising the steps of :(a) holding the container with only one hand when the container is in the first, nonpouring, position; then(b)    depressing    the    first portion with the thumb or a finger of the holding hand whi '1 e tipping the container so as to move the pouring device to the second position, and to pour at least part of the contents of the container through the pouring device; and then (c)    releasing    the    first portion. 23 . The method recited in claim 22, wherein step (c) is practiced to cause the second portion to readopt the first non-pouring position, thereby closing the container. 24 . The combination as recited in claim 18, wherein the container i s suit able’ fd f “ viscous 1 i quids or fluids. 5 25 . The combination as recited in claim 24, wherein the container contains a liquid hydrocarbon which is capable of being poured through said pouring device.

26. The combination as recited in claimed 25, wherein the liquid hydrocarbon is an engine oil. '03