GB2159129A - Funnel device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for use in transferring flowable material (e.g. petrol) from one container into another container through an opening in the other container, comprises a body (1) having a wall providing an elongate normally substantially U-shaped cross-section portion (2) having a pair of wings (4) extending from a bight (5), this portion (2) being capable of being formed into a radially resilient tubular portion by arranging the wings (4) in overlapping relationship, the tubular portion being receivable in the opening in the other container, and a receptacle portion (3) in communication with the tubular portion (2) when formed, and having an opening for receipt of material to be transferred from the one container. The device has the advantages that the radially resilient tubular portion can be wedged in the opening in the other container, leaving both hands of the user free to hold the one container, and that the device is usable with containers having openings within a wide range of sizes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Funnel device This invention relates to a device for use in transferring flowable material from one container into another container through an opening in the other container.

A known device for the purpose specified above is a funnel comprising a spout portion for receipt in the opening in the other container and an aligned normally tapering receptacle portion having a rela tivelywide area opening for receipt of the material to be transferred from the one container.

Such known devices have the disadvantages that they generally require to be held during use the user thus having only one free hand for holding the one container, or possibly both containers, and that since the spout and receptacle portions are aligned use of the device in other than a vertical position is difficult if not impossible.

Particular difficulties arise in the transfer of fuel, for example petrol, from a can to the fuel tank of an automobile using a conventional funnel, since the filler openings of automobile fuel tanks are not generally in a horizontal plane, and thus in addition to having to hold the funnel steady the user must also tip the fuel from the can into a non-horizontal opening of the funnel.

According to this invention there is provided a device for use in transferring flowable material from one container into another container through an opening in the other container, comprising a body having a wall providing an elongate normally substantially U-shaped cross-section portion having a pair of wings extending from a bight, said U-shaped cross-section portion being capable of being formed into a radially resilient tubular portion by arranging said wings in overlapping relationship, said tubular portion being receivable in said opening in said other container, and a receptacle portion in communication with said tubular portion when formed, and having an opening for receipt of material to be transferred from said one container.

The device of this invention has the advantages that the radially resilient tubular portion of the device can be wedged in the opening in the other container, thus leaving both hands of the user free to hold the one container, and the device is usable with containers having openings within a wide range of sizes, the size of an opening in which the tubular portion is to be received determining the amount of overlap of the wings of the tubular portion.

The shape of the device of this invention also enables the device to be cheaply and simply manufactured by being moulded in one-piece from plastics material.

Preferably the tubular portion when formed tapers inwardly in the direction away from the receptacle portion, thus facilitating insertion of the tubular portion into the opening in the other container, and also ensuring wedging of the tubular portion in openings within a relationship wide size range.

Preferably the wings are of mutually different length, this facilitating initial arrangement of the wings in overlapping relationship simply by squeezing the wings towards each other in one hand of a user of the device.

Preferably the plane of the opening in the receptacle portion lies at an angle other than 909 to the axis of the tubular portion when formed, whereby the device can more easily be used to transfer material into a container having an opening lying in a plane which is not horizontal.

Preferably at least the tubular portion when formed has a longitudinally extending external rib for engagement with the wall of the opening in the other container, thereby to provide vents on either side of the rib for the escape of air as the flowable material is transferred into the other container.

The free ends of the wings can be joined by a web member, whereby the tubular portion is of closed cross-section at all times thereby preventing any possible escape of material from the tubular portion.

With such a device the web member will become sandwiched between the wings when they are arranged in overlapping relationship.

The device of this invention can be used with any flowable material, for example liquids or particulate solid material.

A device embodying this invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the device; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device; Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the device in an in-use condition.

The device comprises a one-piece body 1 moulded from resilient synthetic plastics material such as polythene, and having a wall providing an elongate normally substantially U-shaped cross-section (see Figure 3) portion 2 and an open receptacle portion 3.

The portion 2 has a pair of opposed wings 4 extending from a bight 5 which is formed with a plurality of transverse parallel strengthening corrugations 6.

The receptacle portion 3 is scoop-shaped and has an open face 7 in a plane lying at an angle other than 900 to the axis of the portion 2; in this embodiment the open face 7 is in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the portion 2. The receptacle portion 3 communicates with the portion 2 in sharing a common bight 5. At its free end the receptacle portion 3 is formed with an apertured lug 8 by which the device can be hung up when not in use.

For use of the device the portion 2 is formed into a radially resilient tubular portion 2a (see Figure 4) by arranging the wings 4 in overlapping relationship.

As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3 the wings 4 are of mutually different length to facilitate forming of the portion 2 into its tubular condition simply by squeezing the portion 2 in one hand of a user of the device. Further, as clearly shown by Figure 2, the tubular portion 2a formed will taper inwardly in the direction away from the receptacle portion 3.

The tubular portion 2a is then inserted into an opening, indicated by a chain-dotted line 10 in Figure 4, in a container, for example an automobile fuel tank (not shown), and becomes wedged in the opening due to the radial resilience of the portion 2a.

Aflowable material for example petrol, can then be poured into the receptacle portion 3 through its open face 7, from for example a container (not shown) in the form of a conventional fuel can, for transfer into the fuel tank, both hands of the user of the device being free to hold the fuel can.

When transfer to the fuel is completed, the device is simply pulled from the opening 10.

Although described above in relation to the transfer of petrol, it will be appreciated that the device described above can be used for transfer of any flowable material capable of passing along the tubular portion 2a when formed.

Claims (9)

ClAIMS

1. A device for use in transferring flowable material from one container into another container through an opening in the other container, comprising a body having a wall providing an elongate normally substantially U-shaped cross-section portion having a pair of wings extending from a bight, said U-shaped cross-section portion being capable of being formed into a radially resilient tubular portion by arranging said wings in overlapping relationship, said tubular portion being receivable in said opening in said other container, and a receptacle portion in communication with said tubular portion when formed, and having an opening for receipt of material to be transferred from said one container.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said tubular portion when formed tapers inwardly in the direction away from said receptacle portion.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which said wings are of mutually different length.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, in which the plane of said opening in said receptacle portion lies at an angle other than 900 to the axis of said tubular portion when formed.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least said tubular portion when formed has a longitudinally extending external rib for engagement with the wall of said opening in said other container.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the free ends of said wings are joined by a web member.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, moulded in one piece from plastics material.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, in which said plastics material is polythene.

9. A device for use in transferring flowable material, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the drawing.