GB2170121A - Funnels - Google Patents

Abstract

A funnel 10 has flexibly 14 attached tubes 15, 17 of different sizes, the tubes have a common taper bore at one end to fit on to the funnel outlet tube 12, the other end of the tubes having smaller outlet sizes 15, 17. When a tube is fitted to the funnel outlet tube 12 this allows 16 the funnel to be used in a smaller size opening ie. equal to a smaller funnel. The tube/s when not in use are located in housing/s 16. The tubes are provided with a projecting rim to act as a finger grip to pull the tube off. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to funnels I John Bennett, a British subject, of 1 Castleton Avenue, Derby, DE3 8DS in the county of Derby, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a Patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to funnels of the type used to guide liquids and powders into small openings in containers. Conventional funnels are provided in a wide range of shapes such as square, oblong, elliptical, circular and conical and in combinations of such shapes. Most commonly funnels are provided in the shape of a truncated cone, terminating in a narrow tube which is usually tapered.

The conical section of the funnel serves as the container and funnels the materials, liquids etc into the tube section which acts as the final guidance into the opening of the container or receptacle.

Conventional funnels are provided in a range of sizes which is costly in both material and production and it is also inconvenient in that the range of sizes may not always be at hand ready for use, and can get lost.

According to the present invention there is provided a funnel with one or more additional tubes flexibly attached and integral with the funnel, the tubes are of different diameters and are designed to fit onto the funnel tube thus converting the funnel to a different size. The tubes would be located in suitable housings on the funnel rim. Thus one funnel with the said tubes would serve the purpose of a number of different size funnels which would fit a large range of container openings.

The invention, because it only requries one complete funnel with the additional tubes would result in large material savings and if produced as one complete unit with integral tubes such as a plastic injection moulding, this would also result in large production cost savings and tooling costs and because the funnel has the means of providing a range of funnel sizes integral in the one unit then they cannot get lost or separated and will always be at hand.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view, the funnel with a flexibly attached tube located in its housing and a flexibly attached tube out of its housing.

Figure 2 shows a side view, the funnel with a flexibly attached tube located in its housing and a flexibly attached tube out of its housing.

Figures 3 and 4 show the tapered tubes.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1, the funnel 10, and integral tapered tube, 12, and flexible attaching means, 14, with an additional tapered tube 15, of a smaller diameter than tube, 12, is located in its housing 16, another tapered tube, 17, is shown not located in housing 16.

The drawing shows an example of the invention being used to provide three different funnel sizes, large, medium, and small. When the large funnel is being used the tubes 15 and 17 are kept in their iocations, when it is desired for example to use the small variations of the funnel then tube, 17, is removed from its location, 16, and as shown in Figure 2, it is pushed onto tube 12 thus ailowing the large funnel to be used for small openings in containers, the above of course also applies to the medium tube 15.

Figures 3 and 4 show the tubes 15 and 17 which are of different sizes, and have tapers at 18 which are both common to the taper on 12 shown in Figure 2 providing a taper lock fit between the tubes 15 and 17 and tube 12. The rim, 19, Figures 3 and 4 provide a finger grip to pull the locked tapers apart.

The invention can be provided without flexible attaching means between location 16, and tubes 15 and 17, the tubes then being completely detachable from the funnel.

Any suitable number of tubes can be used and suitably located on any convenient part of the funnel with flexible attaching means between tubes and funnel or tubes can be completely detachable.

The funnel and tubes although shown by way of example as conical shape can be of any suitable shape produced from any suitable material by any suitable production methods.

The funnel and tubes can be produced separately then a flexible attaching means can be fitted.

The funnel and tubes with flexible attaching strips can be produced as one complete integral unit.

The tubes need not be tapered and can be provided in straight form with suitable matching diameters/bores to provide a light fit.

1. A funnel provided with one or more additional tube/s of different sizes, flexibly attached to the funnel, housing/s for the tube/s located on and integral with the funnel, one end of the tube/s is of a shape and size common to the funnel outlet tube, the opposite end of the tube/s being of a smaller size.

2. A funnel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the funnel, flexible connection/s to tube/s and tube/s with tube/s housing/s are all produced as one integral unit.

3. A funnel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tube/s have a projecting rim.

4. A funnel as claimed in claim 1 wherein funnel can be of any convenient shape.

5. A funnel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tube/s can be detachable from the funnel.

6. A funnel as claimed in claim 1 wherein one end of the tube/s have a taper bore common to the taper on the funnel outlet tube.

7. A funnel substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to funnels I John Bennett, a British subject, of 1 Castleton Avenue, Derby, DE3 8DS in the county of Derby, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a Patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to funnels of the type used to guide liquids and powders into small openings in containers. Conventional funnels are provided in a wide range of shapes such as square, oblong, elliptical, circular and conical and in combinations of such shapes. Most commonly funnels are provided in the shape of a truncated cone, terminating in a narrow tube which is usually tapered. The conical section of the funnel serves as the container and funnels the materials, liquids etc into the tube section which acts as the final guidance into the opening of the container or receptacle. Conventional funnels are provided in a range of sizes which is costly in both material and production and it is also inconvenient in that the range of sizes may not always be at hand ready for use, and can get lost. According to the present invention there is provided a funnel with one or more additional tubes flexibly attached and integral with the funnel, the tubes are of different diameters and are designed to fit onto the funnel tube thus converting the funnel to a different size. The tubes would be located in suitable housings on the funnel rim. Thus one funnel with the said tubes would serve the purpose of a number of different size funnels which would fit a large range of container openings. The invention, because it only requries one complete funnel with the additional tubes would result in large material savings and if produced as one complete unit with integral tubes such as a plastic injection moulding, this would also result in large production cost savings and tooling costs and because the funnel has the means of providing a range of funnel sizes integral in the one unit then they cannot get lost or separated and will always be at hand. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view, the funnel with a flexibly attached tube located in its housing and a flexibly attached tube out of its housing. Figure 2 shows a side view, the funnel with a flexibly attached tube located in its housing and a flexibly attached tube out of its housing. Figures 3 and 4 show the tapered tubes. Referring to the drawing Figure 1, the funnel 10, and integral tapered tube, 12, and flexible attaching means, 14, with an additional tapered tube 15, of a smaller diameter than tube, 12, is located in its housing 16, another tapered tube, 17, is shown not located in housing 16. The drawing shows an example of the invention being used to provide three different funnel sizes, large, medium, and small. When the large funnel is being used the tubes 15 and 17 are kept in their iocations, when it is desired for example to use the small variations of the funnel then tube, 17, is removed from its location, 16, and as shown in Figure 2, it is pushed onto tube 12 thus ailowing the large funnel to be used for small openings in containers, the above of course also applies to the medium tube 15. Figures 3 and 4 show the tubes 15 and 17 which are of different sizes, and have tapers at 18 which are both common to the taper on 12 shown in Figure 2 providing a taper lock fit between the tubes 15 and 17 and tube 12. The rim, 19, Figures 3 and 4 provide a finger grip to pull the locked tapers apart. The invention can be provided without flexible attaching means between location 16, and tubes 15 and 17, the tubes then being completely detachable from the funnel. Any suitable number of tubes can be used and suitably located on any convenient part of the funnel with flexible attaching means between tubes and funnel or tubes can be completely detachable. The funnel and tubes although shown by way of example as conical shape can be of any suitable shape produced from any suitable material by any suitable production methods. The funnel and tubes can be produced separately then a flexible attaching means can be fitted. The funnel and tubes with flexible attaching strips can be produced as one complete integral unit. The tubes need not be tapered and can be provided in straight form with suitable matching diameters/bores to provide a light fit. CLAIMS

1. A funnel provided with one or more additional tube/s of different sizes, flexibly attached to the funnel, housing/s for the tube/s located on and integral with the funnel, one end of the tube/s is of a shape and size common to the funnel outlet tube, the opposite end of the tube/s being of a smaller size.

2. A funnel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the funnel, flexible connection/s to tube/s and tube/s with tube/s housing/s are all produced as one integral unit.

3. A funnel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tube/s have a projecting rim.

4. A funnel as claimed in claim 1 wherein funnel can be of any convenient shape.

5. A funnel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tube/s can be detachable from the funnel.

6. A funnel as claimed in claim 1 wherein one end of the tube/s have a taper bore common to the taper on the funnel outlet tube.

7. A funnel substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawings.