MXPA01002638A - Product dispensing and drainback fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

The product dispensing and drainback fitting of the present invention comprises a pour spout to facilitate directed pouring of the liquid, the spout being surrounded by a circumscribing well and having a shortened slot running from the pouring end of the spout towards the well with an appropriately sized drainback hole in the base of the well sized to prevent double pour.

Description

DOSAGE AND PRODUCT RETURN ACCESSORY TO THE CONTAINER The present invention relates to a product dosing accessory and return to the surplus container, which is configured to be incorporated in the neck of a container for storing and pouring liquid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Numerous liquid containers have a pour spout built into the neck of the container for dosing a liquid product.

Many of these containers also have a lid or closure mechanism that also serves as a measuring cup. When the lid is used to close the container after it is used to measure liquid, it is convenient to provide a means for the liquid to drain from the interior of the bowl into the container. It is also convenient to provide a means to return the liquid flowing to the outside of the pouring spout towards the interior of the container. Various mechanisms have been considered for incorporating liquid return fittings within the pouring peaks of liquid containers. For example, US Patent No. 3,434,637 to Marcel and US Patent No. 5,108,009 to Davidson et al, both patents describe a product dispenser and return accessories. In these patents, an internal spout is surrounded by an annular cavity that connects to the neck of the container. Commonly, these patents show spout pits with a groove running from the pouring end to the base of the spout. The open grooves described by these patents serve for air to enter the container, when liquid is poured from the container, which in turn allows the fluid to be poured with a faster, relatively even flow. The pouring spouts with open slots, described by these patents, are in common use. Until recently, the equipment used to fill containers had a certain lack of precision. Consequently, the manufacturers tended to put the filling level of the container rather low to avoid overfilling the container. When the filling level of a container was kept low, the open grooves extending from the pouring end and to the base of the peak, commonly used in industry, presented some problems. However, new improvements in the equipment used to fill containers with liquids have resulted in the possibility of filling containers to a more exact predetermined level. Consequently, the containers now have a constantly higher level of filling. Although the higher filling level is advantageous for the customers, it has created some problems in the use of the pouring peaks of the prior art with the circular cavities. When a user tips a container with a high level of filling to pour liquid from the container, the liquid fills the entire area of the spout. When the spout is provided with a groove that extends substantially all along the peak, part of the liquid that is poured tends to flow out of the slot and into the receptacle surrounding the spout. Due to the inclination of the container, once the liquid is inside the receptacle, it can drip from the container. The liquid can also flow into the receptacle from the return orifice, commonly located at the base of the receptacle at peaks of this type. As a result, product gets dirty and wasted. This condition is called "double pouring". Several changes in the spout have been considered to avoid the problem of double spillage. A possible change is to widen the spout so that it can accommodate a larger volume of liquid. Unfortunately, if the pouring spout is widened, the user's ability to control the flow direction of the liquid decreases. This is particularly serious when the user wants to measure the liquid, because the user has trouble directing the flow of liquid into the measuring cup. A wider spout also creates problems when the spout is used as a spot treatment to dose a controlled amount of liquid in a particular area. The dosing and product return fitting of the present invention solves the problem of double pouring and at the same time maintains the ability to effectively direct the flow of the liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The product dosing and liquid return fitting of the present invention comprises a spout to facilitate direct pouring of the liquid, the spout being surrounded by an annular cavity, and having a shortened slot extending from the pouring end of the spout to the spout. receptacle, with an appropriate size return hole in the base of the receptacle to prevent double pouring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dosing and product return fitting of the prior art. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the dosing and product return fitting of the present invention. Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the dosing and product return fitting of the present invention, mounted on the neck of a container. Figure 4 is an expanded view of the portion 4 of the product dispenser and the return fitting, shown in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a sectional view showing an alternative embodiment of the product dosing and product return attachment. the present invention, mounted on the neck of a container. Figure 6 is an expanded view of the portion 6 of the product dispenser and the return fitting, shown in Figure 5. Figure 7 is a top view of the dosing and product return fitting of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention describes in general a dosing and product return fitting, configured in an exclusive manner, which minimizes the problem of double pouring. Fig. 1 shows a conventional product return and dosing fitting 10 having a spout 11 and an annular cavity 12. As explained above, the conventional fitting 10 has a slot 13 extending substantially all along the peak pourer 11. The disadvantage of accessory 10 is evident when a user tries to pour liquid from a container having a high level of filling. When a user tips a container with a high level of filling to pour liquid from the container, the liquid fills the entire internal volume of the spout 11. As the spout 11 has a slot 13 that extends substantially all along the peak, part of the liquid that is poured tends to flow from the slot 13 and into the receptacle 12 surrounding the spout 11. Due to the tilt of the container, once the liquid is in the receptacle 12, it drips out of the container. The liquid can also flow into the receptacle from the return hole (not illustrated), commonly located at the base of the receptacle in conventional accessories. Fig. 2 shows a dosing and product return fitting 20 of the present invention. The fitting 20 comprises a conical wall portion 21, which tapers gradually downward and inward, and inserts into the neck of a bottle. The wall portion 21 ends at its upper end with the annular rim 22. The spout peak 23 is positioned centrally within the wall portion 21. The peak 23 also has a conical shape, with a gradual tapering towards the pouring end 24. The base 25 extends between the peak 23 and the wall portion 21, creating an annular cavity 26. The shortened longitudinal groove 27 is formed in the peak 23 and is continuous with the pouring end 24. As shown in Figure 7, a return hole 28 is provided in the base 25 and is positioned to be aligned with the longitudinal slot 27. As shown in Fig. 2, a spout 23 is provided with a shortened longitudinal slot 27, which extends to some distance from the spout end 24 of the spout 23. The applicant of the invention has found that the length of the slot 27 is fundamental to prevent a double spill. In the conventional accessory 10, the slot 13 extends substantially all along the peak 11. Accordingly, when a container with a high level of filling is tipped to dose liquid, the liquid flows from the slot 13 into the receptacle 12, and then from the receptacle outside the container. The applicant of the invention has found that, if the length of the slot 27 is shortened, and the area of the return hole 28 is decreased, a double pour is minimized. Conventional return holes generally have an area of about 25 mm2. A double pour can occur when a liquid flows through the return orifice, into the receptacle, and then out of the container. If the return orifice is too large, the liquid flows through the return orifice too quickly, filling the receptacle and causing a double pour, whatever the length of the slot. To minimize the occurrence of double pouring caused by the flow of the liquid through the return orifice, the Applicant of the Invention has found that it is convenient to limit the area of the return hole 28. However, the return orifice should not be so small that prevents the flow of liquid from the receptacle, through the return orifice and into the container. The Applicant has found that, for liquid products with a viscosity typical of most liquid detergents, a return orifice with an area of approximately 10 mm2 to 20 mm2, combined with a shortened slot length, will minimize double pouring and allow that the liquid contained in the receptacle is fed back into the container. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the return hole 28 has an area of about 15 mm2. It is envisaged that the invention will be implemented with a dosing and product return fitting having a spout 23 approximately 49 mm to 59 mm from the base 25. However, the invention may be implemented with spouts with a height up to 109 mm approximately. Although there is no minimum height for spout 23, the spout peak must extend beyond the outer wall portion 21, so that a liquid can be poured through the spout and into a measuring cup or onto a spot. As shown in Fig. 2, the number 40 represents the distance between the base 25 and the slot 13. According to the present invention, when the return orifice 28 is reduced to an area of approximately 20 mm2, the double pouring extending the distance 40 so that it is 35 to 48 mm approximately. When the return orifice 28 is reduced to an area of approximately 15 mm2, double pouring is minimized by extending the distance 40 to be approximately 30 to 48 mm. When the return orifice 28 is further reduced to an area of about 10 mm2, double pouring is minimized by extending the distance 40 to also be about 35 to 48 mm. In the preferred embodiment of the Applicant, the return hole 28 has an area of about 15 mm2 and the distance 40 is about 35 mm. As in the conventional accessory 10, the dosing and product return fitting 20 of the present invention is provided with a side hole 29. The side hole 29 allows the product, which would be otherwise caught between the wall 21 and the container, be poured from the container. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the dosing and product return fitting of the present invention is sized such that it is held by friction within the neck 31 of the container 30. The annular rim 22 and the wall 21 are linked to the neck 31 to form a sealing gasket that hermetically closes the container. The fitting must be of such a size that it can be held firmly within the inner diameter of the neck 31, and so that the liquid does not spill flowing between the wall 21 and the container 30. The threads 32 are provided on the external surface of the neck 31 for a connection with the lid 40, which hermetically closes the container. The lid 40 is preferably provided with liquid measuring indicators to facilitate the proper dosing of the liquid contained by the container 30. In an alternative embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6, the wall of the fitting 21 is adapted to be threadedly connected to the threads 32 in the neck 31. In this embodiment of the invention, the wall 21 is continuous with a rim 60 that extends above the neck 31 of the container 30. The inner surface of the rim 60 has the threads 61, adapted to be joined with the threads 32 of the neck 31. The outer surface of the rim 60 has the threads 62, adapted to be joined with the cover 40.

Claims (5)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A dosing and return device for a product to direct the flow of a liquid product from a container and minimize the occurrence of a double spill, characterized in that it comprises: a wall portion that connects to the neck of said container; an internal peak is positioned centrally within said outer wall; a base extending between said peak and said wall, creating an annular cavity; a longitudinal groove, formed in said internal peak, said longitudinal groove beginning at a point 30 mm to 48 mm approximately above said base, and extending all along said peak; and a return orifice formed in said base and aligned with said longitudinal slot, said return orifice having an area of approximately 10 mm2 to 20 mm

2. 2. The dosing and product return accessory of claim 1, characterized in that said slot longitudinal begins at a point 35 mm to 48 mm approximately above said base, and said return hole has an area of approximately 20 mm2.

3. The dosing and return product accessory of claim 1, characterized in that said longitudinal groove begins at a point 30 mm to 48 mm approximately above said base, and said return orifice has an area of approximately 15 mm2.

4. The dosing and product return accessory of claim 1, characterized in that said longitudinal groove begins at a point 30 mm to 48 mm approximately above said base, and said return orifice has an area of approximately 10 mm2.

5. The dosing and product return fitting of claim 1, characterized in that said longitudinal groove begins at a point 35 mm approximately above said base, and said return orifice has an area of approximately 15 mm2.