US3804134A - Collapsible funnel for dispensing liquids from puncturable containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A collapsible funnel for dispensing liquids from puncturable containers comprising: a plurality of triangular sections each of which is joined to at least one other triangular section, a seam means, a handle means, and a blade means positioned so that said puncturable containers when positioned inside the collapsible funnel are punctured and the liquids dispensed.

Description

' [75] Inventor:

United States Patent 1 Wehking COLLAPSIBLE FUNNEL FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS FROM PUNCTURABLE CONTAINERS Frank J. Wehking, Houston, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Continental Oil Company, Ponca City, Okla.

[22] Filed: Aug. 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 281,352

[52] US. Cl 141/98, 141/329, 141/332,

[.51] Int. Cl. B65b 39/00, B670 11/00 [58] Field of Search 206/46 L; 210/233; 220/85 D, 85 SP; 222/81, 17, 19; 141/98,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,028,542 6/1912 Christian 141/330 [451 Apr. 16, 1974 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 3,705 0/1907 Great Britain 141/337 Primary ExaminerI-louston S. Bell, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Frederick R. Schmidt Attorney, Agent, or Firm-F. Lindsey Scott [5 7] ABSTRACT A collapsible funnel for dispensing liquids from puncturable containers comprising: a plurality of triangular sections each of which is joined to at least one other triangular section, a seam means, a handlemeans, and a blade means positioned so that said puncturable containers when positioned inside the collapsible funnel are punctured and the liquids dispensed.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 16 I974 FIG.

COLLAPSIBLE FUNNEL FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS FROM PUNCTURABLE CONTAINERS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to collapsible funnels for dispensing liquids contained in puncturable containers.

PRIOR ART In recent years, much time and effort has been di rected to the development of more economical and more convenient methods for packaging liquids such as lubricating oils, automatic transmission fluids, and the like. Considerable attention has been directed to the general concept of packaging such materials in puncturable containers such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,083,479 issued June 8, 1937 to Speare. The use of such containers offers a convenient and economical method for packaging such liquids.

One problem encountered in the use of such containers is that a funnel means for puncturing the containers and dispensing the contained liquids is required. The use of a funnel such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,083,479 has the disadvantage that the funnel is rigid, is not a disposable piece of equipment, and accordingly is used with several containers as the liquids are dispensed. As a result, the liquids are likely to become contaminated when the funnel is used for more than one container. The funnel also occupies substantial space and is not readily adapted to packaging with the containers.

FIG. 2 shows the collapsible funnel of the present invention in a collapsed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the collapsible funnel 10 of the present invention in an expanded position. The funnel comprises triangular sections 1 1 each of which is connected to at least one other triangular section by a continuous crease therebetween. The triangular sections 11 are not actually triangles but rather are truncated triangles or trapezoids, i.e., the section sides forming the wide portion of the funnel and the narrow portion of the funnel may be parallel but it is not necessary that they be parallel. Hereinafter the sections will be referred to as triangular sections. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there are four triangular sections each of which is joined to two other triangular sections to form a square funnel. It is obvious that more triangular sections may be used, however, a preferred embodiment requires the use of four triangular sections joined as shown. Two of the triangular sections are joined by a seam means 12 so that a continuous crease is formed therebetween. A

I handle means 13 is connected to seam means 12 for Various collapsible paper funnel constructions are known. One such collapsiblepaper funnel construction is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,100,888 issued Mar. 30, 1937 to Vine. The collapsible paper funnels shown do not solve the problem of dispensing the liquids from puncturable containers since no method for puncturing the container inside the funnel is available and the funnel is not adapted to being readily positioned for dispensing the liquids since no handle is provided. Accordingly, much time and effort has been devoted to developing a collapsible funnel for use in dispensing liquids contained in puncturable containers.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been found that the objective of the present invention is achieved by the use of a collapsible funnel for dispensing'liquids from puncturable containers containing said liquids comprising: aplurality of triangular sections, each of which is joined to at least one other triangular section by a continuous crease means therebetween, a seam means connected to at least one triangular section, a handle means connected to said seam means, a blade means connected to said seam means and positioned to extend into the interior of said collapsible funnel, so that said puncturable containers when placed inside said collapsible funnel are punctured and the liquid dispensed-through said collapsible funnel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows the collapsible funnel of the present invention in an expanded position.

ease in handling and a blade means 14 for puncturing puncturable containers when such containers are placed inside collapsible funnel 10 is positioned in seam 12 so that a portion of said blade means having a pointed end 16 extends into the interior of the collapsible funnel. The collapsible funnel is tapered so that the funnel has a wide portion 18 and a narrow portion 17.

sections adjacent the blade when the funnel is in the collapsed position.

The funnel may be constructed of readily available materials such as paper, wax coated paper, plastic impregnated paper, plastics, metal foils, and the like.

- Most readily available materials for the construction of disposable items of this nature are suitable, and no particular novelty is attached to the material of construction.

Puncturable containers as used herein refers to con-' tainers of plastic, paper, wax coated paper, plastic impregnated paper, metal foils and the like of a thickness such that the containers are readily punctured when urged against the pointed end of the blade means with a moderate pressure.

The blade means 14 may be constructed of any suitable metal material such as heavy metal foils, thin sheets of metal, and the like.

The continuous crease may be formed by any known method such as by pre-forming a blank such that the triangular sections are joined by continuous creases therebetween or by other methods well known in the art.

The seam means may be formed by a variety of methods well known in the art such as by forming flaps on the two triangular sections to be joined and thereafter joining the two flaps to form the seam. Theflaps-may FIG.-2 shows the collapsible funnel in a collapsed pobe joined by any convenient means such as by the use of metal staples, adhesives, heat sealing and the like.

I The blade mean sis conveniently positioned in the seam means by placing it in position between the two flaps prior to joining and thus embedding the blade means in the seam. Other methods well known in the art may be used as convenient in the fabrication process.

In the use of the collapsible funnel, it is anticipated that the collapsible funnels could be packed withor near the puncturable containers containing the liquids to be dispensed. The funnels may then be used for dispensing the liquids in the puncturable containers and discarded after each use. It is readily seen that by grasping handle 13 and applying a slight pressure to the opposite side of the collapsed funnel the funnel is opened to the configuration shown in FIG. 1 and is ready for use. The puncturable containers are positioned in the wide portion of the funnel and then urged upon the pointed end of the blade means so that the puncturable container is torn open and the liquids allowed to drain out through the narrow portion of the funnel.

""it'is' readily seen that the collapsible funnel of the present invention offers an economical and convenient method for dispensing liquids from puncturable containers in a convenient and efiective manner by the use of readily available materials.

l. A collapsible funnel for dispensing liquids from puncturable containers containing said liquids comprising: a plurality of truncated triangular sections, each of which is joined to at least one other truncated triangular section by a continuous crease means therebetween, a seam means connected to at least one truncated triangular section, a handle means connected to said seam means, and a blade means connected to said seam means and positioned to extend into the interior of said collapsible funnel, so that said puncturable containers when placed inside said collapsible funnel are punctured and the liquid dispensed through said collapsible funnel.

Z. The collapsible funnel of claim 1 wherein four,

truncated triangular sections are joined to form a collapsible funnel which has a square configuration when expanded.

3. The collapsible funnel of claim 1, wherein said seam means is connected to two truncated triangular sections.

4. The collapsible funnel of claim 3 wherein said seam means is connected to said triangular sections by continuous creases therebetween.

5. The collapsible funnel of claim 4 wherein said seam means is formed by joining flaps attached to two adjacent truncated triangular sections. I GIThe collapsible funnel of claim 5 wherein a portion of said blade means is positioned between said flaps with the remaining portion of said blade means extending into the interior of said funnel. A,

7. The collapsible funnel of claim 6 wherein said portion of said blade means extending into the interior of said funnel has a pointed end adapted to puncture said puncturable containers as said containers are urged toward the narrow portion of said funnel.

8. The collapsible funnel of claim 7 wherein said collapsible funnel is collapsible to a flat position. t l

Claims (8)

1. A collapsible funnel for dispensing liquids from puncturable containers containing said liquids comprising: a plurality of triangular sections, each of which is joined to at least one other triangular section by a continuous crease means therebetween, a seam means connected to at least one triangular section, a handle means connected to said seam means, and a blade means connected to said seam means and positioned to extend into the interior of said collapsible funnel, so that said puncturable containers when placed inside said collapsible funnel are punctured and the liquid dispensed through said collapsible funnel.

2. The collapsible funnel of claim 1 wherein four triangular sections are joined to form a collapsible funnel which has a square configuration when expanded.

3. The collapsible funnel of claim 1, wherein said seam means is connected to two triangular sections.

4. The collapsible funnel of claim 3 wherein said seam means is connected to said triangular sections by continuous creases therebetween.

5. The collapsible funnel of claim 4 wherein said seam means is formed by joining flaps attached to two adjacent triangular sections.

6. The collapsible funnel of claim 5 wherein a portion of said blade means is positioned between said flaps with the remaining portion of said blade means extending into the interior of said funnel.

7. The collapsible funnel of claim 6 wherein said portion of said blade means extending into the interior of said funnel has a pointed end adapted to puncture said puncturable containers as said containers are urged toward the narrow portion of said funnel.

8. The collapsible funnel of claim 7 wherein said collapsible funnel is collapsible to a flat position.

Images