초록 ▼

The illustrated spouted container (10) broadly includes a storage container (12), a self-venting spout (14) removably coupled to the container (12), a collar (16) for removably coupling the spout (14) to the container (12), and a cap (18) for closing the spout (14) and/or the container (12). The col

The illustrated spouted container (10) broadly includes a storage container (12), a self-venting spout (14) removably coupled to the container (12), a collar (16) for removably coupling the spout (14) to the container (12), and a cap (18) for closing the spout (14) and/or the container (12). The collar (16) cooperates with an inventive sealing disc (32) and a neck (24) to create a gasket-less seal between the spout (14) and the storage container (12) that is adjustable yet prevents undesirable fluid leakage when the spout (14) is in either a pour or a storage position. The spout (14) is a self-venting spout that includes an air-venting passageway (34) formed in part by a flange (60).

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for storing fluid and transferring the stored fluid to a receptacle, said apparatus comprising:a container presenting an internal chamber operable to store fluid, said container including a neck defining an opening operable to fluidly communicate the internal chamber with the ambient

1. An apparatus for storing fluid and transferring the stored fluid to a receptacle, said apparatus comprising:a container presenting an internal chamber operable to store fluid, said container including a neck defining an opening operable to fluidly communicate the internal chamber with the ambient atmosphere, said neck and opening defining a common, center longitudinal neck axis; and a spout assembly removably coupled to the neck of the container and including a fluid conduit operable to direct fluid from the container to the receptacle, said fluid conduit presenting a first end proximate the neck of the container defining a center longitudinal conduit axis and a second end spaced from and distal to the neck of the container, said neck including an integrally formed internal circumferential container sealing surface defining a first obtuse angle relative to said neck axis, said fluid conduit including an integrally formed first external circumferential conduit sealing surface defining a second obtuse angle relative to said conduit axis and slidably engaging said container sealing surface. 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,said spout assembly including a collar removably coupling the fluid conduit to the neck of the container, said collar being threadably received on said neck and rotatable into and out of first and second sealing positions wherein said container and conduit sealing surfaces are sealingly engaged, said first conduit sealing surface of said conduit being partially received within said neck when the collar is in the first sealing position and said first conduit sealing surface being substantially entirely received within said neck when the collar is in the second sealing position. 3. An apparatus for storing fluid and transferring the stored fluid to a receptacle, said apparatus comprising:a container presenting an internal chamber operable to store fluid, said container including a neck defining an opening operable to fluidly communicate the internal chamber with the ambient atmosphere, said neck and opening defining a common center longitudinal neck axis; and a spout assembly removably coupled to the neck of the container and including a fluid conduit operable to direct fluid from the container to the receptacle, said fluid conduit presenting a first end proximate the neck of the container defining a center longitudinal conduit axis and a second end spaced from and distal to the neck of the container, said neck including an integrally formed internal circumferential container sealing surface defining a first obtuse agile relative to said neck axis, said fluid conduit including an integrally formed first external circumferential conduit sealing surface defining a second obtuse angle relative to said conduit axis and configured to slidably engage said container sealing surface, said spout assembly including a collar removably coupling the fluid conduit to the neck of the container, said collar being threadably received on said neck and rotatable into and out of first and second sealing positions wherein said container and conduit sealing surfaces are sealingly engaged, said first conduit sealing surface of said conduit being partially received within said neck when the collar is in the first sealing position and said first conduit sealing surface being substantially entirely received within said neck when the collar is in the second sealing position, said collar being detachable from said fluid conduit, said fluid conduit being repositionable when said collar is detached between a pour position wherein said second end is external to the internal chamber and a storage position wherein the second end is disposed within the internal chamber, said collar being rotatable into and out of the first and second sealing positions when the fluid conduit is in the pour position. 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3,said first conduit sealing surface being positioned adjacent said first end of the fluid conduit, said fluid conduit including an integrally formed second external circumferential conduit sealing surface defining a third obtuse angle relative to said conduit axis and configured to slidably engage said container sealing surface, said second conduit sealing surface being adjacent said first end and in an opposed relationship relative to said first conduit sealing surface, said collar being rotatable into and out of third and fourth sealing positions wherein said container and second conduit sealing surfaces are sealingly engaged. 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4,said container sealing surface being positioned within the neck adjacent the top end of the neck, said fluid conduit further including a diametrically extending stopper rib positioned between the opposed first and second conduit sealing surfaces, said stopper rib engaging the top end of the neck when the fluid conduit is in the pour and storage positions and being configured to prevent rotation of the collar past the second sealing position when the fluid conduit is in the pour position and to prevent rotation of the collar past the fourth sealing position when the fluid conduit is in the storage position. 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5,said collar including an integrally formed internal circumferential collar sealing surface defining a fourth obtuse angle relative to said neck axis when the collar is in the sealing positions, said collar sealing surface sealingly engaging said second conduit sealing surface when the collar is in the first and second sealing positions, said collar sealing surface sealingly engaging said first conduit sealing surface when the collar is in the third and fourth sealing positions. 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,said first and second angles being generally equivalent angles.