초록 ▼

A spill inhibitor for a container includes a spill inhibitor body configured to be releasably secured to or integral with a container. The spill inhibitor body defines an opening therethrough and has a plurality of compliant finger projections extending from the spill inhibitor body. The finger proj

A spill inhibitor for a container includes a spill inhibitor body configured to be releasably secured to or integral with a container. The spill inhibitor body defines an opening therethrough and has a plurality of compliant finger projections extending from the spill inhibitor body. The finger projections are arranged to impede movement of an item through the opening of the spill inhibitor body for controlling passage of the item through a mouth of the container.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A spill inhibitor for a container, the spill inhibitor comprising: a spill inhibitor body defining an opening;a plurality of compliant finger projections extending from the spill inhibitor body and arranged to substantially fully cover the opening for impeding movement of an item through the open

1. A spill inhibitor for a container, the spill inhibitor comprising: a spill inhibitor body defining an opening;a plurality of compliant finger projections extending from the spill inhibitor body and arranged to substantially fully cover the opening for impeding movement of an item through the opening; anda fastener disposed on the spill inhibitor body and configured to releasably fasten the spill inhibitor to a container;wherein at least one finger projection has a cross-sectional width substantially similar to a cross-sectional height;wherein at least one finger projection has a first end attached to the spill inhibitor body and extends to an unattached distal, second end; andwherein at least one finger projection has a durometer of between about 30 Shore A and about 60 Shore A. 2. The spill inhibitor of claim 1, wherein the spill inhibitor body is configured to be received in the mouth of the container. 3. The spill inhibitor of claim 2, wherein the spill inhibitor body defines a lip configured to be received against a rim of the mouth of the container and hold the spill inhibitor body at the mouth of the container. 4. A spill inhibitor for a container, the spill inhibitor comprising: a spill inhibitor body configured to be releasably secured to the container, the spill inhibitor body defining an opening; anda plurality of compliant finger projections extending from the spill inhibitor body and arranged to substantially fully cover the opening for impeding movement of an item through the opening;wherein at least one finger projection has a cross-sectional width substantially similar to a cross-sectional height;wherein at least one finger projection has a first end attached to the spill inhibitor body and extends to an unattached distal, second end; andwherein at least one finger projection has a durometer of between about 30 Shore A and about 60 Shore A;wherein the spill inhibitor body defines threads configured to mate with corresponding threads defined by the container. 5. The spill inhibitor of claim 1, wherein the fastener defines an engagement portion configured to engage and couple the spill inhibitor body to the mouth of the container. 6. The spill inhibitor of claim 1, wherein the fastener releasably fastens the spill inhibitor to the opening of the container. 7. The spill inhibitor of claim 6, wherein the fastener system comprises a clamp. 8. The spill inhibitor of claim 6, wherein the fastener system comprises a hook and loop fastener system. 9. The spill inhibitor of claim 1, wherein each finger projection has a proximal end joined to the spill inhibitor body and a free distal end, the proximal end of at least one finger projection having an overall height greater than about 10% of an overall width measured perpendicular to the height. 10. The spill inhibitor of claim 1, wherein the finger projections extend radially inwardly toward a longitudinal axis defined by the spill inhibitor body, such that the finger projections substantially provide a closure of the opening. 11. The spill inhibitor of claim 1, wherein the finger projections are arranged substantially co-planar in at least two layers spaced from each other along a longitudinal axis defined by the spill inhibitor body. 12. The spill inhibitor of claim 11, wherein each finger projection layer is offset from an adjacent finger projection layer by a predetermined arc of rotation about the longitudinal axis. 13. A spill inhibitor for a container, the spill inhibitor comprising: a spill inhibitor body defining an opening;a plurality of compliant finger projections extending from the spill inhibitor body and arranged to substantially fully cover the opening for impeding movement of an item through the opening; anda fastener disposed on the spill inhibitor body and configured to releasably fasten the spill inhibitor to a container;wherein at least one finger projection has a cross-sectional width substantially similar to a cross-sectional height;wherein at least one finger projection has a first end attached to the spill inhibitor body and extends to an unattached distal, second end; andwherein the finger projections extend from the spill inhibitor body as one integrally molded piece. 14. The spill inhibitor of claim 1, wherein at least one of the finger projections defines a substantially cylindrical shape. 15. The spill inhibitor of claim 1, wherein at least one of the finger projections defines a substantially polyhedron shape. 16. The container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the finger projections tapers in cross-sectional shape from a proximal end joined to the spill inhibitor body to a free distal end. 17. A spill inhibitor system for a bag, the spill inhibitor system comprising: a spill inhibitor comprising: a spill inhibitor body defining an opening therethrough; anda plurality of compliant finger projections extending from the spill inhibitor body and arranged to substantially fully cover the opening for impeding movement of an item through the opening; anda retaining device configured to releasably secure the spill inhibitor to at least a portion of the bag;wherein at least one finger projection has a cross-sectional width substantially similar to a cross-sectional height;wherein at least one finger projection has a first end attached to the spill inhibitor body and extends to an unattached distal, second end disposed radially inward of a surface of the opening; andwherein at least one finger projection has a durometer of between about 30 Shore A and about 60 Shore A. 18. The spill inhibitor system of claim 17, wherein the retaining device defines threads configured to mate with corresponding threads defined by the spill inhibitor body, at least a portion of the bag being held between the spill inhibitor body and the mating retaining device. 19. The spill inhibitor system of claim 17, wherein the retaining device comprises a band sized to fit around the perimeter of the spill inhibitor body, at least a portion of the bag being held between the spill inhibitor body and the band received over the spill inhibitor body. 20. The spill inhibitor system of claim 17, wherein the retaining device is magnetically secured to the spill inhibitor body with at least a portion of the bag being held therebetween. 21. The spill inhibitor system of claim 17, wherein the retaining device defines an engagement portion configured to engage and couple the retaining device to the spill inhibitor body with at least a portion of the bag being held therebetween. 22. The spill inhibitor system of claim 17, wherein each finger projection has a proximal end joined to the spill inhibitor body and a free distal end, the proximal end of at least one finger projection having an overall height greater than about 10% of an overall width measured perpendicular to the height. 23. The spill inhibitor system of claim 17, further comprising at least one fastener system disposed on the spill inhibitor body and configured to releasably secure the spill inhibitor to the container. 24. The spill inhibitor system of claim 23, wherein the fastener system comprises a clamp. 25. The spill inhibitor system of claim 23, wherein the fastener system comprises a hook and loop fastener system. 26. The spill inhibitor system of claim 17, wherein the finger projections extend radially inwardly toward a longitudinal axis defined by the spill inhibitor body, such that the finger projections substantially provide a closure of the opening. 27. The spill inhibitor system of claim 17, wherein the finger projections extend inwardly toward and substantially normal to a longitudinal plane defined by the spill inhibitor body, such that the finger projections substantially provide a closure of the opening. 28. The spill inhibitor system of claim 17, wherein the finger projections are arranged substantially co-planar in at least two layers spaced from each other along a longitudinal axis defined by the spill inhibitor body. 29. The spill inhibitor system of claim 28, wherein each finger projection layer is offset from an adjacent finger projection layer by a predetermined arc of rotation about the longitudinal axis. 30. The spill inhibitor system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the finger projections defines a substantially cylindrical shape. 31. The spill inhibitor system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the finger projections defines a substantially polyhedron shape. 32. The container system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the finger projections tapers in cross-sectional shape from a proximal end joined to the spill inhibitor body to a free distal end. 33. A spill inhibiting container comprising: a container body defining a receptacle having an opening; anda plurality of compliant finger projections extending from the container body, the finger projections arranged to substantially fully cover the opening for impeding movement of an item through the opening;wherein at least one finger projection has a cross-sectional width substantially similar to a cross-sectional height;wherein at least one finger projection has a first end attached to the spill inhibitor body and extends to an unattached distal, second end; andwherein at least one finger projection has a durometer of between about 30 Shore A and about 60 Shore A. 34. The spill inhibiting container of claim 33, wherein each finger projection has a proximal end joined to the container body and a free distal end, the proximal end of at least one finger projection having an overall height greater than about 10% of an overall width measured perpendicular to the height. 35. The spill inhibiting container of claim 33, wherein the finger projections extend from the receptacle surface radially inwardly toward a longitudinal axis defined by the container body, such that the finger projections substantially provide a closure of the opening. 36. The spill inhibiting container of claim 33, wherein the finger projections extend from the container body inwardly toward and substantially normal to a single longitudinal plane defined by the container body, such that the finger projections substantially provide a closure of the opening. 37. The spill inhibiting container of claim 33, wherein the finger projections are arranged substantially co-planar in at least two layers spaced from each other along a longitudinal axis defined by the container body. 38. The spill inhibiting container of claim 37, wherein each finger projection layer is offset from an adjacent finger projection layer by a predetermined arc of rotation about the longitudinal axis. 39. The spill inhibiting container of claim 33, wherein at least one of the finger projections defines a substantially cylindrical shape. 40. The spill inhibiting container of claim 33, wherein at least one of the finger projections defines a substantially polyhedron shape. 41. The spill inhibiting container of claim 33, wherein at least one of the finger projections tapers in cross-sectional shape from a proximal end joined to the container body to a free distal end. 42. The spill inhibiting container of claim 33, further comprising a cover removably secured to the container body, covering the mouth of the container. 43. The spill inhibitor of claim 4, wherein the spill inhibitor body is configured to be received in the mouth of the container. 44. The spill inhibitor of claim 43, wherein the spill inhibitor body defines a lip configured to be received against a rim of the mouth of the container and hold the spill inhibitor body at the mouth of the container. 45. The spill inhibitor of claim 4, wherein the finger projections extend radially inwardly toward a longitudinal axis defined by the spill inhibitor body, such that the finger projections substantially provide a closure of the opening. 46. The spill inhibitor of claim 4, wherein the finger projections extend inwardly toward and substantially normal to a single longitudinal plane defined by the spill inhibitor body, such that the finger projections substantially provide a closure of the opening. 47. The spill inhibitor of claim 4, wherein the finger projections are arranged substantially co-planar in at least two layers spaced from each other along a longitudinal axis defined by the spill inhibitor body. 48. The spill inhibitor of claim 47, wherein each finger projection layer is offset from an adjacent finger projection layer by a predetermined arc of rotation about the longitudinal axis. 49. The spill inhibitor of claim 4, wherein the finger projections extend from a surface of the opening. 50. The spill inhibitor of claim 4, wherein at least one of the finger projections defines a substantially cylindrical shape. 51. The spill inhibitor of claim 4, wherein at least one of the finger projections defines a substantially polyhedron shape.