AU661669B2

AU661669B2 - Spout-forming member

Info

Publication number: AU661669B2
Application number: AU11127/92A
Authority: AU
Inventors: William Thomas Mccausland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-02-20
Filing date: 1992-02-20
Publication date: 1995-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 2012-02-20
Also published as: AU1112792A

Description

-I Ir 7 66669

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Spout-Forming Member The following statement is a full description of this o 44 invention, including the best method of performing it 444444 S"known to me: 4 olelau This invention relates to a device which is intended to facilitate the pouring of pourable materials from containers such as paint tins which have a rim including a circular groove which receives a complementary sealing rib provided near the periphery of the lid. Although the invention is of general applicability to the pouring of liquids from such containers, it will as a matter of convenience be described in relation to paint tins.

The problems of pouring paint from such containers are well known. In particular, paint tends to flow into the sealing groove and may inhibit proper re-sealing of the tin. Due to the unsuitability of the grooved lip for pouring, it is difficult accurately to pour the paint and furthermore paint flows down the outside of the tin. Other liquids which may be hazardous or Smessy are also a problem when poured from such containers.

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-2- The present invention provides a pouring spout-forming member for a container of the kind having an open end surrounded by a rim provided with a circular sealing groove, the spout-forming member comprising a substantially planar body of elastomeric material having a lower edge dimensioned to fit into said sealing groove when said body is flexed into an arcuate configuration, the thickness of said lower edge being greater than the width of said groove, and having an upper edge shaped so as to form a pouring edge when said body is so flexed.

The invention will be described herein, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: S•Fig. 1 is a plan view of a spout embodying the Sao invention; ~Fig. 2 shows the spout of Fig. 1 in place on a paint can; Fig. 3 shows a modified form of the spout; Fig. 4 shows modified forms of the lower edge; and 0 Fig. 5 illustrates an accessory device.

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0 In the simple form illustrated, the spout comprises a 25 sheet 10 of suitable material such as closed cell foam plastics, cut to provide a curved pouring edge 11 and a base edge 12. The foam material is of a thickness which is preferably slightly greater than the width of the sealing groove 13 of the paint tin 14 with which the spout is to be used, and of a stiffness which allows it to be self-supporting when in place as shown in Fig. 2. The material should also be capable of carrying the weight of the material during pouring.

When paint is poured from the tin with the pourer in place as illustrated in Fig. 2, pouring will be [guided by the outer edge 11. At the end of the -2apouring operation, undispensed paint will run back 00 0 004 00 0 o go 0 00 0 0 000044 0 000000 0 0 000004 4 0404 0444 0 4 I 0 0 S 4004 0 4t 0 00 004* 0 0 0 00.0 0404 0 00 0 0040 7

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~Ir i r -3down the surface of the pourer as the tin is returned to the vertical, and as the groove 13 is filled by the pourer in the region of this return flow, this paint will return to the tin, leaving no or very little paint in the groove 13.

When removing the spout from the tin before replacing the lid, it will be found that the most efficient movement is one in which the base edge 11 is released progressively from one end to the other.

This produces a wiping action which minimises the run of paint into the groove.

The pouring edge 11 may be shaped to any desired contour to suit the flow rate of the material and the width of pouring, and the base edge 12 may be curved to modify the shape into which the spout bends when the base edge is fully inserted in the groove 13. If desired, a pouring aperture may be provided in the material of the spout towards the edge 11.

lit, The base edge 12 may be contoured to enable the pourer to adapt a chosen angle relative to the container.

25 An example of such modifications is shown in Fig. 3, *4,4 where the pouring edge 11 is contoured to provide o bight regions 16, and a pouring slot 17 is provided, o. in the case with a radiused portion at its root 17.

k. Such a configuration has been found to give excellent results with the pouring of paints. The slot 17 provides pouring accuracy, and the shape of the spout in the rsegions of the bights 16 appears to direct the tensile forces in the material so as to provide additional support for the central region of the spout.

It is also found that while pouring with a spout of

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I -4the shape illustrated in Fig. 3, convenient control over the pouring can be achieved by means of pressure on the central region of the spout from the fingers and thumb. By squeezing this region, the flow can be narrowed or reduced, and in the extreme case the flow can be cut off, enabling pouring to be stopped more quickly than by lowering the can, should a sudden stop be required.

Further modifications which can be made to the basic pourer are illustrated in Figs. 4(a) to where alternative base edge configurations are illustrated.

In Fig. the base edge 12 of a spout of closed cell polyethylene foam is die cut to provide an edge portion 18 of the correct thickness for engagement in the groove 13 and a shoulder 19 which in use will rest against the inner lip of the can, ensuring that poured material returns to the can without seeping into the groove. In Fig. 4(b) a similar function is provided by moulding the lower edge of the pourer.

Fig. 4(c) shows a lower edge which has been split at so that upon insertion of the portion 18 into the 25 groove 13, the portion 21 will proje9 into the can, again providing greater security against seepage of material into the groove 13.

4* While the preferred material from which the spout is formed is closed cell foam plastics, the invention is not limited to the use of any particular material, and other suitable materials will be found. Preferably, the material has sufficient resilience to be securely retained within the groove 13 during use. If desired, clips or lugs 15 (one of which is shown in Fig. 2) may be affixed to the pourer to provide a firmer hold j in the groove and to facilitate the removal of the

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pourer.

A great advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that the spout-forming member may conveniently be packaged with the paint tin, for example by attachment to the lid or by being wrapped against the side of the tin, although of course spout-forming members may be sold as separate items. It will be appreciated that such members according to the invention lend themselves to use as advertising media, and may carry, for example, a paint company logo.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a device which is also for use with grooved cans of the type under 15 consideration. In this case the device consists of a S"strip 22 of resilient material, of the same properties e as the materials discussed above, of a length equal to S the circumference of the groove of the tin for which it is intended. When the strip 22 is inserted into the groove 13, it fills the groove and thereby prevents the entry of any of the contents of the tin into the groove. Preferably, the strip 22 is provided with a tab 23 which may be grasped for removal of the strip from the can.

A device such as the strip 22 can be dimensioned to ~extend upwardly, so that it forms a cylindrical walL, enabling, for example, paint in a newly opened tin to be stirred without spillage.

While the inventions have been described herein with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that it is not limited to realization in 1 those forms.

Claims

1. A pouring spout-forming member for a container of the kind having an open end surrounded by a rim provided with a circular sealing groove, the spout-forming member comprising a substantially planar body of elastomeric material having a lower edge dimensioned to fit into said sealing groove when said body is flexed into an arcuate configuration, the thickness of said lower edge being greater than the width of said groove, and having an upper edge shaped so as to form a pouring edge when said body is so V flexed. S 15

2. A member according to claim 1 wherein said lower o edge is split to provide a lip portion capable of bein plced verthe inner edge of said rim.

3. A member according to claim 1 wherein said lower ed20 is provided with a shoulder which in use faces downwardly and engages the inner edge of said groove.

00004. Amember according to any preceding claim wherein 400id lower edge is contoured such that said body lies 04009 25 at a predeterntined angle relative to a cylindrical surfac containing sadgroove.

In combination, a cylindrical container of the kind having an open end surrounded by a rim provided with a circular sealing groove, and a pouring spout-formirxg member comprising a substantially planar body of elastomeric material having a lower edge dimensioned to fit into said sealing groove when said body is flexed into an arcuate configuration, the thickness of said lower edge being greater than the width of said groove, and having an upper edge shaped Iril-A41so as to form a pouring edge when said body is so -11 S-7- flexed, said member being associated with said container for transport and sale by wrapping said member against the side of said container.

6. A pouring spout-forming member substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 9th day of September, 1994. WILLIAM THOMAS McCAUSLAND Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: HALFORD CO. t I tI «t I .lt I /I ABSTRACT A pouring spout for a container (14) of the kind O. having an open end surrounded by a rim provided O. with a circular sealing groove (13) is formed by a body of flexible material (10) the lower edge of which is dimensioned to fit into the sealing groove. The body of flexible material can be packaged with the container by being wrapped against its cylindrical surface. 0o 00 o *0 o• 6 *O 0 99 6 o~oi u•°o f