Funnel

The present invention relates to a funnel and more specifically to a funnel used for pouring a liquid, in which there is a conically shaped lower part for preventing the liquid from overflowing and spilling.

Funnels are generally used when pouring liquids from one vessel into another or into separate containers. Usually the funnel is placed in the mouth of the vessel or container to be poured into and is held in one hand during pouring, or else the funnel is allowed to drop up to its widening upper part inside the mouth, and the liquid is poured using either one or two hands. Funnels come in different sizes and shapes, but mainly consist of an upwardly widening upper part and a tube-like stem part, through which the liquid runs into the vessel into which it is being poured.

These previously known funnels assist in pouring liquid into a vessel or container through the upwardly widening mouth of the funnel, thus making it more certain that the liquid will run into the mouth of the vessel or container and the liquid will not be wasted as easily as when pouring it without a funnel. However, these funnels do not prevent the liquid from overflowing the edge of the mouth of the vessel or container, once the vessel or container into which the liquid is being poured becomes full.

The present invention is intended to achieve a funnel, with the aid of which overfilling the vessel and the overflow of the liquid can be avoided. This and other benefits and advantages of the present invention are achieved by means of a funnel, the characteristic features of which are stated in the accompanying Claims.

The invention is examined in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a side view of the funnel according to the invention, seen from slightly above.

Figure 2 shows the funnel according to the invention, seen from directly below.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the funnel according to the invention, seen from slightly above, in which broken lines show the internal construction of the cone.

In the funnel 1 according to the invention, there is an upper part 2, into which the liquid is poured, as well as a stem part 3, which is joined at the lower end to a cone part 4. Inside the cone part 4 are liquid and air-flow channels 5, along which the air can escape when the liquid is poured, as well as a container part 6 that collects possibly overflowing liquid.

The funnel according to the invention has considerable advantages in use. The conical structure of the lower part 4 of the stem presses tightly against the mouths of different sizes of vessel and container. For this purpose, funnels according to the invention can be manufactured equipped with cone parts 4 with differently sized diameters. On the other hand, various adapter parts can also be manufactured, by means of which the diameter of a cone part with originally a small diameter can be increased to fit the mouths of larger vessels. The adapter parts can be suitably flexible, to create a tight joint with the vessel's mouth.

Tightness can be further ensured by using one hand to press the funnel against the mouth. Between the wall of the cone and the container part inside the cone are liquid and air-flow channels. When the liquid is poured, the air in the vessel or container can escape along the flow channels 5 of the cone. Once the vessel or container into which the liquid is poured is full, the overflowing liquid rises upwards along the flow channels 5 and drops into the container part 6 and the bottom of the cone. At this stage the pouring of the liquid is stopped and the funnel 1 according to the invention is lifted off the mouth of the vessel, so that the liquid in the channels 5 flows back into the vessel being filled, leaving the liquid surface more or less at the level reached by the lower end of the funnel.

The liquid can be poured from the container part 6 by tilting the funnel to pour it back along the flow channels to the original vessel or container from which it was poured. To ensure this operation, there is a fold 7 in the upper edge of the cone

part 4, which prevents the liquid from flowing out of the container 6 when the device is tilted. In a preferred embodiment, the edge of the upper part 2 of the funnel too is equipped with a corresponding fold.

Using the funnel according to the invention, pouring liquids is cleaner, as the liquid will not flow over the edges of vessels and containers. Liquid is also not wasted, as liquid that overflows the vessel or container collects in the container part on the bottom of the cone, from where it can be poured back into the original vessel or container.

All or parts of the funnel preventing overfilling can be made from different materials. Funnels can be in different sizes and the size and shape of their upper, stem, and cone parts can vary, e.g., the stem part can be short or long, or rigid or flexible, the cone part can be high or low, and the angle of the walls of the cone can vary. The number and shape of the cone's liquid and air-flow channels 5 can vary. The size of the container part can also vary.

In addition, all or part of the funnel preventing overfilling can be transparent or of different colours, or patterned with texts and/or images. The funnel preventing overfilling can also be equipped with, e.g., a filter screen for rubbish, handles, or a hanging loop to facilitate storage. Though it is essential to the invention that the joint between the stem 3 of the funnel 1 and the lower part of the cone part 4 must be tight to ensure operation, the joint can also be alternatively fixed or detachable. In the latter case, the funnel can be supplied with two or more cone parts of different sizes.

Though the figures give the impression that the cone part 4 has two walls, so that the channels 5 are between the walls, the invention can also be implemented in such a way that the channels 5 are tubular and start from the otherwise closed bottom and extend upwards for some distance. For example, the 'height' shown in Figure 3 is suitable in practice. A sufficient capacity is then formed in the container 6. The liquid also cannot run backwards unintentionally.

The invention is not restricted only to the example described, but can vary in different ways within the scope of the Claims.