Funnel with pivotable mounting bracket

Abstract

Disclosed is a funnel including a funnel body extending between a mouth and an exit orifice and a mounting bracket for clamping the funnel body to the pour spout of a safety canister. To adjust the positioning of the funnel body with respect to the pour spout, the funnel body and mounting bracket are pivotally connected. In an embodiment, the funnel body and mounting bracket are made of plastic and pivotally connected together by a living hinge. In another aspect of the invention, to reducing splashing and spillage, the funnel body includes a conical-shaped body and a splash bowl or scupper portion disposed through and extending from the conical-shaped body. The scupper is shaped to direct fluid from the pour spout away from the mouth and toward the orifice exit.

1 . A funnel comprising: 
 a funnel body including a proximate end, having a rim and defining a funnel mouth, and a distal end, defining an exit orifice; and    a mounting mechanism, the mounting mechanism pivotally connected to the funnel body.    
   
   
       2 . The funnel of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting mechanism includes a collar for retentively engaging a pour spout of a canister.  
   
   
       3 . The funnel of  claim 2 , wherein the funnel body and the mounting bracket are pivotally connected by a living hinge  
   
   
       4 . The funnel of  claim 3 , wherein the funnel body includes an opening extending a predetermined distance from the rim toward the distal end, the mounting bracket pivotable with respect to the opening.  
   
   
       5 . The funnel of  claim 4 , wherein the opening is defined by a first edge, a second edge, and the living hinge, the living hinge extending between the first and second edges, the living hinge defining a hinge axis about which the mounting mechanism is pivotable.  
   
   
       6 . The funnel of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting bracket is pivotable about the hinge over a range of travel between a first position wherein the mounting bracket is substantially coplanar with a plane defined by the first and second edges, and a second position wherein the mounting bracket is generally perpendicular to the plane defined by the first and second edges.  
   
   
       7 . The funnel of  claim 2 , wherein the collar is C-shaped and has a pair of ends, the ends defining a collar gap.  
   
   
       8 . The funnel of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a strap extending across the collar gap.    
   
   
       9 . The funnel of  claim 8 , wherein the mounting mechanism includes a pair of rods each having a rounded head, the strap including a pair of mounting holes, the rods respectively extending through the mounting holes, and the rounded heads removably retaining the strap.  
   
   
       10 . The funnel of  claim 7 , wherein the mounting mechanism includes a first side, a second side, and a web extending between the sides, the collar extending from the web.  
   
   
       11 . The funnel of  claim 10 , wherein the funnel body includes a channel and the first side of the mounting mechanism includes a retaining tab projecting into the channel when the mounting mechanism is in a first position, thereby retaining the mounting mechanism  
   
   
       12 . The funnel of  claim 11 , wherein the first side includes a stop in spaced relationship to the retaining tab, the stop projecting further from the first side than the retaining tab, the stop engageable with the funnel body.  
   
   
       13 . The funnel of  claim 12 , wherein the funnel body includes a second channel, and the second side of the mounting mechanism includes a second retainer tab projecting into the channel and a second stop in spaced relationship thereto.  
   
   
       14 . The funnel of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel body includes a scupper disposed adjacent the proximate end.  
   
   
       15 . The funnel of  claim 14 , wherein the scupper is disposed in opposing relationship to the mounting mechanism.  
   
   
       16 . The funnel of  claim 1 , wherein distal end includes an elongated spout.  
   
   
       17 . The funnel of  claim 16 , wherein the spout has a pair of stepped portions with a shoulder therebetween.  
   
   
       18 . A funnel comprising: 
 a rim defining a mouth;    an exit orifice;    an interior surface defining a passageway, the passageway extending between the mouth and the exit orifice; and    a scupper disposed adjacent the mouth, the scupper including an upper edge, the upper edge constituting a part of the rim.    
   
   
       19 . A funnel comprising: 
 a body portion defining an internal passage;    a proximal end having a mouth and a distal end having an exit orifice, the mouth and the exit orifice in fluid communication via the internal passage of the body;    an elongated spout disposed at the distal end and forming a part of the internal passage;    a scupper disposed at the proximal end and extending from the body portion; and    a movable mounting bracket connected to the body portion and disposed at the proximal end.    
   
   
       20 . The funnel of  claim 19 , wherein the scupper and the mounting bracket are disposed in opposing relationship to each other.  
   
   
       21 . The funnel of  claim 20 , wherein the spout includes a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions having a shoulder disposed therebetween.  
   
   
       22 . The funnel of  claim 21  wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the spout has a generally frusto-conical shape.  
   
   
       23 . The funnel of  claim 19 , wherein the mounting bracket is pivotally connected to the body portion.  
   
   
       24 . A storage and transfer system comprising: 
 a canister, the canister including a can, defining an enclosed storage volume, and a pour spout in communication with the storage volume; and    a funnel, the funnel including a funnel body and a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket pivotally connected to the funnel body, the mounting bracket securable to the pour spout of the canister.    
   
   
       25 . The storage and transfer system of  claim 24 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a collar, the collar disposable around the spout.  
   
   
       26 . The storage and transfer system of  claim 25 , wherein the collar has a first size and the pour spout has a second size, the first size being relatively smaller than the second size such that the collar frictionally engages the spout when the collar is disposed therearound.  
   
   
       27 . The storage and transfer system of  claim 26 , wherein the collar is resiliently flexible such that it flexes outwardly in response to being disposed around the spout.  
   
   
       28 . The storage and transfer system of  claim 24 , wherein the mounting bracket is pivotally connected to the funnel body via a living hinge.  
   
   
       29 . The storage and transfer system of  claim 24 , wherein the funnel body includes a proximate end having a rim defining a mouth, and a scupper adjacent the proximate end.