Spout for a container and a container including the same

Abstract

A spout for use on a portable liquid container and a container including the same. The spout includes a body having a channel extending between its first and second ends. A valve assembly is provided on the body and is movable between an open position where it allows liquid to flow through the channel and a closed position where it prevents liquid flow therethrough. The valve assembly is moved to the open position by moving the body in a first direction and is moved to the closed position by moving the body in the opposite direction. A locking assembly must be disengaged to move the body in the first direction. The spout may include a vent pipe to sense fuel levels in a second container in which liquid is to be dispensed.

1 . A spout for use on a portable liquid container, said spout comprising:
 a body having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween,   a channel defined in the body and extending between the first and second ends thereof;   a cap provided at the second end of the body and being adapted to engage a flange surrounding an opening on the container; and   a valve assembly provided on the body, said valve assembly being movable between an open position where it allows liquid flow through the channel and a closed position where it prevents liquid flow through the channel, and wherein said valve assembly is moved to the open position by moving the body in a first direction, and is moved to the closed position by moving the body in a direction different from the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The spout as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly is progressively opened by applying a force in the first direction to the first end of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The spout as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a locking assembly operationally engaged with the body, and wherein the locking assembly is released in order to move the body in the first direction. 
     
     
         4 . The spout as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the valve assembly is moved to the closed position by moving the body in a direction opposite to the first direction, and wherein the locking assembly resists movement of the body in both of the first direction and the opposite direction, and wherein the locking assembly must be released prior to applying a force to move the body in either of the first direction and the opposite direction. 
     
     
         5 . The spout as defined in  claim 1 , wherein when the body is moved in the first direction, the first direction is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         6 . The spout as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a first member and a second member that are operationally engaged with each other, and the first member is movable in the first direction and out of alignment with the second member to move the valve assembly from the closed position to the open position, and the first member is movable in an opposite direction to the first direction and thereby back into alignment with the second member to move the valve assembly from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The container as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the first member pivots relative to the second member about a pivot point and the pivot point is on a front side of the body, and wherein the body further includes a locking member disposed on a rear side of the body, and the locking member must be depressed before the first member is able to pivot relative to the second member. 
     
     
         8 . The spout as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the body further comprises a flexible member disposed between the first and second members, and wherein a portion of the flexible member is compressed when the first member is moved in the first direction, and the portion of the flexible member returns to its original shape when the first member is moved in the direction opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         9 . The spout as defined in  claim 6 , further comprising a spring member operationally engaged with the body, said spring member being disposed to resist movement of the first member in the first direction and to thereby biase the valve assembly into the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The spout as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the spring member is positioned between the first and the second members. 
     
     
         11 . The spout as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly includes:
 an actuator secured at a first end to the body;   a plunger disposed within the channel and being operationally engaged with the actuator, said plunger including a head; and, when the body is moved in the first direction, the actuator moves the plunger linearly within the channel in a second direction and opens a gap between the head and one of the first and second ends of the channel, and when the body is moved in the different direction to the first direction, the actuator moves the plunger linearly within the channel in a direction opposite to the second direction and causes the head to seal the one of the first and second ends of the channel.   
     
     
         12 . The spout as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising valve body disposed in the second member, said valve body defining a bore which is in liquid communication with the channel, and wherein the plunger is disposed at least partially in the valve body and is movable to seal an opening at one end of the valve body and thereby prevent liquid communication to the channel, and wherein the valve body includes a plurality of vent openings therein that are adapted to provide liquid communication between an environment surrounding the spout and the bore of the valve body when the plunger is not in a sealing arrangement with the opening at the one end of the valve body. 
     
     
         13 . The spout as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a vent pipe provided on the body and adapted to permit air to flow into an interior of the container when liquid is dispensed through the channel. 
     
     
         14 . The spout as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the vent pipe has a first end that is disposed proximate the first end of the channel and a second end that is disposed a distance inwardly from the second end of the channel; wherein the valve assembly includes a head disposed to seal off the second end of the channel, and wherein the second end of the vent pipe is disposed a distance inwardly from the second end of the channel. 
     
     
         15 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a first region including the first end and a second region including the second end, and wherein the first region is set at an angle relative to the second region, and wherein that angle is between 25 degrees and 90 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . A spout for use on a portable liquid container, said spout comprising:
 a body having a first end and a second end;   a channel defined in the body and extending between the first and second ends,   a cap provided on the second end and adapted to engage a flange surrounding an opening on the container;   a valve provided on the body and being movable between an open position where liquid is able to flow through the channel and a closed position where liquid is unable to flow through the channel, and wherein movement of the body in a first direction causes movement of the valve in a second direction.   
     
     
         17 . The spout as defined in  claim 16 , wherein movement of the body in a direction different to the first direction causes the valve to move in a direction opposite the second direction. 
     
     
         18 . The spout as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the movement of the valve in either one of the second direction and the direction opposite the second direction is movement that is substantially parallel to a linear axis of the channel. 
     
     
         19 . A container for holding a liquid, said container comprising:
 a housing having a bottom wall, a top wall and a perimeter wall extending between the bottom and top walls;   a chamber defined and bounded by the bottom, top and perimeter walls;   a single opening defined in one of the bottom, top and perimeter walls, wherein said single opening is surrounded by a flange and provides liquid communication between the chamber and an exterior environment surrounding the container; and   a pour spout engageable with the flange, said spout defining a channel therein extending between a first end and a second end thereof,   a valve assembly engaged with the spout, said valve assembly being moved to an open position to permit liquid to flow through the channel when the spout is moved in a first direction, and being moved to a closed position to prevent liquid to flow through the channel when the spout is moved in a direction different to the first direction.   
     
     
         20 . The container as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the spout has a linear axis extending between the first and second ends thereof, and the movement of the spout is at an angle relative to the linear axis, and the valve assembly includes a valve head that moves linearly within the channel in response to the movements of the spout. 
     
     
         21 . The container as defined in  claim 19 , further comprising a locking assembly engaged with the spout, and wherein the locking assembly includes a locking member that resists movement of the spout in the first direction, and the locking member must be depressed inwardly toward the spout to permit movement of the body in the first direction. 
     
     
         22 . A method of pouring liquid from a first container into a second container comprising the steps of:
 moving a spout on the first container in a first direction to move a valve within a channel of the spout from a closed position to an open position;   pouring liquid from the container through the channel; and   moving the spout in a direction different to the first direction to move the valve within the channel from the open position to the closed position once a desired quantity of liquid has been dispensed from the first container.   
     
     
         23 . The method as defined in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of:
 unlocking a locking assembly in order to permit the spout to be moved in the first direction.   
     
     
         24 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the step of unlocking the locking assembly includes the step of depressing a locking member to pivot a stop on the locking member out of abutting contact with a region of the spout. 
     
     
         25 . The method as defined in  claim 24 , further comprising the step of holding the locking member in the depressed position while moving the spout in the first direction. 
     
     
         26 . The method as defined in  claim 25 , further comprising the step of releasing the locking member as soon as the spout begins to move in the first direction. 
     
     
         27 . The method as defined in  claim 24 , further comprising the steps of depressing the locking member immediately prior to the step of moving the spout in a direction different to the first direction. 
     
     
         28 . The method as defined in  claim 27 , further comprising the steps of:
 holding the locking member in the depressed position until the spout begins to move in the direction different to the first direction; and then releasing the locking member.