Telescoping spout for liquid container with flow control

Abstract

The telescoping spout includes a base through which a flexible tube extends and a sleeve fixed to the distal end of the tube. The sleeve is frictionally received on the base and is moveable to a position remote from the base to extend the tube. The sleeve has an open end with a protrusion. A cap with a small aperture in its top surface is received on the sleeve. The cap is rotatable from a position where the sleeve protrusion seals the cap aperture to prevent all liquid flow to a position where the liquid flow rate through the spout is controlled by the location of the sleeve protrusion relative to the cap aperture. Flow rate control by rotating the cap can take place regardless of the extension of the tube. Removal of the cap permits liquid flow at the maximum flow rate.

1 . A telescoping spout for a liquid container of the type having a mouth defined by a neck and a tube with an open distal end, said spout comprising a base adapted to be received on the container neck and through which said tube extends, a sleeve fixed to said distal end of said tube, said sleeve being adapted to be received on said base and being moveable to a position remote from said base, said sleeve having an axis, a tubular section and an externally threaded section and a cap adapted to be received on said tubular sleeve section, said cap having an internally threaded section cooperating with said externally threaded section of said sleeve such that said cap can be rotated relative to said sleeve to move said cap along said axis to control liquid flow rate through said spout, said tubular sleeve section having a distal end with a protrusion, said protrusion comprising a side wall inclined toward said axis, said cap comprising a surface with an aperture defined by a side wall generally parallel to said sleeve protrusion side wall, wherein rotation of said cap relative to said sleeve causes said sleeve protrusion to be received in said cap aperture such that said sleeve protrusion side wall and said cap aperture side wall engage along the length thereof to prevent fluid flow through the spout. 
     
     
         2 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The spout of  claim 1  wherein said protrusion has a substantially truncated conical shape. 
     
     
         27 . The spout of  claim 1  wherein said aperture has a substantially truncated conical shape. 
     
     
         28 . The spout of  claim 1  wherein said distal end of said tubular sleeve section further comprises an opening proximate said sleeve protrusion through which fluid can pass and wherein said cap surface comprises a cap protrusion with a semi-circular cross-sectional shape adapted to be received within said tubular sleeve section opening when said sleeve protrusion is received in said cap aperture. 
     
     
         29 . The spout of  claim 28  wherein said tubular sleeve section opening has a substantially half-moon shape. 
     
     
         30 . The spout of  claim 28  wherein said tubular sleeve section opening comprises two spaced, oppositely oriented half-moon shaped openings. 
     
     
         31 . The spout of  claim 28  wherein said cap protrusion is proximate said cap aperture. 
     
     
         32 . A telescoping spout for a liquid container of the type having a mouth defined by a neck and a tube with an open distal end, said spout comprising a base adapted to be received on the container neck and through which said tube extends, an externally threaded sleeve fixed to said distal end of said tube, said sleeve being adapted to be received on said base and being moveable to a position remote from said base, an internally threaded cap having an aperture adapted to be rotatably received on said sleeve for movement between retracted and extended positions to control the amount of liquid passing through said aperture, and first and second means for sealing said sleeve and said cap, when said cap is in said retracted position, said first sealing means comprising correspondingly inclined side walls on said sleeve and on said cap adapted to engage along the length thereof and said second sealing means comprising an opening in said sleeve and a protrusion with a semi-circular cross-section extending from said cap adapted to be received in said opening. 
     
     
         33 . The spout of  claim 32  wherein said first sealing means comprises a substantially truncated conical protrusion and a substantially truncated conical aperture. 
     
     
         34 . The spout of  claim 32  wherein said sleeve opening has a half-moon shape. 
     
     
         35 . The spout of  claim 32  wherein said sleeve opening has the shape of two spaced oppositely oriented half-moons. 
     
     
         36 . The spout of  claim 33  wherein said sleeve opening is proximate said truncated conical protrusion. 
     
     
         37 . A telescoping spout for a liquid container of the type having a mouth defined by a neck and a tube with an open distal end, said spout comprising a base adapted to be received on the container neck and through which said tube extends, an externally threaded sleeve fixed to said distal end of said tube, said sleeve being adapted to be received on said base and being moveable to a position remote from said base, an internally threaded cap having an aperture adapted to be rotatably received on said sleeve for movement between retracted and extended positions to control the liquid flow through said aperture, and means for sealing said sleeve and said cap, when said cap is in said retracted position, said sealing means comprising an opening in said sleeve and a protrusion with a semi-circular cross-sectional shape extending from said cap and adapted to be received in said opening. 
     
     
         38 . The spout of  claim 37  wherein said sleeve opening has a half-moon shape. 
     
     
         39 . The spout of  claim 37  wherein said sleeve opening has the shape of two spaced oppositely oriented half-moons. 
     
     
         40 . The spout of  claim 37  further comprising an inclined side wall on said sleeve and a correspondingly inclined side wall on said cap adapted to engage along the length thereof, wherein said protrusion comprises said side wall on said sleeve and said opening is proximate said protrusion.