Pour spout

Abstract

A pour spout is adapted to be coupled to a container having an open end and an outer lip extending around the open end. The pour spout includes a body having a reservoir for receiving fluid from the container. A channel leads from the reservoir to a distal end of the body for directing fluid away from the reservoir. Two clips are disposed on the body for coupling the body to the outer lip of the container at one or more positions whereat the outer lip curves. A proximal wall of the body of the pour spout extends between the two clips and is configured to fit underneath the curve in the outer lip of the container for capturing fluid spilling from the container within the reservoir. Fluid is prevented from exiting out through the channel when the container is resting in an upright orientation on a generally horizontal surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pour spout configured to detachably couple to a fluid container having an open end and an outer lip formed around a perimeter of the open end, the pour spout comprising:
 a body having a reservoir for receiving fluid and a channel extending from the reservoir to a distal end of the body;   two clips disposed at a proximal end of the body and configured to enable detachable coupling of the body to the container; and   a wall of the body extending between the two opposing clips, the wall partially defining the reservoir and being shaped to fit underneath a curved surface of the outer lip of the container and inward toward the container from the outer lip when the body is coupled to the container, in such a way that fluid exiting the container at the curved surface enters the reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The pour spout of  claim 1 , wherein the channel provides a path sloped in such a way that directs fluid toward the reservoir when the pour spout is coupled with the container resting upright and flat on a generally horizontal surface and away from the reservoir when the container and the pour spout are angled away from a generally horizontal surface. 
     
     
         3 . The pour spout of  claim 1 , further comprising a dip or depression in the channel at the distal end of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The pour spout of  claim 1 , wherein the channel has a substantially U-shape or V-shape. 
     
     
         5 . The pour spout of  claim 1 , wherein the body is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, metal, plastic, synthetics, and composites. 
     
     
         6 . The pour spout of  claim 1 , further comprising a tab extending from the wall, the tab configured to engage the curved surface of the container in such a way as to stabilize the position of the body relative to the container when the body is coupled to the container. 
     
     
         7 . The pour spout of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two opposing clips comprises two appendages and a bridge coupling the two appendages, the bridge being positioned above the wall. 
     
     
         8 . The pour spout of  claim 1 , wherein the lip of the container is formed around an entirety of the perimeter of the open end or around a portion of the perimeter of the open end. 
     
     
         9 . The pour spout of  claim 1 , wherein the curved surface of the lip of the container comprises a continuous curve of the lip of the container when the container is generally cylindrical in shape or a corner of the lip of the container when the container includes at least one corner. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a fluid container having an open end and an outer lip formed around a perimeter of the open end; and   a pour spout configured to be coupled to the container, the pour spout comprising:
 a body having a reservoir for receiving fluid and a channel extending from the reservoir to a distal end of the body; 
 two clips disposed at a proximal end of the body and configured to enable detachable coupling of the body to the container; and 
 a wall of the body extending between the two opposing clips, the wall partially defining the reservoir and being shaped to fit underneath a curved surface of the outer lip of the container and inward toward the container from the outer lip when the body is coupled to the container, in such a way that fluid exiting the container at the curved surface enters the reservoir. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the channel provides a path sloped in such a way that directs fluid toward the reservoir when the pour spout is coupled with the container resting upright and flat on a generally horizontal surface and away from the reservoir when the container and the pour spout are angled away from a generally horizontal surface. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a dip or depression in the channel at the distal end of the body. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the channel has a substantially U-shape or V-shape. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the body is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, metal, plastic, synthetics, and composites. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a tab extending from the wall, the tab configured to engage the curved surface of the container in such a way as to stabilize the position of the body relative to the container when the body is coupled to the container. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the two opposing clips comprises two appendages and a bridge coupling the two appendages, the bridge being positioned above the wall. 
     
     
         17 . The pour spout of  claim 10 , wherein the lip of the container is formed around an entirety of the perimeter of the open end or around a portion of the perimeter of the open end. 
     
     
         18 . The pour spout of  claim 10 , wherein the curved surface of the lip of the container comprises a continuous curve of the lip of the container when the container is generally cylindrical in shape or a corner of the lip of the container when the container includes at least one corner. 
     
     
         19 . A method of making a pour spout configured to detachably couple to a fluid container having an open end and an outer lip formed around the open end, the method comprising:
 providing a body having a reservoir for receiving fluid and a channel extending from the reservoir to a distal end of the body, the body having a wall partially defining the reservoir, the wall being shaped to fit underneath a curved surface of the outer lip of the container and inward toward the container from the outer lip when the body is coupled to the container, in such a way that fluid exiting the container at the curved surface enters the reservoir; and   providing two clips disposed at a proximal end of the body and configured to enable detachable coupling of the body to the container;   wherein the wall extends between the two opposing clips.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the channel forms a path sloped in such a way that directs fluid toward the reservoir when the pour spout is coupled with the container resting upright and flat on a generally horizontal surface and away from the reservoir when the container and the pour spout are angled away from a generally horizontal surface.