Resilient Fluid Funneling Assembly for Use with a Fluid Dispensing Vessel

Abstract

A resilient fluid funneling assembly for use with a fluid dispensing vessel is described, and which includes a resilient main body defining, at least in part, a fluid collection region, and wherein a fluid draining aperture is formed in a predetermined location of the main body, and extends therethrough; and an elongated and resilient fluid draining conduit cooperates with the main body and which further is disposed in fluid receiving relation relative to the fluid draining aperture, and wherein the fluid draining conduit has a distal end which delivers a source of fluid which is collected by the fluid collection region to a user.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly for use with a fluid dispensing vessel, comprising:
 a resilient main body defining, at least in part, a fluid collection region, and wherein a fluid draining aperture is formed in a predetermined location of the main body, and extends therethrough; and   an elongated, and resilient fluid draining conduit which cooperates with the main body, and which is further disposed in fluid receiving relation relative to the fluid draining aperture, and wherein the fluid draining conduit has a distal end which delivers a source of fluid which is collected by the fluid collection region to a user.   
     
     
         2 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in in  claim 1 , and wherein the resilient main body releasably and matingly cooperates, at least in part, with a primary removable cover, and wherein the primary removable cover further matingly cooperates with a fluid dispensing vessel, and wherein the fluid dispensing vessel encloses, and stores the source of the fluid delivered to the user. 
     
     
         3 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , and wherein the resilient fluid draining conduit is non-linear in shape, and extends laterally, outwardly, relative to the resilient main body, and further fluid sealably passes through an aperture formed in a top surface of the primary removable cover. 
     
     
         4 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , and wherein the top surface of the primary removable cover has a peripheral edge, and is further defined, at least in part, by a circumscribing sidewall which depends laterally outwardly from the peripheral edge of the top surface, and wherein the primary removable cover has a bottom surface, and wherein the bottom surface of the primary removable cover, and the downwardly or laterally outwardly depending sidewall defines an internal cavity, and wherein the resilient main body of the resilient fluid funneling assembly is sized so as to be wholly received within the internal cavity which is defined by the primary removable cover, and is further oriented so as to facilitate the draining of substantially the entire source of fluid stored within the fluid dispensing vessel. 
     
     
         5 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein the downwardly depending sidewall of the primary removable cover is circular in shape, and wherein a portion of the resilient main body is semi-circular in shape, and which is further located in a closely spaced, and juxtaposed relationship relative to a portion of the downwardly depending, and circular shaped sidewall, and wherein the resilient main body extends generally radially, inwardly, relative to the depending, and circular shaped sidewall of the primary removable cover, and wherein the semi-circular shaped portion of the resilient main body fluid sealably engages the fluid dispensing vessel when the primary removable cover matingly and releasably cooperates with the fluid dispensing vessel. 
     
     
         6 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , and wherein the fluid draining conduit has a non-uniform, outside facing, cross-sectional dimension, and wherein a flexible, fluid sealing flange extends radially outwardly relative to the outwardly facing surface of the fluid draining conduit, and which further fluid sealingly engages the top surface of the primary removable cover so as to impede the movement of the source of fluid through the aperture which is formed in the top surface of the primary removable cover. 
     
     
         7 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , and wherein the resilient main body of the resilient fluid funneling assembly is angularly oriented so as to drain fluid received from the fluid dispensing vessel, under the influence of gravity, and in a direction extending from the peripheral and depending sidewall of the primary removable cover, and in the direction of the fluid draining aperture so as to facilitate the removal of the entire source of fluid from the fluid dispensing vessel. 
     
     
         8 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , and wherein the fluid collection region of the resilient main body has a cross-sectional dimension which diminishes when measured in a direction extending from the peripheral and depending sidewall of the primary removable cover, and in the direction of the fluid draining aperture which is located radially, inwardly relative to the peripheral sidewall of the primary removable cover. 
     
     
         9 . A resilient fluid funnel assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , and further comprising:
 a selectively movable, secondary cover which is hingedly mounted on the top surface of the first mentioned primary removable cover, and which further selectively moves along an arcuately shaped path of travel from a first, closed position, and which forcibly bends and/or distorts at least a portion of the resilient fluid draining conduit in a manner such that the source of the fluid cannot pass to the distal end thereof, and a user cannot gain access to the distal end of the fluid draining conduit, and a second, open position, and wherein, in the second, open position, the selectively moveable secondary cover is spatially oriented relative to the primary removable cover so as to permit access to the distal end of the resilient fluid draining conduit, and wherein the resilient, fluid draining conduit further resiliently urges the selectively moveable, secondary cover, at least in part, along the arcuately shaped path of travel between the first and second positions.   
     
     
         10 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , and wherein the resilient fluid funneling assembly is removably detached from the primary removable cover so as to permit an effective cleansing of the fluid funneling assembly, and a removal of unwanted contamination therefrom. 
     
     
         11 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly for use with a fluid dispensing vessel, comprising:
 a resilient main body defining a fluid collection region which has a first end, and an opposite second end, and wherein the resilient main body further has a peripheral edge, and wherein a sidewall extends normally, and laterally outwardly relative to the peripheral edge of the resilient main body, and wherein the resilient main body further has a cross sectional dimension which diminishes when measured in a direction extending from the first end, and in the direction of the second end, and wherein a fluid draining aperture is formed in the second end of the resilient main body; and   an elongated, and resilient fluid draining conduit which cooperates with the main body, and which further is disposed in fluid receiving relation relative to the fluid draining aperture, and wherein the fluid draining conduit further has a distal end which delivers a source of fluid which is collected by the fluid collection region, from a fluid dispensing vessel, to a user, and wherein the fluid draining conduit further is non-linear in shape, and extends laterally, outwardly relative to the resilient main body, and wherein the fluid draining conduit has a non-uniform, outside facing, cross-sectional dimension, and wherein a flexible, fluid sealing flange extends radially, outwardly, relative to the outwardly facing surface of the fluid draining conduit.   
     
     
         12 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , and wherein the resilient main body releasably, and matingly cooperates with a primary removable cover, and wherein the primary removable cover further releasably and screw threadably cooperates with a fluid dispensing vessel, and wherein the fluid dispensing vessel encloses, and stores the source of the fluid delivered to the user. 
     
     
         13 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , and wherein the fluid draining conduit fluid sealably passes through an aperture formed in a top surface of the primary removable cover, and wherein the flexible fluid sealing flange fluid sealingly engages the top surface of the primary removable cover so as to impede the source of fluid from passing therethrough the aperture which is formed in the top surface of the primary removable cover. 
     
     
         14 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , and wherein the top surface of the primary removable cover has a peripheral edge, and is further defined, at least in part, by a circular shaped sidewall which depends downwardly or laterally outwardly from the peripheral edge of the top surface, and wherein the primary removable cover has a bottom surface, and wherein the bottom surface of the primary removable cover, and the downwardly depending and circular shaped sidewall defines a generally cylindrically shaped internal cavity, and wherein the resilient main body of the resilient fluid funneling assembly is sized so as to be wholly received within the generally cylindrically shaped internal cavity, and is further oriented so as to facilitate the draining of substantially the entire source of fluid stored within the fluid dispensing vessel. 
     
     
         15 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , and wherein the sidewall of the resilient main body which is located at the first end, thereof, is semi-circular in shape, and is further located in a closely spaced, and juxtaposed relationship relative to a portion of the circular shaped sidewall forming a portion of the primary removable cover, and wherein the resilient main body extends generally radially, inwardly, relative to the circular shaped sidewall of the primary removable cover, and into the internal cavity defined by the primary removable cover. 
     
     
         16 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in  claim 15 , and wherein the resilient main body of the resilient fluid funneling assembly is angularly oriented so as to drain the source of fluid received from the fluid dispensing vessel, under the influence of gravity, and in a direction extending from the peripheral, circular shaped sidewall of the primary removable cover, and in the direction of the fluid draining aperture so as to facilitate the removal of the entire source of fluid from the fluid dispensing vessel. 
     
     
         17 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , and further comprising:
 a selectively movable, secondary cover which is hingedly mounted on the top surface of primary removable cover, and which further selectively moves along an arcuately shaped path of travel from a first, closed position, and which forcibly bends and/or otherwise distorts at least a portion of the resilient fluid draining conduit in a manner such that the source of the fluid cannot pass to the distal end thereof, and a user cannot gain access to the distal end of the fluid draining conduit, and a second, open position, and wherein, in the second, open position, the secondary cover is oriented in spaced relation relative to the primary removable cover so as to permit access to the distal end of the resilient fluid draining conduit, and wherein the resilient, fluid draining conduit further resiliently urges the selectively moveable, secondary cover, at least in part, along the arcuately shaped path of travel between the first and second positions.   
     
     
         18 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly for use with a fluid dispensing vessel, comprising:
 a fluid dispensing vessel have a main body defining an internal storage cavity, and a threaded neck region which allows access into the internal storage cavity of the fluid dispensing vessel;   a source of a fluid to be dispensed and which is stored within the internal storage cavity which is defined by the fluid dispensing vessel;   a primary removable cover which releasably, matingly, and screw threadably cooperates with the threaded neck region of the fluid dispensing vessel, and wherein the primary removable cover further has a top and bottom surface, and wherein the top surface further has a peripheral edge, and wherein a circular shaped, peripheral sidewall depends downwardly from the peripheral edge of the top surface, and wherein an aperture is formed in the top surface thereof, and wherein the bottom surface of the primary removable cover, and the circular shaped peripheral sidewall defines a generally cylindrically shaped internal cavity;   a selectively movable, secondary cover which is hingedly mounted on the top surface of the primary removable cover, and which further is arranged so as to selectively move along an arcuately shaped path of travel from a first, closed position, and a second, open position, and wherein in the second, open position the selectively moveable secondary cover is spatially oriented relative to the primary removable cover so as to permit access to the top surface of the primary removable cover;   a resilient main body defining a fluid collection region which has a first end, and an opposite second end, and wherein the resilient main body has a peripheral edge, and wherein a sidewall extends normally, laterally outwardly relative to the peripheral edge of the resilient main body, and further is defined, at least in part, by a top peripheral edge, and wherein the resilient main body further has a cross sectional dimension which diminishes when measured in a direction extending from the first end, and in the direction of the second end thereof, and wherein a fluid draining aperture is formed in the second end of the resilient main body, and wherein the top peripheral edge of the sidewall which is located at the first end of the resilient main body fluid sealably cooperates with the fluid dispensing vessel when the primary removable cover threadably cooperates with the neck region of the fluid dispensing vessel, and wherein the resilient main body further is sized so as to be wholly received within the cylindrically shaped internal cavity which is defined by the primary removable cover; and   an elongated, and resilient fluid draining conduit which cooperates with the resilient main body, and which further is disposed in fluid receiving relation relative to the fluid draining aperture, and wherein the fluid draining conduit has a distal end which delivers the source of fluid which is collected by the fluid collection region, from the fluid dispensing vessel, to a user, and wherein the fluid draining conduit further is non-linear in shape, and extends laterally, outwardly relative to the resilient main body, and further extends through the aperture formed in the top surface of the primary removable cover, and wherein the fluid draining conduit has a non-uniform, outside facing, cross-sectional dimension, and wherein a flexible, fluid sealing flange extends radially outwardly relative to the outwardly facing surface of the fluid draining conduit, and which further fluid sealably cooperates with the top surface of the primary removable cover so as to impede the passage of the source of fluid therethrough, and wherein movement of the selectively movable secondary cover along the arcuately shaped path of travel and into the first, closed position effects a forcible bending and/or distortion of at least a portion of the resilient fluid draining conduit in a manner such that the source of the fluid cannot pass to the distal end thereof, and a user cannot gain access to the distal end of the fluid draining conduit, and wherein movement of the secondary cover to the second, open position causes the secondary cover to be spatially oriented in a non-covering orientation relative to the primary removable cover so as to permit access to the distal end of the resilient fluid draining conduit, and wherein the resilient, fluid draining conduit further resiliently urges the selectively moveable, secondary cover, at least in part, along the arcuately shaped path of travel between the first and second positions.   
     
     
         19 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in  claim 18 , and wherein the sidewall of the resilient main body which is located at the first end, thereof, is semi-circular in shape, and is further located in a closely spaced, and juxtaposed relationship relative to a portion of the downwardly depending, circular shaped sidewall forming a portion of the primary removable cover, and wherein the resilient main body extends generally radially, inwardly, relative to the downwardly depending and circular shaped sidewall of the primary removable cover. 
     
     
         20 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in  claim 19 , and wherein the resilient main body of the resilient fluid funneling assembly is angularly oriented so as to drain fluid received from the fluid dispensing vessel, under the influence of gravity, and in a direction extending from the peripheral circular shaped sidewall of the primary removable cover, and in the direction of the fluid draining aperture so as to facilitate the removal of the entire source of fluid from the fluid dispensing vessel. 
     
     
         21 . A resilient fluid funneling assembly as claimed in  claim 18 , and wherein the top peripheral edge of the side wall has a radial edge formed therein so as to enhance the collection of the fluid moving from the fluid dispensing vessel to fluid collection region of the resilient main body.