Anti-glug device for liquid containers and pour spouts

{
  "publication_number": "US9669972B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Anti-glug device for liquid containers and pour spouts",
  "abstract": "A container assembly for holding liquids has an interior space and a pour spout including a spout portion carried by and extending from part of the container assembly. The pour spout has an outlet and defines a liquid flow path in fluid communication between the interior space and the outlet. An anti-glug device is carried by part of the container assembly. The anti-glug device has a channel only partly circumferentially surrounding the liquid flow path and has one or more air vents through a wall of the channel.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A container assembly for holding liquids, the container assembly comprising: an interior space; a pour spout including a spout portion carried by and extending from part of the container assembly, the pour spout having an outlet and defining a liquid flow path in fluid communication between the interior space and the outlet, and an anti-glug device carried by part of the container assembly, the anti-glug device having an outer wall connected to part of the container, an inner wall spaced radially inward of the outer wall, and a connecting wall spaced from the part of the container and joining the outer and inner walls, wherein a channel is defined between the outer wall and the inner wall and by the connecting wall, each of the inner, outer, and connecting walls only partly circumferentially surrounding the liquid flow path and having one or more air vents through a wall of the channel.",
    "2. A container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pour spout and the anti-glug device are carried on a removable lid of the container assembly.",
    "3. A container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the anti-glug device is integrally formed as a contiguous unitary part of the container assembly.",
    "4. A container assembly according to claim 3, wherein the anti-glug device is a contiguous unitary part of a removable lid of the container assembly.",
    "5. A container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one or more air vents are formed at least in part through the connecting wall.",
    "6. A container assembly according to claim 5, wherein the one or more air vents is a plurality of holes formed through the connecting wall.",
    "7. A container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall forms a portion of the liquid flow path radially inward of the inner wall.",
    "8. A container assembly according to claim 7, wherein the inner wall has a diameter that is equivalent to or less than a diameter of the liquid outlet and at least part of the spout portion.",
    "9. A container assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a flow restrictor along the liquid flow path downstream of the inner wall and configured to restrict liquid flow into the spout portion from the interior space of the container.",
    "10. A container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the pour spout portion at the liquid outlet.",
    "11. A container assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a flow restrictor along the liquid flow path configured to restrict liquid flow into the spout portion from the interior space of the container.",
    "12. A container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the anti-glug device creates a return air flow path above the liquid flow path of the pour spout when the container assembly is in a pouring orientation.",
    "13. A container assembly according to claim 12, wherein at least part of the channel of the anti-glug device is positioned above the liquid flow path of the pour spout when in the pouring orientation.",
    "14. A container assembly according to claim 12, wherein at least one air vent of the one or more air vents is positioned above the liquid flow path in the pouring orientation.",
    "15. A container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spout portion has an attachment end connected to part of the container assembly, the attachment end having a larger diameter than a diameter of the spout portion nearer the liquid outlet.",
    "16. A container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the channel has an annular circumferential shape.",
    "17. A container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the channel has a pair of terminal ends forming a circumferential gap in the channel between the terminal ends, the circumferential gap extending at least 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees around the liquid flow path, and wherein the terminal ends are open.",
    "18. A container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the channel has a pair of terminal ends forming a circumferential gap in the channel between the terminal ends, the circumferential gap disposed below the liquid flow path with the container assembly in a pouring orientation.",
    "19. An anti-glug device for a liquid container assembly having a pour spout with a liquid outlet from the container assembly, the anti-glug device comprising: a channel only partly circumferentially surrounding a liquid flow path of the pour spout, the channel having a circumferential gap between terminal ends of the channel; and one or more air vents through a wall of the channel, wherein, when the anti-glug device is on a liquid container, the circumferential gap is disposed closer to an outer wall of the liquid container than the one or more air vents.",
    "20. An anti-glug device according to claim 19, wherein the circumferential gap extends at least 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees around the liquid flow path."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Disclosure\n\nThe present disclosure is generally directed to liquid containers and more particularly to an anti-glug device that allows air back into a container to replace lost liquid while pouring liquid from the container.\n\n2. Description of Related Art\n\nPour spouts that vent (venting spouts), and containers with vents (vented containers) are both known in the art. A typical refillable liquid container of the type that stores liquid and dispenses the liquid from a pour spout has a vent feature or venting capability of some type. The vent is provided to allow air to enter the container as liquid is dispensed in order to replace the lost liquid and equalize pressure in the container. Without such a vent, glugging occurs as a result of return air interrupting the flow of dispensed liquid from the spout. The vent allows the liquid to keep flowing from the container during pouring while return air enters he container via the vent.\n\nMore specifically, when liquid flows from a container, a vacuum is created in the vacated interior space in the container. Once the vacuum reaches a certain level, atmospheric air, i.e., return air, is pulled into the container through the dispensing orifice or spout. The return flow of atmospheric air into the container and the flow of liquid from the container utilize the same flow passage or dispensing orifice flow area. The flow of liquid out of the container and the flow of air into the container alternate, depending on the pressure differential in the container. The alternating liquid and air flow causes the glugging action.",
  "cpc": [
    "B65D 47/32",
    "B65D 25/32",
    "B65D 25/40",
    "B65D 25/42",
    "B65D 25/44",
    "B65D 25/46",
    "B65D 25/465",
    "B65D 47/043",
    "B65D 47/061",
    "B65D 47/063",
    "B67D 3/00"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65D 47/06",
    "B65D 47/32",
    "B65D 25/40",
    "B65D 25/42",
    "B65D 25/46"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Container Packaging Systems Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jon Stratton"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-10-09",
  "publication_date": "2017-06-06",
  "grant_date": "2017-06-06",
  "priority_date": "2014-10-09",
  "application_number": "US-201514879442-A",
  "family_id": "55654954",
  "cited_by_count": 6,
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  ]
}