IP Library › Granted Patent US 12673860
Granted Patent B2
US 12673860 · App. 18/443,265 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Apparatus for piercing a seal of a liquid-filled container

Inventor: John M. Martino (Glen Gardner, NJ)
Assignee: J-Sons Equipment Overhaul Inc.
B67B7/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12673860
App. No.
18/443,265
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of adapters for emptying liquid-filled containers are provided herein. In some embodiments, an adapter for emptying a liquid-filled container includes: an annular ring configured to at least partially be disposed in an opening of the liquid-filled container; one or more spokes extending at least partially across a central opening of the annular ring; and a protrusion extending from the one or more spokes to a location vertically above the annular ring and configured for piercing a seal of the liquid-filled container.

Claims (31)

1 . An adapter for emptying a liquid-filled container, comprising:

an annular ring configured to be in direct contact with the liquid-filled container and to be at least partially disposed in an opening of the liquid-filled container;

a protrusion disposed in a central opening of the annular ring; and

one or more spokes extending radially outward from the protrusion to the annular ring, wherein the protrusion is directly coupled to the one or more spokes and extends to a location vertically above the annular ring and is configured for piercing a seal of the liquid-filled container.

2 . The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the one or more spokes extend vertically to or above a horizontal plane extending along a lower surface of the annular ring.

3 . The adapter of claim 1 , wherein a width of at least one of the one or more spokes varies across the central opening.

4 . The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the adapter includes through openings adjacent the annular ring and the one or more spokes.

5 . The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the adapter is made of a polymer, metal, or wood.

6 . The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the annular ring has an outer diameter of about 1 to about 3 inches.

7 . The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is disposed at a center of the annular ring.

8 . The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion includes a sharp edge or rounded edge.

9 . The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the one or more spokes consist of two spokes that are diametrically opposed and connect in the central opening.

10 . An adapter for emptying a liquid-filled container, comprising:

an annular ring configured to at least partially be disposed in an opening of the liquid-filled container;

one or more spokes extending linearly and continuously across a central opening of the annular ring from a first location of the annular ring diametrically opposed to a second location of the annular ring; and

a protrusion extending from the one or more spokes to a location vertically above the annular ring and configured for piercing a seal of the liquid-filled container, wherein a lower surface of the one or more spokes is substantially flush with a lower surface of the annular ring, and wherein each of the one or more spokes decrease in width and increase in height from the first location to the protrusion.

11 . The adapter of claim 10 , wherein the one or more spokes consist of two spokes.

12 . The adapter of claim 10 , wherein the lower surface of the one or more spokes is substantially flat, and an upper surface extends upwards so that the one or more spokes increase in height from the first location to the protrusion.

13 . The adapter of claim 10 , wherein an upper surface of the one or more spokes at the first location and the second location is disposed below an upper surface of the annular ring.

14 . The adapter of claim 10 , wherein the one or more spokes and the annular ring define exactly two openings through the adapter.

15 . A storage vessel, comprising:

a vessel body configured for storing a liquid and having an opening for receiving the liquid; and

an adapter configured to be in direct contact with the vessel body and to be at least partially disposed in the opening, the adapter comprising:

an annular ring;

one or more spokes extending at least partially across a central opening of the annular ring; and

a protrusion extending vertically above the one or more spokes to a location vertically above the annular ring and configured for piercing a seal of a liquid-filled container.

16 . The storage vessel of claim 15 , wherein a width of each of the one or more spokes varies across the central opening, and wherein a height of each of the one or more spokes varies across the central opening.

17 . The storage vessel of claim 15 , wherein the storage vessel is a windshield fluid reservoir.

18 . The storage vessel of claim 15 , further comprising a cap configured to close the opening, and wherein the adapter is entirely disposed in the vessel body.

19 . The storage vessel of claim 15 , wherein the vessel body include a mouth adjacent to the opening and the mouth includes a ledge, wherein the adapter is configured to rest on the ledge.

20 . The storage vessel of claim 15 , wherein a lower surface of the one or more spokes is substantially flat, and an upper surface of the one or more spokes extends upwards so that the one or more spokes increase in height from the annular ring to the protrusion.