Container and blow mold assembly
A container for storing, transporting and dispensing liquids has a spout comprising a mouth opening through which liquid passes, the spout projecting from the top portion of the container body proximate the front thereof, and a hollow handle joining the spout with the rear of the top portion of the container body and comprising a handle opening joining the spout with the hollow handle so that with the container rotated to dispense liquid, liquid does not block the inflow of air through the hollow handle and into the container. Advantageously the spout further comprises a spout throat comprising the mouth opening, a spout base and a spout platform, the spout throat being substantially cylindrical and less wide than the spout platform, the spout base being frustoconical and joining the spout platform to the spout throat, the spout platform having plural flat sides between the spout base and the top portion of the container body.
1 . A container for transporting, storing and dispensing liquids, the container comprising a container body, a spout projecting from the top portion of the container body proximate the front thereof, a hollow handle joining the spout with the rear of the top portion of the container body, the spout comprising a mouth opening through which liquid flows to fill the container and to dispense liquid from the container, a handle opening joining the spout with the hollow handle so that with the container rotated to dispense liquid therefrom, liquid does not block the inflow of air through the hollow handle and into the container.
2 . The container according to claim 1 wherein the handle opening is oriented relative to the spout and located relative to the mouth opening such that when the mouth opening is below the level of liquid in the spout, the handle opening remains open to permit the inflow of air therethrough.
3 . The container according to claim 1 wherein the spout further comprises a spout throat comprising the mouth opening, a spout base and a spout platform, the spout throat being substantially cylindrical and having a width less than the spout platform, the spout base being frusto-conical and joining the spout platform to the spout throat, the spout platform being interposed between the spout base and the top portion of the container body.
4 . The container according to claim 3 wherein the spout throat comprises surface features for engaging a separable closure for covering the mouth opening.
5 . The container according to claim 4 wherein the surface features comprise at least one thread flight.
6 . The container according to claim 3 wherein the spout platform comprises a six-sided perimeter at the junction thereof with the container body, and sidewalls sloping upwards from the perimeter toward the mouth opening and terminating in a saddle surface joined with the spout base.
7 . The container according to claim 3 wherein the top portion of the container body further comprises a groove traversing the top of the container body and comprising the rear sidewall of the spout platform, the groove functioning as an internal baffle to reduce sloshing of liquid proximate the spout with the container rotated to dispense liquid therefrom.
8 . A mold assembly for blow molding at least one container in accordance with claim 1 , the mold assembly comprising first and second mating mold components, each mating mold component comprising molding surfaces open to a mating face of the mold component and defining the exterior of an article to be molded, the molding surfaces comprising first molding surfaces defining the container body, second molding surfaces defining the neck portion comprising the spout, third molding surfaces defining the container base and fourth molding surfaces defining the hollow handle.
9 . A mold assembly for blow molding at least one container in accordance with claim 3 , the mold assembly comprising first and second mating mold components, each mating mold component comprising molding surfaces open to a mating face of the mold component and defining the exterior of an article to be molded, the molding surfaces comprising first molding surfaces defining the container body, second molding surfaces defining the neck portion comprising the spout, third molding surfaces defining the container base and fourth molding surfaces defining the hollow handle.
10 . The mold assembly according to claim 9 wherein the second molding surfaces define surface features for engaging a separable closure for covering the mouth opening.
11 . A mold assembly for blow molding at least one container in accordance with claim 7 , the mold assembly comprising first and second mating mold components, each mating mold component comprising molding surfaces open to a mating face of the mold component and defining the exterior of an article to be molded, the molding surfaces comprising first molding surfaces defining the container body, second molding surfaces defining the neck portion comprising the spout, third molding surfaces defining the container base and fourth molding surfaces defining the hollow handle.