IP Library Granted Patent US 11,401,149
Granted Patent B1
US 11,401,149 · App. 17/380,283 · Granted Aug 2, 2022

Funnel assembly

Inventor: Kyle M. Bennett (Emporia, KS)
Assignee: HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
B67C11/02B67C11/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,401,149
App. No.
17/380,283
Granted
Aug 2, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

A funnel assembly comprising a funnel, a fill tube, a valve, and tube storage structure. The funnel includes an outer wall defining a fill chamber and including alignment structure. The tube storage structure includes an upper holder positioned near the upper opening and left and right guides spaced below the upper holder. The alignment structure is configured to align with and accept a stored tube of another funnel assembly when the funnel assemblies are stacked together. The fill tube is configured to be fluidly connected to the funnel. The tube storage structure is configured to removably secure the fill tube to the funnel when the upper end of the fill tube is not fluidly connected to the funnel so that the fill tube substantially conforms to the convex, tapered outer wall.

Claims (32)

1. A funnel assembly comprising:

a funnel having an outer wall defining a fill chamber with an upper opening for receiving a liquid;

a fill tube including opposing upper and lower ends, the upper end of the fill tube being configured to be fluidly connected to the funnel; and

tube storage structure including:

an upper holder positioned near the upper opening; and

left and right guides spaced below the upper holder, the left and right guides being vertically offset from each other,

the tube storage structure being configured to removably secure the fill tube to the funnel when the upper end of the fill tube is not fluidly connected to the funnel so that the fill tube substantially conforms to the outer wall.

2. The funnel assembly of claim 1 , the tube storage structure being positioned on an outside of the outer wall of the funnel.

3. The funnel assembly of claim 1 , the upper holder being a protrusion configured to be inserted into the upper end of the fill tube.

4. The funnel assembly of claim 1 , the outer wall having vertically convex curvature.

5. The funnel assembly of claim 1 , the outer wall including structure configured to align with a fill tube attached to storage structure of another funnel assembly identical with the funnel assembly of claim 1 so that the funnel assembly of claim 1 is stackably aligned with the other funnel assembly.

6. A funnel assembly comprising:

a funnel having an outer wall defining a fill chamber with an upper opening for receiving a liquid;

a valve near a lower end of the outer wall and fluidly connected to the fill chamber;

a fill tube including opposing upper and lower ends, the upper end of the fill tube being configured to be fluidly connected to the funnel via the valve; and

tube storage structure including:

an upper holder positioned near the upper opening; and

left and right guides spaced below the upper holder, the left and right guides being vertically offset from each other,

the tube storage structure being configured to removably secure the fill tube to the funnel when the upper end of the fill tube is not fluidly connected to the funnel so that the fill tube substantially conforms to the outer wall.

7. The funnel assembly of claim 6 , the tube storage structure being positioned on an outside of the outer wall of the funnel.

8. The funnel assembly of claim 6 , the upper holder being a protrusion configured to be inserted into the upper end of the fill tube.

9. The funnel assembly of claim 6 , the outer wall having vertically convex curvature.

10. The funnel assembly of claim 6 , the outer wall including structure configured to align with a fill tube attached to storage structure of another funnel assembly identical with the funnel assembly of claim 6 so that the funnel assembly of claim 6 is stackably aligned with the other funnel assembly.

11. A funnel assembly comprising:

a funnel having a convex, tapered outer wall defining a fill chamber with an upper opening for receiving liquid and including alignment structure;

a valve near a lower end of the outer wall and fluidly connected to the fill chamber;

a fill tube including opposing upper and lower ends, the upper end of the fill tube being configured to be fluidly connected to the funnel; and

tube storage structure on an outer side of the outer wall, the tube storage structure including:

an upper holder positioned near the upper opening; and

left and right guides spaced below the upper holder, the left and right guides being vertically offset from each other,

the tube storage structure being configured to removably secure the fill tube to the funnel when the upper end of the fill tube is not fluidly connected to the funnel so that the fill tube substantially conforms to the convex, tapered outer wall,

the alignment structure being configured to align with and accept a stored tube of another funnel assembly when the funnel assemblies are stacked together.

Assignments (2)
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 18, 2025
From: AIRTEX INDUSTRIES, LLC; AIRTEX PRODUCTS, LP; APC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC; APC PARENT, LLC; ASC INDUSTRIES, INC.; AUTOLITE OPERATIONS LLC; AVM EXPORT, INC.; BPI ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC; BPI EC, LLC; BPI HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL, LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC CHINA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC INDIA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC LLC; CARDONE INDUSTRIES, INC.; CARRAND COMPANIES, INC.; CARTER CARBURETOR HOLDINGS, LLC; CARTER CARBURETOR, LLC; CARTER FUEL EXPORT, INC.; CARTER FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC; CHAMPION LABORATORIES, INC.; CWD HOLDING, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS I, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II, LLC; CWD, LLC; DALTON CORPORATION; DALTON CORPORATION, KENDALLVILLE; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, ASHLAND; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, STRYKER MACHINING FACILITY CO.; DALTON CORPORATION, WARSAW MANUFACTURING FACILITY; EAGLE CASTING, LLC; EAGLE MACHINING, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP INTERMEDIATE, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP, LLC; FRAM GROUP IP LLC; FRAM GROUP OPERATIONS LLC; FRAMAUTO HOLDINGS, LLC; FUEL FILTER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GLOBAL REMAN VENTURES, LLC; HEATHERTON HOLDINGS, LLC; HOPKINS ACQUISITION, INC.; HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION; HORIZON EURO FINANCE LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL COMPANY LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; HORIZON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; IBI INTERNATIONAL HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; INTERNATIONAL BRAKE INDUSTRIES, INC.; JASPER ACQUISITION CORP.; JASPER RUBBER PRODUCTS, INC.; KTRI HOLDINGS, INC.; KTRI OFFSHORE HOLDINGS, LLC; LONGMAN ENTERPRISES, INC.; PHNX ACQUISITION CORP.; PREMIER MARKETING GROUP, LLC; PYLON MANUFACTURING CORP.; PYLON SOUTH BEND, INC.; QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE, L.L.C.; QUALIS ENTERPRISES, LLC; QUALITOR ACQUISITION INC.; QUALITOR AUTOMOTIVE, LLC; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY H, INC.; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY S, INC.; QUALITOR, INC.; REMAN MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC; SDC TX, LLC; SMART CHOICE, LLC; SPECIALTY PUMPS GROUP, INC.; STRONGARM, LLC; TAE BRAKES, LLC; TAE CHINA HOLDINGS, INC.; TMD INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; TMD MEXICO LLC; TOLEDO MOLDING & DIE, LLC; TRANSPORTATION AFTERMARKET ENTERPRISE, LLC; TRICO HOLDING CORPORATION; TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION; TRICO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; TRIDONEX USA LLC; UCI ACQUISITION HOLDINGS (NO. 4) LLC; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS PARENT, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL, LLC; UCI PENNSYLVANIA, INC.; UCI-AIRTEX HOLDINGS, INC.; UNITED COMPONENTS, LLC; UNIVERSAL AUTO FILTER LLC; VIPER ACQUISITION I, INC.; VIPER ACQUISITION, INC.; WALBRO LLC; WALBRO MIDCO LLC; WEM US CO.
To: GLAS USA LLC
Reel/Frame 071674/0688 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2021
From: BENNETT, KYLE M.
To: HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056913/0291 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,371,314