Funnel-shaped container with capped ends

Abstract

A container includes a funnel having a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end opposite the first end, the funnel defining a funnel volume between the first and second openings and the first opening being larger than the second opening; a first cap shaped to repeatedly attach to and detach from the funnel at the first end, the first cap sealing the first opening when attached to the funnel; and a second cap shaped to repeatedly attach to and detach from the funnel at the second end, the second cap sealing the second opening when attached to the funnel. When a liquid or fine-grained substance (e.g., a powder) is placed within the funnel volume, attaching the first and second caps to the funnel at the first and second openings seals the liquid or fine-grained substance within the funnel volume.

1 . A container, comprising:
 a funnel having a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end opposite the first end, the funnel defining a funnel volume between the first and second openings and the first opening being larger than the second opening;   a first cap shaped to repeatedly attach to and detach from the funnel at the first end, the first cap sealing the first opening when attached to the funnel; and   a second cap shaped to repeatedly attach to and detach from the funnel at the second end, the second cap sealing the second opening when attached to the funnel,   wherein when a liquid or fine-grained substance is placed within the funnel volume, attaching the first and second caps to the funnel at the first and second openings seals the liquid or fine-grained substance within the funnel volume.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second caps each comprise a disc-shaped planar portion sized to cover the first and second openings, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first cap is shaped to screw on to the funnel at the first opening. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the second cap is shaped to screw on to the funnel at the second opening. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first cap is shaped to snap on to the funnel at the first opening. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , further comprising a hinge element that fixedly attaches the first cap to the funnel. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the second cap is shaped to snap on to the funnel at the second opening. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , further comprising a hinge element that fixedly attaches the second cap to the funnel. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel volume is two liters or less. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel volume is one liter or less. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel volume is 500 ml or less. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel volume is 100 ml of less. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel volume is 10 ml or more. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more ridges and/or grooves extending along an outer surface of the funnel between the first opening and the second opening. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more ridges/grooves have a height/depth in a range from 0.01 mm to 3 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel includes scale markings. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first cap comprises a valve. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel is formed from a plastic, a cardboard, a glass, a metal, an alloy, or a ceramic. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second caps are formed from a plastic, a cardboard, a glass, a metal, an alloy, or a ceramic. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel comprises a threaded portion at the first end, and the first cap comprises a threaded portion shaped to mate with the threaded portion of the funnel at the first end. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel comprises a threaded portion at the second end, and the second cap comprises a threaded portion shaped to mate with the threaded portion of the funnel at the second end. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel comprises a first conical portion. 
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the first conical portion has a cone angle in a range between 10° and 90°. 
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the cone angle is in a range between 10° and 60°. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the cone angle is in a range between 10° and 45°. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the funnel comprises a second conical portion having a different cone angle from the cone angle of the first conical portion. 
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the funnel comprises a first cylindrical section. 
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein the first cylindrical section is located at the first end of the funnel. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein the funnel comprises a second cylindrical section. 
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 29 , wherein the first cylindrical section is located at the first end of the funnel and the second cylindrical section is located at the second end of the funnel. 
     
     
         31 . A container, comprising:
 a funnel having a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end opposite the first end, the funnel defining a funnel volume between the first and second openings and the first opening being larger than the second opening;   a first foil seal covering the funnel at the first end, the first foil seal sealing the first opening; and   a second foil seal covering the funnel at the second end, the second foil seal sealing the second opening,   wherein when a liquid or fine-grained substance is placed within the funnel volume the first and second foil seals seal the liquid or fine-grained substance within the funnel volume.   
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 31 , wherein the first and second foil seals comprise a tab extending beyond the respective funnel openings, the tabs being sufficiently large to be gripped between a person's thumb and forefinger. 
     
     
         33 . The container of  claim 31 , wherein the foil seals are aluminum foil seals.